Chapter 14: Framed

Chapter 14: Framed

Hurrying through the hallways, the palace knight stopped in front of a massive golden door.

His Majesty is waiting inside. I will be on standby outside.

Thank you for guiding me.

Then I bowed to the knight who led me here and went inside.

I recognized a familiar face the moment I stepped foot in the Emperors spacious bedroom. It was the Emperor, who was anxiously watching the Crown Prince, who was lying in bed.

Your Imperial Majesty.

When I curtsied to him, the Emperor peeled away his gaze from the Crown Prince to look at me. The Emperors hair, which had always been slicked back in authority, was completely disheveled.

Lady Aren Serkia, heal my son quickly now.

Yes, Your Majesty.

The look in the Emperors unfocused eyes seemed incredibly desperate. So I hurriedly approached the Crown Prince on the bed.

From how pale the Crown Prince looked, it seemed like the poison had already spread throughout his body. I folded the sleeve of the shirt he was wearing and began to check his pulse.

its certainly poison.

The blood and poison were mixed together inside his body. And as expected, the toxins had already spread to his entire body. So the Crown Prince must be in great pain right now. I concentrated on identifying the poison in his body.

It was an odorless and colorless poison.

I knew all the contents of the book that Cassadin stole, Plants of the North, and what he had concocted was from one of the recipes in the book.

The poison was a deadly one made from mixing the Venomous Butterfly plant, which only grew in the North, with jadestone. Had I been just a little late, the poison would have made him bedridden for the rest of his life.

Just how deep was Cassadins grudge for having committed such a deed?

Cassadin. You really are crazy.

Excuse me for a moment.

After asking the Emperor for permission, I took off the outerwear that the Crown Prince was wearing. When I unbuttoned his shirt, the Crown Princes toned and muscular body came into view.

I placed my hands on his chest and concentrated all of my energy on them. Soon, a pure light started to emit from my hands. Then that light enveloped the Crown Princes body and was absorbed into it.

As soon as the last bit of light was sucked into his body, the Crown Princes expression looked considerably relieved. Life flowed back into his pale face, and his irregular breathing returned to a stable one.

Its done, Your Majesty.

Though my head was spinning from consuming so much mental energy, I tried not to show it as I spoke.

I have removed all of the poison from his body. His Highness will be alright now.

Upon hearing that, the light returned to the Emperors eyes. He rubbed his chest, breathing out a sigh of relief. In both the past and present, his love for his son was the same. Even the Emperor was a normal father when facing his beloved child.

Then the Emperor nodded at me with a satisfied expression,

Thank you. Its fortunate that you were here.

I just did what had to be done, Your Majesty.

I took my hands off the Crown Princes chest and straightened out his clothes. But I paused for a moment at the Emperors next words.

To dare orchestrate such a thing on Leons birthday. I dont know who did it, but they clearly want to meet an early death.

it seems that way, Your Majesty.

I spoke as nonchalantly as possible. If things continued this way, then it really might be revealed that Cassadin was the culprit.

So I racked my brain to figure out how to save him. The only way to ensure Cassadin wouldnt be suspected as the culprit was to divert attention to someone else.

In recognition of your aid, I will grant whatever wish you want. Is there anything you need? It can be anything you name.

Despite such questions, my past self trusted everything Damian said.

But not anymore. I intended to make him pay for everything he had done. Since Ive planted the seed of suspicion now, the Emperor will continue to be cautious with Damian even if he manages to escape the accusation of attempting to poison the Crown Prince.

In that sense, I was deeply grateful to Cassadin.

What a lovely younger brother he was. His revenge also came back as a blessing to me, but he would never know this truth in his dreams.

My duties have been completed, so I will now take my leave, Your Majesty.

I bowed to the Emperor and was about to leave if it hadnt been for the Emperors voice calling back to me.

Lady Aren Serkia.

Yes, Your Majesty.

There is a favor I wish to ask.

Yes?

Would you stay here with my son until he recovers?

I blinked rapidly at the unexpected request. The Crown Prince and I had no point of contact. Unlike the Emperor, the Crown Prince never had a critical wound in his previous life, so the only few times Ive seen him were from afar.

But its not like I can disobey the Emperors command either. I might arouse suspicion if Im not careful.

As you command, Your Majesty.

Im truly grateful.

Satisfied with my answer, the Emperor walked towards the door.

I will entrust my son to you.

After saying that, he was about to open the door and leave. Wasnt he trusting me a bit too much here? Dont tell me he actually selected me as a candidate for Crown Princess, like the rumors say, right?

I swallowed hard and dared to ask the Emperor,

Your Majesty, where are you headed to?

I cant just keep the nobles who came for the banquet locked up in the hall. I will take responsibility for what I have caused.

His response washed away the uneasiness that was continuing to grow inside of my mind. The nobles in the hall no longer had to go through questioning, which meant the Emperor thought Damian was the suspect.

And the Emperor, who smiled contentedly at me up to the final moment, closed the door and left.

When the door closed, I was now completely alone with the Crown Prince. He was breathing softly in his sleep with a peaceful expression on his face.

But while looking at the Prince, I was absorbed in other thoughts.

They were thoughts about what Cassadin could be doing right now. If he had done something else again, and when the Crown Prince was going to wake up.

Hmm

The Crown Prince let out a soft sound, turning his body. Then I asked him,

Your Highness, have you woken up?

He must just have been sleep-talking as he changed his position, but his eyes remained closed. Massaging my temples, I let out a deep sigh.

Goodness, gracious.

Just then, I realized that one of the buttons on the Crown Princes uniform wasnt properly fastened. It was the button I couldnt manage to fasten because I was talking about the culprit with the Emperor. All of the other buttons were fastened, but it just happened to be the one at his collarbone that was left open.

What should I do? Should I just leave it?

Though it was for treatment, it was my doing. The Crown Prince was asleep anyway, so it wouldnt matter much, right? Thinking that, I reached out to button up the remaining part of the Crown Princes uniform.

Thats when the Crown Prince slowly opened his eyes. And his sleepy, golden eyes met in the air with mine.