Chapter 93

“You know, Leah, about His Majesty the Emperor’s illness… I heard from His Highness not long ago that no one can tell whether it’s some sort of disease or a poison.”

Leah, who had been pricking up her ears, settled down comfortably on her thigh. Karentina gently stroked her head with affection.

[ I’ve heard whispers as well. No matter how much divine power is poured into him or how skilled the physicians that come, none can name the illness, let alone cure it. I heard that even His Holiness the Pope himself tried to heal His Majesty before I died, but although his condition improved a little, there was no true recovery. ]

‘An illness that not even Pope Leonius could cure…’

After some hesitation, Karentina finally spoke.

“I heard that Her Majesty the Empress also fell ill and passed away because of an herb called Nelpiram, which is now said to have vanished from the world. Of course, there’s no material evidence for that, either…”

Even though she was certain that it was a deliberate murder orchestrated by Imperial Consort Christina and Duke Horton, she chose her words carefully.

[ That’s why you asked me about it a few days ago. Nelpiram is an herb that’s no longer in use. ]

“That’s right. It’s probably just my needless suspicion, but… Princess Stella suddenly became ill with nausea after traveling by teleportation circle.”

[ You mean Lectio, don’t you? ]

Karentina nodded, brushing aside a stray lock of hair that had fallen across her forehead.

“Lectio is an old illness you only find mentioned in ancient texts, and the herb called Nelpiram isn’t used anymore, either, because of how dangerous it is.”

As Karentina hesitated, Leah held her breath.

“What if… His Majesty’s illness is some ancient disease or poison no one knows about?”

[ ….! ]

Leah froze in place, her body going rigid.

[ The place with the most extensive collection of records in the Empire is the Imperial Palace Library. There are truly a great many forbidden books there. ]

“Is that so?”

[ The Grand Temple has many records as well, but the Palace Library is different. I’ve heard it’s practically a compendium of all the knowledge on this continent. ]

“I was only speaking hypothetically, that’s all.”

Karentina let out a quiet sigh. It seemed she had gone a bit too far.

[ But if it truly is an ancient illness not even recorded in the Imperial Palace, then looking into it may not be so meaningless after all. ]

“Really? You don’t think it’s just a fanciful thought?”

Leah rose from her lap, slipped down onto the sofa, and began to pace restlessly around the room.

[ The princess’s Lectio, the late Empress’s Nelpiram, and now this mysterious illness afflicting His Majesty… Your suspicions are reasonable, Lady Karentina. If it were only about His Majesty’s illness, I wouldn’t have thought this deeply about it either. ]

She looked Karentina straight in the eye, her expression grave. The thread connecting all these incidents was simply too suspicious.

[ Lady Karentina, please help me. ]

“Hmm?”

[ Whoever tried to harm His Majesty must be someone intimately familiar with the imperial family’s constitution and personal affairs. That’s why I think we’ll need access to imperial records for the investigation. We’ll also need a detailed journal documenting His Majesty’s symptoms. Lady Karentina, I truly want to cure His Majesty’s illness. ]

Karentina fell silent, lost in thought.

Gaining access to the Imperial Library should be easy enough with the help of Ignis or Stella, and any external materials could be managed with Zion’s assistance. The real challenge would be obtaining the journal detailing the Emperor’s illness.

‘First, I’ll have to persuade Ignis when he returns.’

Thinking that investigating ancient poisons was the highest priority, she hurriedly summoned Zion.

︵‿୨ ₊‧꒰ა ୨ৎ ໒꒱ ‧₊ ୧‿︵

A week later, the knights, having completed their campaign with success, returned to the northern stronghold.

The great gates of the fortress, which would not open without the permission of Karentina, the direct heir of the ducal house, began to move.

Thud! Thud!

With a thunderous noise that shook the ground, the knights clad in silver armor began to appear at the gates of the fortress, one after another. Crown Prince Ignis led the procession, with Damion, the vice-captain, at his side, followed by the captains of each order.

As Ignis dismounted, the knights remained perfectly upright, holding their posture with disciplined precision.

“Well done, everyone. Rest tonight.”

Yes, Your Highness—!

At his command, the knights’ resounding reply echoed through the halls of the fortress. Then, following Joseph’s signal, they began to file off, one by one, toward the annex where the order would be staying. As the knights who had filled the fortress disappeared, a strange stillness settled over the ducal stronghold.

Breaking that silence, Damion hastily dismounted and looked around, scanning his surroundings.

“Karentina!”

The thought that Karentina had stepped outside her room was almost too unbelievable to be true. It was a dream he hardly dared to believe.

And then—

“Brother.”

At the sound of her voice from behind him, Damion squeezed his eyes shut. His heart pounded so wildly in his chest, it was almost impossible to steady himself. Swallowing hard, he slowly turned his head.

“Ah…!”

A woman stood before his eyes. It was Karentina.

Already, more than a decade had passed.

Once she had been a small, precious child… When had she grown into such a beautiful young woman? Damion struggled to hold back the tears that welled up inside him, not wanting to show his younger sister his weakness. His eyes turned red with the effort.

Her starlit silver hair and those clear, brilliant blue eyes were just as they had always been. She was his one and only little sister, Karentina.