Episode 37

Episode 37. He Looked Like He Was About to Cry

Several days passed after the trial ended.

Now recovered, I sat by the window. Thanks to Cedric’s meticulous treatment, the poisoning symptoms had almost entirely cleared up; yet I still felt hazy.

It was the first time.

The first time I realized how terrifying it is to lose someone.

Leonard’s words kept echoing in my ears, long after he left. I must have tossed and turned for nights on end, haunted by the desperate, worried look in his eyes, the warmth of his hands gently holding mine until the very last moment.

Everything had been so vivid, so genuine, that part of me wanted to believe it was all real.

Honestly… it’s like something out of a romance. They’re all too handsome for their own good and say these infuriatingly heart-fluttering lines.

I shook my head, trying to banish thoughts of Leonard.

While I’d been unconscious, the palace had changed dramatically.

With both the imperial concubine and I collapsing from poisoning, it was no surprise the entire court had been thrown into chaos.

“You can’t imagine how tense it got while they searched for the culprit.”

When only the imperial concubine fell, all suspicion naturally fell on me. But once the Empress herself collapsed too, everything shifted in a completely different direction.

“There’s talk of a conspiracy targeting the imperial family itself. I’ve even heard certain names being investigated.”

At Countess Chloe’s words, I hid a wry smile.

I worried innocent people might suffer because of me, but at least all eyes weren’t on me anymore.

Of course, not everyone’s suspicion had vanished. But this was as close to normal as I could have hoped.

“Do you know how terrified I was when Your Majesty collapsed?”

When I first woke, one of the happiest people was Mary.

The day Leonard left, she’d happened to find me sitting up in bed and had screamed like she’d seen a ghost, bursting into sobs so loud it was nearly comical.

“I’m fine now. Really, don’t worry so much.”

“Please don’t ever get sick again. Promise me.”

It had taken real effort to soothe her as she wept in my arms. I even found myself absentmindedly stroking the back of her head.

That was when I realized just how comfortably I treated her. She felt like a little sister.

“It’s all right now. Really. No more crying.”

“Yes… but can I stay like this just a bit longer?”

She seemed to want to stay close, even pouting a little. It was adorable.

Strictly speaking, such familiarity was improper between Empress and maid—but so what?

It’s not like I’m really one of them anyway.

“I’d heard you were the eldest sister caring for your younger siblings alone, but you’re quite the crybaby yourself.”

“Only with Your Majesty. Truly—I’ll never forget that day.”

Mary sniffled again, adding quietly:

“When His Majesty carried you here in his arms… it was so shocking.”

“Wait. Who carried me?”

“His Majesty, the Emperor.”

Jerome?

So I hadn’t imagined his face before blacking out?

He carried me? Why?

This was the same man who’d looked ready to tear me apart at the trial.

My mind spun with confusion.

“He brought me here himself?”

“Yes. Personally.”

My mouth fell open.

I tried to picture it—Jerome, running through the palace, holding me—and nearly laughed at how absurd it seemed.

“He even came to check on you a few times while you were sleeping.”

He visited?

Mary lifted her head from my lap and smiled brightly.

“His Majesty doesn’t usually show it, but I think he’s always been concerned for you. Everyone said they’d never seen him so alarmed.”

“Really… that’s surprising.”

“I’m sure he was worried about you.”

“…I see.”

I answered flatly.

Jerome, worried about me? Ridiculous.

— In the end, you’re the only one capable of such a scheme.

The words he’d spat at me in the imperial concubine’s bedchamber still rang in my memory.

He’d been the one to suspect me the most.

And now he’d carried me here himself?

It was probably just another of those baffling contradictions he occasionally showed.

Honestly, whether he carried me or not didn’t matter anymore.

It’s finally… over.

I clenched my fist.

What I’d gained from all this wasn’t just relief from suspicion.

I’d won something bigger—my true goal all along.

Justification. A pretext.

This had been such a long, grueling struggle. I nearly teared up from relief.

Good job, me. Goodbye misery—hello happiness.

“What’s making you smile like that?”

Mary peered at me curiously.

“Ah, just feels nice to be healthy again.”

“I’m glad Your Majesty is in good spirits.”

We both laughed softly.

Just then, Countess Chloe entered, holding a small vial.

“Time for your medicine.”

I took the vial she offered and swallowed the contents. A gentle floral fragrance filled my mouth.

“But I thought I was completely cured? Didn’t the High Priest who visited yesterday say so too?”

“It’s not an antidote.”

“Then what is it?”

If it wasn’t an antidote, what exactly was I drinking?

“It’s a special tonic the Sage prepared just for Your Majesty. I heard he used rare flowers and herbs.”

“Cedric?”

I pictured his face from that day, looking like he was about to cry.

He really did look devastated.

“Now that you mention it, he’s nowhere to be seen.”

At my words, Chloe and Mary exchanged uneasy glances.

Something’s going on.

“Did something happen to him?”

Countess Chloe hesitated, then sighed.

The imperial residence’s rear garden.

Tucked among flowering trees and climbing roses stood a small house—Cedric’s workshop.

Though it appeared humble, I’d heard there was a sizable underground lab below. It had been one of his conditions for serving as the imperial court magician.

I knew he had a personal lab built… but why here?

Cedric had claimed it was pure coincidence, but if you were going to build one, wouldn’t it make sense to choose somewhere close to work?

This spot was pretty far from where the other court magicians were based.

If he ever says it’s too inconvenient, I’ll have it moved for him.

Knock knock.

I rapped gently on the door.

“Are you there?”

No answer.

“Guess he’s not home.”

I’d come because I was worried after hearing from the maids.

— Since Your Majesty collapsed, the Sage hasn’t so much as set foot near the palace.

— I’ll never forget how pale he went that day.

Their reports had been genuinely troubling.

He must have been really shaken.

“Where did you go?”

I wandered the nearby gardens and halls, searching.

There!

At last, I spotted him.

He was trudging slowly toward the workshop, a small pack slung over his back like he’d been traveling.

He looks terrible.

In just a few days, he seemed to have aged years. His face was gaunt, his expression clouded with every worry in the world.

“Cedric!”

I forgot all imperial dignity and waved eagerly.

He’d been staring at the ground but jerked his head up at my voice.

His eyes went wide.

“Where have you been? I’ve been looking all over.”

I grinned, hurrying toward him.

But then—

“What’s with the bag—wait, hey!”

Cedric spun on his heel and bolted in the opposite direction!