Chapter 149

The Duke of Reston wondered why Astelle was looking for him at this hour, but it was clear that it must be due to something very urgent.

‘What happened to the Emperor?’

The Emperor was still in the Empress Palace, that is, in Astelle’s hands.

As the Duke of Reston ordered his men to prepare to enter the palace, he asked one more thing.

“Where is Fritz?”

“I think he is in the Empress Palace,” the butler replied.

‘Something must have happened, considering he’s there.’

The Duke of Reston had hardly ever met Fritz.

After the Emperor became like that, Fritz did not come home and stayed in the palace.

On the surface, he stayed near the office because he had a lot of work, but it was clear that he was deliberately avoiding going home.

‘He didn’t want to see me.’

It didn’t matter as even the Duke himself didn’t want to see his son.

He had raised him so dearly because he is his only son, and he still shuddered at the memory of the time his son with Astelle had threatened him.

“You said that Fritz brought something from the estate. Did you find out what it was?”

Not long ago he was told that Fritz had sent someone to the estate.

Hearing that he had ordered someone to bring back what he had left on the estate, the Duke asked his men to find out what it was.

“Yes, they brought documents related to the income of the estate and gifts from the estate.”

“What else?”

“As far as I can tell, they didn’t bring anything else.”

Documents and gifts. Why did he get someone to bring something like that?

‘Is he trying to secure some money?’

Even though he inherited the title of duke, Fritz doesn’t have much money.

If the Emperor dies suddenly, the capital will be in chaos for a while, so he seems to have decided to secure some money.

‘It’s useless.’

The Duke of Reston intended to have a new marriage and a child who would be his heir once the emperor’s affairs were sorted out.

If he only has a new son, all he has to do is get rid of the useless Fritz.

He remembered the two sisters he had seen at the dinner table.

There are not many women in the capital who can become the duke’s bride, as the prestigious nobles are almost disappeared.

The Croychens had long been enemies of the Duke, but their daughters are both beautiful and attractive.

The Duke of Reston had his eye on Marianne and Florin before.

He had no interest in the first daughter, whom he didn’t even know existed. On the contrary, the Duke of Reston liked Florin, who was calm and quiet.

But he was worried if she could have children because she was too young. They obviously said she was weak, too.

Judging from the age factor, the first one seemed to be better.

“What’s going on?”

After receiving the butler’s report and returning to the dinner table, Marquis Croychen asked with concern.

“The Empress is calling me.”

“Oh my God, if something were to happen in the palace–”

“What will happen? It’s probably because she’s anxious that the Emperor’s illness is getting longer.”

The Marquis shut his mouth.

The Emperor who went to the Empress Palace suddenly fell ill. The Empress was officially ruling the capital since then. And suddenly, in the middle of the night, she called her father to the palace to discuss the emperor’s illness.

The Marquis once again confirmed that the emperor’s illness was the work of the Duke and Empress.

“That’s right. Then, since you’re busy, we’ll leave for now.”

“Yeah, let’s discuss this further later.”

He smiled at Marianne and Florin.

Both sisters avoided his gaze with cold, hardened faces.

***

It was late at night in the Empress Palace.

“Astelle!” Gretel hurriedly called her.

Astelle, who was staring blankly at the window and thinking about time, turned to Gretel’s voice.

Kaizen, who had been lying motionless, slowly opened his eyes.

Familiar red eyes were revealed through his thin, trembling eyelids.

Kaizen slowly averted his gaze, frowning at the candlelight.

“… … Astelle?”

“Your Majesty!”

Her heart was beating fast. Over the past two days, Kaizen has barely come to his senses.

At first, he regained consciousness several times, but as the poison eroded his body, the frequency of his consciousness decreased.

The more that happened, the more anxious Astelle was.

But now Kaizen opened his eyes as if he was just woken up from sleep.

Astelle, who had been anxious all night, was filled with relief and joy.

When he opens his eyes like this, it means that even a little of the herb is effective.

“How long have I been like this?” Kaizen asked while looking at the two, touching his forehead with one hand.

Astelle lowered her gaze to hide the corners of her reddened eyes, she replied, “It’s been about ten days.”

“Oh my… … .”

Kaizen sighed low and tried to get up.

Astelle stopped him. “Your Majesty, you need more rest now.”

Gretel examined him again and said delightedly, “Fortunately, the herbs seem to be working. Although it’s not fully detoxified… … .”

Seeing Astelle looking disappointed, Gretel hurriedly continued, “It’s not a fixed antidote, so it can’t detoxify completely. The poison has dissipated to the point where it’s not life-threatening. This is the best thing for now.”

“We decided to bring herbs from the South, so if he takes more, won’t we be able to get rid of the remaining poison?”

This was all Fritz brought from the West, and Astelle sent men to the South to bring more herbs.

Wouldn’t the remaining poison disappear if you take more of it?

Astelle had such hopes.

“I’m not sure, but when more herbs come, I’ll try to make medicine again. Don’t worry too much, we’ve overcome the dangerous crisis.”

Astelle nodded as she listened to Gretel’s explanation.

Anyway, she was relieved to hear that Kaizen’s life was saved, but there was also a bit of anxiety.

“Will there be any aftereffects on His Majesty’s body?” Astelle asked Gretel as she looked at Kaizen.

“That too… … I think we’ll have to wait and see.”

It’s a rare poison, and it’s not completely disappeared, so she doesn’t know what’s going to happen, Gretel said frankly.

“Still, I am glad that His Majesty’s life is not in danger. Thank you, Gretel.”

Astelle expressed her sincere gratitude.

Had it not been for Gretel, Kaizen would have come to his death helplessly. Gretel was the benefactor who saved the emperor’s life.

A loud groan was heard from behind.

“Ugh… … .”

She was startled and turned around to see Kaizen grabbing the bedpost and trying to get up again.

“Your Majesty, please get some more sleep now.”

But he did not listen and forced himself to stand up.

“I heard that my life is not in danger anymore, so I have to get up now.”

In any case, he is stubborn.

Luckily, even though he was in bed for nearly ten days, Kaizen looked fine except for being a little gaunt and pale.

Maybe it was because Gretel kept giving him medicine to keep replenish his stamina or to slow down the effects of the poison.

She sighed as Kaizen, who was sitting with difficulty, looked at her.

“I’ve put you through a lot.”

“Don’t say that.”

Astelle replied calmly, but she was so happy that her eyes were hot just because Kaizen didn’t die.

Astelle smiled, holding back her tears.

“If you know that, take a break and refresh yourself.”

***

Astelle left Kaizen behind and went out to the next room for a while.

Midnight had passed and dawn was waiting. Looks like it’s going to be bright in a little while.

As soon as she stepped out into the hallway, Hannah found Astelle and followed her.

“Your Majesty, are you okay?”

“Hannah, haven’t you slept yet?”

Hannah knew the herb had arrived. Worried about what would happen, she waited outside until dawn.

“His Majesty the Emperor… … .”

“The herb worked.”

A smile of relief appeared on Hannah’s face.

“Master Fritz and Sir Seibel are here too.”

“I see.”

Fritz has been staying in the palace for some time. Astelle had expected he would stay here tonight to see the results of the herb, but Seibel stayed up all night with him too.

Astelle went to the break room to meet the two of them.

“Your Majesty the Empress!”

Fritz and Seibel found her and got up.

“You two are still here?”

They both wore the same outfits she had seen during the day.

They seem to have stayed up all night waiting for the results together.

“His Majesty the Emperor… … .”

Astelle said to reassure them.

“Fortunately, the herb worked.”

She gave Gretel’s explanation to the two of them. Both were overjoyed.

“What a relief.”

Astelle also said that Kaizen is resting now.

Hearing the explanation, Fritz asked anxiously even though he was relieved.

“Your Majesty, what shall we do now?”

Astelle thought deeply as she heard that question.

‘What should I do now?’

Only the three of them here, Hannah and Gretel know that the Emperor has recovered.

“Sir Seibel.”

Astelle turned to Seibel.

Currently, only half of the knights Seibel brought are in the capital. The other half is said to be hiding in the suburbs disguised as commoners.

The battalions left in the north are also returning to the capital one after another. But to others, Seibel only returned to the capital with only a small number of battalions in a hurry.

“Can we secretly bring the knights who are staying in the suburbs to the capital?”

“I can bring them all in by the end of the day,” Seibel answered confidently.

Astelle said to Fritz after receiving his confirmation.

“If we’re going to sort things up, we have to make sure everything is done at once.”

“That means… … .”

“I will hide His Majesty’s recovery and call in the ministers. First of all, let’s get rid of our father.”

***