CHAPTER 128……………………………………………………..
Bitter End (7)
Adel flinched without realizing it as she approached the emperor’s bed, accompanied by the physician. The emperor, who had been gasping for breath moments ago, was now completely still. His hands, which had been flailing convulsively, now hung limply outside the bed.
The physician hurried over and examined him, then shook his head and stepped back after a long pause.
“His Majesty… has passed away.”
“That can’t be! He was full of strength just moments ago.”
The wrist she had held still tingled from his grip. And now he was dead!
Unable to believe the physician’s words, Adel protested.
“There’s a phenomenon commonly called Hwagwangbanjo (化光反照). Sometimes, those approaching death may appear to regain energy temporarily. But it’s merely an illusion—just the body preparing to accept death. However…”
The physician paused and suddenly looked at Adel. Suspicion filled his eyes, narrowed slightly on one side.
“Aren’t you, young lady, a maid of Her Majesty the Empress? What are you doing here? As far as I know, Her Majesty would be… well, busy in the emperor’s chamber with various affairs. Since when have you been here?”
The physician, as if remembering something, turned toward the emperor and began checking for various signs, lifting clothes to examine the skin and even flipping the eyelids.
The implication of his actions was clear: he suspected that Adel might have administered another poison to the emperor.
Adel began to panic. She had never imagined that she would be so openly suspected, given her innocence and her backing by her father, a count.
Yet even a commoner physician reacted like this the moment he saw her!
How naive had I been?
A cold sweat ran down Adel’s spine. She had seen many noble families collapse from minor mistakes—but she had never imagined that her own family might suffer the same fate.
“I—I…”
Hesitating, Adel silently mouthed words to Frances.
I’ll go to Lord Side.
The effect was immediate. Frances moved closer, as if to shield Adel.
“Miss Adel has just arrived to deliver the emperor’s bedding. I am Frances, Captain of the Royal Guard.”
“Oh, yes. Sir Frances. How is the Duke of Alten? Look at me, it’s not the time for idle greetings.”
With Frances stepping forward, the physician turned back, his expression solemn as if he had never doubted Adel.
“The emperor has passed, sir. He endured a severe poisoning for quite a while. But it must have been excruciating. With no way to reduce his pain, I had to prescribe strong sedatives.”
Considering the incompatibility of the poison with the sedatives, the emperor’s stamina had been remarkable.
The physician swallowed any unnecessary words and looked up at Frances.
“I should inform the Minister of the Palace of His Majesty’s passing.”
Before he could finish, a mournful trumpet announcing the emperor’s death rang out. The alert had spread quickly as the observant servants waiting at the doorway dispersed throughout the palace.
Frances, who had been listening, patted the physician on the shoulder in consolation.
“Well, at least that’s one task done.”
The two exited the emperor’s chamber and naturally parted at the doorway. The physician hurried to inform the Empress of the emperor’s death. In return, he had been promised an amount of money unimaginable on his salary alone. The thought of what he could do with it brought a faint smile to his face.
Catching himself laughing, the physician quickly composed his expression and glanced around. His eyes met Frances, who had been observing him all along.
“Gah!”
Startled, the physician covered his mouth, and Frances twisted his lips in a knowing smile. Despite the chill running down his spine, the physician turned away as if nothing had happened.
He recalled the rumors about Frances circulating in high society, but nothing concrete came to mind. The more he thought, the deeper his concern grew.
Then he remembered the moment he entered the emperor’s chamber. While Adel had been preoccupied with her thoughts, Frances had never taken his eyes off the physician from the moment he entered to the moment he left.
Realizing Frances was not particularly friendly toward him, the physician turned away from heading to the Empress’s office and instead went home.
No, even if it’s a huge sum, it’s best to grab what I can and run. I can collect the rest once things settle down.
He had more than enough evidence safely stored, so there was no worry of losing the promised money later.
Winter was approaching, and the days had grown noticeably chilly. Hildegarde, reviewing the military mobilization plan submitted by Count Fahel, shivered and looked around. Darkness had already fallen.
Hildegarde frowned.
Does she even know what the position of a personal maid entails…
Adel was slow and always acted on her own whims. It was obvious she intended to idle along, waiting for a suitable match to marry.
Still, shouldn’t she at least do her job?
It’s been ages since she went on an errand!
She had only been sent to deliver the emperor’s bedding and check on his condition, yet she still hadn’t returned.
Irritated, Hildegarde rose from her seat, just as a short knock sounded. Adel had finally returned, likely after wandering around gossiping.
“Who’s there?”
Before Hildegarde’s sharp voice could be answered, the door swung open. Once again acting carelessly, Adel was about to provoke Hildegarde’s anger when—
“Why are you alone?”
Stepping in with a long shadow and leaning on a cane was none other than Duke Crow. He had always sent just enough money under the pretext of being busy—what brought him here this time?
The duke frowned and surveyed the room, which was excessively dark.
“And what’s with that outfit?”
With an irritated tone, Crow scolded Hildegarde and lit a candle to illuminate the wall.
Hildegarde’s annoyance deepened at the duke’s unexpected reprimand. He looked down on her as the poor girl taken from the orphanage, a perspective so arrogant it was infuriating.
“What’s wrong with this dress? It’s newly made last week. And you, grandfather, are dressed strangely yourself.”
Crow usually wore dark suits, but today he was clad entirely in black, from head to toe. His already fierce appearance now seemed even more intimidating.
The duke’s mouth opened slightly, then closed again. For the first time, his expression showed genuine surprise, turning serious.
“You don’t know yet?”
“What could I possibly not know?”
“That His Majesty the Emperor…”
Before the duke could finish, a servant burst in without knocking.
Do all of them coordinate these disruptions today?
Believing the servant had embarrassed her in front of the duke, Hildegarde was about to scold him when the servant, bowing and gasping, said:
“Your Majesty, the Empress, His Majesty the Emperor has passed. I rushed here first, knowing no one else had informed Your Majesty.”
A confident, proud smile spread across the servant’s face, clearly pleased to be the one delivering such important news to the Empress.
Hildegarde frowned at the foolishly transparent expression. She had already known the emperor would not live long and had prepared accordingly. Her rising irritation was not caused by the emperor’s death.
“When did he pass?”
“I heard it was before the morning meal.”
“Before the morning meal?”
And she was only learning this now…
Hildegarde glanced at the duke, dressed entirely in black. He must have received the news of the emperor’s death before entering the palace.
Hildegarde’s face went expressionless.
