Chapter 29
After a moment, Ricardo heard the whispering voices of maids. Only then did he realize how ridiculous it was that he had hidden behind a pillar. He let out a low, mocking laugh at himself.
Even if he suspected Stella of being the Empress’s person, surely the maids would not dare enter a room where he was staying as well.
But as he quietly waited for them to pass, their conversation sounded very suspicious.
“Her Majesty the Empress is truly mischievous. To prepare such a gift.”
“Just one drop of this makes your body burn with heat and thirst. They say you’ll run toward the first person you see. You’ll feel like you can only survive if you touch their warmth.”
One maid pulled out a small glass bottle from her sleeve. Inside, a pale pink liquid swayed gently.
“Come on. It can’t really be that strong, can it?”
“It’s true. I heard it from the sorcerer who made the love potion. It was created by Her Majesty’s order. How could it be fake? I’ll secretly keep the rest. Who knows when I might use it.”
The two maids looked at the bottle with playful eyes.
“You don’t even have anyone to use it on. Give it to me.”
“Who would you use it on? Don’t tell me that blond knight who’s always near the Third Prince? He’s already married. Wake up!”
“Shh. Be quiet. Someone might hear.”
They glanced around nervously. Ricardo pressed himself deeper into the shadows.
When their giggling faded away, he slowly stepped out.
He was stunned by what he had just heard. The Empress had even lied that it was the Emperor’s gift to do something like this.
Annoyed, he strode toward the room and opened the door, intending to smash whatever they had left behind.
But the sight inside froze him like ice.
Stella was drinking red wine from a long glass at the exact moment he entered.
The only things the maids had brought into the room were the bottle and the glass in front of her.
Before he could stop her, Stella licked the last drop from her lips and then looked startled by his sudden appearance.
“Why are you…?”
“Just one drop will make your body burn with heat…”
The maids’ whisper echoed in his mind.
The moment Ricardo opened the door, I sensed something was wrong.
Before I could even wonder why he had appeared so suddenly, he rushed forward, snatched the bottle and glass from me, and threw them to the floor.
His face looked angry — or perhaps confused. My vision began to blur.
Suddenly, all the strength drained from my body. I barely managed to hold onto the chair.
‘Was there poison in the wine?’
After drinking it, my body began to feel as if flames were rising inside me. My fingertips and toes tingled strangely.
‘Ah… am I going to die like this?’
I thought poison would bring sharp pain. Instead, my body felt light and strange.
‘Am I being paralyzed? I have no strength… I can’t stand…’
Just as I was about to collapse, Ricardo grabbed my shoulders.
“Are you all right?”
His face looked blurred, but the firmness of his hands holding me was clear.
At first, it felt like he was simply supporting my weakening body. But soon, my body felt as if it were boiling. Only the places where he touched felt cool.
Strangely, it felt good.
It was a sensation I had never experienced before. I wanted to touch him more. Something inside me became impossible to endure, and without thinking, I wrapped my other arm around his neck and pulled him closer.
My burning cheek and neck touched his skin. It felt cool. It felt good.
“I-I’m sorry… but my body feels strange…”
Even in my dazed state, a faint part of my mind knew this was wrong, and I murmured an apology.
If it were poison, I should be coughing blood and dying. What had they put in it?
Then I remembered.
“Her Majesty has sent a precious wine to thank you for your hard work today. She specially prepared it for you.”
The maids’ earlier words suddenly made sense.
‘What have you done…!’
The last thread of my reason was slipping away. My body desperately wanted to cling to Ricardo. With my remaining willpower, I pushed him away.
“I’m fine. Please leave the room. I want to be alone.”
I stumbled toward the bed as if crawling. If I lay down and closed my eyes, I believed I would fall asleep and everything would be fine.
This was worse than a severe fever. When I finally lay down, it felt not like a soft bed, but like falling into fire.
Through blurred vision, I saw Ricardo walking toward the door. I felt relieved, thinking he was leaving.
But when I opened my eyes again, he was still there.
He shut the open door firmly and even locked it, as if preventing anyone from entering.
I forced my eyes open to look at him. He disliked me so much — why was he staying?
Then I understood and gave a weak, bitter smile.
If he simply did not want others to see the Duchess in such disgrace, that was reason enough.
He walked to the table, poured water into a glass, and came back to me.
Though my body felt like it was burning alive, I kept watching him.
He slipped an arm behind my back and gently lifted me, letting me lean against him.
Just having him beside me made it easier to breathe.
He tilted the glass and slowly let water touch my lips. The cold water felt like life itself. Desperate, I drank quickly.
Without meaning to, I grabbed his hand too hard, spilling water down my neck and soaking the front of my dress.
Yet Ricardo did not get angry. He simply picked up a towel and carefully wiped the wet areas.
In my right mind, I should have rejected his touch. But his gentle movements did not feel unpleasant.
I truly must be out of my mind.
“Haah… haah… It would’ve been better if it were poison. What did they put in it…?”
My body felt so hot I wanted to jump into icy water.
Without thinking, I grabbed the hand holding the towel and pressed it against my face.
“My body is too hot…”
It was against my will, but his cool skin made me feel slightly alive again.
I thought he would push me away.
But Ricardo did not.
Instead, he pulled me closer and gently removed the hand that had been gripping the blanket tightly, wrapping it around himself.
I must have been holding it with all my strength — my nails had pressed painfully into my palm.
With his other hand, he softly touched my forehead and cheek.
Like a father caring for a sick child.
Through heavy breaths, resentment toward the Empress slipped from my lips.
“That crazy woman… I won’t let this go…”
I did not know what grudge the Empress had against me to do something so vile. My plan to stay on good terms with her was completely ruined.
Ricardo lowered me gently back onto the bed.
As my body sank into the mattress, my consciousness began to fade. Still, I clutched him tightly, unwilling to let go.
It would be better to lose all sense and awareness.
Ricardo slowly loosened Stella’s grip from the blanket.
She had held it so tightly that her nails dug into his palm, drawing blood.
He looked at the woman suffering in front of him and slowly brought the hand she had pressed against his face closer.
Her small hand, resting against his cheek, was so hot it felt as if it could burn even his cold skin.
