~Chapter 96~
“The pharmacist under the Empress Dowager kept my illness under control, which is why I have survived until now. Well… it seems that pharmacist died in the recent commotion as well…”
Camilla thought of Meisa. If she inherited Stella’s medical skills, she would know quite a bit about Azur Sanguis.
“Your Majesty… might your illness be one where the heart hardens like stone?”
“…Hmm? Ah. I’ve heard that Grand Duke Demian, my predecessor, had the same condition. That is correct.”
Dane and Camilla exchanged a glance.
No words were spoken, but their silent understanding passed between them.
Camilla quietly smiled.
Dane pressed his brow in thought for a moment, then finally nodded.
“Your Majesty.”
“Hmm?”
Camilla’s eyes sparkled as she whispered slowly.
“Wouldn’t you need a new pharmacist to cure Azur Sanguis?”
The outcome she had truly desired now seemed within reach.
The Emperor wanted Camilla to remain longer in the palace. Therefore, she stayed another week for her diagnosis.
Dane seemed reluctant about the delayed return, but he could not leave while a patient was present.
Camilla spent time with the Emperor, conducting her diagnosis and sharing small talk.
‘He’s quite an interesting person, Emperor Iojif.’
In the original story, he had appeared paranoid and mistrustful, but here he could joke and was unexpectedly kind.
‘Of course, he was still the Emperor.’
“I heard from Anita that, when your madness briefly subsided, you tried to persuade me to take an injection during that time?”
“…Yes. I did.”
Although it hadn’t happened, Camilla herself had tried to convince him.
“How could you try to persuade someone you didn’t even know?”
Indeed, persuading the Emperor, whom she met for the first time, was extremely difficult.
‘…That’s why I tried to bring up the child.’
It was a cheat key from the original story.
The paranoid Emperor softened only around Anita and Amelia.
Although his relationship with Amelia was chaotic, he still carried guilt for having dismissed his adopted daughters.
‘Even when Amelia acted violently under the Empress Dowager’s influence, he ignored it.’
So Camilla had planned to mix a small lie, claiming Amelia’s actions were intended to help the Emperor, to persuade him.
Surprisingly, the original Emperor would not refuse the tea laced with poison Amelia offered.
‘But it’s fortunate I didn’t do it myself.’
Now, Camilla realized that if Anita hadn’t intervened directly, the Emperor might never have moved.
Still, she had to answer his questions, so she whispered slowly:
“…I intended to appeal to him by pointing out that I am the same age as his daughter, to earn his trust.”
“What? My… daughter? …I have no daughter.”
Even knowing she referred to the Marchioness Churello, imprisoned as the Empress Dowager’s accomplice, the Emperor pretended ignorance.
“…Then I was foolish, Your Majesty. Fortunately, the Marchioness intervened herself.”
Camilla quietly agreed with his pretense, and the Emperor’s face stiffened.
Lost in thought, he gave a hollow laugh and glanced at her.
“…You did not get along with your father, did you?”
“It’s embarrassing that this news has reached Your Majesty’s ears.”
In truth, it wasn’t embarrassing. She truly had a serious estrangement with her father.
“…I heard your father tried to kill you. If…?”
The Emperor trailed off.
“If he had apologized instead, how different would it have been?”
Camilla doubted her ears.
This came from the paranoid Emperor?
She had assumed all parents in this world were hopeless, yet some seemed capable of change.
“If… my father had apologized instead of torturing and attempting to kill me, our relationship would not have deteriorated so much.”
It was a futile thought, something that would never happen.
“…Perhaps.”
“Yes, perhaps.”
Camilla sipped her tea.
The Emperor seemed lost in thought, but beyond that, there was little she could do.
‘…The matter with Amelia must be resolved by the Emperor himself.’
She hoped that Lux’s efforts to save Amelia would not be wasted.
Then she added:
“Your Majesty… may I ask whether the Empress Dowager’s personal belongings were searched? She took the paralytic I prepared.”
Hiding the fact it was a death-mimicking potion, the Emperor nodded.
“Of course. All her possessions and property have been confiscated. They will be thoroughly monitored until her crimes are fully revealed and she is judged.”
No need to worry, Iojif replied, his gaze icy but calm.
Meeting Camilla’s eyes, he smiled warmly and asked:
“So, is there anything else you wish to know? Perhaps the status of distant cousins who are not blood-related?”
Camilla blinked at the mention of Ares.
“I can provide such answers to my pharmacist involved in this incident.”
Camilla smiled faintly.
“No, I am not curious. Thank you, Your Majesty.”
“…Hmm. So you have other rewards you hope for?”
“Well… treating Your Majesty is reward enough. Other matters can wait for later.”
After finishing the examination, Camilla stepped outside to find Dane waiting.
“How long have you been here?”
“Not long.”
“It’s already evening. I’ll help change your bandages.”
Camilla went with Dane to the Emperor’s prepared chamber, carefully tending to his bandages.
She gazed at Dane’s hand, injured by Amelia’s rampage, and softly asked:
“…Did it hurt much?”
“Not at all. At that time, it didn’t hurt in the slightest.”
He had been too focused on finding her to notice pain.
Feeling a flutter in her stomach, Camilla realized how painful and yet pleasant her emotions could be.
“Actually, the Emperor asked today if I was curious about what happened to Ares.”
“…What?”
Camilla smiled faintly.
“So, I said I wasn’t curious.”
She did not care whether he lived or died.
“It’s as if I’ve already killed him in my mind.”
Even if he went to hell for his sins, in her heart, he was already dead.
Dane widened his eyes at her.
“What now?”
“What do you mean?”
“I think I’ve fallen for you again.”
“…Dane, do you realize you have an unusual taste?”
She teased, giggling, but Dane didn’t care and tilted his head.
Just as their lips were about to meet—
Knock, knock.
Startled, Camilla pulled away.
“Excuse me, Grand Duchess. The palace physician has come to deliver the medical report.”
Flustered, she straightened her attire and invited the physician in. The physician took a seat, and Camilla received the report. They began discussing it professionally.
“Impressive. The report is very clear.”
“Haha, you flatter me.”
As Camilla and the physician examined the report, Dane watched her quietly, lost in thought.
Camilla, unaware of his gaze, continued her conversation.
Even living in the palace, there were limits.
‘I need more materials about Azur Sanguis stored at the Grand Duke’s residence.’
A week later, Camilla requested to leave the palace again.
“Your Majesty, I wish to return to the Grand Duke’s residence to review the materials I’ve gathered.”
“…Grand Duchess, do you wish to become the royal court physician…?”
“No, Your Majesty.”
Dane, standing beside her, quickly answered on her behalf.
“Tsk, I wasn’t asking you, Grand Duke of Escalus.”
Her request to leave was granted.
‘Returning to the Grand Duke’s residence.’
Before she departed, the Emperor sent several carriages packed with gifts, instructing her to return promptly with the materials.
“A bribe for my precious pharmacist. Be sure to return.”
‘A bit excessive…’
“You stopped a rebellion, so this is hardly a gift. It’s not like it’s meant to buy your silence. Just accept it for now.”
Following Dane’s advice, Camilla thanked the Emperor and took the gifts.
Finally, they departed.
The weather was perfect. Those who had helped rescue her, like Dylan, were safe and with her.
‘Howwin said he had business and left the palace first.’
Dane sat beside her.
In the carriage back to Escalus, Camilla felt a deep sense of happiness.
She whispered affectionately:
“Dane, among the royal family, do many die from hereditary illnesses?”
Camilla suspected that Azur Sanguis might be a little-known genetic condition of the royal family.
‘They kept it quiet for fear of weakness. Grand Duke Demian’s known illness was a rare case.’
“…Well. We’ll check the family tree once we return to the Grand Duke’s residence.”
His answer sounded hesitant. Camilla was puzzled, but Dane whispered softly:
“But for now… I’d rather stop talking about work until we reach Escalus.”
“Huh?”
With that, Dane gently rested Camilla’s head on his shoulder.
‘……?!’
“I like seeing you focused on something… but…”
A warm, low whisper reached her.
“You seem a little lonely.”
“…Dane?”
