CHAPTER 84…………………..
“Is it some kind of medicine that’s popular in the Empire these days?”
At my question, two sharp gazes shot toward me.
Huh…?
‘Did I ask something wrong?’
“…Madam, pardon me, but may I ask what you mean by that?”
It was Ricador who posed the question.
The air felt a bit tense.
What is this?
“I recently saw someone who had the exact same medicine. So I thought maybe it was some kind of effective supplement.”
If it’s a supplement taken by a duke’s daughter and the crown prince, it must be incredibly effective.
But after hearing me, Kalak’s expression became strange.
It looked like he might be angry.
“…Is it perhaps a medicine I’m not supposed to know about?”
“Madam, where did you see that medicine?”
Kalak approached me, his eyes gleaming.
Rather than anger, he looked desperate.
It was my first time seeing him like this. Startled, I stammered a little.
“Pardon? Well…”
What kind of medicine is this to get such a reaction?
‘Is this something extremely important to the plot?’
But there was nothing like this in the original story.
Seeing my silence, he pressed further.
“This is something urgent for me.”
Telling him wasn’t difficult.
‘But is it the right thing to say?’
No one had told me, but I could instinctively tell.
What I say now could greatly affect the original story.
I didn’t want the story I knew to change any further.
“Madam.”
Kalak grabbed my shoulder.
“Don’t make me issue an imperial order to you.”
Anyone who defies an imperial order is considered a traitor.
For someone saying something so bold, his hand gripping me was trembling.
For some reason, he felt like a whimpering lost puppy.
“Your Highness…”
As I looked at the shoulder he was holding and began to speak, he flinched and quickly let go.
“My apologies. What I did just now…”
“Oh, no. It’s alright!”
I don’t know what that medicine is, but it seems very important to him.
With a complicated expression, he ran a hand over his face and spoke.
“…It seems I got a bit carried away. I apologize.”
“It’s alright.”
“No, it’s not alright for me. As an apology, I’d like to tell you one of my secrets.”
Excuse me?
“A secret?”
…Now what is it?
Why do I feel anxious every time Kalak opens his mouth?
“The truth is, I—”
“Your Highness!”
Ricador cut him off as he intervened.
It was disrespectful, but neither of them seemed to care.
“Your Highness, you must not.”
“Ricador, there’s no such thing as an eternal secret in this world.”
Ricador’s face gradually darkened.
Though he didn’t say anything aloud, his expression seemed to be hurling every possible insult.
What is this situation?
“Um, if it’s such an important secret, you don’t have to tell me.”
I had a rough idea what it might be anyway.
‘If it’s his secret, there’s only one possibility.’
But Kalak was firm.
“No, I’d like you to hear it.”
To the point of being burdensome.
“…Is it an imperial order?”
“No, it’s a request.”
Even if it had been an imperial order, I’d have had no choice—but a request didn’t change much.
Though I could feel the situation getting more complicated, I nodded.
Relieved, Kalak began to speak.
“Seven years ago, it started when an anonymous person began sending me this medicine every month.”
Medicine?
Kalak held up the medicine he had been about to take, then swallowed it.
The pallor on his face quickly gave way to color.
“This medicine temporarily alleviates my incurable illness. Without it, I would be in constant pain.”
I already knew that he suffered from a chronic condition.
‘But what is this medicine?’
“You’re not surprised. Even after hearing that the future emperor of the Empire has an incurable disease.”
Ah, was I too expressionless?
“…This is just how I look when I’m surprised.”
“What? Haha. You have quite a cute side, Madam.”
“I hear that often.”
Perhaps he hadn’t expected that response—his eyes widened for a moment.
But soon, they curved gently.
“Anyway, I’ve spent years trying to find the source of this medicine.”
Is he changing the subject now?
“But every time I think I’ve caught a lead, it slips away. As if someone is deliberately interfering.”
Wait, listening to this…
This sounds like the method ‘Khan’ often used in the original story.
Khan’s main tactic was information manipulation.
‘It seems like Adrina is still in contact with Khan.’
Then why did Blake say there was no ‘Khan’?
Right then, Kalak continued.
“That’s why I’ve been so distracted these past few days. I thought I’d finally find the source this time, but I failed again.”
He smiled bitterly.
I felt like I should comfort him somehow, but the only thing I could offer was telling him where I saw the medicine.
I hesitated.
‘Should I tell him?’
But I couldn’t put a fleeting sense of sympathy above my own life.
Hearing more would only weigh on my heart.
I lowered my head.
“I’m sorry.”
“…”
“…I can’t tell you.”
“I see.”
“Uh… yes.”
If I were more shameless, I might have just brushed it off as a misunderstanding.
But Mary once said my thoughts show clearly on my face, so it might not have worked anyway.
At my firm response, Kalak let out a faint sigh.
“If that’s your decision, then it can’t be helped.”
“…Pardon?”
“Your Highness?”
Ricador looked at him in disbelief. I felt just as uneasy.
“If she doesn’t want to say it, I can’t force her. Especially not someone who saved my life.”
I appreciate the consideration… but your aide looks like he’s about to faint.
“I won’t ask any further today. Just knowing that I might find the source of the medicine through you is already a significant gain.”
Doesn’t that mean he plans to get it out of me someday?
‘But if it’s someday…’
Maybe it would be fine to tell him after I safely divorce Sideron.
If I’m far removed from the original story by then, whatever happens between them won’t concern me.
‘Though… war might be a bit much.’
“By the way, Your Highness, why are you telling me such a secret?”
It seemed too heavy a secret to share just out of guilt.
“If I say it’s because I want to become closer to you, would you believe me?”
Because you want to get closer…?
‘I’m serious. I quite like you, Madam.’
Adrina’s earlier words suddenly came to mind.
Why do they all want to get close to a mere supporting character like me?
I did end up saving them due to circumstances, but still.
‘It’s quite suspicious.’
As I sank into thought, Kalak spoke again.
“Of course, I mean this as one person to another, so please don’t misunderstand.”
Huh?
Ah, wait…
‘Does he think I assumed he likes me?’
“Of course. I didn’t think anything like that at all.”
Who does he think I am?!
I’m not someone who mistakes kindness for affection.
“You’re rejecting it so firmly that I feel a bit hurt.”
Unbelievable.
If I stayed any longer, I might end up saying something I shouldn’t.
I quickly bowed my head.
“Thank you for inviting me. It was an enlightening time.”
I thought he might try to stop me.
“I look forward to seeing you again soon.”
But he let me go more easily than expected.
Click.
After leaving the reception room, I walked down the palace corridor, lost in thought.
‘I feel like I heard quite a lot of important things today.’
To summarize:
- How does Blake know the royal family’s secret training method?
- Blake might be an attribute-less individual.
- Adrina is acting differently from the original story.
- Where is ‘Khan’ now?
Something like that?
‘That guy Blake… could he be the real hidden mastermind who wasn’t even in the original?’
Why does he show up everywhere?
‘I’m curious, but digging into him probably won’t benefit me.’
It might be better to question Adrina instead.
In the original story, Adrina had a softer personality than expected.
I don’t know the circumstances, but right now she’s even friendly toward me.
‘That’s not a bad idea.’
Thinking I should contact her soon, I got into the carriage heading home.
