CHAPTER 61…………………………………….
“They said something like that came through the wiretap — that all they had to do was get rid of the focal point.”
“Wiretap? Don’t tell me you actually bugged them?”
“Is that what matters right now? I’m telling you they’re trying to get rid of you!”
“Still, if you were going to do that, you shouldn’t have done it where the head maid could hear!”
At Mother’s words, everyone’s eyes turned toward the head maid.
Standing awkwardly like oil on water, the head maid finally couldn’t hold it in and let out an uncomfortable sigh.
“…I’ll keep my mouth shut, so please, continue your discussion.”
“She’s clearly someone who’s had to navigate social politics.”
Only then did Kyle’s father take his eyes off the head maid and return to the main topic.
“If you want, I can let you hear it for yourself. I’d have to boost the sound a bit, but building an amplifier isn’t exactly hard.”
“…”
“Anyway, you know exactly what this means, don’t you?”
With that, Kyle’s father turned his gaze again to Harzen’s father.
Harzen’s father bit his lips a few times before slowly opening his mouth.
“No matter what, there’s no reason for my brother to go this far—”
“Ah, for crying out loud.”
Even that was quickly cut off by Kyle’s father.
“If you’re going to keep saying he’d never do something like that, then just shut it.”
He roughly ran a hand through his hair and continued.
“If you really don’t believe me, go confirm it yourself. That should settle it, right?”
“Confirm it… myself?”
The first to react to those words was Mother.
“What are you planning to do this time?”
Kyle’s father gave a crooked smile.
“I’ve got a plan. Anyone want in?”
A few hours later.
Footsteps echoed softly down the quiet corridor of the Empress’s Palace.
It was Amy, a maid serving under the Empress.
‘It’s unusually quiet today.’
Amy sighed as she walked through the eerily still hallway.
Ever since the culprit behind the Empress’s poisoning attempt had been revealed, the already-silent palace had felt even more like thin ice.
‘When Her Majesty briefly woke up, everyone was in a celebratory mood.’
Still, with Lady Miller around, things should start getting better again soon — or so she thought as she entered the hallway leading to the bedchamber.
“Huh?”
She spotted someone walking from the opposite direction and widened her eyes.
Soft pink hair, as sweet and warm as spring blossoms.
An impossibly lovely face, like something out of a dream.
It was none other than the very person Amy had just been thinking of — Yuria Miller.
But…
‘Why is she back?’
Amy tilted her head in confusion.
Hadn’t Lady Miller already left after finishing the Empress’s treatment?
‘Did she forget something?’
Still, Amy quickly brushed aside her doubts and nodded slightly.
It wasn’t strange for Lady Miller to visit the Empress’s Palace again.
Only one thing felt a bit… off.
‘She feels harder to approach than usual today.’
Amy had only ever seen her from afar, but she knew the kind of aura Yuria had — just looking at her could lift your spirits.
But today, there was something different — a faint chill, a dangerous edge.
“Oh my.”
At that moment, Yuria Miller met Amy’s eyes and smiled softly.
“You’re a maid from the Empress’s Palace, right?”
Amy flinched and shrank back slightly.
“Y-Yes, ma’am.”
Lady Miller had spoken to her first!
“Perfect timing.”
Yuria stepped closer, her smile warm and graceful.
“I happened to forget something.”
Then, she drew a small vial from her bosom and held it out to Amy.
“If it’s not too much trouble, could you please give this to Her Majesty?”
“What is this…?”
Amy reflexively accepted the vial and asked.
“It’s a potion that restores strength.”
Yuria’s smile didn’t waver.
“Her Majesty hasn’t shown much improvement since briefly waking, so I thought this might help her recover a bit.”
“Oh…”
How could she have thought someone so kind was cold or distant? Amy scolded herself.
“I’d love to deliver it myself, but my daughter’s waiting for me.”
Yuria smiled apologetically.
Amy blinked, snapping out of her daze.
“I can’t decide that on my own, so I’ll let the head maid know.”
“You can just tell her I asked you to deliver it. Please.”
“Yes, I’ll make sure she knows.”
“Thank you so much.”
With one last radiant smile, Yuria turned and began to walk away.
Amy stood there, staring blankly after her.
‘What was that?’
A sudden chill brushed past her, making her shiver.
Summer was approaching, yet the air felt cold enough to bring on goosebumps.
‘…Maybe it’s going to rain?’
Amy tilted her head and stepped into the bedchamber — only to freeze again.
The other maids who usually tended to the Empress were nowhere to be seen; only the head maid stood waiting at the door.
“I heard voices outside.”
“Oh, um…”
Amy quickly came to her senses and held out the vial.
“I ran into Lady Miller out front, and she gave me this. She said it’s a potion that helps restore vitality — that it would be good for Her Majesty.”
“…”
The head maid silently took the vial.
An endless moment seemed to pass before she spoke again.
“You say Lady Miller gave this to you…”
Her voice was low and subdued.
“Then I suppose we must prepare to administer it.”
“Prepare?”
Amy blinked. You had to prepare to give medicine?
While she puzzled over that, the head maid continued.
“It looks like it’s about to rain. Go gather the laundry hanging outside.”
A clear dismissal.
Amy understood and quickly left the room.
A few hours later, as a heavy downpour began, news spread through the palace like wildfire.
The Empress’s condition had suddenly taken a grave turn.
The entire palace was thrown into chaos. Even the Emperor and the Second Prince abandoned their duties to rush to the Empress’s Palace.
“Mother is in critical condition? How could this happen so suddenly?”
Inside the palace bedchamber, Bertolt entered, breathing heavily.
There, he saw Yuria Miller, her young daughter, and the Emperor already present.
“Father.”
He lowered his voice as he finally noticed them.
The Emperor held Cecilia’s hand tightly and gave a short nod.
“…You’re late.”
“The meeting ran longer than expected. But they said Mother might not last the night—”
Bertolt stepped closer to the bedside.
Just then—
“Achoo! Pheh-choo!”
A child’s small sneezes filled the quiet room.
Bertolt stopped and looked at Cecilia.
“Could it be contagious—”
“It’s not that.”
The Emperor sighed, gripping Cecilia’s hand tightly.
“But her cough is getting worse. Take her outside for a bit.”
“N-no, Grandpa! Achoo! I’m really fine!”
“Logan, take the child.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
After the aide led the child out—
“…Now, we should speak properly.”
The Emperor exhaled deeply.
The head maid, who had remained silent until now, began to speak slowly.
“Her Majesty’s condition began to deteriorate rapidly this evening.”
“The reason?”
“That is—”
The attending physician stammered nervously.
“I-I’m afraid… she’s been poisoned.”
