IQBSA 21

Chapter 21

“Prince Enoch?”

An ominous feeling crept over me at the unfamiliar-yet-familiar name.

Wait, if it’s Prince Enoch…

Suddenly, a memory struck my mind like lightning, and I froze in place.

『…He’s a villain!』

Prince Enoch was the son of the Empress Dowager Dahlia.

An ambitious man who constantly coveted the Crown Prince’s position—his older half-brother—and after all of the Empress Dowager’s schemes were exposed, he refused to acknowledge his crimes to the very end, raised a rebellion, and met his death.

『In other words, he’s priority number one to avoid.』

But Charis, unaware of the prince’s true nature, greeted him familiarly.

“Wow, how long has it been?”

“About two years, I think.”

As the prince brushed back his dark blond hair, his sun-bronzed face and golden eyes—the hallmark of the imperial bloodline—were revealed in turn.

As one would expect of an Aldrate bloodline, his large frame and solidly built muscles throughout his body boasted an extraordinary physique.

Charis looked Prince Enoch up and down and spoke in a raised voice.

“You’ve grown so much I almost didn’t recognize you. When did you get this tall?”

“…I suppose so.”

Prince Enoch scratched the back of his neck, looking embarrassed by Charis’s fuss.

『What’s this? He doesn’t fit at all.』

He was so different from how he was described in the original work that I felt a strong sense of incongruity.

No, if you’re a villain, act like one! Give me some sharp, fierce eyes, exude a sinister aura—that would be honest and straightforward.

But the prince, though physically imposing, had a gentle face and seemed hesitant.

『Stop with the pretenses and show your dark true intentions!』

If all of that was calculated, I wanted to applaud his cunning.

“Serpine, what’s wrong?”

Then Roakin’s voice suddenly reached my ears. Startled by his questioning tone, I realized I had been staring blankly at the prince for too long.

“Ah… It’s nothing.”

I had stopped in the middle of walking, but I pulled myself together and resumed moving.

As we approached the Crown Prince’s bedchamber, the conversation grew louder.

“I heard you were traveling—when did you return?”

“I just got back. I happened to hear some unbelievable news and rushed over… and it turned out to be true.”

“I have no face to show you, Your Highness.”

Charis lowered her head and murmured bitterly.

“But what was all that commotion just now?”

“Ah, I was trying to see my brother, but these men wouldn’t let me in. They even scoffed at me, saying ‘Enoch? Don’t be ridiculous.'”

Prince Enoch pointed at the soldiers blocking the door, venting his frustration.

Meanwhile, the soldiers he pointed at turned pale as ash.

“W-We… We didn’t recognize you! We’re sorry!”

“We’ve committed a crime punishable by death!”

The soldiers, bowing their heads in unison, shot pleading glances at Charis for rescue. Charis frowned in displeasure but still chimed in.

“It seems these men haven’t been here long and didn’t recognize you, Your Highness. However, we have orders to allow no one but the physician inside, so I kindly ask for your understanding.”

“Never mind. I can’t blame anyone for my long absence from the palace. But now that you’ve confirmed who I am, will you let me in?”

He looked ready to break in if they didn’t open the door. Watching him from behind, my thoughts grew complicated.

『…Would it be alright to just leave him be?』

The reason the Empress Dowager was so desperate to push out the Crown Prince was because of this Prince Enoch.

Though the original work never explicitly stated that the prince was complicit in the conspiracy, given that he defended the Empress Dowager’s atrocities and even raised a rebellion, it was hard to believe he was completely uninvolved.

I was debating whether to step in, worried about leaving the defenseless Crown Prince vulnerable to the prince’s approach, when Charis hesitantly spoke up.

“However, Your Highness. I hope you will forgive my impertinence, but… I think it would be best if you just returned.”

“…Why?”

“As I mentioned earlier, by imperial decree, only the physician and a few attending handmaidens are permitted entry.”

“Then I’ll go see Father right now and get permission—”

As Prince Enoch turned to leave, Charis hastily grabbed his arm.

“Of course, if Your Highness requests it, His Majesty would likely permit it… but I’m more worried about you being unnecessarily entangled in blame.”

“What do you mean? What’s wrong with a younger brother visiting his older brother?”

Prince Enoch asked, genuinely puzzled.

“Surely you know it’s not that simple, Your Highness? The wolves inside and outside the palace are baring their teeth, waiting for prey. Now more than ever, we must be cautious in our every move. At the risk of being rude, I dare advise you—please stay away from here until the Founding Festival is over.”

It was easy to guess what Charis was getting at.

Prince Enoch, along with the Empress Dowager, was a prime suspect in this incident.

That was simple to deduce by considering who would benefit most from the Crown Prince’s accident. It was just that there was no clear evidence, so everyone kept quiet.

If he didn’t want to fan the flames of suspicion, it would be wise to keep his distance from the Crown Prince, as Charis advised.

“…”

A dark shadow fell over Prince Enoch’s face.

The prince clenched his fists as if suppressing his anger and spoke.

“I understand what you’re saying… I’ll withdraw for now.”

Seeing him give up and turn away immediately, I breathed a sigh of relief.

『Good job, Charis!』

I’d been worried he might try something against the Crown Prince, so I hoped he’d disappear and not come near here until the Founding Festival was over.

Prince Enoch strode back down the corridor with furious, impulsive steps.

“…”

Soon, the prince drew close and nodded briefly at Roakin, as if acknowledging an acquaintance, then glanced at me with a passing gaze.

The moment his fierce golden eyes met mine, I quickly turned my head and looked at the distant mountains.

Whether it was because I knew his true nature from reading the original work, or because he felt far more intimidating up close than from afar, my heart chilled.

『Please, just pass by…』

There was nothing to gain from catching his attention, so I focused on walking forward without looking at him. Fortunately, when I glanced back upon reaching the door, the prince had already disappeared as a tiny speck in the distance.

“Please enter.”

At Charis’s command, the door opened, and the physician glided inside first and disappeared from view. I was about to follow when Charis suddenly blocked my way and spoke.

“Wait a moment. Why is the Tower Master coming in?”

“Is it not allowed?”

“Did you not hear earlier? By the strict imperial decree, entry is forbidden except for the physician. The secretary can enter as a consultant, but the Tower Master, who has no medical knowledge whatsoever, is out of the question.”

“We’re the same party—why are you being so rigid?”

“No. Way.”

Charis gritted her teeth and spat out threateningly. But Roakin was not the type to yield so easily.

“Serpine is my secretary, and I have a duty to protect my people. How can I send her in alone, not knowing what might be inside?”

“There’s nothing but the Crown Prince and two attending handmaidens. Put away your useless worries.”

“I’ll just go by myself, Tower Master.”

With the two of them stubbornly standing their ground, I had no choice but to step in.

“Are you sure you’ll be alright?”

Roakin shot me a worried look.

It wouldn’t be as good as going in together, but with the Tower Master waiting right outside the door, there shouldn’t be any problem.

I nodded, took a deep breath, and entered the bedchamber.

The room was filled with a pungent scent.

In this world, there were incense sticks with effects like aphrodisiacs or paralysis, so strong scents had to be treated with caution. I reflexively covered my nose, and the physician, seeming to catch on, chuckled and said:

“No need to be so wary. It’s just incense burned to neutralize the strong medicinal smell.”

“…Haha. I see.”

I awkwardly lowered my arm.

“Come over here.”

The physician had already taken his place beside the Crown Prince’s bed and gestured for me to approach.

As I drew closer, I could see the Crown Prince lying motionless on the bed as if dead.

『The faces of protagonists in this place are just cheating.』

I’d always been curious about how the male lead, who surpassed even the stunningly handsome Roakin Arzen, would look—and indeed, the Crown Prince did not disappoint.

He was a brilliant golden-haired young man who looked like he’d just stepped out of a myth. Even unconscious with his eyes closed, his sharply defined, well-proportioned features exuded a strong, resilient aura.

Though I knew this wasn’t the time, I couldn’t help but inwardly admire his strikingly handsome face—so different in atmosphere from the Tower Master.

“Would you like to take a look?”

“Then… pardon me for a moment.”

At the physician’s suggestion, I set aside my stray thoughts, moved to the head of the bed, and observed the Crown Prince’s breathing.

His chest rose and fell rhythmically—his breathing seemed to have no issues. I lifted my head, which had been hovering close but not quite touching his chest.

“…”

The Crown Prince still lay peacefully with his eyes closed.

So peacefully that it was hard to believe he had collapsed from ingesting a potent poison.

『Come on, Male Lead, wake up. Say something—even just what the Empress Dowager fed you.』

Only then could I survive!

In my heart, I wanted to grab him by the collar and shake him awake, but the other party was the Crown Prince. And an unconscious one lying in a sickbed at that.

I abandoned that aggressive plan and gently tapped the Crown Prince’s shoulder area.

“…”

Right. There’s no way he’d wake up from that.

I hadn’t expected it, but as expected, nothing happened. Rising, I looked down at the Crown Prince and fell into thought.

『Did they use the same method as in the original work?』

If so, I knew how to wake him. And that was—

『True love’s kiss.』

Suddenly, his firmly sealed lips caught my eye.