OMLOW 84

Chapter 84

The voice, thick with contempt, made the Empress flare up in an instant.

“That child’s body is still—!”

“Didn’t you yourself say, Your Majesty, that with a little time, he would be as healthy as anyone else? That was three years ago.”

“….”

“I have already made up my mind. Do not try to persuade me any longer.”

As if he had come only to deliver this announcement, the Emperor rose from his seat without another word.

Instead of trying to stop him as he passed coldly by, the Empress lowered her head and clenched her fists tightly.

‘Kaien… why was he born with such a frail body!’

Does that man not feel an ounce of guilt?

Of course—someone so heartless would have no qualms about poisoning his own wife’s teacup!

“Your… Majesty, Empress…”

“Out! All of you, leave!”

The Empress shouted at the chief maid who had stepped forward in concern, fearing that her hands might be burned by the hot tea. Startled, the chief maid and the other attendants bowed and hurried out, leaving the Empress alone in the room.

‘Am I really… going to give up just like this?’

Even if it was for the sake of that wretched man I call my husband, she had to find a way.

With eyes bloodshot from tension, she turned to the display cabinet. Inside sat a wooden music box that no one but her was ever allowed to touch.

“Guh… cough!”

“Your Highness!”

Kaien, who had been taking his medicine, suddenly began coughing violently, blood spewing from his mouth. The nearby attendants and palace physicians shouted in alarm, but Nicole alone remained calm, her expression unchanging.

“The poison that remained in the blood is being expelled along with it. Didn’t I mention this beforehand?”

“But no one said he would cough up this much blood!”

“That simply means that Your Highness had accumulated a considerable amount of poison in his veins.”

Even as the handkerchief Nicole used to wipe Kaien’s mouth was soaked in dark blood, she remained composed. Her calmness—so serene it bordered on peaceful—was initially startling to the palace physicians, but they gradually realized this was not unusual and exchanged looks in silent understanding.

“I feel… a bit better now that I’ve coughed up some of it.”

“Your Highness, but…”

“Given how much blood I’ve expelled, the toxins must have cleared from my body, right?”

Nicole nodded lightly.

“You’ll need to undergo this process a few more times… until you no longer have to cough up blood.”

“So once I stop coughing up blood, all the poison in my body will be gone?”

“…You may consider it so.”

“May consider it? Why can’t you answer definitively…! Ugh!”

“Your Highness!”

The sudden excitement and the rush of blood to his head made Kaien stagger and nearly collapse. The attendants and physicians rushed to support him.

“Bishop, please examine His Highness immediately!”

“He’s fine. This is a natural response. After expelling so much blood, anemia is inevitable. The palace physicians can administer restorative medicine.”

“Ah… understood.”

“It seems we cannot continue treatments on the same previous schedule. Once he regains his strength… we will resume treatment in a month.”

“No, make it a week.”

“Your Highness!”

The palace physicians were shocked, but Kaien glared at Nicole, his eyes bloodshot.

“One week. Understood?”

“But—”

“I’m not going to die, you know that, don’t you?”

Those who had been worried about the First Prince recalled the prophecy and felt a measure of relief. Nicole, too, remembered the prophecy and quietly complied.

“Very well. I shall return in a week.”

Bowing politely to Kaien, Nicole turned and left the First Prince’s chambers. Her steps quickened as if she wanted to leave as soon as possible.

But it was futile—two royal knights followed her every step.

“Bishop Nicole, where are you headed?”

“To the garden’s herb patch.”

“I shall accompany you.”

One knight stepped forward, ostensibly to guide her. But with two knights flanking her, it felt less like guidance and more like surveillance. And indeed, it was. Since she began treating the First Prince three years ago, Nicole had not been allowed to return to the central temple.

Even if it was by the Empress’s order, this was absurd. Archbishop Sage had tried to protest on the temple’s behalf, but Nicole had stopped him.

“His Highness’s full recovery is imminent. It will only be a few months at most before I can return. You need not worry so much.”

What she could not tell those concerned was that this situation suited Nicole perfectly.

Six months ago, she had heard a confession from a former palace maid in the confessional:

“It has been twenty years since I bore this sin… I originally served as a maid in the imperial palace.”

The maid revealed that the rebellion instigated by Marquis Rakal had been fabricated by the Emperor to seize a precious jewel possessed by the marquis’s wife, creating a pretext to search the manor.

Nicole could scarcely believe it. It was absurd. Yet she sought out Archbishop Sage and questioned her, knowing the woman had been a close friend of her mother and might know the truth.

The result was clear:

“Yes, your parents did not commit a rebellion.”

“Why didn’t anyone tell me sooner?!”

“It’s all in the past. I do not want you to be consumed by futile anger. Forget what you have recalled.”

“…It’s too late. It’s already too late!”

Had she known years earlier, she might have been able to let it go. But now, she was treating the First Prince—the very son of her parents’ enemies.

“I will reveal everything. The royal family’s crimes will be exposed to the world!”

“How? Do you have proof?”

“…I have it. I will have it.”

The maid who revealed the fabricated rebellion had stated:

“The evidence proving that the Emperor orchestrated it is with Her Majesty the Empress. I tried to steal it, but failed…”

Now, trapped in the palace, Nicole had a unique opportunity. The Empress’s palace was right next to the First Prince’s.

Whenever the Empress inquired about the First Prince’s treatment, Nicole gave vague answers, ensuring the Empress would summon her often. Over time, those in the Empress’s palace no longer found it strange for Nicole to come and go.

‘I must act carefully. There’s no need to rush…’

Drawing spiritual energy into the herbs she had just gathered, Nicole took a deep breath. Moments ago, she had lied to Kaien.

The truth was, she could have fully healed him immediately. If she hadn’t heard the former maid’s confession in the confessional, Kaien would already be completely cured.

But knowing that he was the son of her parents’ enemies, how could she allow that?

Nicole was buying time in the palace, ensuring that Kaien would not be fully cured until she secured the evidence from the Empress.

And even after she secured it…

Northern Region. Conference Hall, Northern Command.

The northern lords gathered around a long table, reporting reconstruction updates via crystal spheres.

• “Refugees are returning to our lands one by one. Once most have returned, we’ll hold memorial services and update the registries.”

• “The smell of blood is finally gone, replaced by the scent of freshly baked bread, ha ha.”

• “Fortunately, the spirits of our people remain high. Thanks to the relief funds, they have no immediate worries about survival.”

Perhaps buoyed by the sense that the monster waves were finally ending, both those present and those attending via crystal spheres wore bright, hopeful expressions.

“The capital has sent considerable funds, so there’s no need to overextend. Once reconstruction is complete, we can send workers to the northernmost outposts.”

• “Of course, naturally.”

• “After what we went through, the northern mountain gates will be rebuilt bigger and stronger than before.”

Listening to the people’s determined words, Lionel nodded.

“Then this concludes today’s meeting.”

The attendees reluctantly nodded in agreement.

• “Yes, we shall take our leave.”

One by one, the crystal spheres on the table powered down, and people began to rise. Lionel prepared to return to his quarters, when a few knights stayed behind to speak with him.

“Commander, we have something we wish to discuss with you.”

At that moment, Luda stirred slightly in Lionel’s pocket. He instinctively covered her. Cecilia had ingrained in Luda that her existence must never be revealed to others.

Luda never emerged while sensing anyone else nearby. The fact that she had now revealed herself meant only one thing: Cecilia’s consciousness had entered Luda.