Chapter 179 (1/2)

Chapter 179: Chapter 179

“Tia.”

“Please tell me, Daddy.”

“… Yes, that’s right.”

“I expected that…” I broke into an empty smile.

Poison, poison? Just as I thought the pro-emperor faction couldn’t touch Jiun because of God’s possible punishment, I thought that the noble faction couldn’t touch me because I could hear God’s prophecy. I felt I let my guard down too early.

“Can the doctor neutralize it?”

“…. ”

“It looks like he can’t.”

“… Currently, I’m trying to catch the mastermind, and the emperor ordered them to find the High Priest and bring him to the palace.”

“Even if you catch the criminal, there is no guarantee that you can get an antidote, so it’s probably the best policy for me to stick it out until the High Priest arrives.”

“…Yes, that’s right.”

He smiled bitterly. Compared to the past, my physique improved a lot, but I wondered if I could hold out until the High Priest came.

“Did you discover who was the suspect?”

“The maid who served you at the 1st Knights’ Division.”

“Oh, I see.”

She was the maid I scolded for her sloppy job. When I asked her, she was always late.

I unwittingly let out a sigh. If so, the reason that the crown prince sent me a set of silverware teacups was because he wanted to prevent this kind of danger in advance. I should have paid more attention to his motivation, but I didn’t because I was absent-minded. If I had discovered it earlier, I would not have gone through this.

“Did you find out who ordered the maid?”

“…No, because the maid has already been killed.”

“As expected…” I broke into a bitter smile.

What should I do now? If I can’t find the mastermind, I wouldn’t be able to raise my head before the emperor. It is impossible to punish the suspect with circumstantial evidence. I needed decisive evidence, but it was impossible because the maid was already killed.

At that moment, something came to my mind suddenly.

‘Oh yeah, I knew it.’

“Daddy, I’m not so sure… but maybe we could find the mastermind.”

“Really? How?”

“On the second day, there was an attendant who gave me a soft drink. He said the crown prince sent it to me, but I think we need to double check.”

“Got it. Let me check him out immediately.”

As if the medicine didn’t take effect any more, I was feeling a loss of energy rapidly.

I hurriedly spoke to my father, who was standing up.

“Daddy.”

“Um?”

“I’m sorry I was sick like this…”

“I’m fine. So, just focus on regaining energy and getting better,” he said with a hoarse voice.

I nodded, looking at him leaving the room. After burying my hazy head on the pillow, I fell deeply asleep.

I woke up at the strange feeling over my body.

Someone was touching my face. His warm fingers touched my forehead, then came down gently and stroked my cheeks.

The moment I tried to open my eyes in surprise, I stiffened at the cool scent from the man who adjusted his posture. ‘Is it the crown prince?’

“It’s the first time you haven’t avoided my touch.”

My eyelashes trembled at his whispering. Yes, he really did come to me. How did he get here?

“I didn’t want to see you sick like this. You are so cruel to me. ”

“… ”

“I really didn’t want to see you so pale again. What’s the matter with you? I want to know why you hate me, but you know I can’t even ask because you might be freak out again?”

My heart became heavy when he sighed deeply as he was frustrated. I knew at some point that his attitude toward me was prudent and cautious, but I didn’t know it was because he felt that way.

“Forgive this selfish man who couldn’t tell you I would free you, though I knew you ended up being in this situation because of me. Currently, I’m looking for the High Priest. So, stay alert and in good heart until then. Please.”

He put his hand on my face cautiously, took off the hair stuck to my face and swept it over the back of my ear. I felt goosebumps and curled towards his soft hands as he touched my cheeks. My heart skipped a beat for fear he might notice I was awake, but fortunately, he got up with a sigh.

The sound of his footsteps faded away, and the door was closed.

I tossed and turned on the bed for some time because of confusion before taking a catnap.

But I woke up again when somebody shook me cautiously.