Chapter 52
Inside Theodore’s room at Schloss Schlesien.
“Gateyo.”
Theodore, whose clothes were dirtied from playing, still seemed sulky and turned his head sharply.
Oh, dear…
I gently turned Theodore’s drooping head and quickly wiped his mouth with a handkerchief. He subtly felt the touch.
Seeing him try to stay composed even in this situation made tears well up in my eyes.
He didn’t have to do that. It was okay to show weakness in front of his mother.
I raised my index and middle fingers to touch the carotid artery on Theodore’s neck. His pulse was weakening.
We had been together all day—what could have happened to him?
“Report the Archduke’s schedule after he returns home.”
At my words, Mori stepped forward gracefully and recited slowly.
“After his bath, the Archduke had no appetite, so he had a simple sandwich.”
“Anything else?”
“No.”
“Theo, Theo!”
I called out to Theodore, who seemed to be losing consciousness repeatedly.
“How are you feeling, Theo?”
He turned his head sharply again. I gently turned his face back to me.
“Theo, I’m sorry earlier. I wanted to go with you, but it didn’t work out.”
“….”
“But Theo, you’re number one to your stepmother. There are many things to do with a number one, so I need to know how sick you are so you can take medicine and get better quickly.”
At my urgent words, Theodore struggled to open his eyes.
“I… Theo… numb…?”
His pronunciation was unclear. Was his tongue paralyzed?
“Yes, yes, Theo is number one!”
I hugged him tightly and nodded.
“Um… my… tongue feels like it’s on fire… and someone keeps… pulling it.”
“Again?”
Theodore shivered as if he were about to lose consciousness.
“Theo, can you hear me? You have to keep talking. Don’t fall asleep.”
He nodded and continued speaking.
“My body… it feels like it’s on fire. But… I’m… cold… so cold…”
He was really cold; his teeth chattered noisily. I quickly rubbed his arms.
“Prepare a warm water bag and blankets.”
But when I saw his face flush red, I immediately pressed the back of my hand to his forehead.
Though he was shivering from the cold, his body felt like a furnace.
“No, bring cold ice packs, a wet towel, and a basin of cold water. Also, bring charcoal and purified drinking water.”
It seemed like poisoning.
Severe aconitine poisoning.
Aconitum variegatum was one of the most poisonous plants in Europe, nicknamed the “Empress of Poisons.” Plants in this category were called things like “Hat of Execution,” “Wolf’s Ruin,” “Leopard’s Ruin,” and “Demon’s Cap.”
Predatory animals like wolves or leopards were hunted using arrows dipped in these poisons, hence the names with “ruin.”
In our country, during the Joseon Dynasty, aconitine-containing plants like shade gourd, wildflowers, and barley flowers were used to make execution poison for the wealthy.
To attempt to poison a five-year-old child with such a deadly toxin…
Aconitine acts immediately on nerve and heart cells, though symptoms can sometimes be delayed for over an hour.
Fear made my heart race. My mouth was starting to go dry.
Judging by how he was still holding on, the poisoning likely occurred about an hour ago.
“What should I do?”
I had instructed the lower staff to change the castle’s management system. But Gerald probably didn’t give permission.
Earlier, until the afternoon, I had been highly suspicious, and there wasn’t enough time to reorganize things.
The deed had already been done. Theodore had to be saved.
My mind went blank.
Calm down, Kang Joo-hee. Stay calm.
I had to recall the knowledge about poisons from my previous life.
I began by using the cold water bag brought by a maid to compress Theodore’s burning face.
Then, the crisp, commanding voice of my old teacher came to mind.
“All substances are poisons. Nothing is non-toxic. Poisoning is determined by the dose.”
At twenty-two, that spring, I had learned that all flowers could be deadly.
A forty-something professor with a model-like figure opened our third-year natural products chemistry class by quoting Paracelsus, the 15th-century physician, with a crisp voice.
The history of poison was the history of power.
The Borgia and Medici families of Italy used poison to maintain power. Pope Alexander VI and his children maintained their authority through assassinations.
There were even Venetian guilds who removed rivals for a fee, and merchants who sold poison to the upper class.
That year, flowers to me were either poisonous or extremely deadly. Graduate school studies seemed irresistible.
“Here’s the charcoal you requested.”
A servant hurriedly brought in charcoal.
“How can you just bring charcoal?”
I scolded him for bringing only the charcoal.
“You need a mortar and pestle to grind it.”
The servant turned to leave.
“Where are you going?”
I quickly snatched the charcoal from him and instructed the waiting maids.
“Dampen towels in cold water and apply compresses to the Archduke. We must lower his body temperature.”
Mori tried to help with Theodore, but I stopped him.
“No, not you. You, you!”
I pointed to a young maid standing nearby.
Mori lowered his head with a sour expression. Pride at a time like this!
But I couldn’t trust him.
I grabbed the charcoal from the unsteady servant.
“The royal physician is coming.”
Thomas tried to warn me gently, but irritation surged. Did he expect me to do nothing until the physician arrived?
“It’s too late. The castle is a bit large.”
I looked around, searching for something to replace the mortar and pestle.
“What exactly are you doing?”
Mori followed closely, trying to interfere.
I wanted to grab his hair and ask what he had been doing all this time, but I restrained myself. Theodore had to be saved first.
Then, something shiny caught my eye.
It was the gold helmet and armor of my father-in-law, Julius, which Theodore had proudly shown off in his room.
I lunged and grabbed the noble helmet.
The maids and servants in the room were stunned.
I ignored them and looked around.
The majestic statues on the marble floor seemed to wave their hands at me.
“Use me! I will be Theodore’s savior!”
I picked a statue-sized piece that fit my hand, placed charcoal inside the helmet, and prepared to grind it against the statue.
“Ah…”
A sigh echoed in the room, but I ignored it.
Then, Head Maid Madeline grabbed my hand. I glared at her fiercely.
“Her Highness, the Archduchess, this is the sacred goddess Eremis.”
‘Ah, a statue? No wonder it was glowing.’
I silently apologized to the gods.
“I understand,” I answered boldly, though the room stirred with tension. Sharp eyes pierced my back.
But Theodore had to be saved.
“The goddess Eremis will save the Archduke with her sacred power!”
At my declaration, Madeline relaxed her grip. I clutched the slim waist of the goddess in one hand, the golden helmet in the other, and turned around.
Thomas, a few maids, and servants in the room stared at me in shock.
“The sacred helmet of former Emperor Julius and this statue imbued with the divine power of Eremis will save Archduke Theodore. Pray with faith. All except Head Maid Madeline, leave now. And Thomas, listen carefully.”
With no time to lose, I declared boldly that the gods would protect the child and began pounding the charcoal.
Bang!
“Anyone who contacted Theo yesterday or today!”
The charcoal split in two.
Bang, bang!
“Especially anyone who contacted Theodore an hour ago!”
The charcoal broke slightly.
Bang, bang, bang!
“Anyone who contacted them and then contacted others!”
Bang, bang, bang!
The charcoal shattered completely.
Bang, bang, bang!
“No, everyone is a suspect! Order Schmidt to imprison and interrogate them all!”
Bang! Bang!
“And lock the castle gates. Guards will interrogate everyone. Prepare a list of everyone who entered or exited yesterday and today!”
The shoulders of the servants and maids shrank in fear.
Screech!
I spun the goddess Eremis’ head fiercely. The gold scratched the statue, producing a sharp warning sound. I crushed the charcoal in the helmet and added one final command.
“Anyone who tries to escape will be considered guilty! Chase them to the ends of the earth and tear them apart!”
The goddess’ once-white head turned completely black.
I instructed Madeline:
“Bring plenty of paper, cups, and purified water for the charcoal. Tell the kitchen to secure as much purified water overnight as possible.”
Madeline seemed curious but obeyed silently, retrieving paper and heading to the pantry next door.
Fortunately, the staff seemed unaware that I might be a witch. Gerald had kept everything about me secret. They obeyed my orders without suspicion.
Gerald needed to return soon…
I placed the statue on the table, poured the charcoal onto paper, and began pounding it using the back of the helmet. Fine charcoal dust stuck inside, so I banged the helmet onto the table.
Madeline, bringing purified water, was startled but nodded and moved toward Theodore’s bed.
I folded the corners of the paper to prevent dust from flying. Then, I walked to Theodore, placing the paper with charcoal on the bedside table.
I slipped an arm under him to lift him up, but his limp body felt heavier than a sack of rice. His body burned with fever.
“No… Theodore, please!”
“Theo, Theo!”
I tapped his cheeks with two fingers.
“I, Theodore… am… okay.”
His tongue was heavily paralyzed. The numbness started from his toes, climbed his legs, and would eventually stop his heart.
No. Absolutely not!
I lifted his nearly fainting body onto the bed, supporting his back with my chest, and commanded Madeline:
“Hurry, put it in Theodore’s mouth!”
I pressed his cheeks with both hands. His mouth opened slightly like a baby bird’s beak. I whispered into his ear:
“Theo, you’re going to eat charcoal powder. You have to swallow it. Theo!”
Madeline slowly poured the charcoal into Theodore’s mouth.
But he coughed violently. Half of the powder spilled onto the sheets.
Ah… Theodore. I can’t let you go like this.
Snap out of it, Theodore.
I bit my lower lip.
