Ashid’s Pain and the Emperor’s Rage
Ashid gritted his teeth, furrowing his brows as he endured the pain. Daniella turned her gaze away from the cruel scene unfolding before her.
‘Oh no… that must hurt.’
Watching Ashid’s expression with concern, Daniella asked Martin softly,
“His Grace will be alright, won’t he? He’ll heal without complications, right?”
At her question, Ashid—who had been frowning—let out a short, bitter laugh.
He couldn’t tell if this woman was bold, clueless, or just strange for worrying about him like this.
At the same time, he didn’t find it unpleasant. After all, she was the first person to worry about him as family.
Martin, unaware of the shift in Ashid’s expression, replied bluntly.
“He’s young and healthy. As long as he continues treatment, there shouldn’t be any major issues—if he refrains from using his left arm until the wound fully heals.”
“…What?”
Ashid scowled and repeated the last part. Martin, who was stitching up the freshly cleaned wound, responded.
“Did you really think you could use an arm that was so damaged and infected like before? Be thankful it wasn’t amputated.”
“…Ugh.”
“Until it’s fully healed, if you need to use your left arm, you must ask for help. No more knight training, either. If the wound festers again, you’ll have to be prepared to lose the arm entirely.”
Martin finished wrapping Ashid’s arm with a bandage and then approached Daniella.
“I heard you drank St. Polana flower extract. How much did you ingest?”
“It was mixed into the tea, so I’m not sure exactly how much… but I drank the whole cup.”
“I see. For now, please lie down, Duchess.”
Daniella hesitated, glancing around nervously, then reluctantly climbed onto Ashid’s bed.
As she did, the cool scent of Ashid’s cologne wafted up from the bedding. Her cheeks flushed red as she answered Martin’s follow-up questions about her condition.
Martin let out a low hum and spoke again.
“According to the imperial physician’s prescription, you’ll need to stay in a warm room and consistently take antidotes and restorative medicine for the time being.”
“Alright.”
Daniella nodded and began to rise from the bed, prompting Martin to ask with a confused expression,
“Why are you getting up all of a sudden?”
“…This is Your Grace’s bedroom, isn’t it? I was going to return to my room.”
“Don’t tell me you’re planning to return to your annex. That would be problematic.”
“What? Why?”
Startled by Martin’s words, Daniella looked at him with wide eyes. Martin sighed and explained.
“I’ll be tending to both of you for the time being. If I have to travel between the annex and the main building repeatedly, it will hinder prompt care.”
“…Oh.”
“Also, for your own safety, I strongly recommend staying in the main building until this matter is resolved. The room adjacent to His Grace’s is convenient—it’s separated by just one door, so I can monitor both of you, and you two can also spend quiet time together. Isn’t that ideal in many ways?”
Daniella opened her mouth but couldn’t form a response.
Staying in the room right next to Ashid’s, even temporarily, was something she honestly wanted to refuse. But if she did, rumors could spread that their marriage was purely contractual. Plus, she’d feel guilty making things harder for Martin over her stubbornness.
So, she decided to let Ashid make the final call.
“…But, won’t His Grace be uncomfortable with that arrangement?”
Ashid scoffed at her words.
‘She talks a good game.’
When he was the one who should be uncomfortable.
Watching her trying to keep her distance so obviously stirred a bit of defiance in him.
Was it because of Adrian? Or perhaps because of some secret tied to the Duke of Enchanto?
Whatever the reason, Ashid decided he wouldn’t let her have her way.
With one corner of his mouth twisted into a smirk, he said,
“I don’t mind.”
“…!”
Daniella blinked in surprise, completely unprepared for that response.
Martin, expressionless as ever, looked at her and said,
“His Grace seems fine with it, Duchess.”
Daniella sighed in resignation.
“…Alright. Then, I’ll stay in the adjacent room until the detox is finished, Your Grace.”
Ashid replied with a satisfied smile.
“You’re most welcome.”
Aftermath of the Assassination Attempt
A few days after the assassination attempt on the Duchess of Alberic.
The Emperor, upon reviewing the contents of the letter sent by the duchess, immediately ordered his officials to verify its authenticity.
Within half a day, the officials confirmed that the letter was indeed a correspondence between Marquess Linburton and the Duke of Enchanto.
The Imperial Guard raided the Linburton townhouse and discovered multiple vials of St. Polana flower extract in the vault.
They also apprehended the assassin who had attacked the duchess on Emily Linburton’s orders and secured a full confession.
Upon receiving the report, the Emperor commanded that Marquess Linburton and his family be arrested immediately.
At the same time, he annulled the betrothal between Crown Prince Adrian and Lady Emily Linburton.
Upon hearing the news, Princess Elizaveta exploded with fury. She dismissed Emily from her position as her confidante and publicly declared that she was cutting ties with both Emily and anyone associated with her.
And so, Adrian’s second engagement was broken.
The Emperor, livid, thundered in the assembly hall as he pounded the imperial throne with his fist.
“How could a noble lady destined to become the Crown Princess commit such an atrocity?! I will not let this go unpunished! Every person involved will be found and face rightful judgment!”
At this, Duke Rodion bit his lower lip anxiously.
He had to stop this from escalating. If it did, he wouldn’t escape unscathed either.
Feigning a somber expression, he addressed the Emperor.
“Your Majesty, please calm yourself. At times like this, we must remain composed and rational.”
“Ha! Calm, you say? Duke Rodion, are you in your right mind? Someone who was to become royalty tried to kill royalty! Are you saying I should ignore the shame they’ve brought upon the imperial family?!”
“That’s not what I meant, Your Majesty. I only ask that Your Majesty consider the Crown Prince first and foremost.”
The Emperor paused, his tone softening slightly.
“Consider Adrian? What do you mean by that, Duke Rodion?”
“After the first engagement ended and Lady Enchanto quickly married the Duke of Alberic, there was much gossip both inside and outside the Empire.
Now, with a second broken engagement causing further uproar—how will that affect the Crown Prince’s reputation?
Won’t other nations mock our imperial family, saying the Aschilad Empire stirs up scandal every time the prince is betrothed?”
“……”
“In other words, if this matter escalates further, it will only bring disgrace to both the Empire and His Highness.”
As Duke Rodion spoke passionately, Marquess Cadogan immediately supported him.
“Duke Rodion is right. For the sake of the Crown Prince, the Linburton family should be punished—but quietly, without further investigation or noise.”
At this, nobles aligned with the Crown Prince all raised their voices in agreement.
The Emperor nodded slowly. Their reasoning wasn’t without merit.
He couldn’t risk further damaging Adrian’s reputation.
To him, Adrian was the legitimate heir—the one who would inherit the throne and rule the Empire after him.
At that moment, Duke Lamber, the Minister of Foreign Affairs who had been quietly observing the situation, finally spoke.
“If we pursue this further, as Duke Rodion says, the Crown Prince’s honor may indeed suffer.
However, if we end the matter by only punishing the Linburton family, wouldn’t the Duke and Duchess of Alberic find that unjust?”
“Ha! Duke Lamber, are you saying we should punish even those whose guilt is uncertain for the sake of the Alberics?”
Duke Rodion snapped back furiously.
The Emperor slammed his hand on the throne to silence them all and declared,
“That’s enough. It was my own anger that led me to say things I shouldn’t have.
Upon reflection, you’re right—there’s no need to stir up a greater mess by digging up accusations without solid proof.”
“……”
