Chapter 12

When Gruuk received the news and rushed to the prince's side, Prince Alek was leaning on the table, breathing heavily with his hands on it.

Beside him, Ruitas stood with his arms crossed, staring at the floor with a troubled expression.

"Your Highness..."

Calling out softly, Alek slowly turned his pale face toward Gruuk.

"I heard that Eidan Fork stabbed Princess Via."

"Aa."

"Whose orders were they?"

Gruuk had been investigating the backgrounds of Eidan and Head Lady Ameri, but no suspicious connections had emerged.

The dark eyes of the prince, who seemed to have been struck a blow, seemed to waver for a moment.

"It was the Empress who tried to kill Celdis."

"The Empress... Your Majesty?"

Gruuk was speechless.

On one hand, he thought it was inconceivable, but on the other, he calmly analyzed that if it were the Empress, everything would make sense.

"Was the motive her hatred for Princess Tsitti?"

Gruuk murmured in a tired voice.

His mother, who had once served the Empress, had seen the Empress curse Tsitti up close.

The moment she gave birth to the prince, her husband turned away from her, treating her as if she had fulfilled her duty.

It was still good that she only produced illegitimate children with different mothers, as no woman had captured the Emperor's heart.

But Princess Tsitti was different.

The Emperor, who had a wife and children, took a fancy to Tsitti and even had her bear a son. Even after Tsitti could no longer bear children, the Emperor's favor remained solely on her.

The Empress must have felt humiliated when Tsitti's living image, the new concubine, captured the Emperor's heart, and even more so when her own son fell in love with the girl, who had been brought into the palace by the Emperor.

Celdis, the son of the hated Tsitti, if he were to die, would eliminate a troublesome heir to the throne and plunge the woman who had captivated her son into grief.

For the Empress, there could have been no better revenge.

"Amon is interrogating Eidan and Head Lady Ameri. We will know more details later."

Nodding slightly at Ruitas' words, Gruuk turned back to Prince Alek.

"How is the Princess?"

"She regained consciousness once. If the fever doesn't continue, there's a chance she might survive..."

"Princess Via is a strong person. She will surely be fine."

Gruuk said with a firm tone.

"What should I do?"

Alek twisted his lips as if mocking himself.

"It can't be made public. If it becomes known that the Empress tried to kill the Second Prince, I won't be safe."

"You're right. It can't be made public. The Empress used the son of her confidante, Head Lady Ameri. They won't talk."

"Then, should we pretend it never happened?"

Ruitas asked, seeking confirmation.

Gruuk nodded and turned back to his master.

"We need to talk to the Empress. But not until after the banquet she is hosting."

Alek's body trembled, and he looked at Gruuk with a fierce gaze.

"You're telling me to smile and act as if nothing happened with that woman?"

"You should.

First, send a messenger to the Empress's palace, saying that Princess Via has fallen ill suddenly and that Prince Celdis is with her.

Attend the banquet with a calm face and show everyone that there is no rift between you and the Empress.

Even if strange rumors about Princess Via's sudden illness spread, you must dispel all doubts."

"Via is on the brink of death, and you're telling me to smile at the woman who tried to kill her."

Alek's blood boiled with frustration.

"This kind of charade is nothing for Princess Via."

Gruuk said bluntly, fully aware of his master's anger.

"Afterward, we need to make an agreement with the Empress to ensure that neither Princess Via nor Prince Celdis are harmed again."

Alek gritted his teeth, knowing it would be no good.

"What do you want me to do?"

"Promise that you won't call Princess Via to your bed again."

"Hey, Gruuk!"

Ruitas, unable to remain silent, pulled on Gruuk's arm.

"There's no need to go that far. The Princess's condition is still unstable."

Princess Via was the only woman in the prince's life who brought him comfort and to whom he showed his attachment.

Ruitas, knowing this, tried to stop Gruuk out of concern for his master, but Gruuk did not yield.

"We need to act quickly. If you truly wish to protect them.

Even if we can expel Head Lady Ameri, there may still be other servants loyal to the Empress.

The Empress won't harm you.

If the Empress thinks your favor has shifted from Princess Via, she will be satisfied.

Or, if she suspects that your heart is still with Princess Via, but you don't call her to your bed, she won't take drastic action again."

Alek closed his eyes, trying to suppress his emotions.

"I have no choice, do I?"

He whispered in a low, monotone voice.

"Please bear with it for now.

You are the only one who can protect Princess Via."

In the dimly lit room, Via lay in a deep sleep.

By her bedside, Celdis sat in a daze, and behind him, Eimi, Sera, and Luna stood with solemn expressions.

Until the Empress's loyal servants were identified, it was unwise to place any of the Crystal Palace's servants by Via's side.

The head servant, who knew the details of the incident, decided to have Sera and Luna, who were visiting from the Purple Jade Palace, attend Princess Via.

Eimi and these two, who already knew the situation, were deemed capable of tending to Princess Via without revealing the significant secret.

"Celdis."

When Alek called his name, the twelve-year-old boy's shoulders trembled, and he quietly turned to Alek. His eyes were red and swollen, and he was desperately trying to stifle his sobs.

"Are you okay?"

At his brother's gentle words, Celdis could no longer hold back and shed large tears.

"Sister hasn't woken up. If something happens to her..."

Celdis couldn't finish his sentence and bowed his head.

Seeing his thin shoulders shaking, Alek pulled him into his chest.

"It will be okay. Via will surely recover."

Alek squeezed out the words, as if trying to convince himself.

"You don't have to cry alone. I will protect you."

Feeling the warmth of his family, Celdis began to cry softly, his small hands gripping Alek's jacket tightly.

"I'm sorry."

While still holding Celdis in his arms, Alek confessed.

He had never felt so powerless and regretful.

Unable to protect the woman he loved, and worse, the cause was his own foolish actions.

His mother, driven by jealousy, had tried to kill his brother and stabbed the sister who protected him.

Knowing this, he couldn't condemn his mother. This incident would be buried in darkness.

"It's all my fault."

Alek raised his head and looked at the bed where Via lay.

The sight of her pale, lifeless face made his heart feel as if it were being torn apart.

The thought of losing Via made him want to scream.

"Forgive me."

Hearing the strained voice, Celdis raised his tear-streaked face and called out softly, "Brother."

"If it weren't for the guards you assigned and Evbeck, both Sister and I would have been killed.

There's nothing for you to apologize for."

Celdis understood everything from the words Eidan had muttered while being restrained on the floor.

If this incident became public, Alek would be in a difficult position. Celdis thought the Empress was capable of such actions.

His mother was hated by the Empress. Although it wasn't what she wanted, his mother had taken the Emperor's favor away from the Empress forever.

Alek knelt down to meet Celdis's eye level.

He thought Celdis was a smart child. Even without knowing the full details, Celdis had a sense of what had happened.

He probably realized that the matter would be left unresolved.

"I won't let this happen again. I won't let anyone harm you or your sister again."

Alek looked at Via, who was still sleeping on the bed, and said it as a vow.

The only one who could take action against the Empress was himself.

And now, standing here like a puppet, he could do nothing.

"Stay by her side."

As Alek slowly stood up, Celdis called out to him.

"Are you going to the Empress's banquet?"

Celdis wiped the tears from his cheeks with his fist and tried to smile.

"Please smile for us. To protect me and Sister."

"I will."

Alek nodded and placed his hand on Celdis's head.

"Wait for me here."

"I can't understand what the Empress is doing."

Alek crossed his legs leisurely in front of the Empress.

After the seemingly endless banquet, Alek finally had the opportunity to speak with the Empress alone.

"Lord Sezon is moving to take the third daughter of Reiyato as a wife for his heir.

At this crucial time, what benefit is there in harming Celdis, who is under my protection?"

"Eidan failed, it seems. Truly useless."

The Empress sneered, clearly displeased that her pawn had not acted as she wished.

"Why did he fail?

Did he lose his nerve at the last moment?"

Alek had immediately imposed martial law around the room where Celdis was staying.

The only people allowed to enter were the royal physician and the head servant.

Thus, the Empress did not know what had happened in that room.

All she knew was that the concubine and her brother had to miss the banquet for some reason.

Officially, it was said that the concubine had fallen ill suddenly and that Prince Celdis was with her.

"Via, who had returned to check on Celdis, happened to be there."

Mixing lies with the truth, Alek fabricated a story.

"It was Via, not Celdis, who was injured."

"Really?"

At that moment, Alek deeply despised the Empress, who showed a look of pleasure.

"I will return the Fork family, including the head lady, to you. I cannot keep those who tried to harm my brother close."

Amon was interrogating Eidan and others to determine if anyone outside the family knew about the plan. If it was only the head lady and her sister Yuria involved, the chances of the incident becoming public were minimal.

"How is she? She seems to be alive."

The Empress asked with a bored tone.

"Answer me first. Why did you do such a thing?"

"What's wrong with killing Tsitti's son!"

The Empress spat out coldly, interrupting Alek's question.

"Because of that woman, I have suffered so much!

And now, her daughter, who bears a strong resemblance to her, is walking around the palace as your concubine.

I made her a concubine to avoid trouble with Lord Sezon.

Do you not feel ashamed for being so infatuated with that girl!

What complaint do you have with a mother who tried to eliminate a troublesome heir to the throne for you!"

If Gruuk hadn't said the same thing, Alek might have lost control of his emotions.

Even though it was the answer he expected, it still made his blood boil.

"If rumors of discord between Celdis and me spread, Lord Sezon will take advantage of it. I treated Via well because it was the most beneficial approach."

As the First Prince, Alek argued that it was only natural. But the Empress was not convinced.

"How can I believe you are not being seduced, just as the Emperor was by Tsitti?"

The hatred in the Empress's eyes warned Alek that she would not remain silent if he continued to favor the concubine.

Alek thought she might try to harm Via herself next.

"If you still find it distasteful, I promise not to call Via to my bed again."

The Empress looked at Alek suspiciously.

"Can I believe your word?"

"Of course."

Alek nodded.

The most important thing is Via's safety.

Since he cannot cut ties with the Empress now, he must take great care to ensure that Via is not harmed.

But only until he has a firm grip on power, Alek thought. He had no intention of being at the Empress's mercy forever.

"When she recovers, I will have her attend official events as usual. I may visit her room if necessary.

But I will not call her to my bed.

I promise."