PUBW 36

Chapter  36

I immediately searched around Chase’s room for the sword.
Calyx’s sword, which still held the remainder of my divine power.

“Where on earth is it?”

The sword I had seen in my dream was quite large. Eluna had barely managed to hold it in her arms when she left.

It obviously wouldn’t be in a drawer, and since I couldn’t spot it anywhere, that meant it must be in another room.

It wasn’t something that would be left in a place where anyone could enter.

But I didn’t have time to sit around pondering. I opened the door and stepped out.

“Lady, do you need something?”

The knight standing guard outside asked.

“I just feel a little stiff. I thought I’d take a walk.”

“Please wait a moment, I will assign an escort to accompany you.”

“No need. This is the Crown Prince’s palace; I hardly need protection here. I’ll only walk for a short while and come back right away.”

The knight hesitated briefly, then backed off with a nod.

I headed down the central staircase to the first floor.

“…You are…”

And then I spotted Marquis Caius.

He stood with his hands behind his back, smiling faintly at me. As though he had been waiting for me to come down.

“His Majesty the Emperor summoned the Crown Prince away.”

“I’m aware.”

His dazzlingly handsome face made goosebumps rise on my skin. Why did he sound as though he were the one who had arranged this situation?

“I was on my way to the powder room, so I’ll take my leave.”

“Lady.”

I froze mid-step.

“Yes, what is it?”

When I turned back, Caius approached me in large strides. I instinctively stepped back, but I was too late.

His tall, broad frame closed in, threateningly close, and he lowered his body toward me.

“Don’t come any closer.”

“Lady, the powder room isn’t in that direction.”

“I’ll scream.”

Caius chuckled as if amused, then leaned in close to my ear.

“You’re looking for something, aren’t you?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. Step back, or—ugh!”

When I tried to shove his chest away, he struck my arm sharply. It hurt as though he had used all his strength to fling it aside.

“Ah, I have a bit of a germ phobia.”

I glared at him, and he finally retreated a step.

“I’ll be going now.”

I tried to walk away quickly, but his next words froze me in place.

“You came out looking for the sword, didn’t you, Lady? Or should I call you… Saintess?”

“You—”

I took a step forward, and he immediately stepped one back, mirroring me.

Judging by the pristine white gloves he wore, his claim of germ phobia wasn’t a lie.

Still, something didn’t add up.

I was sure I’d seen him dancing at the ball before.

“We don’t have time for a proper conversation now. But tell me, is your invitation to tea still valid?”

At that, Caius smiled in satisfaction.

“Of course. It seems God has answered my prayers.”

He was definitely hiding something shady. But I desperately needed the information in his head.

I was already engaged to someone like Chase; a tea time with this man was nothing in comparison.

“I’ll head back upstairs, then.”

“Yes. I look forward to our next meeting.”

I turned to climb the stairs back to Chase’s room.

It was too dangerous to search for the sword right now. Since I had gained a new card to play, I had to use it wisely.

That man definitely seemed to know where the sword was.

“Lady.”

Caius’s voice stopped me again.

“I don’t understand why, but I find myself… oddly glad.”

I gave him a puzzled look without replying, and he continued.

“Try reducing the dosage.”

“Dosage?”

I turned fully toward him.

“Yes. The dosage.”

But Caius said nothing further and left the Crown Prince’s palace.

Later, Chase returned, and I received my mother’s medicine before heading back to our estate.

“Wait a moment.”

Remembering what had happened at the palace, I stopped Alfredo, the family physician, as he was about to inject the yellow medicine Chase had provided into my mother’s IV.

“What’s wrong, my lady?”

“Would it be possible to reduce the dosage slightly without it worsening my mother’s condition?”

“Reduce it…?”

“By about ten to twenty percent.”

Alfredo frowned, deep in thought.

“May I ask your reason? We don’t know the main ingredient of this medicine, but it is the only thing that has stopped the Duchess’s seizures. They may return.”

“Precisely because we don’t know the main ingredient. I want to try lowering the dosage, as long as it doesn’t put her at risk.”

I looked at my mother.

Her thin, wasted face.

The seizures had stopped, but now she was trapped in deep sleep.

It wasn’t a good situation, but it was a better one—or at least it seemed that way. But what if it wasn’t? What if she was silently fighting inside, alone?

Honestly, I was terrified. That following his words might harm her.

“Normally, the prescribed amount would be divided and used over the course of a month, but… for today, I will reduce the dosage by about five percent first.”

Alfredo gave me a gentle smile.

“Will that be all right?”

“I’ll watch the Duchess carefully for a day, and tomorrow we can readjust the dosage. It shouldn’t cause serious problems.”

“Thank you. I’ll inform Father and Brother myself.”

Adjusting his glasses, Alfredo carefully measured and reduced the amount before injecting it.

Of course, nothing would happen right away, but my chest was tight with tension, and I realized I was holding my breath.

Alfredo spoke in his calm, wave-like voice.

“My lady. I’ll do my utmost.”

For a moment, I saw an image of the past overlap on his wrinkled face—the days when he had stayed at the ducal estate just to care for me.

He had said the same thing then, too. It was his way of admitting he couldn’t make promises.

But he had always given his all, then and now. He had thrown himself into researching the Rika leaf from Artif, even skipping meals.

“That’s enough. But please, make sure you eat properly and rest. Don’t overwork yourself.”

“Hoho, of course.”

“You’re just saying that again, aren’t you? I mean it. I won’t allow you to collapse from overwork. You must consider your age.”

“I’m still fairly young, but… I understand. I must live long enough to see you marry a fine man.”

He always spoke like a kindly grandfather.

A welcome guest arrived.

“Your Holiness!”

I hurried to greet Seth as he entered the grand hall.

“It’s been a while, Elu-Elu.”

“I told you not to call me that.”

“Then what should I call you?”

As we walked together, I looked at him in exasperation.

“Charlize. Just use my name.”

“Hmm, then how about Char-Char?”

Seth shamelessly coined a new nickname.

“Your Holiness, do you have some illness that prevents you from using normal names?”

“We’re quite close, aren’t we? I need to remind you of that, so you’ll hurry up and fill out your application for membership.”

“Didn’t you say before not to feel pressured?”

“And you shouldn’t. I’m just doing my duty.”

As we entered the garden, a soft spring breeze rustled the fresh green leaves, announcing the season in full bloom.

“The nickname itself is what’s burdensome.”

“Then you can just call me by my name, too. How about Seth-Seth?”

“How could I call the Holy Pope by name?”

“Didn’t I, the Pope, call you Saintess Elu-Elu, a name out of history books?”

I sighed deeply and sat down at the tea table set in the garden.

“If you stop calling me that, I’ll call you by your name.”

“That’s unfair. I spent days locked up in the archives to find this for you.”

Seth handed me a document.

“This is…”

“The recipe for the Rika leaf.”

My hands trembled. I couldn’t bring myself to open it right away. After clenching and unclenching my fists a few times, I looked at Seth.

“Thank you, Seth.”

“Then it was worth the effort.”

I unfolded the recipe.

It required not only the Rika leaf as the main ingredient but also many other herbs.

Some names I had never heard before, but most were easily obtainable.

“You should be able to procure everything from an apothecary. The only issue is the Rika leaf. There’s no substitute for it.”

“That’s fine. I already have some.”