Chapter 23
It was during a walk in the garden.
Today, the palace seed unusually noisy. Servants were rushing around, and the priests were more visible than usual.
Clearly, sothing had happened.
Then, a familiar face caught my eye. It was Louis, crossing the garden hastily.
"Brother?"
"Oh, Livia. Are you taking a walk?"
"Yes, but you seem to be in a hurry. Is sothing wrong?"
He hesitated before answering.
"Did you co to see ?"
"No, not that."
Then what is it? Louis is a high-ranking noble but not a minister. He isn’t particularly close to Leto either. He wouldn’t have any reason to frequent the palace other than to see .
He spoke with difficulty.
"I received news that my master is critically ill. Shawn is on his way to the palace as well."
"Your master, as in from the academy?"
"Yes, Professor Quinas. You t him when you married into the palace."
...I rembered. The great scholar of the Set Empire, Quinas Unt.
The Matrion brothers, the high-ranking nobles, and Leto's ntor.
He dedicated his life to educating the royal family. He was highly respected and academically brilliant. Unfortunately, he fell gravely ill in his old age and is dying.
In the original story, the nature of his illness is not revealed. However, from the symptoms, it is presud to be cancer.
Enduring terminal cancer without painkillers... just thinking about it is horrifying.
But that’s not the only problem.
When Quinas' death was imminent, he tried several tis to leave a will for Leto. But the pain was too severe, and he ultimately failed.
After that incident, Leto deteriorated rapidly. He beca even more ruthless, then later appeared as if he had lost all emotions. Because of that, the imperial family beca a tense battleground.
The High Priest didn’t miss the opportunity. He approached the nobles and sowed discord with Leto. As a result, many noble families sided with the High Priest. The Matrion family included.
I asked Louis,
"So Professor Quinas is staying in the palace?"
"Yes. When his illness began a year ago, His Majesty brought him to the palace. He’s been receiving care in the Western Palace’s guest room since then. But suddenly, his condition worsened..."
Louis couldn’t finish his sentence. He must really respect his ntor.
"I’d better go now. I’m too anxious to talk for long."
"Yes, please go quickly."
Louis hurriedly walked toward the Western Palace. I looked up at the Imperial Palace quietly.
Leto must be heartbroken right now.
Heartbreak is just the beginning. It will soon turn into anger. That anger will only subside when ril appears.
When the male protagonist is at his most desolate, the female protagonist appears. Thus, she becos his only hope. As love stories often go.
But then, I thought,
Does love always have to bloom from suffering? They are destined to fall in love at first sight anyway.
More importantly, I don’t want Leto to beco desolate.
There is no way to prevent Quinas’ death. It's a disease that can’t be cured by dicine, especially not after a year of neglect.
But still... perhaps I can at least ensure he leaves a will.
Fortunately, there is a way. That thod is within the palace.
Of course... it cos with significant risk.
Parham entered the palace as soon as he received my ssage.
Together, we went to the small garden south of the detached palace. It was called the "Exotic Garden."
Rarely imported flowers and trees. The serene atmosphere of porcelain. It was a popular spot among noble ladies with exotic tastes.
Parham looked around in awe.
"I didn’t know there was such a place in the palace."
"I saw it briefly when I stayed in the detached palace. I didn’t have ti to do more than just look around back then."
"It feels like being in a far-off foreign land. But why did you call
here?"
"Do you see that tree over there?"
I pointed to a nearby tree. It had broad leaves and a generally white hue.
"Do you an the willow tree?"
"Yes. It’s quite expensive, considered a luxury item in noble gardens. There’s only one such tree in the palace."
We stood under the willow tree. I touched the trunk. It felt firm and adequately dry, a sign of good health.
"Do you know much about willow trees?"
"I know they’re a difficult species to cultivate in the empire. That’s why the supply can’t et the demand. I heard there’s a small farm near the capital, but this tree is probably imported."
'A farm near the capital? That could be useful later.'
I felt the trunk. There was a slightly peeled section of bark. I grabbed and tore it off.
With a crackling sound, the bark ca off, releasing a white dust.
"Your Majesty?"
"Did you see that, Parham?"
"See what?"
"We need this bark."
"The bark?"
Parham looked puzzled.
"The bark of the willow tree has analgesic effects. We’re going to make a kind of tea with it. Very strong."
"Ah, I see."
His eyes sparkled.
"We need quite a bit. It’s best to peel off as much as possible without harming the tree."
At my words, Parham pulled out a dagger from his waist.
"I’ll do it. Your hands might get hurt."
I took a step back. Parham skillfully wielded the dagger. The bark peeled off in short strips, falling to the ground.
"The next dicine you’ll make is a painkiller, isn’t it?"
"We need to make it today. Can you help ?"
"Of course. But why so urgently...?"
"I need it for sothing. I’ll tell you once things are clearer."
"As you wish."
He didn’t press further. He must trust
completely.
I picked up a piece of the fallen bark. A dicinal fragrance emanated from its white inner layer.
Willow bark extract. Scientifically known as 'salicylic acid.'
This is the origin of 'aspirin.'
The guest room of the Western Palace.
"Ugh... uhh... ahh..."
Quinas clutched the blanket, writhing in pain. The severe agony blurred his usually sharp mind.
The High Priest was kneeling by his bedside. He held Quinas' hand tightly, praying.
"May the rciful goddess grant freedom to this sinner’s flesh and lead his soul to salvation..."
That wasn’t all. The priests were wiping his old body with holy water.
"Ugh!"
But the prayers and holy water had no effect. The attendants turned their heads, unable to bear the sight. So did the visiting nobles.
Bang.
The door opened, and Leto entered. He glanced around the room. Seeing the absurd scene, a vein bulged on his temple.
"High Priest, stop the prayers."
"I’m sorry, but I cannot stop. Your Majesty."
"Professor Quinas needs rest now, not listening to the noisy prayers."
"I am here for the peace of his soul."
At that mont, Quinas groaned in pain.
"Ugh! Uhh..."
Sothing snapped in Leto's mind. He approached one of the priests and grabbed him by the collar.
"Your Majesty? Why are you...?"
"Does washing with holy water cure illness? Then why don’t you drink it all and live forever?"
Leto's icy blue eyes glared. The priest froze, really feeling the chill.
"Stop this! We are preparing his soul for the goddess."
The High Priest shouted. Leto let go of the priest’s collar.
"Ah."
The priest fell backward.
Leto approached the High Priest. He leaned on the bed with one hand, looking down at him. A deep shadow fell over the High Priest’s face.
The High Priest looked up. Leto was staring at him as if to kill him.
"Really? A suffering body will find peace in death."
Leto reached for the High Priest’s collar this ti.
"Your Majesty!"
"Don’t!"
The Matrion brothers rushed to stop him. They had arrived shortly after Leto. Unable to watch any longer, they intervened.
"Haa..."
Leto ran his hand through his hair. He spoke quietly to the High Priest.
"Leave."
The nobles murmured. It was unusual for the Emperor to speak so harshly to the High Priest.
The High Priest rose obediently. A faint smile played on his lips.
'Rumors will soon spread that the Emperor went on a rampage. That alone is a success.'
The High Priest led the priests out. Silence fell in the room. Leto carefully sat on the edge of Quinas’ bed.
Quinas was the only person Leto truly respected. He had learned the virtues of being an emperor from him.
"Your... Majesty..."
Suddenly, Quinas’ eyes focused. He recognized Leto.
"I’m here."
"Your..."
"I’m listening. Please, say sothing. Anything."
"Hah... uhh..."
But it was brief. Quinas' eyes clouded with pain again. Leto's eyes darkened.
Leto rose from the bed. The Matrion brothers stood before him. They seed at a loss for words, overco with sorrow.
"Louie."
"Yes."
"Will you stay here?"
"Yes. That’s my intention."
"Make sure the High Priest doesn’t co in. Under any circumstances."
Without waiting for a reply, he left the room. Louie shook his head as he watched the door.
"He’s too emotional..."
"He looks so dangerous, brother. Will he be alright?"
"I don’t know. If the professor dies, what will happen? It worries ."
"Maybe we should warn Livia to be careful."
Louie nodded at Shawn’s suggestion.
At that mont, Leto was walking down the corridor.
He knew he had lost his composure. But he couldn’t help it.
The sight of the High Priest holding his dying ntor’s hand and praying. It made him sick to his stomach.
It was the sa when Empress Ianna was dying. They wouldn’t even call a doctor. They just shalessly prayed like that.
Back then, how powerless he had been.
Leto stopped abruptly. One thought consud him.
'I want to see Livia. So much.'
But at the sa ti, he didn’t want to. At least not now.
He stood before a decorative mirror in the corridor. The face reflected there showed no warmth. It looked desolate even to himself.
'I can’t show her this side of .'
Just because things were tough didn’t an he could throw a tantrum. Especially to soone who tried so hard to keep her distance.
Leto returned to the Emperor’s palace. As he was about to open the door to his office, Yuton ca running.
"Your Majesty!"
Yuton halted, seeing Leto.
"Your Majesty... are you alright? Your expression..."
"What is it?"
Leto asked in an emotionless voice.
"Ah, yes. The Empress is here."
"...What?"
"Her Majesty is waiting in the drawing room."
Leto suddenly felt a surge of clarity. It was as if he was being pulled out of the darkness.
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