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How long had she walked through the dark passage, relying only on the lamplight?
Soon, she was able to catch up with Lona, who had left earlier.
“Princess Peony is resting inside. Make sure she doesn’t come out while I’m out.”
“Yes.”
“She’ll probably fall asleep soon since it’s almost nap time, but if anything seems off, let me know immediately.”
“Yes, I’ll check on her when I go in to clear the teacups later.”
Fortunately, Peony was able to peek at their conversation through a small crack in the wall.
However, Lona’s expression was cold, without a hint of the smile she showed when she was with Peony.
Seeing her unfamiliar side, Peony felt a chill run down her spine.
But she held her breath as much as possible and followed Lona, who began to walk again.
Although it was broad daylight, Lona’s movements were very cautious.
She passed by the residence where the physicians stayed and headed to a secluded place within the Imperial Palace that was hardly known.
A snicker escaped her lips as she walked.
Princess Peony would never even guess why her personal physician was staying in such a remote place.
Soon, soldiers standing guard caught her eye.
Lona naturally approached and opened her mouth.
“I am Lona, Princess Peony’s personal maid.”
As soon as she finished speaking, the soldiers opened the way for her.
Inside, Peony’s personal physician, Sarah, was waiting for her.
But there was another person standing next to her.
A middle-aged man who looked to be in his early to mid-50s, with a wide forehead and round face that gave a gentle impression.
He was none other than Darian’s personal physician, Lord Dio.
He was a person whom Empress Eliza had brought directly from her Noble house, the Marquess of Rothang, and a man who once received a medal in the Imperial Palace for his outstanding medical skills.
At first glance, there was nothing strange about the situation.
Princess Peony was a patient suffering from a serious illness, and it was natural for the physicians to share their opinions.
“No one followed you, I presume.”
“No, of course not.”
“Any special circumstances? Princess Peony is taking her Cure regularly, I hope.”
“Actually… she’s been refusing her medicine lately. It’s as if she’s going through a late adolescence, and the number of times she takes it has decreased a lot.”
“Hmm, that’s troublesome. How is her health?”
Lona’s face hardened at Lord Dio’s question.
She looked around once and whispered in a small voice.
“…She’s getting healthier.”
Lord Dio tilted his head as if puzzled by the words.
“I was going to see you about that issue anyway. Princess Peony’s condition is improving day by day. Could it be due to the reduced dosage?”
“That can’t be. This medicine is very special, so once the ingredients accumulate, they don’t disappear easily. At best, it would only slow down the rate of deterioration. Hmm, did Sarah take any separate measures?”
“Ah, no. I didn’t touch it.”
Lord Dio nodded as if deep in thought.
“I see. The medicine’s composition hasn’t changed either, so something’s strange. But there’s also the possibility that she’s developed a tolerance… I’ll re-examine the Cure’s ingredients.”
On the surface, it seemed like a normal medical consultation.
But for Peony, who was eavesdropping on their conversation from behind the wall, it was quite shocking.
They were wondering why she was getting healthier.
They were discussing why the ‘medicine’ wasn’t working as before.
If Ayla hadn’t told her that the Cure was poisoned, she would never have even thought to eavesdrop on this conversation.
What would have happened if that were the case? She probably would have innocently met her death without knowing anything.
‘…How foolish.’
Peony closed her eyes tightly and opened them again, organizing her thoughts.
Darian’s personal physician was involved in this.
If so, it couldn’t be ruled out that Darian had directly ordered this.
‘He acted so kind in front of me.’
An unbearable sense of betrayal washed over her from Darian, who had acted like an irreplaceable family member to her.
How much he had cherished her all this time.
He would secretly take the young her out without the maids knowing to show her the outside world, and after she took the bitter medicine, he would put sweet snacks in her mouth.
“Peony, tell me anytime if you’re sick or having a hard time. I’ll always be by your side.”
To think that her brother, who had been so caring, was the culprit who ordered the poisoning.
In an instant, all the beautiful memories faded away.
‘I want to believe it’s a lie.’
She couldn’t believe it. No, she didn’t want to believe it.
If Christina and Adolf had committed the act, she would have endured it as much as possible.
But deep down, she hoped it wasn’t Darian.
He was Peony’s favorite family member.
He was the one who had once filled the void left by her mother.
Tears welled up for a moment, but they didn’t fall.
She would have preferred it if he had honestly said he wanted the throne.
If that were the case, Peony could have left for a distant foreign country for Darian’s sake.
Thinking that, a venomous look appeared in Peony’s eyes.
Veins popped out on her clenched fist.
The innocent self of the past was no more.
She would abandon all trust and compassion for her family.
In order to return all this sin to the enemy, she had to become even more ruthless.
Several days had passed since then.
While Peony was receiving treatment from her physician and being prescribed new medicine, the Dragon’s condition did not improve at all.
The Emperor seemed to have judged that it would be better to decide on an owner quickly, as the Dragon’s condition was deteriorating day by day.
So, he announced the following to his children.
“Feed the Dragon and take care of it directly. I will consider the one who recovers its condition first to be the Dragon’s owner.”
Until recently, Peony had no interest in who became the Dragon’s owner.
But now, things were different.
‘If Darian takes possession of the Divine Beast, it will be even harder to deal with him.’
So, although she didn’t want to, she had to go meet the Black Dragon according to the Emperor’s orders.
‘Is this the first time since we met at the dinner?’
She was very uncomfortable with this meeting where she had to face Darian.
Because she had learned that he was the one who poisoned her.
But she didn’t show it.
She knew that openly revealing her emotions was something a novice would do.
Just as Darian had completely deceived her all this time, she had to deceive him as well.
Peony recalled what Ayla had told her before coming to the Imperial Palace.
“When you go to the Imperial Palace, always keep your expression calm and be careful not to say unnecessary things. If you are asked a question, take a beat before answering carefully.”
Ayla’s advice was strangely specific.
As if she had once been in the same situation as Peony.
‘Ayla is right. I should act as if nothing’s wrong, just like Darian.’
Darian, who had arrived earlier and was waiting, greeted Peony with a kind face.
“Peony, you don’t look well. Is it because you’re not used to being in the Imperial Palace after so long?”
Fortunately, Peony was able to feign composure in front of him.
As Ayla had said, she took a beat before calmly opening her mouth.
“Yeah, I can’t sleep well because the bed is different.”
Adolf, who was young, scoffed at Peony’s answer.
“Hmph, if you’re uncomfortable in the Imperial Palace, you shouldn’t have come at all. I guess the outside life suits you better!”
Darian immediately stopped him with a firm voice.
“Adolf, I told you not to be rude to Peony.”
“…Okay.”
Adolf pouted his lips.
He often acted playfully towards Peony, but in front of Darian, he quickly became docile.
Even the young him knew.
That even though Darian seemed kind and gentle on the outside, he was someone who shouldn’t be touched carelessly.
But his silence was only temporary.
Because he had grown up under Christina’s overprotection, he had a personality that wouldn’t be satisfied unless he had everyone under his control.
Soon, Adolf crossed his arms and said triumphantly.
“Anyway, both you and brother have made a pointless trip. After all, the Divine Beast will eat the food I give it!”
Adolf was third in line to the throne.
The reason why he could be so confident was because he was born with a stronger Dragon's power than Darian.
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