Chapter 17: Chapter 17: Poisoned (1)
"They..."
The door suddenly knocked twice.
Both mother and daughter stiffened.
Marina quickly wiped her tears and turned toward the entrance. "Who is it?" she called out cautiously.
"It is Prince Theron."
Seren’s body froze at the familiar voice.
The door creaked open slowly and Theron stepped inside without waiting for permission. His gaze immediately landed on Seren.
He looked at her from head to toe as though confirming she was whole.
"Prince Theron," Marina greeted quickly, bowing her head despite the tension in her chest.
Theron gave a small nod in acknowledgment before shifting his attention back to Seren.
"I came to get you," he said calmly.
Seren’s fingers tightened around her mother’s hand. Marina noticed it and stepped slightly in front of her daughter.
"Your Highness," Marina began carefully, "my daughter is unwell. Perhaps she could remain here for today."
Theron’s eyes lowered briefly to their joined hands before lifting again. His expression remained unreadable.
"That will not be necessary," he replied. "She is needed."
Seren slowly released her mother’s hand. She forced herself to step forward.
"I will return soon, Mother," she said softly.
Marina grabbed her wrist suddenly. Fear was clear in her eyes. "Seren-"
Theron’s gaze sharpened slightly at the contact.
"She will not be harmed," he said in a lower tone.
Marina looked at him, searching his face for something she could trust.
After a long second, her grip loosened.
Seren stepped away fully this time. She avoided looking back at her mother as she walked toward the door.
Theron turned without another word and began walking down the corridor.
Seren followed behind him quietly.
The brewing room door slowly closed behind them.
Marina remained standing there, staring at the empty doorway.
Her hands trembled slightly at her sides.
A bad feeling settled deep within her chest. She rushed to the door, and opened it, her eyes swept around the corridor but her daughter was gone.
Without thinking twice, she got out and locked the door before running to meet up with them. Her heart raced as different thoughts clouded her mind.
"Prince Theron looks unsettled. Something must have happened, and I can’t let my daughter bear the brunt of it." She clenched her teeth as her feet took her to the Prince’s quarters, just as she took a left turn she accidentally bumped into someone.
"Ouch!" Lysa gasped, stumbling backwards as the tray in her hands slipped off and crashed on the floor causing a sound to ripple through the air.
A shaky breath escaped her lips as she stood frozen staring at the juice spilled on the floor and the broken glass.
"O-oh, dear. I am so sorry!" Marina gasped, kneeling down. "I’ll clean it up. I’m so sorry," picking one of the glass but Lysa bent down quickly and grabbed her hand.
"Stop, you’re going to hurt yourself." She whispered, shaking her head. "I’ll handle it." She helped Marina up and dug her hand inside her maid’s uniform’s pocket before taking out a handkerchief and pressing it on Marina’s hand.
She gently wiped the juice off her fingers before returning the handkerchief to her pocket.
"Oh, child. I’m so sorry." Marina whispered again, her eyes filled with guilt. "Whom does the juice belong to?"
"Oh? That?" Lysa let go of her hand and stared at the mess on the floor. "It is for the princess. I was asked to bring juice for her guest..." She forced a smile on her face before staring at Marina. "But don’t worry, ma’am. I’ll just go back to the kitchen and sneak a fresh juice into a glass cup and serve it to the princess. I’ll not get caught."
Marina sighed not knowing what to say anymore. She stood in silence staring at the girl as she bent down and carefully picked the shard of glass.
"By the way, has Seren written new letters to you? I really miss her." Lysa muttered, picking a shard of glass closest to her feet.
"Yes," Marina answered, and at the same time she remembered she was running after her daughter, and she turned to look at the route they must have passed and held her head.
It was already too late. There was no way she could get to Seren.
’I hope you will be fine, my child. Please come back to me safely.’ Marina thought worriedly.
"Ma’am? Is there something wrong?" Lysa asked, already standing in front of Marina. Marina turned to face her and forced a smile on her face.
"I was thinking of how to get the cook distracted while you sneak some juice in. Come... I’ll help you, just take it as me being sorry for... putting you in this situation," Marina said walking opposite the direction of where Seren went.
"But I’m fine..." Lysa hesitated for a second before following behind her.
Marina walked quickly, her steps steady despite the storm in her heart.
They turned a corner and approached the kitchen entrance. Voices drifted out softly from inside.
Suddenly, Marina paused and Lysa almost bumped into her.
"Wait here," she whispered, staring at the kitchen entrance.
Lysa blinked. "Ma’am?"
But Marina had already stepped inside.
The cook stood near the stove, stirring something in a large pot. He glanced up briefly.
"Oh? Madam Marina." He smiled faintly when he saw who it was.
She forced a tired smile walking over to him.
"I heard you received fresh honey this morning," she said casually. "May I see it?"
The cook frowned slightly. "The honey?"
"Yes. I was thinking of purchasing some for medicinal use." She said.
The cook wiped his hands on a cloth and walked toward the storage shelf.
Lysa quietly slipped in behind Marina, her movements careful. She avoided the cook’s line of sight and moved toward the prepared trays.
Her fingers trembled slightly as she reached for a clean glass. However, her eyes caught sight of a dead animal wrapped in a cloth hidden away from sight. She frowned slightly.
Marina kept talking.
"I heard it helps with sleeplessness," she added.
The cook chuckled. "If honey could cure sleeplessness, half the palace would be healed."
Marina smiled faintly, though her eyes were distant.
Lysa quickly poured fresh juice into the glass, ignoring the carcass. She placed it carefully on the tray, replacing the broken one.
The sound of liquid pouring seemed too loud in her ears and she froze.
The cook turned slightly. "Huh?"
Marina stepped closer to him. "May I taste it?"
That pulled his attention back fully. "Uh, yes, of course."
Lysa exhaled silently.
Within seconds, she straightened and picked up the tray.
"I will take my leave," she said softly.
The cook nodded absently. Seeing that Lysa was done, Marina gently held his hand stopping him from serving her the honey.
Marina turned as well. " I’ll come back later for this. Thank you."
They stepped out of the kitchen together.
Only when they were a safe distance away did Lysa release the breath she had been holding.
"Ma’am... you didn’t have to," she said quietly.
Marina shook her head.
"It is nothing."
But her gaze drifted unconsciously toward the direction of the Princes’ quarters.
Her chest tightened again.
’Something did not feel right.’ her mind kept telling.
.
.
.
Seren followed behind Theron in silence. The corridor felt longer than usual and neither of them spoke.
Soon, they finally reached Prince Cassien’s study, and both of them slowed.
Theron’s eyes narrowed slightly as he swept his gaze around.
The two guards who were always stationed outside the door were nowhere to be seen.
The hallway was empty.
Seren felt a chill run down her spine.
"Why did you stop?" she whispered, hugging herself subconsciously.
Theron did not answer. He stepped forward first and pushed the door open.
His eyes swept across the room looking for Aeron, and then he froze.
His brother was seated on the chair in the middle of the room, his elbows resting on his knees.
His hands gripped his hair tightly, his head lowered. Theron’s eyes lowered to his feet and he clenched his hands tightly.
The two guards who were missing lay sprawled on the floor.
Unmoving.
Seren gasped sharply, both hands flying to cover her mouth. Her eyes widened in horror.
Theron reacted first.
"Brother!" he shouted, rushing towards him "What happened here?!"
Aeron did not lift his head immediately. His shoulders were tense.
Seren hesitated at the doorway before forcing herself to step in, but made sure to keep a good distance away from the brothers.
The room smelled faintly of something metallic. She glanced at the floor and noticed a pool of blood underneath one of the guards.
Theron knelt beside one of the guards and pressed two fingers to his neck.
He closed his eyes and finally opened them when he felt a faint pulse.
"This one is alive," he muttered, in relief, but the other one was dead.
Only then did Aeron slowly raise his head.
His eyes were bloodshot and there was something unsettled in them.
"When did you get here?" he said hoarsely.
