Chapter 94: Chapter 94: A Sudden Affliction
Vaelen recounted everything that had happened at Oren Lake.
Naturally, he omitted his own conflicted feelings toward Elysia, as well as Barek’s insults directed at Young General Asher Hartwell.
After listening quietly, Queen Ilara frowned.
"Your uncle has become increasingly overbearing. Your father has indulged him far too much. To think he actually reprimanded Lord Corvis before the entire court today over this."
She clicked her tongue.
"The poor man is already advanced in years, yet he was humiliated before every official. I heard that the moment he returned home, he summoned Barek and gave him a severe beating under the guise of family discipline. As for Deborah..."
A faint smile appeared on her lips.
"She escaped another punishment. Although I heard she’s been walking with a limp ever since yesterday’s kneeling."
A limp...
Vaelen’s expression changed slightly.
Suddenly, he remembered what Cassiel had said during the Verse Salon.
That day...
His uncle had ordered Deborah to kneel.
Later, when the mysterious author Alhena finally appeared, she had deliberately walked with a slight limp.
Everyone had immediately assumed it was Deborah.
Only Elysia...
Only Elysia had calmly questioned it.
At the time, he had dismissed her words.
But now...
Could Deborah have simply received the credit by coincidence?
Could Alhena...
Actually be Elysia?
The thought surfaced so abruptly that even Vaelen was startled.
If that were true...
Then Sylrienne’s long-admired Alhena had been beside him all along.
Seeing her son fall silent, Queen Ilara mistook his distraction for something else.
"Enough about them."
She looked at him seriously.
"What do you think of Deborah?"
Vaelen forced himself back to the present.
"She is... acceptable."
Queen Ilara nodded thoughtfully.
"Would you be willing to make her your Crown Princess?"
Vaelen instinctively frowned.
"Father publicly reprimanded Lord Corvis today. That alone shows he is dissatisfied with the Corvis family. If I were to marry Deborah now..."
"I’m afraid it might only make Father more displeased."
Queen Ilara waved the concern aside.
"Your father may criticize someone today and reward them tomorrow. The court changes with the wind. No one can predict the future."
Then her expression hardened.
"Besides..."
"Your uncle has grown far too arrogant. He has offended too many people. One day, even your father will lose patience. He won’t remain untouchable forever."
She leaned forward slightly.
"You are the Crown Prince. You should begin building your own supporters. In my opinion, the Corvis family is the ideal choice. After everything that happened at Oren Lake, they will inevitably resent Cassiel. If you marry Deborah, Lord Corvis will have every reason to support you wholeheartedly. And don’t forget..."
"Deborah is Alhena. The very author whom Sylrienne admires so greatly."
The more she spoke, the more convinced she became.
From every angle, Deborah seemed to be the perfect Crown Princess.
Vaelen, however, merely stirred the warm frumenty in his bowl with his spoon.
His brows remained tightly knitted.
Queen Ilara observed him for a while before her expression gradually cooled.
"Don’t tell me..."
"You’re still thinking about Elysia."
Vaelen’s heart lurched.
His hand froze.
After a brief silence, he lowered his eyes.
"You misunderstand, Mother. My feelings toward Elysia..."
"They are nothing more than annoyance."
Only then did Queen Ilara appear satisfied.
She said nothing more.
The meal continued in silence.
Yet no matter how exquisite the dishes before him were, Vaelen found them utterly tasteless.
Before he left, Queen Ilara offered one final instruction.
"You’ll begin attending morning court again tomorrow. Perform your duties well. Earn your father’s approval. As for the marriage..."
"I’ll find an opportunity to speak with His Majesty. If all goes well, the wedding will take place before the end of this year. You will marry Deborah."
Vaelen forced a faint smile.
"As you wish, Mother."
After leaving the Queen’s palace, he returned to the Eastern Palace.
As was his usual habit, he headed directly to his study.
A stack of memorials had already been placed neatly on his desk.
He picked up the first one and had barely read a few lines when a sharp pain suddenly twisted through his abdomen.
His fingers tightened around the scroll.
The pain spread rapidly through his stomach like a knife being slowly turned.
Cold sweat instantly beaded across his forehead.
His vision blurred.
He bent over the desk, struggling to steady his breathing.
A nearby servant noticed something was wrong and hurried over.
"Your Highness?"
"Your Highness!"
Vaelen’s complexion had turned frighteningly pale.
His hair clung damply to his forehead.
He slowly opened his eyes, but the servant’s face appeared distorted and indistinct.
He reached out with a trembling hand and grabbed the servant’s sleeve.
"I..."
"I ate something..."
His voice was barely above a whisper.
Ever since childhood, his constitution had been weak.
Queen Ilara spent most of her time managing the imperial harem, competing for the Emperor’s favor and strengthening her own position within the palace.
She had little opportunity to personally oversee every aspect of Vaelen’s daily life.
There were many foods he couldn’t eat.
Sometimes Queen Ilara forgot.
Sometimes...
Even Vaelen himself forgot.
Only Elysia had remembered every single one.
Whenever she prepared food for him, she carefully avoided every ingredient that might upset his stomach.
And on the rare occasions he accidentally ate something unsuitable...
She would quietly prepare a bowl of warm medicinal broth.
He had never asked what herbs she used.
He only knew that every time he drank it...
The pain gradually disappeared.
His grip weakened.
Almost unconsciously, he murmured,
"Elysia..."
"I want that broth..."
"Go..."
"Make the broth for me..."
The servant leaned closer, utterly bewildered.
"What broth, Your Highness? What broth are you referring to?"
Before Vaelen could answer...
His eyes rolled back.
His body went limp.
He collapsed unconscious onto the desk.
The servants erupted into panic.
Someone rushed to support him.
Another hurried toward the Imperial Hospital.
A third raced to report the matter to Queen Ilara.
By the time Queen Ilara arrived, several imperial physicians had already gathered inside the Crown Prince’s chambers.
Seeing her son lying unconscious on the bed, his face deathly pale, her expression darkened instantly.
She turned toward the kneeling servants.
"Are all of you useless? You can’t even take proper care of the Crown Prince?"
Everyone lowered their heads until they nearly touched the floor.
No one dared utter a word.
Queen Ilara suppressed her anger and looked toward the chief imperial physician.
"What happened?"
The physician bowed respectfully.
"Your Majesty, based on this humble servant’s examination..."
"His Highness consumed something during this morning’s meal that his body could not tolerate. He suffered an acute reaction, causing him to lose consciousness."
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