Chapter 60: Chapter 60

The world shifted dangerously under Shia’s gaze. Perhaps this served her right. She had been so flustered when she cornered Lady Edelfina earlier that she had failed to determine the actual amount of poison that her own body could handle.

The truth was that she had half-wanted to die back there. Lady Edelfina’s proposition seemed reasonable. Death would have been the best route for her. By the gods of Teotroly, she will wed the king in two days! What can she do to stop it if not just die?

She and Khailis had already thought of a plan, and although Khailis had assured her that it will work, she was still doubtful. She wanted to see Langrion so badly and tell him that help was on the way. She had tried talking to the king about it, but he was pensive about this and did not give her any answers yet. It looked like he was half-expecting her to propose something indecent, but even out of desperation, she couldn’t bring herself to do so, so she simply walked out of him at lunch time.

Now, it’s almost dinner time, and she might be dying. She almost staggered face down to the floor when someone caught her swiftly by her left arm.

She looked up and saw two beautiful ocean-blue eyes. It was Langrey!

She cupped his face in her hand, “Langrey! My Langrey!” Was that really her voice? Why does it sounded like she was giggling?

She fell once more, but Langrey supported her other arm effectively. By now they were already kneeling to the ground. Why was the world spinning so harshly?

“Uh, Langrey, I’m dizzy. Can I lie down for a while here?”

“Lady Shia, what happened to you? This isn’t your bed chambers. You cannot possibly lie down,” he said, looking mortified.

It was too late, however. She had already laid herself down on the floor. Why won’t the spinning world stop?

“It will only be for a while. I just need to let it wear off...” Shia said, panting. Even her own breathing was affected. This just served her right for drinking that tea so greedily.

Langrion carefully scooped her by the shoulders and placed her head in his lap. The earth was still spinning, but Shia tried to keep his gaze on Langrion’s face.

“You do know that I am not really Langrion... right?” the man before her said.

Shia’s eyes were promptly filled with tears, but she brushed them away rapidly. The man was quick to see it though, and his face looked quite guilty.

“Yes, Prince Danterion. I was just imagining inside my head that you were him.”

The prince was looking down at her with concern in his face. She must have been looking quite pitiful in his eyes.

“What happened to you? Do you feel sick?”

“That’s okay. It’s just poison...”

“What!” he exclaimed. He was about to scoop her up, but she held his arms and tried to pacify him.

“It’s alright. I’m immune to this poison. If I sleep it away, I shall be fine.”

“Are you sure? Who poisoned you, and what kind of poison did you ingest?”

“Honey with oleander blooms. That witch put it in the tea. Don’t worry. I drank a lot of it when I was young. I shall be fine,” Shia said.

By now, the hallucinations from the poison had already starting to kick in that she was starting to see cat’s ears instead of regular ears in each side of Danterion’s head. She laughed out loud.

“What is it? Why are you laughing?”

“You have cat’s ears, Langrey,” she said, forgetting again that she was speaking to Danterion.

“Does it suit me?” he said, amusing her.

“Yes, maybe. You always looked like a puppy in my eyes, though.” She began to vigorously stroke his hair on one side while giggling enthusiastically. “My lovely puppy, when are you coming back to me?” Shia had lost her rational faculty. She had completely acted like a clown while crying uncontrollably in front of his majesty.

“How much poison did you ingest?” he said.

“I drank four cups. I should have stopped at two, but when she told me it was poisoned, I had really considered taking more. But it’s okay. It made you come here...” Shia started to close her eyes, but the agitated prince slapped her face gently.

“No, no, you mustn’t sleep yet. Tell me more about what poisoned you. Do you know the antidote?”

“It’s alright. I don’t need an antidote. I need to sleep the effects away. Why is it so dark, hmm?...” Shia started to say. She drifted into sleep again, and this time, the prince could do nothing to positively wake her up.

******************

Prince Danterion had spent his day brooding over at the great library of the Capitol. He had used this time to think things through since his meeting with Lady Shia and his uncle. Thankfully although he was under a lot of stress, Danry seemed to have hibernated, so he had a lot of control nowadays in this body and a lot of time to plan and be ready.

The last time he was in the library in Sensala, Lady Shia confronted him about killing her family. He could only make a smooth facade in front of her, although his heart was stricken with so much terror.

Danterion was sure that it must have been the Tainted One’s doing. He has many sneaky plans up in his sleeves, and he did not complain so far. This one was a big accusation, however, and it can ruin his reputation. The good thing about it is he couldn’t prove it because he does not remember anything. Even if it’s true, he cannot access the memories until the Tainted One himself reveals it to him. That being the case, even when he was investigated or was coerced into drinking truth serum, he would be able to deny the crime.

That being said, if the Tainted One had really killed an entire family, would he really do what he intended to do next?

When he first became conscious of the Tainted One’s personality, he was as young as Danry. Being born with a twin brother, it felt like he always had to complete with him about everything. His mother’s love was always focused on Langrey because of his condition. His father, although he would hit Langrey while he was on a fit of delusion, would always tell him separately to take care of his brother.

Although Danterion grew up physically normal, it was always his brother that received the attention, the pity, and the love of those around him. Things were always done out of consideration for Langrion, but how about him? It was as if he was nonexistent to any of them.

It was only the Tainted One who spoke like he was capable of something special. He had told him that the best and fastest way he could achieve everybody’s love and acceptance was if he became king.

He knew that the Tainted One’s words were true for it was the allure of power that made it possible for him to snatch Edelfina away from his twin brother. However, he did not know that the Tainted One could be this thirsty for power! By the gods of Teotroly, if they were discovered and the crimes he had committed where exposed, what was he to do?

‘Then just kill some more,’ the Tainted One suddenly spoke within him. ‘Position and power require sacrifices. Anyway, those small killings wouldn’t matter as long as you become king. Just look at your uncle! He has just gotten away from another crime just because he is king. Don’t you want that kind of power?’

Indeed, even if his uncle murdered Nana and was the cause of her mother’s own demise, he was able to suppress the investigation and bury the truth just like that! Similarly, once he becomes king, even though the Tainted One’s secret could be exposed, he can definitely cover it up. There’s indeed no need to worry after all...

Now that Langrion was in jail, he had one less competitor for the throne. As for Lady Shia, well, there are still many ways to silence someone like her. Even the Tainted One spoke of killing her mortal body for a thousand and one time, whatever that means. There was indeed no need to worry...

He was too deep in thoughts that he did not realize that the afternoon had already come. If he would not visit her quickly, Edelfina will come out and scold him and will definitely be in a bad mood for the rest of the night.

He was hurrying his steps towards Edelfina’s chambers when he suddenly collided with a surprise guest – Lady Shia.

Seeing how the girl behaved the last time he brought Edelfina at the library in Sensala, he knew for sure they could never be friends. He was therefore caught off guard when she saw her coming out from Edelfina’s room.

Lady Shia was looking funny though. It seems like she did not see him at all, considering how he had towered just straight ahead of her. He even called her name when he was still at the far end of the corridor, but she did not answer.

Now, seeing her dazed expression, he caught her arm. She did look sick and was about to fall on her other side, so she caught her other arm too.

“My Langrey!” she exclaimed, looking so excited to see him.

Of course he resembled his brother, but he wasn’t wearing a mask and the corridor was positively lit. How can she make a mistake?

“Langrey, I’m dizzy. Can I lie down for a while here?” Lady Shia started to say. Danterion tried to smell her. Was she drunk? She did not look like it.

“Lady Shia, what happened to you? This isn’t your bed chambers. You cannot possibly lie down,” he said, feigning concern. He was suspicious why she was acting as such. Is she planning to do something?

As she descended further into the floor despite his warning, Danterion could only come down with her to the ground. He pulled her head to his thighs and let it rest there

She mumbled softly once she had lain down on the floor, “It will only be for a while. I just need to let it wear off.”

It?... Did Edelfina do something to her when she visited her chamber?...

Danry’s voice cried softly within him, but the Tainted One was a little irritated by what he had just heard as he made several ‘tsk’ sound in a menacingly reproachful manner.

Danterion knew that the Tainted One took a special liking to Langrion’s girl, and from what he had said last time, the degree of the affection was akin to a soul mate. Such grave affinity might harm Edelfina. This thought made Danterion draw a grimaced face.

After a series of questions, Danterion did verify that the lady had been poisoned. He did not ask her further who for it was too obvious of an answer as to who could have done it. He just wanted to keep her awake so that he could secretly administer an antidote swiftly. If anything would happen to her, Edelfina might be in trouble. He could feel the Tainted One’s eye internally watching him and the girl.

However, here she was, sleeping peacefully in his lap, unable to be shaken back into consciousness any further. Danterion felt a little helpless.