A hurried knock sounded at her door. A servant stood there, her face pale.
"Miss Josselyn… the Queen can't sleep. She's sweating heavily, and her stomach is cramping," the servant said.
Josselyn's body went rigid. The flash of Killian's blade appeared in her mind.
Without wasting a second, she stepped out of her room.
"Let's go."
Her footsteps echoed through the corridors of the Queen's Wing. She kept murmuring to herself.
'Please save the Queen, God. If not, my head will be the price,' she prayed.
When she reached the Queen's chamber, Yorick appeared from the other direction. His hair was disheveled, and he was still in his nightclothes. They exchanged a look, and Yorick nodded.
The guards immediately opened the chamber doors.
"Your Majesty, are you all right?" Josselyn asked, hurrying to the Queen.
The Queen was sitting up, her face pale. Beads of sweat dotted her forehead, her clothes damp along her back.
"This is the third time Her Majesty has gone to the lavatory, Miss Josselyn," one of the servants reported.
Josselyn nodded. She helped the Queen lie back down, then took a cloth and gently wiped the sweat from the older woman's forehead.
She glanced at the healer, silently asking if the Queen was all right.
Yorick checked the Queen's pulse.
"The potion is working," he said briefly. "The poison is leaving her body."
Relief loosened Josselyn's breath.
"I'll prepare chamomile and warm porridge. You prepare a warm compress for her neck," Yorick instructed.
Josselyn nodded. That night, with the help of the other servants, she cared for the Queen until she was finally able to fall asleep again.
~
"Do I really have to attend?"
Josselyn stopped in front of the small mirror in her room. A new day had come. She studied the pale blue gown the palace servants had given her.
"Her Majesty herself gave the order. She wants you to accompany her throughout the banquet," the servant replied, bowing slightly before turning to leave.
Once Josselyn was sure the servant had gone, her smile spread wide in the mirror, like someone who had just struck gold in broad daylight.
"I wasn't even planning this. But Lady Fortune is on my side," she murmured, twirling the hem of her beautiful gown.
"You like it."
A voice came from the doorway. Josselyn startled.
"Your Highness," she quickly bowed.
Killian walked closer. His eyes moved from her feet to the top of her head, then locked onto hers.
"I only came to remind you, you're invited to the banquet to watch over the Queen's health. Not as a guest."
Josselyn drew a quiet breath, cursing inwardly. 'I know.'
But she lowered her head and said,
"Yes, Your Highness. I will remember."
~
The grand hall of the palace had transformed into a sea of light. Music flowed, gowns shimmered, laughter collided in the air.
Josselyn stood slightly behind the Queen. Her fingers intertwined as her eyes swept the room, observing everything.
'The noble ladies have truly dressed to capture Killian's attention,' she thought.
Since the banquet was meant to find a match for the Crown Prince, the guests were not only from noble families, but also from other kingdoms. That meant Josselyn's competition was far more difficult. It was not only about beauty, but also about lineage.
"Don't stand like a prisoner waiting for a verdict," Yorick whispered beside her.
Josselyn smiled faintly. Yorick must have thought she was uneasy in the crowd. In truth, she was calculating her chances.
"I didn't expect it to be this crowded," she replied without looking at him.
"That's a good thing, isn't it? No one will pay attention to us. Do you see that table in the corner?"
Josselyn followed the direction he indicated.
"There are plenty of sweets. Take some for yourself. It'll help you relax."
"And the Queen…?"
"Leave her to me. It won't take that long to grab a few bites, will it?" Yorick winked.
Josselyn smiled brightly. She hadn't had time for breakfast that morning because of Killian's sudden visit.
"All right, I'll go for a moment. Please watch over the Queen," she said cheerfully.
She slipped toward the corner of the room. Her eyes lit up at the sight of colorful pastries in all sorts of delicate shapes.
"Ah, I want to eat everything," she whispered, almost a delighted squeal if she hadn't held it back. She quickly picked up a red cake.
"The Crown Prince," someone murmured.
The atmosphere shifted. The music continued, but every gaze turned in one direction.
Killian entered.
Cold. Upright. His gaze swept across the room as if counting enemies, not seeking a partner.
Josselyn, chewing, murmured, "He looks angry."
Then she took another piece. "But he always looks like that."
She didn't care. Killian would never notice her anyway. Right now, she only needed to fill her stomach so she wouldn't faint.
While everyone's attention was fixed on Killian, an elderly noble suddenly approached. His eyes assessed Josselyn from head to toe.
"So I wasn't mistaken. Althea's child," he said, without courtesy. His deliberately raised voice drew the attention of those nearby.
"How did you get in here? Did you sneak in?" he added with a mocking smile.
Under the gaze of surrounding nobles, Josselyn calmly drank a glass of water. Then she looked at the old man with a polite expression.
"I work as an assistant to the royal healer," she replied.
The man raised a brow. "Assistant? Don't be absurd."
"I'm here under the orders of the King and Queen."
The noble laughed dismissively.
"Someone with a traitor's blood should not show her face in the palace."
Josselyn's jaw tightened. She answered without a smile.
"And what kind of person should? Someone skilled at flattery like you?" Her voice dropped, cold.
The man's face flushed. Without warning, he struck her hard. The force of his heavy hand made her stagger.
"The King is too merciful," he said. "Or too patient."
He wiped the hand he had used to strike her, his expression disgusted.
"To allow a traitor's child to roam freely in the place where her father was punished." The old noble sneered.
Josselyn stiffened. She did not turn, but every word lodged in her ears.
"Isn't that dangerous? I hear the Queen is in poor health."
Whispers began to spread.
"What if she plans to poison the Queen for revenge?"
The noble turned toward the murmurs and smiled wider, as if pleased by the support.
"No, as long as she's still useful." His gaze seemed to strip Josselyn bare.
"The Queen enjoys her potions. The King enjoys seeing his wife breathe a little longer."
The old man chuckled, then looked around as if seeking agreement.
"And when that enjoyment ends?"
His tone dropped, colder.
"Then the blade will act faster than any court."
This time, the murmurs grew louder. Some nodded. Others looked at Josselyn with pity. Her throat went dry.
"We can only hope the King and Queen realize it before this girl stops their breathing."
His eyes flicked to the vial Josselyn had been holding.
"That's the Queen's potion? Perhaps she's already added poison to it," another whisper came.
Josselyn's body trembled. The crowd around her thickened. Among them, she caught sight of Yorick moving toward her, then stopping. Too late.
A flash of steel. Too fast. It grazed the old noble's neck. Blood trickled onto his collar.
Silence fell instantly. Josselyn turned toward the owner of the blade.
"Your Highness…"
It was Killian, his sword drawn at the old man's throat.
"Repeat that," Killian said softly. "I didn't hear you clearly."
Josselyn froze. Her hands trembled violently.
"Your Highness!" the Head of the Council cried in panic. "This is a banquet!"
"And he ruined it," Killian replied.
The old noble swallowed hard. "I… I apologize."
Killian withdrew his sword and slid it back into its sheath.
"Leave," he ordered.
The man backed away in a panic, nearly running out of the hall. Uneasy murmurs followed in his wake.
Josselyn felt her knees weaken. The rumors she had heard about the Crown Prince, how easily he drew his blade, had just unfolded before her eyes. Fortunately, it had not ended in bloodshed.
"He's insane," she whispered without thinking.
"No," a voice beside her replied. "He simply doesn't care."
Josselyn turned.
Two men stood there.
The first wore a relaxed smile, his silver hair loosely tied, curiosity glinting in his eyes.
The second had a composed expression, his brown hair neatly styled, his gaze calculating.
"I'm Howarth," the first said. "And this is my brother, Sebastian."
"We're from Edevane, the neighboring kingdom," Sebastian added.
"Pleasure to meet you, the girl defended by the Crown Prince." Howarth's gaze settled on Josselyn's eyes.
Josselyn swallowed. Their stares were cold, sharp, dangerous, making her realize this meeting was only the beginning. A chaos far greater and more dangerous than her own desire for revenge was waiting for her.