Wei Wei naturally heard the servant's shout as well—but she didn't go out. It wasn't the right time yet.
Inside the king's bedchamber, the candles made from suet had already been lit, the windows closed, and the curtains drawn. A strange medicinal odor clung to the air, thick and nauseating.
But no one paid attention to that. All eyes were fixed on the bed hidden behind the bed curtains.
Queen Mirabelle narrowed her eyes at the veiled bed, suspicious. Was the butler bold enough to fake the king's presence with a stand-in?
That thought was quickly dismissed.
The butler, who had entered first, immediately pulled back the curtains—revealing the patient inside.
He looked haggard—dry hair, disheveled beard—but he was very much awake.
His bloodshot eyes swept over the gathered crowd like icy blades, muddy but sharp.
Yet those who met his gaze didn't feel chilled—only relief. Smiles bloomed across their faces as they stepped closer to the bed.
"Your Majesty, you're finally awake," the butler said, a bit too eagerly. Thankfully, everyone already knew the king often fell into deep, prolonged sleep, so his words didn't raise suspicion.
The king glanced at his loyal servant, his expression softening slightly, and signaled him to stand aside. Then he turned to his wife and sons.
"What were you all shouting about outside? Gave me a headache."
Perhaps it was the two bowls of medicine he'd had—though his voice was weak, it wasn't hoarse. His slow, deliberate tone made the queen and princes feel slightly ashamed of their earlier behavior.
Prince Andrew scratched his head and mumbled sheepishly, "Sorry, Father. We didn't mean to disturb you."
The king looked at his younger son. The boy wasn't the brightest, but he was obedient. It probably had nothing to do with him, so the king's expression softened further before shifting his gaze to the other two.
The crown prince looked uneasy too. After all, they had disobeyed the king's order. If he pursued it, punishment was inevitable. But seeing his father awake eased his worries.
Queen Mirabelle quickly spoke before the crown prince could.
"Your Majesty, you haven't been seen in days. I was truly worried for you. How are you feeling now?" She made no mention of the real reason she'd tried to barge in earlier.
Having just woken, the king hadn't heard her earlier outburst, so her explanation earned only a nonchalant "Mm." Then he added, "You've seen me now—go back. Don't make a scene like this again."
He was still very weak, too tired to deal with them much longer.
The king had issued a clear dismissal, and they had no choice but to obey. However, Queen Mirabelle was reluctant. "Your Majesty, please allow me to stay and care for you."
"No need. I have plenty of people attending to me. You should go rest."
She tried to change his mind, but the king's face soon grew impatient. In the end, she had to leave.
Once they were gone, the butler couldn't contain himself any longer. "Your Majesty, thank goodness you're awake. You truly gave us a scare this time."
Servants in the corner nodded in agreement. If the king hadn't woken up, the country might have been thrown into chaos.
The king, unaware that he'd been unconscious, assumed he had only been deeply asleep like before. But judging by the butler's expression, something was off. "How long was I out?"
"Nearly three days, counting today. No matter what we did, we couldn't wake you." The butler looked genuinely relieved. "Luckily, Countess Williams arrived in time. If not for her, we don't know what would've happened."
"She's the one who saved me?" The king looked surprised. Though he had sent for Wei Wei himself, it had been more out of desperation than belief. He hadn't expected such impressive results.
The butler nodded. "Yes. After examining you, she prescribed medicine. You woke up after just two bowls. How do you feel now?"
No wonder his mouth felt bitter—he'd been fed medicine.
The king did a quick self-check. He was still very weak, but the constant drowsiness was gone. His mind was clear.
"I feel all right. Just… hungry."
The butler jumped into action. "The countess said you'd wake tonight, so I had the kitchen prepare food ahead of time. I'll fetch it immediately."
Even before he could issue the order, a servant had already rushed off.
Back in the room, the king was carefully propped up, sitting against the headboard, and asked about his condition. "Did she say what was wrong with me?"
At that question, the butler's face darkened. He lowered his voice. "The countess said… you were poisoned."
The king's eyes narrowed, but he wasn't surprised. "I knew it."
He had always been healthy. The sudden weakness had never made sense. The king had long suspected poison but couldn't confirm it. Investigations yielded nothing—no cause, no timing, no evidence.
"Bring Countess Williams to me. I have questions for her."
The butler added, "The Earl is also present. Should I bring him too?"
The king thought for a moment, then nodded. Felix probably already knew the situation anyway.
Wei Wei had already heard the news and anticipated being summoned. She was prepared.
However, little Anthony, not yet asleep, wouldn't let his parents leave together. Though Felix had lulled him into a half-drowsy state, the boy was still fighting sleep. So Felix simply asked the butler if they could bring the child along.
His reasoning was perfectly valid: "His Majesty hasn't met Anthony yet."
Technically, little Anthony was the king's great-grandson. Letting the king see him wasn't inappropriate—but perhaps not the best timing.
Still, the butler noticed how attached the child was to his parents. If they left him behind, he might cry. A child's crying in the childless royal palace could attract unwanted attention. If it brought the queen or princes back, it would be troublesome.
Now that the poisoning had been confirmed, the butler felt even less secure about the palace. The queen's behavior earlier—something he hadn't questioned before—now seemed deeply suspicious.
So after a moment's thought, he agreed. The child was too young to understand anything anyway. As long as he didn't fuss, it was fine.
And so, the family of three crossed the corridor to the king's bedchamber across the hall.
They hadn't delayed long, so the servant fetching the food hadn't returned yet. In the room, only the king remained, propped up and sipping water.
Two months in bed hadn't completely eroded his physical strength. Though thinner now, his body still held up well. He had the strength to lift the cup himself.
Of course, this was also thanks to Wei Wei including restorative herbs in his medicine.
"Good evening, Your Majesty," the couple greeted in unison and were quickly beckoned to the bedside.
Compared to earlier, the king was clearly more amiable. He looked at them the way an elder regards beloved grandchildren. His first words were of gratitude.
"It's all thanks to you. You saved my life." He wasn't being polite. Knowing he had been unconscious for three days terrified him. Had Wei Wei not arrived in time, he might have died of illness or even starvation.
Calling her his savior wasn't an exaggeration.
Wei Wei replied, "You're too kind, Your Majesty. I was only doing my duty."
The king didn't mention any rewards yet—but that in itself was telling. Those who knew his habits understood that the greater the favor, the grander the reward—he just didn't like discussing it right away.
Then he turned his gaze to the baby in Wei Wei's arms. "Is this little Anthony? He's a year old now?"
"Yes," Wei Wei adjusted her posture so the king could see his face. "Apologies, he's quite clingy. We had no choice but to bring him."
"No need to apologize." The king studied the child's beautiful features, his expression growing even softer. "He's adorable."
Wei Wei picked up on the slight tinge of envy in his tone. She knew he must be thinking of his two sons—neither of whom had children yet.
It was probably something that weighed on him. So seeing his great-grandson, so lively and charming, stirred some longing.
After admiring the baby, the king got to the heart of the matter—his illness.
Since he was the patient himself, Wei Wei spoke candidly.
She told him that he had been poisoned in multiple doses. According to his pulse, the earliest signs dated back to last year, and the most recent exposure had been about a month ago. The poison was likely administered through food or drink.
As for the exact toxin, she could only speculate. It was likely a mix of multiple herbs, forming a complex, secret formula known only to a select few.
"If we can get our hands on the poison, I might be able to analyze its composition. That would help a lot with the detox process."
The king blinked. "So… the poison hasn't been fully purged?"
He had assumed waking up meant he was cured.
Wei Wei shook her head. "Not entirely. The antidote I prepared removed part of the toxin, but a good amount still lingers in your system. It will take time to fully expel it. If we can identify the exact ingredients, we could speed things up."
She added, "Also because Your Majesty has been poisoned for quite a while, your body has taken damage. You'll need to rest and recover to return to your previous health. During this period, try not to overexert yourself."
The king nodded thoughtfully. "I'll see what I can do to get you the poison."
Just then, the servant returned with the food.
The food had been specially set aside for the king. It was still warm when brought in and looked exceptionally appetizing. But after just learning that his poisoning had likely come from food or drink, the king—despite his hunger—felt a surge of unease as he looked at the dishes.
Even though he knew that everything he'd eaten recently had been carefully prepared and watched over by trusted servants, the knowledge that the poison had been slow-acting made him feel unsafe. It wasn't the kind of toxin that killed immediately—meaning even if a servant sampled the food beforehand, it wouldn't necessarily expose anything.
Wei Wei immediately offered, "Allow me to test it for you."
Felix frowned at her suggestion, visibly displeased, but Wei Wei gave him a calming look—she was confident in her abilities.
The king now trusted her more than anyone. Seeing her volunteer, he naturally didn't refuse.
Wei Wei stepped forward, picked up a clean fork from the table, and took a small bite of each dish, tasting carefully. After a few moments, she set the utensils down and nodded to the king. "Everything tastes normal. There's no problem."
Only then did the king begin eating.
Wei Wei offered further reassurance, "You don't need to worry too much. Recently, your meals have all been prepared to be very light in flavor. If someone had tampered with them, it'd be easy to notice."
She explained that she didn't believe the poison used had been completely tasteless. In this era, Europeans rarely drank water—they mostly drank wine. The strong flavor of wine, along with heavily seasoned or preserved foods, could easily mask the taste of poison. Unless one had an extremely sensitive palate like hers, it would be nearly impossible to detect.
The food tray before the king, however, had been specially prepared under Wei Wei's direction. It was bland, free of spices, and seasoned with only a touch of salt. For a man used to indulging in delicacies and rich meat dishes, it was not to his taste.
Add to that the lingering bitterness from the medicine, and even normal food now tasted vaguely medicinal. So although he was hungry, he only managed to force himself to eat a bit before putting down his utensils.
The butler tried to coax him into eating more, but the king shook his head. He couldn't manage another bite.
Servants came to clear away the half-eaten meal. The king, helped by the butler, lay back down. What he needed most now was rest.
Wei Wei and Felix naturally excused themselves. But before leaving, Wei Wei brought up an important matter: "The herbs I brought are running low. I've heard the royal physicians have a stockpile—perhaps I could look through it tomorrow? And if not, I may need to send someone out to gather more."
The king, realizing his own life was on the line, agreed without hesitation. But he also didn't want word getting out that he had recovered. If, before, he had wanted to avoid people interfering with his treatment, now he wanted to keep his recovery a secret—to lure out the person who had tried to kill him.
He agreed to let Wei Wei's people leave the palace to gather herbs but asked her not to move around too freely inside the palace. He would instruct the royal physicians to pack up all available herbs and have them delivered to her.
As long as she had what she needed, Wei Wei was happy. She nodded in agreement.
The butler personally escorted them back to their room. On the way, he apologized again. "I truly didn't expect the queen to make such a scene. Please rest here for tonight. I'll prepare a different room for you tomorrow."
He had wanted to move them immediately, but no suitable room was available just yet. Everything had been arranged too hastily. Now that Wei Wei was officially the king's savior, the butler felt they needed to be treated with the utmost respect.
Wei Wei also didn't enjoy staying in a room that belonged to a royal mistress. So she subtly hinted that she hoped their next accommodation wouldn't come with a "complicated history."
The butler understood immediately and promised to take care of it.
He left soon after—but not before arranging lodging for the maids as well. On the same corridor as the king's chambers, there were small rooms originally meant for higher-status servants—typically from noble backgrounds themselves. The rooms were tiny, barely fitting a single bed and nightstand, but with most people having been expelled from the palace, there were plenty of vacancies.
After some discussion, the maids decided the sturdier, older Kama would take a room on her own, while Penny and the younger maids would pair up. That way, they wouldn't be too far from Wei Wei and could be summoned easily if needed.
The butler even provided bedding and a few sets of palace-issued maid uniforms. Once they changed out of their black-and-white Sardinson uniforms, they wouldn't stand out. In the bustling palace, no one would notice a few unfamiliar maids.
That night, they managed to rest—at least for now.
The next morning, the butler indeed had a new room prepared for them. It was farther from the king's quarters, and its windows didn't face any other buildings. Situated on the second floor, a row of tall trees blocked the view from outside. Even if someone walked by, they wouldn't easily notice anyone living there.
In ordinary times, nobles might have found the room unsatisfactory. But under the current circumstances, it was perfect.
The butler had been thorough. Not only was the room clean, but anything potentially dangerous for a child had been removed. He'd even added some currently popular toys, which made the couple very pleased.
Moving rooms didn't take long—their luggage was ready and simply had to be relocated.
Not long after they settled in, Wei Wei received a visit from the palace physician.
The royal physician was an elderly man, said to have been trained in the Church. Though his rank hadn't been high, his medical skills had earned him a post in the palace for nearly twenty years. The king trusted him greatly.
But this time, he had been completely stumped by the king's condition. Since the king had fallen into a coma, the physician had buried himself in the royal library, trying to find a cure—without success.
It wasn't until this morning that the butler informed him of the king's awakening. Eager to see him, the physician had nearly run off empty-handed, but the butler stopped him and reminded him to bring a selection of herbs.
By the time he entered the king's chamber, the king was awake and drinking medicine.
That last bowl of medicine had been prepared the day before. In this weather, it could've spoiled if not stored properly—but the palace had no shortage of ice. The decoction had been sealed in a jar and kept in a bucket full of ice. Reheated gently in the morning, it was brought in just after the king finished breakfast.
Last night, still unsettled, the king hadn't eaten much. But with his fears eased this morning, he hadn't asked Wei Wei to test the food again. Instead, he had one of the palace tasters—known for their keen taste—check it first. Once confirmed safe, he ate.
Though the food was bland, it was still more appealing than anything he'd eaten in days. He ate much more than the night before. Unfortunately, his good mood dropped a bit when he saw the medicine bowl.
He couldn't remember anything from his coma, but he vividly recalled the bitterness when he'd first woken up.
Still, the king wasn't someone afraid of taking medicine. He gritted his teeth and drank it down—then immediately rinsed his mouth with warm, boiled water the butler had brought.
The palace physician, knowing this was the medicine that had revived the king, stared longingly at the bowl. But the decoction, already brewed, gave no clues about its ingredients.
Still, the fact that the king had not only awakened but was clearly in better spirits was indisputable.
The physician asked to examine the king. He had already been told the king had been poisoned, but even now, he couldn't detect any signs. It left him deeply shaken, doubting his skills.
The butler reminded him, "Countess Williams is waiting for the herbs. You should take them to her."
Startled, the physician bid the king farewell and hurried off to deliver the medicinal supplies.
Meanwhile, Felix was deep in discussion with Wei Wei.
He wanted to leave the palace.
Felix didn't like the idea of leaving Wei Wei alone, but their arrival in the capital hadn't exactly been subtle. Though no one had seen them enter the palace, the knights and servants they'd brought had gone to the earl's residence, attracting attention.
Whenever Felix came to the capital, he received countless invitations from other nobles. It would look suspicious if he didn't appear.
Besides, he had official matters to take care of. Staying too long in the palace could backfire. It might even draw attention to Wei Wei's presence.
He had thought it through all night and finally decided to go.
Wei Wei supported his decision. "Don't worry about us. The king's security is tight. No one will dare make a move while he's here."
Felix frowned. "What if someone tries to poison him again?" He still wasn't over her volunteering to taste the king's food.
"If they try again, I'll notice immediately," she said confidently. Her medical skills weren't just for show.
She added, "Besides, I don't think I'll need to stay hidden much longer. The king is likely preparing to catch the culprit."
Wei Wei explained, "The poisoner must have known the effects and expected the king to fall into a coma. To confirm whether the poison worked, they'd want to check-in. If they find out the king is awake… they might try again."
"She?" Felix latched onto the pronoun. "You mean the queen?"
Wei Wei nodded and quietly described what she had observed the night before. "When she heard the king was awake, she was the only one who seemed genuinely surprised. Like someone who knew he shouldn't have been conscious at that time."
It made Mirabelle incredibly suspicious. The timing of her visit had been too perfect—she had known he was unconscious and wanted to see it with her own eyes. Perhaps she even intended to finish the job.
But given the king was still alive, she probably didn't have any close aides stationed near him.
"If it is her," Wei Wei said, "once she learns the king is awake, she won't be able to sit still. And I think the king plans to lay a trap—wait for the predator to walk right into it."
Once the poisoner was caught, Wei Wei wouldn't have to keep her presence in the palace secret anymore. At that point, even if she stayed on to help the king recover, Felix could move into the palace openly to be with her.
After all, this wasn't Huaxia—there were no strict rules banning men from the royal residence.
Plenty of nobles lived in the palace.
"So now," she said, "we'll see whether the poisoner takes the bait."