Judith looked up and saw Cheraan.
“Is that a good thing?”
“Isn’t that right? If the Queen is truly out of her mind, she won’t be able to trouble you or the Crown Prince in the future.”
Judith glanced at Cheraan, then turned her head again and looked down at the paper covered with black lines. Dozens and hundreds of thin lines gathered together, making it look like black holes had been punched through the paper.
That's a good thing.
Not only Cheraan, but everyone would think so. Everyone was tired of Queen Gilsis's tyranny and came to hate her.
But Judith did not. She could never consider this a good thing.
“I should go to the Queen’s Palace.”
As Judith stood up, Cheraan caught her with a surprised expression.
“Your Highness, why are you going to the Queen’s Palace?”
“I must find out if what Libencia Montfort said is true.”
“Then I will go to the Queen’s palace and ask the maids. I will find out.”
“No, I have to go myself.”
Cheraan had a complicated expression on her face as if she couldn't understand at all, but she couldn't let Judith go alone, so she followed her.
The Queen's palace was as quiet as if there were no people there. Occasionally, the shadows of maids or servants would float past the windows, but that was all. Judith's expression hardened as she headed toward Queen Gilsis's bedroom, but she stopped in the middle of the hallway.
“Please meet His Highness the Crown Princess.”
A woman who seemed to be one of the queen's maids bowed her head, observing her. Judith, who saw that the door leading to the bedroom was firmly shut, faced her with an indifferent expression.
“I have something to tell the Queen, so please tell her that I have come.”
The woman slowly moved her eyes. Even at first glance, her expression clearly showed a look of embarrassment.
“Didn't you hear what I said?”
“Oh, no. She, Her Majesty the Queen, took medicine for a headache and took some water a little while ago. Next time...”
“Then let’s wait until Her Majesty wakes up.”
“Your Highness the Crown Princess, I...”
Just as Cheraan was about to say something to the woman who kept hesitating, the closed door opened. The person who came out was a palace doctor whom she had never seen before.
The woman looked back and forth between the doctor and Judith, then her expression darkened noticeably and she fidgeted. Judging by her anxious expression, it was clear that something was wrong with the Queen's health.
The old doctor recognized Judith and greeted her politely. Judith nodded her head slightly and then spoke to the still-flustered woman.
“I can’t help it since Her Majesty is sick. I’ll come back tomorrow, so don’t ask any questions.”
The woman did not hold on to Judith. Perhaps because she already knew it was useless. Judith deliberately went in the opposite direction of the palace magistrate and whispered to Cheraan.
“Bring that doctor to the Nation Palace. Without being seen by others.”
Cheraan nodded and soon went down the other path. Judith looked at Cheraan’s back as she walked away for a moment, then looked back at the Queen’s palace. The silence, which did not match the splendidly decorated exterior, seemed to induce a strange sense of unease.
The palace doctor that Cheraan brought said his name was Wije. He originally ran a small medical clinic outside the palace, but after King Jedekayer woke up, he was selected as the palace physician upon the recommendation of a certain Count when new palace healers were being selected.
Although he entered the palace at a very old age and only worked as a court doctor for four years, many nobles sought him out even when he was just a therapist at a small clinic. That is why he was not particularly flustered when he heard that the Crown Princess, whom he had never met, was looking for him. Judith, who had been watching him with a calm and peaceful expression as if observing him while drinking tea, tilted her head slightly.
“Are you the palace doctor who always looks after the Queen Mother’s health?”
“No, Your Highness the Crown Princess. The Queen often suffers from headaches, and there is a separate palace doctor she calls for whenever she does.”
“Then, would you like to tell me why you came to see the Queen today?”
“Your Highness, the reason I checked on the Queen today was... not because of a headache.”
Judith's expression changed slightly. She signaled to Cheraan and ordered everyone in the room to leave. As the maids left through the side door, the surroundings became quiet in an instant. Only then did Wije look at Judith with a slightly nervous expression.
“Tell me.”
“Your Highness, what would you like me to say?”
“Why did you come to see the Queen today? What is wrong with her?”
Wije looked around the table slowly, hesitating for a moment. Judith kept her gaze fixed on him, as if trying not to miss a single detail of his expression.
After a moment of silence, Wije finally raised his head. His lips were set, and his wrinkled eyes trembled. Just from that expression alone, it was enough to sense that something unusual had happened to the Queen.
“Her Majesty the Queen is currently... in a somewhat weakened state.”
"I want a precise explanation.”
Wije’s gaze wavered for a moment as if he had lost his sense of direction. Although he had lived a life far removed from politics or power, he knew that Queen Gilsis and the Crown Princess were enemies. He had no intention of taking sides. He had always thought that he was just a doctor who treated the sick and that he did not need to make any other value judgments.
He stared at Judith again. Compared to him, Judith was young, if not immature. She was barely old enough to be his granddaughter, but there was a strange aura in her eyes. It was an atmosphere that could not be ignored.
“I hope you will be generous enough to forgive me for daring to speak so presumptuously. As I have told you, Your Majesty the Queen is currently suffering from a severe nervous breakdown. She often suffers from auditory and visual hallucinations, has difficulty sleeping at night, and occasionally suffers from inexplicable seizures.”
Judith's eyes widened in surprise. She was unable to utter a single word, and only the sound of her breathing continued for a moment.
“Are you saying that the Queen... is showing signs of madness?”
The corners of Wije's mouth trembled slightly.
“It will take time to be sure it is madness, Your Highness.”
“But didn’t you explain the symptoms of the Queen Mother? Even if everything else were the same, how could auditory hallucinations or illusions be explained by anything other than madness?”
“Of course, it is a typical symptom. However, it is classified as mania only if it is not temporary. It is possible to make a judgment only if the same symptoms persist for at least half a year.”
“When did the Queen start showing such symptoms?”
“It hasn’t even been ten days yet.”
Judith suddenly got up from her seat and slowly started walking around the table. She didn’t even glance at Wije. A shadow was cast under her slightly lowered forehead. After making a circle and returning to her original position, Judith looked at Wije and asked.
“What treatment are you doing to alleviate the symptoms?”
“I am using medicinal herbs. At this point, that is all I can do. Other than that, there is no other answer than using scents that can calm the mind and body, or creating such an environment.”
“What kind of medicine are you taking?”
A look of tension appeared on his face. Judith, who had been listening intently while he told her the name of the medicine he was using, said,
“Try adding dried apple cider vinegar, elder leaves, and young root of the dogwood tree. That should help relieve the symptoms.”
Wije looked at Judith for a moment, speechless. The medicines she had mentioned were mainly those that relieved the symptoms of patients suffering from madness or seizures. When he did not answer right away, Judith frowned and smiled faintly.
“Why are you looking like that? Did you really think I was going to give the order not to treat the Queen Mother’s illness?”
The old doctor couldn't answer easily this time either. He had no intention of taking sides with either the Queen or the Crown Princess, but Judith's reaction was unexpected considering their relationship. It was natural to think that she would be passive or even oppose the improvement of the Queen's condition.
“I never dared to think of such a thing. But...”
“No other words are necessary. In exchange for your one-time insolence, you must do whatever it takes to prevent the Queen Mother’s symptoms from turning into madness.”
Wije nodded, still looking embarrassed. As soon as Judith, who had sent him away, sat down, Cheraan came running. Cheraan, who had been listening to their conversation from outside the living room, also had a look of embarrassment on her face.
“Your Highness, why on earth did you say such a thing? Why did you tell him to heal the Queen?”
Judith touched her forehead without saying a word. At the moment when Cheraan, who was feeling frustrated, was about to open her mouth again, Judith muttered in a small voice as if talking to herself.
“Not yet. I can’t let her run away like this.”
“Huh? Your Highness, what do you mean?”
“It’s not my wish for the Queen to lose her mind like this, Cheraan. I don’t want that to happen. Queen Gilsis must remain sane until the end.”
Cheraan could not understand her words in the end. Judith also had no way to make her understand at the moment, so she left that statement alone and did not try to explain further.
Queen Gilsis going mad from losing control of her temper was not the revenge Judith wanted. She had not yet seen anything before her eyes. If she had been satisfied with Krald losing his position as Crown Prince forever and wasting his time without even becoming a Grand Duke, she would not have even harbored the desire for revenge in the first place.
Judith couldn't let her escape the easy way. If Queen Gilsis went mad like this, wouldn't she remember anything, and wouldn't be recognized by anyone, then what good would it do?
The Queen had to be sane all the time. So she needed to see clearly where she had fallen, her situation. Judith also hoped that Queen Gilsis would live as long as possible. No matter how hard she tried, she would not be able to die easily.
“Absolutely not. I can’t let this continue to be the case.”
Judith's eyes, which were shining brightly as she lowered her head with her hands on her head, were shining brightly. Cheran watched the unfamiliar sight with a somewhat anxious expression.
“Is that a good thing?”
“Isn’t that right? If the Queen is truly out of her mind, she won’t be able to trouble you or the Crown Prince in the future.”
Judith glanced at Cheraan, then turned her head again and looked down at the paper covered with black lines. Dozens and hundreds of thin lines gathered together, making it look like black holes had been punched through the paper.
That's a good thing.
Not only Cheraan, but everyone would think so. Everyone was tired of Queen Gilsis's tyranny and came to hate her.
But Judith did not. She could never consider this a good thing.
“I should go to the Queen’s Palace.”
As Judith stood up, Cheraan caught her with a surprised expression.
“Your Highness, why are you going to the Queen’s Palace?”
“I must find out if what Libencia Montfort said is true.”
“Then I will go to the Queen’s palace and ask the maids. I will find out.”
“No, I have to go myself.”
Cheraan had a complicated expression on her face as if she couldn't understand at all, but she couldn't let Judith go alone, so she followed her.
***
The Queen's palace was as quiet as if there were no people there. Occasionally, the shadows of maids or servants would float past the windows, but that was all. Judith's expression hardened as she headed toward Queen Gilsis's bedroom, but she stopped in the middle of the hallway.
“Please meet His Highness the Crown Princess.”
A woman who seemed to be one of the queen's maids bowed her head, observing her. Judith, who saw that the door leading to the bedroom was firmly shut, faced her with an indifferent expression.
“I have something to tell the Queen, so please tell her that I have come.”
The woman slowly moved her eyes. Even at first glance, her expression clearly showed a look of embarrassment.
“Didn't you hear what I said?”
“Oh, no. She, Her Majesty the Queen, took medicine for a headache and took some water a little while ago. Next time...”
“Then let’s wait until Her Majesty wakes up.”
“Your Highness the Crown Princess, I...”
Just as Cheraan was about to say something to the woman who kept hesitating, the closed door opened. The person who came out was a palace doctor whom she had never seen before.
The woman looked back and forth between the doctor and Judith, then her expression darkened noticeably and she fidgeted. Judging by her anxious expression, it was clear that something was wrong with the Queen's health.
The old doctor recognized Judith and greeted her politely. Judith nodded her head slightly and then spoke to the still-flustered woman.
“I can’t help it since Her Majesty is sick. I’ll come back tomorrow, so don’t ask any questions.”
The woman did not hold on to Judith. Perhaps because she already knew it was useless. Judith deliberately went in the opposite direction of the palace magistrate and whispered to Cheraan.
“Bring that doctor to the Nation Palace. Without being seen by others.”
Cheraan nodded and soon went down the other path. Judith looked at Cheraan’s back as she walked away for a moment, then looked back at the Queen’s palace. The silence, which did not match the splendidly decorated exterior, seemed to induce a strange sense of unease.
***
The palace doctor that Cheraan brought said his name was Wije. He originally ran a small medical clinic outside the palace, but after King Jedekayer woke up, he was selected as the palace physician upon the recommendation of a certain Count when new palace healers were being selected.
Although he entered the palace at a very old age and only worked as a court doctor for four years, many nobles sought him out even when he was just a therapist at a small clinic. That is why he was not particularly flustered when he heard that the Crown Princess, whom he had never met, was looking for him. Judith, who had been watching him with a calm and peaceful expression as if observing him while drinking tea, tilted her head slightly.
“Are you the palace doctor who always looks after the Queen Mother’s health?”
“No, Your Highness the Crown Princess. The Queen often suffers from headaches, and there is a separate palace doctor she calls for whenever she does.”
“Then, would you like to tell me why you came to see the Queen today?”
“Your Highness, the reason I checked on the Queen today was... not because of a headache.”
Judith's expression changed slightly. She signaled to Cheraan and ordered everyone in the room to leave. As the maids left through the side door, the surroundings became quiet in an instant. Only then did Wije look at Judith with a slightly nervous expression.
“Tell me.”
“Your Highness, what would you like me to say?”
“Why did you come to see the Queen today? What is wrong with her?”
Wije looked around the table slowly, hesitating for a moment. Judith kept her gaze fixed on him, as if trying not to miss a single detail of his expression.
After a moment of silence, Wije finally raised his head. His lips were set, and his wrinkled eyes trembled. Just from that expression alone, it was enough to sense that something unusual had happened to the Queen.
“Her Majesty the Queen is currently... in a somewhat weakened state.”
"I want a precise explanation.”
Wije’s gaze wavered for a moment as if he had lost his sense of direction. Although he had lived a life far removed from politics or power, he knew that Queen Gilsis and the Crown Princess were enemies. He had no intention of taking sides. He had always thought that he was just a doctor who treated the sick and that he did not need to make any other value judgments.
He stared at Judith again. Compared to him, Judith was young, if not immature. She was barely old enough to be his granddaughter, but there was a strange aura in her eyes. It was an atmosphere that could not be ignored.
“I hope you will be generous enough to forgive me for daring to speak so presumptuously. As I have told you, Your Majesty the Queen is currently suffering from a severe nervous breakdown. She often suffers from auditory and visual hallucinations, has difficulty sleeping at night, and occasionally suffers from inexplicable seizures.”
Judith's eyes widened in surprise. She was unable to utter a single word, and only the sound of her breathing continued for a moment.
“Are you saying that the Queen... is showing signs of madness?”
The corners of Wije's mouth trembled slightly.
“It will take time to be sure it is madness, Your Highness.”
“But didn’t you explain the symptoms of the Queen Mother? Even if everything else were the same, how could auditory hallucinations or illusions be explained by anything other than madness?”
“Of course, it is a typical symptom. However, it is classified as mania only if it is not temporary. It is possible to make a judgment only if the same symptoms persist for at least half a year.”
“When did the Queen start showing such symptoms?”
“It hasn’t even been ten days yet.”
Judith suddenly got up from her seat and slowly started walking around the table. She didn’t even glance at Wije. A shadow was cast under her slightly lowered forehead. After making a circle and returning to her original position, Judith looked at Wije and asked.
“What treatment are you doing to alleviate the symptoms?”
“I am using medicinal herbs. At this point, that is all I can do. Other than that, there is no other answer than using scents that can calm the mind and body, or creating such an environment.”
“What kind of medicine are you taking?”
A look of tension appeared on his face. Judith, who had been listening intently while he told her the name of the medicine he was using, said,
“Try adding dried apple cider vinegar, elder leaves, and young root of the dogwood tree. That should help relieve the symptoms.”
Wije looked at Judith for a moment, speechless. The medicines she had mentioned were mainly those that relieved the symptoms of patients suffering from madness or seizures. When he did not answer right away, Judith frowned and smiled faintly.
“Why are you looking like that? Did you really think I was going to give the order not to treat the Queen Mother’s illness?”
The old doctor couldn't answer easily this time either. He had no intention of taking sides with either the Queen or the Crown Princess, but Judith's reaction was unexpected considering their relationship. It was natural to think that she would be passive or even oppose the improvement of the Queen's condition.
“I never dared to think of such a thing. But...”
“No other words are necessary. In exchange for your one-time insolence, you must do whatever it takes to prevent the Queen Mother’s symptoms from turning into madness.”
Wije nodded, still looking embarrassed. As soon as Judith, who had sent him away, sat down, Cheraan came running. Cheraan, who had been listening to their conversation from outside the living room, also had a look of embarrassment on her face.
“Your Highness, why on earth did you say such a thing? Why did you tell him to heal the Queen?”
Judith touched her forehead without saying a word. At the moment when Cheraan, who was feeling frustrated, was about to open her mouth again, Judith muttered in a small voice as if talking to herself.
“Not yet. I can’t let her run away like this.”
“Huh? Your Highness, what do you mean?”
“It’s not my wish for the Queen to lose her mind like this, Cheraan. I don’t want that to happen. Queen Gilsis must remain sane until the end.”
Cheraan could not understand her words in the end. Judith also had no way to make her understand at the moment, so she left that statement alone and did not try to explain further.
Queen Gilsis going mad from losing control of her temper was not the revenge Judith wanted. She had not yet seen anything before her eyes. If she had been satisfied with Krald losing his position as Crown Prince forever and wasting his time without even becoming a Grand Duke, she would not have even harbored the desire for revenge in the first place.
Judith couldn't let her escape the easy way. If Queen Gilsis went mad like this, wouldn't she remember anything, and wouldn't be recognized by anyone, then what good would it do?
The Queen had to be sane all the time. So she needed to see clearly where she had fallen, her situation. Judith also hoped that Queen Gilsis would live as long as possible. No matter how hard she tried, she would not be able to die easily.
“Absolutely not. I can’t let this continue to be the case.”
Judith's eyes, which were shining brightly as she lowered her head with her hands on her head, were shining brightly. Cheran watched the unfamiliar sight with a somewhat anxious expression.
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