The Debt Of Fate
Chapter 105: Making plans

Chapter 105: Making plans

The king was lying on the bed, dark circles forming under his eyes. He had not slept, and pain had been torturing him. Suddenly, he felt a sweetness rise in his throat and vomited blood.

His movements were so abrupt that the guards outside the door heard the commotion.

They hurriedly sent for Physician Nathan, who was working in the front hall. At this time, the queen had gone to the torture room. Seeing the king’s condition deteriorating, she was anxious to get results as soon as possible.

When Physician Nathan entered the bedchamber and saw that the king had vomited blood, he became even more confident in his suspicion; the king had been poisoned.

He had an antidote that worked against many types of poison, made from the rare herbs. Quickly, he fed it to the king. Though he was uncertain if it would cure him, he hoped it would at least slow the effects of the poison.

After a few moments, he examined the king, but there was little improvement.

The king did not argue and swallowed the medicine. He had heard from the queen and physician Nathan earlier that they believed he had been poisoned.

King George smiled but did not bother to correct their assumption. After all, if he were to suddenly die under strange circumstances, people might claim he had been struck by heaven’s wrath. While this was the truth, he was unwilling to let such news spread, as it would give ambitious men the opportunity to fight for the throne.

King George understood the hearts of men well. He saw nothing wrong in having a few people tortured to protect this secret, but he also knew he would not be able to wait for his son’s return before his death.

"Send for the queen," he instructed Physician Nathan. Only his son must sit on the throne after him, he must make plans early since there was no other way.

Physician Nathan bowed and left the room. Before he could even send a servant to fetch the queen, she arrived. She had stationed a servant nearby to report any urgent matters to her. So she knew the king had vomited blood shortly after it happened.

"His Majesty asked to see you," Physician Nathan said as the queen walked over.

"How is the king? I heard he vomited blood," Queen Mary asked, feeling as though she was already standing on the edge of despair.

Physician Nathan shook his head. "I gave him a strong poison antidote that I had on hand. I don’t know if it will cure him, but it should at least slow the poison. The king’s condition is worsening too quickly," he said. At first he was really unwilling to use the antidote if it could not cure the king after all it was precious but seeing the situation, he had no choice.

Queen Mary frowned. There had been no progress in the torture room. She was beginning to suspect that these people were truly innocent. If that was the case, how had the king been poisoned?

"Still no progress?" Physician Nathan asked. He firmly believed that identifying the poison would save time in finding a cure.

"No. I don’t know if the culprit is well-trained or if the servants really are innocent. Three people are already dead, but none have confessed or provided any useful clues," the queen said.

"Then perhaps we should investigate the people the king has recently come into contact with. These servants may truly be innocent. We don’t even know when he was poisoned," Physician Nathan suggested.

Queen Mary’s expression darkened. How could she have overlooked something so important?

Her husband had a fondness for beauty, and every year, he would have a few women enter the palace to serve him. His favored mistress had already aged, so he had granted her a title and allowed her to live outside the palace with the third prince.

Thinking back, before the king fell ill three months ago, he had frequently visited the palace beauties. This year, there were only two. The king was no longer young and had been keeping fewer women by his side.

"Order the investigation team to detain and question those two women. Even the maids serving them should be interrogated," the queen commanded.

Since ascending the throne, her husband had maintained this habit. Though she had helped him cover it up, disguising these women as palace maids. She could not be certain that someone had not taken advantage of the situation; deliberately sending in a spy to harm the king.

After instructing her lady-in-waiting, the queen went to see the king.

"Your Majesty, how do you feel?" Queen Mary asked. She tried to mask the worry and sorrow in her eyes, but the king still noticed. He frowned, tempted to send her away, but decided against it.

"I am still alive," he said, his voice void of emotion.

The queen nodded and remained silent, afraid that upsetting him might worsen his condition.

"Your Majesty, you sent for me?" she asked, changing the subject.

Hearing this, the king remembered why he had called her.

"Any results from the servants?" he asked.

"No. I don’t know if they are highly trained or truly innocent," the queen answered honestly.

"Stop the torture. I know those who serve me well. None of them would dare betray me. Just send them out of the palace. Send them to the eastern border to work in the mines. The mine was only recently discovered, and though we have yet to fully investigate the previous operations; at least they can be of use there. Even if they didn’t poison me, someone among them must have made a mistake, giving the enemy a chance," King George said.

He did not care if people died, but he was already haunted by ghosts. He feared that if more people died because of him, their spirits would come to torment him.

"I will do as Your Majesty commands. However, I also suspect those two palace beauties," Queen Mary said, explaining her thoughts. She feared the king might think she was using this as an excuse to get rid of them. Unexpectedly, after listening to her, he agreed.

"Then I will give the order now," Queen Mary said. Though she had already instructed her lady-in-waiting to question the women, she had not yet ordered torture. Now that the king had approved her suspicions, she would use every possible method to uncover the truth.

"There is no need to be in such a hurry. I have something important to discuss with you," the king said, pausing.

For a moment, he felt as though his pain had lessened. He was unsure whether he had simply grown used to it or if the medicine Physician Nathan had given him was truly working.

"I only have a few days to live—" the king began, but the queen interrupted him.

"Your Majesty, do not say that! The physicians are doing their best. They will surely find an antidote soon," she insisted.