The Debt Of Fate
Chapter 187: Increasingly anxious

Chapter 187: Increasingly anxious

King Edward was forced to swallow whatever words were at the tip of his tongue.

"I am in good health. Just now, it was the queen’s maid who did not hold the bowl properly," Dorothy said. Hearing that the king would give her justice and thinking of the reassurance in his smile earlier, Dorothy felt confident that he would stand up for her.

As soon as her words fell, Rosa dropped to her knees.

"Your Majesty knows me well. I have served you since you were a child. Although I cannot claim to be without fault, I would never lie. If it was indeed my mistake just now, I will acknowledge it and apologize to Physician Dorothy. Though I was a little anxious because the medicine was delivered so late, how could I not hold the bowl properly? I know how important the medicine is to Your Majesty. As your servant, I care less about my own well-being. Her Majesty must be in good health for His Majesty," Rosa said, beginning to cry, looking pitiful.

Who could not shed a few tears at such a scene? After being tormented in the Duke’s residence, it would be a waste if she hadn’t learned to act or understand her lady’s intentions.

"You..." Dorothy had not expected Rosa to be so cunning.

"Your Majesty, my maid is very responsible. She will not lie. She has been with me since the Duke’s residence. Your Majesty may not know this, but I was not favored there after my mother died. Rosa has been my personal maid since birth. Even when the other servants left my quarters, she stayed to care for me. Your Majesty knows my condition. My maid would never dare to lie about something this important. Physician Nathan said how vital this medicine is; she would never gamble with it. Moreover, even if she had made such a mistake, she would kneel and take the blame. Why would she frame Physician Dorothy?" Anastasia asked. Her voice was calm, her reasoning sound. She did not cry, but her faith in her maid was clear.

King Edward furrowed his brows. He could not help but suspect Dorothy, after all, she had delivered the medicine late. Though her identity was secret, he had grown up in the royal family and was not ignorant of schemes. His father’s mistress had also coveted the throne for her son. After all, according to the rules, if the main wife bore no children, she was forced to adopt from among the children of the concubines. Dorothy had a motive to tamper with the medicine.

On the other hand, Rosa was the queen’s servant. She knew that only if her mistress was well could she thrive. So she would naturally be very careful.

"Physician Dorothy, no one will blame you for this mistake. Considering you once saved my life, I will let the matter rest here," Prince Edward said. Seeing Dorothy cry so bitterly, he did not have the heart to punish her.

"Your Majesty..." Anastasia acted surprised. She was not shocked by the king’s decision. After all, no one could prove whose fault it was that the medicine was overturned. No one, except herself and Rosa knew she had never taken the medicine Dorothy offered.

Knowing that Dorothy was a rival, Anastasia, of course, would not let her be in charge of her medicine. She knew the king would either punish Dorothy lightly or find an excuse to end the matter altogether.

"My queen, your health is very important. Let Physician Dorothy go and prepare another bowl quickly. Since this is her first mistake, let it go for my sake," King Edward said with a smile. Anastasia was now the queen. Although she didn’t seem to have any real power, her displeasure could be used by the greedy members of the royal family. Therefore, he had to consider her emotions.

Dorothy felt like a lump was stuck in her throat. She had heard rumors that the king and queen shared a good relationship but never believed them. Now, seeing the king speak so gently to the queen, she felt a sense of crisis.

Moreover, the king believed the queen’s words so easily. Rosa doesn’t lie... did that make her the liar? At first she put on a pitiful look to win the king’s sympathy but now she genuinely felt wronged.

On the other hand, seeing Edward smile at her made Anastasia feel bitter. She believed he only showed her such gentleness because he wanted to spare his beloved mistress from punishment.

"I will listen to Your Majesty, but there’s no need for her to personally prepare the medicine. Write out the prescription and hand it over. Grater, who is by my side, used to be a medicine girl. She can prepare it," Anastasia said. She felt that keeping Dorothy too close might become a weapon used against her. Just like now; under the pretense of delivering medicine, Dorothy was meeting with the king.

"We shall do as the queen says," King Edward agreed. Though he felt disappointed as he had planned to use the fact that Dorothy was the queen’s personal physician to have her moved into the main palace, this idea was no longer feasible after the incident.

Dorothy felt deeply aggrieved, but she had no choice but to write the prescription and leave.

As she returned to her courtyard, she wondered if she had been wrong to love the king.

When she first found out he was the crown prince, she had wanted to bury all her feelings. But he was the one who continued to show her kindness—helping her search for her family, bringing her back to the palace when they could not be found. He had promised to make her his official mistress when the time was right. Now he was king and could make his own decisions, yet he still let her continue as the queen’s physician.

The more she thought about it, the angrier she became. She wanted to vent her rage, but there was nowhere to turn.

Now that the queen had found an excuse to stop her from entering the main palace, she worried that she would not be able to see the king again any time soon.

Despite her anger, she had never considered giving up the idea of becoming the king’s mistress. It was a position even noble daughters would envy. How could she give it up?

Thinking along these lines, Dorothy grew increasingly anxious. She paced in her bedchamber, unable to calm her racing heart.

What should I do? Dorothy pondered many options. She sat on her bed, dazed, unsure how much time had passed when she suddenly heard a knock at the door.