Work Prophet
Chapter 540 - 158 The Death of Edward II

Chapter 540: Chapter 158 The Death of Edward II

Ireya was still pondering how to decline the marriage with Allister, she bore no ill will towards the handsome prince, but also had no particular feelings for him.

But before she could speak out, she heard Allister’s cry of alarm, followed by the sight of a blood-covered Edward II stumbling towards her; Miss Rabbit didn’t think much, instinctively reaching out to support him.

However, a string of recent victories had somewhat inflated the lady’s ego, leading her to overestimate her own strength, and among the Half-Beasts, Edward II was of a particularly large build. Add to that years of gluttony and heavy drinking, his weight was simply uncontrollable.

Ireya couldn’t hold him either, and the two of them fell backward together.

She saw Edward II open his mouth as if he wanted to say something, but in the end only hoarse coughs came from his throat, followed by a large mouthful of fresh blood.

Allister stood still like someone scared witless, unmoving from his spot.

The other competitors nearby also appeared at a loss.

The first to react was Sir Duren, the Imperial Guard Captain of His Majesty The Emperor, but his face was filled with horror, no longer composed as before.

Sir Duren had realized that Edward II had been poisoned, the most dreadful form of assassination, and even with his exceptional martial arts and unwavering loyalty, he was now helpless.

All he could do was rush forward, lifting Edward II from the ground, and bellowed, "Where is Pharmacist Meisha, call Pharmacist Meisha here quickly!"

After a pause, Duren shouted to one of his subordinates, "Find the Priest of Cornelia, quickly! His Majesty needs her now."

As the Guard Commander spoke, he felt the breath of Edward II in his arms growing fainter and fainter.

This made Duren’s face grow even more troubled, and at that moment, Allister finally snapped back to reality and wanted to check on his father’s condition, only to be halted by Duren.

"Your Highness, stay back. From now on, no one but the pharmacist and the Priest of Cornelia is to come near His Majesty."

Allister’s handsome face filled with urgency, and he retorted angrily, "That’s my father, what right do you have, an outsider, to keep me from seeing my own father?"

To this, Duren didn’t become angry but simply stated, "The Imperial Guards are vigilantly guarding; the only ones who could have poisoned His Majesty must be someone close to him. Prince Allister, His Majesty had just drunk the wine you brought over, hadn’t he?"

Allister was initially stunned, then laughed out of sheer rage, pointing at Duren, "You suspect me?!"

"I am not suspecting you, I am merely stating a fact," the Guard Commander explained, not giving an inch.

The atmosphere became tense in an instant.

Fortunately, at that moment, Pharmacist Meisha arrived. Without a word, she took out a small bottle from her bosom and pulled out the wooden stopper.

A nauseating stench immediately assaulted their noses.

After that, Meisha had Duren turn Edward II over, face down, and then placed the small bottle under Edward II’s nose.

Emperor Edward lay with no reaction at all, while Miss Rabbit, who had just gotten up, was the first to vomit on the spot.

Duren didn’t blame her, as the stench nauseated him too, dizzying him and churning his stomach, but he managed not to vomit by sheer willpower.

Yet, Edward II, who was closest to the source, seemed completely unaware, merely opening his mouth slightly before closing it again.

A sense of foreboding rose in Duren’s heart, and as he looked at Meisha, he noticed beads of sweat on the tip of her nose in just that short time.

"Pharmacist Meisha," the Guard Commander spoke in a hoarse voice, "think of something quickly, it’s all on you whether His Majesty can last until the Priest of Cornelia arrives or not."

Meisha hesitated for a moment before saying, "I need leeches to suck the poisoned blood out of His Majesty’s body."

"Then what are you waiting for, get on with it!" Duren urged.

"But I... I don’t have any leeches on me."

"I’ve sent someone to look for her!" Sir Duren decided promptly, then called over two guards, but before the men could take their orders and leave, he heard Pharmacist Meisha cry out in alarm.

"What is it now?"

"The Emperor... the Emperor, he’s not breathing," said Meisha in a trembling voice.

Upon hearing this, Sir Duren’s heart sank to the bottom of a valley as he felt a chill run from his feet to the top of his head.

Allister, upon hearing this, let out a roar and pushed past the guards blocking the way, rushing to the side of Edward II.

"Father!" cried the third prince, kneeling down in grief.

Afterwards, Empress Heloise and other important figures also descended from the viewing stand.

Sir Duren shouted in a panic, "Back away, all of you, back away. Where is the Priest of Cornelia?!!"

But no one responded to him.

Sobs rose from the crowd, making Sir Duren feel irritated and distressed, while Empress Heloise seemed, on the contrary, the calmest of all.

She gazed at the body on the ground as if she were scrutinizing cornflowers in a garden bed.

Then she turned to the Imperial Guard Captain, "Sir Duren, I can understand your loyalty, but my husband, your sovereign, is already dead. It is no use calling for anyone now."

At her words Sir Duren’s body trembled, and a look of confusion appeared on his resolute face.

"The... the Emperor is dead?"

"I fear it is so," sighed Heloise.

She reached out a hand to close Edward II’s wide-open eyes, which, in the final moment before death, were filled with astonishment, anger, and unwillingness, making his bloodstained face all the more ferocious.

The Emperor had just planned to demonstrate his grand talents and martial arts but had met his demise here unexpectedly.

As the Imperial Guard Captain, Sir Duren could only watch helplessly as the sovereign he had sworn to protect died in his arms, and it felt as if the sky itself were collapsing.

At this moment, he was as bewildered as a child.

And Empress Heloise’s voice continued, the normally art- and literature-loving Empress taking over command from Sir Duren, pointing in a certain direction in the crowd.

"First, arrest Wade. He was the Emperor’s wine pourer and the prime suspect."

Then she looked at Allister, who stood with a stern expression, "Do you suspect me as well?"

"No, but the forthcoming investigation requires your cooperation."

"Investigation, who will investigate my father’s death?"

"I propose Sir Essos, he is the commander of the garrison," said the Prince Gars, "murders that happen within Lion Heart Castle should be under his jurisdiction."

"I object, who doesn’t know that Essos is your man!" shouted Allister.

Gars seemed not to expect his brother to address such matters so openly, his irritation flaring up as he frowned.

"You’re a suspect. If you wish to prove your innocence, what you should do right now is refrain from meddling in the investigation."

"Oh, I’m a suspect, am I? What about you, brother?" Allister sneered, "Earl Clyde is your martial arts teacher, and just yesterday father was investigating him for framing Sir Irelia."