Chapter 35

It wasn’t because of the psilocybin that she accepted Alan Medoff’s proposal.

‘This isn’t the time to talk, not after just having a drink.’

Empress Lianhua gave a wry smile as she plucked the strings of her seven-stringed zither with her delicate fingers.

The moment she sent Alan away, she had consumed a drink mixed with powdered psilocybin and lemon juice.

The dosage was once every three days.

She’d heard that drinking it every day wouldn’t harm her health, but she couldn’t live for two or three hours each day in a world of synesthesia, so this was satisfying enough.

While she was indeed captivated by the efficacy of psilocybin, she wasn’t desperate enough to forsake her daughter.

Above all, there were ways to obtain psilocybin without compromising with Alan. After all, a human body was made up of muscles, bones, and blood vessels. It wasn’t that she intended to capture Alan and torture him, but there were certainly means available.

However, the reason she accepted Alan’s offer was simple.

‘You’ve ignored the warning, my daughter.’

If this had happened in the empire, the child, who had not only failed to reflect on being stripped of her title and exiled but had caused trouble again, would have been dealt with accordingly.

Did she truly believe that she could step on her half-sister through health syrup?

If so, then it was a bigger issue, as it meant rational thought had become impossible. Even if she were to forcefully intervene, it would likely start again soon.

Thinking it over, it was most reasonable to put an end to it now.

It would be a lie to say it wasn’t a pity.

‘But what choice do I have?’

It was a wiser move to stop now than to let her end up dragged like a dog to stand before the guillotine later.

Only then, as Alan said, could her daughter’s life be preserved. If she were alive, there would be a chance to see her face again.

“Please inform His Majesty that I will visit soon.”

Not now, but three hours later.

Right after quietly informing the chamberlain, the Empress began to feel her body drift. It was the effect of the psilocybin.

Though she was startled at first, the floaty dizziness and the dreaminess had become familiar over time.

Thoughts of her daughter quickly faded.

**

Third Princess Anais Carlisle was enjoying happy days lately—perhaps even more so than her thoughtless academy-going days.

Today brought double good news.

First, there was a positive report from the Academy’s Department of Magic.

Professor Bobby Duncan, both the head of the department and an investor, mentioned health syrup casually during a lecture, and it had spread on its own among the students.

“If this trend spreads to other departments, it’d be excellent.”

This was great news that would significantly elevate the status of health syrup.

But there was an even happier piece of news.

“Let’s have a meal with your sisters at noon. From now on, you won’t have to worry about Siena.”

This was the message Empress Lianhua just sent via the communication device.

It seemed the Empress, who had overly favored Siena until now, had finally changed her stance and decided to support her blood relative.

“Mother must have learned about that rascal’s chaos.”

Many people were now laughing at Alan and Siena, especially among the health syrup investors, who believed that the duo had made a desperate move out of fear that morphine’s status might be jeopardized.

The Empress must have judged the tide had turned after hearing these rumors.

As the promised time approached, Anais stepped onto the teleportation magic circle with a smile. She brought only one bodyguard.

The destination, naturally, was the Imperial Palace.

Upon arrival, Anais was immediately led to the dining room by a valet.

Alan and the imperial bodyguards stood at attention at the door, but Anais ignored them—Siena was the priority.

“Greetings, Your Majesty.”

Not long after, the most honored royal family welcomed Anais.

The Emperor, looking solemn but still robust, greeted her. The Empress smiled gently to welcome her daughter, while Victoria stood in her red uniform.

Siena, whom Anais didn’t really consider family, was also present. She even smiled upon seeing Anais.

Anais returned the smile, confident that the Empress, who had finally decided to take action for blood ties, would soon draw her sword. By then, this irritating smile would vanish. If Siena lost control and threw a tantrum, that would be ideal.

Fortunately, it seemed there was no need to wait long.

“…Siena, I have something to discuss before the meal begins. It might be uncomfortable, but I would appreciate your understanding. His Majesty understands, right?”

“Of course.”

With the Emperor’s permission, Empress Lianhua signaled lightly. Immediately, a servant appeared carrying a silver tray, on which sat a small bottle of health syrup.

‘Is it already starting?’

Though rushed, this wasn’t necessarily a bad thing.

“Oh Mother, what’s that for?”

Siena asked foolishly, but the Empress didn’t seem to care.

“To be honest, I want to ask you, Siena. Are you really that clueless?”

“…”

“I tried not to meddle in your affairs. But Siena, your vilifications of health syrup have gone too far. Last week, you even slandered it to the generals. I wonder what your thoughts were.”

“But I wasn’t vilifying it.”

“If you weren’t vilifying it, perhaps you were cursing it. Did my success irritate you that much?”

The Empress’s stinging criticism made Siena’s expression stiffen, a wonderful sight indeed.

Anais struggled to suppress her laughter, careful not to disturb the serious atmosphere.

‘Just a little longer, just a little.’

Would this effort be in vain?

Soon, Siena began to show her sharp side, glaring at the Empress and sighing audaciously.

“… Mother, I’m in a difficult spot. However, there’s one thing I want to clarify. I haven’t attacked Anais.”

“If you intend to excuse yourself by saying you were warning against the dangers of health syrup, stop it. If it were as dangerous as you say, someone would have already died.”

“There may have been deaths. Some might have become incapacitated. It’s just that the numbers are small for now…”

“That’s going too far. Enough.”

“Hmph…”

The dining room’s atmosphere became increasingly uncomfortable.

The Emperor still had his eyes closed, maintaining a serious expression, and Victoria tightly gripped Siena’s arm, probably worried her sister might explode and harm herself.

But that wasn’t enough to stop Siena.

“Hey!”

Pushing her chair back with a loud noise, she stood up.

“Anais, is this something you orchestrated?”

Siena glared and aggressively confronted her.

Her angry face indicated she was on the verge of explosion. A little provocation could lead her to make an irreversible mistake.

Anais tilted her head innocently to provoke her further.

“What are you talking about?”

“You know health syrup is dangerous…! Hearing Alan’s warning and excluding poisonous herbs was proof, wasn’t it? That action only reduced the number of deaths. It didn’t eliminate the danger. Depending on one’s constitution, short-term use could still cause sudden death!”

“Warning? What warning? Stop behaving badly. There’s no such thing, and health syrup is harmless. Contrary to your wishes, sister.”

“Harmless?”

Unable to control her emotions, Siena rested her hands on her hips, her lips trembling.

‘Let’s provoke her a bit more.’

As Anais pondered this, Siena acted first.

“Fine. Do you really believe it’s harmless?”

“…Of course.”

“Prove it.”

Siena then started her eccentric behavior—snatching the bottle from the servant, grabbing a teacup, and filling it with twelve spoons of health syrup. She shouted at the maids standing awkwardly and ordered them to fetch tea water. She intended to make tea with health syrup on the spot.

‘You crazy girl!’

Ultimately, she shoved the bizarre tea towards Anais in shock.

“Drink to prove it.”

“… What nonsense is this, sister.”

“I’ll believe you if you drink it. I’ll also publicly apologize.”

Although she hoped Siena would fall, to this extent?

Anais had no intention of responding to Siena’s absurd act.

She had never tasted health syrup and had no intention to in the future. Especially twelve spoons? Who knows what could happen if she drank that.

Anais shook her head after a brief consideration.

“Pitiful. Stop it, sister.”

“You don’t want to drink, do you.”

“I’m not sick nor tired.”

Should she let it slide like this?

But Siena didn’t know when to quit. Glaring at Anais murderously, she now turned to the Empress.

“Mother, would you please drink it on Anais’s behalf?”

Finally, this was coming to an end.

‘Mom will naturally refuse.’

Or maybe today, the Emperor, unusually quiet, would sternly lecture her.

Either way, Siena’s bad behavior should end as a counterproductive move—demanding a royal member to taste something publicly was unheard of misconduct.

But then,

“Okay. Let me drink it.”

‘What?’

Her Majesty too easily agreed and took the teacup.

Anais looked at Empress Lianhua in wide-eyed disbelief.

It was kind of her to support, but there was no need for her to drink it herself. She wasn’t in the best of health, and drinking this could lead to an accident…

‘Should I stop her? No, if I do, they’ll suspect me.’

After brief deliberation, Anais ultimately chose silence.

Meanwhile, the Empress drank the tea steeped with health syrup.

She drank it greedily, gulp after gulp.

It should have tasted good. After all, it was basically sugar water. But no one knew how much opium and ephedra were mixed in.

‘What should I do?’

Anais kept her eyes low, fidgeting with her hands. The large amount of health syrup consumed by the Empress made her feel dizzy.

Maintaining composure had been difficult for a long time.

This was supposed to be a situation where only Siena would be severely harmed, so how did it come to this?

‘It’s fine once… It is. Mother has become healthier than before, so it should be okay. There’s no way she’ll suddenly have an issue. Letting this pass quietly is the best option.’

As Anais muttered to herself, trying to reassure herself,

A dry voice suddenly sounded in her ear.

“Ultimately, you didn’t stop me, Anais. It might have been your last chance… What if this had been real health syrup?”

What?

Surprised, she looked up to see the Empress calmly wiping the syrup residue from the corner of her lips.

Beside her, the Emperor sighed deeply, seemingly disappointed, while Siena was smiling gently, as if the previous excitement never happened. Even Victoria, who had been trying to restrain Siena moments before, looked enlightened with a frustrated expression.

A long silence followed.

“Ah.”

Finally realizing the situation, Anais’s face rapidly turned pale.

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