By the breakfast time of the second day, Elia, sitting across from Kiz, was slowly and methodically spreading jam on her bread.
“What are your plans for today?” Elia asked.
Kiz was currently drinking fresh blood from her cup.
Upon hearing the question, she thought for a moment and said, “I have to meet with representatives from several Merchant Guilds in the morning. In the afternoon… I don’t think there’s anything scheduled for now.”
“Then accompany me this afternoon. Yesterday, I saw a new patch of Black Roses blooming in the east side of the garden, and I want to go take a look.”
“…When did you become so interested in flowers?”
“I’ve always been interested, especially when I’m looking at them with you.”
These words caused Kiz’s face to flush slightly. She quickly lowered her head and continued drinking her blood.
As Elia watched Kiz, a strange sensation welled up in her heart.
‘This little princess… she seems especially quiet today.’
Usually, Kiz would have something to say in the morning — complaining about having too much work, ranting about a certain Elder, or simply staring at her in anger. But today, Kiz just ate her breakfast in silence.
“Kiz, did you sleep well last night?” Elia asked with concern.
Kiz’s movements paused for a moment. “…Fine. Why?”
“Nothing, you just seem a bit listless today.”
“Do I?” Kiz set down her cup and wiped the corner of her mouth. “Maybe I stayed up too late processing documents last night.”
“I see.” Elia nodded and didn’t press further.
However, a bad premonition lingered in her heart. It felt as though something was about to happen.
Just then, Kiz coughed.
Elia looked up and saw that Kiz had covered her mouth with her hand for some reason. “What’s wrong now?”
“It’s nothing… my throat just feels a bit itchy.”
She moved her hand away and continued drinking, but Elia noticed a dark red liquid staining Kiz’s lips. It didn’t look like the color of blood at all.
“Kiz, what’s in your mouth?” Elia asked again.
“What?” Kiz blinked, startled, and then she began to cough again.
This time, the coughing was much more violent.
“Cough, cough, cough, cough! Cough, cough, cough! Cough, cough, cough, cough, cough!”
“Kiz!” Elia stood up and rushed to Kiz’s side.
By now, a trail of dark red liquid was seeping from the corner of Kiz’s mouth.
“Cough… cough…”
Kiz tried to say something, but as soon as she opened her mouth, more dark red liquid gushed out and dripped onto her dress.
“Is this… blood? You’re spitting up blood?” Elia’s eyes widened.
The little princess’s face was terrifyingly pale. Suddenly, she sprayed out a large mouthful of blood, splashing it across the table and Elia’s skirt. The area around her mouth was stained a gruesome red.
“Kiz!” Elia’s mind went blank.
She quickly supported Kiz, whose body had gone limp as she began to collapse to the side. Elia pulled her into her arms and screamed, “Someone… guards! Someone come quickly! Hurry!” She was practically shouting at the top of her lungs.
A few seconds later, several maids pushed open the door and rushed inside. They were stunned by the sight before them.
“Get a doctor! The best doctor! Go now!” Elia roared. “Also, guard the door and do not allow anyone to enter!”
The maids retreated in terror and closed the door. Elia and Kiz were the only ones left in the dining room.
In Elia’s arms, Kiz was still spitting up blood. The liquid continued to pour from her mouth, ruining Elia’s white dress, while her breathing became rapid and weak.
“Kiz… Kiz, hang in there… the doctor is coming… hold on… don’t… don’t fall asleep…”
She used her hand to wipe the blood from Kiz’s chin, but more of it just surged out.
How could this happen? She was fine just a moment ago; how could she suddenly be spitting up blood?
‘Poison?’ The word struck Elia’s mind like a bolt of lightning. ‘Yes! Poison! She’s been poisoned! But who did it? When? How did they administer it?’
Countless questions whirled frantically in Elia’s mind, and she was completely unable to remain calm. Only one thought remained.
Kiz cannot die! Kiz absolutely cannot die!
“Where is the doctor!” she screamed toward the door. “Why isn’t the doctor here yet!”
At that moment, a Blood Clan woman wearing a white robe hurried into the room.
Elia recognized her. This woman’s medical skills were among the best on the entire continent, and she was indisputably the best within the Blood Clan.
Even with such a skilled professional present, Elia could not feel at ease — she wouldn’t truly be relieved until Kiz recovered.
“Your Highness!” the doctor cried out, her expression changing instantly.
“Get over here and check on her! Now!” Elia’s voice was even louder than the doctor’s.
The doctor hurried over and knelt down to examine Kiz’s condition. She peeled back Kiz’s eyelids, then dipped a finger in the blood to smell it. Her expression darkened further.
“It’s poison. A specialized poison specifically for the Royal Blood Race…”
She really had been poisoned. Dammit!
“Can… can it be cured?” Elia asked, her voice trembling.
“I’ll try.” The doctor took several small bottles from her medical bag. “But… I can’t guarantee 100% success… Her Highness is already…”
“I don’t want to hear that! I want you to save her! You must save her no matter what!”
The doctor took a deep breath and began to mix a concoction.
Elia felt the body in her arms growing colder and lighter. Kiz’s breathing was almost gone.
Her eyes were completely closed, and blood continued to seep from the corners of her mouth.
“Kiz… Kiz, wake up… don’t sleep… please don’t sleep…”
Elia didn’t know why she was saying these things. She only knew that if Kiz really died… she would go insane.
Finally, the doctor finished the medicine.
She lifted Kiz’s head and carefully tried to pour the medicine into her mouth.
However, Kiz had already lost the ability to swallow, and most of the liquid simply flowed back out.
“It’s no use… she can’t swallow it,” the doctor said with a frown.
“Then what do we do?”
“Someone needs to use Magic Power to guide the medicine into her body. However, it must be Light Magic. Only Light Magic can neutralize the dark attributes of this poison. But Holy Light Magic is just as toxic to the Blood Clan…”
“I’ll do it,” Elia said without hesitation. “Tell me what to do.”
“But you are a human. Your Light Magic will hurt Her Highness — “
“I said, tell me what to do. Now, immediately, at once!”
The doctor was intimidated by Elia’s aura. After a moment’s hesitation, she nodded. “Place your hand on Her Highness’s chest and use gentle Light Magic to guide the medicine. Remember, it must be gentle, or Her Highness’s body won’t be able to withstand it.”
Elia immediately complied.
She placed her hand on Kiz’s chest, closed her eyes, and began to channel the Magic Power within her.
A golden light began to seep from her palm — very faint and very soft, as warm as the morning sun.
The light slowly permeated Kiz’s body, guiding the medicine through her veins.
Kiz’s body shivered slightly, but she soon grew calm again.
Minutes and seconds ticked by.
Beads of sweat formed on Elia’s forehead. She had to strictly control the intensity of her magic.
If it was too weak, it was useless; if it was too strong, it would harm Kiz. This required extreme precision and control, and even she found it taxing.
But she didn’t stop. She couldn’t stop.
After an unknown amount of time had passed, Kiz’s breathing finally stabilized.
“It’s done.” The doctor checked Kiz’s condition and let out a sigh of relief. “The toxicity has been suppressed for now, but… it’s not completely gone. The antidote for this poison is very complex and will take a lot of time to prepare.”
“How long?” Elia asked.
“It will take at least 3 days.”
“3 days…” Elia Grit her teeth. “Can she hold on for 3 days?”
“If someone uses Light Magic to guide the medicine and suppress the toxin every day, she should be able to. But the burden on you will be immense, Lady Saint. You would need to do this for at least 6 hours every day, and you must maintain high concentration.”
“It’s fine. I’ll do it,” Elia said firmly.
The doctor looked at the Saint with a complex expression and said, “Then I will go to prepare the antidote now.”
“Mhm.”
Elia then picked up Kiz and walked out of the dining room, heading toward the Sleeping Palace.
Upon returning to the Sleeping Palace, Elia laid Kiz on the bed and tucked her in.
Kiz’s face was still pale, but she was no longer spitting up blood. Elia sat by the bedside, watching her sleeping face.
Soon, a powerful wave of anger and murderous intent surged in her heart.
Who did this? Who exactly poisoned Kiz?
She… she would definitely find that person. She would make them pay the ultimate price!