After that, my condition worsened noticeably.
My arms and legs trembled beyond my control, and the intervals between bouts of coughing up blood grew shorter and shorter.
The moments when my mind drifted into a haze became more frequent.
The fact that the King was collapsing.
That single truth sent the entire royal palace into an uproar.
"This is all because of Valcion!"
"We must launch a punitive expedition! Right now!!"
In the end, the decision was made.
Six great generals led the army and marched upon Valcion.
The pretext was more than sufficient.
And eventually, they returned.
They brought back those identified as the culprits—the nobles and even some of the royalty of Valcion, all executed.
And yet...
"...Still... nothing?"
I murmured faintly.
My condition did not improve.
If anything, I was crumbling—slowly, but with absolute certainty.
Every night, the royal physicians put their heads together to brew antidotes.
But despite all those efforts...
"...It has no effect."
That one sentence said everything.
***
Then, one night, the air in the royal palace grew suffocatingly heavy.
"...It is complete."
A strange voice cut through the silence of the bedroom.
When I turned my head, a man was kneeling before me.
He was a physician from Nereia, one of the nations that had surrendered.
In his hands rested a small glass vial.
A dark liquid.
It was so murky that light could barely penetrate it.
"...So, this is the antidote you've created for this poison?"
When I questioned him, he bowed his head deeply.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
He answered in haste.
Hearing his reply, the retainers nearby began to shout.
"Your Majesty! You must not!!"
"It was made by a man of questionable origin!!"
"He cannot be trusted!!"
The retainers stepped forward in unison, railing against both the medicine and the man.
"...That man is from Nereia!"
"He is one of those who surrendered during the war!"
"How could you possibly intend to drink medicine made by such a person?!"
Their voices grew increasingly harsh.
I looked at them for a moment.
Fear.
Anger.
And impatience.
They were all understandable emotions.
"...Medea."
I quietly called her name.
Without a word, Medea stepped forward and took the glass vial.
For a brief instant, her eyes wavered ever so slightly.
"..."
Silence.
She looked at me.
With that one short glance, I understood everything.
"...You're saying it's dangerous."
Medea did not answer.
But that was enough for me.
I turned my gaze back to the kneeling physician.
Noticing that his hands were trembling, I spoke to him.
"...What were you thinking while you made this medicine?"
He remained silent for a moment before answering.
"...I wanted to live... and... I wished for Your Majesty to live as well."
It wasn't a lie.
But it wasn't the whole truth, either.
Realizing this, I let out a short laugh.
"...I see."
Then, I reached out for the vial.
"Give it to me."
"Your Majesty!!"
The retainers screamed in unison at my action.
"You cannot!!"
"It hasn't even been verified!!"
Despite their protests, I had already taken the bottle.
The cold touch of glass.
And a faint, alien scent wafting from within.
I stared at it for a moment.
"...Interesting."
A faint smile touched my lips.
"To think that I, of all people, should be the one to trust what everyone else doubts."
I shook the vial, examining the contents.
Then, without hesitation, I brought it to my lips.
"Your Majesty!!!"
Someone shrieked.
But it was already too late to stop me.
Gulp.
The liquid slid down my throat.
Cold.
That was my first thought the moment I drank it.
But soon after, it began to burn with an intense heat.
"...Ha."
A short breath escaped me.
The sensation of something twisting deep inside my body spread from head to toe.
"Your Majesty!! Your condition...!!"
I raised my hand, stopping the retainers who were rushing toward me.
"...Quiet. Be quiet for a moment."
I slowly assessed the state of my body.
"...Ha. Hahahahahahaha!!"
"Y-Your Majesty?!"
"My King, what is happening?!"
After confirming the results, I burst into the loudest laughter I had ever let out in front of my retainers.
My sudden outburst left them flustered and bewildered.
"...Now then. What is your name?"
Ignoring the retainers, I looked at the man from Nereia who had given me the medicine.
"M-My name is Hipporia, Your Majesty."
"Good. Listen closely to what I have to say."
"Yes."
"You have succeeded in curing a poison that no one else could touch. I shall not forget this kindness."
"Your Majesty...!!"
At my words, both the retainers and Hipporia looked at me with eyes wide in shock and disbelief.
"If any of you have complaints regarding his origin, step forward now. This man, whom you despise because of the land he hails from, has cured me. From this moment on, anyone who discriminates against another simply because they are from a foreign land or a defeated nation shall be severely punished by my hand!!"
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