Chapter 22: 22 — Were You Behind This?

"Why did you do that?.. How did you know... there was poison?"

Because in my past life, the day when the crown prince visited us in Erion for the first time, there was someone who put poison in your food. You ate it and nearly died, apart from the fact that your subordinates managed to find a mage to cure you with magic...

Cynthia sighed.

Of course, I can’t say that! Yet... why did I save you? I couldn’t even answer that question to myself.

"Why aren’t you answering? Why did you do that?" Lucian demanded, growing impatient as he watched the young woman before him space out in his presence. He had waited for seven whole days— he couldn’t wait longer.

"Oh my! Have I worried you, my dear husband?" she tried to dodge the question.

Lucian didn’t reply to her. Instead, his eyes filled with disgust and contempt just as it was before she fainted.

Lucian had just remembered this woman’s true nature— an infamous villainess.

"It seems I pushed it too far," Cynthia thought, watching the sudden transformation in his complexion.

Just as she parted her lips, Lucian rose from his seat abruptly.

"Were you... behind all this?"

Despite how hard Cynthia tried to remain calm, she burst into laughter upon hearing his question.

She saved him yet he was doubting her. Just how low did he believe her to be?

Lucian frowned, sitting back on the chair, puzzled by her laugh.

"Your Highness, you surely believe I’m a villainess."

"Are you not?"

Cynthia pretended to think for a second with a faint hum before turning her gaze at him.

"I wouldn’t deny that. However, I have enough grace to not attack someone behind their back and use such cheap tricks as poisoning, Your Highness. Only cowards do so; those who cannot fight face to face."

Lucian’s eyes widened at her statement. She wasn’t the kind to attack someone behind someone’s back?

A soft chuckle escaped his mouth.

What a joke!

"Eldorians are all sweet talkers. They make you want to believe them only to push you down the cliff afterwards," King Valerian’s words echoed in Lucian’s mind.

"Your Highness, I’m thirsty. Send a maid, will you? Even if you think I did try to poison you and ate the poison on purpose, have some mercy. I’m still unwell."

"For someone unwell, you seem to be doing just fine," Lucian coldly replied, grabbing the jug placed beside him on the night table.

He poured the liquid into the glass and extended it towards Cynthia who looked at him, perplexed.

"Drink."

"I can’t move my hands yet," she sighed. "I think this poison causes paralysis."

"Paralysis?"

"Meaning I can’t move my muscles for a while. Or forever..."

"Ah!" Cynthia gasped. "I didn’t mean to complain to you. Could you just... send the nurse, please?" She sighed, turning her head to the side.

She was embarrassed at the state in which she was. The wretched reputation she built seemed to be falling apart in front of this vulnerability.

It’s the poison that’s making me weak. IT MUST BE IT.

Cynthia repeated to herself, reassuring herself she still had control over her emotions. Just as she learned to do over the past decade.

"I’ll take care of it," Lucian’s faint voice reached Cynthia’s ears.

"Yes?" The young woman gazed up at the man, puzzled by his statement.

Take care of what?

"Since you are in this state instead of me, because had I eaten that food, I would be the one..." Lucian paused before inhaling. "I will take care of you until you recover."

"...ve."

Lucian, who failed to hear what Cynthia said, raised an eyebrow.

"What?"

"Please leave," Cynthia repeated.

Although hesitant, the dark-haired young man exited the room. Perhaps she hated the idea. He wasn’t dying to assist her in her needs— he simply didn’t want to owe her anything. She saved him, whether it was willingly or unwillingly, she put herself in danger and he wasn’t harmed.

Damn. Why did I even suggest that?

Slicking half of his bangs on the top of his head, Lucian signed.

"At least she didn’t agree to it," he mumbled, relieved.

Once Cynthia heard Lucian’s footsteps fading, she exhaled deeply, her lips trembling. She could finally breathe!

"What... in the world?!" Her face flushed red. "What was he saying?... take care of me?"

"Get a hold of yourself, Your Highness," Arlot jumped inside the door through the window.

Cynthia quickly regained her composure and glared at him.

"Aren’t you quite rude, entering a lady’s room like this?"

"Well, that husband of yours surely entered without permission as well."

"What brings you here? I told you to not come unless I call for you," Cynthia didn’t want to talk about Lucian as her feelings related to him were out of order. She needed time before she could handle her emotions.

"I have been making you drink that potion for days, Your Highness. Had I not been doing so, do you think you would be able to argue with me about me entering your room without permission right now?"

"You... did that?" Cynthia slowly rose from the bed and sat. Although it was hard to move due to the pain in her body, she couldn’t have a proper conversation while lying down. The only parts of her body that she couldn’t move were her arms.

Arlot nodded, crossing his arms.

"I still am unable to understand. If you knew it was poisoned, why did you—"

"I surely told you not to ask any questions," Cynthia interrupted. "You’re the one who insisted on helping me if I ever needed anything, I never went looking for you, begging for your assistance."

Arlot’s jaw tightened. He couldn’t deny her statement. He felt indebted to her and wanted to do anything— everything to make her hellish life slightly better.

Whenever she told him how hard it was for her to even eat in her own palace, Arlot’s blood boiled with anger. She was a princess! It made no sense to him, a mere commoner as to why would someone be after her life. She couldn’t possibly inherit the throne as a woman, so why?

But, whenever he tried to understand her and ask her about her life, she often told him, "This is the life of a noble that commoners fancy yet this is the hell I obtained although I never wished to be a noble again."

If Arlot asked her what she meant by again, she would simply change the subject. Or just as she did now, she would tell him that he didn’t have the right to ask questions as he had agreed to her deal.

"Arlot. Are you listening?" Cynthia’s voice snapped the young man out of his thoughts.

"Yes?"

"Feed me the antidotes."

"E-excuse me?" The white-haired young man stammered, surprised by her order.

In the few years he knew her, she never allowed him to lay a finger on her, yet now...

"Hurry. You seem to have been doing it without my permission while I was unconscious, why are you hesitating now?" Cynthia raised an eyebrow, a smirk forming on her lips.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by Aunomay Read