"Someone tried to poison me."
Josselyn said it without preamble.
Yorick stopped walking. He stared at his assistant for a few seconds, then let out a soft laugh.
Josselyn's eyes shifted in confusion at his reaction. She realized his laughter was not warm as usual. It sounded dismissive.
"Poison you?" he repeated lightly. "What makes you think that?"
Josselyn frowned, trying to explain what she had felt today.
"My body feels strange."
"Strange? How?"
"Hot. Dizzy. And…" she hesitated, "honestly, I don't remember what happened last night."
Yorick did not answer immediately. His gaze traced over Josselyn's face.
"You don't remember?" he repeated quietly. "At all?"
Josselyn looked uncertain. Still, she closed her eyes briefly, trying to pull her memory back.
But it was dark. Empty.
She shook her head, hesitant. "No."
Silence fell.
Yorick sighed, then lightly patted the back of her hand. "You're overthinking things. Especially with the Crown Prince confined. Your duties have doubled."
"I'm serious, Yorick," Josselyn insisted.
"So am I." His tone remained calm as he started walking again. "You're exhausted. That's all."
Josselyn followed, still unconvinced.
"But—"
"There's something more important." Yorick cut her off. He glanced at her, his expression turning serious.
Josselyn fell silent. "What?"
"Edmund."
Josselyn clicked her tongue, the name instantly catching her attention. "What has he done now?"
"He's causing a scene at the main palace."
"Of course." Josselyn scoffed. "He never knows when to stop."
"This time, he brought something."
"What kind of something?"
"A painting."
Josselyn turned quickly. "Whose painting?"
"His daughter's," Yorick answered shortly. "Clarisse."
Josselyn fell silent for a moment, then let out a humorless chuckle. "Don't tell me he's bold enough to…"
"To ask the King to betroth her to the Crown Prince?" Yorick finished for her.
Josselyn looked at him sharply. "He's serious?"
"Very."
Josselyn smiled faintly in disdain. "Does he think he can force the King?"
"Unfortunately, he has something valuable enough to bargain with." Yorick stared ahead. "He's offering to persuade Duke Corven to lift the southern trade blockade."
Josselyn stopped in her tracks. "What?"
"Yes."
"That…" She shook her head. "That's not something he can just promise."
"True." Yorick glanced at her. "But it's enough to make the King consider it."
Josselyn bit her lip. "No… this can't be allowed. He's spouting nonsense."
She immediately turned around.
"Where are you going?" Yorick asked, catching her elbow.
"The main palace."
"Are you sure?"
"His relationship with Duke Corven is terrible. He can't deceive the King with promises he can't keep."
Yorick stared at her for a few seconds, slightly surprised, then nodded. "Alright."
They walked quickly through the corridor. Josselyn's pace quickened, Yorick half a step behind her.
And for a brief moment, unnoticed by Josselyn, Yorick's gaze changed. No longer as warm as it should have been.
~
"Finally."
Edmund's voice rang out even before Josselyn fully stepped into the hall.
"Your Majesty, allow me to assure you once more, there is no candidate more suitable than my daughter."
Josselyn entered. Her eyes immediately fixed on one thing, a large painting standing upright in the center of the room.
A girl with golden hair, a gentle smile, and eyes that were almost too perfect.
"Tsk, he's truly insane to bring a painting of Clarisse this big," Josselyn muttered under her breath.
"Ah!" Edmund turned at once when he heard footsteps approaching. "Josselyn, my dear niece."
His smile widened.
Josselyn could swear that in the ten years she had lived with her uncle's family, she had never seen Edmund smile that broadly at her.
"Come here, dear."
Josselyn had no time to react before Edmund stepped forward and, without permission, grabbed her shoulder.
"Look, Your Majesty," he said, pulling Josselyn slightly forward. "Even our family has contributed to the kingdom. Think of how much we have sacrificed."
Josselyn stiffened.
"Josselyn," Edmund continued, his voice lowering with a false tremor, "is proof of that. We had to part with her because the palace needed her."
He leaned his head toward her and wrapped her in a tight embrace.
"But knowing the Queen's condition has improved so much under her care," Edmund released her, looking at Josselyn with softened eyes, "makes all the longing worthwhile."
Then he turned to the King. "Isn't that right, Your Majesty?"
The King did not answer immediately. His gaze shifted to Josselyn, silent, as if weighing something.
"…There has been improvement," he finally said.
His tone was neutral. Not fully agreeing, yet not rejecting it either.
Josselyn's breath hitched briefly.
Then she lifted her shoulder slightly. The motion was subtle, but enough to slip out of Edmund's grasp.
"Don't involve me." Her voice was low, meant only for Edmund.
"I have never been part of your family," Josselyn said, her tone a warning.
Edmund's smile did not fade. But the glint in his eyes sharpened.
"And yet you stand here," he replied softly. "Surely, deep down, you feel guilty for rising to the palace alone, leaving behind the family that raised you."
Josselyn did not turn her head. But her jaw tightened. Anyone paying attention would see the faint tremor in her hands.
Raised me? You carved wounds into my heart and body, she screamed inwardly.
"Don't be selfish, Josselyn." Edmund's tone grew colder. "You should help."
"Help with what?" Josselyn snapped.
"Help your sister take the place that should be hers."
Josselyn finally turned.
"Your sister is far more suitable to become Queen," Edmund continued without hesitation. "You agree, don't you?"
Silence fell.
"And you…" his lips curved faintly, "…are only fit to be a lowly healer."
Josselyn did not move. But his next words lit a blazing fire inside her.
"Just like your mother."
Silence deepened. The air in the room shifted. Josselyn felt something boil in her chest.
But she did not shout. She did not argue. Instead, she stepped forward, bowed slightly, and faced the King with firm resolve.
"Your Majesty."
All eyes turned to her.
"The reason I have come before you is because I was ordered by the Crown Prince to deliver a message."
The King's brow lifted slightly. He leaned forward in his seat.
"The Crown Prince?"
"Yes, Your Majesty." Josselyn dipped her head briefly. "He wishes to meet with you."
"For what purpose?"
"To discuss preparations for Valenroth's winter."
The King's expression brightened slightly. "Has he decided to apologize to Duke Corven?"
Edmund quickly cut in, "Your Majesty, I believe that is unnecessary—"
"No." Josselyn interrupted, casting a sharp glance at her uncle.
The tension in the room tightened instantly. She lifted her head slightly.
"The Crown Prince has a wiser solution than that."
Silence followed. The King, who had seemed hopeful, now studied her face more carefully, as if searching for something.
"…Very well," he finally said. "I will meet him."
Edmund scoffed quietly. "Your Majesty—"
"That is enough, Edmund."
The tone was firm, leaving no room for argument.
Edmund fell silent, though his jaw tightened.
Josselyn took a quiet breath. But she was not finished.
"Your Majesty," she continued.
The King looked at her again. "Is there more?"
Josselyn hesitated for a fraction of a second. She knew she was placing her life beneath Killian's blade by acting without his permission. But she had already come this far.
"The Crown Prince requests to meet you here. Before all the ministers. He asks to be released from confinement."
Edmund chuckled softly. "He is merely making excuses to be freed."
Josselyn ignored the old man's remark.
"His Highness is aware this violates the agreement. But the sooner this is done, the better prepared the people will be for winter," she added.
The King fell silent. He leaned back against his chair, fingers rubbing his chin thoughtfully.
"Very well." The answer was brief, but enough. "Permission granted."
Josselyn bowed deeply, a satisfied smile forming quietly.
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
Behind her, Yorick stood still. He said nothing. He did not move.
But his eyes remained fixed on Josselyn.