"Yes."
The answer came without hesitation.
Josselyn stared at Yorick. "Yes?"
"You were the one who insisted that night," Yorick continued calmly. "You said you didn't have time to wait. You wanted to find the right formula for the Queen immediately."
Josselyn frowned, doubtful and unconvinced. "I… forced you?"
Yorick gave a faint smile. "You were very stubborn that night."
Josselyn fell silent. Her gaze drifted as she tried to dig through her memories. She could not recall ever deliberately getting drunk.
Or did I drink something without realizing it?
The voices in her head clashed, offering possibilities.
"Did I say anything strange?" she asked after a moment.
"Other than the fact that you almost wouldn't stop?" Yorick shrugged lightly. "No."
Josselyn's face flushed as an inappropriate thought suddenly crossed her mind.
"Wouldn't stop… what exactly did I do?"
Yorick studied her for a moment, his gaze weighing something, then smiled faintly.
"You kept pushing me to answer your questions about herbal mixtures."
Josselyn quietly let out a breath of relief. Thankfully, it was nothing as embarrassing as what she had imagined.
"…I'm sorry. I don't remember."
"That's not surprising." Yorick's tone remained gentle. "You were exhausted. And you were under pressure because the Queen's condition wasn't improving."
Josselyn swallowed, her gaze distant. "Is that also why my memory feels… fragmented?"
"Maybe." Yorick nodded slightly. "Your body was pushed too hard. So was your mind."
"I've been through worse," Josselyn murmured, her thoughts returning to that hellish house. Back then, her body had been in far worse condition than it was now in the palace. She had endured daily abuse and starvation.
Here, at least, she had a comfortable bed. A clean room. Proper meals.
Even if she had spent a few nights in that cold dungeon.
"But I've never felt strange like this." Josselyn turned, locking eyes with Yorick. "Could this be related to my body's strange ability that just appeared, healing wounds faster?"
Yorick leaned back slightly. "I wouldn't dare confirm anything without examining it directly."
Josselyn narrowed her eyes. "Examine… how?"
Yorick leaned in a little. "Your blood, perhaps."
Josselyn raised an eyebrow. "Is that possible?"
"Not in the way you're imagining," Yorick replied quickly. "Bloodletting. Releasing illness along with the blood."
Josselyn fell silent for a moment. "So you're saying what's happening in my body is an illness?"
"It could be. Considering the effect includes memory loss." Yorick looked at her gently. "At the very least, it might give us clues."
Josselyn lowered her gaze, thinking. "You might be right. I've seen my mother experiment with blood before. So if bloodletting doesn't give us clear answers, I can start investigating on my own."
"That's a good idea. I'll do my best to help you," Yorick said, patting her shoulder warmly.
Josselyn returned his smile, though a faint sense of guilt crept into her heart.
The man in front of her could not possibly do anything harmful to her.
If he were like they claim, he would lie to me, wouldn't he? But his answer matches what Darius said.
She lifted her head again. "Alright. Let's do it."
Yorick looked slightly surprised, then smiled faintly. "Now?"
"Why not?"
"Because…"
Before Yorick could finish, the door burst open.
"Lady Josselyn!"
A maid rushed in, breathless. She nearly stumbled before stopping in front of Josselyn.
"Her Majesty the Queen… she's shivering violently. And… and her coughing is getting worse!"
Josselyn stood at once. "Since when?"
"Just now. We can't calm her down!"
Josselyn glanced briefly at Yorick.
"Take your medicine. I'll prepare the rest," Yorick said, as if understanding her look.
Josselyn nodded firmly. "Thank you, Master."
She was already out the door before the maid finished speaking.
"Take me there!"
~
The Queen's chamber doors stood wide open. Cold air rushed to meet Josselyn's face.
"Josselyn."
The voice was low, cold, and firm. A voice that had been making her heartbeat uneven lately.
She looked up.
Crown Prince Killian stood beside the bed, his gaze fixed on her.
On the other side, the King stood with a tense expression.
"Your Majesties," Josselyn said, bowing quickly.
"Do something," Killian cut in without preamble.
Josselyn hurried to the bedside.
The Queen's body trembled violently beneath a thin blanket. Her lips were pale. Her breathing was shallow.
"Warm water," Josselyn ordered quickly.
A maid swiftly prepared a cup of warm water on a tray.
Josselyn opened the ceramic vial she had been carrying, then poured its contents into an empty porcelain cup beside it.
Steam rose faintly, carrying the strong scent of ginger mixed with other herbs. It was calming.
Killian watched her without blinking. "What's happening to her?"
Josselyn did not answer immediately. She took the Queen's wrist and startled. Her hand was too cold.
"How long has she been like this?" she asked.
"Since this morning, but it's getting worse," the King replied.
Josselyn stirred the mixture gently.
"Please, lift her head slightly," Josselyn said.
Killian did it himself.
Josselyn glanced at him briefly, then focused back on the pale woman before her.
"Please drink this, Your Majesty," she whispered softly.
The Queen drank with difficulty, her expression tightening with pain. But Josselyn carefully tilted the cup until she finished it.
"Thank you for drinking it, Your Majesty," Josselyn said gently.
The Queen gave a faint nod, her head resting against Killian's chest.
A few seconds passed, though they felt long.
Then came a cough. Stronger than before. Followed by blood.
Josselyn's chest tightened, as if her heart had swollen and filled her entire ribcage.
If she dies now, all of this will be for nothing.
The King's face paled. "This…"
"Stay calm," Josselyn cut in quickly.
She wiped the blood from the Queen's lips with a cloth.
Her eyes scanned the pale face. Then her fingertips. Then the color of her skin.
"…It's not enough," Josselyn said carefully.
Killian frowned. "What?"
"It's not enough."
Josselyn set the cup down. "Her body can't retain heat."
Silence fell.
"What do you mean?" Killian asked.
"The medicine helps from the inside. But her body is losing heat too quickly." Josselyn pointed at the thin blanket. "This isn't enough to maintain her temperature."
"We have more blankets," a maid said quickly.
"Not thick enough," Josselyn replied.
"Then use more!" the King snapped, his voice rising.
"It won't…" Josselyn stopped, taking a quick breath. "It won't be enough, Your Majesty."
Killian stared at her sharply, his tone impatient. "You're speaking in circles. Explain."
Josselyn clenched her dark blue dress until it wrinkled.
"Her body is losing heat too fast," she said, faster this time. "It's not about the number of blankets…"
"Then what?" Killian pressed.
"…The quality." Josselyn's voice lowered slightly. "The wool here can't retain her body heat."
The King frowned. "The royal farms have…"
"Not enough, Your Majesty," Josselyn cut in, this time without hesitation. "The best wool is in the North. The kind that can truly lock in heat."
Silence. Only the Queen's labored breathing filled the room.
Josselyn swallowed. This was the moment.
She stepped forward.
"Your Majesty."
The King looked at her.
"…Allow me to go to the North."