MPGF 23

Chapter 23: The Unfilial Male Lead
“Even you, Serdis…”

At the Empress’s resentful voice, he chuckled good-naturedly.

“I left the palace a long time ago, so it’s only natural to feel uncomfortable here. Don’t be too harsh.”

“But look at how he talks to me!”

“But didn’t you start by accusing him of poisoning you? If you hadn’t done that, Herthian wouldn’t have talked back to you. Right?”

Serdis even winked at Herthian—as if yesterday’s enemy had become today’s comrade. Of course, it wasn’t like Serdis suddenly saw Herthian as a brother. He clearly had an agenda.

“Serdis is right. How long are you going to stay at odds with him? You know I can’t pretend not to notice forever.”

“Your Majesty…!”

The Empress looked cornered under everyone’s criticism. Even her own son, Serdis, was pressing her to apologize. Her face flushed red, and she bit her painted lips. She clearly had no intention of apologizing.

“No apology is needed from her side.”

Eventually, Herthian, unable to bear the tension, tried to mediate.

“Thank you for being so understanding. Still, it would be a shame to leave things tense. Just have one more cup of tea before you go.”

Herthian didn’t reply to Serdis’s suggestion. Instead, he turned to me.

“Anette, you’ll stay a little longer, right?”

I couldn’t very well walk out in this atmosphere either. In the end, I sat back down.

“Herthian, let’s just have a cup of tea before leaving.”

“…Alright.”

Thankfully, the truly understanding Herthian agreed.

“Then let’s drink that tea we received as tribute the other day. Go and bring a fresh pot.”

Soon, the maids bustled about, boiling water for a new pot of tea.

As the servants moved about, the frozen atmosphere slightly thawed.

The freshly prepared teacups were filled with steaming tea.

A faint green hue shimmered in the liquid.

“This is peppermint tea. It leaves your mouth feeling clean and refreshed. Go ahead and try it.”

As I stared at the tea blankly, Serdis offered an explanation.

“It has a very unique aroma.”

But I hesitated to drink it.

Alongside the strong minty scent, there was something else. A familiar yet strange undertone.

‘Something’s been added to this.’

“This isn’t like the usual tea, right? Just take a sip.”

Serdis’s subtle urging confirmed my suspicion.

“It’s a rare tea, Lady Anette. Please, just have a sip.”

The Empress chimed in too, wearing a face that suggested she had no idea anything was amiss.

I couldn’t keep my expression neutral as I stared at the tea, but eventually I raised the cup.

“Thank you. I’ll enjoy it.”

As I brought the cup to my lips, I caught Serdis’s expectant gaze.

To meet his expectations, I took a big sip.

“As you said, Your Highness, it smells quite nice.”

He scrutinized my every reaction, clearly hoping something would happen—but my body showed no signs of anything unusual.

“I-Is that so? Then drink lots, Anette.”

“I will. Thank you.”

I emptied the cup with flair.

“That was lovely.”

Serdis’s expression grew complicated upon seeing me perfectly fine. His sharp gaze turned toward a servant.

“Your Highness should have a cup too.”

I calmly offered Serdis a cup.

If he wanted a reaction, he could see for himself.

“Seeing how much you enjoyed it makes me want some too. Bring me a cup.”

The Empress spoke first, asking for tea.

That worked just as well.

Serdis thought the tea was brewed wrong, so he didn’t stop her.

“That smell never gets any easier.”

The Empress sipped the tea without hesitation.

Perhaps the earlier incident had rattled her nerves, because she drank quite a bit.

‘Let’s see what happens now.’

I watched her closely.

The scent alone told me it wasn’t just one or two herbs—it was hard to predict the effects.

At least it wasn’t meant to kill me.

And then—around ten seconds later…

“Huh?”

The Empress groaned.

“My body…”

She twisted in pain and then collapsed to the floor.

“Call the physician! Hurry!”

In an instant, the Empress lost her composure, sweating profusely and curling up on the floor. She clutched her stomach tightly.

“My stomach… it hurts… please…”

Sweat beaded on her forehead, and moans escaped her slightly parted lips. She was clearly in severe pain.

“Mother…?”

Serdis’s face crumpled like paper as he saw her collapse. He rushed over to hold her.

“Mother, breathe deeply.”

When the palace physicians arrived moments later, the Empress seemed calmer in Serdis’s arms.

“Like you said… it hurts a bit less now…”

She clung to Serdis, breathing heavily as if he were her oxygen tank.

That’s when it hit me.

‘He wanted to prove he was necessary to her—because she’s weak.’

I couldn’t even laugh at the absurdity.

I couldn’t question why he did it either.

Instead, I dropped my teacup to the floor. The crashing sound drew everyone’s attention.

“Someone poisoned Her Majesty’s tea!”

✦✦✦

The Empress was taken back to her room for treatment.

Those remaining in the banquet hall couldn’t move.

Because of my declaration about poison.

“The silver cup turned black!”

“You mean it really was poison?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

There was indeed poison in the tea. To be exact, it was a herb that discolored silver—while not lethal, it did cause significant pain. But only Serdis, who laced the tea, knew that. So no one could deny it.

“But Lady Anette drank the same tea and showed no symptoms. And the teacup broke, so we can’t examine it…”

Good thing I broke it on purpose.

If my cup had been tested, it would have turned black too.

“They likely coated the cup with poison. That way, they could serve it only to the intended target.”

“How did you know it was poison?”

The Emperor’s gaze turned to me.

“Right after Her Majesty collapsed, I saw this exact scene unfold before. The entire palace turned upside down searching for the culprit.”

I gave the explanation I had prepared.

“Anette, what do you mean you ‘saw’ this?”

Serdis, unaware of my previous conversation with the Emperor, asked.

“The future.”

“The future…?”

I answered calmly.

“I occasionally see glimpses of the future. His Majesty and the Grand Duke are aware.”

Serdis turned pale. If I said the poison came from the prince’s palace, he would be the prime suspect.

“Her Majesty will recover quickly, without lasting effects.”

“Did you see who did it?”

“Well…”

I trailed off, turning my gaze to Serdis. He avoided my eyes.

“No, I didn’t. But I’m certain the culprit is someone living in the palace.”

I didn’t explicitly name Serdis.

He had targeted me, not with lethal intent—but it was enough of a threat.

That evening, we finally left the palace.

“It was Prince Serdis who laced the tea.”

I grabbed Herthian inside the carriage, fuming.

“Isn’t he the worst? Just to show off that weird ability of his, he tried to drug me!”

Now I understood why Anette dumped Serdis.

He probably wanted to control her using his paralyzing powers.

“I knew something was off. All that fake niceness—congratulations and such—it wasn’t like him at all.”

“…I suspected it. He likely meant for you to drink it.”

Herthian, who had been silent, surprised me with his response.

“How did you know?”

“I saw you sniffing the cup. You have a habit of sniffing herbal tea. I figured something must have been added.”

He said it so casually, like someone who knew me well.

“How do you know that?”

“Ah.”

He rolled his eyes, but I pressed him.

“Then you also knew I wouldn’t be affected?”

“Yes. I did.”

So shameless.

“Did you investigate me?”

“Back at the hospital, I told you I’d help you get better. So I asked your father all about your condition—even the little things.”

Even if he had investigated me, I wouldn’t be upset.

I knew Herthian’s secrets—he had a right to know mine too.

“Sorry. I was being sensitive.”

I apologized quickly, but he shook his head.

Today, his dark eyes looked unusually sorrowful.

“I’m the one who should apologize.”

He spoke in a heavy tone.

“What for, Herthian?”

“For embarrassing myself in front of you.”

Not like Herthian at all—he was blaming himself.

“If that was embarrassing, then my family should hide in shame.”

I continued with a smile.

“Every family has their issues. It’s how you choose to deal with them that matters. No matter what the Emperor or Empress is like, I don’t care—as long as I have you.”

Even with the worst family in the world—if I had Herthian, that was enough.

“You’re incredible, Lady Anette.”

Finally, he smiled a little.

“Right? I think I’m pretty amazing too. I didn’t expect Her Majesty to roll on the floor like that. She got what she deserved for speaking ill of you!”

“If I’m with you, I don’t mind a little scolding.”

“I mind! I don’t want anyone scolding Herthian.”

“It’s just a saying.”

His soft laugh echoed warmly through the carriage.

At the entrance to the mansion, Herthian smiled at Anette, who waved enthusiastically.

Once she disappeared, his expression faded. A knight approached.

“His Majesty has summoned you back to the palace.”

“Let’s go.”

He mounted his horse immediately.

The palace was quiet.

It was bearable when Anette was there—but now, he wanted to leave quickly.

“You said you were late because of something urgent. Was it to rummage through my study?”

The Emperor spoke as soon as Herthian entered.

“It was the most important matter.”

“You and everyone else…”

The Emperor pressed his temples, exasperated.

“If you had just asked, I’d have given it to you. What did you take?”

“I can tell you, but I won’t return it.”

The Emperor let out a dry laugh at his son’s shameless reply.

“What, did you steal a land deed?”

“It’s an old book about the Markaba tree.”

While searching for a cure for Anette, Herthian found an intriguing story about Markaba. Even the smallest chance was worth exploring, so he searched the Emperor’s library.

“Markaba? Are you planning to reenroll in the academy before even graduating from the war?”

“Think of it that way.”

He gave a dismissive answer and turned away.

The Emperor continued, recalling what had happened earlier.

“When you return to the Grand Duchy, it’ll be hell.”

“My life has already been hell.”

“It’ll be worse. Without Calix, that territory is unshielded. Like the Empire now.”

His tone was bitter—but Herthian, who had grown up without the shadow of a father, didn’t care.

“I’m not incompetent like some people. I’ll protect both Anette and the Grand Duchy.”

“Then do it right. Don’t let Serdis pull any more stunts like today.”

Herthian turned to find the Emperor’s cold eyes on him. The Emperor clearly knew the real culprit—and the motive. Yet, as always, he did nothing.

“This little family game ends today. From now on, don’t concern yourself with me. I’ll take care of everything.”