TGW Chapter 34 Part 3

 

Patricia frowned as she received the news from a maid during her midday rest.

“All day yesterday and still now?”

“Yes, Red King.”

The Silver King had suddenly secluded herself. Since yesterday morning, she hadn’t taken a single step outside the palace.

Patricia occasionally took a day or two of rest, secluded from everyone, and even the Emperor sometimes cleared his schedule to rest. But when it came to the Silver King, such behavior was never ordinary.

People who didn’t know better wondered what the Silver King could possibly do when she wasn’t seen in social circles. However, Patricia knew that no one was as busy as her daughter. She had never seen the Silver King idle. Even as her mother, there were times when she was astonished by Sienna's tireless work ethic.

“What about her audiences? I heard the Silver King has recently increased her time devoted to official audiences.”

“I checked with those who had scheduled audiences, and they received notices that the meetings were postponed indefinitely.”

"Hmm..."

‘She’s become more and more of a mystery…’ Patricia thought.

She couldn't pinpoint when, but she had gradually lost sight of what Sienna was thinking. Recently, Patricia had been desperately trying to gather information about what was happening in the Rimone Duchy, but even sending people there yielded only vague or evasive responses. She couldn’t tell if they genuinely didn’t know or if there was a strict gag order in place.

In the past, Patricia had been able to freely use the resources of the duchy—whether information or wealth—without much restraint. Technically, it wasn’t allowed, but her father, the previous duke, had always turned a blind eye to her overreach.

However, things had changed after her brother, Doug, became the Duke. The difference between being the duke’s daughter and the duke’s sister was significant. Patricia suspected that a state of emergency had been declared in the Rimone Duchy, and now, she had no influence there. Most frustratingly, her once-reliable sources of information had dried up.

She had first learned about the troubles in Rimone from a report Marquis Rad sent to the Silver King, a report she had secretly read. As much as she disliked Marquis Rad, she missed his presence now that he had left the capital—he had been a useful source of information.

“Verify that the Silver King is still inside the palace.”

“Yes, Red King.”

Patricia was suspicious. There had been instances when Sienna disappeared without notice, so she couldn't rule out the possibility this time either.

‘I should send someone trustworthy to speak directly with my brother at the duchy. But who?’ Patricia's thoughts were consumed by the situation in Rimone. Her success had been built on the support of the Rimone family, and it was crucial that they remain stable—at least until the Silver King ascended the throne.

That night, Patricia tossed and turned, unable to sleep. Early the next morning, news from the Silver King’s palace arrived, causing her to rush over in a panic. She barely managed to hold on to her dignity as she hurriedly jumped out of the carriage, gripping her skirts with both hands as she ran.

Upon entering the bedroom, she rushed to Sienna’s bedside. Her daughter lay pale and motionless, her eyes closed. Patricia, gazing down at Sienna, looked more like the one who was gravely ill—her face had lost all its color.

“The maid came to assist Her Majesty with her morning routine but found that she had not yet stirred, so she stepped out,” Beth explained. “When she returned a short while later, Her Majesty was still in bed.”

The maid, knowing the Silver King’s daily habits well, sensed that something was amiss. She approached carefully and called out several times, but when there was no response, she realized the seriousness of the situation and urgently fetched Beth, who in turn summoned the royal physician and notified the Red King’s palace.

As Patricia listened to Beth's explanation, she took in the scene around her. She now noticed what she had missed earlier: the Countess of Pope, the maids, and the royal physician. Turning to the physician, Patricia asked, “What is wrong with Her Majesty?”

“Her Majesty has a high fever and is unconscious,” the physician replied.

Patricia touched Sienna’s forehead and immediately recoiled in shock. It was burning hot, just as the physician had said.

“Why are you standing idle? Shouldn’t you be doing something?”

“We were concerned that attempting to lower the fever by force might worsen her condition, so we are carefully examining the cause. Fortunately, there are no signs of an infectious disease. As of now, it seems to be just a high fever, and if the fever subsides, Her Majesty should regain consciousness.”

Leaving the care of Sienna in the hands of the physician and maids, Patricia motioned for Beth to follow her into the adjacent reception room.

“What’s going on? How did this happen?”

“Until the maid discovered Her Majesty this morning, everything seemed fine. I even saw her last night when she was going to bed, and she seemed well.”

“And the day before? I heard she hadn’t left the palace for two days.”

“She seemed to be deep in thought, staying in her chambers all day.”

“Do you know why?”

“I asked her gently, but Her Majesty is the type to ponder things alone until she finds her own answers.”

Patricia nodded, understanding.

“She ate all the meals I brought her, so I never imagined her health could suddenly deteriorate….”

Beth let out a heavy sigh. “I apologize. I failed to take proper care of Her Majesty.”

“It’s not because of any lack of care on your part.”

Beth braced herself for a scolding, ready to accept any criticism from the Red King. To her surprise, Patricia’s response was unexpectedly forgiving.

Seeing Beth’s surprised expression, Patricia scoffed softly.

“Even if I don’t particularly like you, I know that you are devoted to my daughter. If you weren’t, I would have dismissed you long ago.”

Beth lowered her gaze. The biting comment didn’t bother her. Regardless of Patricia’s flaws, she was a mother who loved her child. Her ambitions and methods might be flawed, but that much was true.

“You’ve looked after the Silver King since she was a child. Have you ever hidden any illnesses from me? Even if it was just a mild fever?”

“No, Your Majesty. Her Majesty has always been very healthy. She’s never been seriously hurt, not even scraped knees. Even when she first started walking, she was careful and steady.”

“Right. I remember. She’s always been so proud. She wouldn’t even babble in front of others until she could speak clearly.”

“Yes, I Rekall how worried you were at the time, thinking she might never speak.”

“That’s right, I was.”

As they reminisced, they exchanged compliments about Sienna like two prickly hedgehogs trying to outdo each other. “My child is extraordinary.” “Oh yes, remember when…?” The back-and-forth continued, and then, all of a sudden, they fell silent. They had always found each other difficult, and it was the first time they had shared such a pleasant conversation. The sudden awkwardness made them both pause.

Patricia cleared her throat. “For someone who has never been ill, to suddenly fall sick like this—it’s no wonder I was shocked.”

She remained quiet for a moment before adding, “You did well to inform me right away.”

“…She will be all right. Her Majesty will recover soon, as if nothing happened.”

"Yes, she must," Patricia murmured.

The usual tension between them seemed to ease ever so slightly.

“I wonder if the fever has gone down yet,” Patricia said as she reentered the bedroom. Beth followed closely behind, pushing her mobility chair.

The maids were working under the physician’s instructions to lower the Silver King’s fever. All the blankets had been removed, and a cold cloth was placed on Sienna’s forehead, while her arms and legs were wiped down with lukewarm towels.

The physician turned to Patricia. “Once Her Majesty regains consciousness, we can administer further treatment. When the fever drops, she should wake up.”

Patricia nodded and moved closer to the bed.

“Give that to me,” she instructed.

One of the maids stepped aside, handing Patricia the cloth. Sitting on the edge of the bed, Patricia gently wiped down Sienna’s arms. As the heat warmed the cloth, Patricia passed it to the maid, who quickly replaced it with a fresh one.

Time passed, but Sienna’s fever remained high, and she showed no signs of waking. The physician explained that the fever was severe and would take time to subside.

Patricia gazed at her daughter, her face full of worry, then stood up.

“You’ll stay by her side, won’t you?”

Beth answered, “Yes.”

“The Silver King feels more at ease with you than with me. It’s probably better if I’m not here.”

“I won’t take my eyes off her for a moment.”

“Good. Inform me immediately of any change.”

“Yes, Red King.”

Beth watched silently as Patricia left the room. She had always thought of the Red King as a cold and heartless figure, but today, she seemed more human.

---

Sienna’s fever did not break. Another day passed.

The next morning, Patricia returned to the Silver King’s palace as soon as dawn broke. She had sent people to check on Sienna’s condition frequently, but since there was no improvement, she came in person.

“I heard she regained consciousness briefly yesterday and was able to take her medicine. Why hasn’t the fever gone down yet?” Patricia asked the physician sharply.

“It appears the medicine is not working as expected,” the physician replied.

“What do you mean?”

“As you are aware, the royal family has an unusual resistance to poisons. It seems that this resistance is also affecting the efficacy of the medicine.”

“You’re only figuring that out now, as a royal physician?!” Patricia’s voice wasn’t loud, but it carried a threatening edge.

The physician quickly bowed his head, desperate to explain himself. “I apologize, Your Majesty, but we rarely have the opportunity to treat members of the royal family.”

Patricia stared at the physician in silence. His excuse wasn’t entirely unreasonable.

The royal family was indeed known for its extraordinary health. They were so robust that even as children, they rarely caught colds. Because they seldom fell ill, there was little need for medical treatment or experimentation with medicines.

But it wasn’t as if the royal physicians could test different medicines on the royal family just to be prepared. No one would dare risk their lives on such experiments.

The palace physicians primarily existed to care for the spouses of royals, like the Red King or the Iron Queen, and only occasionally treated the royal family for external injuries sustained during hunting or horseback riding.

“What’s the plan, then?”

“Pardon?”

“If the medicine isn’t working, you need to come up with another solution. What do you think your head is for if not to think?”

“We are considering other medicinal herbs.”

“What herbs?”

“We are looking for herbs with strong cooling properties, even those with toxic elements, as they might have an effect on Her Majesty’s fever.”

“Toxins? Isn’t that too extreme, even for a royal?”

“If the fever doesn’t break soon, Her Majesty will be in even greater danger.”

Patricia understood the implications. She had enough knowledge of medicine to grasp the seriousness of the situation. Prolonged high fever could lead to permanent damage—hearing and vision loss, or worse, cognitive decline.

“It sounds reasonable. What herbs do you plan to use?”

The physician hesitantly listed a few herbs with cooling properties that could counteract the fever.

Patricia nodded. “Go ahead and try it.”

"Yes, Red King," Ben responded, relieved to have the Red King's approval. However, Patricia's mind was already elsewhere.

'Too mild,' she thought, as she considered the herbs the physician had suggested. The remedies were too safe. The physician was clearly too cautious, unwilling to take any risks that could backfire and cause harm—knowing full well the consequences if something went wrong.

'I need something much stronger, a herb that cools the body significantly.'

She knew exactly where to find such a herb. There was a particular one in the royal greenhouse.

'The fever must break. It's already been two days,' Patricia thought, a wave of dread washing over her as she imagined Sienna losing her sight or hearing because of the fever’s lingering effects.

Quietly, Patricia summoned Ben and led him to the greenhouse, avoiding prying eyes.

'So this is the greenhouse,' Ben thought as he followed Patricia inside, his eyes darting around, trying to memorize as many details as possible. He knew that this was no ordinary errand.

Ben had been entrusted with a special task by the Silver King herself. He Rekalled Sienna’s words to him vividly:

---

“Keep an eye on the Red King’s greenhouse, Ben. She’s been known to have strange herbs and concoctions. If you ever get the chance, study what she has there. Report everything to me, but make sure she never finds out I’m interested in her greenhouse. It must remain a secret.”

---

Ben had been deeply motivated by Sienna’s encouragement. He had been wracking his brain over how to casually bring up the greenhouse to Patricia without raising her suspicions. The Red King was known to be sharp and distrustful. If she sensed anything unusual, the whole plan would be over. But now, the opportunity had presented itself without him needing to force it.

Patricia led the way deeper into the greenhouse. It was sectioned off by translucent glass walls, with iron-barred doors separating each area. They passed through each section, opening the locked doors one by one. Though Ben could see through the iron bars into the next section, the pathway always took a turn, meaning he couldn’t see the entire layout at once. Each new room revealed another door, leading deeper into the labyrinth of the greenhouse.

Finally, Patricia slowed her pace, signaling that they had reached their destination.

'There’s another door here,' Ben noted, counting. They had passed through nine doors already.

“You know the Silver King’s condition is serious, don’t you?” Patricia asked, her voice low and controlled.

“Yes,” Ben replied, his concern genuine. He wasn’t faking his worry—he truly cared for Sienna’s well-being.

“That one,” Patricia said, pointing to a plant with long, slender leaves.

“Pull it out.”

“What?” Ben asked, taken aback.

“Don’t let too many people handle it, or the roots will dry out, and its potency will be lost. And don’t let it touch any metal. Use your hands to dig up the soil.”

Ben hesitated only briefly before crouching down and carefully using his hands to dig around the plant. He uncovered most of the roots before pulling the herb from the earth.

“You’ll take it outside the palace and then return with it. If the gate inspectors ask, tell them it’s for the Silver King.”

Patricia’s instructions were precise. The herb, if categorized strictly, could be considered a poisonous plant. By having Ben exit the palace and re-enter with it, she was creating a paper trail that would make it look as if the herb had been brought in from the outside.

“When I’m present, show the herb to the physician and tell him it’s a potent remedy for the Silver King’s fever. I’ll handle the rest.”

On the third day, the physician’s prescribed medicines had still not worked. Sienna's fever refused to break.

Patricia had spent the entire night by Sienna’s bedside, watching over her daughter.

'You've caused your mother so much grief, and now you're sick? If only you'd upset me with something else,' Patricia thought, bitterness swirling within her. Sienna had always been perfect, always strong. But now, lying helplessly in bed, she looked fragile, like she could break at any moment. Patricia had never felt such pity for her daughter, not even when she was a newborn.

As she wiped the sweat from Sienna’s brow, a wave of emotion welled up in Patricia’s chest. She was startled by the depth of her maternal feelings, unsure if she had ever felt such tenderness before.

Ben entered the room that morning, his face set with determination.

“I’ve acquired a rare herb from a personal contact. It will surely bring down Her Majesty’s fever,” Ben announced.

The physician immediately protested.

“I’ve never seen such a herb before. Do you even know what it is that you’re giving to the Silver King?”

Patricia, with one commanding statement, settled the matter.

“There are no other options, are there? I will take full responsibility. Prepare the herb and give it to the Silver King.”

Administering the herb to the unconscious Sienna was a delicate process. A maid propped Sienna up while Patricia fed her the medicine, spoonful by spoonful, ensuring that it didn’t go down the wrong way and choke her. They nearly poured it into her mouth to avoid it entering her windpipe.

Then, they waited anxiously.

Two hours later, the physician's face lit up in what seemed like triumph.

“The fever has broken.”

Both Patricia and Beth exhaled deeply in relief, almost at the same time.

“Everyone leave. I will watch over the Silver King. If anything is needed, I’ll call for you,” Patricia ordered.

When the room cleared, Patricia stayed behind, wiping Sienna’s parched lips with a warm cloth. Suddenly, Sienna’s eyelashes fluttered. Patricia stiffened.

“Silver King? Are you awake?”

Sienna’s eyes fluttered a few more times before she slowly opened them.

“Silver King.”

Sienna turned her gaze toward the voice.

“It’s your mother. Do you recognize me? Can you hear me?”

“Mother….”

“Oh, thank the heavens. It’s all right now,” Patricia said, her relief palpable.

But Sienna’s response was unexpected. Her voice, hoarse and strained, sounded more like a pained groan.

“Why did you do it?” she asked.

Patricia froze. “What?”

“Why… did you have to do it?” Sienna whispered.

“Silver King…”

“I hate you, Mother.”

Tears welled up in Sienna’s eyes and began to spill down her cheeks.

“I resent you… You and I… We’re tied by a cursed fate.”

Sienna’s eyes closed once more, and soon her breathing steadied, signaling that she had fallen back into a deep sleep.

Patricia stood frozen, unable to move. Her brow furrowed, muscles tensing and relaxing as conflicting emotions passed over her face. Her eyes, fixed on her daughter, trembled with turmoil.

Meanwhile, in the reception room, Beth paced nervously in her mobility chair, itching to check on Sienna’s condition. She knew she couldn’t interrupt. It was rare for Patricia and Sienna to have such a private moment, and she didn’t want to provoke the Red King by intruding. Especially now, when things seemed to be improving between them.

When the bedroom door opened, Beth quickly turned her head. Patricia emerged.

“Red King,” Beth said, immediately noticing the strange expression on Patricia’s face.

“Are you all right? Did something happen to the Silver King?”

“Hm? No, she woke up briefly, and we spoke. The fever has gone down further. You may go in.”

“Yes, Red King.”

Beth turned her wheelchair and watched as the door behind Patricia closed. Something about Patricia’s expression had seemed off, but Beth quickly pushed the thought aside, her mind focused entirely on seeing Sienna.

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