A Bloody Good Morning
Another blissful morning. I spend the entire day looking forward to this very moment. The reason? The liquid filling the small chalice before me. Just gazing upon this magical elixir, which makes me feel as though I’ve ascended to a superhuman state, fills me with pure joy.
“My dear son-in-law... are you truly alright?” my mother-in-law asks, her voice trembling as she looks between Theodora and me with deep concern.
Paying her no mind, I offer a bright smile. I gaze lovingly at the Unicorn's Horn dissolved in Dragon Heart before draining the cup in a single, swift gulp. *Clack!*
“I am perfectly fine, Mother. Please, do not worry.” Having downed this concoction sixteen times now, I’ve finally grown accustomed to its bizarre, distinct flavor.
“Still... no matter how effective it is, drinking it every single day like that...” My mother-in-law sighs, glancing at Theodora and me once more before muttering, “Do as you wish...”
“Sister...” Joy and her mother look at Theodora with pity, but she merely shrugs and continues eating her meal.
Heh... to think I can stay awake for ten days straight. This is absolute bliss. Like an addict hooked on a miracle drug, I am profoundly grateful for such an effective remedy. *Tap, tap!* I tap the bottom of the chalice against my palm, tilting it back repeatedly to ensure not a single drop goes to waste.
“Good heavens, honestly...” Theodora sighs, shaking her head. I only smile back. Ah, the Unicorn's Horn is truly the best. Once breakfast is over, I head toward the Grand Ducal Department with Theodora.
“Do you... do you really not know why Mother is giving you that?” she asks, her crimson eyes glaring at me. I shrug.
“Of course I do. But you don't love me, do you?” At my words, the fire in her glare instantly freezes over. If burning ice existed, it would look exactly like this. Her crimson eyes, cold yet blazing, pierce right through me.
“Ahem... regardless, not needing sleep is a true blessing.” Reflecting on everything I've accomplished during the late-night hours recently, I can't help but feel proud of myself.
“Oh! You’re bleeding!” Theodora gasps, her face turning pale. Huh? Bleeding? Where? Just then, I feel a warm trickle of liquid pooling near my upper lip.
“Huh?” I quickly wipe it with the back of my hand. A bright red smear stains my skin. “A nosebleed?” While I stand there dazed like an idiot, Theodora cries out in a panic, “Is anyone there?!”
At her sharp, high-pitched command, a nearby door flies open, and an unfamiliar maid scurries out. “Y-yes, Your Majesty?”
“The Grand Duke is bleeding! Fetch a physician immediately, and bring something to stop the bleeding! Hurry!” Clutching her apron with both hands, the maid bolts down the corridor.
“Are you alright?” Filled with worry, she reaches out to cup my face, using her pristine white sleeve to dab away the blood.
“See? I told you! You keep drinking that stuff, and now your body is breaking down!” She scolds me, her brow furrowed in deep concern. She is so beautiful. Exquisitely beautiful. Even when she frowns, she is a vision.
“Are you listening to me?” Perhaps because I’ve gone quiet, she gently cradles my cheeks, forcing me to meet her eyes. I quickly stammer, “Uh... yeah, I’m fine.” Gently pulling back, I wipe the remaining blood with the back of my hand and pinch the bridge of my nose. “I’b fine.” My voice sounds a bit nasal because I’m pinching my nose, but this is the most practical first aid. I resume walking toward the Grand Ducal Department.
“Where are you going? The physician will be here any second,” she calls out anxiously.
“Let it be,” I mumble, my voice heavily stuffed. “It’b not like thib is the firbt tibe I’ve had a nobbleed.” Besides, we are already almost there. I pass the guards, who bow deeply in greeting, and step inside the Grand Ducal Department.
“Honestly, you are unbelievable...” Following close on my heels, Theodora spots Lucius passing by. “Lucius! Summon the imperial physician immediately.” Lucius blinks, looking at me.
“Pardon? Has someone been injured? And... Your Grace, why are you holding your nose?”
“Nosebleed.” At my blunt reply, Lucius looks blankly at Theodora. “Surely... you aren’t telling me to summon the imperial physician over a mere nosebleed...?”
Summoning a doctor over a simple nosebleed. Even I find it absurd, but Theodora barks at Lucius as if it’s the most natural thing in the world. “Did I not tell you to fetch the physician immediately?!” Overwhelmed by her imperial authority, Lucius quickly makes himself scarce.
“Sigh...” A short while later, the physician arrives, applies a quick styptic, and says, “There doesn’t seem to be any serious issue, but it would be wise to exercise caution.”
“See? I told you there was nothing to worry about.” I offer her a reassuring smile, but Theodora’s expression remains tense.
“You! Seriously, Unicorn’s Horn is banned from now on. Who in their right mind uses that as an aid to pull all-nighters for work?! And! How can the Grand Duke, the man ruling the Empire, neglect his own health and overwork himself like this?” Theodora’s nagging shows no signs of stopping.
“Are you even listening to me?!” Seeing the physician standing awkwardly between us with an embarrassed smile, I intervene. “You may excuse yourself.”
“Yes, Your Grace.” Packing his tools and the blood-stained cotton, the physician hastily retreats.
“Alright, I understand. I won’t do it again.” I had thought the Unicorn’s Horn simply eliminated all fatigue, but it seems there are side effects. I decide it’s best to cut back from now on.
“Haa...” She sighs, shaking her head at my response. *Knock, knock!*
“Who is it?!” she snaps, her voice sharp. Seeing how irritable she is, I make a mental note: Do not cross Theodora today.
“It is Agrippa, Your Grace,” comes the voice from behind the door.
“Ah! Come in.” Perfect timing. I have an important meeting scheduled with Agrippa today anyway.
Creak. The door opens, and the blonde man steps inside. “I was concerned when I heard you had suddenly fallen ill.”
I wave my hand dismissively. “It’s nothing. Just a minor nosebleed.” I shoot a glance at Theodora, prompting her to speak up with a pout.
“Fine, I’m leaving. I’ll get out of your way. Just don’t overdo it, alright?!” She glares at me fiercely before slamming the door shut behind her. *Bam!*
“Her Majesty seems to have changed quite a bit,” Agrippa remarks.
I let out a dry chuckle. Has she really? Agrippa can be surprisingly naive about these things. She is undoubtedly putting on an act, hoping I’ll let my guard down and open up to her.
“Well, putting that aside, I called you here to discuss Yohanes’s next moves.”
Agrippa strokes his chin thoughtfully. “He must be feeling quite anxious by now.” I nod in agreement.
“Exactly. Yohanes is bound to be anxious. And that anxiety will likely drive him to make a reckless move.” He has no choice but to feel threatened by how quickly I suppressed the opposition. He probably expected me to get bogged down trying to consolidate the rival factions, giving him ample time to fully secure Epirus and Egypt before a civil war broke out with the Emperor Faction. Even if I managed to end the conflict quickly, he likely assumed I wouldn’t dare strike him while dealing with the aftermath of war. Having set his board with those assumptions, Yohanes must be thoroughly rattled right now.
“I believe Yohanes has two main options.” I hold up a single finger. “First, he could hand over Epirus and Egypt to the Emperor Faction to maintain the status quo. If he were a man of modest ambitions, he might choose this path—but we both know he isn’t.” Agrippa nods, clearly sharing my assessment. Relinquishing his grand designs would buy Yohanes a quiet, stable life. However, even if he meekly surrendered Epirus and Egypt, the nobles of the Emperor Faction would feel utterly betrayed. In other words, he would lose his position as their leader.
“Second, he could take action to deal a devastating blow to me.” The only reason I can rule the Empire right now is because I am the husband of Empress Theodora, and I hold the sole military force within the capital of Roman. In short, my authority rests entirely on the Empress and the army. Consequently, my regime has a glaring vulnerability: without Theodora, I instantly become a traitor. But the clever Agrippa anticipates my thoughts.
“To achieve that, he will likely attempt to kidnap Princess Joy or assassinate the Empress. He might even target both simultaneously.” I nod.
“Precisely. That’s why I’ve split Mary’s handmaidens into pairs to guard them whenever they step outside the Gold Area.”
Agrippa nods approvingly. “A wise decision. They are exceptionally skilled at protecting high-profile targets from assassination.” He pauses, then asks, “That should be more than enough security. What is the issue that prompted you to call me?”
“Well, Theodora and Joy rarely leave the Imperial Palace, so they are safe for now. The assassins won’t make a reckless move either; they’ll bide their time, waiting for the perfect opening. That’s what concerns me.”
“That is only natural. But what do you propose we do? Rooting out hidden assassins is no easy task.” I nod. “I agree.”
There are only two entrances to the Gold Area, both heavily guarded. Even if they attempted a surprise raid, the soldiers stationed nearby would swarm them in an instant, easily neutralizing mere assassins. Thus, they cannot act rashly. Yet, we aren’t in an entirely advantageous position either. The assassins are undoubtedly disguised as palace staff. In a place like the Imperial Palace, where new servants are hired and others quit daily, identifying them is practically impossible.
“Under these circumstances, how will the assassins make their move?” Honestly, I have no idea. If I were in their shoes, I would have abandoned the mission. The success rate is abysmally low, and even if they succeed, death is virtually guaranteed. Agrippa speaks up, his tone laced with concern. “They won’t give up easily.”
“I think so too. My plan is to wipe them out in one fell swoop the moment they overplay their hand.”
Agrippa nods. “That would indeed be the ideal outcome.” Instead of replying, I simply stare at him. Noticing my silence, Agrippa stops nodding and looks at me warily. “Why are you looking at me like that?”
I offer him a bright smile. “Because I want you to draw up that plan.”
Agrippa’s face contorts, and his lips part slightly. “Sh...”
Did I just hear him start to mutter a curse? Surely, it must be my imagination.