Dead-End Villainess Who Makes Medicine - Chapter 03

 

 

“Everyone, step back!”

 

Everyone turned in my direction, eyes wide open with confusion.

 

Hemion’s body, now completely unconscious, slumped even further.

 

Perhaps they could sense that Hemion was in a bad state just by looking at her, as onlookers started murmuring and tried to get closer to see.

 

There was no time to explain and persuade them one by one. I pointed to a nearby guard and ordered.

 

“Guards, clear the people now!”

 

The guards panicked, but pushed back the crowd.

 

The first thing I did was pull out my poison neutralizer.

 

It wasn’t an antidote to this particular poison, but it was enough to neutralize most of it.

 

I needed to use it to buy time until I could make the antidote.

 

As the clear liquid was poured onto Hemion’s wound, the veins that seemed to explode calmed down a bit.

 

But if left untreated, it would soon return.

 

Moreover, the veins that were still erupting all over her body remained unchanged.

 

I next picked up a thick needle.

 

It was a hollow, tubular needle.

 

Immediately, Hemion began to have seizures as I clumsily injected a neutralizer to counteract the reaction.

 

“I can’t stick it like this…….”

 

I held the needle in one hand and tried to hold her down with the other, but it wasn’t working.

 

Zenid tried to calm Hemion down by the side, but it was not enough.

 

At that moment I looked up to ask someone for help.

 

“What’s the matter?”

 

Julion had approached without me noticing.

 

“She was poisoned, and if we don’t do something about it now, it’s going to spread.”

 

Julion looked at the Hemion who had collapsed and me with the needle with a puzzled expression.

 

“I will call a physician. What can you do…”

 

“We don’t have time to wait for a physician. I can do it.”

 

I said urgently, interrupting Julion.

 

“So help me.”

 

I sent a desperate gaze, asking him to hold Hemion.

 

Julion pondered for a moment with a serious face, then sat down in front of me and extended his hand.

 

“Are you sure?”

 

Julion’s hand gently pressed against Hemion’s shoulder.

 

I answered without hesitation.

 

“Of course. I’ve done it hundreds of times.”

 

With Hemion’s movements restrained by Julion, I inserted the needle into the area where the poison was concentrated.

 

First, just below the collarbone.

 

Dead blood oozed from the sunken needle.

 

The pure white dress was stained with dark red blood, but I was not in a situation to care about that.

 

“Zenid, neutralizer.”

 

Zenid, standing by, placed a clear vial of potion in my hand.

 

I poured the neutralizer into the needle.

 

Next, below the belly button.

 

Above both hips, to the side of the knee.

 

After pouring neutralizer into all the important points, the veins that were rising above Hemion’s skin began to gradually subside.

 

“Whoo….”

 

That bought us some time.

 

Now I had to make a proper antidote.

 

I quickly picked up a pen and scribbled the names of herbs on a piece of paper.

 

I handed the list to Zenid. She quickly memorized it and slipped away through the crowd.

 

Looking at Hemion, who was hanging limply, Julion asked.

 

“Is it over?”

 

“We’ve put out the immediate fire, but without the antidote, it’ll come back soon enough.”

 

“I’ve heard that the antidote to toxic poisoning is not readily available.”

 

Worry crossed Julion’s face.

 

His golden eyes held Hemion’s.

 

A gaze of sympathy. Briefly looking into his sorrowful golden eyes, I smiled and reassured him.

 

“It’s all right. I can do it.”

 

Julion’s eyes widened a little, and he pursed his lips as if he had a lot to say, but then he said what was most important right now.

 

“Okay. I’ll hear about that later, but first, what are we going to do about our wedding?”

 

Julion’s gaze drifted to my dress, which was stained red.

 

Well, it’s probably impossible to march and hold a ceremony like this, right?

 

The sun had already risen to the middle of the sky.

 

I smiled awkwardly and said,

 

“Wouldn’t it be quite romantic to have a wedding while watching the sunset?”

 

I hurriedly concocted an antidote from the medicinal ingredients Zenid had brought with her, and by the time a new outfit was prepared, the sun would be setting. Julion, who understood me at once, nodded as if he could not help it.

 

“Very well. I’ll take care of the rest.”

 

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

 

While the new dress was being prepared, I stayed at the crown prince’s palace and made the antidote.

 

Fortunately, Hemion was slowly regaining her complexion as the antidote was administered.

 

She would need a little more time to wake up, of course, but at least she seemed to be over the dangerous hump.

 

“Miss, I have a new dress for you, though it’s a bit of a disappointment…….”

 

The dress Zenid brought was more modest than the one I originally wore.

 

“That’s all right. How about His Highness?”

 

“He’s dealing with nobles.”

 

In the central garden of the Imperial Palace, many nobles had gathered to watch the ceremony.

 

The ceremony had been pushed back by half a day, and some of the snootier nobles were openly displeased.

 

Fortunately, Julion seemed to be handling them well.

 

I changed quickly with the help of Zenid.

 

I was almost finished when there was a knock on the door.

 

“It’s me.”

 

It was Julion’s voice.

 

Zenid opened the door, and Julion entered cautiously, inspecting Hemion and my appearance.

 

“Are you ready? I don’t think we can stall any longer.”

 

“Yes, almost. What did the nobles say?”

 

“As expected, they’re busy talking about this interesting situation that will go down in history.”

 

Julion continued, holding out his hand to me.

 

“I, too, have a mountain of questions I wish to ask you, but……. For now, let’s get to the ceremony, Rohiriel.”

 

As I took his hand, I glanced back at Hemion.

 

If you leave it as it is and get attacked again, all our efforts so far will be wasted.

 

Sensing my concern, Julion smirked.

 

“I’ll send my men to guard this place.”

 

If so, that’s a relief.

 

Surely there won’t be any more trouble at the crown prince’s palace, especially on the day of such a big event.

 

I gingerly placed my hand over Julion’s.

 

When we leave this place, all eyes will be on us.

 

We’ve been rumored to have the romance of the century, and we need to keep it that way.

 

Julion must have felt the same way, because his demeanor toward me has changed considerably since our first meeting.

 

“Let’s go, then, Julion.”

 

May our marriage, which has been eventful from the start, bring us both positive results.

 

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

 

The wedding ceremony was kept as brief as possible, and then it was over.

 

The sun was setting, so Julion stripped it down to the bare minimum.

 

I had no complaints, as I didn’t attach much importance to the ceremony myself.

 

Perhaps if the Emperor hadn’t been in such a state of unrest, and if the Empress wasn’t preoccupied with tending to the Emperor’s needs, it might have been impossible.

 

“Your Highness, it’s done.”

 

I caught my reflection in the mirror as I changed into my evening dress.

 

Zenid had finished my hair and put on an ornament.

 

The aquamarine ornaments hanging from my snowy white hair shimmered brilliantly.

 

It was my mother’s favorite gemstone because it matched the color of my hair and eyes.

 

Even though my hair had turned white now.

 

“Did His Highness go first?”

 

“Yes. He said he had something else to attend to.”

 

“I see.”

 

Still, it would be better if we went in together.

 

With these thoughts in mind, I quickened my pace toward the reception hall.

 

Normally, the couple getting married had to enter through a different entrance, not the main doors.

 

Since I didn’t have an assigned lady-in-waiting yet, it was just Zenid and me walking along the corridor behind the reception hall.

 

“Rotty.”

 

The familiar but creepy voice stopped me in my tracks.

 

Reflectively, my body stiffened.

 

A pair of silver eyes that resembled my father stared down at me.

 

“My sister, you look very pretty today.”

 

It felt as if darkness had descended only from where he was.

 

His words were sweet, but to me they were more aggressive than anything he had ever said.

 

Clutching the hem of my skirt, I called his name with a squeeze.

 

“Roxis.”

 

The eldest son of Duke Cassian and the presumptive next Duke. The one who was deeply involved in my mother’s death.

 

And,

 

“You should call me brother, Rotty.”

 

My damn half-brother.

 

At the sound of his sneer, I snapped back sharply.

 

“I don’t have time for you. Get out of my way.”

 

But he laughed silently, his silver eyes shining.

 

“No, Rotty. You’ll have to make time for me.”

 

And he took a brisk step toward me.

 

I wanted to back away, but I held my ground and glared at him as he stepped closer.

 

“Roxis. Have you forgotten where you are? This is the Imperial Palace, and I am the Crown Princess as of today.”

 

“Doing cute rebellions in my absence, huh?”

 

Roxis’ smile deepened.

 

He had been out for some time under our father’s orders, so I hadn’t seen him for long.

 

Whatever he’d been doing, he reeked of blood.

 

I said without concealing a frown.

 

“Watch your mouth. Unless you want to be beheaded for insulting the royal family.”

 

It was right after I had finished speaking.

 

Roxis reached out and gripped my shoulder, then forcefully pushed me against the wall.

 

“……!”

 

The shock hit me all over, but fortunately or unfortunately I didn’t take any stimulants today.

 

In other words, I barely felt the pain.

 

Sensing the gravity of the situation, Zenid turned to call for help.

 

“There, lady. You’d better stop unless you want to die.”

 

She was stopped by Roxis.

 

My pale face was reflected in his silver eyes.

 

It was an intense confrontation.

 

Roxis leaned his face closer to mine and ran his free hand through my hair.

 

“Let’s not embarrass ourselves on this good day.”

 

“Isn’t it you who’s embarrassing?”

 

“Rotty, you know what I want? That damn Hemion Martin. That woman.”

 

I understood everything the moment Hemion’s name came out of his mouth.

 

Roxis must have been the one who took care of Viscount Martin.

 

He must have gone insane, seeing me rescue Hemion and bring her here. Hiding in the middle of an empty corridor, lying in wait.

 

“You’re a Cassian, after all. Act like one and cooperate obediently. This is what father has ordered.”

 

Despite the seriousness of the situation, I laughed.

 

Since when did he treat me like a Cassian?

 

“You know one thing and not the other. Cassian stepped on the stage in front of the people. Father would probably praise me for healing her in public.”

 

“You…!”

 

Unable to deny my words, Roxis’ grip tightened.

 

A sensation ran up my shoulders that felt like they were about to burst.

 

Even though I’m supposed to be numb, it hurts at this point.

 

But I smirked.

 

“So, Roxis. I cleaned up the mess you left behind. Shouldn’t you at least thank me?”

 

I could hear the grinding of his teeth.

 

At the same time, Roxis’ other hand was about to grab my throat.

 

From the side, a voice I’d grown accustomed to hearing so often rang in my eardrums.

 

“Lord Roxis Cassian. What do you think you’re doing to my lady?”