5 It Was Poisoned? (Francis POV)

I managed to return back to the palace before dinner time. I wished Charlize could return back safely, without being noticed by someone from the Ashford family or their supporters. It's quite risky for us to meet often outside like we used to do, but we didn't have any choice. That's why Charlize used a big cloak, hood and covered her face, while Noah was guarding from the outside.

After dinner, I returned back to my room. That day's dinner, as always, was the same as what I ate the day before, without being heated. No one cared about me in this place, everyone here worked for Rosaline. So, if she didn't order them to do something, they wouldn't. Well, only Noah and Charlize who will always be beside me.

"Your highness. Somehow I feel a little bit uneasy about Miss Charlize." Noah stated his mind. "You said that she gave you an antidote after you told her about the cookies given by Lady Olivia. It's weird in my opinion."

I looked at him, confused and surprised. Charlize was the one who helped Noah and introduced him to me. It's quite weird to see him doubting her. "What do you mean? You don't trust Charlize?"

"I don't mean it that way. I wouldn't dare distrust Miss Charlize." Noah made himself clear. "It's just quite weird that she gave you an antidote right after you told her about Lady Olivia's cookies."

Suddenly, I couldn't breathe properly. I felt like there was something blocking my lungs. This definitely is a poison. "Ugh… huft…" I held my chest as I tried to control my breathing.

"Your highness!" Noah panicked. "I will take an antidote-" I grabbed Noah's hand before he went to take an antidote.

"No. Let's have a fight Noah. We haven't done it in a long time." I asked him.

Noah hesitated to give me his answer. "But, your highness. You-"

"Don't worry." I gathered my strength and stood up, ready in the fight position. "I need to practice. No one knows what will happen in the future. Maybe someone will attack me when I'm weak by poison."

Noah kept hesitating. There was no sign that he would attack me, so I started it. I threw a fist to him, but he managed to avoid it. "Your highness, don't force yourself too hard." Noah tried to make me stop.

I smirked and prepared my second attack. "I can still take it." I continuously attacked Noah; I punched him and kicked him. None of my attacks were successful, Moah blocked and avoided them all, without any intention to counter the attack.

"Attack me too, Noah; attack me seriously. This is an order." Noah started to attack me by my order. He still hesitated but had no other choice.

We fought for quite a long time, until at one point, I couldn't stand the poison anymore. "Urff… enough…" I raised my hand, giving a stop sign. "I can't take it anymore."

Panicked, Noah grabbed a bottle of antidote and gave it to me. "This is the last antidote we have aside from the new one." He said. "Now, please take a rest. I will guard the room, so don't worry."

…

Two years ago, when I was thirteen years old, I started to sneak out from the palace. If I stayed at the palace, I definitely won't be able to be the heir to the throne. At worst, I could die by any method; assassin, poison, or many more.

Since I was young, I lost two people who were dear to me. They are my mother who was killed by an assassin and my nanny who was accused and received a death sentence. No one cares about them, there was no formal investigation either.

'I should be the heir to avenge the death of my beloved one. I have to avenge mom and nany. I will make them feel what I felt.' I repeat those words to motivate myself.

At least I need three things to ascend the throne. I need knowledge, swordsmanship skill and support from nobles. As the first prince, I can get the support easily if I have knowledge and swordsmanship skill. Since I couldn't get knowledge and swordsmanship skill inside the palace, I searched for them outside.

At first, I didn't have a place to go. I didn't know who I could ask for help. But I knew that I can find anything from books. So, the first place I visited was a bookstore. At least I could read and learn something that was not taught by my tutor.

There, I picked a book and read it. I had a hard time understanding the book, but I forced myself to read and memorized it.

"You must be a high ranking noble. You read such a hard book." A girl suddenly approached me. She wore a big cloak and hood, also covering her lower face. Until now, all I know about her is, she is a girl with green eyes and her name is Charlize.

From Charlize I learned a lot of things. Meeting her became the reason why I ditched my class. I never mind if I have to be scolded and whipped by the empress many times because of it.

By time, we get to know more about each other. Charlize works for the Ashford family as assistant at their secret poison laboratory. She hates that family and she wishes that family can be ruined one day.

She saw me as a perfect person who can make her wish come true, so we made a deal. Charlize will help me to be the heir. She will teach me and provide antidotes to save me from poisson's effect. In return, I have to ascend the throne no matter what.

A year after that, Charlize introduced Noah to me. Noah was an abandoned child that was helped by Charlize. He has a great swordsmanship skill, so Charlize asked him to teach me. Noah ended up becoming my loyal knight.