Tale Two: An Attempt
As Alpheus was standing next to the physician, he felt a hand rested on his shoulder. He did not dare see who it was as he was focused on what the physician was doing to his sister.
Seeing her son's tired face, Duchess Euriana gently patted her son's shoulder. "Alpheus, you should retire to the spare chamber. I wi—"
Alpheus shakes his head. I will not leave her side, Mother." Alpheus insisted and Duchess Euraina didn't bother the young prince anymore.
She backed away when the physician stood up.
Doctor William glanced at the Duke and Duchess' direction before he turned to face Alpheus whose face was beaming with anticipation.
"I have thoroughly examined the young miss and I'd like to inform you that she had been poisoned. Have you had any idea how she was able to contact such poison?"
"Poisoned you say?" Alpheus repeated with furrowed brows.
The physician, who was well-versed with poisons, nods his head in confirmation. When he saw the young lady's situation, he knew she was poisoned; however he had to confirm his suspicion by getting a thorough examination.
"Yes, young master. Found in the county of Torrington from the east. Visalia is a white flower with a soft stem on its center that has small beads hanging on it. Those beads are used by commoners who cannot afford to purchase medicine made by imperial doctors. It is effective for curing stomach ache; however, when not used moderately, it could become a poison." Bringing out a vial out from his worn-out leather bag. He raises it for everyone to see.
Alpheus leaned forward to see with clarity what was inside the vial. And once he was done, the physician hid it again in his bag, and pulled another vial, this one in a much bigger size.
"Good thing I have a tonic of antidote for Visalia poison as I have as well encountered this kind of situation. The little lady is out of danger for now. Feed this to her to let the toxin from her body disappear. She lost a lot of blood, but not enough to perform blood transfusion which only the skilled imperial doctor is allowed.
Nonetheless, to ease worry, it is better to call one first thing in the morning. The little lady also needs to recuperate for at least a month or two."
After hearing the physician's words, Alpheus clenched his fist tightly. Who could have done this to his younger sister?
Once the physician had handed the vial–which contains the antidote–to the young master, he immediately bid goodbye and exited the chamber. The only people who were left inside the chamber are Alpheus, the Duchess and the Duke.
Alpheus turned to face his father. With one hand on his chest, he lowered his head down. As the successor of the Azarra duchy, Alpheus was taught to never lower his head down to anyone including his own parents. However, he would break that rule this time for the sake of the child lying unconscious on his bed.
"Father, I'd like to ask for your permission to search the maid's quarters and search their belongings. I know you don't have the slightest care for this child of yours, but I do. Naraina is only a child and for her to experience this is…unforgivable. And whoever did attempt to assassinate her, shall be given the right punishment. Even if it's my biological sister who orders it, I will not forgive a murderer like her!"
Disturbed by his son's words, Duke Caelan roared in answer. "ALPHEUS! WATCH YOUR MOUTH! How can you accuse your sister like that? She doesn't have any connection to this matter! She's only thirteen." Veins are visible on his forehead and on his throat.
Alpheus clicks his tongue and scoffs, "and how about Naraina? She's only ten years old. And besides her younger age, she's frail and sickly." Alpheus pointed out.
He then met his father's eyes. "Ophelia may not have any connection, yet she may have any knowledge about this conspiracy. Naraina informed me that every time she couldn't finish her food, Ophelia's servant would bring her snacks with the butler's permission; however, the butler only listens to mother's words. Not even father could make him do things. And I know mother never let us eat anything after dinner. Am I right, mother?"
Alpheus turned to his mother, the Duchess.
Despite the calmness in her face, the Duchess was boiling with frustration deep inside. Witnessing the child on the doorstep of death proves how she had become too lax with employing their servants.
"Mother?" Alpheus called out.
The Duchess was quick to nod in agreement. She straightens her posture and startles Alpheus and the Duke when she yells, "guards! Inform all servants to line up at the hallway, leave no one out of sight. And with Prince Alpheus, you all have my permission to search their quarters as well as their belongings."
"Eurania!" Duke Caelan called out and the Duchess only stared at him with bored and unaffectionate eyes.
"What kind of a father are you to not even feel any pain at the sight of your dying daughter. It was your fault in the first place why that child was born."
The Duchess scorned and strides, ready to leave the chamber; however, before she had completely gone out from the door, she halted and turned to face her son. "Would you like for her to occupy the bed chamber next to your room?"
Alpheus quickly agrees to his mother. If the duchess did not ask, he would be the one to ask her to relocate his sister to a different chamber. "Alright! I'll inform the butler before I retire for the day. You can take the lead in the investigation as I don't have any confidence in your father."
Alpheus quickly stood up and followed his mother. The Duke was left mesmerized by his wife and son. He knew well how incompetent he is when it comes to Naraina, yet he did not expect Alpheus and his wife, Eurania, to be this affectionate to a child who was only a mistake for the night he gave in to temptation.
The Duke stride lightly as he went closer to the bed and saw a child sleeping with a frowning expression. Never once he took a longer gaze at this child of his. His memory never remembers how this child smiles, runs or talks. No, he doesn't have that kind of memory as his mind and attention was always focused on his daughter, Ophelia.
But after seeing the child, who had an uncanny resemblance to him, earlier, Duke Caelan felt his heart pierced by thousands of needles and his guts twisted by thousands of people. The fragile state of the child who resembles him made him realize how unfair he is towards her.
Duke Caelan pulled the chair from Alpheus' study table and sat on it. He lifts the thick blanket covering the child's body, and when he finds her hand, he quickly grabs it and gently raises it higher.
Her hand was small and Caelan thought that if he exerts a little strength, he might break her bones. The child's arm was also thin, yet no one would notice it from a far or when she would wear dresses with long sleeves.
While Duke Caelan was examining his second daughter, Naraina. At the hall of the Azarra Castle, all servants were lining up with their heads bowed down.
At the same time, their quarters are being turned upside down by Alpheus. From wardrobes to the smallest possible corners that can hide anything was investigated. No space was left unchecked.
"Sire!" Alpheus's attention shifted at one of the guards who called for him. He followed the guards gaze.
In the guard's palm is a small vial full of green liquid. Alpheus does not hesitate and quickly grabs the vial. He stormed out from the quarters with eyes burning with pure anger. His pace was fast and with his slender legs he quickly reached the hallway where the servants' line up. Alpheus's guard quickly stood behind him.
"I'll ask this once." He lifts the vial with a height enough for everyone to see it. With his eyes, he silently watches his father's subjects. Their every move was in his grasp. "Who owns this? And have no fear in attempting to kill the second daughter of the Duke."
In everyone's eyes, Alpheus was a gentle child yet now, that gentleness is nowhere to be found. The child in front of them is a devil reincarnate. A monster filled with anger and bloodlust.
"If none of you steps forward and admits the ownership of this vial. I would gladly behead all of you and send your heads to your families. Dead bodies to the east.
With quivering bodies, all servants' steps forward. No one was left behind. The sight of the servants' faces made Alpheus burst into laughter.
Except for the butler, he witnessed all of them treating Naraina unfairly, but he remained tight-lipped as he didn't have the authority to put them into punishment…it was all in the hands of his mother, Duchess Eurania.
At the moment, just by witnessing their quivering bodies and faces pale as a linen cloth gives quite a satisfaction for the young prince…
And with the Duchess's permission, he won't waste the chance given to him. He will give them punishments they deserve. A light one, different from the servant who tried to kill his younger sister.
"I'll give you all a second chance. If one of you steps forward and admits the ownership of this vial. I will spare your life but of course with a light punishment. Only one of you needs to step forward. One." Alpheus repeated.
He waited for the servants who owned the vial to step forward. His gaze, with the pretense of staring at every servant standing before him, is only eyeing one servant. She was short, had short brunette hair, just like what Naraina describes.
Her body was relaxed yet her hands were trembling, and an expression filled with anxiousness. Her lips drained of blood.
Alpheus halted in front of the servant and drew his sword in front of her. "Aren't you the servant of my sister, Ophelia?" The young successor's voice was void with emotion making it more deadly.
The servant slowly nodded her head as she tried to calm her trembling hands that didn't escape from Alpheus' gaze.
Alpheus leaned forward and whispered to the servant's ear, "what did my sister bribe for you to obtain this vial? Jewels? Gold coins? Or a promise to be wed to a noble man once she officially becomes the crown princess?"
Alpheus knew how rotten Ophelia's personality is even though she's just thirteen. But he couldn't blame anyone but his father for spoiling her. He didn't say anything to anyone after witnessing Ophelia stabbing the gift his highness, the crown prince had gifted to her. She even blamed Naraina when their mother looked for the gift.
The servant who was ready to confess was interrupted by the shrill pitchy voice. "What are you doing to my servant, Brother Alpheus?"
Alpheus turned to face his sister; Ophelia was glaring at him. "Making her confess her sin." Alpheus uttered lightly as he drew his sword closer to the servant's neck, making it bleed.
Ophelia's expression turned white sheet at Alpheus' words but regained her angry expression. "And what sin did she commit? I will be the one who will punish her."
Lifting his hand in the air, Alpheus asked his sister, "You will confess your sin as well?" In a calm tone he questioned.
Yet his question must have hit the rock bottom of Ophelia's ego as the young lady started yelling at her brother. "What sin? I have done nothing for you to accuse me of such preposterous lies!"
Alpheus sometimes wonders why on earth Ophelia was chosen as the crown princess. The young lady could not maintain her temper at any situation she's been put in. What would happen to the imperial castle if she sat on the throne? Blood will surely shed.
"Either you ask her to slowly poison Niahari or you complain to her on how much you despise my younger sister and she suggests that she knows how to make Niahari disappear…and is through poisoning the innocent child."
Alpheus had thought about it while he made his way towards the servants earlier. No one but Ophelia hated Niahari the most. She despises the child the moment the duchess showed nothing but gentleness and kindness to Niahari while the opposite to Ophelia.
It was envy that drove Ophelia to become like this. It's characteristic that a future empress must not possess if Alpheus may say.
"Princess, please save me. I didn't do anything." The servant called Ophelia's attention. Her voice was shaking and an expression that shows pain and anxiousness.
"It was her idea. I didn't even agree with it." Ophelia quickly stated without even blinking nor feeling any guilt.
Slash!
Gasps and screams filled the hallway. The metallic smell of blood slowly envelopes the surrounding, making the other servants' gag and vomit their dinner.
In horror, Ophelia drops to her knees as she gazes with wide eyes at the dead body and a detached head of her loyal servant. The butler quickly attends to the princess and lifts her out from the scene.
Alpheus gazes at the stiff body on the floor, beside it is the servant's severed head. Her eyes were still open in shock. Blood still gushing from the woman's neck.
His eyes emptied with emotions and tone cold as the glaciers of the north, he ordered, "all of you, clean this mess and pack all your things. Once daybreak arrives, I must not see any of you roaming around the castle or near the estate. Guards! Send her head back to her family and body to the monster of the east. They might want to have a feast on this sinful woman."
With that he strode towards his room and was greeted with his father's broad stature, staring at him with burning anger.
"You don't have to blow a fuse on me for killing your precious daughter's servant. I have my mother's permission."
"You could have spared her life. You have spilled blood inside the castle." Despite the Duke's anger, he still calmly spoke to his son.
"Hah! Spared her life and for what? For Ophelia to be in contact with her and purchase more of those vials without your idea? You may never know, first it was Naraina and next…it could be you, Father."
Alpheus left his speechless father and went to attend his younger sister, who is now sleeping soundly. Her pale complexion had slightly resembled her original complexion. Her frowning face was also replaced with peacefulness.
He held the small hand of his sister and brought them closer to his forehead, with a regretful voice he spoke, "if only I had become a more responsible brother, you would not be in this state. Forgive me, Naraina ."