While I did put a lot of contribution to the making of the story that I love, there are many things I am not aware of. It is not like the story would be detailed to the point that every characters' everyday life would be noted.
Based on the servants' and the knights' reaction, the decoration of the emerald palace in contrast to prince' Diego's taste that I know of, it is impossible for him to be the one who lived here in the emerald palace.
To begin with the emerald palace was created solely for one reason: To showcase the Vanifi empire's wealth.
"No, your highness, it doesn't bother me at all where you sleep as I do not own this place. I simply live here for the time being. So do sleep wherever you want to"
"Wherever?"
"Yes, wherever"
As I walk by the hallway back to my room, prince Diego was also going on the same way.
I opened the door.
A topless John greeted us.
He must have come back to the room using the windows.
"Sir John, what are you doing here?"
He bowed.
"Your highness, I am lady Emond's bodyguard and I am here to sleep in my lady's room"
"So you are saying that you sleep here, every night?"
"Yes"
Why does he sound concerned when he doesn't like women wearing beautiful clothes?
I went to lie down and stretch on the bed. It was relaxing.
Almas hurriedly come to me and rubbed his face against my cheeks.
"Will you be sleeping here for tonight, your highness?"
"Yes. Any problem with that?"
"None at all"
After John finish dressing up, he lie down beside me.
Prince Diego, who was sitting on the sofa preparing to sleep, had a murderous face.
He then stood up and quickly grabbed John by the neck, who did not resist, and threw him aside.
"What is the meaning of this Sir John? You dare to sleep beside her majesty's honored guest?"
Thump.
The pillow I threw hit prince Diego's head.
"Your highness, I have no problem with Sir John sleeping beside me. Rather, he is sleeping beside me by my request. If you have any problem with my decision then I will have to ask you to get the hell out of here before I dragged you out"
"You think you can?!"
"Yes. You can't touch me after all"
"Then make me!"
It was weird. Truly weird. So far everything is progressing as what would happen in the novel. Except for the fact that I was sent to the empire instead of the heroine, everything is going as written in the story.
The empress' behavior. The timing of the attack at the auction. The knights' attitude. Their secrets. Everything, except for the prince in front of me who seems to be acting clingy in a very negative way.
Why?
I took the knife under my pillow that I always had for protection purposes.
Pointing the edge of the knife at my throat, prince Diego's murderous face changed into a worried and desperate one.
He unconsciously took a step back as he seems to mutter something.
"Sir John obviously was hurt and the hand print is visible. What do you think will happen if I, the honored guest of the empress, were to die here?"
"You wouldn't"
"Try me, if you can"
Using his own words to provoke him more, he bit his lip and storm out of the room.
Before going out of the room, with his back facing me, he said "I'm sorry. I was being impulsive again"
'Almas, is something wrong with him?'
-Do you mean if he smelled like drugs, master?
'Something like that. Anything that can affect his thinking ability'
-Although faint, I do smell some faint herb which is toxic to the human body.
'Do you know what plant it is?'
-Yes, if I remember correctly it is called 'Daitikos'. As times goes by, my memories from the spirit realm are returning bit by bit. It is a plant that induces aggression to the taker. Ir brings out and amplifies the taker's negative thoughts and putting it onto action.
'You sure know a lot'
-Of course. It is what I usually eat after all.
'It is?'
-Yes. Since it contains metallic substance, it is a common food for my kin.
'Where can it be found? And the cure for it?'
-The flower is the cure, if you make some tea out of the flower's pollen and petals it will naturally bring back the taker's status to normal. As for its whereabouts, it is commonly located on what humans call 'mines'.
There are some mines here in the capital but that doesn't necessarily means that there will be an illegal plant there though.
"Why does it feel like my lady is communicating... cough... with the rat?"
"That's not important. Sir John, I need you to gather at least five of your men to acquire Daitikos' flower. As much as possible"
"My lady... I can't just give you something like that"
"I believe that his highness has been poisoned and is being controlled by someone. If you knew that, would you still not do as I say?"
John fixed his hair with his right hand while gently massaging his neck with his left.
"If you say it like that, then, I have no other choice but to obey"
"You trust me?"
"So far, you never did anything that might harm the empress. Rather, all of your actions were for the better of the empire"
How naive of him. I am only doing all this for my own advantage later on though.
"But before telling my men to do as you said, let me ask my lady something first: Why did you try to commit suicide? Even if it was a bluff, it was very dangerous. Had prince Diego tried to snatch the knife away from you and you were stabbed accidentally which then resulted to your death.
Why would you do something so foolish while knowing the possible outcomes?"