Axel entered the emperor's private chambers, his gaze immediately drawn to the frail figure lying motionless on the grand bed. The once-powerful ruler of the Northern Empire now looked more like a ghost, pale and withered, barely clinging to life. Empress Lamaine and Heather stood by his side, their expressions carefully neutral, though Axel could sense the tension in the room.
Heather greeted him with a soft smile, her tone sweet and unassuming. "Axel, it's good to see you. Your father will be pleased that you've come."
Axel nodded, keeping his face composed, though inside, his thoughts were a storm of suspicion and anger. He had long suspected that something was amiss with his father's condition, but now, recent discoveries had confirmed his worst fears.
As he approached the bed, a servant appeared, carrying a silver tray with a delicate porcelain teacup. The servant, trained to be discreet, placed the cup on the table beside the emperor and offered one to Axel as well. "Tea, Your Highness?"
Axel glanced at the cup, the dark liquid swirling ominously inside. It was a routine he had seen many times before—a soothing tea for the emperor, meant to keep him "calm." But now Axel knew the truth. The tea was laced with a deadly poison, designed to slowly sap away his father's life, making it seem like a natural decline.
"Thank you," Axel replied coolly, accepting the cup but not drinking from it. Instead, he held it in his hand, feeling the warmth of the liquid seep through the porcelain, a stark contrast to the cold rage building within him.
Empress Lamaine watched him closely, her eyes calculating. "It's been difficult for your father, but he's holding on. The tea helps to ease his pain," she said, her voice tinged with feigned concern.
Axel's gaze shifted to her, a shadow of a smile playing on his lips. "I'm sure it does, Mother. You've always been so attentive to his needs."
Heather chimed in, her voice soft and sympathetic. "Your father needs all the care he can get in these trying times. It's a good thing the tea keeps him at peace."
Axel could barely suppress the disgust he felt, knowing that the two women before him were orchestrating his father's demise. But he couldn't act on his anger—yet. He needed more evidence, a way to expose their treachery without implicating himself too soon. For now, he had to play the game.
He turned his attention back to his father, reaching out to touch the emperor's cold hand. "Father," Axel murmured, his voice low, "I'm here. Rest well."
The emperor didn't stir, his breaths shallow and slow. Axel leaned in slightly, as if whispering a son's loving words, but in truth, he was inspecting the faint scent coming from the teacup. A bitter, acrid smell that confirmed his suspicions. The poison was subtle, nearly undetectable, but Axel had made it his mission to uncover the truth behind his father's mysterious illness.
Straightening up, Axel lifted the cup to his lips, pretending to take a sip. He paused just as the rim touched his mouth, his eyes flicking to Empress Lamaine. She watched him closely, anticipation hidden behind her calm facade.
With a small, almost imperceptible smile, Axel lowered the cup without drinking. "The tea is excellent, as always," he said smoothly, setting it back on the tray. "But I find myself too distracted by thoughts of my father's health to enjoy it."
Empress Lamaine's eyes narrowed slightly, but she said nothing, only offering him a tight-lipped smile in return. Heather, unaware of the tension, simply nodded, her attention back on the emperor.
Axel knew he had to tread carefully. His suspicions about Lionel being the Empress's mole had already pushed him to feign memory loss about Lila. But now, the stakes were even higher. The Empress was willing to kill the emperor, her own husband, to consolidate power—and Axel was standing in her way.
Axel turned towards Heather, his expression unreadable as he gestured to the untouched cup of tea. "Heather," he began, his voice gentle yet carrying a hidden edge, "you've been through so much recently, especially with giving birth. This tea is supposed to be soothing—perhaps it would do you some good as well."
Heather's eyes widened slightly at the suggestion, and she hesitated, glancing nervously at the teacup. The room seemed to grow still, the weight of Axel's words hanging in the air. Empress Lamaine's expression remained composed, though a flicker of something cold and calculating passed through her eyes.
"Thank you, Axel," Heather replied, forcing a small smile, "but I'm fine. Really, I don't need it."
Axel's gaze didn't waver. "I insist," he said, his tone polite but firm. "If it helps Father rest, it could help you regain your strength as well. Please, for your health."
Heather's hesitation deepened, and she looked to the Empress for some sort of guidance. Lamaine's lips thinned, but she gave a slight nod, as if to encourage her.
With no other choice, Heather reached for the cup with trembling hands. The porcelain felt unnaturally heavy, and the scent of the tea—normally comforting—now made her stomach turn. She raised it to her lips, the liquid trembling in the cup as she tried to keep her hands steady.
Axel watched her intently, his expression betraying nothing, though inside, his mind raced. This was a test—a way to gauge how far the Empress would go, and whether Heather was complicit or simply another pawn in her schemes.
Heather hesitated again, the cup just inches from her lips. She could feel Axel's eyes on her, the pressure mounting. Every instinct told her something was wrong, but she didn't dare defy him. Slowly, she began to tilt the cup, the dark liquid nearing her mouth.
But just before the tea could touch her lips, Empress Lamaine stepped forward, her voice smooth and reassuring. "Heather, you don't need to force yourself if you're not feeling well. Axel's right that you need to regain your strength, but perhaps there's something else that would be more suitable for you."
Heather lowered the cup, relief flooding through her, though she tried to mask it with a weak smile. "Yes, maybe some other time. I appreciate the thought, Axel."
Axel nodded, his expression softening as he placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "Of course, Heather. Your health is important. We'll make sure you have everything you need to recover fully."
Heather set the cup back on the tray, and a tense silence settled over the room. Empress Lamaine's eyes met Axel's, a silent battle of wills playing out between them. She knew he was testing her, but she wouldn't give him the satisfaction of seeing her falter.
Axel finally stepped back, breaking the stalemate. "I'll check on Father again tomorrow," he said calmly. "In the meantime, make sure he gets his rest."
As he left the room, Axel's mind was already working on his next move. Heather's hesitation had confirmed his suspicions—the Empress's poison was real, and she had no intention of letting anyone else suffer its effects. But he had planted the seed of doubt, and now he needed to wait for it to grow.
For now, he would continue to play the role of the obedient son, the doting brother, and the forgetful husband. But underneath, his anger simmered, and his resolve hardened. The time to strike would come soon enough.