Ethan turned silent as he observed her face. From her eyebrows to her nose, then her lips.
Ethan gulped before he turned his face away from her.
"Many years later, you are still a gorgeous beauty," Ethan murmured as he took a deep breath in.
"Your Highness, the Physician is here," Camden informed from the door.
"You can come in," Ethan stood up as he composed himself as he stood to the side.
The three people walked in, as Marie and Camden stood to the side, while the Physician approached the bed.
The Physician was an old lady, but was efficient. She only served the King, and Ethan. But Ethan had decided to have her check his wife, and even King Albert could not do anything about it.
"Your Highness," she greeted with a bow.
"Check her," Ethan instructed, and the Physician immediately got to work.
She checked Adelaide's pulse, and her face tightened immediately, while her eyebrows creased in worry.
Ethan noticed this, and his heart skipped a bit in fear.
After a couple of minutes, the Physician left Adelaide as she turned to look at Ethan who was eager to know what was wrong.
"The Princess has been poisoned, and this poison is a very rare one, finding the cure won't be easy," The Physician reported her findings to Ethan, still with her head bowed.
She hated to be the one to report such news to the ruthless Crown Prince.
Ethan's heart immediately tightened as he turned to look at Adelaide, who laid on the bed, lifeless.
Marie gasped when she heard the Physician's words.
"Poisoned? How? I was responsible for the Princess's food throughout our journey, I also tasted the meal before eating it, why is she the one poisoned?" Marie murmured, but it was loud enough for Camden to hear as he was beside her.
Camden frowned as he listened to her words. He was also surprised by the news of Adelaide being poisoned, and he had wanted to suggest having Marie arrested, on the pretext of being a suspect.
But now, with her words, it seemed Marie was innocent. Then how was Adelaide poisoned? She had not even spent a day in the Royal Palace, and she was already being targeted.
As expected, anyone who is related to the Crown Prince would be targeted.
"What is the antidote? And when can I get it?" Ethan did not bother to think about where she must have been poisoned.
It was paramount that they found the antidote, or he might lose his wife, and soulmate!
"You will need a rosemary leaf, and the only place you can get this leaf is in the mystic forest, you have five hours to get it, or it might be too late," The Physician replied.
"Mystic forest? Rosemary leaf, got it, you may leave," Ethan commanded, and the Physician took her leave immediately.
"Your Highness, let me go searching for the leaf," Camden stepped forwards to volunteer.
"As much as I would love that as I would want to stay with Adelaide, I have to go by myself, you heard what she said, I have five hours, you can stay behind, and investigate the source of the poison, I want answers when I return,"
Ethan instructed as he walked out of the room, leaving behind Camden, Marie, and an unconscious Adelaide.
"I will help you investigate, you can also interrogate me, I have stayed with the Princess for the longest time, I believe I should be topping your suspect list," Marie volunteered to be interrogated.
Camden was speechless. Many people would rather not be interrogated, as that would be a stain to their reputation.
But here was someone who wanted to be questioned to prove her innocence, and perhaps, her loyalty to Adelaide.
Camden coughed slightly, "there is no need for you to be questioned, your actions have proved your innocence, and the poison is not something which can be found in Dystopia, someone from Asteria must have poisoned Princess Adelaide."
Camden analyzed with a frown on his face, as his eyebrows creased together.
Marie heaved a sigh. She felt at peace knowing that she was not a suspect. Then it dawned on her that Adelaide was poisoned in the Asterian Palace, and her heart turned cold.
Adelaide had not even spent a complete day, and all these had to happen. She was at a loss on how she was supposed to feel, but she could not vent her anger and frustrations.
She was but a servant, and as a servant, she was unable to argue with her masters. Likewise, she could only hope the culprit is found.
"What about His Highness? Would he be able to get the leaf? And as for this mystical forest, it feels like it is a dangerous place, please tell me more." Marie asked curiously.
"I know you are curious about Asteria and its culture, but you should be more worried about finding the culprit, His Highness gave us five hours, and oh, do not be worried about His Highness, he is efficient," Camden smiled as he pushed Marie out of the room.
Ethan, on the other hand, took heavy steps as he walked towards the entrance of his courtyard, only to see Edward arguing with the guards, and Madeline standing to the side, sticking out like a sore thumb.
He frowned as he continued approaching them.
On seeing him, the guards immediately clamped their mouths shut as though they were not the ones arguing previously.
"Brother, you should really train your guards, imagine speaking with the Royals with such an attitude, they should be punished," Edward complained.
"They are not doing their jobs properly," Ethan commented, his eyes turned cold as he saw Edward have a smug expression on his face.
"I am giving you the permission to throw them out, if you do not do as I said, I will feed you to the dogs," Ethan threatened, his voice low and dangerous.
Edward's and Madeline's faces changed as they stared at Ethan who was walking out.
"Ethan, why do you have to treat us this way?" Madeline called out to him, questioning him which caused him to pause in his tracks.
Madeline's voice was naturally soft, and when she yelled out just now, it could elicit emotions from weak men.
But Ethan was not among the weak men. He did not spare her a glance, before he walked away.
Madison's chest heaved in fury as she watched him walk away, and she was unable to do anything to him.
"Do you still need us to walk you out? We would be happy to do so," one of the guards spoke which got Edward's attention.
"We would be leaving, there is no need to come here, let's go, Madeline," Edward held Madeline as they walked out of the courtyard.