As I entered the room, I saw some priests surrounding a man, who was covered in bandages. His sorry figure was on the ground as the priests tried their best to heal him.
As soon as a priest saw me, he bowed and greeted me.
"Long live, Your Majesty."
The other turned towards me and did the same. Everyone was looking at me with expectation. It seems that they want me to heal the knight commander. Well, it's surprising. To like someone without having any selfish motives, for someone like me... it's new. How amusing~
"What happened to him? How did he get poisoned?" I asked them.
One of the priests replied, "Sir Herick was pursuing some suspicious people through the forest. One of them stabbed him with a knife. If I am correct, then the knife should be laced with some kind of poison. But we still haven't figured out anything about the poison."
So, in other words... you all are useless and you need me.
"Lift and put him on the bed. Let me check him, okay? You all go out of the room and take some rest," I turned towards the 'jealous' maid, "Seri, you can go now too. Don't worry your uncle will be alright."
"But—"
"Just go. Don't let me repeat my words," I interrupted her.
After putting Herick on the bed, the priests thanked me and left the room. Seri looked reluctant but followed after them.
"Trisa, guard the room. Don't let anyone enter the room. Also, cast a silencing spell on the room. I don't want anyone to hear anything," I ordered.
Trisa nodded, "As you wish, Your Majesty."
Casting the spell, she left the room. I walked towards the bed, taking a seat beside Herick's 'sleeping' figure. "You can stop acting now. I know that you are still conscious," I said.
Herick slowly opened his eyes and glared at me. His eyes were full of hatred. I smiled, "Despite being poisoned, you still are glaring at me. Aren't you worried that I might pluck your eyes out for your insolence?"
Hmmm... this guy looks good. A mature man with a long scar on his face. He had dark brown hair, and blue-coloured eyes. When I tried to touch his hair, he immediately grabbed my hand, stopping me from touching his hair.
"D-don't... touch... me." Herick's voice was weak, yet I could feel his hatred. It was radiating from every part of his body.
I asked, "Is that so? Why can't I touch you?" I applied pressure to the injury on his arm. He cried out in pain, releasing my hand. "See? You are weak now. All you could do is to lie on this bed... begging me to heal you. Tell me, why do you hate me?"
"Hate? I despise your very presence," Herick gritted out.
His words made me smile even more. I asked, "Why do you despise you me?" I was curious. According to Mimi's data, Herick was never poisoned. So, it seems that my presence has already caused a butterfly effect.
Increasing the pressure, I ordered, "Tell me."
"You! Don't you know?! Because of you... our emperor died... you drove him to his death. And now... you are destroying this empire. Your very presence... destroys everything." Herick was panting heavily.
"Hah, you really hold me responsible for these things? How could you think that I am destroying this empire? Am I really that despicable?" I asked him. Caressing his cheek, I pinched the injury on his arm. Herick hissed in pain.
"Hmmm... Herick, I understand your sentiments. But tell me, was your emperor that good? That man couldn't even save his first wife, could he? He loved her, right? Tch, a pathetic and weak man until the end. That's what he should be remembered as."
Herick yelled, "Don't sully my emperor!" His face had turned red with anger.
I laughed, "Wow, you are really sentimental. Good... that's good for me. It just makes it much easier to blackmail you."
"W-what?" Hnrick's face turned pale. I like this look. A look full of a mixture of countless emotions... I can feel it. Maybe I should take notes. This might help me in creating a new character.
"Are you scared? Honestly, you should be scared," I traced his jaw with my fingers, "your handsome face looks really sexy when you are scared," I pointed at my heart, "Herick, you are making my heart beat faster."
"W-why... why are you... doing this?" Herick gritted out.
I replied, "Because I like you, Herick. Besides, now-a-days... you and Franklin are getting very cozy... which makes feel sad."
A trace of fear appeared in Herick's eyes. This time, he was genuinely afraid of me.
I continued, "Do you know what happens with traitors? Not only they are killed, but also their family members are killed as well. Do you want your niece to die?"
He yelled, "YOU! DON'T YOU DARE! I WILL KILL YOU IF YOU TOUCH A SINGLE STRAND ON HER BODY—"
I slapped him, silencing his outburst. "Keep quiet. Your yelling makes my ears hurt. Forget that, Herick... you can't do anything," I leaned towards him, "Herick, I can do a lot of things. The person who you are betting on, is not worth it. Your loyalty should be towards the one you love... not towards a fallen prince with no ideals. Do you know he has popped your niece's cherry?"
"Watch your mouth!" yelled Herick. Why the hell is he yelling again? Should I slap him once more? Before I could decide, my hand moved on its own.
I slapped him again. "Don't waste your strength. You are still poisoned, aren't you? No one can help you except me. I am the person who can save you."
Herick was still glaring at me. He needs a bit more push... well, I am more than happy to help him finalize his decision.
"Forget your niece, Herick. What if I can find your 'dead' sister's killer?" I whispered into his ears.