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Chapter 11

"It's the medicine you've been taking."

The First Prince was taking medicine?

"Why do you ask?"

Suddenly, my grandfather's expression hardened again.

"Perhaps, you've been abusing the medicine I brought you last time..."

My grandfather's expression reminded me of something that happened in the past.

There was a time when I was severely scolded by the Lord of the Fortress for destroying a corner of the Blood Cloud Fortress wall during a fight.

The Lord's expression at that time was the same as my grandfather's now.

I waved my hands.

"Abuse? No, I haven't. I've never done that."

"...I believe you."

However, contrary to his words, he didn't seem to believe me at all.

"If I ask Eunuch Han, I'll find out anyway."

Well, who would believe the words of a madman?

I guess I have to accept this as my karma, even if it's not my fault.

"Would you like to check?"

My grandfather readily suggested.

It wouldn't hurt.

I nodded and went into my quarters. Eunuch Han, who had been outside with me, followed me and my grandfather.

As we entered the reception room, my grandfather gestured towards the medicine bundle.

When the cloth covering the items was unwrapped, a wooden box appeared. Inside the wooden box were neatly stacked medicinal herbs.

"This is also a two-month supply."

"Excuse me?"

I was surprised by my grandfather's nonchalant words. Two months. It was an excessive amount to consume within two months.

No matter what this medicine was or what it was used for, this amount would be excessive.

Besides, 'this time too' means he's been bringing this consistently, right?

It seemed like he came to see me to talk about the sparring while bringing this. So, this medicine was a bigger reason than the sparring talk.

"You're saying this is a two-month supply?"

"Why are you asking such strange questions all of a sudden?"

A pungent scent rose from the medicinal herbs that filled the wooden box. A scent that somehow wasn't unfamiliar. After searching my memory for a moment, I easily recalled its identity.

The true nature of this herb, claimed to be medicinal, was a poisonous plant called the Bellflower.

If you chew and swallow the petals, the pain subsides and drowsiness sets in. If you swallow a lot, even your breathing slows down. I remember the production area being quite far from the capital.

In other words, it was a drug.

A drug.

With that level of danger, it was natural for it to be banned. The Bellflower had long been prohibited by national law, both in terms of buying and selling, let alone consuming it.

It wouldn't be easy to obtain something that was forbidden. The distribution route would be difficult, so the price wouldn't be cheap either.

But the General was bringing this to the First Prince? Not only is there nowhere to get it in the capital, but just possessing it is a crime.

Moreover, it seemed he wasn't just bringing it, but it was being consumed regularly. Why?

"Am I poisoning someone?"

"Is that a joke?"

My grandfather retorted without a hint of laughter.

"Yes, I'm joking."

Even though it wasn't a joke, I pretended it was and closed the wooden box.

I couldn't tell my grandfather that I had lost my memory, so I would have to ask Eunuch Han later.

And I wouldn't need this.

"This medicine is the last. You don't need to bring it anymore."

Whatever else I didn't know, I knew my body condition best. And right now, I didn't need this kind of drug.

It wasn't just that I didn't need it. This was poison to me.

If I ground the dried bellflower into powder and swallowed about two spoonfuls at once, my breathing would stop and I would die. If I took even a small amount of this for a long time, I would develop addiction symptoms.

One of the addiction symptoms is that your tendons become weak, making it difficult to move your body.

If that happens, my life as a swordsman is over.

It seems like there's no problem yet, but you never know. I can only hope it's not too late.

Why the hell did this crazy bastard eat this stuff?

"Are you saying you won't take it anymore?"

"Yes."

My grandfather looked at me suspiciously.

"Your Highness."

Why is he treating me like a child?

Well, compared to this old man's age, I am a kid.

"I really don't need it."

"Are you serious?"

"Does this sound like a lie? I wouldn't even joke about something like this."

His eyes still didn't believe me. My grandfather glared at me as if urging me to take back my words.

Even though he wasn't glaring at me very seriously, the atmosphere was heavy. I could understand why Eunuch Han described my grandfather as a strict person.

For someone like Eunuch Han, who had only lived in the palace, a military man like my grandfather would seem terrifying.

Well, it's useless against me. If he wants to intimidate me, he'll have to bring someone like the Murderer of the Hwawiguk to even have a chance.

Even if he really did that, what else is there to do but die? I've already died once, so fear has long left my head.

Anyway.

"It's fine. I really don't need it."

"You shouldn't make assumptions about your physical condition."

Don't be cheeky. I'm still a prince, you know.

"The person who knows my body best is myself. Who would know my condition better than me?"

"If that's what you say."

My grandfather nodded and took a step back.

That was the end of his business. My grandfather didn't stay any longer in Hyunjungdang and left the pavilion.

But before leaving, he stopped with one foot on the pavilion's stepping stone and asked:

"You seem quite different from when I saw you last time. May I ask the reason for that?"

He didn't beat around the bush. Does that mean he's asking as my grandfather, not as the General?

My grandfather seemed to want to hear some grand story as an answer. But he wouldn't get such an answer from me.

"People change, you know."

My grandfather responded with a disappointed expression.

Of course, my grandfather wouldn't acknowledge or trust me right away.

General So wasn't someone whose trust could be gained easily with just a half-day meeting.

That trust would be heavy, and as heavy as it was, it would be difficult to obtain, but it would be worth it.

"I'll see you again."

My grandfather bowed his head and left. The dark silk robe draped over his aged body fluttered.

I muttered at my grandfather's back as he left Hyunjungdang. The words came out unconsciously.

"I'm a little envious."

* * *

"You're saying I asked to take this?"

"Yes, Your Highness."

"And that tea was also made with this medicine?"

"Yes, Your Highness."

Eunuch Han said that the tea leaves he frequently brought were actually bellflower.

Then I've been under the influence of the drug all this time. That means I might be addicted right now.

"Just in case, let's gradually reduce it."

All harmful things to the body, especially drugs, had withdrawal symptoms. Even if I quit, my body would need time to adjust.

Moreover, bellflower was a very potent drug, to the extent that it had to be banned by law.

"But why did I take that?"

In the end, all I could say about the new information was this.

"Pardon? That's because..."

And Eunuch Han hesitated to answer.

"Eunuch Han."

"Yes, Your Highness."

"Don't be frustrating and tell me. I told you I don't remember."

I put my feet up on the table, like a true rascal.

It was quite an arrogant posture. It wasn't just for show, but also because I was tired of sitting up straight.

Fatigue was already washing over my entire body.

This damn body. This First Prince, even though he was a prince and ate all sorts of good things, managed his body like this.

I'll have to beat him to death if I ever see him, even in a dream.

"That... First, Your Highness told me to keep it a secret..."

"I wouldn't have told you to keep it a secret even from myself."

"That's..."

Eunuch Han couldn't answer. It seemed that the First Prince had told him not to mention the medicine even in his presence.

The more I learn about this First Prince, the more complicated he seems.

A complicatedly crazy bastard.

"I retract that. Tell me freely. Freeeely."

Then, Eunuch Han began to hesitantly confide in me.

So, this was the story.

"Your Highness was born with a sensitive disposition."

These were the words the First Prince himself had confessed. There was no room for doubt. Unless this guy was determined to deceive even his closest confidant, Eunuch Han.

But I didn't think this reckless fool was that clever.

"You're saying I am sensitive."

"Yes, Your Highness."

In what way was he sensitive? I needed to inquire further.

"It's hard to say exactly how... Your eyes, ears, nose for smelling, and tongue for tasting are all sensitive, so I don't know how to explain it."

But the more I listened to Eunuch Han, the more puzzled I became.

"Every time you would move, you’d complain that the fabric of your clothes were irritating, and I'm ashamed to say this, but... you often became angry even at the mere presence of me around you."

"How would you know if I was just picky or if I was acting like that to bother you?"

Eunuch Han quietly shook his head.

"That's impossible, Your Highness."

"No, how can you be so sure?"

Then, Eunuch Han retorted, seemingly feeling wronged and frustrated.

"I have served Your Highness for twenty-three years. How could I not understand my master's feelings after serving him for so long?"

The First Prince was twenty-four years old this year.

Then Eunuch Han had been with the First Prince since he was a baby.

He wouldn't have transformed from a normal person into a madman overnight, so he must have gone through a lot during that time.

No wonder he looked old.

"Was there... some kind of chronic illness? With me?"

Even asking that made me feel uneasy. If that really was the case, it would be a headache.

But Eunuch Han shook his head at my question. Fortunately, it didn't seem to be a chronic illness.

Instead, he added, "No, Your Highness. However..."

"However?"

"I'm ashamed to say this, but if someone were to describe Your Highness as peculiar, there would be nothing else I could say. But how could I, a mere servant, dare to try to understand everything about the things Your Highness wishes to keep secret? And how could I dig into my master's secrets just to satisfy my own curiosity? Therefore, there are parts that I don't know in detail. Even the royal physician doesn't know about Your Highness's physical condition."

Was it top secret?

"You're saying only I knew?"

"As far as I know, there was one other person who knew about Your Highness's physical condition."

There was? But why the past tense? Ominously.

Could it be?

"...The deposed Queen?"

Then, Eunuch Han answered in a heavy tone.

"That is correct, Your Highness."

Of all people, why did it have to be someone who’s dead? The only two people in the world who knew the secrets of this body were both gone from this world.

"Is there no one else?"

"I'm ashamed to say, but I don't know, Your Highness. Please forgive me."

"Damn it."

It was a situation that could only be described with a curse word.

"Ha... Alright. It can't be helped. First, don't serve this as tea anymore."

"Yes, Your Highness."

"From now on, whenever you bring something, make sure to tell me exactly what it is."

"I will do so."

I shook my head, trying to clear my complicated thoughts.

If there was a reason for taking the bellflower, that reason would become apparent when I stopped taking it.

The rest would be resolved with time.

* * *

The next day, I called Yoo Geung to loosen up my stiff body and pretended to search for the crow's identity in the books at the palace library.

He trembled all day, afraid that I might win the bet.

His trembling was so amusing that I even teased him, saying crow meat would probably taste good.

And the day after that, another letter arrived from my grandfather.

It was a letter from someone other than my grandfather, requesting to meet me.