Then, with heavy but steady steps, Adonis entered after him. Despite his pale face and the exhaustion that clouded his features, his stance remained imposing, commanding everyone's presence. His sharp eyes met the Emperor's directly, ignoring the pain that gnawed at his body.
The Empress's eyes widened slightly when she saw him, not out of concern for him, but because of her increasing hatred. How could an exhausted, wounded man remain so strong? How could he walk so steadily as if he weren't on the verge of collapse?
Hyacinth, who stood near the throne, cast a silently anxious glance at Helibore, but she did not utter a word.
The Empress, who was still standing near Helibore, clutched the edge of her dress before repeating in a sharper voice: "What is happening here?"
Helibore looked at her, then at the doctor who rushed towards him, and said in a cold tone, pointing to his blood-stained shirt: "I said this isn't my blood."
All eyes turned to Adonis, who seemed indifferent to their piercing gazes. But, without waiting for further questions, he bowed slightly towards the Emperor and spoke in a calm voice:
"Your Majesty, I have carried out your orders. Here is the report... there was no epidemic as we thought, but rather poisoning in the river water, the primary source of drinking and agriculture."
The Emperor looked at Adonis coldly, no expression on his face, but the silence that filled the hall was heavy.
Emperor: "What is the reason?"
Adonis raised his gaze steadily, though pain gnawed at his body, then said:
"The water poisoning was not a random incident... but an act of sabotage. The abandoned laboratory was a center for secret experiments, and from there, toxic substances leaked into the river."
The Empress clenched her fist, her gaze never leaving Adonis, who seemed to challenge everyone with his resilience.
Empress: "And do you have proof of this serious accusation?"
Adonis turned to her calmly, then said in a low but powerful voice:
"The proof will be revealed soon... and what we found in the laboratory is just the beginning."
Silence reigned for a few moments, but the hateful glares in the Empress's eyes deepened, as if she saw Adonis's defiance as an unbearable threat.
Adonis stood before the Emperor steadily, though pain gnawed at his body and the blood-stained wounds had not yet healed. But the pain he felt was not only from his wounds, but from the words that came out of the Emperor's mouth, words that had been repeated throughout his life, words ingrained in his soul since he was a child.
The Emperor, in a cold voice full of contempt: "I don't believe him, he is the son of a traitor."
Adonis clenched his hand until his nails broke his skin. This was nothing new to him, but each time he felt as if it were a new stab, as if his mother's past pursued him wherever he went.
Adonis, in a low voice but with a hint of defiance: "You must seek the truth before you pass judgment."
Beside him, Helibore watched in silence, his features grim. Since their childhood, their relationship had been nothing but a mixture of competition and tension, but he did not expect to see his brother in this situation... Yet, he did not intervene, not yet.
The Emperor, approaching Adonis: "You know what? Your assessment was very poor... Doesn't that deserve punishment?"
Adonis, in a weak but determined voice: "I accept the punishment... But before that, experts must be sent to monitor and purify the river water."
The Emperor's eyes narrowed for a moment then he said coldly: "I know that... But there is another mission for you."
At that point, Helibore had lost his patience. He didn't like Adonis, he didn't see him as a close brother, but seeing his father push him to this extent made his blood boil. He stepped forward and firmly gripped the Empress's wrist, looked directly into her eyes and said in a low voice full of anger:
"What I see now is just madness."
The Empress felt a sudden tension, but she did not back down. As for the Emperor, he shifted his gaze between the two before saying to Adonis:
"You can go home. And tomorrow, I want you here, we have an important matter to discuss."
Despite the exhaustion that overwhelmed him, Adonis forced a pale, sarcastic smile, and bowed slightly with feigned respect:
"As you command, Your Majesty."
Then he turned to leave, his steps heavy, but he refused to show any weakness in front of his father... or in front of Helibore.
As soon as he left the palace, Helibore followed him quickly, grabbing his arm but Adonis slowly pushed it away.
Adonis, in a hoarse voice: "I don't need your help."
Helibore, annoyed: "You can't even stand properly! Stop being stubborn and get into the carriage, just this once."
But before he could finish his words, he saw Adonis sway for a moment, then lose his balance completely and fall motionless.
Helibore, quickly kneeling beside him: "Adonis!!"
The doctor ran towards them, placed his hand on his neck, then raised his head with great concern: "His pulse is very weak... I'll try to revive him!"
Helibore stood rigid for a moment, looking at his brother who seemed to be fighting for his life. Despite everything...
Inside the carriage – between consciousness and unconsciousness
Adonis was somewhere else, a dark place, but he was not alone.
He heard heartbeats, not his own... but someone else's. They were very close, as if coming directly from his chest.
That sound was familiar... something seemed to be trying to pull him back.
When the carriage stopped, Helibore jumped out, violently knocking on the door. It only took moments for the door to open, revealing Daphne. Her eyes filled with astonishment and horror when she saw him in that state.
She said nothing, just stepped back, motioning for them to enter.
Helibore, giving orders to the servants: "Get him in quickly!"
Daphne kept staring at Adonis, he was covered in blood, his eyes closed, and his breath barely coming out. She slowly reached out her hand, but before she could touch him, she stopped.
As for Helibore, he remained standing beside her, watching his brother's weak breaths, while conflicting emotions swept through his chest.
There was no room for old disputes now.
Throughout the past two days, Daphne had felt suffocated and that something would happen to him. She blamed herself for not stopping him from going and that she couldn't even tell the truths she knew... While Helibore looked at her, hesitant to approach her, he was afraid of her reaction, so he fidgeted a little then sat on the ground beside her while she looked at him with accusing eyes. Helibore: "I can understand those looks, you can blame me, but not now."
Then he took her hand and continued: "Firstly, don't sit here, don't you think you should be strong at times like these?" Then he made her sit on the sofa.
While Yaro and Marshmallow were waiting behind the room door.
Helibore: "Now I understand why I love these animals, they are more loyal and purer than humans, I can understand you now..."
There's a rule, I don't know if it exists, but at least for me, it says that anyone who loves animals and is kind to them is an irreplaceable person with a pure and clean heart because these animals have a pure and innocent soul, innocent like a child who will never grow up. If you look closely into their eyes, you will see purity and clarity in them.
The first thing Daphne and Adonis agreed upon was their love for animals. Daphne decided to take that one cat that day, and since childhood, Adonis and the cat shared food. Now they get it and play together. Yaro was the only one who stayed with Adonis and trusted him blindly...
... In the palace...
Hyacinth: "You know Adonis's house, take me there."
Empress: "Where are you going too?"
Hyacinth: "To check on Adonis. You know, there are limits to everything. I don't think you're normal? I don't think you suffer from megalomania. And why do you hate the army commander so much? Could it be that the rumors are true? He is the Emperor's son. There's something you forgot, Helibore doesn't resemble you at all. I felt kindness in him that night. He told me he's not a bad person."
The Empress began to laugh hysterically, and evil features were visible on her face, but without Hyacinth paying attention to those laughs, she continued her words: "You are crazy, you have become more like a devil."