CHAPTER 230: COMFORT

King’s Study

The king summoned his most trusted aides to deal with the current issue.

"Your Majesty, I suggest you let the former queen step forward and dispel the rumors. The divorce was entirely her decision and had nothing to do with your taking a mistress or covering up any attempt to harm her," said one of the chancellors still loyal to the king.

"No," King Edward refused. He also wished she would speak up, but he understood that Anastasia would never agree—especially after the incident with Gill.

"Your Majesty, Lady Anastasia is gifted with words. I’m sure that if she speaks, we might be able to manage the situation," the chancellor insisted.

"You speak as if Lady Anastasia’s words are gold. Those rebels are deliberately spreading lies. I fear that even if she speaks, it may not help," another lord disagreed.

"We’re only trying to silence the public. Who cares whether they believe it or not?" the chancellor argued.

"In that case, I suggest His Majesty marry a noble daughter and name her queen. The daughter of Lord Williams, head of the Privy Council, is still unmarried. She would be a good choice," a lord proposed.

"Lord Williams would never allow his precious daughter to marry the king, not under these circumstances. She means too much to him," the chancellor replied.

They went back and forth, debating various options.

"Would Lady Anastasia even agree to this?" a lord asked. The men were arguing over the idea of Anastasia saying a few words in defense of the king. But what if she refused? No matter how kind she once was, would she still help the king after the pain and humiliation she had suffered?

The study fell quiet. Everyone present could feel that the king had indeed mishandled the situation.

"I can make her cooperate. I have a close relationship with Duke Thompson. With the right incentives, she will definitely agree," said the chancellor who had brought up the idea.

"Then, I’ll leave this matter in your hands," King Edward said, feeling a headache coming on. Now that he had agreed to the plan, even the lords who had wanted to object remained silent.

"Your Majesty, I still believe it’s best that you marry Lord Williams’ daughter. The rebels are greedy. Even if you suppress the rumors, they won’t rest. Building powerful alliances around the throne is essential," the king’s advisor added.

King Edward considered it. The divorce from the queen had weakened the royal family’s influence. Royal relatives were seizing the opportunity to make their own claims. He understood the need to draw the kingdom’s most powerful men to his side.

"We’ll discuss the marriage after Lady Anastasia agrees to step forward," he said. Though the woman he truly loved was Dorothy, he knew she could never become his official wife.

They discussed other pressing matters before finally dispersing.

King Edward had no time to rest. He immediately resumed reviewing reports.

Not long after, Walter entered the study with urgent news.

"Your Majesty, the young prince has fallen ill."

"How could he fall ill so suddenly?" King Edward asked, displeased.

Walter hesitated, unsure how to respond. People fell ill all the time—how could he explain it?

"Let’s go," Edward said, dropping the report in his hand. He stood and prepared to visit the prince immediately.

....

Little Prince’s Chamber

The royal guards stepped aside at the sight of the king, and the heavy doors creaked open. Inside, the chamber was shrouded in a quiet tension. Thick curtains blocked out the evening light, and the scent of herbs clung heavily to the air.

Dorothy sat beside the child’s bed, her face pale, her hands clutching a damp cloth which she used to gently wipe the prince’s forehead. The baby whimpered softly in his sleep, his skin flushed with fever.

"Your Majesty," she whispered, rising as King Edward entered.

His gaze swept over her before falling on the child. "What happened?" he asked coldly, though the tremor in his voice betrayed his concern.

"The fever came suddenly. He would not stop crying, then he fell silent. The physicians say they do not know what’s wrong," Dorothy said, her voice trembling. "Please... he is your son. Save him," she cried.

A physician stepped forward, bowing deeply. "Your Majesty, we have examined him thoroughly. No rashes, no visible signs of infection. His breathing is strained and his fever keeps climbing, but we cannot determine the cause. We have administered cooling herbs and tonics, but nothing seems to help." The physician lowered his head and spoke in a small voice.

Edward frowned. "You call yourselves physicians and yet cannot treat a child’s fever?"

The physician flinched. "We are doing all we can, your majesty." the other two physicians spoke covered in cold swelt.

The king looked at the three physicians in disappointment.

"Where is Physician Nathan? Send for him at once!" the king barked.

Moments later, Nathan arrived in a brown robe. He bowed. "Your Majesty

Since the issue with the prescription he had stayed away from Dorothy. He was not involved in the little prince care, if the king had not demanded his presence, he would not have bother to go over.

"Save my son," Edward said without preamble. "No one seems to know what’s wrong."

Nathan said nothing. He approached the child quietly, his presence calming, his movements precise. He examined the young prince, checking his pulse, his tongue, his eyelids. Then, subtly, he inspected the feeding bottle, lifting it to his nose. His eyes flicked to the water basin, then to the rim of the cup beside the nanny.

He didn’t speak.

But in that moment, he knew.

It wasn’t illness. The child had been given something; likely an herb not meant to kill but to mimic a dangerous fever. Carefully measured. Intentionally chosen. Something to cause alarm. To summon attention.

His eyes briefly flicked to Dorothy, who stood a few paces away, wringing her hands, pale and tearful.

Dorothy felt his gaze on her and lowered her head in guilty. She knew that physician Nathan was very skilled, she prayed and hoped he had not noticed anything.

He straightened slowly, looking away from Dorothy and masking the glint of understanding behind a look of solemn professionalism.

"What has the little prince eaten today?" He asked the nanny.

"The wet nurse feed him as usual," the nanny answered.

"Are you feeling sick?" Physician Nathan asked the wet nurse.

"No, I am in good health," the wet nurse answered. She was scared that if the prince sickness was related to her, she might not be able to keep her life.

Physician Nathan said nothing, he looked at the feeding bottle again and then at Dorothy who had been following his actions with her eyes.

"Did you notice anything before the fever started!" He asked

Dorothy’s Heart missed a beat. She had a feeling that physician Nathan already knows the truth but she was unwilling to confess.

"No," she shook her head.

Physician Nathan paused and looked at her. "will prepare a tonic, your majesty," he turned and addressed the king.. "He should recover within a few days. The fever is not dangerous, but it must be brought down carefully."

Edward exhaled, his jaw still tense. "You’re sure he’ll recover?" He trusted Physician Nathan, it’s just that after hearing from the other physician he was anxious.

"With rest and care, yes," Nathan replied.

He did not mention what he noticed. Not the herb or his conclusion. After all, the one who harm the child was his mother. Saying anything might only throw the palace into more chaos.

This favor he decided to do for Dorothy, in his heart it was to repay for the problem with the prescription.

"Very well," the king said, then looked briefly at Dorothy. "You heard him, physician Nathan is skilled, our son would be fine." he comforted her seeing that she looks pale.

Dorothy nodded her head and fell into the king’s embrace, "your majesty, I was so scared," she cried.

Nathan witness this scene as he turned to leave, his mind was calm but not still. He had seen ambition take many shapes. This one wore the face of a weeping mother.

"It’s okay," the king’s soft voice came from behind him. Dorothy hugged the king, "our son would really be fine?" She asked hiding the victory smile on her face.

"Of course, you should go to your chamber and rest," the king said. He was feeling very sad seeing her look like this.

"Your majesty, I want to stay back and watch the prince," she shook her head.

The king did not insist, he also felt that she might not be able to rest without knowing how the prince was doing.

He signaled to a servant to bring water for Dorothy.

He then lead her to sit at the other end of the room. "Drink some water," he said when the servants returned with the warm water.

"Thank you, your majesty," Dorothy said as she took the water and took a small sip. She was glad that her plan had worked.