I Married the Terminally Ill Emperor - Chapter 117

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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I Married a Terminally Ill Emperor

 

Chapter 117

 

* * *

 

Mary, dressed splendidly, entered Arban’s Room.

 

She saw her son sitting blankly on the Bed, staring out the window with a vacant expression.

 

Arban slowly turned his gaze and brightened when he saw her.

 

“Mother, you look very beautiful. Are you going out somewhere?”

 

“Yes. I’m going to the Imperial Palace to see the Princess.”

 

“The Imperial Palace? May I come with you?”

 

Arban’s eyes lit up as he pulled back the Blanket as if he would get out of Bed immediately, but there was no strength in his movements at all.

 

Mary clicked her tongue as she looked at him with pitying eyes.

 

“Arban. Shouldn’t you get treatment first?”

 

“I don’t quite understand what treatment you’re referring to.”

 

Arban tilted his head and answered with an innocent face.

 

“Hurting yourself, refusing Food. Didn’t you also disobey your mother’s order yesterday not to meet anyone?”

 

Mary deliberately spoke slowly while observing her son’s reaction.

 

“If I can move my right arm again, everything will be fine. Mother.”

 

Arban shook his right shoulder as if his right arm was still there and said something else.

 

At that, Mary’s eyes turned cold.

 

Had her son truly gone mad? The Hypnosis had certainly been working well, but from some point on, Arban began self-harming whenever he found anything sharp.

 

When she asked the Personal Physician, he said it was ‘post-traumatic stress’ from losing his arm. She believed and waited when told it was a temporary symptom, but her son’s abnormal behavior grew increasingly severe.

 

He refused treatment for his self-inflicted wounds, then began refusing Food as well.

 

Tea Leaves were needed for Hypnosis, but since her son refused to eat, she couldn’t continue the Hypnosis.

 

When she locked him in his Room and tried to force him to eat somehow, he stuck his fingers down his throat and immediately vomited up what he had eaten.

 

Arban didn’t know all of her plans, but he had somewhat noticed that she intended to put him on the throne.

 

Could it be that Arban had even noticed the Hypnosis?

 

Deep suspicion showed in Mary’s eyes as she looked at her son.

 

Could he be pretending to be crazy to avoid the Hypnosis?

 

If her naive and overly kind son was resorting to such tactics, it would be welcome. It was proof that he was becoming that much more ruthless.

 

However, the extent was severe. Her indifferent gaze swept over her son’s gaunt body.

 

According to the Personal Physician, if he continued to eat nothing and refuse treatment like this, Arban’s life would be in danger.

 

If Arban died like this, the throne would pass to Viviana or another Branch Family. That had to be prevented.

 

“Arban, I can’t let you do as you please anymore. First, let’s move your Room since Leo might come looking again.”

 

“Yes, Mother.”

 

Arban smiled innocently and nodded.

 

He was smiling so brightly even when told he would be confined so he couldn’t meet anyone? Had her son really gone mad?

 

“Butler. Move Arban Underground. And make him eat somehow.”

 

“…Yes, I understand.”

 

Mary swept him with a cold gaze once, then left the room.

 

The Butler looked at Arban with pitying eyes, then approached and supported him.

 

“Young master. You must move now. I will help you.”

 

“If I go underground, I won’t be able to see sunlight anymore, so could I go out to the garden for a moment?”

 

“Yes. I will escort you.”

 

* * *

 

Arban, supported by the Butler, went out to the sunny backyard and pointed to a bench.

 

Even with the Butler’s support, it was difficult to walk for long.

 

“I’ll sit here for a moment, so Butler, come find me in an hour.”

 

“No. I will stay by your side to serve you.”

 

Arban gave the Butler a dry smile.

 

“I can’t even move without the Butler’s help, so there’s no need to watch me that closely.”

 

“It’s not watching, young master. I’m worried about you.”

 

The Butler answered quickly with a flustered face.

 

“Right. I know the Butler cares for me. So, will you grant my last request before going underground?”

 

“…I understand, young master. If you need anything, please call me anytime.”

 

“Alright.”

 

Arban was taking in the backyard he hadn’t seen in a long time, when his gaze stopped on one tree.

 

The tree he had planted with his parents in childhood had grown so much and now boasted lush leaves.

 

“Arban, you must grow strong like this tree.”

 

Father, who had been sickly with chronic illness, spoke to Arban as if making him promise.

 

After hearing the Gardener’s words that planting a tree of the same age would make one healthy like the tree, Father had personally chosen and planted a tree the same age as Arban.

 

“Father, I’m strong. I eat well and exercise hard.”

 

“Good, you’re a good boy. You must grow strong like that and protect Mother.”

 

“Yes. Father.”

 

“Are you trying to slip away without protecting me?”

 

Mother, who had been listening to the conversation beside them, shot Father a sidelong glance.

 

“Of course I must protect you first.”

 

When Father laughed heartily and tried to hug Mother, Mother was horrified by his dirt-covered hands.

 

“Don’t come near me!”

 

“Arban, shall we show our Mother plenty of love?”

 

Father’s eyes were full of mischief.

 

“How?”

 

“Just hug her tight.”

 

“Sounds good!”

 

“No way!”

 

Mother ran away with a laughing face, and Father and young Arban chased after her teasingly.

 

“I can’t keep that promise. Father….”

 

Not long after planting the tree, Father passed away.

 

Father must have sensed his end and entrusted Mother to him.

 

However, he was no longer as strong as Father had hoped, and he was in conflict with Mother.

 

Arban slowly closed his eyes. In truth, he no longer had the strength to keep them open.

 

How long could he continue this madness? He didn’t know how much time he had left.

 

That’s when it happened.

 

“Arban. Excuse me.”

 

At the sudden voice, Arban turned his head, but his vision went dark. He had fainted.

 

* * *

 

Crystal Palace reception room.

 

When Dahlia’s eyes met with Marchioness Mary Sondo, she gave an awkward smile.

 

During this time, visit requests from Ruusephon nobles had flooded in, but she had politely declined them all.

 

However, Marchioness Sondo was the Emperor’s aunt and the eldest member of the Imperial Palace, so she couldn’t bring herself to refuse.

 

After taking a sip of tea, the Marchioness opened her mouth with an admiring expression.

 

“Your Princess’s maid has excellent tea brewing skills. I also love tea, so I’ve prepared some tea leaves to give to Your Highness. Please try them, and if they suit your taste, I’ll send more.”

 

The Marchioness placed an elegant tea case on the table.

 

“I’ll gratefully accept it.”

 

Dahlia handed the tea case to Annie, who was standing behind her.

 

“These days the capital is in chaos because of those demon beasts. You must be very worried too, Your Highness?”

 

“I believe His Majesty will resolve it well.”

 

“Of course. Our Majesty is an excellent leader. Above all, he cherishes Your Highness greatly, so he will protect you well.”

 

Dahlia nodded as if agreeing with her words while thinking to herself.

 

Why exactly had the Marchioness visited? To boast about her nephew the Emperor?

 

“Foevern is close to the Hallen Sacred Empire, have you visited there often?”

 

When Marin looked at her with puzzled eyes as if she didn’t understand the intent of the question, the Marchioness softened her gaze and continued.

 

“I asked because everyone is paying attention to the Hallen Sacred Empire due to this demon beast incident.”

 

“Ah…. I’ve never left the palace until now, so I’ve never visited the Hallen Sacred Empire either. And in our kingdom, there aren’t many believers who worship the Goddess.”

 

“I see.”

 

Mary nodded with a harmless smile.

 

The Princess seemed to have no connection to the Hallen Sacred Empire at all, so she couldn’t understand why the Pope was showing interest in her.

 

She had investigated from various angles, but as the Princess said, she had never left the palace at all.

 

While trying to understand the Pope’s intentions, Mary’s gaze fell on the tea case held by the Princess’s maid.

 

To hypnotize the Princess, she first needed to make her drink tea, but due to the incident caused by Lady Yofron, everything brought into the Crystal Palace was being inspected.

 

That’s why she had come directly like this.

 

No one would inspect a gift from herself, a member of the Imperial Family.

 

As expected, the tea leaves she brought passed through without inspection.

 

If she had just sent the gift to the palace, it probably couldn’t have avoided inspection.

 

Now that she had handed over the tea leaves, the first step was taken, but the maid and guard knight by the Princess’s side were the problem. As long as they remained close to the Princess, she couldn’t cast hypnosis.

 

While she was pondering how to separate them and meet alone with the Princess, a knock was heard at the reception room door.

 

Soon after, a maid who entered politely greeted them and raised her head.

 

“Emperor Gray is looking for Marchioness Mary Sondo.”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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