Classified (COMPLETED)

File 2, Part 7 - Her Imperial Majesty

In the next few days, I did not waste my time preparing for my older sister's arrival, investigating the plot against the gardener, and attending to my other duties. I could accomplish most of my work quickly, but finding clues about the person or people who were after the gardener was not easy. Thus, I vowed to talk to my older sister about it once she came home.

However, when she arrived, I learned that she had lost more than half of her guards to suicide, murder by their fellow guards, and the dragon's attack. Aside from that, she and the remaining guards acquired severe wounds they needed to continue treating.

According to her, thanks to my potions, their injuries were no longer as painful. Nevertheless, she and her guards were still disoriented from their hallucinations due to the dragon, so she allowed them to return home and rest with their families.

Therefore, despite the victory, the palace was not exactly in a celebratory mood. In fact, it has been the quietest state I have seen it in since Father's death.

Hence, I let her rest for that day. I thought I could talk to her about the gardener in private the next day instead...

...That was my mistake.

Early morning the next day, my bodyguard, ladies-in-waiting, and I heard frantic screams and shuffles from below my chamber. Since then, everything had happened too quickly. As my companions and I followed the source, I witnessed guards and maids crowding the gardener's room in the basement. Their faces were pale, their eyes were wide and dazed, and their whispers to each other were rushed and frightened. The atmosphere was somber, so even though they bowed their heads when they saw me, I could not bring myself to ask them what had happened.

Instead, I decided to hurry and check what was happening, which I regretted immediately.

Upon entering the gardener's room, I saw his naked and discolored corpse on his bed, only covered by a robe. His eyes were wide open, and his mouth was agape and frothy. When I saw him, I shuddered and almost vomited. It took all my effort to think clearly and breathe steadily.

Is...is this real? This is impossible...this cannot be...what happened? Why...

...Why is the gardener dead?

My older sister's unconscious figure was not too far from him. She was in her bodyguard's arms. Her hair was undone and disheveled, her face was ghastly white, she was garbed in her invisibility cloak, and she had no shoes. I could see her because she was not wearing her hood. I sighed with relief when I saw her chest rise and fall.

Why is my older sister unconscious? Did she faint when she realized what had occurred?

"What happened?" I demanded once I could muster the voice to do so.

This is bad. We have to be more careful. If word of this event spreads, the palace and the people in it may be more susceptible to attacks since this insinuates that the castle is not as secure. Before that, I have to find out what led to this.

"Your Highness," one of the guards by the door spoke, his head hanging low. "We suddenly heard the gardener yell this morning. When they rushed into his room, his body convulsed, and his mouth spilled with bubbles. When Her Imperial Majesty barged in and saw what happened to him, she also fainted. She was likely still sensitive to stress and death, especially after the dragon ordeal. We called for the empress's and servants' physicians, but it was too late upon their arrival with the potions."

"Is that so?" I asked, forcing my mind to process what he had just said.

"Yes."

Didn't I supply the gardener with antitoxin potions? Did they not work? Were they tampered with, or did he forget to take them this time? I need answers!