Marbella's gaze lingered on the porcelain vial in Wilbert's hand.
Only after he swallowed one of the dark-colored pills did Lady Eleanor hand him a cup of warm water.
"You should rest after taking your medicine, Your Highness," she said gently.
Wilbert smiled helplessly.
"If I spent all day resting, I'd become even weaker."
Lady Eleanor sighed but said nothing more.
Marbella quietly observed the exchange.
The concern in Eleanor's eyes appeared genuine.
If she truly intended to kill Wilbert…
She was hiding it remarkably well.
Or perhaps…
She believed she was saving him.
The thought crossed Marbella's mind only briefly before she pushed it aside.
Without evidence, every possibility remained equally dangerous.
After bidding farewell to the Imperial Family, Marbella and her father returned to the Grand Duke's mansion.
The carriage ride was unusually quiet.
Grand Duke Adrian eventually looked away from the documents in his hands.
"You've been deep in thought all afternoon."
Marbella smiled faintly.
"I was thinking about His Highness."
Adrian nodded.
"His condition worries many people."
"Father…"
"Yes?"
"Who has been treating the Crown Prince all these years?"
"The Imperial Physician."
"Doctor Victor Armand."
"He has served the Imperial Family for nearly twenty years."
Marbella nodded slowly.
"Has no one ever questioned his treatment?"
Adrian seemed surprised.
"Why would they?"
"He is regarded as the finest physician in the Empire."
"Besides…"
"The Crown Prince's illness has always been considered incurable."
Marbella lowered her gaze.
Incurable…
That single word had silenced everyone's doubts.
If every physician believed Wilbert could never recover…
Then no one would question why his condition continued to worsen.
That evening, Marbella remained inside her study.
Sheets of parchment covered her desk.
She dipped her pen into the ink before writing.
Herbal Medicine
Taken since the age of ten.Prepared personally by Lady Eleanor.Causes coughing immediately afterward.
She drew another line beneath it.
Black Pills
Taken for approximately four years.Prescribed by Doctor Victor Armand.Stored separately from the herbal medicine.
Marbella placed the pen down.
Two medicines.
Two different methods of preparation.
Yet both reached Wilbert every single day.
She quietly closed her eyes.
If someone has truly been poisoning His Highness…
Why use two different prescriptions?
Which one is responsible?
Or…
Could both be harmless on their own?
Her eyes suddenly opened.
Another possibility emerged.
What if…
The poison only formed when both medicines were taken together?
Her heartbeat quickened.
She had heard stories of rare herbs that became deadly only when mixed with another ingredient.
If that were true…
Neither medicine alone would appear suspicious.
No physician would discover the truth through an ordinary examination.
Marbella immediately shook her head.
"No…"
"I'm making assumptions."
She needed facts.
Not guesses.
A soft knock came from the door.
"My Lady."
Mia entered the room carrying another report.
"I've learned something new."
Marbella motioned for her to continue.
"I spoke with one of the palace servants."
"She said the Imperial Physician rarely prepares medicine himself."
Marbella frowned.
"What do you mean?"
"He diagnoses the patients and writes the prescriptions."
"The actual medicines are prepared by assistant physicians before being delivered to Lady Eleanor."
Marbella remained silent.
"So…"
"Several people handle His Highness's medicine before it reaches him."
"Yes."
Mia hesitated.
"But according to the servant…"
"Once Lady Eleanor receives the medicine, she never lets anyone else touch it."
Marbella slowly nodded.
That matched what she had witnessed herself.
Lady Eleanor personally prepared every cup.
Personally handed it to Wilbert.
Which meant…
If someone wished to tamper with the medicine…
There were several opportunities before it reached Eleanor.
Or…
Eleanor herself had knowingly altered it.
Both possibilities remained open.
Marbella leaned back in her chair.
The investigation had only become more complicated.
But one thing was certain.
Someone had carefully designed a system in which no single person held every piece of the truth.
And that meant…
Finding the real culprit would be far more difficult than she had imagined.