341: His Mask Is back

His Mask Is back

The first morning of their return to the Royal Palace of Griven, Oriana was greeted by the crisp morning breeze, far from the warmth of Othinia or the milder weather of Abetha. The early spring air in the capital still held a hint of coldness from the remnants of winter, somewhat making her wonder what the weather was like in the Wimark Territory.1

'I miss Grandpa,' Oriana could not help but think. 'It's been almost two months.'

As the representative of the kingdom during the alliance summit, Arlan was required to attend the morning royal court and relay the amended treaties and new agreements formed during the roundtable conference. Oriana found him in a rather serious albeit not foul mood, not a single sign of the playful and willful prince she got to witness during their journey to Othinia. 

His expression was unreadable, his actions strictly adhering to royal etiquette, and even his words were formal and few and far between. He had a busy schedule ahead. In order to save time, he listened to Roman speak about palace matters he missed in his absence while having his morning meal.

'His mask is back.'

Oriana was sure that from now on, they would return to their original relationship—being purely master and servant— like how they used to be before leaving for Othinia. 

Once he was ready to leave, Oriana gathered her courage and spoke, "Your Highness, may I have a word? I have something to talk about."

He turned to look at her.

"I plan to go see Master Erich today. May I be allowed to leave?" she asked, her sparkling eyes on him. 

Arlan nodded in agreement, 

Oriana felt glad that he didn't reject her. After seeing him off, she found Roman and asked if there were more assigned tasks she needed to do. Receiving his negative response, she went to meet Erich Winfield in his accommodation within the King's Palace of Oak. 

The butler in charge of the side palace was about to inform Erich of her arrival but Oriana stopped him, telling him something in a low voice. The butler nodded and left her on her own. When she reached the workroom, the sight of the thin old man and young man with curly hair brought a bright smile to her face. Erich was busy instructing his apprentice, Adam. She gently knocked on the open door to get their attention.

"Apprentice Orian greets Master and Senior Brother," she said as she paid her respects with a bow.

Adam was first to react. "Orian, you've returned!"

"What nonsense did you learn from those nobles?" they heard Erich smack his lips in discontent, though his eyes showed pleasant surprise.

Adam was interested to hear about her trip, and she briefly spoke about the rare herbs she collected, as well as the venomous snake incident about that tribal boy in the jungle. 

Erich did not speak until he heard about the delegation of Megaris. 

"I believe the trip was fruitful."

"Fortunately, it was," Oriana replied cheerfully, but then changed the topic as they were not alone in the workroom. "By the way, Master, shouldn't you be heading to see the King around this time?" 

She glanced at the clock. The morning royal court session should be finished by now. Erich did not answer, but Adam let out a sigh, his eyes landing on the pile of medical books stacked on one table.

Oriana realized something was amiss. "How is His Majesty's health?"

Hearing this, frown lines appeared on Erich's forehead. 

"Is His Majesty's condition deteriorating?" she probed, concerned.

"Adam, continue checking those diagrams within that book. Orian, follow me," was all he said before striding out of the workroom. Oriana followed him to his study. 

Erich sat in his chair behind the desk and handed her a document from the stack on his table. 

Oriana accepted them and went through them quickly.  "Wasn't His Majesty only suffering from a lung infection?"

"Originally. The medicines and new diet worked on him for a week, only for his body to collapse. Each new regimen that followed lasted no longer than seven days before needing to be changed again."

"Could it be that he grew immune to the medicines?" Oriana asked with worry. 

"That's not the case. His health is not steadily deteriorating—it's a sudden, inexplicable plummet that has an interval. There is no need to strengthen the effect or increase the dosage of the medicines. I had the royal physicians diagnose the King as well, but all of them were baffled by the results. 

"Something else is wrong with his body, and it's not poison either. I cannot find out despite all my efforts. For now, we are stuck with this strange vicious cycle."

Oriana felt confused and heard Erich again, "We even resorted to checking the royal archives for records of the disease." He then shook his head. "Although it is possible to sustain the King's life, we cannot play that healing-and-feeding game forever. A time will arrive when the accumulated medicinal strength within his aged body will turn into toxins."

"Maybe it is a new kind of illness that we are not aware of."

"I am trying to figure that out," he said helplessly. 

A veil of silence enveloped the study for some time. Erich appeared to have words to speak, but in the end, changed it to another.

"Today,  accompany me to check on His Majesty."

Oriana thanked him, and then heard Erich hesitate after another bout of silence, "Did you get what you needed?"

She nodded as she put back the papers in her hand on his desk. "I got more than that, Master. I found answers to my questions. I… discovered who I really am." 

She didn't feel the need to hide anything from her master as he was her life's greatest benefactor. Apothecary Cenric gave her her dream, and it was also him, as Erich Winfield, who gave a commoner like her the chance to become a physician. Her master gave her courage to face the unknown, and if not for him, she would never seek out Martha.

"I am indeed what you thought me to be," she continued. "A witch, a Black Witch, holding a different attribute from Miss Martha."

Erich merely hummed in response. 

Seeing his casual response, she asked, "Master, aren't you surprised or…taken aback…?"

He chuckled at her question. "In the eyes of a physician, there are only sick people and healthy people. Be it white or black, a witch is a witch. There is no difference, just as countless humans can have pure or blackened hearts. Either way, a flick of a witch's finger can spell life and death for me."

Oriana didn't comment on his response. and then looked at Erich for a moment before continuing, "Miss Martha is doing great. She is surrounded by good people."

She knew that although Erich didn't ask, he must be curious to know about Martha. To her, the relationship between them was more than mere acquaintances. 

Erich simply hummed in response. Oriana pulled out a folded paper from her pocket. "Miss Martha asked me to deliver this to you."

The old physician accepted it. "Wait in the workroom. Be ready to leave in an hour."

Oriana stood up and bowed, leaving the study to give the man privacy so he could read the letter.

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