Chapter 65 Could It Be… My Fault
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
As expected, Empress Sarendra was furious—but fortunately, not with him. Her wrath targeted that pompous late researcher instead.
”Attempting to take Aare’s life out of jealousy is utterly unforgivable! Had he not already perished by Lord Sanai’s trap, I would have dealt with him personally!” she thundered.
He silently breathed a sigh of relief. At least he wasn’t the target.
”Your Majesty… Regarding the researcher’s attempted crime, there is some good news,” he began quickly, before her temper could shift. “We have been monitoring the creatures in animal trials. None have perished. Therefore… with Your Highness Crown Prince Aare, we may commence restorative therapy using the blood preparation we refined from these experiments. Small doses will be administered, starting soon… if you approve.”
He changed the subject swiftly, hoping to avoid a shift in her anger. If she decided to blame Lord Sanai instead, he feared for his life.
”Finally?! I have been eagerly awaiting this moment! When can it begin?” she asked, eyes alight with anticipation.
”With sufficient observation from animal trials, Your Majesty, we can begin as early as tomorrow. The safety of this preparation has been confirmed,” he reassured her.
Three months of careful observation in animal trials had passed. It might not be perfect, but safety could reasonably be assumed. If the Crown Prince were to die despite this, even he would have no choice but to accept it—given the harsh conditions, limited resources, and low technology, at least they had done their utmost.
”Wonderful! If this allows Aare to live a new life, I am truly grateful to you as his mother. I will pray for its success, Lord Sanai!” the Empress exclaimed, her joy uncontained.
”I shall not disappoint, Your Majesty. I will take my leave,” he replied respectfully, bowing before exiting the audience chamber.
* * *
The next day, he pushed a cart loaded with sterilized blood packs, transfusion needles, tubing, drip cylinders, roller clamps, mixing ports, air vents, filtration devices, and one-way valves toward the Crown Prince’s room, accompanied by attendants.
”Crown Prince… We will begin restorative therapy. It may sting slightly, but please bear with me,” he said gently.
He had crafted the thinnest, most durable embedded needle possible. Still, fear flickered across Aare’s face.
”Wait… Are you really going to stick that in me?” the Crown Prince asked, voice trembling.
”Yes. Otherwise, the preparation cannot be administered,” he answered calmly, refusing to escalate the fear.
”No… I don’t want this!” Aare protested.
”It will only hurt briefly,” he assured.
”But I don’t want it! Isn’t there another way?” Aare insisted.
”I am afraid there is no alternative,” he replied evenly.
The back-and-forth continued for thirty minutes before Aare finally resigned. Wrapping a natural rubber tourniquet around the Prince’s arm revealed faint, blue-white veins. Relief washed over him—if the veins hadn’t appeared, he would have had to pierce the ankle instead.
After cleaning with ethanol, he inserted the needle at an angle, confirming its placement as blood flowed into the extension tube. Slowly, he opened the roller clamp, and the blood preparation began dripping into the IV cylinder.
(Everything appears to be in order…)
At this rate, the procedure would take thirty to forty minutes.
* * *
Three weeks of therapy had passed. The Crown Prince’s condition steadily improved.
”His chronic bleeding has lessened significantly. At this pace, continuing restorative therapy every other day, he may very well reach adulthood safely. Congratulations, Your Highness—you have done exceptionally well,” he reported.
Once pale and fragile, Aare now displayed healthy color even from a distance. The efforts had paid off.
”Aare!” Empress Sarendra exclaimed, rushing to embrace her son.
”Ahahaha! That… tickles, Mother,” Aare laughed, the smile spreading more frequently now. Relief filled him. Barring sudden complications, there would be no need to call the executioner… he hoped.
”You have done well, Lord Sanai! Truly commendable!” the Empress said warmly.
”Yes… thank you… Your Majesty,” he replied, though her joy was clearly sufficient reward. He longed for normal life again. The lavish access to rare materials had been enjoyable, yet the worry over the stores the chaotic guards had trampled lingered.
Fortunately, funds remained in the bank, and his contract with Mr. Baldric was ongoing. Small though the resources were, life—and survival—came first.
”When will the illness be fully cured, Lord Sanai?” she asked.
”Pardon? With the current technology in Yugan—or the world, really—hemophilia cannot be completely cured,” he explained gently.
Shock froze the Empress.
”Wait… You mean… Aare’s disease… won’t be cured?”
”No. With the current technology, a complete cure is not possible.”
Hearing this, she fainted on the spot.
* * *
”Well… that was… quite the ordeal. The Empress has fainted,” he muttered, trying to ease the tension with a light comment.
The surrounding knights stiffened, glaring.
”Do not speak as if it’s someone else’s problem!” one middle-aged knight shouted, grabbing him by the collar, veins bulging on his forehead.
”I… I can’t lie… Besides… it’s not my fault hemophilia cannot be cured!” he protested.
”It is absolutely your fault!” the knight bellowed.
Before he could respond further, a commanding voice intervened.
”Enough! His attitude may be irritating, but if anything happens to him, the Crown Prince’s life is at stake!”
The knights relented, stepping back, leaving him breathing heavily from psychological pressure.
He wondered where they would take him. Judging from the words of the deputy commander, it seemed unlikely it was the execution grounds.
A massive, ornate double door was swung open by guards, and a kick from one of the knights sent him sprawling forward. Pain shot through him as he fell, head tilted upward to see the grand canopy above.
”Ouch…”
”Even so, he has saved my son. He deserves better treatment,” a calm, kind voice said.
He straightened to see a middle-aged man with gray hair, seated on a throne. There was a serene authority about him.
Intuition confirmed: This must be the Emperor.
(Second-Generation Emperor Rai El Yugan…)
Notes:
• Empress Sarendra – Aare’s mother who expresses quiet resentment towards Aare’s existence.
• Baldric – The branch manager of the Elandric Merchant Guild.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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