The news had originally been told to Wei Wei by the Countess of Nelson in jest. The countess probably didn't take it seriously at the time, and nearly a year had passed with no follow-up incidents—she might not even remember it anymore.
But Wei Wei hadn't forgotten. Though she hadn't spent much time with Queen Mirabelle, her impression of the queen had been unforgettable: jealous, willful, and petty. Just because Wei Wei had stolen the spotlight at her wedding, the queen had instantly turned cold, as if all past friendliness had never existed. Such a narrow heart was rare, even in court.
If there were anyone who could poison the king without much difficulty—aside from his attendants—then Queen Mirabelle was undoubtedly among them.
What Wei Wei didn't tell Felix was that her suspicion had originally stemmed from watching too many palace dramas. She knew full well how ruthless women could be when they put their minds to it, which was why she'd immediately thought of the queen. The rest of the signs had only started appearing later.
"But this is just my speculation. It's not reliable—you're only to listen, not to speak of it," she warned the maids.
Penny and the others immediately promised. They swore not to say a word, not even a whisper.
Still, even though Wei Wei emphasized that her theory was pure speculation, both Felix and the maids found themselves increasingly inclined to suspect Queen Mirabelle. The more they thought about it, the more plausible it seemed.
Just then, a knock sounded at the door, and the room immediately quieted down, leaving the dangerous conversation behind.
The butler entered, personally bringing in food with the help of a servant. He had not only prepared meals for the count and countess but also thoughtfully included a portion suitable for little Anthony. Everything had been meticulously arranged.
The butler personally attended to the couple's meal, while the maids took their share of bread and thick soup to a corner away from the main table. They had been rushed from the ship straight to the palace, dealing with diagnoses and herbal decoctions. Now they were truly starving and didn't stand on ceremony—they dug in the moment they sat down.
While Wei Wei ate, the butler looked like he wanted to say something several times, probably to ask about the king's condition. But seeing the maids present, he held his tongue.
He probably couldn't have imagined that Wei Wei had already discussed such critical matters openly in front of her maids—including speculation on who might have poisoned the king.
But this wasn't uncommon among the nobility. Just as male nobles relied on their attendants, women confided in their maids. There were few secrets a servant close to the master wouldn't eventually learn.
As they were eating, little Anthony—who had been sleeping—finally woke up. Sensing that he was about to start fussing, Wei Wei quickly picked him up from the couch where he had been napping.
Babies, after all, live to sleep and eat in turns. Having just woken up, he was still a little dazed but had already begun to nuzzle at Wei Wei in search of milk.
With outsiders present, Wei Wei wasn't comfortable breastfeeding. Fortunately, the butler had prepared a bowl of egg custard suitable for infants. Wei Wei tasted it first—it was just the right temperature and seasoning—then began to feed it to her son.
Little Anthony wasn't picky. As long as his mother was feeding him, he was happy to open his mouth and eat.
This scene stunned the butler. It was likely the first time he had seen a high-ranking noblewoman personally feeding her child—even when maids were right there who could have done it for her?
From her practiced movements, it was clear this wasn't her first time either.
Despite his astonishment, the butler didn't forget his duty. He had been keeping an eye on the time and, believing the moment was right, asked, "Madam, is it time to administer the medicine to His Majesty?"
Wei Wei glanced over toward the fireplace. Though the medicinal scent had mostly drifted up the chimney along with the smoke, there was no exhaust fan, and the room still reeked of herbs. Anyone unused to the smell might find it quite unpleasant.
She looked back to Felix. "What time is it?"
Mantel clocks had become a hit product from Sardinson, and you could spot them in many parts of the palace. Lavish, striking, and chiming on the hour, they were great for public areas but completely unsuitable for bedrooms—they rang too often and disturbed sleep.
The butler was about to go check the time outside when Felix pulled out a smooth, round golden object from his coat, opened it, and glanced at its face. "Two twenty-eight in the afternoon," he told Wei Wei.
The butler's eyes widened. That golden orb—was it a portable timekeeper?
A miniature clock that you could carry with you! If the setting hadn't been so formal, the butler might've asked to inspect it on the spot.
That golden pocket watch was a recent creation by the newly emerged profession of horologists. These artisans had arisen with the popularity of mantel clocks. Initially apprentices to blacksmiths, they had yet to fully graduate, but their craftsmanship had become quite skilled. Once clock production scaled up, Felix realized that using blacksmiths for such fine tasks was inefficient. He handpicked a group of dexterous apprentices to specialize in making clock parts.
Later, when he entered the clock business with other investors, the production of parts was outsourced to partners, leaving the former apprentices—now horologists—to focus on assembly. With more time on their hands, they didn't slack off. Instead, they eagerly began researching how to make timekeeping more precise. Some even started designing more elaborate, decorative clock casings to appeal to the luxury market.
When Wei Wei once accompanied Felix to their workshop, she was impressed by their drive and suggested that, instead of focusing on looks, they should try miniaturizing clock mechanisms to create pocket watches and wristwatches, like in the modern world.
The young horologists were immediately intrigued. Full of energy and ambition, they took her idea seriously and dove into the challenge. Wei Wei had originally intended to give them a schematic, but seeing how enthusiastic and capable they were, she smiled and let them figure it out on their own.
And so, the first pocket watch was born.
Unlike the sleek, flat designs of the modern era, this early model was spherical, with a full metal face and no glass cover. Its tiny hands moved slowly across the dial, and because there was no protective glass, even a slight touch could mess up the time.
Still, it was a milestone—the first of its kind and a symbol of a new age of timekeeping.
The watch was ultimately gifted to Felix, who had a golden chain made so he could hang it around his neck and tuck the sphere into a custom pocket sewn into his inner coat. Despite its weight, it was incredibly convenient.
The horologists who created it were also generously rewarded.
However, this model was never mass-produced. Wei Wei wanted them to take it a step further and develop pocket watches closer to modern standards. Fired up from their success, the horologists were now working hard to meet the goal the countess had set.
Back to the moment: after checking the time, Wei Wei told the butler they still had to wait a bit longer. After about ten more minutes, she instructed Kama to take the decoction off the fire and pour out the herbal broth.
The leftover dregs weren't discarded. Instead, more water was added to brew them again. These herbs could be boiled three times before their medicinal value was fully extracted. Only after the third brew could the residue be considered waste. The three rounds of decoction would typically be combined to ensure uniform potency.
Wei Wei wasn't doing this out of thrift alone. If she had enough herbs, she'd happily brew a fresh dose for each serving. But given the limited supply—and the king's condition requiring at least two full doses to awaken—she had no choice.
So since she'd already gone through the trouble of a second boil, she might as well do a third and get every drop out of them.
The butler, however, didn't seem like he had the patience for all that. Seeing the thick, dark brown liquid on the table, he swallowed hard and said with some hesitation, "His Majesty has been unconscious… he may not be able to swallow this."
Wei Wei shook her head. "He can. I checked his throat earlier—his swallowing reflex is still intact." If he hadn't been able to swallow, her only option would've been an injection.
Still skeptical, the butler had one of the king's attendants taste a spoonful while it was still warm. Once confirmed safe, he picked up the bowl and began cooling it manually.
The blackish-brown broth, with its pungent smell, sloshed back and forth between two bowls. The odor grew more intense, more like the legendary brews of witches than medicine. For a moment, the butler wondered if he was doing the right thing by feeding this strange potion to the king.
But he had seen the herbs before they were brewed. Though unfamiliar with their properties, they had looked like common leaves and bark. Aside from being freshly harvested and perhaps specially processed, they didn't seem too different from traditional remedies.
So... it should be safe, right?
Hopefully, the king wouldn't wake up and order his beheading.
Soon, the decoction cooled to a warm temperature. At Wei Wei's signal, the butler carried it off to administer it. Wei Wei handed her son to Felix and followed.
Felix stood outside the room with the baby in his arms, watching Wei Wei instruct the butler on how to feed the king without causing him to choke. Little Anthony fidgeted, not entirely happy to be away from his mother, but seeing her nearby calmed him. Eventually, he settled down and started playing with his fingers.
The king was propped up and the decoction poured into his mouth. One bowl went down smoothly. But as soon as the bowl was empty, the butler began anxiously waiting for a sign of awakening. Of course, that was unrealistic.
Wei Wei gave him the real timeline: "The medicine needs at least half an hour to take effect. And one bowl isn't enough—he'll need another dose before we can expect results. So the earliest he'll wake is tonight."
Hearing her say it so matter-of-factly, the butler finally calmed down. "As long as he wakes up, that's all that matters."