Embracing Magic - E.M Chapter 172 (Part 2)

Everyone’s attention was fixed solely on Rodin, even though his act of licking the blood had been grotesque.

Rodin surveyed the room before opening his mouth.

“The poison is Azahasar Pallite. It seems Her Majesty was already aware.”

“Ah! That… you were able to determine that so easily…?”

Queen Regina had suffered for four whole months just to learn the name of the poison.

Dozens of healers had drawn her blood, testing it with various herbs. And that wasn’t enough—eventually, even a 6th-circle mage had been summoned.

However, Rodin identified the poison’s name with nothing more than a dab of blood on his tongue.

As someone who had suffered through months of hardship, it was absurd.

“I knew what the poison was even before tasting it. I tasted it only because it seemed the poison hadn’t been properly prepared, and I wanted to confirm.”

“What do you mean, it wasn’t properly prepared?”

“Azahasar Palite is a poison that has been used since ancient times. It was developed using every complex method imaginable to make it impossible to detoxify.”

“That much I know. I’ve heard it’s a poison that can’t be treated with antidote potions or any kind of herb.”

That it couldn’t be detoxified—was based on current standards.

During the Magic Empire era, there was an antidote to Azahasar Palite. The poison even appeared in The Frouval’s lessons, and those records included the method to produce the antidote.

“There aren’t many who know the exact method of producing Azahasar. Perhaps the four ancient Magic Towers, with their long histories, still retain accurate knowledge.”

“Then, are you saying one of the Four Magic Towers spread this poison?”

“That’s unlikely. As I said before, a few toxic herbs were missing from the compound. If it had come from the Four Towers, they wouldn’t have made such a mistake.”

Azahasar Palite.

This strangely named poison first appeared in ancient texts.

It was a poison impossible to detoxify, and one that couldn’t be detected before symptoms began to show.

Because of this, it’s known to have claimed the lives of many royals and nobles in ancient times.

The last time Azahasar Palite became a major issue was only 500 years ago. An entire royal bloodline died from the same poison, sending the entire continent into turmoil.

All Four Magic Towers devoted themselves to the matter, and eventually succeeded in identifying and executing the culprit.

Afterward, the formula for Azahasar Palite was torn into four pieces and stored separately by the Four Magic Towers.

The decision to preserve the recipe rather than destroy it completely sparked much debate at the time. Many royals and nobles protested.

But the Towers calmed them by claiming it might be needed again in times of crisis—such as another Demon King incident.

“What do you mean some herbs were missing?”

“Exactly that. Somehow, the ancient formula was acquired, but when it was compounded, a few critical toxic herbs were omitted. Most likely, the person didn’t know their current names.”

“By ‘current names’…?”

“The missing herbs appear to be Credoltak and Hamasalav. However, the person who made the poison didn’t know what those herbs are called now. So, they likely mixed in substitute toxic herbs instead.”

If the missing herbs had been extremely rare, Rodin might’ve assumed the creator had failed to obtain them.

But Credoltak and Hamasalav were actually quite common.

It’s just that, over time, their names had changed.

If Rodin were to mention their current names, any halfway decent healer would go, “Huh? That one?”—they were that familiar.

“What are they called now?”

“I don’t think I need to tell you that, do I?”

“Ah! Sorry.”

“In any case, two herbs were used incorrectly. That means it can be treated… but unfortunately, a complete cure is not possible. Too much time has passed since the poisoning.”

As soon as he mentioned treatment, Queen Regina’s eyes sparkled.

Everyone had said it was untreatable. Especially after the poison’s identity was revealed, the word “impossible” had come up constantly.

So Queen Regina had prepared herself for death. She considered it fortunate just to survive the year.

And yet—treatment? Was that possible? She could hardly believe it.

“It can be treated? You really can treat it?”

“As I said, it’s been too long. A full cure isn’t possible. More than that—I’d like to examine the prince as well.”

Rodin’s gaze turned toward the child lying down.

He was supposedly five years old, but his small frame made him seem even younger. It wasn’t likely that a child protected by a ducal household had suffered from malnutrition—clearly, something was wrong with his body.

“Big Brother Rodin! That’s not a prince, that’s a princess.”

“No. Your Majesty, may I examine the prince?”

“H-How… how did you know?”

“What a strange thing to say. Is it strange to recognize a boy as a boy?”

Queen Regina had raised her son as a daughter. She had even instructed him again and again to act like a girl whenever others were around.

Her son’s survival meant the heir lived. That would make political enemies even more aggressive.

So she disguised him as a girl. It was her desperate attempt to reduce the attacks, even a little.

“Your Majesty… the princess was actually a prince?”

“I’m sorry, Duke. There were too many enemies… I had no choice but to deceive everyone.”

“Ah! It’s fine. I understand.”

Alfonso Lientas also knew the political situation in the Kingdom of Luvain was unstable.

After a long civil war, Damian Hesward Luvain had ascended the throne, but assassination attempts had occurred dozens of times since.

While riding, while sleeping—even during royal court sessions, assassins had broken in.

Considering how precarious the situation remained, it wasn’t strange to hide a child’s gender. In fact, it might be thanks to that disguise that the prince was still alive.

“I’ve said this several times today, haven’t I? Let’s continue this conversation later—may I examine the prince now?”

“Ah, yes. Of course.”

Rodin examined the body of the child known publicly as Aria Hesward. As expected, he was also poisoned with the same toxin as Queen Regina.

“It’s the same poison.”

“What? Really? But the healers never said anything…”

“The symptoms are mild. Hmm… most likely, he didn’t ingest the poison directly. How long has it been since you left the palace?”

“This is our fourth year.”

That meant they had left before the civil war officially began. Political infighting must have started before the war was publicly known.

“So, at five years old, he was in the palace for barely a year. He probably consumed little to no food there, so the poisoning is light.”

“My daughter—no, my son—can he be treated?”

“Not a full cure, but the progression can be stopped. With proper treatment, a complete cure is also possible. But first, absolute healing.”

Using only 7th-circle magic, he suppressed the poison in the prince’s body. As with Queen Regina, that was the current limit.

“Earlier, you said the poison could be detoxified. Is that really true?”

“Yes. It’s possible. But some preparation is needed. And Your Majesty must make a decision.”

Azahasar Palite had a surprisingly long history. Its first appearance was in the early days of the Magic Empire.

Karis and Jena, waiting outside, also knew of the poison. However, they likely remembered its name not as Azahasar Palite, but as Trenolia.

Azahasar Palite was the name given to it after the fall of the Magic Empire, in ancient times. That’s why the meanings behind the two names differed.

Azahasar Palite meant “three green dots” in Runic—named for the three green dots that appeared in the irises of poisoned victims.

Trenolia, on the other hand, referred to the ceremonial daggers used by royal women in the palace to take their own lives.

In the early days of the Magic Empire, many royals were poisoned with the substance known then as Trenolia. Before their conditions worsened, many chose to take their own lives.

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