Felix hadn't returned for long when Elina ended the tea party and took her leave.
A maid came in to clear away the used cups and plates, then brought out a fresh set. Wei Wei poured tea from the pot, added milk and sugar cubes, and slid the cup—along with the small teaspoon—across to Felix.
"What's wrong? You look like something's on your mind."
After two years of marriage, Wei Wei was well-acquainted with Felix's every expression and subtle movement. Even though he looked almost the same as usual, she still caught the irritation—and... guilt?—in his eyes.
Today, she was drinking black tea in a vibrant, sunset-hued set of Jun porcelain from the royal collection. The tea set was one of the trade goods brought by the Great Song delegation last year and had become part of the king's treasures, rarely used. The fact that it was now gifted to her was proof of the king's considerable favor.
Many people disliked the bitterness of tea, but milk tea was practically unbeatable in Pradi—and possibly across all of Europe.
Two-thirds black tea, one-third milk, plus two cubes of sugar—this was Felix's favorite blend.
He stirred the tea slowly, watching the sugar dissolve before taking a sip. The rich, bittersweet, creamy flavor spread through his mouth, easing his tense nerves bit by bit.
"The king wants me to lead troops against Duke Romanov."
Wei Wei paused, halfway through handing him a pastry. "You agreed?"
Felix glanced at her guiltily. "His Majesty intends to promote my title. Leading troops is an opportunity for me to earn merit and make the promotion official."
So, in a moment of heat-headedness, he said yes.
Wei Wei didn't say whether she thought it was good or bad. She simply asked, "How confident are you that you'll defeat Duke Romanov?"
Felix replied, "We have the upper hand. Unless something unexpected happens, it's just a matter of time before we end the war."
But isn't war always unpredictable, where anything can happen?
Wei Wei didn't voice this concern. She was worried about Felix's safety, but it was also obvious that he wanted to go.
She couldn't bring herself to say anything to stop him. So, though she felt uneasy, she nodded. "When do you leave?"
"The exact schedule hasn't been set, but it won't be long."
Romanov's forces had already begun attacking nearby territories. The local nobles wouldn't be able to hold out for long, and the king couldn't allow the duke to continue expanding unchecked.
Although assembling troops from the nobility would take time, they could conscript men along the way—from the capital to Romanov's lands, there were plenty of noble fiefdoms in between. Each one could contribute a portion, and by the time they arrived, they'd have a full army. Besides, the capital was full of nobles, each with their knights and soldiers, all obligated to serve the king when called. With a royal decree, these nobles would have to send their troops.
As for weapons, horses, and other gear, it was customary in Europe for knights and soldiers to prepare their own. Even rations for the battlefield were the nobles' responsibility—they provided for their men, turned the provisions over to the king, and the king would then send them to the front lines. So if Felix led the expedition, he wouldn't have to worry about logistics. Apart from his knight order, everyone else brought their supplies.
The king had reached his limit with Duke Romanov and would undoubtedly order Felix to depart as soon as possible.
Wei Wei couldn't do much when it came to military affairs. And since they weren't at home, she couldn't even help pack his belongings. Fortunately, Felix always kept his weapons and armor with him, and he'd brought his horse this time too. If he had to march immediately, he'd be ready.
But she could at least help prepare some useful medicine—wound salves and hemostatic agents, things for emergencies.
As she considered what medicinal supplies to pack, she mentally compared her list against what the royal physicians had and thought about whether she could send Kama to buy more from the outside, provided Felix wasn't leaving immediately.
Felix saw her deep in thought and asked uneasily, "Are you angry?"
"Huh?" Wei Wei snapped out of it. "No, I was just thinking about what medicines to prepare for you."
Only then did Felix breathe a sigh of relief.
Wei Wei raised an eyebrow. "What, were you afraid I'd stop you from going?"
Felix nodded.
Wei Wei asked, "If I didn't want you to go, would you have stayed?"
Felix avoided her gaze, lowering his head to sip his tea.
That annoyed her. "Since you wouldn't listen anyway, what's the point of me trying?"
When he didn't respond, she continued with irritation, "Going to war for the king is your duty as a noble. I've been mentally prepared for that for a long time. And if His Majesty gives the order, how could I possibly oppose it? What kind of person do you take me for?"
And truth be told, their relationship with Duke Romanov had always been poor. If the duke won, their family would definitely be targeted next.
So, whether for public duty or personal safety, she had no reason to stop Felix from going to war.
Felix immediately raised his hands in surrender, almost ready to kneel on a washboard. "I was wrong. I shouldn't have assumed you'd object."
He'd just heard too many of his fellow knights grumble while drinking about how their wives always complained when they went off fighting, and he assumed Wei Wei would be the same.
"As long as you understand now."
Knowing Felix would soon be leading troops into battle, Wei Wei immediately got busy. She took a few days off from the palace and returned to the Earl's residence to help Felix pack. She also prepared rations for him and his knights. Though the Earl's residence was only an occasional home for Felix, it had everything they needed. They could easily gather his essentials, and stocking up on food was even easier—she just went to their store and gathered inventory: pasta, instant noodles, canned meat sauce, and other long-lasting foods. She also wrote to Sardinson, requesting more supplies to be delivered straight to the front line, ensuring they wouldn't suffer from food shortages.
Of course, she also had people prepare a significant amount of medicine. Not just for Felix alone, but one emergency wound salve per person for all three hundred men—fifty knight order members, their squires, and foot soldiers. Since they had only brought this many to the capital, Sardinson would contribute only these men to the expedition. The rest of the troops would be drawn from the army and other nobles. Time was tight, so Wei Wei only had time to prepare salves for this initial group. Still, everyone was deeply moved—after all, they knew just how effective her medicine was. These were literal lifesavers.
Once the preparations were nearly done, the king had finally conscripted enough troops. That meant it was time for Felix to set off.
On the day of departure, Felix donned armor emblazoned with the Williams family crest and mounted his tall black steed. Behind him stood a neatly arranged army. Although the troops came from various noble households, many of those nobles were currently imprisoned and awaiting trial. In hopes of currying favor with the king, they had all sent their best men.
The knights of the Pradi Empire wore standardized armor; only the family crests varied. At a glance, the army appeared both mighty and disciplined. The leading knights were clad in gleaming, polished silver armor, sitting tall on their horses, gallant and commanding. The soldiers following behind held their heads high, expressions solemn and determined, exuding a powerful aura of killing intent.
At that moment, even the king—long bedridden—made an appearance. Though he still bore signs of illness, he was recovering. No longer needing support, he stood on his own before the army to send them off from the capital.
His appearance was a huge morale boost. Ever since his illness—and the later revelation that he had been poisoned—the people of Pradi had feared for his life. If the king were to die now, it would plunge the empire into unprecedented chaos, something no one wanted to see.
But now, seeing him standing strong, even a little spirited, was like taking a calming tonic. Their king looked well—clearly, the worst was behind them.
The king even gave a short but rousing speech before the army. The highlight came when, in front of everyone, he bestowed upon Felix the title of Marquis, declaring him a noble even more prestigious than an Earl.
This unprecedented title shocked everyone. Though the king claimed it was merely honorary and not a new rank, people sensed a deeper meaning behind it.
They guessed that if the war ended in victory, the Pradi Empire might lose one Duke but gain another. The Marquis' title was a token of honor, but also a sign of real power—meant to help Felix command and unify the troops. It was both a reward and a tool of authority.
Felix himself was visibly surprised. The king had never mentioned this before. But he quickly dismounted and knelt to accept the title.
When the king pinned the marquis' emblem to his armor, Felix realized—this plan must have been in the works for quite some time.
Wei Wei and Elina stood to the side, watching everything unfold with pride.
The first Marquis! That title alone would secure Felix's place in history.
There was no chance to speak privately. After the formal ceremony, Felix mounted his horse again, saluted the king, and, under the gaze of all, led the army out of the capital.
Wei Wei, holding their son in her arms, stood atop the city wall and watched her husband ride farther and farther into the distance until he disappeared from view. Then she lowered her head and met little Anthony's innocent eyes.
She whispered, "Daddy's gone to war. We'll wait for him to come back, okay?"
Little Anthony giggled and clapped, repeating "Daddy!" excitedly in her arms, clearly thrilled—though it was anyone's guess what he was happy about.
After Felix's departure, Wei Wei returned to the palace. Just in time—Sardinson had delivered the herbs she requested by ship, and Wei Wei officially began treating Crown Prince Edward.
Edward had thought that drinking bitter medicine was already torture enough—but he hadn't anticipated something even worse.
He was submerged in a dark brown concoction, brewed with a huge number of strange herbs. The smell was awful. Thus began what Wei Wei called "medicated baths."
The tub was custom-made at her request, modeled after traditional Huaxia wooden soaking tubs. It had a built-in seat and a cover, with a semicircular cut-out for the head, leaving the neck and up exposed, while everything else remained covered.
The bathwater was hotter than a normal soak. With the servants' help, Edward nearly jumped out from the heat at first. But once he adjusted, it felt... oddly comfortable—aside from the smell.
After soaking for half an hour, he rinsed off the herbal scent, only to be told to put on a pair of loose boxers and lie face down on the massage table.
This table was normally used for noblemen to get massages and apply essential oils after a bath. Edward assumed that was what came next.
But then, to his utter horror, Wei Wei walked in—followed by a maid holding something very suspicious.
That maid was Kama, and in her hands was a blanket with a cloth laid out on top—containing rows of needles of varying lengths and strange designs.
A chill crept down his spine.
Before he could react, Wei Wei gave the servants a look. Acting under the king's orders to fully cooperate with Wei Wei's treatments, they obediently pressed the crown prince back down onto the table.
Wei Wei took the blanket and covered him, then selected a silver needle and began the acupuncture procedure.
The scene shocked the servants. If not for the king's explicit command, they might have tried to stop her. As it was, they stood wide-eyed, watching as the prince was transformed into a human pincushion.
Needles densely lined his back—it looked terrifying. But oddly, Edward didn't seem to feel much. When Wei Wei asked him how he felt, he calmly answered her.
He truly didn't feel much. Okay, maybe not nothing—the first needle made him brace for pain, but aside from a mild tingling and numbness, there was no actual pain.
He had mentally prepared to suffer for the sake of healing. He'd promised to cooperate fully, no matter the method, so he gritted his teeth and bore it. But to his surprise, even after several needles, the discomfort was minor.
So when Wei Wei asked how he felt, he was able to observe and respond calmly.
After all the needles were in place, they had to stay in for a while, so the entire first acupuncture session lasted nearly two hours. Fortunately, it was summer, so being shirtless wasn't a problem.
When the session ended, Wei Wei carefully removed the needles. Edward sat up, instinctively reaching to touch his back and looking over his shoulder, though the angle made it impossible to see. He didn't feel much on his skin either.
His servant came closer to check. Astonished, he saw that despite all those needles, not a single drop of blood had been drawn—not even visible puncture marks.
Wei Wei asked, "How do you feel now?"
Edward moved a bit and said hesitantly, "I think I feel more relaxed than before." Though he couldn't tell if it was from the bath or the acupuncture.
Wei Wei nodded. "From now on, I'll do acupuncture every other day. The herbal bath will be every three days. Please try to keep your schedule clear like today."
Edward nodded. A two-hour window each day was manageable.
Then he curiously asked Wei Wei about the treatment method.
"I've never seen anything like this," he said in awe.
He was intrigued, not frightened—he'd seen doctors with far scarier methods.
Like the ones who once told him his heart problem could only be diagnosed by opening his chest. The memory made him shiver.
His servant thought he was cold and quickly brought clothes for him to put on.
Wei Wei gave a brief explanation of acupuncture, but the Huaxia medical system was too different from Western medicine. Edward listened but couldn't quite grasp it. In the end, all he retained was: "Acupuncture is amazing and helps my body."
That was enough. As long as it worked and didn't hurt, he was happy to keep up the treatments.
Days passed. After completing a full cycle of acupuncture and herbal baths, Edward began to notice clear improvements in his body.
The most obvious change: he slept better.
Previously, due to asthma, he often coughed late into the night, had trouble falling asleep, and woke frequently from heart palpitations. His condition left him weak, and poor rest only made things worse. He had permanent dark circles and a sickly complexion.
But recently, he'd been sleeping soundly through the night. No more insomnia. Even his heart palpitations had vanished.
On top of that, his stamina had improved. He'd graduated from leisurely walks to light jogging. Though two laps around the palace still tired him out, a short rest was enough to recover. Before, even that much exercise would've triggered an asthma attack—but it hadn't happened once since the treatments began.
He felt stronger every day. And others noticed it too.
He used to look like a handsome, sickly vampire—gaunt, pale, with deep under-eye shadows and bloodless lips. If not for his frequent smiles, his blank stare alone could send chills down a person's spine.
But now, his complexion was rosier, the dark circles lighter, and even his lips seemed to have more color. He didn't look nearly as scary anymore.
Most importantly, his appetite had improved. He still ate light, nutritious meals that were easy to digest, but with better absorption and some exercise, the chronically underweight crown prince finally began to gain weight.
Three pounds!
The scale—custom-made for him at Wei Wei's request—proved it. The steward immediately rushed to report this joyful news to the king.
The king was ecstatic. His poisoning had mostly been cured during this period too. Though he still needed some recuperation, he no longer had to stay in bed and could begin handling state affairs again.
As soon as Wei Wei said he could move around, the king began taking back most of the responsibilities he'd given to the crown prince, leaving only minor tasks for Edward to practice with.
This freed up more time for Edward to continue treatment. The king checked on his son daily, prioritizing his recovery above all.
Seeing his son improve day by day also uplifted the king's spirits and sped up his recovery more than Wei Wei had expected.
When the king learned Edward had gained weight, he was so happy he decided to hold a celebratory banquet, showing everyone how well his son was doing and declaring that he'd surely live a long life.
He even started revisiting the idea of finding a new Crown Princess. Although Wei Wei had told him Edward needed to abstain for a while, that didn't stop the king from wanting to find him a gentle, caring wife to look after him.
Since a grand banquet was now planned, the king could no longer delay certain matters.
The imprisoned nobles finally faced trial.
Perhaps in a good mood, the king—acting as chief judge—showed surprising leniency. Most nobles were simply fined, though the amounts were hefty. But none lost their titles, which was mercy enough.
Many nobles, who had assumed Felix pleaded on their behalf, became even more grateful to the Williams family. They sent lavish gifts to the now "Marquis Residence" in gratitude.
Wei Wei found the long gift list amusing, but since they had already been delivered, she accepted them. She also prepared return gifts to be sent to each household—reciprocity ensured lasting relationships.
But those loyal to Duke Romanov weren't so lucky. The king showed no mercy. Many were executed, along with their families—no loose ends left.
Among them was Mirabelle, who'd thought she'd be spared.
Out of respect for neighboring nations, the king didn't publicly execute her. Instead, he sent her father a cold, formal letter—and a goblet of "medicine" to Mirabelle.
She died slowly, consumed by fear and regret, despair and defiance.