Justin sighed, his voice lowering a bit. "I understand, Etham. But you must remember that I am the one you serve, not the King." He felt a bit of regret for letting his anger out like that, but the control from the royal palace was increasingly making him feel suffocated, making him want to break free."Etham, go back to your room and rest," Justin said, his voice softening. "I will explain to the King later. You have done your job well, but this is my decision."Etham, still kneeling at Justin's feet, trembled all over. He bowed deeper, then stood up and left. Justin sat down in his chair, feeling a sense of emptiness and fatigue engulfing him. He leaned back into the armchair in the room, feeling its softness and comfort. In the quiet space, only the gentle hum of the air conditioner was heard as Justin began to close his eyes, hoping to find some peace in sleep.But his sleep was not peaceful. He was tormented by chaotic dreams, voices echoing in his head. He heard someone calling
"My lord, your old heart condition has relapsed," the doctor said in a professional tone. "Furthermore, your recent vestibular disorder has caused extreme physical weakness. This is a serious condition that requires immediate treatment."Justin lay still, listening to every word the doctor said, but his eyes kept closing, overwhelmed by fatigue."Now, we will combine intravenous therapy with medication to help you recover quickly," the doctor continued. "I will prescribe the medication and instruct Etham on how to care for you.""Thank you, I appreciate it," Justin nodded, signaling for the doctor to proceed.However, as the doctor turned away to get the equipment, Justin's eyes unexpectedly caught sight of something sticking out of the doctor's pocket. It was a check, but not just any check. Justin immediately recognized it as a check from Mozzafiato, a person connected to the schemes and troubles he had been investigating recently.Justin's expression changed instantly. He tried to
When Etham left the room, Justin waited a moment to make sure he was gone. He sat up, looked around the room to ensure no one was watching, and gripped the vial of medicine in his hand. Justin walked over to the door and cautiously peered through the peephole.Through the peephole, he saw the guards still patrolling outside, vigilantly keeping watch. Clearly, his every move was being monitored. He looked at the vial of medicine in his hand again, trying to recall all the times he had taken it before. Could Etham have tampered with the medicine or was there something unusual about this pill?Justin decided to examine the medicine carefully. He took a small bowl from the table and poured out the pill. Inspecting it closely, he didn't see anything unusual, but the feeling of suspicion did not dissipate. Justin carefully split the pill, using a bit of water to see if there was any chemical reaction. Still, nothing happened.Suddenly, Justin remembered that he had a friend who worked in th
Justin felt a wave of anxiety fill his heart. "Are you a doctor?" he asked, unable to hide his doubt and surprise.The driver nodded. "I was an oriental medicine doctor, but for some personal reasons, I quit my job and switched to being a taxi driver."Justin looked down at the bottle of medicine in his hand, wondering if he should ask the driver about what he was worried about. His words seemed to read his thoughts. "If possible," the driver continued, "you should stop taking that medicine."Justin stared at the bottle of medicine, feeling a strong struggle between doubt and trust. He felt he was facing an important decision, a decision that could change the entire situation."Can you help me test this medicine?" Justin spoke slowly, his voice clearly showing tension.The driver stopped the car on the side of the road, turned around and looked straight into Justin's eyes. "Okay. I'll help you test this medicine. But first, you need to trust me.""I trust you. Please help me."Justin
"This isn't the time for more trouble.""Are you alright, sir?" Justin asked the driver."I'm fine, just a bit dizzy," the driver replied, one hand on the wheel, the other rubbing his forehead.Justin was about to open the car door to check on the other driver when he noticed that they had also stepped out of their vehicle. As the door of the opposite car opened, a young girl emerged. Justin paused, staring at her, feeling a tumult of emotions. He felt pain, sorrow, relief, and happiness all at once, as if he had just encountered a loved one thought lost. He was speechless.The girl stood there, eyes wide with surprise and disbelief. Her eyes welled up with tears, threatening to spill but held back. They stood silently, looking at each other for a few seconds, feeling a strong yet confusing connection.Justin's heart pounded, fragmented memories flashing in his mind. Someone calling him "Dad," blurry images from the past becoming clearer. He realized the girl in front of him was the o
But Etham didn't accept that explanation. "No, you don't understand. We need to go back immediately. It's the King's order," he said, his eyes revealing his tension.Julie, hearing this, stepped closer, her eyes filled with tears. "Dad, please don't leave me. I've been looking for you for so long, I can't lose you again," she pleaded, her voice full of desperation.Justin felt his heart constrict with pain. He looked at Julie, sensing the deep anguish and despair in her eyes. If he returned to the hotel, he might never get the chance to uncover the truth about Julie and his own health. But the pressure from Etham and the bodyguards made it hard to refuse."Julie, you need to understand that I'm dealing with a lot of issues myself. I need to handle this carefully," Justin said, trying to reassure the young girl.But Julie wouldn't accept that explanation. "No, Dad, I can't let you leave me again. I've already lost my mom; I can't lose you too," she cried, tears streaming down her face.
Justin woke up, his body feeling weary and exhausted, everything in his vision blurry. He looked around, recognizing the familiar surroundings. The white walls, the clean space, and the smell of antiseptic filled the air. The sound of medical equipment beeping rhythmically echoed in the room.He blinked several times, trying to adjust to the light and the surroundings. In his blurred vision, he saw Verney, dressed in a white lab coat, standing next to the hospital bed. Verney's presence made Justin realize he had been brought back to Mozzafiato, a place that was once his home before everything became complicated.Justin tried to sit up, but his body felt heavy and sore. "Verney, what's wrong with me?" Justin asked, his voice hoarse and weak.Verney stepped closer, placing a hand on Justin's shoulder and gently pushing him back down. "You need to stay still and rest. You need time to recover," Verney said.Justin frowned, suspicion and worry flooding his mind. "But I need to know... wh
Verney signaled for the nurses to check on Justin's condition, ensuring he was receiving the best care. "You need to rest, Justin. Let us take care of you. Everything will become clearer once you're better."Justin closed his eyes, trying to calm his mind.At that moment, the door opened, and the King entered. His sudden appearance made the atmosphere in the room more solemn and stifling. Verney immediately bowed, showing absolute respect.Justin, still weary and in pain, tried to sit up out of respect. However, the King raised his hand, his deep, authoritative voice resonating, "No need, Justin. Please rest, there's no need to stress over formalities."Justin lay back down, but his eyes remained fixed on the man before him. He realized that the person standing before him seemed to have aged significantly, his face pale and noticeably thinner. The King's white hair fell over his forehead, and the lines on his face showed signs of fatigue and wear."Your Majesty, you don't look well,"