Episode-745
Chapter : 1489
The Royal Palace of Saber was less a home and more a monument to paranoia. The walls were black basalt, polished to a mirror sheen so that any approaching assassin would see their own reflection before they died. The gates were manned by the Royal Guard, soldiers who made the Obsidian Eye look like crossing guards. They wore gold-trimmed armor and carried halberds that crackled with enchantments.
Lloyd, Ken, and Jasmin stood before the main gate. Lloyd wore his best "humble scholar" robes, freshly pressed. Jasmin carried his bag, her hands trembling slightly. Ken stood like a rock, staring at the guards with a look that said, 'I could take you.'
"Names," the gate guard barked. He didn't look at a list. He just stared at Lloyd.
"Doctor Zayn," Lloyd said calmly. "And associates. We have an audience with Her Highness, Princess Seraphina."
The guard sneered. "The quack from the party. We heard. Wait here."
He turned and walked into the gatehouse. He was gone for a long time. Lloyd stood in the sun, feeling the heat bake his turban. It was a power play. Make them wait. Make them sweat. Show them who is in charge.
"They are trying to rattle you," Ken murmured.
"Let them try," Lloyd whispered back. "I once waited three days for a shipment of rare tea leaves. I have the patience of a stone."
After twenty minutes, the guard returned. "The Chamberlain will see you. Follow the path. Do not step on the grass. Do not look at the windows. Do not speak to the servants."
"Charming," Lloyd muttered.
They walked through the outer courtyard. It was manicured to within an inch of its life. Not a blade of grass was out of place. It felt sterile. Dead.
They were met at the main doors by a functionary in stiff velvet robes. He sniffed at them as if they smelled of manure.
"This way," he said, turning on his heel.
He led them through endless corridors of black stone and gold leaf. The palace was silent. No laughter. No music. Just the echo of boots and the whisper of silk.
"It feels like a tomb," Jasmin whispered.
"It is," Lloyd thought. "A tomb for a living princess."
Finally, they reached a set of double doors guarded by four Royal Guards. The functionary knocked once.
"Enter," a voice called from inside. It wasn't the Princess. It was a man's voice. Smooth. Oily.
The doors opened.
The room was a solar, filled with light from tall windows. But the light seemed cold. In the center of the room sat Princess Seraphina. She looked even worse than the night before. Her skin was translucent, her eyes shadowed. She sat perfectly still, hands folded in her lap.
Standing behind her, with a hand resting possessively on the back of her chair, was a man. He was tall, thin, and handsome in a sharp, predatory way. He wore the crimson and gold of the Royal Family.
"Crown Prince Cassius," Lloyd realized. The brother. The heir.
Cassius smiled. It didn't reach his eyes. His eyes were flat and dead, like a shark's.
"So," Cassius said. "This is the miracle worker from the slums. Doctor Zayn."
Lloyd bowed low. "Your Highness. I am honored."
"My sister tells me you have... interesting theories," Cassius said, walking around the chair. He moved like a snake, fluid and silent. "She says you believe she is 'drowning'."
"It is a metaphor, Highness," Lloyd said, keeping his head bowed. "For a blockage of the vital energies."
"Indeed," Cassius said. He stopped in front of Lloyd. He was close. Too close. "And you think you can fix what the Royal Physicians cannot? Do you think you are smarter than the King's own healers?"
"I am merely... different," Lloyd said. "Sometimes, a fresh eye sees what the weary eye misses."
Cassius laughed. It was a cold, dry sound. "A fresh eye. Or a greedy hand."
He turned to Ken. He looked him up and down. "And this? Your pet ogre?"
Ken didn't blink.
"My bodyguard, Kasim," Lloyd said. " The roads are dangerous."
"Not as dangerous as this room, Doctor," Cassius whispered.
He walked back to Seraphina. He placed a hand on her shoulder. Lloyd saw her flinch. A tiny, almost imperceptible movement. But Lloyd saw it.
She was afraid of him.
"My father, the King, is... fond of Seraphina," Cassius said. "He is desperate for her to be well. He insists you be allowed to try. Against my better judgment."
Chapter : 1490
He leaned down, whispering in Seraphina’s ear, but loud enough for Lloyd to hear. "Do not get your hopes up, sister. He is likely just another peasant looking for gold."
Seraphina looked at the floor. "Yes, brother."
Cassius straightened up. "You have one hour. If you hurt her... if you distress her... you will not leave this palace with your head attached to your shoulders."
"Understood," Lloyd said.
"Guards," Cassius barked. "Remain in the room. Watch him."
He turned and swept out of the room, the doors booming shut behind him.
The air in the room seemed to lighten instantly, but the tension remained. Seraphina looked up. Her eyes were filled with tears.
"I am sorry," she whispered. "He is... protective."
"He is a viper," Lloyd thought. But he smiled gently.
"It is understandable, Highness," Lloyd said. "Now. Shall we begin?"
He walked over to her. He knelt so he was at eye level.
"The guards," she whispered, glancing at the four soldiers standing like statues in the corners.
"They are furniture," Lloyd said. "Ignore them. Look at me."
She looked at him.
"Tell me," Lloyd said. "When did the drowning start?"
Seraphina took a shaky breath. "Three years ago. After... after my mother died."
Lloyd’s mind raced. The Queen died three years ago. The King was broken. The Prince was in charge. And the Princess was bound.
It was a coup. A slow, silent coup.
"And the migraines?" Lloyd asked.
"Every day," she said. "Worse when I try to... try to use magic."
"Ah," Lloyd said. "You are a mage?"
"I... I was," she said. "I had a gift for Light magic. But now... it feels like fire in my veins. I cannot summon even a spark without collapsing."
"Because the pipes are clogged," Lloyd said. "The water builds up pressure. If you try to force it, the pipes burst."
He reached into his bag. He didn't pull out a stethoscope. He pulled out a small, clear crystal. It was just a piece of quartz, but it looked impressive.
"This," Lloyd lied, "is a harmonic resonator. It will help me see the blockage."
He held it up. "May I?"
She nodded.
He placed the crystal on her forehead. It was cool against her skin.
"Close your eyes," he commanded softly.
She obeyed.
Lloyd activated his [All-Seeing Eye]. He channeled his perception through the crystal, using it as a focus.
He dove into her energy field. It was worse than he thought. The bindings weren't just wrapped around her core; they were woven into it. They were parasitic. They were feeding on her mana, growing stronger as she tried to fight them.
And the signature... the magical signature of the bindings... it was cold. Dark. It felt like the Abyssal energy he had seen in Oakhaven.
Devil magic.
Lloyd suppressed a shudder. Prince Cassius was using Devil magic to bind his own sister.
He pulled back. He opened his eyes.
"I see it," he said.
"Is it... bad?" she asked, opening her eyes.
"It is complex," Lloyd said. "But not impossible."
He wasn't sure if that was true. Breaking a Devil curse without revealing his own powers would be tricky. But he had to try. She was the key. If he freed her, he weakened Cassius. If he weakened Cassius, he could get to the King.
"I can help you, Highness," Lloyd said. "But it will take time. And trust."
"I trust you," she said immediately. Too immediately. She was desperate for anyone to throw her a lifeline.
"Good," Lloyd said. "Then let us begin with something simple. A breathing exercise. To lower the pressure."
He spent the next hour teaching her how to meditate, how to visualize the flow of her energy, how to gently route it around the blockages rather than forcing it through. It was basic mana control, but to her, it was a revelation.
For the first time in three years, the pounding in her head receded from a roar to a dull throb.
"It... it stopped," she whispered, touching her temple. "The hammer stopped."
She looked at Lloyd with wonder. "You are a wizard."
"Just a doctor," Lloyd smiled.
The hour was up. The doors opened. Cassius didn't return, but the functionary did.
"Time," he snapped. "The Princess must rest."
Lloyd stood up. He bowed. "Same time tomorrow, Highness?"
"Yes," she said eagerly. "Please."
Lloyd turned to leave. As he walked out, he glanced back. Seraphina was sitting straighter. The color had returned to her cheeks.
But the guards were still watching. The cage was still there.