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“Fine, I’ll go tomorrow. I’m tired now. Let me sleep.”
“Rest well, Mother. Sorry to disturb you.” Sophie quickly excused herself.
Helen flopped back onto the bed and was soon fast asleep, her mind at ease, with not a worry in the world. The next day, she took Gillian with her to the palace. Sophie’s instructions to her weren’t entirely remembered, but Helen did recall a few key phrases-Harvey was sick and a royal physician should be sent.
“What kind of illness do you think Prince Harvey has, Victoria? How could he have been sick for so long without getting better? It’s not like he went out and caught some sort of dirty disease, right? We should get a royal physician to check on him. Don’t let him embarrass the royal family,” Helen said with a hint of concern.
Victoria frowned. “What nonsense are you talking about? What kind of dirty disease?”
It was true that Harvey had been ill for a long time. He hadn’t even visited the queen dowager in the palace during the New Year celebrations. Heather had come by once, and when asked, she mentioned that her husband was still sick.
Victoria knew Harvey well. He was a man who lacked courage, the epitome of weakness. Because of Leona’s marriage, he had long been disliked by the other members of the royal family.
But hearing Helen’s words, Victoria couldn’t help but reconsider.
She called for Keith Finley, her head chamberlain, and instructed, “Send a royal physician to Hartstone Estate to check on Prince Harvey’s condition. You should accompany him.”
“Yes, Your Majesty!”
Having served Victoria for many years, Keith was known for his unwavering loyalty and remarkable ability. Among the chamberlains in the palace, few could match his skills.
Seeing that Victoria had given the order, Helen felt confident that her daughter-in-law’s request had been taken care of. So, she focused on her own matters.
“Victoria, I heard the palace had a new batch of jewelry delivered, including a pure-gold tiara with seven different colored gemstone inlays. I want it.”
Victoria glared at her sister. “You think just because you want it, I’ll give it to you? Who do you think you are?” Helen wasn’t at all bothered by the queen dowager’s sharp tone, adding, “Sophie has a bracelet, given to her by the matriarch of the Marquis of Ironridge’s family. She said it was made for Sophie by her mother at The Golden Tower. I’m not sure how it ended up with Margaret, but it has now been returned. Still, I think just the bracelet is a bit too plain, so I was hoping to ask for that tiara to match it.”
“It’s for Sophie?” Victoria looked at Helen for a moment, intrigued. “I didn’t know you were so fond of her. If you’re asking for her sake, then I’ll give it to you. As for who you give it to, that’s your business.”
With both Kylie and Sylvia wanting the tiara, the queen dowager had been unsure of who to give it to.
“Solana, bring the tiara. Make sure to tell everyone else that I’ve given it to Helen,” Victoria ordered.
Solana smiled and said, “It’s well known that Your Majesty dotes on your sister. I’ll go get it right now.”
Solana was one of the four main maids who accompanied Victoria, along with Summer, Sienna, and Shannon. Now, only Solana and Summer remained, as Sienna and Shannon had long since passed.
Since Helen had requested the tiara for Sophie, Victoria gave it to her. Helen immediately took the opportunity to ask for another one for herself. When a middle-aged woman pouted and acted coquettishly, even someone as high and mighty as Victoria couldn’t refuse. She ordered that the newest pieces of jewelry be brought out for her sister to choose from.
Naturally, Helen couldn’t resist. She picked out seven or eight pieces without hesitation.
Victoria didn’t care much for material things, but if giving jewelry to her younger sister made her happy, then it was worth it.
Meanwhile, Keith and a royal physician, Seth Wright, headed to Hartstone Estate.
Seth had long been trusted by Victoria. He was somewhat like his elder relative, Irvin, the Oversight Minister- stubborn, unyielding, and upright.
Such a personality would have made it impossible for Seth to get far in the Royal Medical Academy, but Victoria had promoted him. Through him, she even knew the Wright family well enough to marry her daughter, Meredith, to his nephew, Levi.
When Heather heard that Keith and Seth had come to Hartstone Estate to check on Harvey, she froze in panic. Oh god, what should she do?!
Harvey wasn’t in Hartstone Estate. He had left before New Year after telling everyone that he needed to rest due to his illness.
Harvey and his family had always been ignored by others. No one ever came to visit. Even if they did, the excuse of illness could easily send them away.
Over the years, Harvey and his family had remained inconspicuous, never drawing attention, regardless of whether the estate’s occupants were present or not. The royal family seldom paid any visits.
So, why had Victoria sent a royal physician here?
“Um…” Heather stammered in a panic. “Prince Harvey has already seen a physician. It’s nothing serious. There’s no need to trouble you to check on him, Mr. Wright.”
‘Since we’re already here, we might as well have Mr. Wright take a look,” Keith replied calmly. “After all, this is the queen dowager’s order. How can we report back without checking on Prince Harvey’s health? Mr. Wright would have difficulty explaining to Her Majesty if we don’t follow through.”
Heather was at a complete loss. She didn’t even know what Harvey had gone off to do. He hadn’t told her his purpose for leaving, only stressing repeatedly that no one was to know he had left.
Now, what should she do?
Heather frantically searched for the steward, Horace, but he was nowhere to be found. Left with no other choice, she reluctantly invited Keith and Seth into the main hall and offered refreshments, telling them she needed to inform Harvey of their presence.
Before long, Horace appeared. “Greetings, Mr. Finley, Mr. Wright. After His Highness took his medicine, he fell asleep. I’m not sure if he can be examined while asleep.”
“Of course, we can examine him,” Seth replied. “But it’s not just about checking his heart rate. If His Highness is asleep, we’ll wait to check his heart rate. After that, I’ll need His Highness’ medical records. I can make a proper diagnosis based on that.”
Horace froze.
By now, he had already arranged for someone to lie in Harvey’s bed and had drawn the curtains. If it was only about checking his heart rate, it would be as simple as extending a hand, and the person he had chosen did have a lingering cough that flared up every winter, so they could easily claim it was an illness.
But there were no medical records to speak of
‘The medical records… are with the physician,” Horace said.
“Isn’t the physician one of your household physicians?” Seth asked, looking at Heather.
She opened her mouth to speak but stopped when Horace gave her a pointed look. She quickly closed her mouth and shook her head.
“No, we’ve always used physicians from outside the estate.”
Keith spoke up, “Well, doesn’t that make things simple? Just send someone to retrieve the medical records and prescriptions.”
It wasn’t difficult to forge medical records and prescriptions, but the challenge lay in making it match the symptoms of the person they had prepared.
Horace was momentarily at a loss, his mind racing.
After a moment, he suggested, “The physician has been treating His Highness for a while without success. Perhaps he’s been using the wrong medicine. Would it not be better to have Mr. Wright check His Highness’ heart rate first?’
Seth nodded. “That works as well.”
The thick curtains were drawn so tightly that not a breath of air could pass through. There were four or five charcoal burners scattered throughout the room. With the windows slightly open and the charcoal not producing smoke, the air circulated just enough to make the room warm without feeling stifling.
Horace moved a stool into the second layer of curtains, then approached and gently placed the hand of the person lying in bed on the edge.
“Mr. Wright, please sit and check His Highness’ heart rate.”