Female Novel
Chapter 612 I Could Eat Less (Part Two)
When Nancy returned, she saw that the spell doll was still on the table. Nancy was a little worried."Your Majesty, we need to be careful with this spell doll. We don't know where it came from but it'sobviously a voodoo doll. It could get us in big trouble if someone else finds us with it. You know howHis Majesty detests the use of voodoo curses."
The empress nodded and put the spell doll away quickly. "Take care of all the other people who sawthe spell doll. I can't afford the risk of being accused of practicing voodoo curses."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Nancy knew exactly what the empress meant. Anyone who knew about the spell doll must be silenced.And nobody kept a secret better than the dead. There were so many people in the palace, and if any ofthem leaked the information, the empress would be imperiled. Felix was still held in confinement andthe emperor was trying to support Francis. So they had to take extra care at this critical juncture.
"Nanny Nancy." As soon as Nancy emerged from the Sleek Palace, she met Francis. Her facehardened a little and she greeted him promptly and formally.
"Your Highness."
"I wish to visit Mother. Is she inside?"
"Her Majesty is not feeling well, and she went to bed after breakfast. I'm afraid she is unavailable at thismoment."
"Mother is not feeling well? Have you summoned the imperial physician yet?"
"Yes. The imperial physician said Her Majesty needed more rest," Nancy answered meekly. "If HerMajesty knew that you came here to visit her, she would be delighted. But she needs some more restto get better."
"Well, I will come to see Mother some other day."
After that, Francis turned his heels and went away. His movements were slow and graceful. He hadbeen an invalid for many years, so even now he had a long way to go until full recovery. His face wasstill pale, as if he hadn't been in the sun for years.
Nancy's eyes followed Francis' retreating back. She always felt that despite the seeming gentlenessand harmlessness of the prince, he had a natural elegance about him. Besides, Francis haddemonstrated his keen intellect since he was a child, and gained a reputation as a prodigy at the age offive. But since then, he had spent most of his time lying in his sickbed in a long struggle with his illness.
"Your Highness, will you pay a visit to Lady Sherry today?" Owen asked.
"No, let's get out of the Imperial Palace now." Francis frowned and covered his mouth with ahandkerchief as he coughed.
Seeing this, Owen wrapped a cloak around his master's shoulders and tied it for him. "It's gettingwarmer now, but it's still a little cold. Your Highness, you're still recovering and you should be morecareful to avoid a cold."
"Do you think I am so weak?" Francis asked, with an ironic smile.
"Your Highness, you are weak and reckless. You got yourself drenched in the rain not long ago,remember? Finally, you've begun to recover, but now you're walking around and tiring yourself out. Ifyou don't take care of yourself and get well soon, Lady Sherry will be fretting over you." Pressing hislips tightly, Owen tried to make a stern face. "And Lady Harper..."
The smile on Francis' face faded at the mention of Harper. Seeing this, Owen broke off immediately.The word had already spread through the whole palace that Matthew had broken into the ImperialAcademy of Medicine in the evening for his wife. Everyone had heard the news that Harper was
pregnant. Even the emperor had sent some gifts to her as a reward, though nobody knew his realfeelings.novelbin
"Now that Aunt Harper is pregnant, I should prepare her a gift," Francis said abruptly. "Can you give mesome suggestions for the present?"
"I have no idea, Your Highness." Owen was caught off guard by this question.
"What does she like?"
"I have no idea, Your Highness."
"What sort of gifts do pregnant women want to receive?"
"I really have no idea, Your Highness." Owen felt quite useless. He had never served Harper or anypregnant woman before, so he didn't have a clue about their likes and dislikes.
"You know nothing at all! Tell me, why should I keep you if you can't be of any use to me?" Francistapped Owen's forehead and teased him. "What a waste of food!"
"Your Highness, I don't eat much..." Owen muttered, feeling aggrieved. "As long as you don't drive meaway, I could eat less in the future."
Francis smiled, "Are you suggesting that I don't have enough money to keep an idler? Don't worry, eatas much as you like. I can afford it."
Hearing this, Owen breathed a sigh of relief. He looked at Francis mournfully and said, "Your Highness,you always like to tease me."
"Teasing you is the only entertainment I have left. Can you imagine how boring and dreadful my lifewould be, if you deprived me of that little joy?" Francis said slowly. "Speaking of which, I haven't really
enjoyed viewing the Imperial Palace before. Even though I lived here for twenty years, I haven't beenable to take a walk since my illness began at the age of five."
"Do you want me to accompany you as you walk around the Imperial Palace?" Owen askedthoughtfully.
Francis shook his head. Come to think of it, he didn't care about the Imperial Palace now. Its viewsdidn't interest him anymore. The places he truly wanted to visit were the temples, the shops, thestreets. He wanted to be accompanied and to feel that he was not alone in this world. He rememberedhow she took him out and bought him snacks. Those memories seemed like a luxury for him now, andhe feared that he would never have such experiences again.
"Let's get out of here. Felix's confinement will end in just a few days," Francis said with his eternallygentle voice and his characteristically sunny smile. But the light in his eyes was as sharp as a coldsword waiting to strike at any moment.