Since the encounter, the royal consort had become restless but listless, having so many things in her mind that there was barely any energy and motivation left in her weakening body.
It was not noticeable at first, but those in frequent contact with her saw that her appetite kept worsening and she was not doing most of what she used to love to do. Why was that? What could have caused this? Look, she was not even playing her favorite small schemes against the Duchess at the balls and gatherings.
"What happened, my beloved?" the king, Francis IV, asked her one time. This man in his mid-thirties was barely worthy as a ruler, but as lover and a husband, perhaps, even Jiang Li had to learn from him.