That was surprising. But once Rigel observed more carefully, he could see the similarities between this woman and his master. Rigel always thought Cain’s appearance took after King Holden. But the gold gleam in his orbs is a perfect copy from this woman he was accompanying.

“Pardon me for being impolite.” Rigel took her hand and landed a soft kiss on the back. He could smell rose, jasmine, and hints of other fragrant herbs on her. “Madam…?”

“Oh you are a perfect gentleman.” She couldn’t hold her laugh this time.  “And just call me Selene. Please.”

But you are the mother of the prince, Rigel thought. Still, he responded with a slight smile.

Her eyes moved to look behind Rigel. She saw Cain calmly walk closer with an expression which showed totally opposite emotion. Excitement, happiness, confusion. She stared back at her son affectionately.

“Mom… You came.”

Cain knew that even though this was supposed to be his birthday banquet, people come here to win favor from his father and step mother. Everyone just gave him enough attention for formality and they tried their best not to seem like they were siding with him. Andromeda was petty and immature despite her age and status. Cain believed that only Rigel, Lumi, Alan, and Estelle sincerely wished him a happy birthday.

“I have to. I am a failed mother if I don’t wish you a happy birthday.” 

Rigel saw how her eyes got teary. Cain took her hand and said, “Let’s go to the garden.”

The banquet was for Cain. But people were busy seeking attention from Holden, Andromeda, and Estelle. Lucky Cain, though he felt that his sister must be frustrated by how many men came to try seducing her. 

Even on his nineteenth birthday, nothing had been decided. There were still possibilities for Estelle’s spouse to sit there as the King. People gather around Estelle like a bee attracted to flowers. 

Rigel and Lumi followed the pair of mother and son to the garden. The roses fortunately were fully bloomed. Cain picked one carefully and gave it to Selene. 

“My son now knows how to treat a lady huh?”

“I only do this for you.” Cain chuckled. They both walked hand in hand. “Thanks for the cake.”

“You recognized the taste?”

“The slightly burned chocochips? Yeah. The head chef won’t do that.”

Both of them laughed. Selene now linked her arms to Cain and leaned her head to his shoulder. She must be really happy to meet her son after so long. 

“He’s so different, right?” Lumi stopped walking, Rigel unconsciously followed. Both looked to Cain and Selene who whispered something to each other. “His father took so much from him while claiming he had given everything. I kinda wish I could blow that old man away to the countryside.”

Imagining the king being flown away was quite funny but Rigel didn’t say anything. He was still a little bit surprised seeing this new side of Cain. 

As far as he knows, Cain rarely smiled sincerely. Even Rigel thought that sole expression was kept only for Nara. Even to his father, he would just give a smile full of pretense for the sake of politeness. Rigel had to admit he indeed thought that Cain was a cold hearted but hot tempered brat. The closest moment that brat acts like a natural teenager is when he’s with Lumi.

“You know Madam Selene?”

“She found me. It’s thanks to her that I am where I am today.”

“She’s part of the royal wizards?”

“Used to work as the palace apothecary. At least that’s what I know.” Lumi shrugged her shoulders. 

Interesting. Rigel indeed could smell herbs on her hand. And her calloused palm was also a signal that she worked in the same field.

“Do you know that King Holden used to be sick often? He has an abundance of spiritual energy,  but was born with a physique that can not keep up with it.”

“First time hearing that.”

“Long story. Anyway, he’s just weak. Compared to us three.” Lumi said in mockery. “Selene used to nurse him back to health and maybe if that damn sly fox didn’t steal the queen position by using her noble status, Cain would be the only heir. No drama. All clean.”

One thing Rigel realized from Lumi and Cain. Despite their banter and excluding Nara, both of them only had each other as ‘true’ friends. And now he had joined the scene, like it or not, he’d be a feeling trash can for when they were too uncomfortable to discuss things with the other. Rigel never imagined that he’d accompany a teenage girl talking and being gossipy like this. But life just happened and the outcome is often funny. 

“Hey Missy. You think the prince wants to rule this kingdom?”

“Of course not. Even a moron knows that. He just has to if there's no better candidate.”

Selene and Cain couldn’t hear Lumi and Rigel’s conversation. But the noise they made and their gestures made Selene laugh. “You have found nice friends, haven’t you?”

Cain stole a glance at them.

“Well…”

“It’s hard making friends when you are like this right?”

Selene caressed Cain’s cheek. The soft skin reminded her when she first gave birth to this boy. 

“I hope I can take you back.”

Though maintaining a calm facade, Cain knew that his mother was in deep misery. She’s in pain for having to let him go. She did not have enough time hugging him, loving him, showering him with things he deserved. They were separated by a man Selene loved and Cain couldn’t really hate. 

“I think I will.” Cain said while smiling. “Estelle would marry Alan. He will be the one to inherit the throne, I presume.”

***

When the four of them got back to the banquet hall, a commotion broke out. Andromeda Aldebaran fell to the ground with a red face. It was like she wanted to scream but no sound came from her throat. Her eyes widened with the pupil dilated. It took her a lot of effort to just ask for help. 

The surrounding felt shaking. Her head was like being pierced by a thousand needles. She tried her best just not to faint.

“Your majesty?!” Alan shook her shoulder, trying to keep her awake. “Call for the paramedics!”

Maybe it was her luck that Rigel came on time. The poisoning symptoms had just begun. 

“Let me!” Rigel checked her pulse and overall condition so fast. Her rising temperature, inability to speak, and her gesture of resisting the pain in her vocal cord made Rigel know this had to be the poison of rosanigra. He could also smell a slight sweet fragrance of that particular plant on her. 

The poison was deadly, but a certain dosage needed to be injected directly to blood. Seeing how Andromeda just felt the burning sensation on her throat and body, Rigel knew she just consumed it a little. Maybe through drinks or dessert where the floral aroma itself would not be weird to emit. 

“Give me black birch powder, dry red algae extract, and aqurion.” Rigel asked the paramedics who came in hurry. “Quickly!”

In panic, the paramedic obeyed Rigel without questioning anything. The old man handed over a bottle of aqurion–the multipurpose solvent for most antidotes–and a pot of black powder. He searched carefully for the extract and was lucky to find some on the corner of the medicine box.  

Rigel was an expert. He mixed the powder and the solvent in seconds. People around him held their breath watching him working. The black powder turned the transparent blue liquid into a grayish color. He added the red algae last before offering the bottle in front of the queen, helping her to drink it.  

With a big gulp, the queen almost finished the entire bottle. She stopped when she felt that the world was no longer spinning around her. 

“What… was…?”

“Someone must have wanted to kill the Queen!”

Andromeda with eyes reddened now coughed blood. Rigel patted her back. 

“It’s okay everyone. A little blood means the antidote is working effectively.” Rigel said to the audience in the room. It must be really humiliating for the queen to be seen in a messy state. But to be really honest, he didn’t really sympathize with her.

People who at first watched Rigel in silence now whispered to each other about how smart he was. After all, realizing what kind of poison was used and mixing the right ingredients to detox it so fast, not many could do that. 

“It was a pity he’s a criminal. I’d like to hire him if he was not.”

And of course, there had to be one or two comments offending his current status. But whatever, Rigel just let them be for he also didn’t want to work with nobles.

Just when Andromeda finally could breathe normally, the king who was away for a meeting came back in hurry. What a comedy. 

“Are you okay?!” Holden kneeled beside his legal wife. 

Andromeda nodded. She wiped blood on her mouth corner with the back of her hand. Then she cried. 

“Someone wanted to kill me!”

Her voice was hoarse and dry. But the words she spoke were crystal clear. Everyone heard and when it comes to the power battle, naturally people's suspicion falls to Cain. It was unintentional, and nobody ordered anything at all to the mass gathered in the banquet hall, yet everyone turned their head to see Cain. Judgment and fear were evident in their scrutiny gaze.

“Your majesty…” The queen cried in desperation, knowing that now even her husband was looking at the prince in disbelief. “I almost died!”