Chapter 1034 You Can Only Look But Not Touch at Night
"No way!" Mateo said firmly. "I've been out of it for years, but I know the royal family well. Owen has no kids and has served my father for half his life. He's loyal and reliable."
"So, the problem isn't with the person brewing the medicine. It must be somewhere else," Nora said, eyeing the prescription. "Mateo, Aaron mentioned something important. The medicine can be tampered with during brewing or when being fetched."
"You think the herbs were swapped?" Mateo frowned. "But the herbs are checked before storage. Could Rafael really swap the herbs meant for my father? Maybe I'm overthinking."
Aaron saw Nora studying the prescription and told Mateo, "Let Nora think."
Mateo immediately went quiet.
Nora examined the prescription and had a thought. "This prescription has an herb called Serpent's Kiss Herb, great for replenishing blood. It looks a lot like Viper's Venom Herb. For most people, they're hard to tell apart. If someone swapped them, the person taking the tonic could be in serious trouble."
Mateo's eyes lit up. "What kind of trouble?"
"Viper's Venom Herb causes hallucinations. If taken over time, it can cloud the mind and eventually turn someone into a vegetative state."
Nora looked at Mateo. "Rafael could claim King Tomas became a vegetable because of your influence, then take the throne and get rid of you."
Mateo felt a surge of anger. "That makes sense. Rafael must have followed Yandel's advice and swapped the herbs."
Nora said, "If there's a problem with the prescription, this is it."
Mateo was fired up. "I knew something was off with Yandel. What should I do now? Go to my father and expose them?"
"Not a good idea," Aaron said.
"Why not? If Nora comes with me and points out the problem, won't their scheme be exposed?" Mateo asked.
Aaron replied, "Expose what? They can deny it and blame the person who fetched the herbs."
Mateo thought about it and agreed. "So what do we do?"
They fell silent, thinking.
After a while, Nora said, "Set a trap."
Mateo asked, "What do you mean?"
Nora replied, "Let King Tomas keep taking the tonic they prescribed."
Mateo's eyes widened. "What! Nora, didn't you say the tonic would eventually turn him into a vegetable? How can we do that?"
Aaron glanced at him. "Why are you panicking? Nora wouldn't suggest something reckless."
His trust made Nora smile. "Mateo, I'll go to the palace with you tomorrow."
Mateo, a bit confused, blurted out, "Are you going to expose them in person?"
Nora teased, "Aaron said it, I'm not stupid. Exposing them directly won't help. Can it convict Rafael and Yandel?"
Mateo gave an embarrassed smile. "True, so what's the plan?"
"Tomas recognized me as his goddaughter, and I haven't given him a gift yet. I'll make a sachet as a token of thanks."
Mateo caught on quickly. "Nora, there's something special in that sachet, right?"
Nora nodded. "I'll make a sachet with ingredients that counteract Viper's Venom Herb, keeping his mind clear. While King Tomas drinks the tonic, I'll keep him alert. On the surface, he'll still appear gravely ill. Then you can expose Rafael and Yandel's conspiracy in front of him."
Mateo's eyes lit up with excitement. "Nora, you're brilliant! Rafael will think my father is done for and will get complacent, revealing everything. When my father hears Rafael's conspiracy firsthand, he won't be able to deny it!"
Nora nodded and smiled.
Mateo, too excited to stay calm, asked, "What next? My father will lose his mind from the tonic. How will he wake up?"
Aaron gave him a look. "Are you stupid? Naturally, Nora will step in."
Nora chided, "Don't say that. He's just worried."
Mateo chuckled. "Nora gets me."
Aaron scoffed. "Don't make excuses for your stupidity."
Mateo, in a good mood, didn't mind Aaron's mockery. He smiled at Nora. "Nora, I'll contact you when the time is right."
Nora nodded. "Remember, the sachet's effect lasts only six months. Hopefully, during this time, King Tomas will see Rafael's true colors."
Mateo said, "Got it."
Aaron added, "Nora has paved the way for you. Don't mess it up."
Mateo didn't argue and smiled. "Got it, I'll heed your advice."
Aaron glanced at him. "Anything else? If not, get lost. Nora needs to sleep."
Mateo raised an eyebrow and teased, "Aaron, Nora is pregnant. Are you still sleeping together? Must be tough to look but not touch at night, right?"
Aaron's temple throbbed, and he cursed, "Get lost!"
Mateo laughed heartily and waved at Nora. "Nora, rest early. I'm leaving. Be kind and don't torture Aaron too much. Maybe you should sleep in separate rooms."
Nora couldn't help but laugh as she watched Aaron kick him. "Get lost already!"
"Aaron, you can't hit people just because you're frustrated!"
"If you don't leave, I'll beat you up."
"Nora, control him!"
The next day, Nora and Aaron went to the palace. Tomas and Mateo greeted them together.
"Nora, Mateo said you came to give me a gift?"
"Yes." Nora took out the sachet and handed it to him. "Mateo told me you have frequent headaches. This sachet is made from precious herbs that can help with insomnia and dreams. It's a small token of my gratitude for the great honor King Tomas has given me."
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