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the Villainess they took for granted

Chapter 171: the emperor falls ill · Oct 27, 2026

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Chapter List (304)

Page number / 7

151 Chapter 151: Yes 2026-10-27
152 Chapter 152: The News 2026-10-27
153 Chapter 153: A Request 2026-10-27
154 Chapter 154: Closure 2026-10-27
155 Chapter 155: The First Move 2026-10-27
156 Chapter 156: Wedding Plans I 2026-10-27
157 Chapter 157: wedding plans II 2026-10-27
158 Chapter 158: Wedding Plans III 2026-10-27
159 Chapter 159: wedding plans III 2026-10-27
160 Chapter 160: wedding plans IV 2026-10-27
161 Chapter 161: reception venue I 2026-10-27
162 Chapter 162: Reception Venue II 2026-10-27
163 Chapter 163: Invitation letter and program 2026-10-27
164 Chapter 164: wedding dress 2026-10-27
165 Chapter 165: of flowers, other arrangements, and a letter 2026-10-27
166 Chapter 166: food menu, wedding cake, and the second letter 2026-10-27
167 Chapter 167: Of Duties and Parting 2026-10-27
168 Chapter 168: the second move 2026-10-27
169 Chapter 169: one month before the wedding 2026-10-27
170 Chapter 170: decision to leave 2026-10-27
171 Chapter 171: the emperor falls ill 2026-10-27
172 Chapter 172: closed gates 2026-10-27
173 Chapter 173: the letter 2026-10-27
174 Chapter 174: a son who lost his father 2026-10-27
175 Chapter 175: The Succession 2026-10-27
176 Chapter 176: the emperor is dead 2026-10-27
177 Chapter 177: the minister of war 2026-10-27
178 Chapter 178: The Emperor’s Funeral 2026-10-27
179 Chapter 179: the report 2026-10-27
180 Chapter 180: the coronation I 2026-10-27
181 Chapter 181: the coronation II 2026-10-27
182 Chapter 182: V2- - 1: Her Return 2026-10-27
183 Chapter 183: V2- - 2: The Emperor 2026-10-27
184 Chapter 184: V2- - 3- Returning to soceity 2026-10-27
185 Chapter 185: V2- - 4: the marraige market 2026-10-27
186 Chapter 186: V2- - 5: an obvious choice 2026-10-27
187 Chapter 187: V2- - 6: the invitation 2026-10-27
188 Chapter 188: V2- - 7: An attempt 2026-10-27
189 Chapter 189: V2- - 8: The opening ball I 2026-10-27
190 Chapter 190: V2- - 9: The opening ball II 2026-10-27
191 Chapter 191: v2- - 10: the opening ball III 2026-10-27
192 Chapter 192: v2- - 11: the opening ball IV 2026-10-27
193 Chapter 193: v2- - 12: the opening ball V 2026-10-27
194 Chapter 194: v2- - 13: the opening ball VI 2026-10-27
195 Chapter 195: v2- - 14: the opening ball VII 2026-10-27
196 Chapter 196: v2- - 15: the opening ball VIII 2026-10-27
197 Chapter 197: v2- - 16: the opening ball IX 2026-10-27
198 Chapter 198: v2- - 17: the dance 2026-10-27
199 Chapter 199: v2- - 18: his private chambers I 2026-10-27
200 Chapter 200: v2- - 19: his private chambers II 2026-10-27

Chapter 171: Chapter 171: the emperor falls ill

The Emperor returned to the papers before him.

”That’s all.”

Adrian inclined his head.

”Then I’ll leave you to work.”

He turned toward the door.

He had taken only a few steps when he heard his father inhale sharply.

Adrian stopped.

He turned.

The Emperor had one hand pressed against the edge of the desk.

”Father?”

The Emperor looked up.

”I’m fine.”

Adrian didn’t move.

”You don’t look fine.”

”It’s nothing.”

The Emperor straightened.

But then his face tightened.

He closed his eyes briefly.

Adrian crossed the room immediately.

”What is it?”

”I said I’m fine.”

His father’s voice was weaker this time.

Adrian reached for the bell.

”Call the physicians.”

The Emperor caught his wrist.

”Don’t—”

He never finished.

His fingers suddenly went slack.

Adrian felt the change before he understood it.

His father’s entire weight shifted forward.

”Father?”

The Emperor’s knees gave way.

Adrian caught him.

For one terrifying second, the Emperor seemed almost weightless in his arms, his body no longer responding to him properly. His head fell against Adrian’s shoulder, one arm hanging uselessly at his side.

”Father!”

Adrian tightened his grip, lowering him carefully toward the floor.

”Look at me.”

The Emperor’s eyes were open.

But something was terribly wrong.

His mouth moved.

No words came.

Only a broken, unintelligible sound.

Adrian’s heart lurched.

”Father?”

The Emperor tried again.

His lips moved, but the right side of his face remained strangely still.

Adrian stared.

Then understanding struck him.

”Someone!”

His voice thundered through the room.

”Call the physicians!”

The servants outside froze.

”Now!”

One of them immediately ran.

Adrian lowered his father onto the carpet, supporting his head with one hand.

”Stay with me.”

The Emperor’s eyes shifted toward him.

He seemed to recognize him.

For a moment, his fingers moved weakly against Adrian’s sleeve.

Then even that stopped.

Adrian’s breath caught.

”Father.”

Nothing.

”Father, can you hear me?”

His father’s eyes remained open.

But his body was frighteningly limp.

Adrian looked toward the door.

”Where are the physicians?”

”They’re coming, Your Highness!”

”Faster!”

Footsteps rushed through the corridor.

Adrian barely heard them.

He remained beside his father, one hand beneath his head, the other gripping his shoulder.

Only minutes ago, they had been discussing trade.

His father had been standing.

Speaking to him as he always had.

Now he could barely move.

The first physician burst into the room.

”Your Majesty!”

He immediately dropped beside the Emperor.

”What happened?”

”He was standing.”

Adrian’s voice was tight.

”He seemed to be feeling unwell. Then he collapsed.”

The physician examined him quickly.

”Your Highness, move back.”

Adrian did.

The physicians began working around the Emperor.

One checked his pulse.

Another examined his pupils.

The senior physician looked at the slackness on one side of the Emperor’s face, then at his inability to speak.

His expression changed.

”Get the medical attendants. Immediately.”

Adrian stared at him.

”What is it?”

The physician looked up.

”We believe His Majesty has suffered a stroke.”

For a moment, Adrian simply stood there.

”A stroke?”

”Yes, Your Highness.”

”Will he recover?”

The physician hesitated.

”We don’t know yet.”

Adrian looked down at his father.

The Emperor had always seemed immovable.

The throne had seemed immovable.

His father had seemed like the one constant thing in an Empire where everything else could change.

And now he was lying helplessly on the floor.

Adrian’s face hardened.

”Then keep him alive.”

The physician bowed his head.

”We will do everything we can.”

Adrian turned toward the door.

His voice became cold and absolute.

”Close the palace.”

The household officials stared at him.

”No one enters. No one leaves.”

A pause.

”Until we know exactly what happened to His Majesty.”

He looked back at his father.

”And I want every physician in the capital brought here.”

No one questioned him.

Within minutes, the palace began to move.

And outside those walls, the capital had no idea that the Emperor had just collapsed.

By the second morning, the capital had changed.

The news had spread quickly, even though the palace had released very little information.

The Emperor was ill.

That was all the public knew for certain.

The palace had been sealed.

The city gates were under strict guard.

No one was permitted to enter or leave without authorization, and even essential supplies were being inspected before being allowed through.

The usual movement of the capital had almost disappeared.

For Marian, the silence was unsettling.

She stood beside the window of the morning room, looking down at the unusually quiet street.

Her wedding was barely more than a week away.

Everything had been prepared.

The invitations had gone out.

Her dress was finished.

The flowers had been selected.

The reception arrangements had been settled.

The cathedral was ready.

And yet none of it felt certain anymore.

The door opened.

Her father entered.

Marian turned immediately.

”Father?”

Duke Valmont closed the door behind him.

He had spent most of the morning trying to determine what was actually happening inside the palace.

The official notices had been deliberately vague.

That alone concerned him.

He had spoken with two officials he trusted, sent inquiries through his own household, and received conflicting fragments of information.

The Emperor had suffered some kind of sudden medical event.

The physicians were still investigating.

The palace was treating the matter as a potential security threat.

Beyond that, very little was known.

Duke Valmont crossed the room and took the chair opposite his daughter.

”The palace has issued another notice.”

Marian’s expression tightened.

”About the Emperor?”

He nodded.

”His condition remains serious.”

She was silent for a moment.

”What do you know?”

”Not enough.”

That answer immediately told her how serious the situation was.

Her father was not a man who easily admitted ignorance.

”The physicians haven’t given a clear diagnosis,” he continued. ”At least not one they’re prepared to make public.”

”Is he expected to recover?”

”We don’t know.”

Marian lowered her gaze.

”Has anyone been allowed into the palace?”

”Only those with authorization.”

”And the capital?”

”Still sealed.”

She nodded slowly.

Of course.

If the Emperor’s illness was sudden and its cause uncertain, the authorities could not risk allowing people to move freely in and out of the capital.

There was too much at stake.

”Do you think they suspect poisoning?”

Her father was quiet for a moment.

”They are considering every possibility.”

Marian understood.

Until the physicians knew what had happened, no one could assume it was merely an illness.

”Have you heard anything from Cassian?”

Her father shook his head.

”No.”

Marian’s fingers tightened slightly.

The last letter she had received from Cassian had been written when he first arrived in Ashford.

Two weeks ago.

He had told her that he had arrived safely.

That he had begun dealing with the situation there.

That he intended to return as soon as he could.

She had been expecting another letter.

But the distance between Ashford and the capital was considerable.

And now, with the capital sealed, correspondence would be even more difficult.

”He could already be on his way,” she murmured.

”He could.”

”Or still in Ashford.”

”Yes.”

Neither of them knew.

And that uncertainty was beginning to weigh on her.

Her father studied her for a moment.

Then his expression became more serious.

”Marian.”

She looked at him.

”The wedding is eight days away.”

Her heart sank.

”I know.”

”If His Majesty’s condition does not improve, we may have to postpone it.”

Marian stared at him.

”But everything is ready.”

”I know.”

”The invitations have already gone out.”

”I know.”

”The cathedral is reserved.”

”I know.”

Her voice grew quieter.

”Everything is finished.”

Her father reached across the table and took her hand.

”I’m not telling you that it will be canceled.”

Marian looked up.

”But you think it might be.”

”I think we have to be prepared for the possibility.”

She swallowed.

He was right.

If the Emperor remained seriously ill, the capital could not simply proceed with a grand wedding as though nothing had happened.

And if the Emperor died—

there would be mourning.

A succession.

An entirely different political reality.

Her wedding would have to wait.

Marian looked toward the window.

Eight days.

Only eight days.

She had spent months preparing for this.

She had imagined the cathedral.

The music.

The moment she would walk toward Cassian.

She had imagined the reception afterward.

And now she didn’t even know where Cassian was.

Her father squeezed her hand.

”For now, we wait.”

Marian nodded.

”Yes.”

She looked back toward the quiet streets.

Somewhere beyond the capital, Cassian was making his way home, or perhaps still dealing with matters in Ashford.

She had no way of knowing.

And for the first time since they had begun planning their wedding, Marian understood that there were things even careful preparation could not control.

Tbc

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