CHAPTER 240: DO YOU WANT TO BE FREE?

For some reason, there was still a part of her that felt sad every time she heard those malicious thoughts from Silas’s mind.

Even though she knew everything he had ever done for her was fake—that his kindness was just a mask and he had never truly meant to help her—sometimes ... she couldn’t help but wish that maybe, just maybe, there was still a trace of the good man she used to believe he was.

She knew it was foolish to think that way. And yet, she couldn’t help it.

Because nothing hurt more than realizing that someone you once trusted with everything—someone you thought would protect you—had been the one holding the knife at your throat.

That’s why she had been avoiding Silas, not just because she felt unsafe around him, but because every time she heard what was really inside his mind, it felt like a thousand tiny needles pricking straight through her heart.

"That’s very kind of you, Dr. Silas." Primrose forced a smile, trying her best to hide the sadness and disappointment in her eyes.

She looked directly at him, as if searching for any small piece of the man she used to know, the gentle doctor who once made her feel safe.

But unfortunately, that version of him had only ever existed in her imagination.

His kindness, his sweet words, his smile, none of it was real.

At first, she felt nothing but sadness and heartbreak. But over time, that sorrow had slowly transformed into rage.

That fury had burned so fiercely inside her that now ... all she wanted was to crush him into dust.

She wanted him to suffer, more than he could ever imagine.

Even if I can’t kill her just yet, she thought, maybe I can leave her paralyzed for a few weeks,] Silas suddenly thought in his mind. [I want to see if she can still wear that stupid smile on her face after that.]

Primrose’s smile faltered for a second, but after clenching her fists tightly, she managed to calm herself again.

"I’ve prepared a special herbal soak for you," Silas said, his tone smooth and polite. "Just add it to warm water during your bath. I’m confident that all your exhaustion will melt away."

[And in the morning,] his thoughts whispered cruelly, [she’ll suddenly lose the ability to walk for three days.]

[If anyone suspects me, I’ll just make sure someone sees me using the exact same herbal for my own bath and nothing will happen to me. After that, I’ll tell everyone that the Queen suffers from a rare inherited condition.]

Primrose had to admit that his plan was disturbingly clever.

He was an expert in creating poisons that were nearly impossible to detect. Unless someone had experience on Salem’s level, it was unlikely that anyone would be able to trace it.

She hadn’t wanted to play this kind of game while Salem was still away ... but she needed to talk to Hazelle without Silas around.

If she accepted Silas’s offer, she could ask Hazelle to assist her with the bath.

As for the poison ... well, maybe she could just pretend to be paralyzed the next morning.

Edmund would be devastated, of course. But it couldn’t be helped.

She had to make Silas believe she was still clueless about his true intentions.

Besides, it would give her a solid excuse to urgently summon Salem back to the palace, along with Raven.

"That sounds wonderful," Primrose said sweetly, clapping her hands. "I can’t wait to try it right away."

Then she turned to Hazelle. "Since this herb is so special, would you mind letting your assistant help me with it in the bath?"

Silas didn’t object at all, a clear proof that Hazelle likely knew how to use the poison just as well as he did.

"That’s not a problem at all, Your Majesty," he said with a warm smile. "Hazelle is an incredibly talented young woman. I’m sure she’ll take very good care of you."

After a few more polite exchanges, Primrose asked Hazelle to prepare the warm water in the wooden bathtub for her.

She didn’t let Marielle or even Solene come with her this time. It was because she needed to be alone with Hazelle.

"Let me help you undress, Your Majesty," Hazelle said quietly, her head lowered as she carefully avoided eye contact.

When the young woman assisted Primrose, she didn’t hear anything inside her mind, something that still remained a mystery to her even now.

How could someone have absolutely nothing on their mind?

"Hazelle," Primrose called gently.

Her eyes stayed fixed on the steam rising from the warm bathwater. The herb Silas had given her had tinted the water a faint shade of green. It looked oddly beautiful and maybe a little suspicious.

"Do you want to be free?" Primrose’s voice echoed quietly through the bathroom.

Within seconds, Hazelle froze. Her hands stopped moving, and for a moment, it was as if even her breath had been stolen by the air.

A full minute passed—one that felt like an eternity—before Hazelle finally opened her mouth. "I’m sorry, Your Majesty," she said carefully. "But ... I don’t understand what you mean."

Primrose didn’t turn around yet. Her gaze was still on the water as she asked again, more gently this time. "You’re not just Dr. Silas’s assistant ... are you?"

Hazelle replied calmly, without missing a beat. "I am Dr. Silas’s assistant, Your Majesty."

Primrose let out a long sigh.

She hadn’t expected to have this kind of conversation today. Not after spending such a sweet, chaotic day with her husband.

She hadn’t even had time to go through all the little things she bought in the capital.

But now? She had to talk about slavery and all the dark things.

"I know everything, Hazelle." Primrose finally turned, her golden eyes locking onto Hazelle’s. "I know about the slave seal on your neck."

Hazelle’s eyes widened, and instinctively, her hand flew to her neck. "I’m sorry ... but I really don’t understand what you’re talking about, Your Majesty."

"Oh, you understand perfectly, Hazelle." Primrose let out a soft chuckle. "You wouldn’t have touched your neck like that if what I said didn’t make sense."

"This ..." Hazelle clenched her teeth, her mind racing to figure out how Primrose could have possibly known about the slave seal. "This is just a traditional tattoo. My parents gave it to me when I was a child."

[Why would she suddenly bring that up?] Hazelle thought.

Ah, finally Primrose could hear her thoughts loud and clear now.

[There’s no point in revealing my weakness to anyone,] Hazelle thought bitterly. [Her Majesty will probably use it against me. That bastard doctor already lent me out to other nobles before.]

[I don’t ever want to go through that nightmare again.]