Lacking Science Can Kill People

The grand hall of the palace stood deathly silent as the Ninth Duke was ushered in, his crimson robes dragging across the cold marble floor. The moment he entered, he fell to his knees, his voice echoing through the chamber.

"Your Majesty, why have you suddenly summoned me to the palace?"

The emperor sat high on his golden throne, his face carved in stone. He did not respond. Instead, his manservant stepped forward, holding a silver needle.

Without hesitation, the servant took the Ninth Duke's hand, pricking his finger, then moved to the young prince, doing the same. Two drops of blood, rich and red, dripped into the porcelain bowl filled with water.

I leaned in, watching with amusement, and whispered to Mousy, "Mousy, do you know why people always make fun of blood tests?"

Mousy nodded sagely.

---

MOUSY'S BIOLOGY CLASS

The two blood drops will integrate in water due to physical reactions in osmotic pressure and density.

For paternity tests, please check DNA instead of resorting to feudalistic superstitions.

---

Back to the story.

As expected, the blood swirled into the water, merging seamlessly.

The emperor's face turned deathly pale. His breath hitched. Then, without warning—

SLAP!

A deafening sound rang through the chamber as his palm collided with Noor Giza's cheek, sending her fragile body sprawling to the ground.

"HARLOT!" he roared. His fury trembled through the air like a brewing storm.

Noor Giza gasped, clutching her face, her body shaking violently. She scrambled forward on her hands and knees, grasping desperately at the emperor's robes.

"IMPOSSIBLE! Your Majesty! I am innocent!" Her voice cracked as she pleaded, her tear-streaked face looking up at him in horror. "You can do the test again! They must be conspiring against me!"

I chuckled darkly and took a step forward.

"Consort Noor," I said, tilting my head, "do you wish to humiliate His Majesty a second time? When he sees that his own blood does not 'integrate' with water?"

Consort Yahiya seized the moment, stepping forth in all her regal glory.

"Your Majesty, Consort Noor had an affair and tried to conceal it," she declared, her voice unwavering. "She also sought to harm Your Majesty! She must be executed to ease the court's wrath."

The ministers in the chamber murmured in agreement. Some nodded, others simply looked on in silent satisfaction.

Noor Giza shook her head frantically, her sobs shaking her frame. "No, I haven't… I really haven't!"

I crossed my arms, my voice turning sharper.

"How strange… If the Ninth Duke merely wanted Consort Noor to have an easier time in the palace, a symbol of 'Auspicious Fishes' would have sufficed." I let my words sink in before continuing, "But why did he go so far as to set up the 'Flying Dragon' insignia as well?"

The hall tensed.

"Tell us, Ninth Duke. Why were you trying to help her become the empress? The answer is obvious." I smirked. "Because of the bastard child. You wanted your son to inherit the throne! This is treachery, Your Majesty!"

Noor Giza shrieked, her voice raw with desperation.

"It wasn't—Your Majesty!"

But the emperor was no longer looking at her. His eyes blazed with betrayal.

"Men!" he commanded, his voice a chilling decree. "Cover the Ninth Duke's mouth and take him away. He must not communicate with anyone or have contact with the outside world. We will deal with him later!"

The Ninth Duke thrashed, his muffled protests swallowed by the heavy silence of the court as the guards dragged him away.

The emperor's gaze then snapped toward Noor Giza, filled with venom.

"Strip her of all titles! Lock her in isolation. She is not allowed out without my permission!"

The guards seized Noor Giza by the arms. She fought against them, breaking free for just a moment.

She stumbled toward the emperor, her voice breaking.

"Your Majesty… do you truly not believe me?"

The emperor turned his face away, cold and unyielding.

"Take her away!"

"YOUR MAJESTY!" Noor Giza's scream echoed through the halls as the guards dragged her away, her voice growing fainter with each step.

The emperor was not done. His wrath was still seething.

"Execute the servants who witnessed and aided Noor Giza and the Ninth Duke," he ordered darkly.

The servants gasped, their faces draining of color. But before they could beg for mercy, the guards silenced them, dragging them off to their fate.

Then, the emperor turned to me. His gaze, icy and calculating, bore into me.

"And as for you…" His voice was dangerously low. "Watch yourself."

With that, he swept from the hall, his crimson robe billowing behind him. The heavy doors slammed shut with a resounding BOOM.

A smirk tugged at my lips as I leisurely took my seat, my fingers tapping against the table.

I turned my gaze toward Consort Yahiya, a slow clap echoing through the silent hall.

"Wow, Consort Yahiya… you truly have your ways."

She turned, her expression utterly unreadable.

"Sefa Yilmaz," she said, her voice eerily calm, "do you think I don't know? You were the one who set all of this up."

My smirk widened.

"Oh?"

She took a step closer, her dark eyes boring into mine.

"I was desperate for Noor Giza to fall, so I let you use me as a weapon in your hands." Her voice was barely above a whisper, but the weight of her words pressed into the air.

"But do you really think that by getting rid of Noor Giza, you will gain all the emperor's favor?"

She leaned in ever so slightly.

"Naïve."