Chapter 1287  Chapter 1287  Rafael leaned back against the soft cushions, feeling as though every ounce of strength had been drained from his body.  Ever since returning from the Southern Frontier and relinquishing his command, Salvador continued to regard him with suspicion. Rafael could choose not to care. If some things were restricted, he would find other ways to achieve his goals.  He held back to avoid further widening the gap between him and his brother. It wasn’t until the negotiations with Westhaven that he became more proactive. But even after that, he knew when to step back again.  Rafael only hoped that if war did come, Salvador might doubt him less.  “He knows that Sandoria’s return this time is likely tied to traitors within the Southern Frontier who’ve helped them prepare for this attack. Yet, he still believes that I am more of a threat to him than Sandoria’s armies at our doorstep,” said Rafael, laughing bitterly as he drained the last of his wine. 1  Carissa’s gaze darkened. “This isn’t the first time he’s done this.”  Rafael pulled her into his embrace, his fingers gently combing through her hair as he remembered the last time such a thing had happened. How suffocating that situation had felt.  As he sat here alone tonight, drinking to dull the ache, he found himself repeatedly mulling over the same question–would he be condemned to live in this suffocating situation forever?  “I won’t let the same tragedy repeat itself,” Rafael said, pulling away from Carissa slightly and fixing her with a cold, determined stare. “I should learn from you.‘  He thought back to the time when Carissa had entered the palace with critical intelligence, only to be rejected by Salvador. Rather than waiting idly or stepping aside, she had single- handedly gone to the Southern Frontier to find Rafael. At that moment, she had placed her life in jeopardy, disregarding the consequences.  Their hearts were in sync, and Carissa understood his meaning instantly.  She nodded firmly. “I support you. Go ahead. If His Majesty remains silent, I will stay here in the capital. But if he moves against you, I’ll scatter the people in Hell Monarch Estate and help them escape.”  A sense of clarity washed over her as she spoke, a plan forming in her mind. She had always been the one to hesitate, the one unsure of the consequences. But now that she had voiced her support, she would be his strongest pillar. With that, he no longer needed to fear any  consequences.  “Tomorrow, go to Arcane Sanctum and ask Sebastian if there’s any medicine that might cause a change in pulse after consumption. If so, I’ll take it, and then you can immediately call for a royal physician,” Rafael instructed.  1/3  +25 BONUS  Chapter 1288  “Take at least three different kinds every day. He can mix them together. He can’t skip even a day. With his temperament, once he’s on the battlefield, he’ll throw himself into the fight without holding back. If he doesn’t recover properly, it’s a death sentence,” Sebastian warned.  “I understand,” Carissa replied.  Still concerned, she asked one more question, “The half dose won’t cause that much harm, right?”  “A half dose means half the poison, so the symptoms and damage will be reduced by half. With two Snowdrop Pills, his heart will be protected, and the rest can be dealt with through gradual recovery. There shouldn’t be any major issues. You still have Snowdrop Pills, right?”  “I do!” Carissa answered quickly.  She knew Snowdrop Pills were in short supply. She had enough on hand, so she didn’t need to ask for more.  Sebastian nodded. “If you have them, then I won’t give you any. I’ll keep them for someone who truly needs them. Two of the ingredients for those pills are becoming harder to find.”  “Thank you, Sebastian,” Carissa said sincerely.  Just as she was about to put the pills away, Sebastian took the poison from the small box. He cut the pill in half and handed her one of the halves.  “If the king sends someone to guard Prince Rafael for 72 hours, then the plan will have to be canceled,” he said, putting the other half away. “When will he take it? I’d better leave the city first.”  Whenever someone from Hell Monarch Estate fell sick, they rarely called for a royal physician, instead usually choosing to go to Arcane Sanctum for treatment. So, Sebastian needed to give them a legitimate reason to call for a royal physician.  “Tomorrow morning. Ideally, it should happen when he’s at work,” Carissa said.  Sebastian frowned. “I have a dinner appointment tonight. Never mind, I’ll manage.”  He called out, “Ivy, prepare the medical kit and carriage. You’ll accompany me out of the city for a few days.”  a