Chapter 562

The Azure King was pleased, but before he could respond, his earlier outburst took its toll. He coughed violently, his face paling.

"Grandpa, lie down," Tiffany said gently, helping him back onto the bed. She checked his pulse; it was weak but steady, the same as before. While there was no critical illness, years of emotional strain and depression had left him frail. At his age, such damage was nearly irreversible. Even though Tiffany had broken the hypnosis, the king's body might not last long—perhaps six months, maybe a year.

As Tiffany withdrew her hand, her gaze fell on his wrist. Something caught her eye. She lifted his sleeve and froze. A red, thread-like mark stretched beneath his skin. Tiffany's pupils widened as she pushed the sleeve higher, revealing the thread extended from his wrist toward his heart. A chill ran down her spine.

How could I not have noticed this before? Tiffany thought. The answer—why she couldn't detect any illness in his pulse—suddenly became clear. The hypnosis was a distraction. The real threat, the reason for his weakening body, was this red thread; not just a mark, but a growing, spreading parasite. Once it overtook his body, it would kill him.

Tiffany's expression hardened. "Grandpa, when did this appear?" she asked.

"About six months ago," the Azure Sea King replied. "The doctor checked it and said it was nothing to worry about. Why? Is something wrong?"

Tiffany lied, "No, nothing at all," but her unease was hard to hide. Sensing it, the Azure Sea King gave her a comforting smile. "Don't be sad, my dear. People grow old. It's just how life works." He sighed softly. "But don't worry. I'll make sure to stay strong until I see my little princess get married."

His words struck a deep chord in Tiffany. A lump formed in her throat as childhood memories resurfaced. The king had once said, "I want to see my little princess grow up," but he hadn't been there to witness it. That lost time was a regret they could never mend.

Tiffany's heart ached. Sensing her pain, Richard grabbed her hand, offering comfort. Squeezing his hand, Tiffany swallowed back her tears and replied firmly, "Grandpa, you'll be around for a long time. Don't say such things. Your body is just weak right now. With rest and proper care, you'll be walking around in no time."

Tiffany thought of the rare herbs she'd collected the previous day. Mixed with spirit herbs, they could strengthen his body and suppress the parasite. Even if she couldn't remove it, she was determined to extend the king's life.

The Azure Sea King nodded, his expression warm and trusting. Jeremy brought over a bowl of soup. The Azure Sea King sipped a little before waving it away. Soon, he drifted into a peaceful sleep.

Chapter 562 (continued)

For the first time in days, the king's sleep wasn't plagued by the hypnosis. The dark spell that had weighed on his mind was finally broken, and his body could begin to recover, slowly but naturally.

Tiffany exhaled in relief. Before leaving, she glanced at Jeremy. "I'm counting on you to watch over him." Jeremy was the only person Tiffany could trust.

Jeremy nodded.

Satisfied, Tiffany and Richard left the palace together. On the way out, Tiffany noticed Ewan slumped in a corner, looking utterly defeated. The man who had been so loud earlier now resembled a frightened bird. Tiffany didn't spare him much thought and walked past without a word.

Once they were in the car, Richard turned to her, asking, "What's your next move?" His tone made it clear: whatever she decided, he would stand by her.

Tiffany tilted her head, a playful glint in her eye. "Guess."

Richard chuckled softly, already knowing the answer. "You're going to find out who's behind all this."

Tiffany blinked in surprise. "You guessed it that easily?"

"Of course." Richard leaned closer, brushing a hand along her nose. "I know you better than you think. Now, what about me? How well do you know me?"

Tiffany hesitated, then muttered, "I'm working on it."

Richard laughed, stroking her hair gently. "Stop pretending. I know you're worried about your grandfather's health. You don't need to hide that from me."

Looking into his gentle eyes, Tiffany's composure faltered. She sighed. "His condition isn't good. Whoever did this started months ago. The parasite has already spread too far. The only way to stop it is to find the antidote."

To find the antidote, they had to track down the person who saved Morwen. But Morwen seemed to have vanished after the incident, leaving no trail.

Lost in thought, Tiffany frowned. The car came to a stop in front of Richard and Tiffany's temporary residence. As Tiffany stepped out, a small knife came hurtling toward her back. Sensing the danger, Tiffany twisted her body just in time, narrowly dodging the blade.

(The final "色 SEND GIFT III" appears to be unrelated and possibly from a different source.)