Catherine and the Black Emperor

026. Frederick

After finishing the diagnosis in Sofia's bedroom, Lestoker went to the outer room.

Seeing someone leave, Peter, who didn't want to stay there for even a moment longer, immediately followed and ordered Sergei to stay.

"You must be careful, King Frederick's subjects cannot die in their beds."

Only Sergei, Sofia, and Matrena remained in the room.

Weak and powerless, Sophia said in a soft, low voice, "Your Highness, I know the Grand Duke doesn't like staying here, but you've kept him here all this time. Thank you."

Sergei smiled but remained silent.

Peter arrived, but did not speak to Sophia. He only stayed for a short while before wanting to leave. He was not concerned about Sophia's health, but rather about King Frederick's Order of the Black Eagle.

But Sergei did not let the other party leave.

He told Peter that the Queen was on her way back and would be furious if she didn't see the Grand Duke standing guard by the princess. Peter was most afraid of Elizabeth, so he spent most of his time here except when he was sleeping or walking the dog.

As for why Sergei was so certain that Elizabeth was already on her way back, it was because on the first day Sofia fell ill, he wrote a letter and had it sent to the monastery in Moscow.

He wanted to make sure his letter reached Elizabeth first.

"Matrena, get the Duke a chair," Sofia instructed.

The outer room.

Prime Minister Bestudev sat at the table, Shuvalov stood to the side, and Lestok, seeing this, did not sit down either, clearly indicating that the Prime Minister was putting pressure on him.

Peter liked none of the three people. After escaping from Sophia's bedroom, he excitedly ran to his doghouse.

Under Besdov's gaze, Lestok spoke up: "The princess's condition is too dangerous. I cannot guarantee a cure. I'm afraid the princess's wife will lose her temper, so I dare not say this in front of her."

"How do you plan to treat her?" Shuvalov's gaze was full of scrutiny.

"Use ointments and medicines."

Besdudev said directly, "I want you to stop treatment. Dr. Kalamaldi will be here soon."

Lestoker's gaze turned cold: "You think I can't handle this by myself?"

Besdudev disregarded their past relationship: "I think it would be better if someone could help you; those who aren't interested in the French princess's rise to power are easier to believe!"

Lestoker retorted sharply: "If I may remind you, you are firmly opposed to the German princess!"

Shuvalov whispered a reminder: "Gentlemen, all three of us are against Frederica, but she can't afford to get hurt now!"

Inside, servants were tending to Sofia by the bedside, while Sergei stood by the door, listening to the conversation outside.

The three most powerful ministers in the Russian court were now divided on Sofia's health, each holding their own opinion and harboring suspicions towards the other.

This is undoubtedly what he most wanted to see.

Outside, the argument continues.

"Pyotr Romanov (whose name changed from Ulrich to Romanov after arriving in Russia) was German, and the princess was also German. If King Frederick were to clash with Russia, would they defend their new homeland?" Besdov asked without hesitation.

Lestoker attempted to direct his anger at the chairman of the special court: "Alexander Shuvalov, your concern for Frederica is perhaps—"

Besdov interrupted him abruptly: "Frederica cannot be allowed to have an accident while the Empress is away. Her condition is very serious, and we must call an emergency meeting!"

"Go ahead and go find all sorts of idiot doctors, but I have to go and prepare my medicine." Lestoker left.

Shuvalov saw Lestoker off and headed toward Sofia's bedroom.

As the footsteps grew closer, Sergei moved slightly away from the door. Shuvalov opened the door, glanced at Sofia, and then waved to him.

When Sergei came out, Besdudev was complaining to Shuvalov.

"Leistock is receiving three times his usual salary, plus secret funding from the French ambassador!"

Shuvalov remained calm: "I know all of this, and the Empress knows it too."

Besdov said sternly, "We should investigate the cause of Frederica's illness!"

Shuvalov looked at Sergei: "That's why I summoned Saltykov. He is now an advisor to the secret council, and His Majesty has specifically instructed him to be in charge of the Grand Duke and the Princess's safety."

Besdudev feigned surprise: "How strange! Is the Duke a trustworthy man?"

Sergei smiled slightly: "I will build your trust in me."

Besdov gave him a deep look and then gave no further objection: "Then I'll leave this matter to you."

Sergei nodded in acknowledgment.

After Sergei left, Besdudev looked at Shuvalov.

"I don't know what he has that you value so much. Could it be just because of a single word from Her Majesty? A royal guard shouldn't be involved with the Secret Committee, especially not as a courtier of the Empress!"

"How did you find out that Lestoker received funding from the French ambassador?" Shuvalov asked instead of answering.

"Your Majesty," Besdov replied.

"Where did Her Majesty the Empress find out?" Shuvalov asked again.

Besdudev looked at him: "Shouldn't you be the one to tell His Majesty?"

Shuvalov nodded and said, "Sergei told me."

This truly surprised Besdov. He hadn't expected that the secret committee led by Shuvalov wouldn't be the first to discover that Lestok had received funding from the French ambassador.

"It seems this duke has some tricks up his sleeve."

Shuvalov then mentioned something else.

"Frederica was in a better condition at first, but after Lestok bled her, her face became even paler, which Sergei noticed. I asked Matrena (servant) and Gemma (servant), and they can confirm it."

"That's settled then!" Besdutev had no further objections.

Shuvalov was unaware that his objection stemmed from Sergei's order for the guards to kill the coachman.

After a period of covert investigation, he discovered that the other party had an ambiguous relationship with his daughter.

Agafia resented her father, and it's very likely that she leaked the secret to Sergei. Sergei ruined his plans and, fearing for his life, had the guards kill the coachman, thus voluntarily helping him silence the witness.

"Is this considered making amends for past mistakes?"

"It's nothing."

……

Charlottenburg Palace, Berlin (capital of Prussia).

A 5.7-foot-tall man stood in front of the sheet music, holding a flute, ready to play.

He had a thin face, a high forehead, and a pair of large, slightly protruding blue eyes. He could be described as having an ordinary appearance, but he was a ruler who had already made a great name for himself throughout Europe.

He was Frederick II, King of Prussia, also known as Frederick the Great!

The president's commander entered. Frederick glanced at it, then continued looking at the sheet music: "How is the morale of the troops?"

"All the soldiers are overflowing with patriotic fervor and are at your command."

"Who are you speaking to now, the secret presidential commander or a sycophant? Trying to get a higher salary, is that it? I need the facts, only the facts!"

Knowing that Frederick was a very pragmatic man, the other party immediately reported: "I'm sorry, Your Majesty, there is an urgent message that has just arrived from Russia. Frederick is very ill and his life is in danger."

Frederick stopped what he was doing and went to the window, his expression unreadable to his men.

"What illness does she have?"

"Fever, confusion, her condition is very bad. The report says that sometimes the princess doesn't even recognize her close friends. I don't have concrete evidence, but I'm sure the princess has been poisoned."

"Poisoning?"

"Yes."

After a brief moment of contemplation, Frederick issued the order: "Write to the Grand Duke of Darmstadt that if Frederica dies, his daughter will be unable to fill the vacancy, and the state must absolutely guarantee the security of Russia's borders in that direction at this time!"

"yes!"