A sinking suspicion started to grow in the Queen's heart. Darius and the others were right. Darren was a convict from the Day Rise Principality and seemed close with the woman who tried to impersonate the Goddess of Light. She should be wary of him.

"Your Majesty, would I help you fend off Vernon's if I'm really planning to hurt you? Besides, my life is in your hands now. I'll be sentenced to death if I poison you," Darryl explained when he saw the Queen's expression.

The Queen pondered his words. After ten seconds or so, the Queen nodded. "Fine, I'll believe you this one time." Then she took the pill from Darryl and ingested it while Darius panicked.

The royal guards waited with bated breath for the medicine to take effect. They started to position themselves around Darryl, closing any path of escape for him. They would lob his head off if the Queen showed even the tiniest sign of discomfort. Darryl, to his credit, was not worried about the pill's efficacy at all.

Ten minutes