Chapter: 25
Of course, I had already prepared an excuse.
“I need to use medicinal incense, but it’s quite potent. I’ll have to adjust the dosage while monitoring Your Grace’s condition.”
The Duke stared at me without a word.
I swallowed nervously.
What if he says he’ll hire an expert and tells me to hand over the incense?
But then the Duke let out a quiet chuckle.
“Prepare a room for her in the administrator’s east wing.”
With those words, he left the room.
I guess that was permission.
My face brightened instantly as I hurried after him.
Viscount Shintes furrowed his brows.
What in the world…?
That girl, Eustea.
When she first asked for three days, he’d assumed she was scheming something.
Yet from last night until now, all she’d done was…
“I noticed an error in the translation, so I corrected it.”
“Doesn’t the air feel stuffy? Shall I open the windows?”
“If you’re choosing a birthday gift for Her Majesty the Empress Dowager, I’d recommend uncut gemstones. She prefers collecting raw gems over polished ones.”
…Nothing but things like that.
And to make matters worse—
She was good.
The stack of approved documents on the Duke’s desk was noticeably higher than usual.
She always handed over exactly the right materials at exactly the right moment, making every task run smoothly.
She’s heaven-sent labor…!
Forgetting all his suspicions, Viscount Shintes asked,
“Did you also assist Marquis Andres with his work?”
“No? Father didn’t really like having me around, so even eating together was something I could only do as a reward.”
“Why?”
How could anyone dislike a daughter like this?
She was competent.
Back when she was Lady Andres, even the Empress Dowager had praised her as the finest young lady.
She even considered dining with her father a reward.
Saying the weather had turned chilly and she would bring some tea, Eustea left the room.
Unable to hold back, Viscount Shintes turned to the Duke.
“Just how spoiled must Marquis Andres have been?”
If only his own daughter, Asta, had resembled Eustea by even a fingernail’s worth, he wouldn’t have been living on stomach medicine.
“Instead, I have a daughter who robbed her father’s warehouse and ran away from home because I wouldn’t let her join the training camp…!”
“So your daughter really did that?”
Only then did Viscount Shintes realize what he’d admitted and awkwardly cleared his throat.
With an embarrassed expression, he handed over a report.
“This is the investigation report on the Camellia poisoning case, as you requested.”
The contents were exactly as expected.
“So the culprit was Ayabel of House Balboa.”
“Wasn’t the target Your Grace? She likely intended to poison you and then cure you to earn your favor.”
“And her ultimate goal was to become the Crown Prince’s consort.”
“Yes.”
“Remarkable.”
“Indeed. To let greed blind her enough to attempt something like—”
“No. I meant that child.”
Even the Duke’s personal intelligence division, after identifying and investigating the target, had failed to uncover information about the poison Ayabel had used.
Yet she figured it out.
Not only that—
She was successfully detoxifying it.
The Duke’s condition was visibly improving.
Both the physician and the priest had already confirmed that the poisoning was receding.
“So Marquis Andres truly was a fool.”
If it had been him, he would never have let a daughter like that slip away.
Just then—
Knock.
“I’ve brought tea and refreshments.”
Eustea entered carrying a tea set.
There was enough for both the Duke and Viscount Shintes.
“Today’s snack is candied Margust.”
Without thinking much, the Duke and the Viscount each popped a piece into their mouths.
“…!”
“…!!”
Their expressions changed instantly.
What in the world was this flavor?
They’d expected it to be nothing more than sweet preserved fruit.
Instead, it was astonishing.
The moderate sweetness perfectly enhanced Margust’s naturally bitter aroma.
It was pleasantly chewy without being difficult to bite through.
Each chew released a fragrant burst of aroma that filled the nose.
Yet it didn’t overpower the tea.
On the contrary, it made the tea’s original fragrance even richer and more layered.
Viscount Shintes forgot all his manners and stared with his mouth hanging open.
Marquis Andres really had been an absolute fool.
An unbelievable idiot!
It wasn’t until sunset that I finally left the Duke’s room.
Viscount Shintes came out with me.
After clearing his throat several times, he spoke.
“About… what you served with the tea.”
“The candied Margust?”
“Yes, that… preserved fruit thing. …Is there any left?”
“No.”
“I see…”
His shoulders slumped.
Did he really like the candied fruit?
Come to think of it, every time I’d returned from going outside, the Viscount had stared intently at my hands.
Whenever he confirmed I wasn’t carrying anything, he’d quietly look disappointed and turn away.
“There aren’t any leftovers, but I can make more. Would you like some?”
“That would be grea—!”
The Viscount, whose face had brightened enough to shout, suddenly flinched.
After several more awkward coughs, he said,
“It would be troublesome for you.”
“It’s not difficult.”
“Well… if that’s the case…”
“Of course.”
“And what I’m about to say isn’t repayment for the candied fruit. It’s because you’ve worked hard on the detoxification. It truly isn’t because of the sweets… I’m certainly not an old man with shining eyes over desserts…”
“…?”
Only after insisting three separate times that it had nothing to do with the candied fruit did he finally ask,
“Is there… anything you need?”
Something I needed?
Of course there was.
“I’d like to make a communication call!”
“A communication? You can use the communication room anytime with permission… Ah. You mean with someone you need to contact secretly.”
As expected of the Duke’s right-hand man.
Apparently he already knew about the Guild Master.
And he quickly realized I wanted to contact him.
“In that case, go to the garden where the poisoned camellias are.”
“The camellias?”
“The Duke has forbidden anyone from entering that garden. No one will discover your communication there. I’ll temporarily deactivate the nearby barrier so your communication can’t be traced.”
“Thank you. I’ll make you two boxes of candied Margust.”
“I’ll say it again. This isn’t repayment for the sweets.”
“Of course not. Absolutely not.”
I bid farewell to Viscount Shintes, who was smiling happily while muttering, “Two boxes…”
Then I hurried away.
I retrieved the communication stone from the room the Duke had assigned me and immediately headed toward the camellia garden.
Just as the Viscount had said, there wasn’t a single soul in sight.
Just in case, I crouched beneath a vine-covered wall and activated the communication.
[My Lady!]
[My Lady? My Lady?!]
I’d never been happier to hear the Vice Guild Master’s and Antonio’s voices.
“Have you all been well?”
[We’ve been fine, but we heard Your Ladyship went through quite an ordeal.]
[Yeah! We heard you were thrown into prison!]
[Move aside! We were searching everywhere for a way into the Duke’s estate when we received word you’d been released. Are you unharmed?]
[Your fingers! Are they all still there?!]
[Didn’t I tell you to get lost?!]
[Is that really My Lady?! Vice Guild Master! Sir Antonio! Let me speak too! My Lady, your internal organs are all intact, aren’t they?!]
[Me too! Let me ask too!]
Even the passing guild members joined in, worried that some part of my body had been damaged.
“I’m fine. But I’m no longer working as a page.”
[You got fired?! Vice Guild Master, I really should go bring her back. Think how heartbroken she must be!]
[It’s okay, My Lady! I once failed a mission the Vice Guild Master gave me, and all I got was two hits to the head…!]
[Joseph, bring me my sword!]
Apparently the Vice Guild Master had exploded in anger.
Before he actually drew his sword, I hurriedly explained,
“I wasn’t fired. I just changed workplaces. I’m working for the Duke now.”
[…What?]
The Vice Guild Master’s voice instantly became calm.
He seemed to understand exactly what that meant.
“Yes. I’ve made contact with the Duke. But I think you’ll have to wait a little longer before the Guild Master can meet him privately.”
[I understand.]
“I’ll finish things as quickly as possible and complete the mission—”
Just then—
I sensed movement nearby.
“I’ll contact you again later.”
I immediately ended the communication and lowered myself as much as possible.
Ever since recovering from mana exhaustion, my senses had returned.
Someone was definitely approaching.
Entry into the Duke’s territory has been forbidden. Who could it be?
I had Viscount Shintes’ permission.
No one else should be anywhere near here.
And judging by the footsteps, there was more than one person.
Peering through the vines, I recognized the faces.
“Big Sister, please…!”
“Let go!”
It was Ayabel and Asta.
Asta was glaring at Ayabel with blazing anger.
“So you really used poison? Father has been investigating that poison. It’s only a matter of time before they discover it was you!”
“…!”
Ayabel’s face turned deathly pale.
I see.
The moment I heard them, I understood everything.
Asta’s furious because Ayabel used Ingu.
I’d known from the beginning that Ingu was connected to Ayabel.
It was a poison developed by House Balboa—Ayabel’s family.
In the game, obtaining Ingu required infiltrating House Balboa.
I wondered whether it was Baron Balboa or Ayabel. So it was Ayabel after all.
She’d intended to poison the Duke, then cure him and win his favor.
Her goal was obviously to become the Crown Prince’s consort with the Duke’s support.
Ayabel always wanted to become Crown Princess.
Still, she hadn’t used Ingu in the game.
Did she like Luciano that much?
Then again, in the game the prince had favored Ayabel, so she wouldn’t have needed the Duke’s backing.
But… they said the prince was originally interested in another girl. Why did he suddenly turn his attention to Ayabel?
That thought made me pause.
Originally, the one who came to Esgarott in the game was Nicola.
If the prince’s first interest had been Nicola…
Then Nicola would have been a thorn in Ayabel’s side.
She had every reason to poison her.
But in the game, Asta confessed to poisoning Nicola…
Just then, Ayabel wrapped her arms around Asta’s waist.
“Big Sister.”
“Let go…!”
“Do you remember? You used to be my prince.”
“…”
“When I climbed that tree and couldn’t get down, crying, you caught me. I still remember what you said. ‘Trust me. Have I ever failed to protect you?’ That’s what you told me.”
“…”
“So protect me again this time…”
Ayabel looked up at Asta with tearful eyes.
Remembering those precious memories with her little sister, Asta merely bit her lip tightly.
Ayabel continued,
“Tell them you did it. The Duke won’t abandon your father, Viscount Shintes. If they think it was your doing, they’ll have no choice but to let it go.”
What?
What kind of insane thing was this girl saying?
So that’s what happened.
Even in the game, Asta took the blame for Ayabel.
Asta stared silently at her sister.
“You…”
“Are you just going to stand there and watch me die?”
“…”
Asta couldn’t answer.
Ayabel’s expression brightened.
As though she were certain Asta would shoulder the blame.
At that moment—
I stood up.
“…!”
“…!!”
Startled by my sudden appearance, both Ayabel and Asta froze.
I strode directly toward them.
Then I grabbed Asta’s wrist.
“Let’s go.”
As I tried to pull Asta away, Ayabel shoved me violently.
“What does this have to do with you?!”
“It has everything to do with me.”
“What connection could someone like you possibly have with my sister?!”
“She ate meals with me. She protected me from being bullied.”
And if Asta became the culprit, the Duke would become busy.
That would interfere with the Guild Master’s private meeting.
Ayabel let out a mocking laugh.
“For something so trivial…”
“Even someone like me, who only received something so trivial, worries about Asta. Yet you, who call yourself her sister, only care about your own safety.”
“Because my life is on the line!”
“If you committed a crime knowing your life would be on the line, then take responsibility for it.”
Only after saying that did I look at Asta.
“If you leave her, it won’t be because you killed her. It’ll be because of her own choices.”
“…”
“So let’s go. To the people who truly deserve your love and kindness.”
“…”
Ayabel smiled crookedly.
“As if Sister would ever…”
Then—
Asta stepped toward me.
“W-What are you… Why…?”
“Goodbye, Ayabel. My little sister, whom I truly loved.”
“…What?”
“Those are the only words I have left for you.”
“Big Sister!”
Ayabel screamed after her.
But Asta simply took my hand and walked away in silence.
Behind us, Ayabel slowly collapsed onto the ground.
After leaving the garden, Asta quietly asked,
“Was my heart… worthless?”
“No. You simply gave a precious heart to the wrong person.”
“…Thank you.”
Later, Asta and I sat together on a bench.
I stared blankly into space.
People’s gazes were painfully obvious.
…Because Asta, sitting beside me, had been crying like a waterfall for ages.
Anyone would think she had a tragic story.
Passersby kept glancing at us.
Quietly, I offered my sleeve.
My handkerchief was already completely soaked.
Asta vigorously wiped her tears on my sleeve instead.
Just then—
“…What are you doing?”
Viscount Shintes, on his way home from work, stopped when he saw us.
Asta immediately turned her head away.
“What does it matter to you?”
“Aren’t you my daughter?”
“Even daughters have something called privacy.”
“You should’ve remembered that word when you raided your father’s emergency savings.”
Frowning, Viscount Shintes walked over.
Then he looked at me.
“What trouble has she gotten into this time?”
“Uh… well…”
If I said Asta had known Ayabel brought Ingu into the castle but stayed silent, Viscount Shintes would explode.
As I hesitated, Asta spoke without turning around.
“Ayabel smuggled poison into the castle.”
“How do you know? Even I only received that report today.”
“…I’ve known since the day I entered the castle as a page.”
“What?!”
Oh dear.
Just as expected, Viscount Shintes roared.
“You foolish girl! If you knew, you should’ve reported it! No, more importantly, do you know what that poison actually was?! What was it?!”
“Canaria.”
What?
I stared at Asta in surprise.
It was Ingu.
I’d dug it up myself and even found the pouch soaked in blue-green liquid.
There was no mistake.
“Canaria?”
“I’m not completely sure. I only overheard the explanation while passing through Ayabel’s estate. But I remember it clearly. It looked exactly like a canary bird.”
So she had another poison besides Ingu.
Why would she possess another poison as well?
Canaria was certainly toxic, but it wasn’t a poisoning item.
Wait…
I suddenly stood up and grabbed Viscount Shintes.
“Where’s the Duke? Where is he now?”
“Thirty minutes ago, Baron Balboa and Ayabel were arrested. He’s probably questioning them now in Tartarus Tower.”
“…!”
I immediately broke into a run.
Behind me, Asta and her father shouted,
“Eustea?!”
But I couldn’t stop.
I only shouted back,
“Call a mage!”
Canaria—
A highly flammable chlorine-based poison.
It’s used to trigger explosions.
She most likely kept it as an emergency escape method.
Which meant…
The Duke might be caught in an explosion.
