IPSC 10

Chapter 10

Oh my, I was just joking.”

“W-What…?”

Vivian, her eyes bloodshot from retching, lifted her head to look at me.
The area around her mouth and her dress were smeared with vomit.

I looked down at her and tilted my head.

“Seeing your reaction, this is starting to feel suspicious. Don’t tell me you really did put poison in it?”

At my question, Vivian’s face went pale.

Before long, it flushed red, then blue.

“Aisha, this is a joke—!”

“The one joking here is Lady Vivian.”

Cutting her off, I pulled a fist-sized skull from inside my clothes.

“Everyone, could you look over here for a moment?”

The dark ivory skull was smaller than a human skull and looked like an intricately carved work of art.

The young ladies’ faces drained of color at the sight of it. Vivian’s expression was no different.

Well, to sheltered noble ladies, it certainly looked grotesque. Depending on who saw it, the skull could easily provoke disgust.

But the skull I had borrowed from Lowell was no ordinary object.

Placing the fairy’s skull on the table, I explained to the pale-faced young ladies.

“This is a fairy skull from my master’s collection. It screams when it comes into contact with poison.”

I lifted the teacup and continued.

“If there’s nothing wrong with the tea Lady Vivian gave me, the skull won’t react. But what do you think will happen if there is poison?”

As I poured the tea over the fairy skull, its mouth opened.

“Kree… kreee… kreeeeee.”

A chilling metallic screech, like nails scraping iron, tore through the air.

Ugh. I’d heard it when Lowell demonstrated it, but I still couldn’t get used to that sound.

She tried to use this strong a poison on me?

That just makes me even angrier.

The skull continued screaming in agony.

“Kreeeeee…! Kreeeeee!”

The young ladies reacted in different ways.

Some froze in fear at the skull’s screams, while others stared at Vivian as if they couldn’t believe what they were seeing.

I felt a little sorry for causing such a disturbance at a tea party, but if it meant revealing the truth, I had no choice.

I had to survive, after all.

After successfully proving that Vivian had attempted to poison me, I crossed my arms and looked down at her trembling with rage.

“Lady Vivian. Why did you try to poison me?”

At my question, Vivian sprang to her feet.

She glared at me with fury in her eyes.

“Are you accusing me of being a murderer?”

“Then are you saying the fairy skull lied? There’s no way my master’s tool is faulty.”

Feigning surprise, I continued.

“Or are you suggesting you doubt my master? The greatest mage of the Empire, beloved by His Majesty?”

I invoked Lowell’s name.

The fact that I was the disciple of a mage favored by the Emperor was an excellent shield.

Vivian, still burning with anger, snapped back.

“Don’t be ridiculous. You think I don’t know this is a scheme to frame me?”

She turned her gaze toward the other young ladies.

“You’re not actually believing this country bumpkin, are you?”

At her question, several of the young ladies avoided her gaze.

Given Vivian’s behavior at the tea party, it was hard not to suspect her.

Seeing the lack of trust, Vivian protested in a disbelieving voice.

“You’re really going to trust some woman who came from who-knows-where?”

I answered her in a firm voice.

“Lady Vivian, save your excuses for the Imperial Judicial Office.”

“The judicial office?”

At those words, Vivian stiffened. The fury in her eyes cooled instantly.

Under normal circumstances, if a rural nobody like me claimed a count’s daughter had tried to poison her, it would obviously be dismissed.

But who was I?

The greatest mage in the Empire, favored by the Emperor—

—his disciple, wasn’t I?

If word reached the palace that the disciple of the Emperor’s favored mage had nearly been poisoned, Lowell wouldn’t stay silent. And if that happened, imperial intervention was very likely.

If the Imperial Court took charge of the case, I wouldn’t even need to step in. The Empire would side with me—one of its own.

And if Vivian’s guilt were acknowledged, she wouldn’t escape severe punishment.

I smiled inwardly at Vivian.

In short, you’re finished.

At that moment, Vivian’s expression turned icy.

“…I am the daughter of Count Angus and a noble of the Empire.”

She lowered her head, clenched her fists, and continued.

“You will pay dearly for slandering me and my family.”

“Sure. Say the rest to the judicial office.”

I scoffed.

Feeling no need to deal with her any longer, I turned my back on Vivian and left for the garden.

I could feel her burning gaze on my back, but so what?

I had the Empire backing me.

Now all that was left was for the judicial office to investigate Vivian and issue punishment.

Attempted murder was a serious crime in this world as well. Considering she was a noble, she might avoid prison, but she wouldn’t escape heavy consequences.

My steps felt lighter than ever. Humming to myself, I began planning what came next.

Soon, I’d be going on an expedition with Lowell, and I’d meet Jerome there.

I was supposed to run into a red-haired holy knight along the way, but there was no business between us. Getting involved with me would only end in being burned at the stake, so it was better for both of us to stay uninvolved.

With an obstacle removed, I could finally focus solely on Jerome!

Just as I was about to head back to the Moon Tower, feeling refreshed, my vision spun.

“Huh…?”

My stomach churned.

My head felt like it was splitting apart, chills ran down my spine, and my fingertips turned icy cold.

The scenery before my eyes began to waver.

“W-What…?”

My body wouldn’t obey me.

My vision blurred, and my body slowly tilted to the side.

“Ah…”

Cold stone brushed against my cheek. Darkness filled my sight.

That was my last memory of the count’s estate.

My consciousness was hazy. It felt like my body was sinking into a deep abyss.

My limbs were heavy, and my chest felt as though a boulder were pressing down on it.

Then, a small light flickered faintly before my eyes. It slowly spread, wrapping around my body.

Warmth flowed through me, and the darkness weighing me down began to recede, one by one.

My stiff body relaxed, vitality spreading through me. The fog clouding my mind lifted.

As my blurred vision cleared, a man came into view.

Silver hair that seemed to hold moonlight. Mysterious eyes, so beautiful they could ensnare anyone, shimmered like clear crystal as he looked down at me.

“…Master Lowell?”

“Are you awake?”

Looking around, I realized I was in my bedroom, lying in bed.

Still dazed, I sat up and tried to recall my last memory.

After getting back at Vivian at the tea party, I left the count’s estate.

On the way back, my head hurt and my stomach felt sick.

Then my vision blurred…

‘Did I faint?’

As I sat up, Lowell pulled me into an embrace.

“I’m so glad you woke up.”

His body was firm and warm. A soft, comforting scent rose from him.

The arm around my shoulders tightened slightly.

“M-Master…?”

Flustered by the sudden hug, I fumbled awkwardly, unsure where to put my hands.

Thankfully, after a moment, Lowell released me.

Taking a step back, he spoke.

“A passerby found a lady collapsed near the count’s estate.”

He continued, looking at me with concern.

“They say Lady Angus attempted to poison you.”

“Ah…”

I scratched my cheek awkwardly. It seemed the young ladies from the tea party had testified about what happened.

“I’ve filed a complaint with the Imperial Judicial Office. An official investigation into Lady Angus is underway.”

His expression darkened as he explained further.

“The poison Lady Angus used is a new type of concoction that’s never been discovered before.”

His face was grave.

“It’s colorless and odorless, and even a single drop can take a life. It doesn’t react to the temple’s vessels either. We’re investigating how she obtained such a dangerous poison.”

Even after hearing his explanation, something didn’t make sense.

I didn’t drink the poison—so why did I collapse?

As if he’d sensed my confusion, Lowell answered.

“The reason you collapsed was a curse.”

“A curse?”

I looked at him, bewildered.

“Dark magic tools were found in Lady Angus’s bedroom. Your hair, a charred black feather, and a nailed doll.”

This felt… oddly familiar.

“Don’t tell me…”

“That’s right.”

Lowell gave a bitter smile.

“The one who cursed Duke Winston—and the one who cursed you—was Lady Angu