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Chapter 19




I approached Diel and sat next to him. I kept urging him to build a lab as soon as possible.
“I can’t believe I’ll be meeting more people after Sir Perelman sent me here.”
Diel shook his head with a sigh. Despite his complaints, the construction of the laboratory quickly progressed.
 
***
 
The laboratory is equipped with all kinds of medical equipment. I was enthusiastic when I thought about carefully analyzing the Duchess’ blood.
“Blood……”
To my knowledge of combining blood tests with various symptoms, this is not a natural disease.
Even Perelman couldn’t find this odd combination.
“There is something strange.”
After testing the blood with all sorts of reagents, I found something surprising.
“……”
I swallowed dry saliva at the sight of the Duchess’ blood response to the Cyrian grass.
This is not a natural disease.
This is an artificial illness as if someone poisoned the Duchess.
The problem is, I don’t know who, how, and when the culprit used poison.
“It’s a very slow-moving poison combined with the Hippie flower.”
I muttered nervously even though no one could hear me.
Hippie flower is a poison that commonly causes headaches and stomachaches.
I never expected this before, but the victim would have to ingest the poison continuously for a very long time for it to work. The poison must stay at least two months in the blood.
“Hold up……”
I opened my eyes wide when I saw the results of the blood test. The poison concentration is much lower, which means it’s time for the culprit to feed the Duchess with poison again
“There is a possibility that if one is addicted to this poison, they could have the same symptoms that madam is experiencing.”
No one knew who poisoned the Duchess in the future, but it was clear who the culprit was. Maybe I’m the only one in the world who knows about them.
It was Baron Ishid and Frederick who benefited the most when the Duchess died.
But Baron Ishid is the Duchess’ brother.
I might get fired if I make a suspicious report about the Baron.
Come to think of it, this was around the time Baron Ishid and Frederick came to visit the Duchy.
“I have to find every piece of evidence I can get my hands on.”
I made up my mind and rubbed my tired eyes.
‘This is a Hippie flower……’
I had to set a trap and make the Duchess herself suspicious.
 
***
 
2. Finding Clues
 
There are regular visitors who always come to visit the Duchy: Baron Ishid and his son, Frederick.
“How are you, sister?”
Baron Roman Jacques Ishid smiled and greeted the Duchess politely.
He has the same platinum silver hair and unique black eyes as the Duchess’s, but he has a different impression.
“Well, not much,” the Duchess replied casually.
She was initially cold-hearted, so she wasn’t very friendly with her brother, Roman. But she thought it would be a good thing if she didn’t make him uncomfortable.
Even when the Duke of Casseus was alive, it was troublesome when the Baron visited too often.
He always made excuses to come to visit his beloved little sister and ask for some money.
She didn’t understand what he was doing and why he was always short of money, but the Duchess only gave some jewelry without much consideration because of Casseus’ wealth.
From an early age, the Duchess knew about his character very well.
He is timid and lacks passion. He is incompetent in many areas, except for his meager knowledge of their family lineage.
However, Roman is the only heir in their family, and no matter how incompetent he is, she can’t just ignore him.
“Frederick is playing with Erhan.”
You could say Roman is the perfect brother. He had always been kind to the cold Duchess. Also, he was weak since he was young and always followed his sister.
After the Duke of Casseus died, Roman said he would come more often to accompany the lonely Duchess. He would also stand by her side when there was a conflict with the administration of the Duchy.
The Duchess was somewhat indifferent to Roman and Frederick but she was indebted to them under various circumstances.
The Duchess allowed Frederick to visit Erhan because he took good care of her son. The Duchess had a hard time taking care of her child due to exhaustion and the sheer burden of responsibility.
Her illness had left her feeling constantly weak.
The Baron asked, “Are you still sick?”
“I’m used to it now,” the Duchess replied.
Roman sighed anxiously.
“……you didn’t tell Perelman about your condition, did you?”
“Yes.”
“You should be.” Roman drank the tea slowly and continued, “You have to protect Erhan.”
When Roman learned that the Duchess was in a poor condition, he advised her not to tell Perelman about her most serious symptoms. It was Roman’s first time giving advice.
Erhan is the most precious to her and Perelman is the greatest doctor on the continent.
Even though Perelman barely worked in the Duchy due to his guilt towards the previous Duke, he would leave if the Duchess bothered him with her illness.
“But you look much better, sister.”
“Thank you.”
“And what tea is that? It has a unique color.”
Roman asked curiously, looking at the Duchess’ tea which is slightly different from his.
“It’s a gift, and she said it’s not good for men.”
“Who?”
“Perelman’s new assistant.”
“Oh……” Roman frowned. “You mean the assistant who still lasts more than a month?”
“Yeah, she’s pretty smart, and Perelman seems to like her.”
The Duchess drank her tea without thinking too much.
In fact, the tea had a tonic that Lise had secretly mixed. But the Duchess couldn’t possibly notice.
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“Do you like Perelman’s assistant? I should visit her then.”
Roman smiled, looking straight at the Duchess.
“Why don’t you take me to dinner?”
“Well.”
The Duchess shook her head coldly.
“Sorry, but I would prefer you to have dinner with Frederick, my brother. I’ll prepare it.”
“What?”
“I already have an appointment tonight.”
“Then tomorrow–”
“Tomorrow too.”
“……”
“As you know, I always eat alone for lunch, so take care of your own lunch.”
“No, I mean, I will only be here three days. Are you saying that you won’t even be able to have dinner with me?”
“Is it that important? If you have something you want to say, say it now. Is it so important that you want to discuss it in the dining room?”
Roman looked disappointed, but he couldn’t say anything else because he knew his sister was born cold-hearted.
 
***
 
“Did you take a sword class?”
Frederick smiled mockingly at Erhan.
His cousin, whom he had met for the first time in a long time, did something unreasonable.
“I told you not to. Why don’t you listen to this brother of yours?” Frederick asked nervously.
“Zikel told me I was pretty good.”
However, Erhan didn’t seem to be apologizing like usual. Instead, he drank his milk leisurely, not reacting too much to Frederick’s provocation.
“I actually feel better today than before, so I’m fine.”
“……can you stop drinking that milk? You’ve gained too much weight.”
“Someone said it’s okay to eat a lot because I will be healthy.”
“Who?”
“Lise.”
“Perelman’s new assistant…..?”
Frederick asked, frowning. Lise Estelle, that new assistant is really rude. He didn’t feel anything good about her since he was fooled by her once.
She said that Baron Ishid was looking for his son, so he immediately went to his father. But his father said that he never called him.
“Let’s go find that assistant”
“No.”
“What?”
Frederick was astonished at how his cousin responded.
It was hard to believe that Erhan rejected him so emphatically.
“Why?”
“You are seventeen.”
Erhan didn’t forget Lise’s words that she prefers older people.
“So what?”
“No.”
Frederick was taken aback by his ridiculous answer, so he grabbed both of his shoulders.
“Erhan, listen to your brother. Since you said you missed me, you should be nice to me. ”
“……”
“I am the only friend you have been with since you were young. But you can’t even show me that pretty girl?”
The word ‘pretty’ made Erhan’s brows furrow. He felt as if he was about to explode in anger.
Seeing Erhan’s wary eyes, Frederick almost walked backward even though his opponent was only a child.
“She’s my doctor.”
“What?”
“She is Perelman’s assistant and is under contract with the Duchy of Casseus. So, Lise is my person.”
“You, you……”
“I have the right not to show her to you, brother.”
“I am connected to you by blood, Erhan. But who cares about who has the right?”
“But you’re not Casseus.”
Frederick clicked his tongue and suddenly narrowed his eyes as if he had noticed something.
Erhan has expressed his disapproval of him for the first time in seven years, saying that he would not let him see his doctor.
“I guess you want to look good for that girl……”
“……”
“You have to lose weight to do that. Obviously, you are fatter than a month ago.”
“What?”
“Don’t eat anything just yet but eat this.”
Frederick gave Erhan some of the snacks he usually brought with him.
“But Lise said I have to eat well……”
“As you said, Lise is your doctor, so she has no choice but to say that. I am the only one who can speak objectively and frankly.”
“……”
“Don’t tell Lise about this.”
“……okay.”
Frederick glanced at Erhan’s body while handing him a snack.
His body is definitely stronger than a month ago and his eyes look clearer.
“You didn’t eat the snack I gave you last month, did you?”
“……I haven’t been hungry lately since I’ve eaten a lot.”
“You look a bit ugly somehow. Skip your mealtime a few times and eat what I gave you……”
Frederick grinned as he gently stroked Erhan’s black hair.
“……that way, you’ll look cool. I’m serious my brother. This is a secret between men, understand?”