Chapter 14

"Whew!"

I exhaled the breath I had been holding and regained my senses.

'Ah, the sharp smell of alcohol has really cleared my head.'

When I lifted my heavy eyelids, the dazzling chandelier light hit me. The bright light made me squint involuntarily. I raised my hand to shield my eyes and rolled my eyeballs.

'It’s the bedroom.'

What happened last? I clearly fainted after enjoying the delicious sea crayfish that Serxia had given me as a gift for breakfast, feeling a numbing pain on my tongue and a burning sensation in my throat.

'Did I drink the blood of one of the two people again?'

Judging by the fact that I was lying in the bedroom, it seemed I hadn’t died yet. I moved my tongue around in my mouth to check if it was working properly, and then I heard an unfamiliar voice from the side.

"You’re awake."

Startled by the unfamiliar baritone, I turned my head to see a man I had never seen before, smiling broadly.

'Who is he?'

No matter how much I looked, he was someone I had never seen, even in the past. There was no way Terdeo or Selphius would have brought a suspicious person into the mansion.

"I’ll introduce myself later. ……How’s your body? Can you speak?"

Speak?

"Yes."

"Can you follow my hand with your eyes?"

He smiled and extended his long fingers, moving them from side to side. I followed his fingers with my eyes, not knowing what was going on.

"Good. Can you clench and unclench your fists? And move your toes?"

"It seems everything is fine."

After confirming that even my toes were moving properly, the man nodded.

"Fortunately, the antidote seems to have worked well. There’s no paralysis, which is good."

Antidote? I tilted my head in confusion.

"Do I need an antidote?"

After drinking blood, I would naturally wake up after some time, wouldn’t I? The man smiled slightly at my question.

"Did you think you didn’t need an antidote after eating poison?"

"Poison?"

I blinked repeatedly, feeling uneasy. If I had drunk the blood of one of the two people, why did they call a doctor?

"……You were forced to vomit, so your esophagus is probably swollen and your stomach is under strain. I’ll prescribe some medicine, so take it twice a day. I’ll leave the medicine with the butler."

"……Yes."

He seems to be a doctor…… But his face looks like Terdeo’s.

"And I made a cut on your finger to draw blood. I needed to confirm the antidote was the right one before giving it to you."

Now that I think about it, my finger was bandaged…… That’s why. I thought I had just hit it when I fainted.

"Thank you……"

"You’re welcome. Unfortunately, none of the antidotes I had completely cured you. I couldn’t even identify what poison you had ingested. It was as if it was a curse on the family."

A curse on the family?

"First, I used all the antidotes I could to neutralize the poison. It’s a relief that you’re awake. ……Apply the medicine to your finger in the morning and evening, and change the bandage so it doesn’t get infected. I’m sorry for cutting you without your permission."

"Ah, no. It’s fine."

"It might be hard to do alone, so ask Theo to help you."

Theo? Did he just call Terdeo ‘Theo’? Talking about the family curse and calling Terdeo by a nickname like ‘Theo’…… I narrowed my eyes and examined the man. His black hair and red eyes were very familiar.

"……Are you a member of the Laphireon family? Perhaps from the Laphireon……"

"Yes. I’m sorry for the late introduction. I’m Finias Ghan Laphireon. Just call me ‘Fin’."

Wow, you really are from the Laphireon family! I tried to get up from the bed in surprise, but Finias gently pressed my shoulder, smiling kindly.

"Don’t get up. Your body hasn’t fully recovered yet."

"Ah…… I’m Perechti Laphireon."

"I know. Theo told me, and so did Selph, and Cessi often talks about you. Especially Cessi, she keeps sending letters about you, even when it’s annoying."

Ah, Cessi…… I felt embarrassed and covered my eyes with my hand. I could hear Finias chuckling softly nearby.

"There’s no need to be embarrassed. You’ve brought good changes to Theo, who never showed concern, to Selph, who was always prickly, and to Cessi, who never let anyone close."

"It’s just…… It happened by chance."

"Even if it happened by chance, it means a lot to those who accept it. Especially Theo and Selph, who never moved for anyone else, searching for me was quite a shock."

Terdeo and Selph? Searching for me? They didn’t seem like the type to do that.

"Theo was really……"

"Really……?"

"I’ve never seen him so shocked."

What? What do you mean, never seen?

"You don’t believe me, do you?"

"Ah, no……"

Does the Laphireon family come equipped with quick intuition from birth? Why are they all so perceptive?

"But it’s true. Theo isn’t the type to worry much about others or himself."

I really agree that he doesn’t worry about himself. He always acts so calm and indifferent, no matter what happens!

"Especially Theo, searching for me so desperately for someone else’s sake was really unimaginable."

"……"

I’ve fainted before, more than once. Why did he search so desperately this time? Maybe because I was under the covers, my face felt hot, and I kept fanning myself with my hand.

"You’ve caused a lot of people to worry, so you need to be more careful in the future. ……Wait a moment. I’ll call Theo and Selph."

As Finias left the bedroom, silence quickly followed. Fortunately, it seemed the Laphireon family wasn’t all scary. Still, what now?

'So, did I really ingest poison?'

I naturally thought I had fainted after drinking the blood of one of the two people. After all, the sensation of fainting and waking up was exactly the same as before. I scratched my head in confusion as the bedroom door burst open. I turned to see Selphius standing there with an agitated expression.

"Selph."

"Your Highness, the Duchess."

Calling his name, Selphius rushed to the side of the bed as if he had been waiting.

"Are you okay? Any pain? If you feel even a little discomfort, you must tell me. Do you understand? Are you feeling better now?"

"Ask one at a time. I’m fine, just a bit sore, but I can bear it. I think I’ll be fine now."

Selphius, looking as if his legs had given out, sat down and kept repeating, "Thank goodness, thank goodness." Then he bit his trembling lips and rubbed his eyes with his sleeve.

'Why is he crying?'

If I had just fainted after drinking the blood of one of the two people, his reaction was too unusual. I looked at Terdeo, who had slowly approached behind Selphius, hoping for an explanation. Terdeo’s face was pale, as if something had happened.

"You ingested poison."

"Wasn’t it the blood of one of the two people?"

I asked bluntly. There was a possibility that Finias had misunderstood earlier. Now, Terdeo would say, "Yes, you drank blood again!" I thought. There was no other reason for me to faint. No one would try to kill me by poisoning my food.

"No."

"See, I drank…… What?"

"Our blood didn’t come out at all. I checked thoroughly, even under your fingernails, but not a single drop of blood came out."

"What?"

"It’s clear someone put poison in the food."

Terdeo’s low voice was chilling. It seemed I had really ingested poison.

'Whew, I almost died?'

I had only thought I would faint after drinking blood and wake up again. I never imagined I could really die. I fanned myself with my hand, feeling my face heat up under the covers.

"You caused a lot of people to worry, so you need to be more careful in the future. ……Wait a moment. I’ll call Theo and Selph."

As Finias left the bedroom, silence quickly followed. Fortunately, it seemed the Laphireon family wasn’t all scary. Still, what now?

'So, did I really ingest poison?'

I naturally thought I had fainted after drinking the blood of one of the two people. After all, the sensation of fainting and waking up was exactly the same as before. I scratched my head in confusion as the bedroom door burst open. I turned to see Selphius standing there with an agitated expression.

"Selph."

"Your Highness, the Duchess."

Calling his name, Selphius rushed to the side of the bed as if he had been waiting.

"Are you okay? Any pain? If you feel even a little discomfort, you must tell me. Do you understand? Are you feeling better now?"

"Ask one at a time. I’m fine, just a bit sore, but I can bear it. I think I’ll be fine now."

Selphius, looking as if his legs had given out, sat down and kept repeating, "Thank goodness, thank goodness." Then he bit his trembling lips and rubbed his eyes with his sleeve.

'Why is he crying?'

If I had just fainted after drinking the blood of one of the two people, his reaction was too unusual. I looked at Terdeo, who had slowly approached behind Selphius, hoping for an explanation. Terdeo’s face was pale, as if something had happened.

"You ingested poison."

"Wasn’t it the blood of one of the two people?"

I asked bluntly. There was a possibility that Finias had misunderstood earlier. Now, Terdeo would say, "Yes, you drank blood again!" I thought. There was no other reason for me to faint. No one would try to kill me by poisoning my food.

"No."

"See, I drank…… What?"

"Our blood didn’t come out at all. I checked thoroughly, even under your fingernails, but not a single drop of blood came out."

"What?"

"It’s clear someone put poison in the food."

Terdeo’s low voice was chilling. It seemed I had really ingested poison.

'Whew, I almost died?'

I had only thought I would faint after drinking blood and wake up again. I never imagined I could really die. I fanned myself with my hand, feeling my face heat up under the covers.

"You caused a lot of people to worry, so you need to be more careful in the future. ……Wait a moment. I’ll call Theo and Selph."

As Finias left the bedroom, silence quickly followed. Fortunately, it seemed the Laphireon family wasn’t all scary. Still, what now?

"Anyway, did only I ingest the poison? If there was poison in the food, Selph, are you okay? Terdeo, are you okay?"

"We are immune to all poisons because of the curse. Even if there was poison in the food, we wouldn’t die."

So, I was the only one who suffered. But the person who put the poison in the food probably didn’t know about the curse on the Laphireon family. They must have wanted me, Terdeo, and Selphius to die. Thinking about it, I felt like cursing. Selphius, who had been standing by, finally spoke after a long silence.

"It’s my responsibility."

His first words, spoken as if he was forcing them out, were not a greeting or a joke. He, who always said he would protect me, was expressing his guilt for not being able to do so.

"Selphius is right. We are immune to poison, but you are different."

Terdeo looked down at my bandaged finger with a steady gaze.

"I overlooked that. So, it’s all my fault."

With those words, Terdeo fell silent again. His silence felt like an apology, making my shoulders heavy. I suppressed the rising anger and sat up in bed. Despite Terdeo’s protests, I got up stubbornly.

"Did you catch the person who put the poison in the food? And did you check the food that contained the poison?"

"……Mashed potatoes. A bird flew in during the investigation, ate the mashed potatoes, and died on the spot."

Whew, died on the spot? That’s insane! I could have been in the same situation!

"The kitchen assistant said he bought the potatoes at the market this morning."

"What about the kitchen assistant? Did you investigate him?"

"He said he had to go out before serving breakfast and hasn’t returned yet."

Gotcha, you bastard! The kitchen assistant is the most likely culprit. He must have fled after poisoning the food! ……Although it didn’t turn into a murder scene.

"Someone was sent to his house, but it had been cleaned out a long time ago. It seemed no one had lived there for quite some time. He might have been planning this for a long time."

Terdeo quietly lowered his gaze. Behind his long eyelashes, his red eyes were filled with quiet anger and self-loathing.

"And if he had been planning this for a long time, his target was probably me. At that time, neither Selph nor you were here."

"……"

"It’s my fault that you got involved in my affairs. So, it’s my fault."

I quietly looked at Terdeo, who was endlessly blaming himself. It seemed he wanted me to blame him, just like when I fought with Selphius.

"Listen, Terdeo. You are not the perpetrator but the victim."

"……What?"

"The one who put the poison in and fled is the bad guy, not you. There was no way you could have known in advance."

"But all this happened because of me……"

"Did you want to be blamed? If so, stop it. I don’t blame you."

Terdeo, who had been sitting for too long, looked pale and dizzy.

"I’m not blaming you, but I’m blaming the guy who put the poison in and fled. ……Ugh."

I finally felt nauseous, and Finias, who had been standing by the door, quickly approached.

"Are you okay? I said it might be difficult to get up yet. How’s your stomach? Do you feel like vomiting? If so, don’t hold it in; it’s better to let it out."

"……I can hold it in for now, but if I sit any longer, I might really vomit."

I answered in a strained voice, pursing my lips. Terdeo slowly laid me back down.

"The sudden use of various antidotes might cause dizziness and nausea. Don’t move around too much."

I quickly nodded at Finias’s words. Lying down, the nausea subsided, and I felt better. I should listen to the doctor.

"There’s nothing to apologize for, but if you feel guilty, there’s one thing you can do."

"……What is it?"

"Bring the person who did this to me. I’ll take care of him."

"But……"

"Or do you want me to keep vomiting on your clothes while sitting here?"

Terdeo finally closed his lips, looking at me as if I were strange. He seemed to have a lot to say but was holding back. Finias, standing beside him, smiled kindly at us.

"You need to be careful for a few days. Theo, take good care of the Duchess."

"Yes."

"Selph, let’s go. The Duchess needs to rest."

Selphius nodded but couldn’t take his worried eyes off me. He seemed very shaken by the near-death experience. Finias skillfully comforted and led Selphius out of the bedroom. Once they left, an awkward silence filled the room.

'What do I do now that we’re alone?'

I cleared my throat and tried to lighten the mood with a raised voice.

"What you said in the carriage was true, right?"

"In the carriage?"

"You said you would be shocked if I got hurt or threatened."

Terdeo pondered for a moment and slightly parted his red lips.

"Did I?"

Ugh, pretending not to remember.

"Yes, you said you would be so worried, and if I died, what would you do?"

"I just said I would be shocked, not that I would be so worried……"

"Really? I remember it clearly."

Terdeo, who had been hesitating, turned his head away, closing his lips.

"……I wasn’t that shocked. I just thought it was strange that you suddenly ingested poison during a meal."

"Really?"

"I wouldn’t be shocked by something like that."

"But your face is much paler than this morning, isn’t it?"

Terdeo, feeling his face with his hand, let out a low sigh. He seemed to realize his excuse didn’t make sense, frowned, and rubbed his face with his large hand.

"Still, you desperately searched for Finias for my sake, right? I heard from Finias."

"……He talks too much. ……It was Selph who did it. I just stayed still."

"Still, I’m alive thanks to you. Thank you."

I smiled and waved my hand. Terdeo looked at me as if I were strange, furrowing his brows. He then dragged a chair from a distance, sat down heavily, and loosened his cravat.

"How can you thank me?"

"Should I apologize and say I’m sorry instead?"

The playful tone melted the frozen atmosphere. Terdeo, running his hand through his hair, let out a deflated laugh.

"You’re really a surprising person. Normally, after such an incident, one would cry in fear or beg for help."

"Are you praising me for my bravery?"

"Ha, look at you."

"Anyway, I’m glad no one else was hurt or in pain."

"Are you worried about others in this situation?"

I replied nonchalantly to Terdeo’s nagging anger.

"I would have been very shocked if you were hurt."

"What?"

"Of course, Selph too. So, it’s not just me, right? But this, it seems they were trying to kill you. Just like the last statue incident. You have a lot of enemies."

"Once we catch the culprit, there will be a lot to do."

Terdeo’s expression was as cold as the frost of winter, grinding his teeth.

"I agree."

"I have no excuse for putting you in harm’s way."

"It’s fine. I knew you would do something to keep me alive."

Terdeo, rarely looking dazed, seemed confused about how to respond.

"Why are you looking at me like that? You haven’t forgotten our contract, have you?"

Terdeo’s dazed expression made me laugh. I smiled warmly and said,

"Keeping me alive and protecting my inheritance. That was our contract, right?"

"……"

"So, I’m not too worried. You’ll keep me alive, after all."