Chapter 37: Test

“The County of Giorta is not far from here. It only takes about two hours. You won’t be too tired because it’s quick to come and go.”

Count Giorta. I lowered my head to hide the smirk that was about to come out. Yes, that Count Giorta. A land that appears after crossing a swamp and past a meadow. I don’t know what kind of land it is, but it strangely feels like a hole for me to escape.

Richton was chasing me. If it were him in the past, he would have let me do whatever I wanted without attaching Kean. But this time it’s different. He put on a sure leash called Kean, and it seemed he was trying to make me feel that everything was a futile hope. It can’t be helped but he is a fucking madman.

“But Susan..…your complexion is worse than yesterday. I’m worried that you might have gotten sick from the rain.”

“Isn’t my complexion always bad?”

Pale, all dying, like a corpse. Those were the words that were often heard in my ear after taking Ingord’s poison.

“So don’t worry. My body is very good.”

It was because I couldn’t sleep deeply because I was reminiscing about the past. Vivianne. A person who did not appear in 『The River Where the Sun Manoeuvres』. At first I thought she was a character who died without much influence. But as the memories of the past returned, I became less confident about it.

I didn’t know why, but it felt weird. If I ask Azmaria about Vivianne, will I get the expected answer?

“I’m glad it’s sunny today. I was worried because it rained last night.”

“Ingord is very volatile.”

“Ah. Yes, Ingord is close to the sea.”

No. Not now.

All I need right now is her trust. Azmaria is quick-witted. If I act in a little hurry here, she will have doubts.

“I should get used to it.”

The face of Azmaria, who smiled softly, had a light sense of responsibility as a duchess.

Responsibility?

You declared that you would act as a puppet with your own mouth, but you felt responsible as a duchess.

“It’s only been three days, and I think you’ve gotten closer to Sir Richton.”

I couldn’t confirm with my own eyes, but there must have been quite a lot of conversations between the two. I thought there was a good reason why Azmaria’s expression looked so soft. For example, Richton treated her with a gentlemanly attitude beyond a contractual lover.

I don’t feel well.

“If Susan said so, it would be true to some extent.”

She looked extremely relieved. It was not a relief to find a way to live in the lion’s mouth. Rather, she looked like she deserved such a change.

“That’s a relief. There’s still a lot of thread left to solve……”

What’s the problem? What’s bothering me so much?

It is difficult for me to accurately grasp Azmaria’s feelings toward Richton. She has been pretending to be related to Richton for a long time. However, in 『The River Where the Sun Manoeuvres』, Azmaria Will and Richton Ingord were nothing more and nothing less. Then, was there a behind-the-scenes story that was not described in the book? Something that makes Azmaria feel affectionate towards him. I suddenly became curious. And what Richton might think of Azmaria.

“Oh, we’re almost there.”

As she said, the carriage arrived at Count Giorta in less than two hours. Those who welcomed them were aristocrats Young Lord and Young Lady, who appeared to be of the age of Azmaria.

“Oh my god, Azmaria….”

The two hugged Azmaria with a deeply relieved face as if she had returned from hell. In particular, tears were hanging around both eyes, perhaps because the woman had a hard time.

“You look healthy, so that’s enough.”

It took a long time before my turn came.

“Oh! Look at my mind… This is Miss Mary from Ingord with me. She’s a very grateful person who helped me adapt to Ingord.”

The two eyes were on me at the same time. The man did not hide his hostility, and the woman greeted me with a tearful bright face as if she was kind to anyone.

“Nice to meet you, Mary. Thank you so much for helping Azmaria.”

I also greeted them kindly. The noble etiquette that I honed to become Beatrice will be used in a place like this.

“What do you mean? This is something I must do for the future Duchess of Ingord.”

At the moment, there was a heavy silence, but regardless, I turned my eyes to Count Giorta.

“The garden is very cool. If the impressive reunion is over, why don’t we go inside?”

“Ah….O-Of course, I’m sure. We’ve left our guests standing for too long.”

The woman’s gaze at Kean with his horse was filled with anxiety. What is this, they didn’t even know they would invite the deputy commander of the Black Hawk Knights to their house. While walking quietly behind, there were many conversations between them.

“You don’t know how happy we were to write to you. Craig was very worried about you, too.”

“That’s what I’m talking about, Mill. Actually…I thought that Count Giorta would turn down my visit.”

“Sigh. Poor Azmaria…Don’t worry. Today, my mother and father went on vacation to my aunt’s land. We are the only ones left in this spacious mansion, so you can relax.”

It was a remark that could not be easily overlooked. She couldn’t believe they went on vacation at the right time. I thought it would be better to be careful here.

“I’ll guide you this way.”

Following the guidance of the employee, she settled in a spacious drawing room. However, while tea sets were being prepared at the table, the siblings of Count Giorta and Azmaria were busy hanging around the door and talking about their own. Did they purposely send me first? You don’t know that my sense of addiction to poison is very sensitive.

“Azmaria. Did you really decide to settle in Ingord?”

“Craig. I’ve already told you the full story in the letter.”

“As your old friend, I’m asking you one last time.”

I pretended not to hear them, while stretching my back and arms straight and poured water into the cup.

What is Kean doing outside by now? It doesn’t matter what he does, I want him to rush over when I scream.

“Azmaria.”

“Yes. I already promised to marry His Excellency Richton. As I mentioned in the letter, I can’t tell you the specific reason, but….”

There was a deep sorrow in Azmaria’s voice.

“This is my path that I chose. I’m terribly sorry.”

Oh, sad Azmaria! A tragic heroine who has to give up everything in return for choosing love, not family. Love. Don’t tell me that the affection that Azmaria feels for Richton is love. The conversation stopped, and soon my turn came.

“Sorry for keeping you waiting, Ms. Ingord. I was so busy trying to talk about what I hadn’t seen in a long time.”

“Don’t worry about it. That’s the joy of meeting a real friend.”

When the Giorta siblings returned I showed the aristocratic etiquette that an aristocratic lady should have.

“Ah, Azmaria! I’ll pour it for you. This is not the role of a customer. You liked milk tea, right?”

“Oh, Yes.”

“Azmaria, I wonder how you are doing in Ingord. Was there any interesting story?”

Mil made a fuss and took the tea port away from Azmaria. I looked closely at it with my head down, pretending not to be interested. While Craig stole her attention, Mil mixed black tea and milk into Azmaria’s teacup. In a very perfect way, without suspicious behavior.

“Azmaria.”

Azmaria, who was smiling covering her mouth at my call, turned her head.

“Did you forget? You had a fever in the rain two days ago, so you had a stomach ache.”

“Fever?”

She asked back in a strange voice. It was understandable because it was a lie.

“I don’t think your stomach has healed yet. You can’t drink milk today. Okay, let’s exchange my tea here. I haven’t put my mouth on it yet.”

Azmaria silently stared at me, who was changing two teacups. Then she answered calmly.

“That’s right. I was so happy to meet Mil and Craig that I forgot for a moment. I almost suffered more. Thank you, Miss Mary.”

I changed my mind once again at the way she responded so calmly. Azmaria was already predicting this situation. That’s why she brought me here. To test me.

“This is nothing.”

A similar situation appears in 『The River Where the Sun Manoeuvres』. At the prepared tea time, the guest’s cup was generously filled with milk tea. It didn’t matter whether they preferred it or not. It was kind of a rule. A way in which those who betrayed Wilhelm were assassinated by his aides. There is probably a deadly poison at the entrance of the tea pot containing warm milk.

She’s pretty good at acting. As expected, Azmaria’s remarks that she did not know about the『The River Where the Sun Manoeuvres』was a lie. Craig, who has been constantly arguing, suddenly closes his mouth. Mil was also looking at me with a somewhat embarrassed face.

“Mary? Why don’t we just pour a new tea? If it’s because you don’t want to waste it, I don’t think….”

As I kept holding the teacup, Azmaria grabbed my arm. There was embarrassment in her large open eyes. Like she really didn’t think I was going to drink tea.

“Do you want to drink it because you don’t want to waste it? How could you have such a pathetic idea?”

Trust? I could show you as much as I wanted. I need Azmaria now. I had to use all the available cards, including a lot of information I didn’t know, her solid identity and so on. If she drinks this tea, Azmaria will die. But not me. Azmaria’s face turned pale.

“Mary? Put your glass down. I’ll call the maid and ask her to bring me a new cup.”

Wouldn’t it be better to gain trust and certainty? I can do this much for you. I slowly drank the milk tea in the glass.