Chapter 26

* * *

It was a rare, perfect morning.

Even low-level officials got one day off after six days of work, yet I had been running around Lombard like a dog every day of the week.

Even with the Inquisitor practically at my doorstep, that was too much of a nightmare.

So today I had set no schedule.

I warned everyone in every corner of the castle that if they dared ruin my precious day off, I would have them executed.

For the record, I was one hundred five percent serious. Not a joke.

“Haa, this is nice…”

I blinked slowly as I woke up, hair messy and mind still floating.

The dim, cozy atmosphere of the bedroom made my mood even warmer.

Nero was curled up under my arm, fast asleep. The weight and warmth of his tiny body made my heart sting sweetly.

I reached out to stroke him without thinking, but froze when sharp pain shot through my palm.

“Ow!”

I jerked my hand back and winced as I examined it.

Last night it had only been slightly red, so I thought a night’s sleep would fix it. Instead, the condition had worsened, and by morning my entire palm was swollen and dark blue.

Even brushing lightly against the sheets made it sting and ache.

“Nyaa?”

“No, it’s nothing. Go back to sleep.”

Nero blinked sleepily, sensing something was off.

I tried to coax him back to sleep by brushing his forehead with the back of my hand, but that only made his amber eyes grow brighter.

Stretching long and slow, Nero began rubbing his forehead and cheeks against various parts of my body.

And whenever our eyes met, he slowly blinked.

A love-filled cat kiss.

“Oh my baby. My prettiest little cat in the world. Mwah mwah… argh!”

I tried to grab him because I could not stand the cuteness anymore, but the pain in my palm made me lose my grip.

Nero chose to interpret that as playtime and rolled over, showing his belly.

Thank goodness the bed was soft.

But someone must have heard my yelp, because footsteps approached the door.

“Madam, forgive me for disturbing your rest. Are you alright?”

“I am not alright, so come in.”

I desperately wanted to stay in bed, but I needed to deal with my palm before it got worse.

The maid entered carefully and knelt.

“Call the physician.”

“Where does it hurt? I will bring Lord Rotter at once.”

She meant the physician from the Capital.

After I first got sick and received treatment from Lombard’s family physician, Lady Olden insisted she could not trust anyone from Lombard and hired a new one from the Capital.

She worshiped everything about the Capital a little too much.

Of course Lombard lagged behind the Capital in many ways, but still.

As someone who used to be Lombardian, the blatant disdain always rubbed me the wrong way.

“Not Lord Rotter.”

“Then who…”

“I told you before. I appointed Gilbert from the inner wall as my personal physician. Bring him.”

The maid looked troubled and hesitated.

When I tilted my head, she answered carefully.

“I, I will ask Lady Olden.”

“Haa, do that then.”

It was my rare day off and I did not have the energy to argue.

I waved her away.

* * *

Lady Olden appeared not long after.

I had grown up in an environment where reading other people’s negative emotions was a survival skill. It was second nature.

So I understood immediately. Lady Olden’s gaze toward me contained a sharp edge.

But she smoothed it over in a heartbeat, returning to her usual elegant, lily-like expression.

“I heard you called for a physician.”

“I hurt my palm.”

“I see.”

Strangely, the woman who obsessed over every move I made did not pry further today.

For a moment I wondered if she had actually given up.

“Sir Gilbert… or rather, that lowborn commoner, correct? I have sent someone to fetch him.”

“You did not need to add lowborn.”

“I was curious to see what kind of extraordinary skill could win Madam’s favor. It worked out well. I will meet this rumored physician personally.”

Of course she had not given up.

Ignoring my faint snort, Lady Olden offered me a tray.

“Please drink. A warm aperitif to soothe your stomach.”

As always, it was warm wine with honey-soaked nuts and spices.

At first I felt odd drinking alcohol on an empty stomach every morning, but after repeating this unnecessary noble pastime daily, I eventually got used to it.

As I lifted the cup under her expectant gaze…

“Hiss!”

Nero shot forward with a sharp snarl and smacked the cup with his paw.

Because of the pain in my palm I was holding it loosely, and even though I tried to dodge, I could not catch it.

The expensive carpet beneath the bed was stained red like blood.

“Nero? Why all of a sudden?”

“…”

Normally he meowed adorably and even talked often. But right now he was glaring, his fur standing on end.

‘Did he not like the spices?’

Cats had sensitive noses after all.

It was embarrassing to have this happen in front of Lady Olden, who hated Nero, but I kept my face calm.

“Clean the floor.”

“Yes, and I will bring another aperitif.”

Despite my tense nerves, Lady Olden simply left without complaint.

Soon she returned with a fresh cup.

As I gritted my teeth through the pain and held the steaming cup firmly, Nero fluffed up again and sprang forward.

This time I pulled my hand away quickly.

And to prevent Lady Olden from lecturing me, I deliberately drank the wine in front of her.

“I dodged it, so do not blame him.”

“But Madam…”

“Nero must dislike the spice smell. If this keeps happening it will be bothersome, so there is no need to bring the aperitif anymore.”

“No, you must drink it. This is not ordinary wine. It is medicinal wine for your health.”

Ah. No wonder it tasted awful.

I had thought it was just another useless noble hobby, but apparently it had a purpose.

Even so, she was showing concern as my attendant, so it felt awkward to refuse just because it tasted terrible.

I was about to let it slide for today when she continued.

“I will overlook the physician. But I cannot allow you to choose a new maid.”

“…What?”

“A maid represents her master’s face and dignity. You cannot make such an important decision on your own.”

My patience wavered.

Even seeing my frown, Lady Olden did not back down.

“I am the chief lady-in-waiting to the princess. It is my duty to guide Your Highness onto the correct path. Do you not understand that every small action of yours reflects the honor of the imperial family?”

“Stop.”

I raised my voice and cut her off.

“Does this place look like the imperial palace. I am the Duchess of Lombard now. Use the correct title.”

“But Lady Elicia…”

“I will hear no more. Leave. When you return, do so as the duchess’s lady-in-waiting, not the princess’s.”

At my dismissal, Lady Olden finally left.

The maids returned to clean the stained carpet and replaced it. I stroked the still-bristling Nero as I watched them.

Their appearances had the familiar features of southern Capital natives.

‘For simple chores, Lombard-born servants should be allowed near me.’

Something was definitely strange.

* * *

“It is poison.”

Gilbert set the cup down and spoke as calmly as he could.

But his expression was stiff. It was the natural reaction of someone who had just discovered poison in the drink his master consumed every morning.

Unable to believe the reagent that had turned pitch-black, he checked it again before continuing.

“Who would do such a thing to Madam…”

“I have someone in mind…”

I let out a long sigh and leaned back against the cushion.

Normally the maids would have collected the cup along with the dishes after the meal.

Today, I had deliberately made trouble so they would flee without cleaning anything.

Then I hid the cup until Gilbert arrived.

‘So it really was poison.’

Even though I had suspected it, seeing the reagent turn black still shocked me.

I had no idea why Lady Olden would try to harm me. Not even a guess.

So I asked what mattered most.

“What ingredient is it? Is it lethal?”

“It is not that type, but…”

Gilbert hesitated before answering.

“It contains components that induce infertility. A young woman like Madam would stop menstruating within one or two months, and continued consumption would cause permanent infertility.”