Chapter 48

In the room that had been prepared separately for Calix, the unique smell of new furniture was in the air.

Philip had demolished two large rooms, made them into a new room, repainted the walls, and changed the furniture and other accessories.

Of course, all the costs were borne by the Benvito family.

“Your Excellency, this is Ryzen.”

“Come in.”

Ryzen had just returned from cleaning up the aftermath.

Among the many things he had to do, he had to take care of the problem of Cecile, the maid who almost suffered a terrible thing earlier.

He arranged for her to find another job with enough salary so that she would not have any difficulty in earning a living for the time being.

The maid was so impressed that her knee felt weak, and Ryzen gave her a short reply.

“The Grand Duchess ordered it, so you should be grateful to her.”

‘She’s a strange person indeed.’

Ryzen did not dare to disrespect his lord’s wife, but her behavior was surprising.

The unethical behavior of the rampaging Anthony Chartus was already known to him.

She as well, who must have been through it for a long time, couldn’t be ignorant of the fact, and it didn’t take much to realize that it would be better to pretend that she didn’t know and turn a blind eye.

However, she did not overlook it. She directly approached the maid who was in danger and reached out to help her.

Even in a situation where there were only enemies on all sides.

Ryzen remembered the first time he had met the Grand Duchess a month ago.

‘She was quite unexpected.’

He had some information about the Grand Duchess he had to obtain after researching at the order of his lord. However, the only content about her personality was vague and mostly useless.

Ryzen had a hunch that she was as unpredictable, just like his master.

“Your Highness, all of your instructions-.”

Ryzen opened his mouth to report on the progress of events, but Calix held up a hand to stop him.

There was only one thing he wanted to know.

“Have you informed the castle?”

It was a short question, skipping the back and forth, but Ryzen didn’t rush to answer.

“Yes. It will be completed by the time we get there.”

By now, construction should have begun on a room for Mariel Chartus in the Grand Duchy, right next to the Grand Duchess’s bedroom.

The journey from the capital to the Duchy took about a week. With no time to spare, all available personnel of House Benvito had been reassigned to work on and decorate the room.

Calix added in a casual tone.

“Bring anything you think the children will like. Toys, anything. She’ll be very anxious about the environment.”

“I’ve mentioned that as well.”

Calix nodded, remembering his wife, whom he had spoken to for the first time today. Her blue eyes, filled with concern for her sister, kept flashing across his mind.

‘Because if Mariel Chartus suffers, she wouldn’t be able to adapt as well.’

He was the one who would be bothered by that.

Calix firmly believed that his reason for caring about Asella, which was unusual to him, was to avoid making things uncomfortable for himself in the first place.

At Calix’s side, Ryzen quietly stroked his nose.

In fact, there was another matter that the Grand Duke had instructed regarding construction, and he emphasized in particular.

A thick soundproof wall was to be built on the wall between the two bedrooms.

Initially, the general principle was to leave both rooms on the side of the Grand Duke’s and the Grand Duchess’s bedrooms empty.

‘But since he promised Her Highness to set up the room right next to hers…’

Mariel Chartus was too young to understand ‘adult night activities.’ (note: I know… shame.. but it isn’t smut.)

“Construction is proceeding perfectly; you need not worry.”

Of course, he did not have to report to his lord on such trivial matters.

Ryzen Kadan was a capable aide.

At that moment, a high-pitched alarm buzzed through the otherwise quiet space.

He checked the time on his pocket watch and pressed the button on the side of the watch. Then the noise, which had been coming at a steady pace, stopped.

“I will prepare tea, Your Excellency.”

Ryzen took out a square silver case from his pocket.

When he pressed the center of the lid, the surface shifted slightly downward, and a silver needle popped out, causing a small cut on his finger. Sealed with a special magic, the case was designed so that only a specific person could open it.

As soon as a single drop of blood seeped through, the case was opened with a crisp sound, revealing an unidentifiable black powder.

Ryzen boiled the teapot and poured hot water into a cup with a skillful move.

He measured out the powder with the teaspoon inside the case and added it to the water.

The black liquid gave the impression of poison rather than a “tea.”

Calix stared at it and swallowed it in one gulp as soon as he was handed the cup.

“…”

Tasteless, odorless tea… It was a tea that he would most likely have for the rest of his life but he wouldn’t get used to its taste until he died.

Calix was terribly displeased whenever he drank this tea. It was like evidence that reflected back on the power of the curse that had been passed down through his bloodline, and the more he thought about it, the colder his blood got.

“Ryzen.”

He placed the empty cup on the table and called out to his aide in a low voice.