Chapter 20 - The Poisoning (1)

At Night:

Iris sat on her bed, slowly bandaging her wound. After cleaning it, she got up and headed towards the table. Taking out the letter from the wooden box, she started to read it. It was another letter from Rivas.

"Miss Iris,

I wanted to inform you that all the preparations are going smoothly. In about a week, I may be able to start with the sword-making. When that happens, please come and take a look personally, see if you want to make any changes.

Also, I hope that you don't go back on your promise to get rid of the organization. Recently, a rumor has spread that the organization is undergoing an internal struggle, so you probably don't need to act up now. I am looking forward to the day when I can enter the capital freely.

I also hope that you take care of my family back at the capital, if it's not too much to ask for. I will work hard for the task that have have entrusted to me.

Sincerely, Rivas"

Wow, he's still so uptight and formal.

After going through the contents, Iris swiftly threw the letter into the fireplace. Watching it burn to ashes, she began to revise her plan for her mother's death. As long as nothing unexpected happens, everything should be fine.

The night was dark, but her heart was darker...

~Days Later~

Libera was sitting on a chair, looking at hr reflection in the mirror. Who knew what she though of, but she suddenly began to smile.

At that moment, a knocking sound was heard from the window of her room. Libera hurriedly got up and ran to lock the door. After confirming the door was locked, she opened the window. As the window opened, a figure in black came inside.

The black-clothed man came in and knelt on one knee before Libera.

"So, where is it?" She asked.

"Here, Madam." The man took out a porcelain bottle from his clothes and respectfully handed it to Libera.

After getting a hold of the bottle, Libera smilingly twirled it, watching the moving liquid inside it. Her eyes flashed with a vicious light. Still staring at the bottle, she waved at the man in black and motioned him to go back.

The man got up and bowed to her, before swiftly leaving out the window into the dead of the night.

After the man left, Libera's personal maid came inside and greeted her.

"Madam, everything is prepared."

"Good. Here, take this. You know what to do." She handed the maid the bottle.

"Yes."

"Also, go to the maid we assigned to that wench, Iris. Tell her to bring her Miss to the courtyard. I want her to personally witness her mother's death! I still haven't forgotten how she maliciously slandered my daughter. Make sure she's there, so she can learn to stay in her place!" She spoke in a grave tone, showing her dislike.

"Heh, the wench's child is also a wench! Back then when she was the main wife, she always went around throwing her weight everywhere. Even after falling, she still hasn't learned to stay in her place! Her death, only after I know she's dead will I be able to sleep in peace!"

Laughing maliciously, she went and closed the window.

The face revealed from beneath the mask was something that could blind the eyes. He had smooth flawless skin, which was like a sheet of well done cloth. His eyes, which was under his long white hair, glinted under the moonlight. His soft sharp lips were very attractive and captivating. He was truely handsome.

After taking off the mask, this man chuckled under the moonlight, "Ah, it's started. The beginning of the end. It's here." He used his hand to straighten his hair, all while smiling. His black eyes showed an insane excitement and crazed madness.

...

At high noon, Iris was sitting on a chair while a maid was combing her hair. The was one of the 3 maids given to Iris. Two of them were given by Libera, and 1 was from her grandmother.

While combing her hair, the maid called Xian looked out of the window again and again.

"Are you waiting for someone?" Iris asked her with a smile.

"N-No, Young Miss. It's just that this servant remembered something important, thus hesitant to tell Young Miss." The maid replied with her head lowered.

"What is it?" Iris asked nonchalantly.

"Uh, when this servant was going to bring breakfast for Young Miss, this servant met the personal maid of 4th Mistress Riya. She informed this servant to call Young Miss over by Mistress Riya's orders. She told me to invite Young Miss at the evening."

"Oh." Iris hummed.

"So...will Young Miss go?"

"Of course I will. However, there is still sometime till the evening, I want to rest now. Leave, call me when it's time." She waved tiredly.

"Understood, This servant will take her leave." Xian replied and left the room.

After leaving the room, she hurriedly went out the courtyard and moved towards Libera's courtyard. Iris, who was taking all this in from the window, smiled coldly at her.

After some time, she called the maid given to her by her grandmother, Zena.

"Zena, we're going to my mother's courtyard." She told her.

"Ah? But Young Miss, didn't Xian tell you to come in the evening?"

"Who is Xian? Is she superior to me? Why should I listen to her?" Iris replied coldly.

"..."

Zena shut her mouth. She wasn't in the position to say anything anymore. Might as well follow her master quietly.

"Let's go." Timing is everything.

Know your enemy, know yourself, a thousand wins, a thousand battles!