CH 8

'then… … Did Lailenne die by being assassinated regardless of Aiden's rampage?'

In the original story, Aiden just ran out of control and everyone in the family except for Caverion was slaughtered, but Rylenne didn't even know that she was already dead.

When I thought so, goosebumps broke out all over my body.

In the end, the reason why her body kept getting weaker was because she had the power to harm her.

I know that Lailenne's usual behavior is not good, but that's why she's trying to kill me.

'whoever… … ?'

Lailene slowly thought of people who could kill her.

What immediately came to mind was the Bedsian family.

He usually doesn't get along very well with the Bedsian family, and recently, when Aiden was taken prisoner, the relationship got worse.

'Then it would be more appropriate to aim for Duke Caverion or Duke Ergen, not me.'

Or are you taking out your anger on me because I look weak?

It was unclear why he was aiming for himself to confirm that Bedsian was the culprit.

Who will be the next suspect?

If it's people as close as the Bedsian dukes... … .

'Employees of this family?'

It's sad, but considering the abuse Rylenne had done in the past, they were able to hold grudges.

But what I can be sure of now is that there are more than one person trying to assassinate me.

It was clear when I remembered the conversation we had yesterday.

I'm going to be careful about what I eat until the culprit is confirmed.

It was likely that he was putting something in the food he ate and was harming his health little by little.

[Leave it as it is.]

I vaguely remember the culprit telling me to leave something, but I don't know what he was talking about.

The only relief right now is that you won't be able to suddenly kill yourself.

It must have been years of hard work to pretend that Rylenne died because of weakness.

Lailene got up from her seat.

Still, when I woke up after suffering from anxiety, my body felt quite refreshed.

Lailene tried to erase her uneasiness and hurriedly called Helen.

After being down for two days, I was worried about Aiden's condition.

'I don't know if the treatment went well.'

Rylenne, feeling impatient, hurriedly called Helen to get ready to go downstairs.

* * *

Lailene packed up the things she had ordered for Aiden and came down to the dungeon.

I tied my long hair up to say it came down in a hurry.

Rylaine's long, straight hair was pretty to look at, but it took a long time to comb it.

“Are you here, Ryrene-sama?”

After coming down, Haele welcomed Lailenne.

"Since you haven't come down for two days, I thought the watcher had changed."

“Something happened.”

Rylane was vaguely evasive.

There was no need to tell the neighbors that I had been bedridden for two days because I was not feeling well.

“How is Aiden?”

“According to Lailenne-sama's order, I called a doctor that day and treated the inside of my mouth. According to the doctor, you should be able to eat without difficulty by today.”

phew, good luck

“I was just about to give Aiden lunch… … . What are you holding?”

Hale's gaze reached the large bag in Rylenne's hand.

Inside the sack was a blanket for Aiden.

Rylaine was silent for a moment, then found a suitable excuse.

“I stopped by the knights for a while and was about to receive my brother’s luggage.”

Haele nodded as if not thinking deeply. Then she asked curiously.

“Then what is that bread?”

Haele was looking at the bread sticking out of the sack.

shit. I thought I hid it well under the blanket, but when did it stick out like this?

When Lailene delayed answering, Haele narrowed her eyebrows and asked.

“You certainly don’t intend to give that good bread to Aiden Vedsian… … ?”

If so, there was room for misunderstanding that he was doing a favor.

Even at first glance, the bread he brought was glistening, which was very different from the dry bread Aiden usually ate.

I had to hurry up and find an excuse.

'What are you talking about... … .'

While thinking about it, Lailenne remembered that someone was trying to assassinate her.

okay. It's not something to be taken lightly, but let's cover it for now.

“Actually I had been down for two days, and I thought there must be something wrong with the food.”

Haele frowned.

"who… … What did you put on your food?”

“I don’t know. So I’m about to try feeding Aiden.”

Only then did Haele dispel her doubts and nodded.

“So it was. He can't do favors for Aiden, who was also taken prisoner. I asked just in case.”

The simple Haele quickly understood.

Ryrene nodded her head proudly.

“Lead ahead.”

"yes!"

Footsteps echoed in the darkness.

I've felt it since the last time, but the cell where Aiden is is like a cave. It was like that when I came out through the long hallway, and it was like that when it was dark.

When we reached Aiden's cell, Haele stood tall.

“… … I will wait here.”

Haele tried to fall in as usual today.

Lailene glared at the cowardly Haelle and put her hand on the iron door.

dripping-

The rough iron door opened with a loud noise.

'what… … ?'

where did you go

Aiden wasn't on the blanket.

Rylaine shook her head.

Then I saw Aiden sleeping by the door. He was dozing with his back against the wall.

'… … It's on the verge of collapsing.'

Aiden's cheeks were still blue and bruised, and his stomach was skinny enough to touch his back.

The inside of the mouth was treated by a doctor and healed, but he still looked weak.

'But why are you sleeping here?'

A tattered blanket, but still better than a bare floor.

I couldn't understand Aiden sleeping curled up next to the cold door.

Lailene, who was still looking down at Aiden, felt sorry for the moment.

'I don't have time to be like this.'

Feeding him was the first thing.

Rylenne, feeling impatient, hurriedly rummaged through the sack and pulled out the food.

“Aiden!”

Rylenne called out to Aiden in a shrill voice.

Aiden, who was asleep, blinked and looked at himself. Aiden's pupils widened at the sight of Rylenne.

Like someone who saw what they couldn't see.

However, Aiden quickly erased his expression as if he had never done that.

"Come on."

Rylenne waved her hand, and Aiden struggled to stand up.

Fortunately, I didn't delay the time because I rebelled like last time. Aiden moved slowly and approached.

Aiden's long eyelashes showed tired eyes.

“Is the inside of your mouth better than last time?”

“… … it's okay."

Aiden hesitantly replied.

“What can I eat now?”

“… … yes."

Lailene held out the brioche she had brought.

“Then try this.”

Aiden's eyes widened at the proper food he hadn't seen in a long time.

Rylaine hurriedly added an explanation.

“This brioche smells strange. Someone might have poisoned it, so try it first.”

Aiden asked, withdrawing his gaze from the bread.

“… … Poison?”

"okay."

Lailene was quite satisfied with her excuse.

Conversely, Aiden made a puzzled expression. She seemed to want to ask what kind of medicine and bottle she was giving.

But I couldn't help it.

He had to thoroughly hide his true feelings not only from his family, but also from Aiden.

I don't know if Aiden would believe me if I said 'I'm trying to help you'.

Fortunately, Aiden ate the brioche without resistance. Apparently he was hungry, so he ate faster and faster.

Then, they were fed button mushroom soup with energizers.

“This is the same, to see if the food is poisoned… … !”

I didn't forget to say something harsh on purpose in the middle.

“Don’t make the mistake of giving someone warmth!”

At that time, Aiden looked at Rylaine in silence.

I wondered if I was angry because I said it too hard, but Aiden's gaze stayed on the nape of my neck.

'what… … ?'

Why are you staring at the nape of your neck?

For a while, Rylenne thought of her duties and threw away the trashy blanket and replaced it with a new one.

As the blanket fluttered away, Aiden's gaze from Rylaine returned to the blanket in her arms.

Perhaps from fatigue, Aiden, who had picked up the blanket, was blinking like a chick.

“I can’t help but see. Come on over here and lie down.”

Perhaps the carefully prepared blanket was cozy, and Aiden fell asleep as soon as he laid down on it.

It must have been the same as sleeping on the cold floor, so I must not have slept properly.

Lailene finished her work and sat down next to Aiden.

A thin face was visible under the untidy hair.

Looking at her mildly closed eyes like she does now, I couldn't imagine that she would have gone through so many harsh things during the war.

And suddenly, I thought that I was lucky that I was Aiden's watcher.

If Helis had become a watcher, Aiden would have gone to the extreme.

'Of course, I can't be vigilant from now on.'

So far, the family has not paid much attention to Aiden. Just regularly report his condition to himself.

Even so, I was suddenly anxious. He wondered what he would do to Aiden one day.

Right now, Aiden is leaving it alone as it is an important means to keep the Bedcian duke in check, but he never knew when he would change his mind.

So, I had to get Aiden out of there before that.