CH 13

Back in the room, Rylenne sent Helen away and found a maid named Shana.

Shanna entered the room with a stiff expression, probably uneasy about her lady calling her name.

“Your name is Shana.”

“… … Yes, that's right."

Rylaine pointed to the vase in which the magnolia had been placed. It was empty now.

“Did you take care of the magnolia in that vase?”

Shana opened her eyes wide and shook her head.

"no."

There was a slight crack between Rylenne's fine eyebrows.

This was also Helen's lie.

“Then who takes care of the flowers in that vase?”

Shana blinked as if this question was strange, and answered.

“This is Helen.”

Shana hesitantly continued.

“When the lady goes to wash, Helen always changes the water in the vase. He told us not to touch the flowers in that vase because they are expensive.”

Rylaine closed her eyes tightly. I was angry at her sense of betrayal.

This made the situation clear.

'One of the culprits was Helen.'

What was important was what happened next.

Should I catch Helen and demand that someone instigate me to do this?

When I was in a lot of trouble,

smart-

Someone knocked on the door from outside.

Rylenne sent Shana away after asking her to keep the conversation a secret.

Outside, Kaverion was standing.

"Brother?"

“Hmmmm, Rylenne, can we talk about it now?”

now… … ?

In this troubled time of finding out one of the culprits, it was an unwelcome offer.

'I have to think about what to do with Helen...' … .'

However, it is impossible to treat the brother who came all the way here at the door.

"Come on in."

After Rylenne's permission was given, Kaverion walked in. Unlike the last time, her gait was much less stiff.

“What were you doing?”

“It was a car that had been arranging flowers after going to the greenhouse.”

Kaverion stared at Rylenne with a surprised face.

“… … You mean you went to the greenhouse?”

It seems shocking to hear that her younger sister, who was a hermit due to social phobia, escaped from the castle and went to the greenhouse.

“Suddenly, I felt that my heart was stuffy today, so I wanted to go out and see the castle.”

“… … I see."

He seldom said anything, as though lost in thought. It wasn't long before he opened his mouth.

“The reason why you suffer from social phobia… … I know I have a responsibility too.”

“… … .”

Lailene stayed still because it was a memory she was not familiar with.

However, as if he had misunderstood my actions differently, Kaverion rolled his eyes here and there and sighed.

“I was still regretting what I said to you about the accident that day… … . Even so, you didn’t apologize like an idiot.”

Why is Kaverion suddenly apologizing to himself... …

Rylenne was very confused about this situation, but she couldn't say anything else because it seemed that Kaverion's emotions had intensified for some reason.

“By the way, I’m very happy that you finally got out of work then… … .”

"What… … Because we can’t stay in the past forever.”

Rylenne responded moderately.

“Thank you for saying that… … .”

Caverion reached out and covered the back of Rylenne's hand. Rylene's white hand disappeared beneath her large hand.

It seems that Kaverion and Lailene didn't get along very well, but how did it happen... … ?

Rylenne looked down at her hand covered with Kaverion's and thought about that.

In a friendly situation like now, if Kaverion told me that he was receiving death threats, wouldn't he try to help... … ?

Whatever the case may be, Caverion was the real power of this family. He also had powerful powers as an awakened person.

'Yes, it will be much easier with Kaverion's help than finding the culprit alone.'

Rylenne, who had hardened her heart, swallowed once and looked at Caverion.

“I’m happy that my older brother said so.”

Carverion's eyes widened slightly at Rylenne's gentle reaction.

That wasn't a bad reaction.

Lailene thought the timing was good now.

He slowly opened his mouth while gently removing his hand from Kaverion.

"and… … There is a fact you should know... … If you don't mind, can I tell you now?”

Caverion quickly showed a focused gaze.

“What is it?”

"that is… … I know why I am sick.”

“You mean there was another reason… … ?”

Kaverion asked with a serious expression.

Everyone would have thought that way. It was because Rylenne's body weakened little by little to the extent that she couldn't believe there was a cause.

To that extent, the culprit meticulously gradually deteriorated his body.

“Yes, it was because of the magnolia in my room.”

Kaverion's eyebrows narrowed at once.

"magnolia?"

“Yes, the magnolia was covered with medicine that harmed me, and the scent of the magnolia spread the medicine in this room.”

At Lailenne's words, Kaverion's expression darkened.

“Is that magnolia still left?”

"yes."

Lailene didn't throw away the magnolia just in case.

When Rylenne brought a magnolia, Kaverion concentrated and sniffed it.

“It seems to have a slightly different scent than the magnolia scent.”

"It's the scent of a medicinal herb called sanacho."

“Sanacho… … ?”

“Sancho is one of the sedatives often used in war. Its medicinal properties are so strong that it is only used on mortally wounded soldiers. Ordinary lawmakers have never come across sancho, so my doctor probably didn’t know about it either.”

Lailene continued with a nervous expression.

“Such a strong sedative… … If used excessively, it becomes poison.”

Caverion closed his eyes tightly and clenched his fists.

Rylenne was rolling her eyes here and there in the harsh atmosphere, but Kaverion asked in a low voice.

“Can anyone guess?”

Not only his voice, but his questioning expression was completely dark.

“I heard a conversation that they were trying to kill me on the day I fell, but there were two culprits.”

“I guess so. He wouldn't have dared to touch the duke's only princess, but he wouldn't have done it alone.”

Rylane nodded.

“And I found out one of the culprits today.”

One of Kaverion's eyebrows slanted upwards.

“Who was it?”

“It was my maid, Helen. She knew that only Helen cared for that vase.”

Caverion tapped on the table.

"Right."

Then, Kaverion jumped up from his seat. Rylaine's head rose accordingly.

“Uh, where are you going, brother?”

"Shouldn't we get that lady-in-waiting named Helen right away?"

“I haven’t found another culprit yet… … !”

Kaverion's eyes were cold.

“The other culprit will be caught through the lady-in-waiting named Helen.”

A chill dripped from his voice.

Lailenne hurriedly grabbed Kaverion's sleeve.

"how… … ?”

“Lylaine, there are things in the world that you don’t need to know about.”

It's more scary when you say that.

It seemed as if he would take Helen away at any moment and start drinking.

“So don’t worry about anything.”

Caverion carefully removed Rylenne's hand from her sleeve.

“This older brother will take care of everything.”

Lailene was worried as she looked down at the seat of Carverion, who had disappeared like a mirage.

'this person… … . Can I trust you?'

* * *

Rylenne entrusted Caverion with the search for the culprit.

It's nice to have him take on a troublesome task, but when I think of his murderous expression, I feel anxious because I feel like I'm going to do something big.

'Really torturing Helen... … .'

He felt betrayed and terrified that Helen had tried to kill him, but he wasn't too keen on killing him either.

I just hope they get a fair punishment for responding.

'Eh, I don't know.'

Railene woke up early in the morning and packed up her things again to go see Aiden.

Thanks to that, my hands were heavy.

Still, thinking that Aiden would enjoy the meal made me excited.

When I went down to the dungeon, I saw Haele who was dozing. It seemed like it was before dawn.

Rylenne thought it would be annoying if Haele woke up, so she quietly passed by her like a ghost.

Arriving at Aiden's cell, Rylenne opened the door.

Normally, when I open the door, I hear the sound of the chains of the shackles 'clicking', but seeing that there was no sound, Aiden seemed to be sleeping.

dripping-

Carefully opened the iron door.

After all, Aiden was sleeping soundly on the blanket.

After unpacking the luggage Rylenne had brought, she moved closer to Aiden.

I could see the blue bruises on both cheeks coming away.

Not only that, but her cheeks, which had been drawn, were slightly filled up. So now it's pretty messed up.

'If you look closely, your eyelashes are long, and your skin is good.'

The bruises on his face haven't completely gone yet, so it can't be said to be clear, but he's looking for a male lead-like appearance.

I was looking down at Aiden, when Aiden sniffed.

'Did I catch a cold?'

The blanket is much thicker than before, but the weather has been too cold lately.

Just in case, Rylenne put her hand on his forehead.

However, his own hands were already on the cold side, and Aiden's forehead only felt hot.

'In this case, it's accurate to check with your forehead.'

Rylenne lowered her head and placed her forehead on top of Aiden's.

The temperature was roughly the same, but it didn't seem like there was a fever.

'I'm glad.'

The moment Laylaine, relieved, tried to remove her forehead,

flash-

It was an instant.

Aiden, who opened his eyes, moved quickly and climbed on top of Rylenne.

There was a hint of murder in the gray eyes that looked down at Lailene as she lay down.

“Who dares to surprise… … .”

“Aiden.”

it's me

Aiden, who had recently been through a war, seems to have reacted sensitively to the presence of people.

“All, you… … .”

The life in Aiden's eyes quickly disappeared when he confirmed that it was Rylenne.