CH 17

Rylaine backed away at the terrifying offer.

“… … What?"

“I am saying this because I am thinking of you. Since I'm in charge of Aiden, it will be much easier to manage if we have discipline.”

In Lailene's eyes, Helis' smiling face looked like a demon.

thump-

My heart, which had been beating strongly from earlier, became uncontrollably faster.

Rylaine closed and opened her eyes once, then slammed Helis's hand from her shoulder.

"I do not think so."

“What do you mean?”

“That Aiden would be calmer by feeding him some fruit like Hayasin or something.”

One of Helis' eyebrows rose slightly.

“Why?”

"Didn't I tell you last time that violence won't bring anyone down?"

Helis shook her head.

"I'm not trying to subdue. to be punished. I dared to make my face like this, so it's something I can't just ignore.”

“… … .”

“This is what my father allowed.”

When the Duke of Ergen was mentioned, Rylaine could not say anything except her mouth.

“As long as my sister doesn’t want to feed Aiden directly with Hayashin, that’s fine.”

Helis walked past Rylenne.

“I do fun things.”

* * *

My palms were damp.

Even after Helis disappeared, Rylenne couldn't move from her seat for a while.

'shit.'

Come to think of it, is Aiden okay now?

I was worried that Hellis might not have fought back after getting punched in the face by Aiden.

Rylenne hurriedly headed for the dungeon. The question of whether the fruit is hayasin or not is a later issue.

When I arrived at the dungeon in a hurry, I saw Haele sighing.

“Haele.”

"la… … Lalaine.”

Lailenne moved closer to Haele.

“Why did you bring in other people to create this division without my permission?”

"sorry. He said he had come with the permission of Lailenne, so I thought so... … .”

Yes, this is not Haele's fault.

If Haele hadn't brought in Helis, he didn't know what kind of depravity he would have done in front of the prison.

“Aiden, is Aiden okay?”

“Yes, because Lady Helis fell right after getting hit in the face… … Aiden didn’t take a single hit.”

Rylaine clicked her tongue inwardly, thinking of Helis.

'Then why did you attack Aiden?'

“I need to see Aiden right now. Give me the key.”

“Yes, here… … .”

Rylenne, who received the key from Haele, quickly walked to Aiden's cell.

As I approached the iron gate, I heard a clicking noise from inside the cell – the chains of the shackles moving.

click-

When I unlocked the door and opened it, I saw Aiden right away. He was hanging around the door.

Aiden walked out to full range and the chains tightened. She looked a bit nervous.

“Aiden?”

“… … Lalaine.”

When I called out to Aiden, he let out a relieved breath.

Rylenne walked over to Aiden and examined his face.

“Why are you doing this, did you even get sick… … ?”

“Not that… … .”

Aiden averted his eyes. His eyes wandered down.

“I thought the watcher had changed… … .”

Helis came in the morning and thought so.

“I am your watcher.”

When I thought of Helis's work, I felt bad, so I said it with great force.

“… … Fortunately, the."

Well? It was odd that Aiden's tone sounded like he wanted me to remain a watcher.

But he quickly shook his head.

Even if you're Aiden, you'll feel much better than someone like Helis.

“I apologize for Helis.”

Aiden raised his head. When he saw his slightly widened eyes, he seemed very surprised.

“I heard what happened.”

“… … .”

“I was sure to come with me, but he came here on his own. He wouldn't have behaved like that if I had come.”

Suddenly, he remembered the gauze covering Helis' nose.

I was so nervous earlier that I couldn't think of anything else, but now that I think about it, it was pretty funny.

“Aren’t you angry with me… … .”

Aiden asked hesitantly.

“Why should I be angry?”

“Because Duke Ergen hit someone.”

Rylane burst out laughing.

“I was the guy I always wanted to hit, but since you hit me instead, I feel relieved.”

Aiden was staring at him quietly.

'oh… … . Was it too honest?'

“Hmmmm. Anyway, I have no intention of making this issue a problem.”

More than that, what's more important right now is that we have to find a way to keep Aiden from feeding that damn Hayashin.

Rylenne stared at Aiden's face.

Aiden's gaze dropped. His face was turning red in real time.

'Is it on the side with a lot of heat?'

I feel it since the last time, but my face often turns red.

“The bruise on your face has healed a lot.”

“… … Yes. My mouth doesn't hurt anymore.”

Aiden answered with a sneaky gaze.

As the bruises healed, Aiden's immaculate face was gradually revealed.

So it was pretty cute.

It's still a bit dry, but... …

“Are you enjoying the food provided?”

Aiden nodded.

"yes… … .”

"okay. You are a precious prisoner, so you must take good care of yourself.”

Since the duchy was heavily guarded, Aiden's recovery was the first priority in order to escape.

But if he ate Hayashin, Aiden's body might be damaged again.

It is said to be a fruit that causes pain.

First, I needed to go upstairs and find some information about the fruit called Hayasin.

* * *

Rylenne first thought of asking the apothecary who supplied her nutritional supplements if he knew Hayasin.

“Hell… … .”

Lailenne's voice that had been calling faded.

'Ah, Helen is no more.'

He felt uncomfortable without Helen, who had been waiting on him for five years.

When the time comes, it would be better to hire another maid as soon as possible.

I didn't have time right now, so I called a maid named Shana.

As I later found out, she was the second longest-serving employee next to Helene after Helen.

Perhaps it was because he had recently had a private conversation about Helen, but at least he was a comfortable person.

“Did you call, lady?”

“Do you know the apothecary that supplies the nutritional supplements I eat?”

Shana nodded.

"I know. Not only the lady's, but I also ordered other medicines for this family from that apothecary.”

“Good. tell him to come today. I have an urgent order.”

Shana bowed her head and left the room.

It was really quick for the apothecary to come.

About an hour later, a short man with a catfish beard appeared carrying a bag.

“Hello, Ryrene.”

He politely folded his hands and bowed his head.

“Sit here.”

Lailene led me to a table in the room.

I deliberately called into the room to talk privately.

"Nice to meet you. It is called Tantan from the top of Shangman.”

solid? It was a fairly exotic name.

“Nice to meet you, Tantan. Are you supplying all the medicinal materials to the duchy?”

"Yes, that's right. Duke Ergen is a long-time customer of our upper ranks.”

Tantan narrowed his eyes and smiled.

“I’m eating well with the nutrients you gave me.”

“That is a nice thing to say. It was a tea that I was very disappointed to hear that Rylenne had been drinking it for several years and that there was no improvement.”

In fact, it was Aiden who was taking the nutritional supplements well.

The reason why Lailene's body is not feeling well is because of the medicine called sanacho applied to the magnolia, so there is no way that her body got better with nutritional supplements.

In fact, after getting rid of the magnolia, I felt that I was regaining my health day by day.

“Did you call me today to order other nutritional supplements?”

“It is not… … I called because I wanted to ask you something.”

Knowing no one was there, Rylenne looked around once more. She and she said quietly to Tantan.

“Of course, secrets about customers will be kept, right?”

"Of course."

Tantan replied with a smile on his face.

“The secret of our 300-year-old tradition lies in thorough customer management. When it comes to customers, you don't have to worry, even if you get a knife in their throat, they won't do it.”

"Right."

It was a believable answer. Rylenne continued her words with relief.

“… … I want to know about the fruit called hyacin.”

“Are you Hayasin? You mean that fruit that is said to make your whole body suffer if you eat it?”

Yeah, that damn fruit. Really, why is there such a thing in this worldview?

Lailene let go of her anger at the frank explanation of Hayashin.

"Hmm… … . Hayasin is very expensive. It is usually used to punish criminals who have committed serious crimes.”

“Are there any aftereffects on the body after eating it?”

“Yes, it is not harmful to the body. It was very painful for about an hour.”

It didn't affect the body, at least it was hopeful.

“Is there any way to reduce the pain of eating it?”

“How to reduce the pain?”

Rylenne knows this question is odd. Asking questions as if preparing before eating.

“There is a reason you need to know.”

Tantan nodded.

The smart trader, Tan-tan, knew when to shut up.

“There are pain relievers. If you eat it beforehand, the pain will be less.”

“Can’t you completely block it?”

"yes. that's hard If you take a laxative, the pain will be cut in half.”

It's a pity, but it was the best in the current situation.

Lailene looked at Tantan.

“Tan-tan, bring me a pain reliever as soon as possible.”

* * *

The day of the showdown had dawned.

Fortunately, the pain reliever arrived the day before Helis offered to feed Aiden Hayacin.

“Sister, why did you suddenly change your mind about feeding Aiden Hayashin yourself?”

“… … Come to think of it, I think you're right. I'm the one taking care of Aiden, so it'll be easier if you keep discipline.”

“I knew you would think so too.”

Helis smiled contentedly.

click-

When the iron door opened, Aiden was seen.

Aiden seemed puzzled when he saw Lailene appearing with Helis.

'Aiden... … .'

It was hard for Lailenne to look directly at Aiden today.

“Sister, this is Hayashin.”

Helis held out a glossy black fruit.

Hayashin was dark blue and round in shape, just like a black apple.

Rylenne tried hard not to shake her hand, and handed over the Hayashin.

“I will watch through the window of the iron gate.”

“… … okay."

Helis leaves the cell. She then lowered the window on the door and she watched herself.

Rylane stood in front of Aiden. Aiden also read a strange current at Lailenne's unusual appearance.

'I'm sorry, Aiden.'

In fact, I thought carefully yesterday if there was no other way.

Even if you take a pain reliever, the pain will be the same.

But no matter how much I thought about it, there was no other way.

Rylenne slowly lifted the Hayashin. Aiden's eyes moved accordingly.

Sensing anxiety, Aiden's eyes trembled little by little.

However, Ryrene tightly closed her eyes as if avoiding those eyes.

and,

Wasak.

Rylenne bit Hayashi.