Seeing the murderous aura radiating from Claude, I firmly denied it.
“Absolutely not. I planned to cleanly end things before our marriage to avoid causing you any trouble.”
As I tried to pull my hand from his grip, he tightened it.
His red eyes stayed locked on me.
“Then why ask to keep our engagement secret?”
“Well…”
“If you can’t say it easily, is it something like revenge on your ex-fiancé?”
Claude’s lips tilted into a smirk.
His intense gaze told me vague excuses wouldn’t work.
I chose quick agreement over deflection.
“You’re right. I’m gathering evidence for revenge on the wedding day. Did you see the newspaper I left?”
“There was a rat in my castle spreading rumors. No need to worry. The rat’s neck was snapped and fed to the wolves, and its master’s been dealt with.”
Rats? Master?
I nodded, assuming the issue was resolved, though the details were unclear.
“But revenge with just evidence? That’s tame. Real revenge spills blood.”
His blood-red eyes gleamed with cruelty, reminding me of his past, cutting down royal guards, sending chills down my spine.
“If I committed murder, I’d face execution. You, as royalty, might get a pardon, but not me.”
“Want me to kill him for you?”
His eyes flickered with savage intent.
“Alex, was it? Shall I drive a blade through his throat?”
“N-no.”
“Break his legs and make him a cripple?”
“No, I don’t want to harm anyone. I just…”
“…”
“I want him to feel the pain I felt.”
“Then do the same to him.”
Claude’s broad chest rose and fell slowly.
His gaze locked with mine as he continued.
“Show him you’re with another man right in front of him.”
He grinned crookedly, spewing crude words.
“Seeing his bride touched by another man on their wedding day would gut him. Say the word, and I’ll make sure he never lingers around you again.”
Time flew, and August arrived.
Having visited Claude’s manor two days ago and prepared enough medicine, today was a rare day off.
I lounged in bed all morning, eating sandwiches and reading.
By late afternoon, I headed to the dining room.
At the door, I overheard Alex’s voice.
“My future sister-in-law is not only beautiful but intelligent. She’s got it all.”
“Oh, stop, you’re embarrassing me, brother-in-law. You’re no slouch yourself.”
Through the slightly open door, I saw Rachel playfully tap Alex’s chest, smiling coyly.
Alex stroked her hair fondly.
Twenty more days. Then I’m done with both of you.
Sneering inwardly, I flung the door open.
“Aselin.”
Catching my eye, Alex stood with a bright smile.
Forcing my scowl into a grin, I beamed back.
“Viscount, when did you arrive?”
“I heard you were sleeping in, so I waited. Just woke up?”
“Yes, I was about to have some tea.”
“Come join us. Rachel’s here, so let’s catch up.”
Reluctantly, I followed Alex.
Rachel glanced at me sharply, then flipped a book page ostentatiously.
The academy’s worst student, who baffled even professors, was reading a medical text in Runic?
I couldn’t help but scoff silently.
Sipping tea, I watched them like a play.
“By the way, brother-in-law, do you know the origin of yellow roses?”
Rachel, pretending to read, lit up.
“Hmm, yellow roses? Let’s see.”
She glanced at me, smirking.
“The flower language of yellow roses is jealousy. A man loved by two women chose one to marry. But she didn’t love him at all.”
“What a sad story. Then what?”
“The woman left behind truly loved him. She waited like a widow until she died, and yellow roses bloomed where she stood.”
“Interesting, like a fairy tale.”
“Right? I don’t get why the woman who married him did it. No love, just inferiority and jealousy. She had nothing going for her except some book smarts.”
Rachel’s veiled jab came with a sidelong glance.
She’s ripping off the classic tale ‘The Yellow Dress,’ and butchering it.
Snorting, I sipped my tea as Alex chimed in.
“Well said. You’re sharp, sister-in-law. So knowledgeable. How many quizzes have you posed? Dozens?”
“I haven’t counted, but that many? Maybe the quiz fairy sprinkled seeds in my head.”
“What? Haha, cute metaphor. You’re quite charming.”
Alex pinched Rachel’s cheek, and she smiled, eyes crescent-shaped.
Feeling nauseated, I set my teacup down and stood.
“I need to head to the lab, so I’ll go.”
“Go ahead. Don’t neglect your research. Oh, Aselin.”
“Yes?”
“How about a date tomorrow? The wedding’s soon, and we haven’t had a proper one. We can shop for what you like.”
His words nearly made me grimace.
Date? I don’t want to waste time on that.
Suppressing my irritation, I replied calmly, “Sure, let’s do it tomorrow.”
Rachel sat, pouting.
Noticing, Alex added, “Of course, I’ll pick up a gift for my future sister-in-law on the way.”
Rachel, sulky, and Alex, trying to soothe her—a perfect pair of trash.
“Thank you for caring so much for my sister.”
Smiling, I left the dining room.
Climbing the stairs, I saw Dana rushing toward me.
“My lady! A letter from His Highness the First Prince’s aide!”
Panting, she handed me a sealed envelope.
I tore it open.
It was from Alvin, urgently summoning me to the castle—Claude was in critical condition.
Arriving at the castle, I sensed the chaotic atmosphere among the servants.
Looking for the physician, I grabbed Anna as she passed.
“Anna, what’s going on? Where’s the physician?”
“Well… he was exposed as a spy for the Second Prince…”
“What? The physician was a spy?”
My eyes widened.
So that’s why he overprescribed Sytrien mana herbs and Lazeraan potions? Knowing they’d harm Claude?
It all clicked.
His uneasy expression when I insisted on entering Claude’s room made sense now.
A physician of his caliber would know the dangers of manna herb overdoses—why ignore it?
Lost in thought, Alvin ran up, pale.
“My lady, hurry! His Highness is having a seizure.”
The word seizure jolted me, and I sprinted down the corridor, recalling a warning from a book.
[For mana poisoning patients experiencing seizures, caution is needed. They may hallucinate, so avoid forceful restraint. Prioritize calming them using the methods described.]
If Claude was seizing, his condition had worsened—how?
He’d been taking Lazeraan steadily for a month; it shouldn’t be this bad.
Did the physician tamper with the medicine?
As the one prescribing and overseeing treatment, he was like a cat guarding fish.
Rage surged as I reached Claude’s bedroom.
Steadying my breath, I knew crowding a seizing patient was unwise, especially for someone frail like Claude.
It wouldn’t help calm him.
I turned to Alvin and the butler, both ghostly pale.
“Please wait here. I’ll go in alone.”
“Are you sure, my lady?”
“I’ll be fine. Too many people will confuse him. If I’m not out in an hour, then come in.”
They nodded and stepped back.
Taking a deep breath, I opened the door.
Powdered medicine littered the desk, and vials lined the shelves.
The sofa by the window, where Claude usually sat, was toppled, its legs broken, and books were strewn across the floor.
The room was a wreck, not a single piece of furniture intact.
Bloodstains marked the carpet, evidence of his thrashing.
Claude’s groans from the bed conveyed his agony.
His large, veined hand clutched the sheets tightly.
At my footsteps, he weakly raised his head.
His chiseled profile and sharp eyes captivated me instantly.
His black hair fell messily, and sweat—or water—dripped down his sharp jawline.
“Your Highness, it’s Aselin. Do you recognize me?”
No response.
Carefully, I set my bag down and pulled out a seizure suppressant.
Holding the vial, I approached slowly.
“Your Highness, I brought medicine to calm the seizure. Please open your mouth slightly, and I’ll administer it.”
I opened the vial and gently brought it to his face.
Suddenly, Claude grabbed my wrist with force.
Thud.
The vial flew, and I collapsed onto the bed.
