chapter 43
It was, in many ways, a mysterious creature.
Fiorentia mechanically chewed, as if out of obligation. Fortunately, it had no taste at all, making it bearable. Yet, it was astonishingly tough—she had to gnaw for a long while before she could finally swallow the remnants of the mushroom with difficulty.
Unlike before, it didn’t seem like it would raise her temperature.
She wiped her dry lips with her tongue and thought,
“Is it working already?”
Fiorentia clenched her fist and then released it. She even pinched her right forearm with her left hand.
“Honestly, this alone won’t tell me much. I’ll need to test it properly.”
After all, it was something she had to do if she wanted to meet Luion Theodore.
She exhaled softly, trying to calm her tension, and then directed her gaze to the tea set on the table.
Clink.
The cup was filled nearly to the brim with a clear, amber liquid. Though it had likely been sitting there for a while, wisps of steam still rose from it. Even without touching it, she could tell it was hot.
“This will do.”
Her mouth was dry. She wanted something cooler than the tea in front of her.
Instead, she swallowed hard and summoned several more poisonous mushrooms.
“Go out and find Luion Theodore. Look for a tall figure, silver hair, and bright peridot-green eyes.”
He was the same age as Desdemona. Fiorentia pictured the details in her mind, somewhat disorganized, but enough for the mushrooms to grasp. Silently, they left the room, their movement still captivating to watch.
“Not quite plant, not quite animal… not entirely fungal either, yet it’s alive. And perhaps… it’s the only ally I have in this world.”
Fiorentia indulged in that thought for a brief moment, then exhaled, clearing her mind.
Her eyes fell back on the teacup, and a question seemed to echo from somewhere deep within her thoughts:
“Do you really have to go this far?”
Well… maybe. But she had to cling to something. Now was not the time to be picky.
If rescuing Theodore failed… everything would be ruined.
Having realized that her relationship with Theodore wasn’t unfolding as smoothly as she had hoped, Fiorentia felt a sense of urgency. She needed insurance—and that insurance could only be someone capable of standing against Desdemona: Luion Theodore.
Yet he was someone she could not contact casually.
“I can’t approach him directly, so I’ll have to make the most of this opportunity.”
She had to leave an impression. A deep one.
“It doesn’t have to be a good impression.”
It was a method she had chosen herself, yet her hands trembled slightly. She reminded herself that such fear was natural for someone human.
“Remember: survive. That’s the most important thing.”
She bit down hard on her lips, trying to shake off hesitation.
“Somewhere Desdemona won’t notice… yet somewhere others might wonder why I’m there.”
She removed her mask. As she drew in a shaky breath, a faint whimper escaped despite her efforts to hold it back. Folding a handkerchief neatly, she bit down on it while her crimson eyes sank into focus.
Though the poisonous mushrooms suppressed her pain, she still prepared for the unknown.
“I might cry out or groan without realizing it.”
No one could know what she was about to do; secrecy was essential.
Finally, she reached for the teacup. She had no intention of burning herself seriously, so it had cooled to a tolerable temperature during her preparations.
“Alright. This is fine.”
She closed her eyes tightly and tipped the tea onto herself.
“Ugh…”
The scalding liquid spread across her skin, sending a stinging warmth over a wide area. Her eyes watered from the heat, but the pain was bearable.
It seemed the mushrooms worked as intended, dulling the sharp sting into a dull ache.
She carefully set the teacup down, bracing herself on the edge of the table as she stood. Approaching the mirror, she inspected her reflection.
Her neck and collarbones had taken on a faint reddish hue, just as she had hoped.
“…Good.”
Focusing more closely, it did hurt, but it was tolerable. She bit her handkerchief again, grinding her teeth as she prepared her next step.
She picked up a broken ashwood branch. With a sharp swipe through the air, it left distinct red marks on her pale skin.
“Ah… that was a bit much.”
Suppressing her groans, she made a couple more lines.
“Maybe I should’ve eaten another mushroom.”
A flicker of regret passed, but it was still preferable to dying, so she endured.
Soon, the mushrooms she had sent out returned.
“Did anyone notice you?”
They bobbed their fungal horns up and down, as if nodding.
“And Luion Theodore? Did you find him?”
Another synchronized nod. Fiorentia couldn’t help but smile faintly, amused and touched by their loyalty.
“Good job. Now, where is Duke Theodore?”
Then she realized—these mushrooms couldn’t speak. How would they convey the location?
She peered at them, puzzled, when they moved strangely. Turning their bodies toward her, one tilted its horn repeatedly, as if signaling her to follow.
Taking a tentative step forward, Fiorentia watched them tremble with excitement before leading the way.
“Are they smarter than I thought?”
She quickly put her mask back on.
“Wait here.”
She wrapped a fresh handkerchief around her arm to conceal the wounds.
“Now, let’s go.”
With a shawl loosely draped over her shoulders, Fiorentia carefully left the room. The corridor was empty, perhaps because the hour was late.
“Lead me to Duke Theodore.”
The mushrooms moved ahead eagerly, guiding her along with surprising enthusiasm.
Late in the afternoon, Luion Theodore arrived at the palace, restless from the confinement.
Noticing his aide attempting to follow, he raised a hand.
“I’ll just step out for some fresh air.”
“I’ll accompany you.”
“No, I need to think quietly, alone.”
Luion, a prudent and deliberate leader, would not act rashly, especially with important matters pending. Respecting this, his aide stayed back.
“Go ahead.”
“Thank you.”
Despite his usual composed demeanor, Luion’s face showed visible agitation as he walked. His striking appearance drew attention wherever he went.
“Good day, Duke.”
“Good day.”
“Do you need anything?”
“I’m fine.”
He responded with a polite smile, but as soon as he passed others, his expression darkened again.
“When will this end?”
The cold wind did little to ease his frustration. The upcoming meeting with the emperor—unexpectedly early—left him unsettled, especially given the emperor was his peer in age.
He had heard that Duke Marcella had entered the emperor’s chamber to extract the poison, meaning Luion would have to act soon—tomorrow, or the day after at the latest.
He dreaded it, wishing he could avoid the task altogether. Lost in thought, Luion wandered toward the palace garden, unaware that someone was already waiting there.
