Chapter 188……………………………………..
After being assigned to the Baron’s mansion, Idel gradually learned more about the upcoming banquet scheduled in a few days.
This banquet was a charity event hosted by the Baron, a loyal retainer of Crown Prince Michael.
Not long ago, Princess Cassius, the Crown Prince’s beloved, had revealed herself as the owner of the Iber Trading Company and donated a large sum, sparking a donation frenzy across the empire.
The Baron, hoping to continue the Princess’s positive influence, organized a fundraising banquet and invited many prominent figures.
Among the guests, Idel was told, would be the man she longed to see—Terrence.
Even though Michael would attend and the event was organized by his loyal retainers, the Baron seemed to have decided not to refuse Terrence’s invitation.
Idel’s heart raced wildly.
She would see him again. Even from afar, it would be enough just to catch a glimpse of him.
She busied herself helping with preparations at the Baron’s mansion, eagerly awaiting the day of the banquet.
Time seemed to crawl, but finally, the long-awaited day arrived.
Exhausted from nonstop cooking in the kitchen, Idel finally got a break and headed toward the banquet hall.
With so many maids bustling around, no one paid her wandering presence any mind.
News had reached the kitchen that the Second Prince had arrived, but where could he be now?
“Oh, look over there! That’s His Highness Michael and Princess Riena!”
“They make such a perfect pair!”
“The Prince always looks so commanding.”
“And the Princess? Look at her—like a little rabbit hopping around the hall.”
“Oh my! Look at that adorable figure!”
“Truly deserving of the nickname ‘everyone’s first love.’”
“Honestly, among men their age, who wouldn’t consider Riena their first love?”
Amid the noisy scene, Idel pictured where Terrence might be.
Using her knowledge of his personality, she quickly located him.
As expected, he sat alone on a dim terrace, a step away from the glittering banquet hall.
“Your Highness…!”
Stepping onto the terrace, Idel called to him in a voice full of emotion, and he flinched, turning around.
But his surprise wasn’t from seeing someone unexpectedly.
He looked as if he’d been caught doing something wrong.
Idel’s gaze immediately landed on the bundle of papers in his hand.
Inside the half-open bundle, she saw white powder.
In his other hand, he held a glass of water, and he seemed to be tilting the paper to pour the powder in.
In a flash, he hid the bundle against his chest and sharply asked her,
“What is it?”
“Your Highness… is that—”
A disturbing rumor Idel had overheard just days before leaving the Freihyden Viscount household flashed through her mind.
It claimed Terrence took illegal substances to suppress his headaches.
Some servant had supposedly seen him and overheard arguments between Terrence and Jack about it.
The source was unclear, and since the servants only mentioned it a few times, Idel had paid little mind.
She assumed it was a malicious rumor spread by spies of the Empress and Crown Prince hiding in the Viscount’s mansion.
After all, Terrence, more ambitious than anyone, wouldn’t commit such a mistake.
Idel had some idea of what the illicit substance was.
“Devil’s Claw”—a potent painkiller with extreme side effects, including violent, antisocial tendencies—recently banned entirely in the Empire.
Even a prince using it would be severely punished. Naturally, any claim to the throne would vanish.
“Oh, this? It’s nothing. Just an upset stomach.”
Terrence muttered, evading her question, but Idel was certain.
From long hours of watching him—both near and far—she could see the lie in his eyes.
The white powder was dangerous, and he was hiding it.
Overcome, Idel leapt into his arms and snatched the hidden paper bundle.
“You can’t take this!”
“It’s not dangerous. Give it here.”
“You can’t deceive me. If you keep taking it, you’ll lose yourself. It’s bad for your health—please, stop!”
“…I’ll handle it myself. Just hand it over.”
Idel shook her head fiercely, and they struggled for a while.
Eventually, Terrence snapped.
“What do you know? Can you even imagine this pain?”
“Your Highness…”
“You’ve never experienced it, so you spout principles as if it’s someone else’s problem!”
His expression was twisted in anger.
“And who are you to meddle in my affairs? You think just because we’ve exchanged a few words, you can tell me what to do?”
“I-I was just worried…”
“Know your place. A maid like you has no right to give me orders.”
“…”
“Leave. Don’t ever show yourself here again.”
Idel clutched the paper bundle tightly and left the terrace in silence.
Once she reached the empty garden outside the banquet hall, tears she had been holding back finally spilled.
His words were painful enough, but knowing he had been driven to such psychological extremes made her even sadder.
The Devil’s Claw ultimately stripped its users of their humanity.
When had he begun relying on it? How could she save him?
Idel cursed her own helplessness as she sank into the bushes.
She wanted to think quietly, alone, for a while.
After some time, a man appeared at the edge of the garden, looking around.
Glancing up, Idel nearly screamed.
Though it was dark and his face was obscured, she recognized him instantly.
The familiar posture, familiar gait, familiar breathing.
After all those years living under the same roof, how could she not know him?
It was her younger brother, Samuel Wallace.
Why was Samuel here? Had he come to catch his runaway sister?
Idel trembled with fear but quickly calmed down, noticing something odd about Samuel’s behavior.
He didn’t seem to be searching for anyone—rather, he appeared to be waiting.
Moreover, he kept shaking one leg, a habit he exhibited when nervous.
Idel quietly observed him.
A few minutes later, a middle-aged man entered the garden and spoke to Samuel.
From a distance, their conversation reached Idel’s ears in fragments.
“Do I just offer the bottle of liquor to the Second Prince?”
“Yes. Mention that it’s rare or special; refusing a drink from someone you just met is considered rude in the Empire. He’ll surely drink it.”
“But earlier, the Prince’s aide seemed to inspect everything going into his cup with silverware.”
“That’s fine. This doesn’t tarnish silver. Technically, it’s not poison.”
“So?”
“The herbs in this liquor react terribly with the Sky Whale meat. Alone they’re fine, but together… death.”
“The Sky Whale meat was the special dish at the banquet, right?”
“Exactly. Before you arrived, I’ll make sure he’s offered the whale meat. It’s too precious to refuse. He might have eaten it already.”
“…So it’s truly not my fault?”
“Of course. It’s an unfortunate accident. That interaction is little-known, so just say you didn’t know.”
“….”
“Besides, you’re related by marriage to the Cassius family. Surely Michael and the Princess won’t abandon you.”
Samuel hesitated briefly before taking the bottle from the middle-aged man.
Once Samuel left, the man muttered to himself, clicking his tongue.
“Fool. He dared to keep extorting money from the Duke’s family and fell out of the Princess’s favor. Well, I’ll handle it appropriately.”
Idel realized who it was. The man was the Baron.
She waited until the Baron departed, then cautiously emerged from the bushes.
Poisoning him… just imagining it made her vision blur and her hands tremble.
But she couldn’t stand by. The plot to harm him was still underway.
With trembling legs, she ran back to the banquet hall, frantically searching for Terrence.
Please… let Samuel act slowly and hesitantly.
Unfortunately, she spotted Samuel speaking to Terrence in the distance.
Samuel proudly lifted the glass and got two more from a servant, pouring the liquor into them.
Idel ran toward them.
Though improper etiquette, she ignored the gazes of those around her.
All she could think was that she had to stop this.
What should she do? Shout that the glass is poisoned? Would anyone believe a mere maid?
Terrence, the only one who would listen, had just left her blushing when they parted.
Besides, the drug in the glass would affect his judgment—would he even believe her?
Should she just knock the glass away?
No, then she alone would be accused of sacrilege, and Samuel could bring another glass.
Above all, she couldn’t expose that a plot to poison Terrence was in motion.
Step by step, she steeled herself. There was only one choice.
“Idel?”
Startled, Terrence’s hand released the glass, and Idel seized it.
Without hesitation, she drank it herself.
“If not now, when will we ever taste something this precious? Just a sip.”
Even though she herself had tasted the Sky Whale meat under her coworkers’ urging while working in the kitchen.
Moments later, blood gushed from her mouth.
