Chapter 25
Selachia instinctively restrained her gaze from drifting toward Aldritch. She had to be careful, lest her true thoughts of suspicion be revealed.
She had been prepared to some extent, but the scheme was even more cunning than expected, leaving her flustered. Though she’d been on guard, there was no way she could have anticipated being accused of attempted poisoning. Still, she was disappointed in herself for remaining so calm throughout the banquet.
She couldn’t forgive herself, and the overwhelming sense of helplessness and defeat engulfed her.
“I—I never gave such an order…”
Her hands, clutching the hem of her skirt under the table, were damp with sweat.
The stares directed at her felt like they were strangling her. The whispers pricked at her ears, tearing through her mind. It was just like when she’d been abandoned in the sea and awoke alone—she felt completely isolated from the world.
In her light state of panic, Selachia’s wandering eyes landed on Tenus, almost out of habit. Like everyone else present, he too was looking at her.
“……”
Dark and deep—his navy eyes were like an unknowable abyss.
Devoid of warmth, his eyes were icy cold, enough to chill her to the bone.
As always.
In that moment, it felt like she was doused with cold water, snapping her back to her senses. Like being pulled from the deep sea resembling his eyes, her breath finally broke free.
His gaze was the same as always.
There was not even a hint of suspicion toward her in his eyes. On the contrary, he looked as though he was urging her on.
“Even now?”
Even now, you still want to cover up Aldritch’s misdeeds?
That silent question passed through his sunken eyes. It was clear that he, too, had realized this situation was Aldritch’s doing.
If she just gave the slightest nod, Tenus would likely take her side. Perhaps he’d even carry out his earlier words—cutting off Aldritch’s head.
“……”
Selachia tightly shut her trembling lips. Gruesome images of bloodshed flashed through her mind. Ironically, those horrific thoughts helped stabilize her racing heart.
This wasn’t like before—when she had no one on her side.
That thought alone filled her with confidence, as if she now held a powerful weapon in her hands. Warmth returned to her body, and her scattered mind calmed.
“Please, my lady. Spare me… please… please save me…”
The maid crawled on her knees, pleading at Selachia’s feet. Taking a deep breath, Selachia finally spoke in a composed voice.
“Are you saying… that I ordered you to poison the duke’s food?”
Her voice didn’t tremble. The calmness in her tone sharply contrasted with the tearful maid’s desperate pleas.
“You gave me… sob… the poison, my lady! You said my family was being held hostage… but still, I couldn’t—couldn’t go through with it!”
“That’s strange. When did I ever hand over poison to you, especially one I’ve never even seen before?”
“L-Last night…”
“Give me the exact time.”
Her cold demand made the maid’s eyes waver like a tiny boat in a storm.
Selachia couldn’t recall ever seeing this maid before. Likely, like Nancy, the girl had been hired while Selachia was away from the mansion.
“A little after dinner… you sent me a letter and the poison. You left it on my bed.”
“How would I even know who you are?”
“T-That’s…”
Unable to answer immediately, the maid suddenly became frantic.
“I—I can prove it! That you gave me the order!”
The maid pulled something from her pocket: a brooch embedded with a large ruby. It was an expensive item a mere servant couldn’t possibly afford.
Selachia stared blankly at it. She couldn’t grasp the meaning of the object the maid dramatically presented as ‘evidence.’
Just as she was about to ask what it was, Tenus—who had been silent—spoke first.
“That brooch is from Laura’s Boutique.”
The maid, startled by Selachia’s indifferent gaze, nodded vigorously, her face covered in tears.
“Y-Yes! You gave it to me! You said if I succeeded, you’d give me even better jewels!”
Only then did Selachia realize—it was one of the many items Tenus had handed her previously. She hadn’t paid any attention to it, nor remembered seeing it up close. Naturally, she had no idea how it ended up in the maid’s possession.
At that moment, Aldritch suddenly sprang to his feet, his wrinkled face flushed red with excitement.
“If what this maid says is true, Selachia, you’ve committed a heinous act! Trying to harm Tenus wasn’t enough—you’re now trying to frame a maid?”
“You misunderstand, Lord Rogue. Please don’t twist my efforts to clear my name. I’m only trying to find the real culprit behind this plot against me.”
“What nonsense! With Sophie’s testimony and that brooch, the evidence is more than enough!”
“So her name is Sophie.”
Selachia nodded lightly, as if she had just now learned it. Aldritch, who had been shouting so confidently, hesitated for a moment.
Seizing the opportunity, Selachia asked Sophie,
“Tell me, Sophie. I didn’t leave my room at all last night before I fell asleep. How could I have given you such terrible orders and handed you poison and a jewel?”
“B-But the letter was written on special paper that only the duchess can use! And it had your signature! If not you, who else would’ve sent it?”
Selachia rubbed her aching head. This was the second time her signature had been forged—after the fake suicide note. She started to consider changing her signature and publicly announcing it.
As she was lost in that thought, someone suddenly stepped forward.
“My lady is innocent! I can prove it!”
It was Nancy, who leapt forward. Perhaps noticing Selachia’s hesitation, she felt she had to intervene with fervent defense.
“I’ve been with the lady all day and know all her movements. I know for a fact she never met Sophie last night. And besides, my lady has no reason to harm the duke. They love each other deeply…!”
“Silence! Do you think this is a place where someone like you can run your mouth?!”
Aldritch cut her off with a fierce shout. The expression on his face was twisted and demonic—nothing like the weak, timid man they had always seen.
The Aldritch before Tenus and the one now standing in front of Nancy were two completely different people.
“A personal maid of Selachia’s, huh? So you were in on it too? Looks like the two of you were conspiring together!”
“W-What? No! This is a misunderstanding. Sophie, isn’t that right? You misunderstood something, didn’t you? You didn’t say anything to me yesterday!”
Nancy pleaded, but Sophie only shed more tears. Aldritch’s voice turned chilling as he shouted,
“Torture will reveal the truth. What are you all waiting for? Throw them into the dungeon!”
Aldritch pointed at Sophie, Nancy, and finally Selachia.
Just as Selachia, unable to endure this injustice toward innocent Nancy, was about to rise—
“Watch your words, Uncle.”
Tenus’s calm voice stopped her.
“Selachia is a woman of House Seidon. Who dares suggest torturing her?”
“But this is a wicked act that threatened your life! Even if she’s your wife—”
“I will prove my wife’s innocence.”
Aldritch looked as if he’d been struck.
“But how could you…? You were in your office late last night…”
“And how would you know that?”
“B-Because everyone knows you stay there late. So, of course I…”
“I didn’t know you were so interested in me, Uncle. Then you must also know that I can’t take my eyes off my wife out of concern.”
Tenus looked at Aldritch with an unwavering gaze.
“My knight assigned to guard Selachia gave no such report.”
Though he openly declared he received reports on his wife’s every move, there was no shame on Tenus’s face—nor did anyone challenge him.
“That disreputable knight? Ha. How could you trust someone who came from outside?”
Even Aldritch didn’t argue further. Selachia, observing the situation, wondered if it was strange she found all this oddly natural.
“Someone from outside, huh…”
Tenus tapped his index finger lightly on the table and muttered,
“Mark.”
From a dark corner of the banquet hall, someone emerged in response to the soft call—a voice even Selachia, sitting right beside him, couldn’t hear.
“Gasp.”
“Eek.”
Startled gasps escaped the mouths of the servants.
Selachia widened her eyes at the sight of the man she’d never seen before. Only Aldritch seemed to recognize him, muttering under his breath.
“Why is Mark Pinter here…?”
Mark, dressed in full knight’s armor with a sword at his waist, strode up beside Tenus without hesitation. Tenus motioned to him with a glance and asked Aldritch,
“Do you know him?”
“Of course I do. He comes from a family that has served House Seidon loyally for generations. How could I not?”
“Then as you said, he’s clearly not an outsider.”
Aldritch grimaced but had no rebuttal. Without taking his eyes off Aldritch, Tenus ordered Mark,
“Report what happened yesterday.”
