MFWSP 80

Chapter 80

“The ingredients in the cough medicine are silver lizard scales and the horn of a one-horned frog. Both are poisonous.”

Kyle said while inspecting the powder.

“They both have a taming effect, but if you use only one, the subject dies quickly. That’s why everyone says never to use them. But when used together, the poison acts subtly. The silver lizard is the only animal that can eat the one-horned frog and survive, so I had a hunch… Iris noona said I’d have to test it out a lot, so I did… But I never thought someone else would come up with the same idea.”

He rambled on without pause, but Karsiel and Luten were focused, as if trying to remember every word.

“This… it’s hard to tell since so many other things are mixed in. The color’s black, too.”

Kyle shrugged.

“Are you saying there’s no way to find out?”
Luten asked again, frustrated.

“Oh! There is a way.”

Kyle clapped his hands.

He reached toward Elka, who was tied up and placed on the desk.

“Come on, Lulu. Let’s try this.”

Though Elka frowned, he sniffed the powder carefully.

“You’ve eaten poisons before, so if it’s the same—”

Kyle’s words were cut off by Elka’s sigh.

“Oink.”

The creature grumbled, as if eating it was worse than dying, but knowing that refusing meant being force-fed, it resignedly opened its mouth.

“…It’s the same, I think,” Kyle said.

“If it were a completely different drug, Lulu would’ve resisted strongly. He only ate it because he’s used to it. The expression says it all—it’s the same poison.”

“I can’t believe this… then the tea His Majesty has been drinking…”
Luten shook his head in disbelief.

Karsiel also looked stunned.

“His Majesty?” Kyle asked.

“For years now, the Empress has been giving the Emperor a mysterious tea to stop his coughing,” Karsiel explained.

“The moment he drinks it, the coughing stops—but the illness never goes away. Over time, Father became more easily controlled. Just like the boy said, he doesn’t want to make any decisions on his own anymore.”

He closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

“Father was never a great emperor to begin with… but now, it seems his mind was deteriorating all along.”

So that’s what happened.

I always wondered why the Emperor, who once had at least some judgment in his youth, became so cowardly.

Was it the Empress’s doing?

Karsiel fell silent.

A strange sense of sorrow filled his heart.

It must be painful, even if the familial bond isn’t strong.

Without even realizing it, the father he once knew had slowly disappeared.

“Can that poison… be cured?”

I asked Kyle.

For a moment, I thought of the cleansing fruit I had, but the kind of poison Kyle used wasn’t something that could be purified simply by absorbing magical energy.

And if it had been mixed with other ingredients, its effectiveness would be even more uncertain.

“Hmm. Probably? Each poison has an antidote. If you mix them and administer it, it should work. I’m still researching, but it’s hard to get it perfect in one go. The combination is tricky…”

“Does the antidote have any side effects?”
Karsiel asked.

Kyle shook his head.

“No. And even if you keep taking the poison, regular use of the antidote will build immunity.”

“Slow is fine. No, rather, we need to stop the poison from spreading further. I’ll consult doctors and herbalists about the formula, so tell me the ingredients.”

Kyle nodded.

He immediately began writing something down on paper.

“Here. This is everything I know. Whether you ingest it, apply it, or disperse it into the air, it’ll have an effect.”

“That’s good to hear.”

Karsiel smiled as he took the paper.

“Thank you, Kyle. If there’s anything you want, just ask.”

“I don’t want anything! But Lin noona said she really wanted your dagger.”

Without hesitation, Karsiel unfastened the dagger at his waist and tossed it to Lin.

With eyes sparkling, Lin drew the blade and stroked it fondly.

“Do you have a plan?”
I asked.

Karsiel nodded.

“It should smell good.”

A faint smile played on his lips again.

“If I personally deliver it to Father, the Empress will surely interfere. So instead, I plan to offer it to the Empress herself. She’s always been fond of fragrances.”

“We’ll need to use a merchant guild,”
I said, understanding his intention.

He planned to create a new scent, but keep his involvement hidden.

If a scent containing the antidote passed from the hands of a guild to the Empress, then the Emperor—who was always with her—would naturally be exposed to the detoxifying effects.

Since the scent itself would have no poison, as long as no one knew it contained an antidote, even the wary Empress wouldn’t be suspicious.

“The Marquisate of Khaernav is skilled in perfume-making. I’ll leave it to them. If they manufacture a scent that everyone in the capital uses…”

“That won’t be enough,”
I said after thinking carefully.

“The Empress’s preferences would be known best by the guild she originally dealt with. David will have the information. He knows everything about the royal family’s suppliers.”

“…”

“For the first meeting, take Ray with you,”
I added.

“Ray will know how to package Khaernav’s perfume in a way that catches the guild’s attention.”

“…I will,”
Karsiel replied after staring at me for a moment.

“You’re impressive, Duchess. As I said earlier, you…”

He muttered softly, just loud enough for me to hear.

“You see what others can’t. You think of things others wouldn’t. I can’t even guess when you started planning this.”

“…”

“You’re precious to me,”
he whispered.

“Pardon?”

“I mean, you’re the one I trust most. My most important ally.”

“Oh…”

Startled, I smiled faintly.

The one he trusted most. His most important ally.

That was exactly what I had wanted to hear from Karsiel. I wouldn’t wish for anything else.

* * *

“Then I’ll discuss proportions with the pharmacists, and also look for a perfumer…”

Luten muttered, looking very focused.

While Karsiel listened, he also glanced at Iris out of the corner of his eye.

She was across the study, chatting with Rishian.

From her laughter, it seemed Rishian had just made a dry joke.

Lin and Kyle, nearby, also laughed.

She looked happy. She looked at ease.

Karsiel had to suppress a sudden wave of jealousy.

Iris never laughed so comfortably around him. At least, that’s how it felt to him.

Rishian, Lin, Kyle, and her usual companions—David and Ray.

He knew it was petty, but he couldn’t help how he felt.

He envied the people she allowed near her. The ones who got to see her often.

But like Luten had said—he was a good actor.

He could suppress his feelings whenever necessary.

“You’ve raised fine guards, Duchess,”
he said after finishing his conversation with Luten, preparing to leave.

“And the other two… they’re incredibly talented.”

“You flatter me.”

Iris smiled proudly, likely thinking it was only natural.

“But you’re the Duchess. The Empress, Balthazar, and Duke Cerbe all see you as a threat,”
Karsiel continued.

“If you ever need help, I’ll lend my strength.”

At his words, Iris offered a bright, grateful smile.

Karsiel had to fight the urge to step closer to her. Honestly, he’d felt that impulse several times that day.

“Then, I’ll take my leave.”

He suppressed the urge and bid her farewell with a composed expression before leaving the study and walking down the corridor.

As he strode with large steps, his mind was in turmoil.

Yes, there’s no need to rush.

The opportunity will come, someday.

Karsiel had no intention of giving up on becoming someone important to her.

But until that time came, he would remain the prince chosen by House Apellemeon—the ally she trusted, her comrade.

And in doing so, he would draw closer to Iris than anyone else.

After all, just because he acknowledged his feelings, didn’t mean he had to show them outright.