BLRP 30

Chapter 30

The head maid’s neck bent slightly to the left. Her shoulders relaxed completely.

Even the five long mushroom horns shaped like human fingers had all snapped.

But the strange scene didn’t end there. From the broken joints, a dark purple smoke-like spore slowly started to drift out, like heat rising from the ground.

“I should call it spores, but since it looks like smoke, I’ll just think of it as poison smoke.”

Everything had happened in an instant—so fast it could be called a blink of an eye.

Theodor realized, for the first time, that even feelings like shock could be completely renewed.

He forgot to stay still and act like a doll, his eyes widening instead.

“Could that woman be dead?”

“No. She’s alive.”

Fiorentia answered calmly, arms crossed.

The smoke from the poisonous mushroom didn’t spread further into the room. Instead, it went straight into Esther’s nose.

“Good.”

Under her mask, Fiorentia smiled to herself. The first condition had been met:

She had to get the head maid under the influence of the poisonous mushroom.

Just like before, when she made Theodor chew a piece of the mushroom to paralyze him, this time she made Esther inhale the spores.

“This is harder than just calling them out like last time.”

It might have been her imagination, but the poisonous mushrooms seemed lively and active. Every time they used their power, Fiorentia felt herself losing strength.

She bit the inside of her mouth to keep focus. Wearing a mask meant Theodor wouldn’t notice, but sweat was already forming on her forehead.

Fiorentia kept concentrating. Even though she was resonating with the mushrooms, losing consciousness would ruin all her efforts.

Though there was no response from Esther yet, she silently hoped her will would reach through.

“Please, just lose consciousness. Please…!”

The dark purple smoke thickened as it entered Esther’s nose.

Then… Esther’s eyes grew hazy, as if she were drugged.

Her eyelids slowly closed, and then shut completely.

“Did it work?”

Fiorentia held her breath, swallowing hard, and slowly moved closer to the head maid.

Esther’s eyes were fully closed.

“Is this the moment?”

Fiorentia spoke carefully, holding her breath. The mushroom still gave off smoke.

“Head maid?”

No response.

“Can you hear me?”

Not even a twitch.

Her heart sank. If anything happened to Esther, Desdemona would notice immediately.

“Should I have found a safer method?”

Fiorentia bit her lower lip nervously and glanced at Theodor.

Meeting his blue eyes somehow calmed her.

“Stay calm.”

Regaining her composure, she gently reached out and touched Esther’s nose.

A warm breath tickled her fingers.

“She’s alive…!”

Fiorentia clenched her fist without realizing it. A wave of joy spread through her body, making her forget her exhaustion.

“Perfect success.”

She breathed in deeply. She had hoped it would work, but tension still lingered.

Fiorentia watched the head maid carefully.

Then, suddenly, the poisonous mushroom she was holding around Esther’s neck loosened and fell without warning.

Looking down, Fiorentia saw that the smoke from the surrounding mushrooms had already faded considerably. The effect didn’t last long—it was the first time.

“Theodor. The head maid will wake up soon. Go back to your seat and compose yourself.”

Fiorentia lowered her voice to warn him. Theodor quickly regained his posture and sat as before.

The smoke from the broken mushrooms stopped completely. The mushrooms vanished as if they had never been there. Slowly, the head maid’s eyelids began to open.

Her eyes gradually refocused. Fiorentia quickly placed a hand on the back of her hand.

She spoke casually, pretending to worry.

“Head maid, are you okay?”

“Huh? What just happened…?”

The head maid blinked slowly, a bit dazed.

“You seemed a little tired lately. You stumbled like you were dizzy.”

“Oh, did I?”

“Yes.”

Fiorentia quietly watched her reaction. Would she believe her words?

Time felt eternal, even though it was only a moment.

Finally, Esther spoke.

“Thank you for supporting me.”

Fiorentia let out a silent sigh of relief. Luckily, the head maid felt no oddity and trusted her.

Esther’s gaze briefly touched Theodor.

“Well, I’ve been busy going between the main house and annex lately. And doing chores like a lower-ranked servant…”

She muttered complaints to herself but then froze.

“…Wait.”

She noticed Fiorentia’s hand still resting on hers. A chill ran down her spine, making her swallow reflexively.

She slowly raised her eyes to look at Fiorentia.

“Miss…”

“Hm?”

Their eyes met—red eyes, unlike Desdemona’s. The head maid couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling.

“Creepy.”

Her mask hid all expressions, making Fiorentia unreadable. The head maid felt her tension rise.

It had only been a blink of an eye, yet the uneasy feeling forced her to speak.

“Did I… make another mistake?”

Why ask that?

Fiorentia studied her carefully. Her breath was thin, the philtrum tense. Her gaze fixed on where Fiorentia’s lips would be.

The head maid was waiting for an answer.

“She’s suspicious. Why? I thought she was deeply asleep.”

What was wrong? What had she done wrong?

Then Fiorentia realized.

“No.”

Esther was testing her. Somehow, she sensed something unnatural in Fiorentia’s behavior.

“Was holding her hand a mistake?”

Fiorentia sighed. She felt she had been careless. Normally, she wouldn’t have touched the head maid.

“No wonder Desdemona’s subordinates are sharp.”

Fiorentia clicked her tongue in frustration and took a deep breath.

The situation was already set; now she could only act innocent. She tilted her head, pretending to not understand.

“Mistake? What do you mean?”

Please, let this pass.

The head maid’s suspicious gaze didn’t fade.