Chapter 37
Ellen woke up earlier than usual.
“Ugh… I’m so tired…”
She stretched and then buried herself back under the blankets. Just by looking at the position of the sun outside the window, she knew it wasn’t her usual waking time.
A rough dream had disturbed her sleep.
Ellen hadn’t been someone who dreamt much, even back when she was Haeseo. She was known for sleeping deeply and waking up refreshed, much to other people’s amazement. But today’s dream left her in a foul mood.
‘I don’t even remember what the dream was, but it feels awful.’
Frowning, she hugged her pillow. She hadn’t slept much, and the bad dream made her even more tired. She closed her eyes, hoping to catch a little more sleep.
“Ah. I can’t sleep.”
After tossing and turning for nearly an hour, Ellen finally gave up trying to sleep.
‘I can’t fall asleep because of this lousy mood.’
“Neshu, come here.”
With her eyes closed, Ellen softly called Neshu. As always, she waited for him to come by her side after hearing her voice, pulling the blankets up to her neck.
“Meowwww.”
A little while later, Neshu leapt in through the window and landed on her bed.
“Did you sleep well, our Neshu?”
Neshu rubbed his head against Ellen’s palm, but not satisfied, began scratching his head with his paws. Ellen watched him, thinking: “Neshu’s grooming habits are always the same… careful, or you’ll draw blood on your head.”
Observing Neshu, Ellen asked,
“Did the maid wake up?”
Neshu tapped the bed with his tail, which she had learned meant “no.”
“Hmm… then did Roi sleep a bit?”
Neshu tapped the bed again, this time with a slightly louder sound.
‘He didn’t sleep at all, huh? Just as I thought.’
Rubbing her eyes, Ellen climbed out of bed.
“Milady! You’re up already?”
Marsha, who had entered the room and saw Ellen moving around, rushed over in surprise to help her.
After she grew older, Ellen often went out without Marsha, but Marsha had also come to Karzelga. Gloria had sent her because there wouldn’t be time to take care of guests otherwise.
Marsha knew Ellen had come all the way in her riding outfit and handed her an indoor dress.
‘I should probably store the dresses and riding outfits in the warehouse too,’ Ellen thought as she changed.
If she stored the dresses, she’d also need to store shoes, fans, and simple accessories… Thinking about everything she needed to pack reminded her of Gloria’s words that the boxes would be overflowing.
Once changed, Ellen headed straight for Diana’s bedroom.
“Marsha, tell them to prepare breakfast with Roi. Also, in this house, the only people I trust are the butler, Ember, the knight captain, and Kaschu, who is my age. Be careful so nothing happens.”
Ellen whispered to Marsha, who nodded seriously.
“Yes, milady.”
“Growing up, huh? Didn’t sleep a wink?”
“What? Who said that?”
As Ellen entered Diana’s room, Roi played innocent.
“Neshu.”
“…Neshu, were you a spy?”
Roi gave Neshu a disapproving look, and Neshu blew air from his nose and turned his head. Ellen chuckled and dragged Roi to the sofa.
“Though your expression is a bit rough too.”
Roi glanced at Ellen worriedly.
“Who’s worrying about whom? I told Marsha to prepare breakfast, so eat with me.”
At that moment, a knock and Banner’s voice came from outside.
“Doctor Rive is here.”
They must have brought the results. Ellen and Roi exchanged a glance before standing.
“Let them in.”
Doctor Rive appeared in the hallway, carrying his usual large doctor’s bag. Ellen and Roi tried to read his expression, but it revealed nothing.
“Sit.”
Ellen sat first, and Roi gestured for her to sit across from the doctor.
“You must’ve been up all night. Results?”
Roi, anxious, asked first, still making small talk. Ellen quietly admired his tact.
“The poison in the soil is real, but it wasn’t made by an expert. It was made using a herb called ‘Ssumpure,’ but the ratios were all wrong. Had it been made correctly, I’m afraid the countess wouldn’t have been fully cured even with the antidote.”
Roi’s eyes flared.
“Then it’s more likely one of the servants. If it were an outsider, they would have brought a proper poison. No way they’d sneak in sloppy poison to the countess’s estate.”
Ellen looked over at Diana lying in bed.
At that moment, someone knocked at the bedroom door. Who could it be now? Roi looked at Ellen and told them to enter.
It was Banner’s son, Stern. He bowed and quickly approached, whispering into Banner’s ear. Ellen didn’t know him, but Roi explained: “Stern, Banner’s son, and the next butler of Karzelga.” Ellen watched Banner and Stern closely.
Banner’s face stiffened as he listened to Stern.
“What is it?”
“They found a vial suspected to contain poison in the servants’ quarters. It was found in the room of a maid named Ririn.”
Banner handed the vial from Stern to Doctor Rive.
As the doctor inspected it, Ellen was stunned. Not Sylla, but Ririn? Could it be true?
Ellen had always believed she had good instincts, even if sometimes a bit oblivious. But now, her instincts seemed wrong.
‘My instinct pointed to Sylla… Then who was Roi thinking of?’
Glancing at Roi, his expression seemed displeased too, though she couldn’t tell why.
She couldn’t ask, “Nothing came from Sylla’s room?” so she stayed silent.
“Even if a vial is found, don’t relax. Search all other rooms as well.”
Roi simply said this with a stern face.
“Yes, understood.”
Stern bowed politely and left.
Ellen waited until the door closed, then asked Doctor Rive:
“The vial, is it real?”
“Yes, it is.”
Ellen lost her words. The evidence pointed to someone else, so she couldn’t insist on investigating Sylla blindly.
“Doctor, while you’re here, check on my mother’s condition too.”
Roi led Ellen and Banner to Diana’s sitting room.
“I still think it’s Sylla. That’s my feeling.”
Roi signaled Banner to close the door. Ellen felt reassured that Roi thought the same.
“I agree. I suspected Sylla, but couldn’t find proof.”
Ellen gained confidence hearing him. Her intuition was unproven, so it was comforting to have Roi echo it.
“My mother had been gradually reducing the tasks given to Sylla.”
Banner nodded in agreement.
“Yes. I thought my lady planned to make Sylla the next head maid. But over time, she quietly took back tasks from Sylla—just enough that only I and Sylla noticed.”
“Banner’s guess is probably right. She intended to favor Sylla but changed her mind.”
Ellen tilted her head, listening to the exchange.
“But is that enough reason for Sylla to attempt poisoning? I mean, I dislike her too, but she’s skilled, right? She got a lot of recommendations for her work.”
“That’s true.”
Roi seemed to understand Ellen’s point, but she continued.
“If my mother decided not to promote her at Karzelga, she could just get promoted elsewhere. Why must it be Karzelga?”
Scratching her eyelid, Ellen glanced at Banner, then spoke candidly.
“Honestly, I thought Sylla liked you. But you’re not interested, right?”
“Thinking she’d ruin it if she couldn’t have me? But if that were the case, she should poison me, not my mother, right?”
Ellen rolled her eyes. Something didn’t add up.
“And there’s one more odd thing.”
“Another problem?”
Ellen pressed her temple.
“Looking at the servants’ log last night, Sylla wasn’t in the mansion from the night until my mother collapsed. She only returned afterward.”
“What?”
Ellen felt her intuition shatter.
“Maybe it wasn’t solely Sylla. We should investigate Ririn further.”
Banner agreed, and Roi nodded.
“Alright. I’ll participate in the investigation. By the way, what about Ember?”
“She should arrive this afternoon. Kaschu personally went to fetch her.”
Ah, so that’s why Kaschu hadn’t appeared yet. Ellen mentally noted this.
“Ellie, can you look after my mother while I’m at the investigation?”
Ellen, still a bit dazed, quickly got up.
‘I’d like to see the investigation, but it can’t be helped.’
In this situation, running around in groups would be inefficient. Roi followed closely as Ellen headed toward Diana’s room.
“I wish we had… what’s it called? A camera?”
“Uh… CCTV?”
“Yes! That’s it.”
Ellen hesitated, and Roi quickly got it.
“I’ve lived here for years, but sometimes I can’t recall words.”
“Same here. Last time, I muttered ‘I want to eat chicken,’ but said ‘I want to eat kitchen’ instead.”
“That’s too much. How could you forget chicken?”
Ellen glared at Roi, shocked.
“I was just defending you. Why am I being scolded for that…?”
Ellen silently laughed at Roi’s complaint.
“Roilette, what would you like to eat?”
Banner, who hadn’t fully understood, asked.
Did he hear that? Ellen and Roi turned around, startled.
“No, I’m not hungry right now.”
“Right. I just wanted you to eat something. Oh, I told Marsha to bring our breakfast?”
“Let’s go. Let’s eat.”
Ellen and Roi spoke rapidly, hurrying so Banner wouldn’t ask more questions.
