Chapter 10
“Oh my, I was joking.”
“W-What…?”
Vivian, her eyes red from gagging, looked up at me.
Her mouth and dress were stained with vomit.
I tilted my head at her.
“Your reaction makes this suspicious. Did you really put poison in it?”
Her face turned pale. Then it flushed red and blue with anger.
“Miss Aisha, are you joking right now—!”
“You’re the one joking, Lady Vivian.”
I cut her off and took out a fist-sized skull from my pocket.
“Everyone, could you look at this for a moment?”
The small skull was darker than ivory, smaller than a human skull, and looked like a finely carved art piece.
The young ladies turned pale. So did Vivian.
To them, it must have looked grotesque.
But this wasn’t an ordinary object.
I placed the fairy skull on the table.
“This is my master’s fairy skull. It screams when it touches poison.”
I lifted the teacup.
“If there’s nothing wrong with the tea Lady Vivian served, it won’t react. But if there’s poison…?”
I poured the tea over the skull.
The skull opened its mouth.
Krrr… krrrgh… krrrghhh…
A chilling metallic screech cut through the air.
Even though Lowell had shown me earlier, I still wasn’t used to that sound.
She tried to use something this strong on me?
Now I’m even angrier.
The skull kept screaming.
The reactions varied.
Some girls froze in fear. Others stared at Vivian in disbelief.
I felt slightly sorry for causing such chaos, but I needed to reveal the truth.
I need to survive, after all.
I crossed my arms and looked down at Vivian, who was trembling in rage.
“Lady Vivian. Why did you try to poison me?”
She stood up abruptly.
“Are you calling me a murderer?”
“Then is the fairy skull lying? There’s no way my master’s tool is faulty.”
I widened my eyes in mock surprise.
“Are you doubting my master? The greatest mage in the empire, favored by His Majesty?”
I deliberately used Lowell’s name.
Being the disciple of the emperor’s favored mage was a powerful shield.
Vivian glared at me.
“Don’t be ridiculous. You’re trying to frame me!”
She turned to the other girls.
“You’re not believing this country girl, are you?”
Some avoided her gaze.
After what happened, suspicion was unavoidable.
“Are you seriously believing someone who just appeared out of nowhere?” she demanded.
I answered firmly.
“Lady Vivian, save your excuses for the imperial judiciary.”
“The judiciary?”
At that word, her body stiffened.
Normally, a country girl accusing a count’s daughter of attempted murder would be ignored.
But I was the disciple of the empire’s greatest mage.
If news spread that Lowell’s disciple was nearly poisoned, the imperial family would intervene.
If the case went to the imperial court, I wouldn’t even need to argue.
The imperial family would side with their own.
If Vivian was found guilty, she wouldn’t escape severe punishment.
I smiled inwardly.
In short, you’re finished.
Vivian’s expression turned cold.
“I am the daughter of Count Angus and a noble of this empire.”
She clenched her fists.
“You will pay dearly for slandering me and my family.”
“Sure. Tell that to the judiciary.”
I snorted.
There was no need to speak further.
I turned my back and left the garden.
I could feel her glare on my back, but what could she do?
I had the imperial family behind me.
Once the judiciary investigated, it would be over.
Attempted murder was a serious crime.
Even as a noble, she wouldn’t escape punishment.
My steps felt light.
Soon, Lowell and I would leave on an expedition. I’d meet Jerome there.
There would also be a red-haired holy knight at some point, but I had no interest in him. His route only ended in execution.
The obstacle was gone.
Now I could focus on Jerome peacefully.
Just as I was heading back to the Moon Tower, my vision spun.
“Huh…?”
Nausea hit me.
My head throbbed. A chill crawled down my spine. My fingers felt ice-cold.
My vision blurred.
“W-What…?”
My body wouldn’t move.
The world tilted sideways.
Cold stone brushed my cheek.
Everything went black.
That was my last memory at the count’s estate.
***
My consciousness felt hazy.
My body felt like it was sinking into deep water.
My limbs were heavy. My chest felt crushed.
Then, a small light flickered before me.
It spread slowly and wrapped around my body.
Warmth flowed through me.
The darkness pressing me down began to lift.
Strength returned.
The fog in my mind cleared.
As my vision sharpened, I saw a man.
Silver hair like moonlight. Mysterious purple eyes shining like crystal.
“…Master Lowell?”
“Are you awake?”
I looked around.
I was in my room.
I tried to remember.
After exposing Vivian at the tea party, I left.
On the way back, I felt dizzy and nauseous.
My vision blurred…
“Did I faint?”
As I sat up, Lowell suddenly pulled me into an embrace.
“I’m truly glad you woke up.”
He was solid and warm. A soft scent surrounded me.
His arms tightened around my shoulders.
“M-Master…?”
Startled, I didn’t know where to put my hands.
After a moment, he let go.
“A passerby found you collapsed near the count’s estate.”
He looked at me with concern.
“Lady Angus tried to poison you, didn’t she?”
“Ah…”
The other girls must have testified.
“I reported this to the imperial judiciary. An official investigation is underway.”
His expression darkened.
“The poison she used is a new substance never seen before. Colorless, odorless, lethal with just one drop. It doesn’t react to holy temple dishes.”
His face was serious.
“They’re investigating where she obtained something so dangerous.”
But something didn’t make sense.
I didn’t drink the tea.
Then why did I collapse?
As if reading my thoughts, Lowell answered.
“You collapsed because of a curse.”
“A curse?”
I stared at him.
“Black magic items were found in Lady Angus’s bedroom. Your hair, a burnt black feather, and a doll with nails driven into it.”
That sounds familiar.
“Don’t tell me…”
“Yes.”
Lowell gave a bitter smile.
“She cursed both Duke Winston… and you.”
