Chapter 43
The trial was held three days later.
The purchase history of the poison, the testimony of the person who supplied it, and the fingerprints found on the vial all pointed to Irene Clacio as the true culprit.
It was also revealed that she had attempted to pin all the blame on Sienna Winter.
Normally, such crimes would have warranted a twenty-year prison sentence. However, Irene was the daughter of a duke.
The Emperor, moved by Duke Clacio’s desperate pleas, reduced her sentence—not to imprisonment, but to an indefinite ban from high society.
“This is unfair! I’m a victim too! Someone with a hidden identity approached me and gave me that poison! I didn’t buy it! I don’t know anything about the purchase record or the person who sold it!”
Upon hearing her sentence, Irene shouted in outrage.
“He said it wasn’t a lethal dose! Just something to cause a stomachache! I only wanted to prank those annoying two. I was ignorant. I admit I was wrong.”
Irene collapsed to the ground in tears, insisting she had been caught in someone else’s scheme, but her claims were dismissed due to lack of evidence.
Daphne, who had recovered quickly, unfolded the newspaper brought by her maid.
A headline about Irene caught her eye right on the front page.
“An indefinite social ban… That’s too lenient.”
“She’s still claiming she was framed and protesting her innocence,” the maid added.
“Innocent, my foot. She should blame her own stupid head for getting fooled like that. How sloppy do you have to be to get caught?”
Scoffing, Daphne crumpled the paper and tossed it aside. But that wasn’t enough to calm her rising irritation, and she shot her maid a frosty glare.
“Why did she use such a strong poison? I only survived because my savior treated me well. I could’ve died!”
“…I’m sorry. There must have been a mistake. Are you feeling well now?”
“I’m fine. Thanks to him, I have no lingering effects.”
Since that day, Daphne hadn’t been able to forget his face.
That dazzling blond hair that shimmered in her blurred vision… those brilliant blue eyes…
“So, did you find out who he is?”
“Yes, his name is Heraith. He doesn’t belong to any noble house, twenty-four years old, and currently serves as the lady’s magic tutor and bodyguard.”
“Heraith…”
A rosy blush crept up Daphne’s cheeks upon learning her savior’s name.
“Rumors say he’s quite skilled, and considering he treated the lady on the spot, his abilities must be exceptional. But there’s little known about him. It’s believed the lady brought him in personally—likely a mage who had been quietly living on the outskirts.”
“The lady brought him in herself?”
Daphne tilted her head.
That didn’t make sense. Why would someone with a death sentence hanging over her head bother learning magic?
“There’s no talk of him treating her illness, is there?”
“No, there’s been no word of that.”
“…Well, of course not. No matter how talented a mage he may be, that disease is beyond curing.”
How could anyone treat a mysterious, incurable illness no one even understood?
Must be a pastime to amuse herself before death, she thought.
Even so, that small diversion had become a new variable for Daphne.
That day, she had seen it in Sienna’s eyes.
She had completely lost interest in Rio. In fact, she no longer had any desire to torment Daphne.
If anything, she seemed determined to stay far away from them.
Sienna had indeed not come near them since.
Tap, tap, tap—the rhythm of Daphne’s fingers on the table grew more restless.
“Has the lady really given up on Rio?”
“If that’s true, it’s good news. She won’t bother you anymore, miss.”
The maid beamed in celebration, but Daphne shook her head.
“No. This isn’t good at all.”
“Pardon? But…”
“She needs to keep causing a scene if I’m going to be in the spotlight.”
Sienna losing interest in Rio was a development Daphne had never anticipated.
Why had Sienna changed? What was different about her now? Where was her gaze turned, if not to Rio?
Heraith. That man might be the reason.
“Of all people, why does such a handsome man have to be by her side?”
Her eyes twisted with jealousy.
With a slightly aggressive motion, Daphne pulled open a drawer and took out a book.
The pink cover adorned with colorful flowers and gold trim immediately caught the eye.
Without even glancing at the cover, Daphne flipped straight to a specific page.
She read the passage and murmured to herself,
“It’s a little early… but better to be prepared.”
Having made up her mind, she slipped the book back into the drawer and locked it.
“First, I need to meet that man.”
“I’ve already confirmed his location. Will you be going yourself?”
“Of course. The faster I act, the better.”
As she stood up, Daphne paused and added,
“And I should thank Lord Heraith properly too, shouldn’t I?”
“If you’re the one to offer thanks first, I’m sure he’ll be pleased.”
“Right?”
Even if Heraith didn’t show interest in her at first, that didn’t matter.
Eventually, everyone came to love her.
With her hands clasped together, Daphne smiled sweetly.
