CHAPTER 108…………………………………
A man appeared, dangerously carrying five sharp swords slung over his shoulder while glancing longingly at the two he had left behind.
A faint smile played on Everett’s lips.
“So Baron Akot is the kind of man who would turn his back on Duke Varkard for money.”
Just then, the butler entered the study with tea.
Baron Akot didn’t answer Everett’s earlier question and deliberately avoided any mention of money.
Everett set her teacup down and asked,
“Baron Akot, are you here… not to repay your debt, but to borrow more money?”
Baron Akot, who had been sipping tea, coughed as if it had gone down the wrong way.
“Oh dear, was I too direct?”
“N-no, not at all…”
“You didn’t come all the way here just for tea. It’d be a waste of time if we only exchanged meaningless words, wouldn’t it?”
Baron Akot laughed awkwardly, coughing a bit.
“But here’s the thing—I can’t lend you any money.”
If you want to borrow more, pay back what you already owe first.
That’s what it sounded like to the baron.
“I understand. I’ve borrowed a lot, after all. But do you know who I am?”
He prided himself on being the right-hand man of Duke Varkard—the true power behind the emperor of the empire.
“Of course, you’re Baron Akot. But why does that matter?”
Everett’s indifferent gaze made his chest, puffed up with pride, deflate like a pricked balloon.
“You really don’t know who I am?”
“Did I perhaps get your name wrong?”
Everett reached for the box containing his promissory note.
“Ah, no, no. I am Baron Akot. Ha…”
How could she not know who I am?
He sighed, feeling empty.
“You misunderstand me. I didn’t mean I can’t lend to you because you haven’t repaid.”
“Then…?”
“You’ve done business with the Viscount for a long time—it’s only natural to lend to you. But now, I need collateral.”
“Collateral?”
The word alone made Baron Akot’s brow crumple. Collateral? For me?
“Please don’t take offense. I’m not the Viscount of Kestarican.”
“But you’re his heiress…”
“People doubt my inheritance. They whisper that I must have blackmailed the Viscount into giving me his fortune.”
“……”
“So naturally, I have to be more careful about who I lend to.”
Her feigned complaint amused the baron.
Cautious? he thought. She already reclaimed most of what the Viscount was owed, and she calls that cautious?
“That’s why I must insist on collateral.”
But Baron Akot had none. He had lived his entire life off Duke Varkard’s name and money.
Everett’s bold demand annoyed him, but he was the one desperate for cash.
“Depending on the collateral, I might even lend you more.”
That hint made his eyes gleam.
“Now that I think about it, I do have the best collateral possible.”
Everett smiled brightly.
“And what might that be?”
“Duke Varkard himself.”
“Pardon?”
“Duke Varkard. Who could be a more reliable guarantor in the Empire of Bartman?”
Baron Akot rambled on, explaining that Everett was too young to understand the Duke’s greatness.
“You’re right,” she said softly. “I’m young and don’t know much about politics or nobility.”
Baron Akot’s eyes flickered with unease.
“I’ve only heard the Duke’s name, actually. More importantly, how can I be sure you’re close to him?”
Where on earth did this lady grow up? he thought.
Even hearing Duke Varkard’s name should make one bow their head.
Annoyance flared in him, but he swallowed it.
He had to borrow money today—no matter what.
“You have a point. If you’ve never seen me with the Duke, you’d doubt me. Hmm… how could I prove it?”
He twirled his thin mustache thoughtfully, watching her expression.
Introducing her directly to the Duke would be best—but impossible.
He could try to stage an encounter, but who knew what she’d say?
If she mentioned lending money in front of the Duke…
He shook his head hastily.
Everett’s lips curved into a sly smirk.
“Maybe I should give him a chance to betray his master a little sooner.”
She cleared her throat lightly.
“Baron Akot, I have a question. If you answer it, I’ll lend you money—even without collateral.”
His face instantly brightened.
“Ask away. What do you wish to know?”
“Hmm… I heard something curious.”
Everett leaned forward and whispered,
“I heard that the tea served in Duke Varkard’s household is quite… poisonous. Is that true?”
When she learned that Chad’s money had gone to the baron, she’d suspected the Duke’s involvement.
But after meeting the man and investigating Arcana, she was convinced it was Akot’s doing alone.
That suited her perfectly.
Desperate people were easy to buy—with just enough money to keep them hungry.
At her question, Baron Akot’s face faltered. His eyes darted nervously around, though they were alone.
Then Everett stood and fetched a pouch of gold coins from her desk drawer.
“I don’t know how much you need, but would this do for now?”
Though the coins gave off no light, they gleamed in his widening eyes.
“If you need more, say so. I have more stored elsewhere.”
That pouch was everything she’d recovered from old debts. Most of the Kestarican estate was tied up in land and property—
so any new loans would come from her personal funds.
Baron Akot couldn’t tear his gaze away from the gold.
If there was more than that…
His options narrowed quickly:
be punished by Duke Varkard for embezzlement,
or betray him to Everett and secure money.
He had already chosen the latter long before realizing it.
Still, speaking the Duke’s secret aloud made his throat tighten.
Only he knew the secret of the Duke’s poison.
Fear and greed warred inside him—but the sight of gold tipped the scale.
He smiled and pulled the pouch closer.
“What would you like to know about the tea, my lady?”
Everett rose.
“This could take a while. I’ll have a light meal prepared—and a few more pouches brought in.”
The baron’s lips twitched in satisfaction.
Soon, the table was filled with food prepared in advance.
“Butler, bring the pouches.”
“How many, my lady?”
At that question, Baron Akot’s eyes sparkled.
“Two should be enough for now.”
The bait was set. Now she only needed to draw out every secret about the Duke’s poison.
“So the tea really is made in Duke Varkard’s household?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
“I heard it can numb pain—or cause hallucinations, depending on the dose.”
The baron chewed a piece of steak and nodded.
“You’re well-informed. It’s a special kind of poison.”
“Do you know what toxic herbs are used?”
“It’s not from herbs.”
“What? Then what is it from?”
“From birds.”
“Birds… with poison?”
“Exactly. The blood of birds that are fed various poisonous plants. The blood is then diluted and brewed into the tea.”
Everett’s eyes widened.
The baron, unaware of how explosive his words were, kept eating.
She had studied many poisons—but never imagined bird blood.
“A small amount numbs pain. But with repeated use, it causes addiction—and eventually hallucinations.”
“Can it kill?”
“Of course. It’s poison. The only question is—slowly or instantly.”
As Duke Varkard’s longtime confidant, he knew much indeed.
“Poisonous bird blood… I’d never have guessed.”
Feeling talkative, the baron continued without being prompted.
“The Varkard family originally came from healers, you know.”
“Healers?”
“Yes. Not from the capital—somewhere out east, a rural place. They were famous for their painkillers.”
Rural healers who could ease pain like magic.
One of them supposedly healed Emperor Ruber’s war wounds and was rewarded with a noble title.
“That healer’s medicine was made from those same birds’ blood.”
If the healer had truly been ennobled for his deeds, there should have been a record.
Everett had read every imperial history book—none mentioned such a thing.
Even so, if the story were true, Prince Kyle would certainly know.
Baron Akot didn’t seem to be lying—
but something about his tale didn’t add up.
