Chapter 32 – The Seeds of Poison
Baron Kranos barely managed to suppress the sneer threatening to twist his face as he looked into Kaelan’s eyes, which he found annoyingly defiant and insolent.
Though anger simmered beneath the surface, he kept his expression composed for the sake of his plan. Instead, he offered words of comfort in a sympathetic tone, feigning concern.
He even expressed worry for Haldeir and Reyna, acting the part of a caring uncle—yet curiously, he didn’t mention Anna once.
“So, Kaelan,” he began in a concerned voice after playing his part. “The Duchess has collapsed. What are you planning to do now?”
Clearly satisfied that he’d said enough to appear compassionate, Kranos shifted toward the real reason for his visit.
But Kaelan wasn’t so easily fooled. He immediately recognized the baron’s transparent intentions—and intentionally avoided giving him the answer he wanted.
“For now, I plan to wait a little longer.”
Kranos slammed a hand on his knee in frustration, scolding Kaelan as if he were being foolish.
“Oh, come now. How long do you plan to wait? The Duchy must already be piling up with matters requiring attention.”
“Besides the servants and the doctors who’ve visited, no one else knows about her condition yet. Acting rashly could do more harm than good—”
“Doctors? Are you certain those doctors have been properly… silenced?”
“Of course, Uncle.”
Kaelan raised an eyebrow at the baron’s sudden interruption, then responded slowly, all while studying his uncle’s face for a reaction.
Kranos nodded thoughtfully, his expression unreadable. Then he forced a smile and said:
“If you ever need help, don’t hesitate to call on your uncle. It’s my duty to step up for family.”
“Thank you for your concern.”
“We’re family, after all. Don’t carry the burden alone—just come to me if things get tough.”
Kaelan picked up a teacup to mask the smirk threatening to curl his lips. He took a sip and frowned slightly. As expected, the tea wasn’t to his taste.
Kranos, who had been watching him eagerly, asked in a hopeful tone, “How is it? Better than coffee, isn’t it?”
“It’s fine.”
“Illang is good for fatigue. Make sure you drink it regularly.”
Pleased by Kaelan’s tepid approval, Kranos leaned back into the sofa, satisfied. He rested his back and fell into brief silence, rubbing his chin in thought.
He moved his lips as if debating something, then licked them once and finally met Kaelan’s eyes.
“If the Duchess remains in this state… then according to your father’s will, you and I will need to jointly manage the Duchy, don’t you think, Kaelan?”
Apparently tired of waiting for Kaelan to bring it up himself, the baron decided to cite the Duke’s will directly.
Kaelan, recognizing the man’s ploy for what it was, shook his head firmly and without hesitation.
“It’s too soon. She only just collapsed—and we don’t know when she might recover.”
“But it troubles me to leave the Duchy unattended like this…”
“Uncle, I believe the best course for now is to keep this matter private and hold out as long as we can. I’ve already received enough training from Father to manage paperwork on my own. There’s no need to worry.”
“Still, on your own—”
“If word spreads that the Duchess collapsed within months of being entrusted with power, and then you or I immediately take over as if we were waiting for the chance, there’ll be nothing but baseless rumors and scandal.”
“…True. That’s a fair point.”
Though Kranos reluctantly agreed, his expression betrayed his real feelings. With a sigh, he crossed his legs, clearly displeased with how things were unfolding.
Realizing he wasn’t getting anywhere, he abruptly changed the subject.
“Your tea will get cold. Drink it while it’s warm, Kaelan.”
“Yes, sir.”
As Kaelan raised the cup and took another sip, the baron’s eyes didn’t leave him for a second, watching his every movement intently.
It wasn’t until Kaelan finished the tea that the baron’s foul mood began to lift.
With a forced chuckle, he rubbed his belly and suggested they share a meal together.
“It’s been a while. Let’s eat with the children. They must’ve been anxious with no adults around since the Duchess collapsed.”
“Let’s.”
After the meal and a walk through the manor, Kranos finally took his leave.
During lunch, Haldeir and Reyna, who had been holding back until now, chattered excitedly, and even Anna occasionally chimed in with a smile. The children saw him off warmly, visibly disappointed by his departure.
Only Kaelan stood apart, watching the retreating carriage with an expression of cold detachment.
After returning to his room, Kaelan immediately sent a messenger raven to Troxi, vice-captain of the Blue Crows.
He instructed Troxi to investigate the matters outlined in the message and that he would visit at dawn.
As darkness fell, Kaelan prepared for a covert trip. When the hallways of the Duchy had gone silent and the servants’ footsteps could no longer be heard, he donned a robe Aran had prepared and headed to the study.
He pulled several books from the farthest bookshelf, pushed against the wall, and a hidden door creaked open.
Sweeping through the passageway, his robe trailing behind him, Kaelan made his way to the familiar underground hideout.
“You’re here, Kaelan,” Troxi greeted.
“Let’s get straight to the point. What did you find?”
Kaelan threw back his hood and took a seat. Troxi gathered a pile of documents and began to read.
“I traced Baron Kranos. Turns out he’s been purchasing something under a false name for quite some time—a fruit called Toret. It’s small and black. The seeds in particular react with Illang tea.”
“Toret?”
“When consumed with Illang tea, the seeds gradually build up poison in the body. The fruit itself is harmless—actually, it’s considered healthy, even used in beauty and wellness circles. But it’s rare, grows only in damp forest swamps, and it’s not popular on the market.”
Troxi flipped through the reports collected by the ravens.
Then he handed Kaelan a final page. As Kaelan read it, his brow furrowed deeply.
“The real danger lies in the seeds. They contain Tackrisan.”
“Tackrisan… that’s…”
“Yeah. A toxin that causes infertility—regardless of gender.”
“Hah…”
Kaelan let out a hollow laugh.
So that’s how badly the baron wanted the Duchy.
Even after marrying off his only daughter to secure wealth, it wasn’t enough. He tried to poison not just the Duchess, but also me, Anna, Haldeir, and Reyna.
He meant to erase the Duke’s bloodline entirely.
He must’ve assumed his own blood would take over the Duchy once that happened.
Know your place, you pathetic snake.
“Why did the Duchess collapse, then? Infertility alone wouldn’t have done it.”
“That’s due to the Illang. While Illang warms the womb, the Toret seeds cool it. The conflicting effects accumulate into toxicity, which also speeds up infertility.”
“What happens if the Illang is served cold?”
“It doesn’t react. Illang contains Pheton, which neutralizes Tackrisan when heated. But when served cold, Pheton becomes active again and stops that neutralization.”
Kaelan recalled how the baron had insisted on drinking his Illang tea cold, claiming it was too hot in the estate.
And yet, he served it warm to me—to poison me.
Fury surged. Kaelan crumpled the paper and slammed it to the floor.
The page showed dense text—and a sketch of a middle-aged man.
“That man in the drawing? He’s Kranos’s agent. He handled the bulk orders of Illang and secretly added the Toret seed powder to your food.”
“But no poison was found during our previous inspections. Why?”
“Unless a large quantity is used, it’s nearly undetectable. Small amounts don’t cause immediate harm—but when consumed over time, like the Duchess did, it builds up. One day’s portion wouldn’t register as toxic.”
“When did it start?”
“We’re still tracking it down. Based on the Duchess’s condition, it’s likely somewhere between two and four months ago.”
“So right after Father went missing.”
It was only then that Kranos revealed his true colors.
[Even those closest to you must be watched, Kaelan.]
[And don’t keep Bella too far away—at least until you come of age.]
[It’s the only way you’ll stay safe.]
Father… even with her by our side, we were never truly safe.
But now, because she collapsed, we’ve uncovered just how deep his schemes went.
“Troxi.”
“Yeah?”
“Prepare three Crows. No assignments. I want them in place before the rat takes the bait.”
“Got it.”
“Report back within the hour. I’ll tell you where to station them once you’re ready.”
“Understood.”
Kaelan turned to leave but paused, glancing back.
“What about her condition?”
Troxi, who had been relieved to see him leave, tensed again and clenched his fists behind his back.
“There’s… still nothing.”
Kaelan stared at him for a moment, then silently exited.
Once he was gone, Troxi collapsed over his desk and groaned in exhaustion.
Knock knock—
Creak—
“Vice-Captain?”
“…”
“Kaelan’s gone, right? Did you get scolded again today?”
“Sure looks like it,”
Croco and Mylon entered, whispering.
“He wasn’t even here that long today. What could’ve gone wrong?”
“Who knows? But I’ve never seen the vice-captain smile after Kaelan’s visits.”
Troxi ignored them and groaned again.
“Croco, Mylon. Get me three off-duty Crows.”
“Huh? The ones outside on break?”
“I’m free too, Vice-Captain.”
Troxi weakly waved his hand.
“Not you. I want Crows with no assignments for the foreseeable future.”
“They’re probably back at the dorms or their homes.”
“Then call them in. Tell them there’s a bonus. It’s field work.”
“For how long?”
At Mylon’s question, Troxi sighed and murmured:
“…Indefinitely.”
“What? What’s that even mean?”
“Until Kaelan says stop.”
The two let out a collective groan of sympathy.
Whoever they were… at least they’d be getting a bonus.
Better not complain.
