CHAPTER THREE.

The Duchess of Cardius’s Death

With the change of the butler and the housekeeper, there was a slight change in the dining table as well. While they used to strictly serve a meat-based diet, recently, there were more dishes with vegetables and fish. It was considered to cater to Iren’s taste.

In front of Iren lay a deliciously grilled salmon steak. It looked appetizing on the outside, and the smell was exquisite. Iren took a small piece of the salmon into her mouth.

“…… Ugh!”

Lahart, who had absentmindedly picked up his knife, immediately raised his head. Before he could ask what was wrong, Iren blocked her mouth and left the dining room. Jane hurriedly followed her.

“Ugh, haa, haa…”

“It doesn’t seem like you’re getting better since last night. Shouldn’t you see a doctor?”

Jane patted Iren’s back. It’s been quiet for a while, but she began retching again last night. Despite not eating or vomiting, her stomach continued to feel queasy.

It had been quite a while since she had taken the poison and the antidote, so why was this happening suddenly? Could it be a delayed side effect?

Iren suddenly felt afraid. The higher the expectations, the greater the disappointment. Unconsciously, she had placed great expectations on the newly made antidote.

She had a foreboding feeling that if this failed, she would never be able to rise again.

Lahart’s deadline was approaching, and her body and mind were in shambles.

To be precise, what Iren feared was not failure but giving up. Giving up on the antidote was the same as giving up on Lahart.

“Shall I get you some water?”

“… No. Water won’t help at times like this. Now that I’ve calmed down, let’s go back to the dining room. The Duke…”

Iren didn’t finish her sentence.

Would Lahart really wait for me? Me, who blocked my mouth and ran out during dinner? That’s unlikely.

Supported by Jane, Iren returned to the dining room feeling a little surprised. She had a slight hope, but Lahart was still sitting there.

He opened his eyes as he leaned his head and back against the chair. Iren bowed her head.

“I’m sorry…”

Without listening to Iren’s words, Lahart stood up. There was no trace of him touching the meal prepared for him. Iren took a step towards him.

“Would you like to eat a little? If it doesn’t suit your taste, we can prepare another dish…”

“My appetite has been ruined because of you.”

“…I’m sorry.”

“Cancel all today’s appointments and go back to your room. Send for a doctor.”

“No, please don’t. It will also disrupt the Duke’s work. I’ll feel better after a good afternoon’s rest.”

“You fainted last night too. Are you trying to starve yourself to death?”

The cold voice pierced her heart like an arrow. Iren swallowed her breath and clasped her hands together.

Before she knew it, Lahart had come up to her and tapped her lips with his index finger.

“Do as you wish. It’s like forcing something into your mouth, whether it’s medicine or soup. It’s not that difficult.”

Lahart, who lightly brushed Iren’s slender wrist, smirked and passed by her. As he moved silently, erasing his presence, he was the reigning lion in this place.

Iren was nothing more than a powerless prey or a plaything to be shaken as he pleased. That’s why, even in a situation where many people were watching, he could say such things without hesitation.

“Please go to your room, madam. Is that alright?”

“……Okay.”

Jane comforted Iren, who was hurt by Lahart. Iren, relying on Jane, left the dining room.

* * *

Iren did not immediately return to her room. Instead, she visited the laboratory. As Jane descended the stairs, she did not stop talking.

“Are you going to make medicine? Get examined first and then come back. I’m not questioning your abilities, madam.”

“I have something I want to check, so I’ll be gone for a moment.”

“You’re lying, aren’t you? You always say that and try to solve things on your own. Even the stern Duke is worried about you because your complexion is so bad.”

“The Duke is not worried about me.”

“What? He said he’d send for a doctor and told the madam to rest. Does that mean that he worries about you?”

Iren just nodded her head. The reason Lahart was concerned about her health was simple. His revenge was not over, nothing more, nothing less.

If the target died before he could finish his revenge… he would have nowhere to vent his anger.

“People who worry about sick people don’t speak like that.”

Jane couldn’t find words to say and fell silent.

After asking Jane to wait outside the laboratory, Iren went inside.

‘Silvercourse and delle flowers, and verang fruits… Thank goodness. They’re all here.’

Iren urgently searched for ingredients in the herb room and put them in a bowl. After mixing them finely, a lemon-colored fine powder was completed. She divided the powder into teaspoons and placed them neatly on a clean piece of paper. Then she took out a dagger from deep in the drawer, a dagger mainly used to peel off bark.

‘It shouldn’t be. It mustn’t be. It’s just my speculation and delusion.’

Her hands trembled with tension. But she had no time to hesitate. She had to return to her room before Lahart sent for the doctor.

Iren took a deep breath and pricked her finger with the tip of the dagger. She waited silently for the blood droplets to fall onto the powder. The blood quickly absorbed into the powder.

After what felt like a long minute, Iren hurriedly covered her mouth with her hand. But she couldn’t stop the sobbing that burst out between her fingers.

“How… how…!”

* * *

Jane looked at Iren sitting on the bed with concern.

Iren stared at the floor with unfocused eyes. Her body was physically present here, but her mind seemed elsewhere. She just seemed to have left her gaze on the floor without anywhere else to focus.

Since coming up from the laboratory to the bedroom, she had been in such a state all along. Jane was so worried about Iren that it felt like her heart would burst.

‘Could it be that even the madam has reached her limit? If something were to happen to madam at this rate…’

It was entirely possible. No matter how sincerely she served the lady, she was ultimately just a maid.

With her family and even distant relatives executed, Iren had no one to rely on except her husband. However, that husband, as a human, had consistently tormented Iren for five years with his words and cold attitude.

Each time Lahart poured out harsh words to Iren, even she, who watched silently, felt wounded. It goes without saying that the person directly involved would be even more affected. Her once steadfast and resilient heart must have turned into a wilted flower.

“I should lie down. My head hurts.”

“Ah, yes. You should lie down. Please rest.”

Jane gently helped Iren lie down. But Iren’s body felt warmer than usual. When Jane touched her forehead, to her surprise, Iren had a fever. Jane’s concern deepened.

“It seems you have a fever and a headache. This won’t do. We need to call for the doctor…”

“No.”

Iren grabbed Jane’s arm. Her hand was strangely gnarled and skinny, her skin so devoid of blood that the blue veins showed through. The fact that Iren was fading away deeply struck Jane.

“I don’t want to be alone today. Will you stay by my side?”

“Yes, madam… I won’t leave your side for a moment. I… I…”

“Why are you crying? You don’t want to be alone when you’re in pain.”

Jane burst into tears. Iren gently comforted Jane’s hand. The brave Jane soon wiped away her tears and covered Iren with a blanket.

After a while, the doctor entered. An unexpected figure accompanied him. She could feel his imposing presence even with her eyes closed. Iren raised her eyelids.

Soon, an unfamiliar expression crossed her face.

“…Duke.”

“You’re lying quietly today. I was about to drag you here if you weren’t.”

“……”

“Let’s begin.”

“Yes. Excuse me, madam.”

The doctor examined Iren with the tools he brought in his bag. While following the doctor’s instructions, Iren couldn’t hide her discomfort. It was due to Lahart’s piercing gaze that persisted throughout the examination.

He stared at Iren alone, standing by the bedside. His gaze was icy cold yet burning hot, piercing her skin painfully.

You seem like a person made of frozen anger and hatred, with an ice-cold heart that will never break or melt.

After carefully examining Iren, the doctor tidied up his examination tools and asked a question.

“I heard you haven’t been eating properly. Can you not eat anything at all?”

“I can eat foods with mild flavors. Fruit juices are also okay.”

“Have you recently consumed something you wouldn’t normally eat? Please tell me, even if it’s something minor.”

“I brewed some herbs and drank them. I’ll list them for you.”

The doctor read the note provided by Iren and fell into thought. After stroking his chin for a while, he cautiously spoke up.

“In my limited opinion, the nausea seems to be a side effect of the combination of various herbs. You haven’t been consuming food properly, leading to a significant loss of strength and vitality. You also have a fever.”

“Fever?”

Lahart, who had been quiet all this time, asked. Without waiting for a response, he reached out his hand decisively. His hand was warm, but Iren’s forehead was even hotter.

Frowning at the distinct heat he felt, Lahart asked,

“There were no issues until morning. Why did her fever suddenly rise?”

“The reasons for a fever can be diverse, so it’s difficult to pinpoint one. It could be that the poison in the madam’s system has taken effect, or it could simply be that it’s the season and she’s caught a cold.”

“Can vomiting occur with a cold?”

“Cold symptoms vary from person to person. Due to the fever, the madam may experience dizziness, which could lead to symptoms of nausea.”

At that moment, Iren covered her mouth with her sleeve and coughed dryly. Her thin shoulders were only covered by a thin layer of dress outside the blanket.

Seeing Iren’s frail shoulders, Lahart directed an irritated look towards Jane.

“You didn’t know that your mistress is sensitive to the cold?”

“It’s not Jane’s fault. This is the dress I chose.”

“Providing advice on your mistress’s wrong choices is also part of your duties.”

His once calm voice now made her insides tremble again. It was clear that siding with Jane further would only have negative consequences.

Iren clenched her lips tightly.

“How long will you stand there foolishly?”

“I’m sorry! I’ll bring a shawl or a robe!”