“That must be it. The Imperial Princess is sensitive to the flow of magical power.”

Patricia took a rose from the vase placed in the middle of the table. The flower with its thorns neatly removed was held docilely in her hand. The gesture of slowly stroking the pink petals was the epitome of elegance.

“It’s not pleasant to see the Tower Master acting like the Imperial Princess’s subordinate.”

“I don’t know how she persuaded him. He’s not an old man who would comply so easily.”

Livius clicked his tongue.

Patricia inhaled the rose’s fragrance while holding a gentle smile.

“Actually, that person himself isn’t very threatening.”

“Yes, ordinary mages don’t use magic that affects people.”

That was an ability permitted only to the five ducal houses who inherited the Dragon’s Strength, and witches who secretly used dark arts coveted that power.

“But at his age, he responds very keenly to magical power. Once he’s noticed, it’s impossible to escape Gallard’s eyes. At this rate, being discovered is just a matter of time.”

Livius clutched his head as if it hurt.

House Limnike was secretly continuing experiments to strengthen the Dragon’s Strength. With their family tradition of revering powerful strength, they had been greatly stimulated by Rashid Penvernon’s appearance.

Livius was willing to do anything to revive such powerful ancient strength. Whether it meant reviving a long-forbidden magic or extracting and transferring magical power from other human bodies, anything was fine as long as he could accomplish his will.

Some ordinary humans were sacrificed to find ways to strengthen power, but no one in House Limnike hesitated at this.

They, who pursued noble power, thought it was the worthwhile use of insignificant humans to be used as test subjects. Wouldn’t it rather be an honor for them to become the soil for reviving great power?

“We must stop him.”

Patricia raised her nail and tore the flower from the rose’s stem. The rose with its head helplessly broken fell limply from her hand.

“Would that be possible?”

“What about using magic?”

Derek, who had been lingering behind, cut in. He was the Duke’s son and Patricia’s older brother.

“How?”

“Our family has many excellent mages. Though not as good as Aunt Natalie, they should be able to kill an Imperial Princess.”

“No. Other dukes will notice if we use magic. The same goes for the magic tower.”

Livius frowned and shook his head.

“Of course, brother’s opinion is excellent. But since she’s the Emperor’s direct descendant, her dominion won’t be weak.”

Patricia gently encouraged Derek. And she thought:

‘How stupid.’

Patricia lowered her gaze while crushing flower petals in her hand. She felt like throwing up if she had to look at that dull face any longer. Despite being the heir of Limnike, he was so lacking that he would voice thoughts that anyone could figure out with minimal thinking.

He wasn’t strong in magic, wasn’t intelligent, and had terrible character—he was guaranteed the duke position solely for being Father’s firstborn son.

‘Not knowing his place, how dare he.’

Patricia hated those who didn’t know their place. Those who don’t know their innate limitations and thus ruin situations. Obstacles that interfere with the natural flow of water deserve to be removed.

‘Yes, just like that man did.’

The incident where Rashid Penvernon killed his inferior older brother and took the family head position was a great inspiration to Patricia. She felt that man would understand and support her position.

Therefore, Patricia tried hard to get close to Alisa. She considered the possibility that he might cooperate with her not for his wife’s sake, but for the name of Duchess Penvernon.

‘Though it has become a failed plan now.’

She wanted to make Alisa completely under her control. She planned to charm her with kindness while subtly pressuring her to follow her words, but perhaps she pressed too hard and that one ran away. Though angry about losing the fish, there was nothing she could do about it now.

“Listen, Father. Why don’t we use poison discreetly?”

Patricia maintained her elegant demeanor while making a suggestion.

“That’s easy to say, but actually quite difficult. Do you have a method?”

The imperial palace was the most heavily guarded place in the empire. Naturally, their poison prevention measures were also thorough, making it hard to find any gaps.

“Actually, I recently received some interesting experimental results.”

Livius leaned in to listen. Patricia enjoyed his attention as she placed the flower stem on the table. The rose, separated from its head, lay limp and lifeless.

“As many know, the steel flower plant has hemostatic effects. When you boil its roots with cinnamon, it produces a juice that has an even stronger blood-clotting effect. It’s a method very few people know about.”

Patricia continued speaking softly.

“And dried moon apples are ordinary snacks, but when dried in sunlight for a long time and eaten, they slow down the body’s flow. Of course, eating just that alone doesn’t have much effect.”

Her gaze was fixed solely on Livius. For this moment, Patricia had spent many days searching through old books, collecting folk remedies, and visiting auction houses day and night.

“But when eaten together, the effects become frighteningly amplified, causing blood to clot and leading to a slow death.”

At Patricia’s words, Livius’s eyes widened. His pupils trembled slightly.

“You plan to feed this to the Imperial Princess?”

“Yes. Though this isn’t all. We need to be thorough.”

“Then what else do you have in mind?”

“The poison of glass puffer fish causes mild stomach pain and fever, which makes blood circulation faster. Do you know what happens when this poison is mixed with the two things I mentioned earlier? They say the effects counteract each other. Due to this conflict, the poison doesn’t work for a while. It’s like the poisons are fighting inside the body.”

Patricia revealed the scheme she had devised herself. Pleased that her father was fully focused on her words, her speech became even more eloquent.

“Then when one force weakens, that’s when the poison takes effect. When we tested it on a woman similar in age and build to the Imperial Princess, she showed symptoms and died a week after consuming it.”

“You conducted such an experiment?”

“I suggested it. I thought it might be needed someday. The magical tool I obtained at the last auction was very helpful in the experiment.”

“Well done.”

At Livius’s praise, Patricia briefly showed modesty, saying it was what she ought to do, and smiled shyly. To Livius, she appeared as both an intelligent lady and an excellent daughter. That was exactly what Patricia wanted.

Seeing this, Derek quickly expressed his opinion.

“But is it okay to kill the Imperial Princess? She’s not just anyone… it’s too dangerous.”

“There’s nothing good about keeping her alive. Why do you think the Imperial Princess isn’t moving right now?”

“Because she lacks evidence.”

Livius answered instead of Derek.

“To go against a ducal family, she needs solid proof, which she apparently doesn’t have.”

“With just ‘the flow of magic is strange,’ it’s difficult to raise issues. As you say, even the House of Penvernon’s magic flow isn’t normal, so we could just say the same thing, couldn’t we? If someone says ‘they’re getting stronger like Duke Penvernon’, there’s nothing to say about that.”

The existence of Rashid Penvernon was a good excuse. That man was like the incarnation of fire, carrying that hot flame inside him. It was his abnormal magic that was the problem. If it weren’t for that, her father wouldn’t have become so obsessed.

Whatever the case, Livius was the king of gladiolus. If that was his intention, she naturally had to follow. It was her first step toward bringing change to this family.

“If the Emperor or Crown Prince had known, they would have already taken action, but seeing there’s no word yet, it means the Imperial Princess hasn’t said anything.”

“She’ll be careful for now, but once she gets even one clue, she won’t hesitate.”

“Yes. Given how sensitive the Imperial Princess is, it’s better to remove her as soon as possible. If you continue with the plans in the future, she’ll be an obstacle at every turn.”

At the word ‘plans,’ Livius’s eyes shone brightly. The face of someone who had made a grave decision looked solemn.

“Then should we hold a tea party? She needs to come out for us to do anything.”

Patricia shook her head at Derek’s words.

“She’s already started to be suspicious, so she won’t come even if invited.”

How dull this man is to be the next Duke of Limnike, to be going through all this trouble for his magic. It was frustrating and infuriating.

“Unless it’s a major event like a coming-of-age ceremony, she’ll surely decline a small tea party.”

“Then what should we do?”

“The Imperial Princess has been close with the Duchess of Penvernon lately. So if she invites her, she’ll accept.”

“You’re planning to do this at the Penvernon mansion? Think you can avoid that demon’s eyes?”

Derek clicked his tongue in disgust. His words revealed his attitude toward Rashid. To a man filled with jealousy and fear, the duke who strongly inherited the dragon’s power becomes a demon.

‘Perhaps he’s projecting himself onto that older brother.’

Speaking of the powerless and useless firstborn who eventually died.

A moment of silence fell in the inner chamber. They were all reminiscing about the same moment.

At the last banquet held by the Crown Prince, the power Rashid showed was truly spine-chilling. It was an overwhelming force that would make anyone who could sense magic tremble.

Patricia secretly despised the noblewomen from other families who remained composed, knowing nothing. How useless are those who can’t even sense magic.

Thinking that this tremendous magical power must have further provoked her father, she looked at Livius rather than Derek.