Chapter 11. Verifying Before Detoxification

A crow-tit.

It’s cute. So you might want to put it in your pocket and keep taking it out to look at it.

Even David’s seven-year-old daughter sometimes screams and cries that she wants to raise a kitten when she sees one.

She stares at it, entranced by its cuteness, not even glancing at her father David when he comes home.

Hmm…

Come to think of it, Theo’s behavior seemed similar to his seven-year-old daughter.

His nicknames were War Demon. Murderer.

He who remained unmoved even when beheading people, who refused any treatment attempts, suddenly finds a crow-tit cute?

He called David because it’s a big deal that the crow-tit is too cute?

David calmly organized what Theo was saying. And he came to a conclusion.

Whatever it was, it was a big change for Theo.

Theo, who had been indifferent to everything, was for the first time sensing an emotional fluctuation.

It was clearly a positive sign that he judged himself to be in danger, thinking he was under a spell for finding a crow-tit cute.

“Yes. Indeed. You might be under a spell.”

“Right?”

Theo nodded quickly at David’s affirmation.

The only one furrowing his brow at David’s words was Ulysse, who had been listening to their conversation.

David deliberately ignored Ulysse’s sharp gaze and took out an antidote from his examination bag.

“A spell is ultimately similar to using magical power. Taking an antidote that expels foreign holy power from the body will help.”

“Really?”

Theo took the antidote David handed him. It was a clear liquid in a small glass bottle.

“However, as you know, the antidote is poisonous. You might vomit blood or be sick for a few days.”

“I know. I’ve taken it before.”

Theo had once been cursed with holy power mixed in during a war.

At that time, he had vomited black blood for days to expel the holy power from his body.

The antidote was severe enough to drain all the strength from the body.

“So it would be better to make sure.”

“Make sure?”

“Yes. Show the crow-tit to other people too. They might also fall under the crow-tit’s spell.”

Theo was intrigued.

If Yuelina were to cast spells on other people too, if Theo were to witness that scene, there couldn’t be a more certain method.

“Before taking the antidote, check once more.”

“David.”

Theo called David’s name.

David looked at him, straightening his back.

“Yes, Your Highness the Grand Duke.”

“For the first time, you’re suggesting a decent treatment.”

He showed a satisfied smile.

* * *

David and Ulysse came out of Theo’s study together.

Ulysse glanced at David with an unfriendly look.

“Do you really believe His Highness the Grand Duke is under a spell?”

“Of course not.”

“Then why?”

“You’ve seen the crow-tit too, haven’t you, Secretary Ulysse?”

At David’s question, Ulysse nodded with a bewildered face.

“But you’re not under a spell, right? Of course, it’s a crow-tit that knows how to cast spells, but it might not have cast spells on other people.”

Even with a little thought, David’s suggestion to Theo had many flaws.

Even if the crow-tit was shown to other people, it would be useless if the crow-tit didn’t cast a spell, as just mentioned.

Of course, David didn’t think that an insignificant crow-tit could cast spells. He thought there wasn’t even a sliver of possibility.

The same was true for Ulysse.

It was a serious misunderstanding for his lord to say that Yuelina was casting spells.

If she had such an ability, Delkan would have written at least a line about it in the letters sent to the Empire.

Just in case, according to what Ulysse had found out, being a ‘saintess’ didn’t mean having any special ability to cast spells or the like.

Moreover, Yuelina didn’t even know she was a sacrifice, and she came from a humble island country not even on the map.

She was just beginning to learn how magic stones are used.

“Then why did you tell him to show the Grand Du… no, the crow-tit to other people?”

“Because His Highness needs to realize.”

“Realize?”

“Yes. Finding the crow-tit cute is only natural. When he sees other people finding the crow-tit cute, he’ll realize something.”

David had a confident look on his face.

Everyone will praise the crow-tit for being cute. Especially since it’s a crow-tit raised by the Grand Duke, they have to praise it.

If Theo sees everyone unanimously saying it’s cute, he’ll realize.

That he’s not under a spell, but just finding the crow-tit cute like everyone else.

What crow-tit uses spells to receive affection?

It’s just cute-looking.

It’s cute because it looks cute.

When the moment of realization comes, won’t a small spring breeze blow into Theo’s previously unfeeling heart?

For David, it was an important moment where light was finally entering Theo’s treatment, which had shown no progress.

On the other hand, Ulysse was lost in thought.

Will his lord really act as David thinks?

If it were a crow-tit, it could be possible.

But it’s the Grand Duchess.

Everyone finding the Grand Duchess cute?

Will Theo just stand by and watch such a scene?

Ulysse became increasingly anxious.

* * *

Yuelina followed Ulysse into the mansion.

On the first-floor table, there was a hot teapot maintained by magic stones.

She naturally hugged the teapot. Despite being hot, it was insufficient to warm Yuelina’s cold body.

Even after a week, Yuelina was still unfamiliar with the cold of the principality.

Ulysse looked at Yuelina and opened a drawer. He handed her velvet gloves.

“Take these. The road will be cold.”

“I’m fine.”

“The hunting ground is colder than here. It’s better to be well-equipped.”

Ulysse urged Yuelina again. Yuelina reluctantly took the gloves and put them on.

“His Highness the Grand Duke goes hunting with the nobles of the principality once a month. Before the hunt, they sometimes drink milk tea and talk in the cabin.”

“I see.”

“Since this is the first hunt held after Your Highness the Grand Duchess arrived, he said it would be good to at least give a brief greeting to the nobles.”

Yuelina’s body was stiff.

She was just starting to get used to the Black Mansion.

But the hunting ground was new, so she was quite nervous. Not to mention, meeting other nobles.

In Yuelina’s hometown, people weren’t divided by class. But in the principality, nobles were said to be in a very high position.

Would they dislike her, who was no different from a commoner in the principality?

She didn’t yet know much about noble etiquette.

Yuelina was worried that Theo might get into trouble because of her.

“Shall we go then?”

Yuelina followed Ulysse towards the hunting ground, which was quite far from the mansion.

The hunting ground was near the riverside that flowed along the Phaenyx territory.

Just across the river was the hunting ground frequently visited by the nobles.

The path was steep and rough, but that’s why it was a great entertainment in the monotonous life in Phaenyx.

“It’s over there.”

Along the riverside where the sunlight sparkled, a small cabin came into view.

It was used as a rest area for nobles during hunts, and as Theo’s villa when there was no hunt.

Yuelina stopped in her tracks for a moment to look at the wide river.

It was a beautiful scene where the river stream finely fragmented the strong sunlight.

“The river hasn’t frozen yet. Next month, it will be completely frozen solid. Then you’ll be able to skate on the river too.”

“What’s skating?”

“I’ll buy you one as a gift later. For some reason, I think Your Highness the Grand Duchess will like it.”

Apart from getting used to the Phaenyx territory, the Phaenyx Principality was full of unknowns for Yuelina.

Fur hats, cloaks, and the breath that rises in the mouth whenever it’s cold were always new and surprising to her.

“Let’s go in.”

Ulysse, who had reached the front of the cabin, opened the door and gestured to Yuelina. They entered together.

Unlike the exterior, the interior was filled with a warm atmosphere.

It was also strangely very quiet.

“Wow…”

“She’s truly beautiful!”

“I couldn’t believe it when I just heard about it, but she’s really mysterious.”

“Our Grand Duke is fortunate. He’s taken such a lovely Grand Duchess as his wife!”

But the quiet atmosphere was easily broken. As if it had never been quiet, sudden loud voices overlapped.

It was because the men sitting on the velvet sofas on the first floor burst into admiration upon seeing Yuelina.

Yuelina, startled by the sudden outpouring of heated gazes, hunched her shoulders.

She looked so frightened that even Ulysse standing beside her noticed.

“Mind your manners. This is Her Highness the Grand Duchess.”

Ulysse spoke firmly, blocking in front of Yuelina.

Only then did the men’s cheers begin to subside.

Yuelina looked around.

However, Theo was nowhere to be seen.