“If you can’t figure out what herb is used for the curse.”

“Yes?”

Istad stroked his mustache and coldly added.

“Use poison that will kill all the plants in the field. If all the herbs die, the apothecary will have to buy new ones, right? Then we just need to follow.”

Finally understanding, Finn grinned and bowed.

“I’ll be back soon.”

It was a much easier and simpler task than finding the herb.

❀❀❀

“So this is the place.”

Finn, who had found the cottage with a lamp, kept swallowing hard.

Except for the faint moonlight, it was so dark that ghosts might jump out at any moment.

Having received payment from his cunning master, he couldn’t back down.

Steeling himself, Finn examined the herbs and plants near the herb garden.

They were all common plants—marigold, chamomile, lemongrass, and other weeds. The planted herbs were not just ordinary but common.

‘Perhaps they’re grown inside the cottage.’

Tsk, who cares.

As Istad had said, killing them all would end the matter.

‘Let’s make this easy.’

Finn narrowed his eyes and took out a vial from his pocket.

It was a powerful acidic potion that could wither all plants in a short time.

Without hesitation, he reached for the cork stopper.

Rustle rustle.

A strange sound suddenly came from somewhere, and something brushed past his feet.

‘What was that?’

Finn’s entire body broke out in goosebumps. Just as he moved the lamp closer to his feet—

“……!”

He was too shocked to even scream. A snake with gleaming blue eyes opened its mouth as if about to bite him.

As Finn staggered backward convulsing with fear, someone suddenly appeared and seized his neck in one swift move.

Then they roughly covered his mouth to prevent any sound from escaping.

“Mmph……!”

Too terrified to scream, Finn could only let out a feeble m*an at the sharp pain at the back of his neck.

“Miss Cynthia is sleeping, so shut up.”

Hearing the familiar voice, his eyes widened to the size of saucers.

‘Why is the head maid here……’

Finn nodded, trembling violently.

“Why are you here when you’ve never set foot near this place during your stay at the grand ducal residence?”

“N-nothing at all. I-I was just taking a walk!”

“At this late hour? Then please explain the strong acidic smell coming from your vial.”

As Mila’s nails dug deep into Finn’s neck, warm liquid trickled down with unbearable pain.

“You won’t get a second chance.”

A cold voice flowed from Mila’s lips. Terrified, Finn finally wet his pants and confessed the truth.

“…B-Baron Solta ordered me to f-find out about the Grand Duke’s h-herbs… He said if I couldn’t find them, I should kill all the nearby plants.”

Grind. Mila gritted her teeth. Then, as if there was nothing more to hear, she struck Finn’s head.

Finn collapsed like a puppet with cut strings and lost consciousness.

Tampering with the herb garden would have triggered Kaisel’s magic circle.

If he had been caught in the magic circle Kaisel had set, Finn would have suffered unimaginable pain and died very slowly.

Though he was an inferior human, this mercy was granted out of some sentiment for his time at the ducal residence.

Mila left the unconscious man and stared at the black snake before her. This must be the snake Cynthia had mentioned.

‘Incredible.’

Mila felt paralyzed by the vivid fear she was experiencing for the first time in her life.

She couldn’t leave such a dangerous creature near Cynthia. Just as Mila raised her claws and lunged at the snake—

“……!”

Like an illusion, the snake’s form vanished.

‘Not an ordinary snake but a demonic beast?’

Mila frowned as she sniffed the air, trying to track the snake.

She wondered why she could sense her master’s magical power from that snake.

Unable to hide her surprise, Mila searched for the snake again but saw nothing.

❀❀❀

The next day.

After hearing about last night’s events from Mila, Cynthia headed to the kitchen, deep in thought.

“With Baron Solta’s return, his spies will also be active. He harbors resentment for losing his position as physician, so be careful.”

Cynthia had outwitted Istad by using powdered tea to conceal the bushclover.

But she hadn’t expected him to try killing all the plants.

If the herbs died, he clearly anticipated she would buy new ones and planned accordingly.

‘He’s tougher than I thought. I need to be careful.’

She continued with heavy steps, reviewing her plan once more to see if she had missed anything.

While passing through the corridor connected to the kitchen, a familiar voice called from behind.

“Where are you rushing off to?”

“Sir Cannon.”

Cynthia turned and greeted him cheerfully.

“Just call me Victor. We’re among the few people close to our lord, aren’t we?”

Victor shrugged, and Cynthia smiled brightly. She felt proud, somehow validated.

“I will, Victor.”

“Is the mansion chaotic with all the imperial palace people around?”

“A little. But the cottage remains the same as always.”

“I’m glad it’s quiet where you stay. Are you going to see our lord?”

“No.”

Cynthia considered telling Victor about Blackie.

Though it only appeared before her for now, as it became accustomed to people, it might roam around the mansion.

Even if it was an intelligent snake that understood human speech, it was still a frightening animal. She thought it proper to gradually seek permission from the mansion’s residents.

‘I can’t hide and conceal this forever.’

After Mila, Cynthia carefully broached the subject with Victor.

“Actually, I’ve started keeping a pet, so I was heading to the kitchen to get some food for it.”

“A pet……?”

“Yes. I’ve been keeping a snake lately.”

Victor’s expression subtly changed.

Setting aside the snake, he couldn’t understand how an animal could enter the grand ducal residence at all.

While Victor was lost in thought, Cynthia enthusiastically explained about the snake.

“I’ll make sure Blackie doesn’t go into the mansion.”

Blackie? Victor’s eyes widened.

“Ah, yes.”

“Well, I need to get food, so I’ll be going now.”

Victor blankly watched Cynthia’s retreating figure heading toward the kitchen, only turning away after a long while.

Knock knock.

After knocking, he opened the door to find Kaisel and Marquis Vyntert conversing.

When Victor bowed, Marquis Vyntert put down his teacup. He rose, covering his cough with a handkerchief.

“Since Baron Cannon has arrived, I’ll take my leave now. Perhaps it’s travel fatigue, but this cold just won’t go away. This is why one should die when they get old.”

Kaisel burst into laughter.

Others wouldn’t dare mention death in his presence for fear of their lives, but he appreciated the Marquis’s frankness.

“If needed, I’ll tell my apothecary. She’s quite skilled.”

“Grand Duke, that won’t be necessary. Hasn’t His Majesty already assigned a physician? Let’s leave it be, or who knows what consequences might follow if we don’t follow orders.”

Marquis Vyntert, looking displeased, delivered words with a bit of an edge.

Kaisel leaned back against the sofa with an awkward smile.

Though the Emperor was a good person to him, he often went overboard with matters concerning him, exhausting people.

After the Marquis left, Victor sat down, placing guild-related documents before him.

“You look like you have something to say.”

Kaisel moistened his lips with the still-warm tea, his voice monotone.

“My lord. How is your physical condition lately?”

“Why do you ask?”

Victor hesitated for a while before lowering his voice.

“……Is there perhaps some issue with your magical power?”

No sooner had Victor finished speaking than black magical power surged around Kaisel.

Unable to withstand the tremendous magical power, Victor raised both hands in surrender.

“It’s unlikely, but… Seeder isn’t visible to people, is he?”

Kaisel’s characteristic expression disappeared. He faced Victor with sharp eyes.

“Well. He’s always been willful.”

“……I mention this because Miss Cynthia says she’s keeping a snake as a pet.”

Kaisel tilted his head slightly. He recalled Mila also asking if he had sensed any animal presence.

Kaisel had one secret he kept even from Mila, except for Victor, who had been his page.

Members of the imperial family cursed by the dragon each possessed a familiar.

For some it was a wolf, for others an eagle, and in Kaisel’s case, it was a snake.

These familiars embodied their master’s strongest desires, making them extremely ferocious.

The black snake, Seeder, occasionally appeared when Kaisel went hunting demonic beasts.

Victor’s spine chilled whenever he recalled Kaisel slaughtering demonic beasts alongside Seeder.

Though he respected and followed his lord, at those times he felt a different dimension of fear that made his knees weak.

Imperial family members cursed by the dragon cast spells to hide their familiars’ appearances to conceal their ferocity.

In truth, Victor wouldn’t have cared if Cynthia kept a lion or a wolf.

But of all things, a snake?

Unable to shake off his unease, he had reported this to Kaisel.

“I’ve called him many times, but he doesn’t come to me. Seeder is as capricious as I am, doing as he pleases.”

It was dangerous for more people to learn about Kaisel’s secret.

Victor swallowed hard and carefully asked.

“Your Highness…… surely you won’t kill Miss Cynthia?”

Suddenly, the air in the reception room grew chilly.