Chapter 4 (Part 4)

The seafood, the main ingredient of the banquet, was fresh without any fishy smell and had a chewy texture, and the harmony with the sauce was excellent. The meals she had in her room recently felt decent, but they were nothing compared to the banquet dishes.

It was on a completely different level from the meals she had been served while staying alone at the Duke’s residence a month ago.

Tenus, unlike before, watched Sellakia as she diligently moved her hands and mouth, while he played with his wine glass. The wine in the crystal glass swirled merrily as if dancing to his gestures.

However, Sellakia’s mood, having tasted such heavenly food, did not last long.

Following that came lobster soup, octopus ceviche, fresh salad with vinaigrette sauce, capellini with grilled salmon, and lamb steak.

The amount of food, enough to be eaten over two days, kept coming out in succession. She wanted to put down her cutlery, but Tenus’s sharp gaze prevented her from doing so.

Sellakia had to struggle to empty her plates. Even this petty man attentively noticed the single piece of grilled onion she had discreetly pushed aside.

Because the attentive servants, conscious of Tenus, didn’t clear the plates, Sellakia had no choice but to clean her plate thoroughly.

“Now we will serve dessert.”

“More…?”

She had worried about poison, but she hadn’t expected a simplistic plan to burst her stomach to death. And that too, by Tenus.

Sellakia’s expression, desperately wishing for the banquet to end, resembled someone standing at the crossroads of life and death.

Her stomach was so full that even breathing was difficult. It felt like her throat was filled with food. Sellakia, managing her irregular breathing, glared at Tenus resentfully.

Tenus turned his head, pretending to drink wine, avoiding her gaze, but Sellakia could see the slight upward curve of his lips.

“Ahem. Sellakia. How have you been feeling lately?”

She was startled by the sudden voice. Aldrich, sitting opposite her, felt strangely unfamiliar again.

How could she have forgotten the enemy’s presence and focused solely on the food?

Sellakia couldn’t believe her own complacency.

“Even if you’re not feeling well, you should at least try the dessert. It would be a shame to waste what the chef has prepared with such care.”

Aldrich hurriedly urged the servants.

“What are you doing not bringing out the dessert quickly!”

“S-Sorry. We’ll bring it right away.”

As the servants moved swiftly, Aldrich’s expression relaxed noticeably.

“So, Sellakia. Do you still not remember?”

“Yes… I’m just causing you unnecessary worry.”

Sellakia pretended to be regretful, bowing her head slightly as she subtly observed Aldrich’s demeanor. Aldrich, perhaps wanting to hide his twitching lips, raised his hand but carelessly dropped his knife.

“Oh dear.”

He merely smiled awkwardly as if it was a mistake, without bending to pick it up. The knife was retrieved by the nearest servant.

The loud clatter of metal hitting the marble floor was brief. However, the faint echo lingered in Sellakia’s mind like a warning bell.

Sellakia, who had been somewhat relaxed, straightened her back and tensed her body.

“We will clear the plates and serve the dessert.”

As before, three attendants skillfully brought out the dessert plates. Sellakia exchanged a brief glance and smile with Nancy, who placed the plate in front of her.

Seeing Nancy smiling as always, some inexplicable tension eased a bit. Nancy finished her task and stood energetically in front of the wall where the attendants were gathered once more.

A new dish was placed in front of Aldrich as well. The dish for Tenus, which was usually changed first, was the last this time.

The maid serving Tenus approached slowly from afar. It was when she reached the end of the long dining table.

Crash!

The dish the maid was holding fell to the floor. The sound of the dish shattering filled the silent dining hall.

Thud, the maid who dropped the dish soon collapsed onto the floor.

“I-I’m sorry. I just….”

With tearful eyes, the maid looked only at Sellakia and spoke.

“M-Madam. I can’t do this. Please spare my life!”

At the maid’s desperate voice, not only Tenus and Aldrich but also all the attendants lined up against the wall looked at Sellakia.

“To serve poisoned food to the Duke, madam. Sniff. I just can’t, I just can’t…”

The maid trembled pitifully. Her loud sobs sounded like crashing waves.

Such a trap as this.

This was truly an unexpected setup.

Sellakia instinctively restrained herself from looking at Aldrich. She had to be careful not to reveal her suspicions about him.

She had anticipated some level of trouble, but the cunning method was more startling than expected. Even if she had been on guard, she couldn’t have prepared for a sudden accusation of poisoning, and she was disappointed in herself for being so complacent throughout the banquet.

She couldn’t forgive herself, and the ensuing helplessness and sense of defeat overwhelmed her.

“I didn’t, I never gave such an order….”

Her hand clutching the hem of her skirt under the table was damp.

The gaze of others directed at her felt like it was choking her. The murmuring noise pierced her ears and scrambled her mind. It was as if she were left alone in the world, just like when she had been thrown into the sea and awakened.

Sellakia’s eyes, wandering aimlessly in mild panic, landed on Tenus as if by inertia. Like everyone else present, Tenus was also looking at her.

“….”

Dark and deep, like an unfathomable abyss, his navy-blue eyes.

His eyes, devoid of any warmth as if deliberately excluded, felt cold enough to chill her to the bone.

As always.

In an instant, it was as if cold water had been poured over her, and she snapped back to her senses. Her blocked breath was released, as if she had been pulled from the deep sea resembling his eyes.

The usual gaze of Tenus.

There was no sign of suspicion toward Sellakia in his eyes. Rather, it seemed as if he was prompting her.

‘Even now?’

Even now, do you want to cover up Aldrich’s misdeeds?

The silent question was conveyed through his subdued gaze. He, too, must have realized that the current situation was Aldrich’s doing.

If she just nodded slightly here, Tenus would likely take her side. Perhaps, as he had mentioned before, he might even cut off Aldrich’s head.

“….”

Sellakia firmly shut her trembling lips. Grisly visions of blood splattering unfolded in her mind. Strangely, her tumultuous heart regained calm.

It’s different from when she had no one on her side.

With that thought, confidence surged as if she held a powerful weapon in her hand. Blood circulated through her cold body, and her chaotic mind settled.

“Please spare me, Madam. Please… please spare me.”

The maid pleaded, crawling on her knees to Sellakia’s feet. Sellakia took a deep breath before slowly speaking.

“Are you saying that I ordered you to poison the Duke’s food?”

Her voice no longer trembled as before. Her calm tone starkly contrasted with the maid’s tear-streaked plea.

“Madam, you gave me the poison, didn’t you? You said you took my family hostage. But still, I just couldn’t do it!”

“That’s strange. When did I ever give you a poison I’ve never even seen?”

“L-Last evening….”

“Tell me the exact time.”

At the cold retort, the maid’s eyes wavered uncontrollably like a small boat in a storm.

No matter how she looked at her, the maid was unfamiliar. Like Nancy, she seemed to be a maid hired while Sellakia was not at the mansion.

“Not long after dinner… you sent me a letter and the poison. You left it on my bed in the dormitory.”

“How would I know you?”

“T-That….”

The maid, unable to answer immediately, suddenly continued speaking urgently.

“I can prove it. That Madam ordered me to do this!”

The maid took something out of her pocket. It was a brooch with a large ruby. It was an expensive item that a servant’s salary couldn’t afford.

Sellakia stared blankly at it. She couldn’t understand the significance of the item, brought out solemnly as if it were decisive evidence.

Just as she was about to ask what it was, Tenus, who had remained silent, spoke first.

“It’s from Laura’s boutique.”

The maid, who was flustered by Sellakia’s indifferent gaze, nodded vigorously with her tear-streaked face.

“Yes! Madam, you gave it to me, right? You said you’d give me better jewels if I succeeded.”

Sellakia then realized it was one of the items Tenus had given her in abundance. She hadn’t even bothered to look at it, let alone show any interest. Naturally, she had no idea when or how it ended up in the maid’s hands.

At that moment, as if waiting, Aldrich abruptly stood up. His emaciated, wrinkled face turned bright red, perhaps from excitement.

“If what this maid says is true, Sellakia. You have plotted a truly heinous act! Is it not enough that you tried to harm Tenus, but now you attempt to frame the maid?”

“You misunderstand, Lord Logue. I hope you won’t misinterpret my efforts to clear my name. I’m merely trying to expose the culprit who has framed me.”

“What slander! Sophie’s testimony and your brooch, that’s already sufficient evidence!”

“So her name is Sophie.”

Sellakia nodded lightly as if she had just realized this. Aldrich, who had been vehemently scolding, hesitated, seemingly taken aback.

Sellakia took the opportunity to question Sophie.

“Alright, Sophie. I didn’t leave my room from yesterday evening until I fell asleep. How could I have given you such a dreadful order and handed you jewels and poison?”

“But there was definitely a letter written on paper only the Duke’s household can use, with your signature on it. If not from you, who else could have sent me such a letter?”

Sellakia rubbed her throbbing head. This was the second forgery of her signature after the will. She wondered if she should change her signature and announce it publicly.