“She said she couldn’t think of anyone?”

“Yes, Your Grace. She claims she’s never done anything in her life that would give someone reason to resent her. The maid said the same.”

Kieron could feel a headache coming on. The incident had clearly occurred, yet there was no apparent cause. Meanwhile, the person involved was lying calmly in bed, asking for snacks or a book.

It was absurd.

They had searched the servants thoroughly and found nothing. They had even checked with the postman who delivered the mail, but he insisted that he had noticed nothing unusual.

Of course he would.

“Assign someone to watch the postman. Also, check whether anyone suspicious lingered around the estate at that time. Also, just in case, consider the possibility that this might be someone who holds a grudge against me.”

“Yes, Your Grace. I’ll proceed accordingly.”

After they got married, he never showed Ariadne enough affection for anyone to misinterpret their relationship. In fact, things between them had become almost uncomfortably distant.

However, if an outsider had harmed her, the Peytons would still have protested, regardless of how distant their marriage truly was.

The blame for that outrage would fall squarely on House Ambrose, the family she now belonged to. This meant that the culprit could be someone who held a grudge against him.

He couldn’t dismiss the possibility.

Kieron gathered his thoughts swiftly, then issued Herald with a rapid series of orders. Herald recorded every instruction with meticulous precision.

“Keep the servants under close watch. Focus first on those whose circumstances have worsened recently, or on anyone who might have underlying issues.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

Standing beside Herald, Derrick also received orders.

Even though none of the many servants claimed to know anything, he couldn’t dismiss the possibility that at least a few of them were probably lying.

“Have them meet with you individually and give detailed accounts. People feel more pressure when questioned one-on-one.”

“I’ll do that.”

“And arrange a room for Brown on the third floor.”

“He requested it himself, so we’ve assigned him a room near her ladyship’s. He says he needs to monitor her condition until tomorrow morning.”

Derrick nodded as he finished speaking. They would monitor her condition closely.

Kieron let out a humorless, dry laugh.

“A duchess opening an obviously suspicious envelope without hesitation?”

Even someone inexperienced in the ways of the world should have known better. And how could that maid insist that nothing like this had ever happened at the Peyton estate?

Carelessness was unacceptable anywhere.

He had been angry since the previous night: angry with himself for failing to answer her, angry with Ariadne for asking pointless questions, and now he was furious with Ariadne Ambrose for her complete lack of caution and with the person who had tried to harm her.

Even if he wasn’t a devoted husband, this was still an attack on House Ambrose.

Who?

Who dared lay a hand on Ambrose?

He pressed a hand to his forehead and let out a long, exhausted breath.

“Keep an eye on the duchess as well. If anything happens, report immediately.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

“I’ll go to see Marquis Peyton.”

He finished giving instructions and was about to leave the room when Derrick spoke up.

“Will you not visit her ladyship, Your Grace?”

“…What?”

He couldn’t speak for a moment.

Visit his wife? Now?

When he already had more than enough on his plate?

He had been preparing to leave for the Imperial Palace to see Marquis Peyton. He had briefly considered keeping the matter quiet, but a father should at least be informed when his beloved daughter had been hurt.

He had considered sending a servant in his place, but since there were matters to discuss, he decided to go himself. And now Derrick was telling him to see her first.

Hearing this, he was reminded of the previous night her pointless questions and his own pointless reaction.

Kieron clicked his tongue in irritation.

“There are plenty of others who can go in my place.”

“…Your Grace. It would be easier to explain the situation if you saw her ladyship yourself first.”

Derrick carefully suggested this.

Wasn’t Kieron due to meet Marquis Peyton soon? If so, it would be much better if he met Ariadne himself and reported back on her condition.

“It’s different seeing it for yourself than hearing about it. Your Grace would immediately notice if Her Ladyship were showing any signs of poisoning.”

Derrick continued speaking, watching his master’s expression carefully.

Kieron had looked uneasy from the outset.

However, if he went to the Marquis without first checking on Ariadne himself, he would most likely have to endure the Marquis’s thinly veiled reproaches for quite some time.

After all, they were going there to report what had happened.

To arrive in his current state, barely able to hide his irritation and lacking the composure to deflect criticism, was unthinkable.

So, keeping his voice steady, Derrick urged Kieron on instead.

In a situation like this, it would be far better to see her ladyship first and then give the Marquis a clear, honest account.

After some hesitation and careful consideration, Kieron reluctantly nodded in agreement to Derrick’s sincere persuasion.

“I know. It’s just… unpleasant, that’s all.”

He muttered under his breath and started walking.

“Then I’ll escort you.”

Derrick let out a quiet sigh of relief and took the lead to Ariadne’s room. He was sure that accompanying his master would be better than letting Kieron go alone.

Her Ladyship must have been terrified.

She might be overwhelmed by Kieron’s indifference and bluntness without warning in her current state.

Even though she appeared calm and rested, she might just have been putting on a brave face to avoid causing the household worry.

Thinking of his fragile, gentle mistress, Derrick decided to stay by Kieron’s side.

However, only moments later, he was forced to admit that his concerns had been completely unnecessary.

“Your Grace…?”

When they heard her call for them to enter, Derrick stepped into Ariadne’s room. The first thing he noticed was the small mountain of books stacked beside the bed with a tray balanced on top.

On the tray was a delicate teapot and a plate piled high with biscuits. Ariadne was reclining against her pillows, reading a book and looking unmistakably pleased.

“I didn’t realize Your Grace would be coming as well.”

She turned towards Derrick with the same bright smile she’d worn a moment earlier. But the instant she saw Kieron step in behind him, the smile vanished without a trace.

The change was so sudden and stark that even Derrick stiffened in surprise.

Kieron, however, appeared completely unfazed. He approached her with an expression that didn’t change in the slightest.

“I came to check on your condition, but you look perfectly fine.”

His gaze moved over her as she sat leaning against the bed. Brown had certainly told her to rest, yet there she was, reading so leisurely.

Derrick opened his mouth to express his concern, but Kieron beat him to it.

“Did Brown say you were poisoned?”

“No. He said none of the known poisons match the results so far.”

Ariadne shook her head. She closed the book she had been reading and put it to one side. There was another stack of books on that side of the room that she had clearly already finished.

“He told you to rest.”

“Lying down all day feels like a waste of time. I don’t have anything else to do anyway.”

She replied lightly and reached for a new book.

For some reason, her tone and attitude seemed to be provoking him.

Derrick immediately became tense again.

“If you move around, the poison could spread faster.”

“But nothing’s happened for hours. I waited long enough, and when there was no reaction, I asked Brown before sitting up.”

It was clearly intended as a warning out of concern.

However, given Kieron’s rigid expression and clipped tone — not to mention the unresolved tension between them — he seemed less like a concerned husband and more like a man intent on forbidding his wife from doing as she wished.

Ariadne, who received not even the faintest hint of warmth from him, initially seemed like a lonely young wife finding solace in books.

Derrick was grateful that she no longer locked herself in her room and cried at night. From the outside, though, the two of them truly did appear to be a loveless couple.

Which, truth be told, was not inaccurate.

It was no wonder the servants whispered that it was a miracle whenever the two of them exchanged even the briefest of conversations.

Thinking of all this, Derrick let out a quiet sigh.

“In any case, since you came to check on me, if you’re finished, could you leave? I’d like to continue reading.”

“…You’re throwing me out?”

Kieron’s expression hardened sharply at her words. But Ariadne looked back at him without flinching.

“I’m not throwing you out. I only asked you to leave.”

She blinked slowly, as if she genuinely didn’t understand the problem. Kieron stared at her, fist tightening at his side.

“…Fine. Then I’ll go.”

Without hesitating, he turned and walked straight out of the room, seemingly deciding that leaving was the best option.

He didn’t spare a glance for Ariadne or anyone else he left behind.

“……Why did His Grace even come here?”

After he had left, Ariadne asked Derrick quietly.

Derrick gave an awkward, evasive smile. No matter how he answered, the situation was bound to take an unpleasant turn. So he simply let out a polite laugh and bowed.

“Then I’ll take my leave as well. If you need anything, please let me know.”

“…All right. Go on.”

Fortunately, Ariadne didn’t ask him any more questions and let him go.

As he stepped out of her room, he let out a long sigh.

How could he improve the situation, even a little?

His worries had deepened further today, too.