The item that Marquis Peyton had sent to Ariadne via Kieron was something that her mother, a native of the Holy Empire, had acquired for her father.

It came from the Sacred Spring, which was located deep within the great temple at the heart of the Holy Empire’s capital. It was said that the spring’s water could cure any poison and heal any illness.

It was her mother’s most precious gift to her father, who was constantly under threat in his role as Minister of Foreign Affairs.

“Do whatever you must — just don’t get hurt.”

A priest whom her mother had known well during her time as a saint in the Holy Empire had obtained it for her.

He brought enough to fill two wine glasses, but unwilling to waste a drop, her father had a necklace crafted with a tiny vial and took only the smallest amounts, keeping it always at his side.

She knew there was barely any left.

Swallowing the sudden sting behind her eyes, Ariadne accepted the necklace from Kieron’s hand.

“May I write a letter to Father?”

“Do whatever you want, but only after you’ve recovered.”

“My body will be fine by this evening. You don’t have to worry about that.”

Holy water could erase poison and injuries — anything.

With this amount, she could even dispel any lingering pain or illness.

She noticed Kieron giving her a strange look and returned a small, awkward smile.

“It’s true. Just this much is enough for me to be completely healed by tonight.”

“What is it supposed to be—holy water?”

Kieron frowned.

It was holy water.

Ariadne grumbled inwardly, but of course he couldn’t know that.

For someone who had never seen it before, the idea that such a substance could be contained in such a small vessel was unbelievable.

Holy water was almost never permitted to leave the Holy Empire. Countless people sought it, yet only those who were deemed worthy after long waits and rigorous scrutiny were ever given the slightest chance of receiving it.

Anyone who requested it for reasons deemed unfit by divine will lost that chance immediately.

Even so, the demand never faded.

People crossed entire continents for the slightest possibility of obtaining it.

Bearing this in mind, it was understandably difficult to accept the idea that the Peyton family might have some stored away for personal use.

So Ariadne could only offer him an awkward smile, unable to blame him for doubting her.

“Anyway, once I’m fully recovered, I’ll write to Father.”

“After Brown confirms you’re truly fine.”

“All right.”

Nevertheless, if it became known that a noble house was using holy water privately, people would undoubtedly flock to the Peyton estate.

She didn’t think Kieron would leak such information, but that didn’t mean she trusted him enough to be careless. So, even with her husband, she remained silent, nodding obediently.

Only then did the tension in Kieron’s expression ease slightly.

“Then I’ll take my leave. Get some rest.”

In that familiar, curt tone he reserved for subordinates, he turned and left the room.

Ariadne didn’t try to stop him.

“He’s probably forgotten today is Wednesday.”

Ariadne murmured as she let herself fall back onto the bed.

The moment Kieron left and Jay came hurrying back into the room, the maid rushed to help her settle down.

“Did you speak with him well, my lady?”

“Speak? There wasn’t anything to speak. It was just a one-sided message.”

Recalling her husband’s usual curt tone, she muttered the words without emotion.

Conversation. As if there had ever been such a thing between them!

She preferred gentle, soft exchanges, but he spoke in a clipped, brusque manner that often bordered on coldness.

It was strange that their words ever connected at all.

“Still… His Lordship went to see the marquis himself, they said.”

“He told you that?”

“As if he would? I heard it from the chamberlain. He said His Lordship felt it was too heavy a matter to leave solely within the duchy, so he went to inform the marquis personally.”

As Jay pulled the blankets neatly over her, Ariadne finally understood why Kieron had come by earlier.

‘Ah… he must have planned to speak to Father.’

“So that’s why he stopped by.”

“Probably. And I heard the steward suggested it would be best if His Lordship checked your condition in person before going.”

Of course it was Derrick again.

Ariadne silently thanked the steward for persuading his master into doing the right thing and nodded.

“The steward is truly indispensable to His Lordship.”

“Oh, absolutely. The chamberlain and I both agree, nothing works properly without him.”

“Really, what would His Lordship have done without the steward?”

Jay shook her head and blurted out something that could easily have been considered disrespectful.

Anyone else might have reprimanded her for it, but Ariadne, who agreed with her more than was appropriate, merely laughed lightly and offered a gentle warning.

“I agree, but you mustn’t say that in front of other people, Jay. If someone takes offense, it’ll cause trouble.”

“Oh, my lady, I know that much.”

Jay smiled, gave an obedient nod, and checked the pillows one last time before rising.

“Are you uncomfortable at all? Do you need anything?”

“I’m fine. Just going to sleep for a while. You should go rest.”

“Then I’ll step out, my lady. Please call me if you need anything.”

“I will.”

Once Jay had left and her footsteps had faded down the hall, Ariadne slowly reached beneath her skirt and took out the necklace she had hidden there.

The small vial dangling from the necklace contained only enough holy water for two sips. The liquid caught the light as it shifted.

She stared at it for a long, silent moment. Then she uncapped it, lifted it towards her lips and stopped. After a moment, she closed the vial again.

She carefully hid the necklace beneath her clothes, letting it rest warmly against her skin, before quietly lying back down.

“It’s too precious to use now…”

Holding the pendant tightly, she whispered the words to herself. To her, the necklace was a kind of charm — proof, even — that her father still loved and protected her.

Although he had never expressed such sentiments directly, to Ariadne, this necklace represented that promise made real.

Her father lived surrounded by danger. As Minister of Foreign Affairs, he was under constant threat. He had survived countless assassination attempts, several of which had come frighteningly close to succeeding.

The charm that her mother had obtained for him and which was filled with prayers from his wife and children was something he had never once taken off.

The moment he heard his daughter had been hurt, before even finding out if she had been poisoned, he gave her that precious thing without hesitation.

Just for her.

“I miss Father… and Mother.”

She missed him.

He was always busy, so it was never easy to see him. But at that moment, she just wanted to. Even though she couldn’t meet her parents in person, she wished she could at least receive a letter from them.

Next time, perhaps she could ask if they could meet somewhere outside the estate. It would be nice to invite her mother as well, so they could all sit together and share a meal and a chat.

There were so many things she wanted to tell them.

Clutching the necklace in both hands like a small talisman, Ariadne closed her eyes.

If she fell asleep now, she thought she might dream of something warm and wonderful.

***

The next day, Ariadne received clearance from Brown.

There were no physical or mental abnormalities.

This proved that her confident words the previous night had not been empty talk.

“You’re certain nothing is wrong?”

“Yes. Truly nothing. Of course, you should still be cautious about what you eat for a while—just in case.”

Brown warned that incidents like this rarely ended with just one attempt and proceeded to list a long series of precautions for Jay and her maids.

“Everything she eats must be checked carefully. Laundry should only be handled by people she trusts. Anyone managing her room or working nearby should stay vigilant.”

“Yes, understood.”

“If you see anyone suspicious, report to me immediately.”

Beside Brown, Kieron spoke in a blunt, hard tone—and every maid bowed with a timid, frightened expression.

“W-we will, Your Grace.”

“…All right. Go.”

Although Brown was bigger and stockier, the maids seemed far more frightened by their master’s oppressive presence than by the physician’s size.

Ariadne watched the maids hurry out of the room, then lightly tapped her arm.

Her posture must have been odd while she slept, because she had woken up with an unexpected ache in her arm.

As she absently rubbed the affected area and glanced around the room, she noticed that Kieron was still standing there.

“…You’re not leaving?”

“Should I?”

“…Sorry? What is that supposed to mean?”

‘Should I leave? What kind of answer was that?’

Ariadne couldn’t help but frown at the bizarre remark.

‘What now? Why is he suddenly talking like this?’ —her expression said as much.

“Do you… have something else to say?”

She continued tapping her arm as she asked. By now, he would usually have left, perhaps after accusing her of faking her pain to get attention, as he did last time.

That was how he consistently treated her.

So why was he suddenly behaving like this?

Ariadne watched him, puzzled.

He didn’t reply for a while, simply staring at her.

And then—

“…If you have time today, I thought we might have tea.”

Because you were unwell yesterday.

He said it as if it were nothing, but to Ariadne, it was a statement worthy of pure shock.