She pretended to pick up the napkin in the middle and moved closer to the salad. Arnaud chewed quietly.

The pale green vegetables, various beans, and the tuna were topped with large chunks of dark green leaves.

It was unmistakably kwangru, with edges so sharp they seemed to have been sliced with a knife. A shiver ran through her skin.

Ahmet’s words came to mind.

“It is incomparable. It has a pain-relieving effect, but it’s so poisonous that even Easterners boil it for several days and drink it in smoke. They inhale the steam from it after boiling it for four days.”

“Without chewing it?”

“If you chew it, you’ll sleep all day. You won’t be able to endure it without severe abdominal pain, mental confusion, and thrashing.”

Her eyebrows instinctively furrowed.

For a moment, she struggled to even tolerate the scent, but Arnaud rolled it around in his mouth for a long time.

Of course, concern took precedence over curiosity.

How much had he chewed and smoked to be so indifferent? Isabelle clasped her trembling hands under the table.

Though confused, she had to ask.

“Are you eating Anmadre, Arnaud?”

“How did you know it was Anmadre?”

Arnaud also put down his fork. The question seemed to intrigue him more than it did her.

She was about to say, Didn’t you also give me cigarettes? But thinking it better to hide something, she answered in a calm tone.

“I saw him in Chamféra. I met Radoise’s assistant by chance.”

“The young botanist, you mean.”

“Yes, that’s right. He even visited Her Majesty’s drawing room. about Angmadre, and he was happy to show me a specimen.”

Arnaud nodded slowly, but he didn’t lift his fork again. He even put down his knife, and then came the next question.

“In Möerne – or no, in Chamféra to be exact.”

“Yes.”

“The rumors are widespread, aren’t they?”

She wanted to wave her hands dismissively, to deny it altogether.

But seeing the shadow that fell across his face, she couldn’t possibly do that. He asked because he already knew.

At the same time, the faces of several noblewomen came to mind.

The ones who spent whole days locked up in Louise’s drawing room, only to come to Isabelle when the queen began to get bored with them, whispering all sorts of rumors.

“Madame Châteaur, I just couldn’t bring myself to leave. Have you heard the stories circulating in society?”

“They say that all the herbs banned by the late king have been stolen. There’s even a rumor that they’re being grown and sold in Kaltenberg.”

“If you ask me, His Majesty the King is far too lenient. He should hang someone as an example. To let a smuggler and a traitor go on like this is simply unacceptable!”

“They say that Anmadre is one of them. That dangerous herb – my sister, who visited the southern region for recuperation, told me that people smoke it whenever they get the chance.”

“Madame Châteaur, you’ve really come to the right conclusion. Offering yourself to His Majesty is far better than getting involved with such a scoundrel.”

In retrospect, there was no mention of Camille’s story.

It was inevitable that Isabelle would be horrified just before the wedding. Knowing that Camille was imitating a mistress made the remarks she’d heard all the more dubious.

Isabelle had a habit of overthinking things. As a result, Arno had been left without an answer for quite some time.

He, too, knew that silence and affirmation were more alike than one might think.

With a shaking voice, Arnaud said.

“I knew it. It’s the truth.”

Isabelle couldn’t bring herself to deny it. She had spent years doing things she didn’t mean… How foolish.

When her thoughts returned, Isabelle changed the subject.

“Is there anything less poisonous?”

“I am already as broken as I can be. Your concern won’t change anything.”

The shadow over him had deepened. She wanted nothing more than to pull him into an embrace, but she knew she couldn’t.

Arnaud picked up his fork again and Isabelle followed suit, cutting off a piece of terrine.

“I appreciate your concern.”

It seemed as if they would just finish their plates in silence, but Arnaud whispered a barely audible thank you.

His flushed cheeks were adorably sweet.

If she watched any longer, she felt that even her cheeks might turn red. Isabelle picked at her food in silence.

Her appetite was still nowhere to be found, but for once she didn’t feel uncomfortable.

“It’s getting late, just bring out the main course. You can share the dessert.”

It seemed that Arnaud had no appetite either.

He hadn’t even finished half of his bowl before he called for a servant, and the main course was brought out without any fuss or concern.

“Confit de canard, Madame.”

Isabelle’s dish was also duck, but as expected, the garnish was different.

Arnaud’s plate was piled high with sharp-tipped gwangru leaves, the same as before.

Hers, however, was garnished with rosemary.

Isabelle watched closely as she cut into the meat.

It was exhausting to watch something without anyone noticing – there was no way she could have eaten her fill like that.

“Um, madam.”

It seemed that Loui had somehow sensed that.

When she relaxed her stiff expression at his call, the child approached, carrying a bottle of wine almost as big as his upper body.

“Have some of this, too. I’ll pour it for you.”

“That’s dangerous.'”

The wine Loui was holding was enormous – too much even for an adult to handle with ease.

He would have to lean his entire upper body to pour it, and if he lost his balance, it could be serious. Isabelle’s concern came first, and it seemed Arnaud felt the same way, for he added.

“Yes, Loui. It’s much too big for you.”

“But let me pour it for you, please?”

They couldn’t ignore the twinkle in the boy’s eyes.

With no other choice, Isabelle reluctantly held out her glass.

“Be careful with it.”

Loui was absolutely thrilled.

He needed Arnaud’s help to uncork the bottle, but he was beaming with joy and smiling brightly the whole time.

They should have stopped him.

Isabelle should have realized sooner – that she and her husband were the only ones worried about a ten-year-old carrying a glass bottle, that not a single servant had stepped in to offer help.

She should have noticed it right away-before Loui even got close.

“Careful-oh!”

“Loui!”

Her fears had come true.

Loui lost his balance the moment he leaned forward.

If Arnaud hadn’t rushed over, he would have fallen right into the shards of glass.

Thanks to Arnaud pulling him into his arms just in time, no one was hurt – but the wine had shattered with a loud crash.

“Are you okay? Huh? Are you hurt anywhere?”

“I’m okay, but the wine… the expensive wine…”

Loui hung his right arm limply, on the verge of tears.

But neither Isabelle nor Arnaud cared about the wine.

For them, Loui was all that mattered.

“It’s just glass and alcohol. There’s a lot more where that came from. Let’s see if you’re hurt first – come on!”

“N-no, wait… the wine, it’s so expensive… it was expensive and I…”

“It was an accident, wasn’t it? We don’t scold for accidents. Loui, let me have a look at you. Are you really not hurt anywhere?”

Isabelle examined Loui closely as he clung to Arnaud’s arms.

He was wearing a long shirt, so there were no injuries on his torso – but a large shard of glass was embedded in his right calf.

“You’re not okay!”

Isabelle yelled in alarm. She quickly kicked away the spilled wine and broken glass, then without hesitation scooped the hiccuping child into her arms.

She didn’t care if her skirt was soaked with wine or if her mules were scratched by glass.

All that mattered was that Loui was safe.

“We have to get him out of here.”

“M-Madam, I’m really-I’m really okay…”

Although Loui protested, he did not resist. He must have secretly enjoyed being held.

He flinched slightly at the movement of being lifted, suggesting that he was in pain, so Isabelle left the dining room without hesitation.

“Gather all the strong liquor – now!”

Arnaud followed her.

The servants, who had remained silent when the two had burst out of the dining room, finally dispersed.

Carrying Loui, who rested his injured leg on her arm, they soon reached the private quarters at the top of the stairs.

“Lady Isabelle, you’re…”

“There should be bandages in the right-hand drawer of the dressing table. Bring them, Marie-quickly.”

Marie had been tidying the candlesticks nearby.

She was startled at first, but when she saw how pale her own face had become, she said nothing and quickly gathered the bandages and tweezers.

Arnaud took them from her and Isabelle sat down on the sofa and gently removed Loui’ stocking completely.

“Just hold on for a moment.”

“It’s going to hurt quite a bit – do you think you can handle it?”

As the two asked in turn, Loui bit his lip nervously, but still managed a small “Yes”. A servant arrived just in time with the vodka.

Arnaud soaked a piece of cloth – part of his cravat – in the liquor and used it to clean the wound.

Even as he removed the shard of glass, Loui didn’t utter a single cry.

He flinched now and then, but that was all.

For Isabelle and Arnaud, who at Loui’s age had at least been allowed to cry as much as they wanted, there was no more pitiful sight.

“You’re very brave.”

“You did well. So calm, too.”

Loui, who had been gently touching the bandage around his leg as if it were something fascinating, beamed at the words of praise.

But despite her calm words, Isabelle’s heart was anything but calm.

She had intended not to scold him, even if he had cried and made a scene. Wasn’t that natural for a child his age?

“Um, I can walk by myself. You even wrapped my leg. I’m really grateful. Thank you.”

“You must wait until it heals. Stay here for now, Loui. I’ll be fine.”

At her words, Loui turned his head to look at Arnaud, his eyes silently asking for permission.

Only after Arnaud nodded did the tension leave Loui’s body and Isabelle pulled him even closer into her arms.

“Marie.”

“Yes, Lady Isabelle?”

“If there are any leftover sablés, bring some. Anything sweet will do – just bring some.”

“Yes, Lady Isabelle.”

Marie repeated her answer and left the room, and until the door closed behind her, Isabelle didn’t stop stroking and gently comforting Loui.

He was clearly a child she hadn’t really known.

They were acquainted, but he hadn’t been a favorite companion or anything like that.

And yet she couldn’t bring herself to push away the tenderness she felt.

Loui had already become such a presence for her.

She shouldn’t have let anyone into her heart so deeply.

It was something that both Isabelle and Arnaud knew very well, and yet neither of them could bring themselves to leave Loui’s side for a long time.

As if they would regret it.

As if he were a child they would have to let go of one day.