The Sickly Grand Duke is Obsessed with Me

Chapter 94. Bait (11)

“I prepared tea that I like to drink. Is it okay for you?”

“…Yes.”

“Oh my, it’s an honor.”

Genoyer, who had taken the right amount from the box of tea leaves prepared on the table, skillfully brewed the tea and served it before them.

“It’s a tea that has a calming effect, so you can enjoy it casually.”

“Thank you, Prince.”

Viscount Basil, who received the clear, pale green tea, swallowed the tea while bowing excessively. On the other hand, Count Hailan, who was sitting next to Viscount Basil, hesitated while holding his teacup.

“Why are you like that? Count Hailan, do you not like the tea I gave you? Oh dear, I forgot.”

Genoyer took a red bottle the size of a pinky finger from his arms and said to Count Hailan. “Could you please put down your teacup?”

Count Hailan put down the teacup without a word. Genoyer opened the lid of the red bottle he was holding and poured a drop of liquid into it. The red liquid fell, but the tea remained light green without any change. Not knowing what was going on, Viscount Basil looked at the two of them in a tense state.

“…Thank you, Prince.”

Grabbing the teacup’s handle lightly, Count Hailan swallowed the lukewarm tea. As he put down the empty teacup, Genoyer pushed the red bottle in front of him.

“It’s a week’s worth.”

“How long do I have to drink this to be detoxified, Prince?”

“Haha, I don’t know. At least—” Genoyer, leaning back against the back of the chair, stretched the corners of his mouth and laughed. “Wouldn’t it be until the job is done?”

“…”

“Of course, the period could be shorter if Count give me an assurance that you’re my man.”

Count Hailan took a deep breath while clutching the red bottle. The quick-witted Viscount Basil looked at the empty teacup he drank with a contemplated face.

“T-this, w-what all of this! What do you mean by detoxified! Count Hailan! D-did you get poisoned?”

“Ah, Viscount Basil, it’s not that surprising. There is a present prepared for you too.” Genoyer took the same bottle from his arms as the one he had given to Count Hailan and put it down on the table. “As you can see, you only need to dilute one drop per day. If you overdo it, you will vomit blood and die.”

“Gasp! D-die?” Holding the red bottle with trembling hands, Viscount Basil closed his eyes tightly.

At one point, Viscount Basil maintained an amicable relationship with the former Grand Duke Sestein and established himself as his vassal. However, as the former Grand Duke Sestein stepped down and the current grand duke took over, Viscount Basil’s position weakened considerably. He came to this place today to come with the mindset of trying to come up with a solution.

The former grand duke handed over his title to the current grand duke. He fled as if he were being kicked out to another empire. Still, in any case, the current grand duke was the legitimate successor of the Sestein family. It would surely come in handy later if he gave Genoyer a little help now. That’s why he came here, even though knowing the risk. B-but to be poisoned!

Gurgle. Genoyer poured tea back into Viscount Basil’s empty teacup. “Viscount Basil, I’ve heard a lot about you from Count Hailan. He said you’re interested in eastern trade?”

“Yes? Ah, yes. T-that’s right. I-I’m currently in contact with the top merchant for a unique spice import.”

“I see. That’s good.”

“That’s good, w-what do you mean?”

“I heard that there are many rare herbs in the East. There are herbs I need, but I hope Viscount Basil will take care of them,” said Genoyer with a smile.

Viscount Basil felt cold sweat welling up his hand holding the bottle. The price of being a little greedy is so high! He felt more resentful to Count Hailan, who brought him here, rather than to Genoyer, who poisoned him. But it was already too late to turn back.

“I’ll get as much as you need, Prince.”

“Very well, then I, too, will deliver the antidote to you in time.”

Both himself, who was poisoning them and holding the leash and those who were poisoned and swayed by the leash were pathetic.

“If I don’t use this trick, I can’t do anything.”

But what about it? They were the ones who betrayed him in the first place. Suppose you’re a vassal of the Sestein family. In that case, you should have supported the heir even with your life, not that dirty illegitimate child!

Knock, knock.

“?”

Genoyer turned around at the sudden knock.

“There’s no one  coming. Who would come at this time?”

Genoyer frowned and felt that one side of his chest tingle momentarily. Soon after, he smirked. There’s no way that brat would knock. He would have popped out of nowhere and asked for his business.

“Who is it?”

“Prince Sestein, there is a letter addressed to you.”

“A letter?”

Genoyer tilted his head. No way, did the vassals move first without permission? Or did they get caught?

Genoyer then spoke anxiously. “Bring it in.”

“Yes.”

Creek, the door opened, and a hotel staff entered the room. The staff held out a black envelope in front of him.

“Then, I’ll leave now. Please call me if you need anything.”

Genoyer frowned once again as the staff left the room. It was because the black envelope had a golden seal of the Grand Duke Sestein stamped on it.

“This… must be what that brat sent. Are you going to scare me with just a piece of paper? You took me for granted.”

Genoyer, staring at a black envelope with a gold seal, and nervously opened the envelope. It was already within his expectation that he would be monitored. But there was no way he would be threatened by something like this. However— The more he read the letter, the more hardened his expression became.  

“…T-t-this, you brat!”

Genoyer, who roughly crumpled the black envelope in his hand, ran out of the room with a ferocious face.

* * *

Lost in thought, Elusiana gently patted down Soda’s fur. Eirin’s scream, which was so desperate coming from the mansion’s door, still lingered in her ears.

“Help me, please, Elusiana.”

“Save me!”

Elusiana shook her head at that sudden thought. Judging by the moon rising outside the window, she realized that the time Eirin mentioned had long passed.   

“Sigh.”

“Meow~”

Soda rubbed its head against her head, perhaps worried by her low sigh. Elusiana, who once again swept down its fluffy fur, smiled softly.

“Are you worried about me?”

“Meow.”

Soda’s eyes shone brightly as if to confirm. Smiling helplessly, Elusiana grabbed Soda’s ears and shook them slightly. “I’m fine, Soda. Only… umm, I have something a little heavy on my mind? I feel like I pushed someone else’s life into the pit. It’s kind of like that.”

“Meow?”

“I know. I don’t have to blame myself. Even if I turn back time, my choice will remain the same. But if— by any chance she dies… Ah, no. It couldn’t be like that, right? She must have said that because she was desperate.”

“Meow?”

“I wouldn’t know if I haven’t heard it, but I have. So… I don’t feel good.”

Elusiana smiled bitterly and tapped Soda on the nose. Soda, which rubbed its nose with its soft feet, rushed into Elusiana’s arms. It was as if it comforted her, who had been depressed.

“Soda is really considerate. Thank you.”

“Meow~ Meow~ Meow~”

Hugging Soda, Elusiana looked up at the dim moon shining through the window. Why did the black sky look so ominous?

Please, I hope nothing happens. Hoping so, Elusiana quietly closed her eyes.

* * *

Elusiana, who raised her stiff body, stretched out. Soda, who fell asleep next to her, who couldn’t be seen again.

“Anyway, I never oversleep.”

Elusiana smiled and twitched her eyes at the warm sunlight tickling her eyes. Today was a weekly holiday, so she was just getting a little lazy. Even so, it would have only lasted about an hour.

“Lusi. Lusi!”

Just as expected, she heard Simon calling from downstairs. On holidays, Simon was the one who prepared breakfast. Elusiana then changed her clothes and hurried down.

“Did you sleep well?”

“Yes, Father. What about Father?”

“So did I. Sit down quickly.”

Elusiana smiled and sat down at the table. The breakfast, which wasn’t much different from hers, greeted her. After taking a bite of the vegetable soup, she tore apart the slightly softer bread than before.

“Your work. Isn’t it hard?”

“Yes.  But it’s better than I thought.”

“It wouldn’t be easy to work as a maid. The grand duke… Ahem, isn’t he strict?”

Elusiana replied with a subtle smile. “No. Not at all. He’s rather considerate of me.”

“…Is that so?” Simon tilted his head unexpectedly. “Did he force you to do something unreasonable or put you in trouble—”

“I’m rather grateful that he gave me a proper job.”

“Proper job?”

“He let me do the job of an aide.”

“But why would he pass that job to you?”

“Father…?”

“Ahem, cough, cough. Well, you know. There are other people who can take care of such troublesome matters. So why would he give that to you…?”

Elusiana put down the spoon and stared at Simon.