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Chapter 25
How to Replace Dad
Of course, I had prepared an excuse.
“I need to use the medicinal scent, but it’s strong. I’ll have to adjust it according to the Duke’s condition.”
The Duke stared at me intently.
I swallowed hard.
What if he thinks I’m supposed to just hand over the scent and let a professional handle the rest?
But the Duke soon let out a dry chuckle.
“Prepare a room in the subject’s east wing.”
With that, the Duke left the room.
I guess that counts as permission.
My face brightened, and I followed after him.
Viscount Synthes furrowed his brow.
What on earth is this…?
He was thinking about that Eustea girl.
When she had first asked for three days, he suspected some scheme. But since last night until now, all she had done was…
“I found some errors in the translation, so I fixed them.”
“Is the air too stale? Should I ventilate the room?”
“If it’s a gift for Her Majesty the Empress Dowager’s birthday banquet, I recommend raw gemstones. She prefers collecting raw stones to processed ones.”
…That’s all.
And she did it well.
The approval documents stacked neatly on the Duke’s desk were more than usual. She had presented perfect materials at the perfect timing, making the work flow smoothly.
She’s a worker heaven-sent…!
Viscount Synthes forgot his suspicions and asked,
“Did she also help with the Marquis of Andres’ matters?”
“No? My father didn’t really like me being around, so even sharing a meal was just formal.”
“Why?”
What could he possibly dislike about a daughter like this? She’s capable.
When she was young in Andres, even the Empress Dowager praised her as the epitome of a lady.
Eustea, noting the chill, said she’d bring tea and left the room.
Viscount Synthes blurted out to the Duke,
“How bloated must the Marquis of Andres have been?”
If his daughter Asta had even a fraction of Eustea’s abilities, he wouldn’t have lived on disguised medicines like meals.
“There’s no point in sending a daughter who would raid her father’s storage and run away…!”
“Is that how your daughter behaves?”
Only then did Synthes come to his senses, cleared his throat, and handed over a document awkwardly.
“This is the investigation report on the Camellia poisoning incident you ordered.”
The findings were as expected.
“The culprit is Ayabel of the Balboa family.”
“Surely it wasn’t aimed at the Duke. She must have poisoned him and then healed him to gain his favor.”
“The intended goal was probably to become the crown princess.”
“Yes.”
“Impressive.”
“Yes, blinded by greed, she dared to do such a thing…”
“No, I mean that girl.”
Even the Duke’s intelligence division couldn’t find information on the poison Ayabel used, yet she managed to identify and even properly decode it.
The Duke’s health was visibly improving. Doctors and priests confirmed the poisoning had healed.
“So the Marquis of Andres was truly indulgent.”
He wouldn’t have let go of such a capable daughter.
Just then, there was a knock.
“Tea and snacks have arrived.”
Eustea entered carrying tea.
There were servings for both the Duke and Viscount Synthes.
“Today’s snacks are Marguest preserves.”
Both men sampled the preserves without thinking much.
“…!”
“…!!”
Their expressions changed instantly.
What was this taste?
The preserves, which I expected to be only sweet, were astonishingly delicious.
The perfect sweetness enhanced the bitter richness of the Marguest flavor.
The texture was chewy yet not hard.
Every bite released a fragrant aroma without overpowering the tea’s scent. In fact, it made the aroma more multidimensional.
Viscount Synthes, forgetting manners, gaped in astonishment.
This confirmed the Marquis truly had been indulgent. What a foolish man!
By dusk, I left the Duke’s room with Viscount Synthes.
He cleared his throat and said,
“The… preserves you brought with the tea…”
“The Marguest preserves?”
“Yes, those preserves… any left?”
“No.”
“I see…”
The Viscount’s shoulders slumped. Did he like the preserves?
I realized that every time I went out and returned, he’d glare at my hands. Seeing them empty, he would look disappointed and turn away.
“There are none left, but I can make more. Shall I?”
“That would be wonderful…!”
His face lit up, and he stammered, clearing his throat a few times.
“It’ll be troublesome for you.”
“Not at all.”
“Well, if that’s so…”
“Yes.”
“And what I’m about to say isn’t a return favor for the preserves… but you did work hard decoding. Truly, it’s not because of the preserves… at my age, I’m not the type to get all excited over snacks…”
“…?”
The Viscount repeated that it wasn’t about the preserves three times before finally asking,
“Is there… anything you need?”
Need? Of course.
“I want to communicate!”
“Communication? That can be done anytime with permission from the communication office… Ah, you mean secretly with someone, don’t you.”
He clearly knew about the existence of the Danju and realized I wanted to communicate with it.
“Then go to the garden with the Camellia that was poisoned.”
“Camellia?”
“Access to the Duke’s garden is strictly prohibited. There, no one can hear your communication. We’ll temporarily lift a nearby barrier to prevent tracking.”
“Thank you. I’ll make two boxes of Marguest preserves.”
“I repeat, this is not a return favor for the preserves.”
“Of course. Absolutely.”
I smiled at Viscount Synthes and quickly left for the communication post in the room the Duke had prepared, heading straight to the garden.
As the Viscount said, not a single soul was in the garden.
Still, to be safe, I crouched under a vine wall and connected the communication line.
[Mistress!]
[Mistress? Mistress?!]
The voices of the Deputy Danju and Antonio were so reassuring.
“Have you been well?”
[We’re fine, but we heard you suffered greatly.]
[Yes! You were locked in the prison!]
[Step aside! We heard you were freed while trying to figure out how to reach the Duke. Are you unharmed?]
[Fingers! Are all your fingers intact?!]
[Don’t you hear me telling you to move?!]
[Mistress?! Deputy Danju, Antonio! Me too…! Mistress, are your organs okay?!]
[Me too, me too…!]
Even passing Danju members worried about my body.
“I’m fine. But I won’t be doing the ignition work anymore.”
[You were fired?! Deputy Danju, I think I should go get her. How heartbroken must she have been!]
[It’s okay, Mistress! I once messed up a mission given by Deputy Danju, and it only ended with two hits to the head…!]
[Joseph, bring my sword!]
The Deputy Danju seemed to explode and even looked for weapons.
I quickly replied before he could draw a sword.
“I wasn’t fired. I just transferred workplaces. To the Duke’s side.”
[…What?]
The Deputy’s voice instantly dropped. He seemed to have realized what I meant.
“Yes. I’ve contacted the Duke. But you may have to wait a bit for a private meeting with the Danju.”
[Understood.]
“I’ll finish my work quickly to complete the mission…”
At that moment, I sensed movement nearby.
“I’ll contact you again later.”
I immediately ended the communication and crouched low.
After my mana depletion was resolved, my senses returned. Someone was approaching.
Who could it be, since the Duke’s domain forbids entry?
It wasn’t just one person. Peeking through the vines, I recognized familiar faces.
“Please, sister…!”
“Let go!”
It was Ayabel and Asta.
Asta glared at Ayabel, furious.
“You really used poison? Father was investigating that poison. It’s only a matter of time before he finds out it was you!”
“…!”
Ayabel’s face paled.
Ah.
From their conversation, I immediately understood.
Asta was angry because Ayabel used the poison.
From the start, I knew the poison was related to Ayabel—it was created by her family, the Balboas.
To acquire it in the game, one must infiltrate the Balboa estate.
So it was Ayabel, not the Viscount Balboa himself.
She must have intended to poison the Duke, then cure him to gain favor—probably to rise to the crown princess position.
Ayabel had always wanted to become crown princess.
Yet in the game, she didn’t even use poison. Was Luciano that appealing?
Well, the prince in the game liked Ayabel, so she didn’t need the Duke’s support.
But why did the prince, who was initially interested in another girl, suddenly turn to Ayabel?
Thinking this, I flinched.
In the original game, the person who came to Escarlot was Nicola. If the prince initially liked Nicola, she would have been a thorn in Ayabel’s side—enough motive for poison.
But in the game, Asta confessed to poisoning Nicola…
Just then, Ayabel hugged Asta’s waist.
“Sister.”
“Let… me go…!”
“Remember, sister? You were my prince.”
“….”
“When I couldn’t get down from the tree and was crying, you helped me. I remember what you said: ‘I believe in you. Have I ever failed to protect you?’ That’s what you said.”
“….”
“So this time, protect me too…”
Ayabel looked up at Asta, tearful.
Asta bit her lip, recalling their precious memories.
“Say it was you, sister. The Duke can’t abandon your father, Viscount Synthes. If it was your doing, he would have to overlook it.”
What?
What is this crazy girl saying?
I see. Even in the game, Asta took the blame for Ayabel.
Asta stared firmly at Ayabel.
“You…”
“Are you just going to watch me die?”
“….”
Asta couldn’t respond.
Ayabel’s expression brightened, as if certain Asta would take the blame.
I stood up.
“…!”
“…!!”
Ayabel and Asta flinched at my sudden movement.
I strode toward them and grabbed Asta’s wrist.
“Let’s go.”
As I tried to pull Asta, Ayabel pushed me roughly.
“What business is it of yours!”
“It is my business.”
“You… what do you have with my sister…!”
“You ate with me. You made sure I wasn’t tormented.”
And if Asta became the culprit, the Duke would be too busy. The private meeting with the Danju would be disrupted.
Ayabel laughed bitterly.
“For such a trivial reason…”
“Even if it’s trivial, I care about Asta. But you, calling her sister, only care about yourself.”
“It’s my life at stake…!”
“If you knew it was a life-risking act and still did it, take responsibility.”
Then I looked at Asta.
“If Asta ignores it, that girl won’t die. It’s all her fault.”
“….”
“So let’s go. To someone truly worth protecting and loving.”
“….”
Ayabel’s lips tilted.
“Even if you do that, sister…”
Then, Asta took a step toward me.
“Wh… what are you… why…”
“Hello, Ayabel. My younger sister I truly loved.”
“…?”
“All I can say now is this.”
“Sister!”
Ayabel screamed, but Asta silently held my hand and walked.
Ayabel sank to the ground behind us.
After leaving the garden, Asta asked,
“Was my heart worthless?”
“No. You simply sent your heart to the wrong person.”
“…Thank you.”
Sitting on a bench with Asta, I stared blankly into the air.
People’s gazes were sharp…
Asta beside me was crying like a waterfall.
Anyone could tell she had a story, so passersby kept glancing at her.
I extended my sleeve.
Her handkerchief was already soaked.
Asta wiped her tears on my sleeve.
Then suddenly…
“…What are you doing?”
Viscount Synthes, on his way home, stopped abruptly upon seeing us.
Asta turned sharply.
“What’s it to you?”
“You’re not my child?”
“Even children need privacy.”
“Then why didn’t you think of privacy when raiding your father’s emergency funds?”
The Viscount frowned and approached.
“What mess did she get into this time?”
“Well, that is…”
If Asta had kept quiet knowing Ayabel brought poison into the castle, the Viscount would have exploded.
I hesitated, and Asta spoke, looking away.
“Ayabel brought in poison.”
“How did you know? I only received the report today.”
“…Since the day I entered with ignition.”
“What?!”
Oh no.
Unsurprisingly, Viscount Synthes shouted.
“This insane girl…! You should’ve reported it! Wait, do you know what poison it is? What is it?!”
“Canary.”
What?
I flinched and looked at Asta.
That’s the poison…
We had even dug it up, and the pouch was wet with teal liquid. It’s definitely Canary.
“Canary?”
“I don’t know much. Ayabel explained it briefly at her mansion. But it definitely resembles a canary bird.”
She had another poison besides the original one.
Why? Canary is toxic but not a poison to be used for incapacitating someone.
No…
I jumped up and grabbed Viscount Synthes.
“What about the Duke? Where is he?”
“Thirty minutes ago, he captured Viscount Balboa and Ayabel. He’s probably meeting them in Tartaros Tower.”
“…!”
I ran immediately.
Asta and her daughter called out, “Eustea?!” but I couldn’t stop.
I just shouted:
“Call a mage!”
Canary, a highly flammable goat-based poison.
It’s used to create explosions.
It was likely kept as a means of escape in case of emergency.
Which means the Duke could be caught in the explosion.
