🔊 TTS Settings
chapter 58
“Actually, it’s quite trivial. It’s worthless.”
Serrett’s voice spread quietly, and Yuan’s heart dropped with a thud. His heart, falling to the very bottom, throbbed as if reminding him of its existence.
Yuan frowned at the pain from his rapidly beating heart and pressed a hand to his chest. Why is it beating like this?
[My love becomes worthless and trivial if it only goes to my husband. It’s the most brilliant thing I possess.]
A sentence, seemingly from nowhere, repeated endlessly in Yuan’s mind. Confused, Yuan furrowed his brows.
“I’ll go ahead. Good night, Your Grace, the Duke.”
Serrett said calmly and left the study.
Even after Serrett left, Yuan stood there for a while with a confused expression.
No one knew that Serrett’s trivial and worthless love had left a wound deep in Yuan’s heart.
“Your hair’s a little damaged, Serrett.”
Eve said while brushing Serrett’s hair. Serrett met her gaze through the mirror.
“Really?”
“This morning, I need to go home for a bit. I have some good oil from the lady next door.”
“What kind of oil?”
“Oil made by the Held people. It works really well on split ends.”
Eve smiled gently as she answered.
At that moment, a commotion came from outside the door.
“Miss… no, my lady!”
Startled by the noise, both Serrett and Eve turned their attention to the door.
“Isn’t that Hanna’s voice?”
Serrett asked with curiosity. Eve quickly opened the door, and Hanna entered, dragging a trembling maid behind her. The maid’s face was pale as if she had seen a ghost.
“What happened, Hanna?”
Surprised, Serrett got up from her dressing table and approached Hanna.
“My lady, this girl put something strange in the orange juice you were about to drink. I saw it with my own eyes.”
Hanna slammed a black vial onto the nearby tea table.
“What?”
Serrett’s gaze shifted to the vial.
Seeing it, the blood drained from her face, memories of a past poisoning flashing before her eyes.
Her blood ran cold, her breathing became irregular, and her legs weakened. She slumped onto a chair by the tea table.
Did Yuan try to poison me? Because I rejected him, he thought I was unnecessary? There are plenty of women who can bear his child… The thought spiraled wildly in her mind.
“My lady, I’m sorry. I’ve committed a mortal sin.”
The pale maid fell at Serrett’s feet, trembling as she begged.
Seeing the maid’s trembling figure, Serrett tried to regain her composure. She needed to stay focused, especially in moments like this.
“Eve, close the door first.”
Serrett gestured to Eve, who was standing near the door.
“Yes.”
Eve quickly shut the door.
Serrett looked down at the maid and asked,
“What did you put in it? What’s in this vial?”
“I’m sorry. Please forgive me just this once.”
The maid clung to Serrett’s feet, sobbing.
“Tell our lady the truth!”
Hanna pulled the maid away and shouted.
“You need to tell me what it is before I decide whether to forgive you. Come on, tell me what it is.”
Serrett looked down at the kneeling maid, her voice trembling slightly.
“I don’t know either. Someone gave me this and told me to put it in whatever juice or tea my lady drinks.”
The maid sniffled.
Was this Yuan’s doing? No… maybe Yuan had someone else do it. Serrett gripped the chair tightly.
“You’re telling me you don’t even know, and yet you put it in our lady’s drink? What would’ve happened if something happened to her!”
Hanna shouted, furious.
“No! It’s not like that. That person even tried it in front of me. It was fine, no harm done. I also tried it, and nothing happened.”
The maid shook her head while crying.
So, it’s not poison? Serrett observed her carefully and handed the vial back to her.
“Prove it. Show that it’s harmless.”
The maid wiped her tears and took the vial without hesitation. She drank a sip without any sign of fear.
“Alright… it’s not a lie.”
Seeing her fine, Serrett felt relieved. At least Yuan hadn’t sent poison to kill her.
“It’s true! Please believe me. It’s not strange at all. It’s supposed to improve marital harmony… My lady has been drinking it for over ten days now, and nothing has happened.”
Hanna shouted, “Improve marital harmony? What kind of medicine does that? And you’ve been giving it to our lady for over ten days?”
“I’m sorry, truly sorry.”
The maid began to cry harder.
“Stop crying. Who gave you this?”
Serrett pressed.
“I don’t know…”
The maid shook her head, sniffling.
“You accepted a vial from someone you don’t even know? You’re fearless. If anything happened to me, you’d be an accomplice to murder.”
“No… I was… I didn’t know… they said they served an important person. If I did what they said, they’d pay me a lot….”
The maid broke down crying again.
“Crying won’t help. I’ll report this to His Grace, the Duke!”
Hanna yelled at her.
“I’m truly sorry, my lady. I did it because I was desperate for money. My father suddenly passed away. My siblings couldn’t eat properly, and we couldn’t pay the rent. We might even get kicked out.”
Serrett sighed, looking at the desperate maid. She couldn’t understand committing such an act for money.
But then she remembered that she herself had married a man who once tried to kill her for money. Money really can drive people to madness.
“What’s your name?”
“Sophia.”
Sophia lifted her head and looked at Serrett. She appeared pitiful, terrified yet desperate.
“Sophia, I’ll give you a little more than what that person gave you.”
“Huh?”
“My lady!”
Sophia and Hanna’s eyes turned to Serrett.
“But you must find out who gave it to you. Who gave you this, and what exactly it is.”
“Yes! Yes!”
Sophia nodded earnestly.
“And you must report everything that person tells you to do.”
“O-of course.”
Sophia’s eyes shone with determination.
“This will remain between us. Now, stand up, Sophia.”
Sophia hesitated, then spoke.
“…It was a woman. The one I met. She almost completely hid her face with a cloak, so I couldn’t see clearly. Next time, I’ll try to pull the cloak to see.”
“No need to push yourself.”
“There’s another vial. I’ll bring it too. Thank you, my lady. Thank you so much.”
Sophia repeatedly thanked them and left the room.
“My lady, how can you trust her?”
Hanna frowned, displeased at Serrett forgiving Sophia.
“I don’t trust Sophia, but I do trust her desperate situation.”
Serrett shrugged.
“But what exactly is this medicine?”
Eve picked up the vial from the tea table and examined it.
“It’s definitely not poison. I’m still alive, after all.”
“It could be something that slowly harms the body. I’ll bring Dr. Kane.”
Hanna said, worried.
Before Serrett could respond, Eve spoke.
“This is medicine from the Held people.”
“The Held people?”
“You mean those witches?”
Hanna’s face turned pale.
The Held women, skilled in herbs, were once called witches. As a nomadic people proficient in poisons, they were feared and despised until a century ago. Even now, many consider them lower-class in Eirun.
“This is the symbol the Held people put on their vials. They believe it helps the medicine work effectively.”
Eve showed the bottom of the vial, where a sun within a triangle was drawn.
“How do you know so much, Miss Eve?”
Hanna blinked at Eve in surprise.
“There’s a Held lady living next door. I’ll ask her about this medicine. She should know.”
“Let’s go together, Eve.”
Serrett rose from her chair.
The Held lady next door, Glumima, welcomed them warmly.
“Long time no see, Eve.”
Glumima smiled and embraced Eve.
The Lashing baron family mingled freely with neighbors regardless of status. Glumima often cared for the baron’s children, which made their relationship even closer.
“And you are the Duchess of Prechtuster,” Glumima said, her expression slightly tense as she looked at Serrett.
“Pleased to meet you. Sorry for visiting without notice.”
“I welcome anyone who comes looking for me,” Glumima replied with a cheerful smile, leading them into the living room.
Glumima examined the vial Serrett handed her, sniffing and tasting it before heading downstairs, needing further confirmation. Her face showed academic curiosity.
“Excuse me for a moment.”
Eve explained, “Glumima has a workshop in the basement.”
“I see.”
Serrett nodded, her gaze anxiously fixed on the basement. What exactly had she taken?
Soon, Glumima returned to the living room, placing the vial on the table and speaking with a concerned expression.
“This is contraceptive medicine.”
