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Chapter 13
After finishing my chores, I lay on the bed and pulled up the status window.
I used to wonder what this thing was even for—turns out, it was made for times exactly like this.
I stared hard at the [Detoxification] skill on the window. It was still only level 1.
I cautiously tapped on it.
[You cannot use this yet.]
So a level 1 detox skill isn’t enough to save Taiburn…
And his poisoning was still ongoing, which meant it would only get worse.
Could I raise the detoxification level fast enough to treat him before he died?
How the heck do I even level it up?
I frantically searched the status window.
“…Herb trimming?”
Would that do the trick? I scratched my cheek. Well, it shouldn’t be too hard, right?
Today was the first day of Taiburn personally instructing me. Hider walked into the training yard carrying all the anticipation and excitement of that fact.
Apparently, the duchess had coaxed Carte into coming out too. Judging by his pouting lips and the scowl between his brows, he must’ve thrown quite a tantrum before finally showing up.
Hider glanced at Carte briefly before quickly losing interest.
But Carte wasn’t the same.
He blamed everything that had happened on Hider. None of this would’ve happened if Hider hadn’t volunteered for training in the first place.
He wouldn’t have embarrassed himself by puking during a meal, nor would he have gotten scolded by his father for it.
“How could you let a child behave like that? To show such disgrace in front of the Duke!”
The current Duke of Herden was more afraid of Taiburn than anyone else. He was always convinced Taiburn could strip him of his title at any moment.
“Father is an idiot. He’s a Duke and yet he loses to Grandpa every single time.”
Carte picked up a rock from the ground. He now had the perfect scapegoat for all his pent-up frustrations right in front of him.
The Duchess Kiera had always called Hider a bug. She taught Carte that Hider was someone who should forever be crawling at his feet.
Carte hurled the stone at Hider.
“Hey, you filthy mutt!”
Hider glanced at the rock that hit his shoulder and dropped to the ground. Then he turned his head away. Carte was already picking up another rock.
“You think Grandpa likes you, huh? He doesn’t! Who would ever like a mutt like you? If I tell Mom, you’ll be kicked out in no time!”
Carte spoke smugly. The Duchess had never denied him anything he wanted before.
Hider let out a long sigh.
“Go ahead, try it.”
His voice was cold. Truth be told, Hider had once thought it would be better to be a beggar on the streets than live this miserable life. At least that would’ve been more peaceful.
Back when no one listened to him or stood by his side, he’d tried to run away from the Duke’s estate more than once.
But every time, they caught him and dragged him back.
“You’re the disgrace of Kartieron. What will people think if they recognize you?”
Back then, the Duchess’s eyes had gleamed in a bizarre way—so intensely that it was like her true cruelty was laid bare.
She found joy in venting her anger on Hider and making his life hell.
She needed a punching bag—and that was him.
And every time he was dragged back after running away, he was beaten to within an inch of his life. Eventually, Hider gave up trying to escape.
He resolved to just live like a ghost in this mansion until he died.
But then, Lani changed.
Lani became his air—his light.
Hider was determined to survive and grow stronger in order to protect her.
“I’m not scared of you. Not one bit.”
“Ugh! You filthy mutt, how dare you talk back! Kneel!”
Carte stomped his foot like a tantrum-throwing child, then grabbed a sharp rock with trembling hands.
With glinting, manic eyes, he charged at Hider and raised his arm as if to strike him down.
“Die! If you don’t listen, I’ll kill you all! I told you to kneel!!”
Hider stood frozen in place, completely still, as if offering up his body.
“What do you think you’re doing, Carte!!”
The voice echoed across the training ground, and Carte froze in place.
Hider scoffed and whispered mockingly to him.
“Idiot.”
He couldn’t even sense Taiburn’s presence. And this was supposed to be the Duke’s heir?
Taiburn grabbed Carte by the back of his neck and lifted him into the air.
“I asked what you’re doing, Carte!”
“Guhk!”
Carte trembled violently and even wet himself. Hider wiped the blood from his lips as he watched.
Serves him right.
It had been a while since the Duchess summoned me.
I checked on Dania’s condition before heading to her.
Thankfully, Dania hadn’t betrayed me. That meant she probably hadn’t said anything unnecessary to the Duchess.
Then why was she calling for me now? What did she want this time?
Sigh.
“Ah, Lani.”
The Duchess greeted me with a faint smile as she held her forehead. It was early in the morning, and she was still in her pajamas. Meanwhile, I’d been trimming herbs since dawn.
“…You must’ve had a hard time in the attic.”
“Not at all, Duchess. I was completely fine. You were watching over me, after all.”
Lani was paid far more than the other trainee maids for looking after—and spying on—Hider.
The perfect flattery. Kiera’s smile deepened. That unwavering trust she had in me.
My status window sparkled.
[Master of Deception v.5]
I hadn’t even done much, yet the skill kept leveling up. Well, I was acting every day, after all.
Thanks to this skill, I could easily deceive others—and that included now. The Duchess didn’t doubt me for a second.
She slumped in her chair and continued.
“I’m glad you think that way. Whew. So, what did Hider do while he was up in the attic?”
“Nothing out of the ordinary. He mostly sat by the window. Honestly, he’s dumb. Doesn’t know how to do anything. Ate what he was given and did what he was told.”
“Tsk.”
The Duchess clicked her tongue softly.
“…But he does seem to look healthier.”
“He was locked up with nothing to do. Probably just got chubby from lying around all day.”
“That might be true. In any case, thanks to you, we got through that crisis. When did you even prepare that outfit?”
“Oh, it was nothing, Duchess. Dania helped me. We just picked up something someone had thrown away.”
I brushed it off casually. As long as the Duchess trusted me, she wasn’t going to dig deeper. And really, the origin of the clothes wasn’t all that important anyway.
“You worked hard. You did really well in such a short time, Lani.”
“Hehe. Thank you.”
“While we’re at it, I have a favor to ask.”
The Duchess opened a drawer and took out a small black bottle. Just seeing it sent chills down my spine.
No way—was she going to ask me to poison Taiburn?
No, come on. She doesn’t even know I have a skill like that. And I’m just a kid—would she really ask me to do something like that?
“Put one drop of this into Hider’s food each time.”
Phew… Wait—no, that’s not a relief. You want me to put that in a growing child’s food?
“D-Duchess, I might get caught… I could be executed… Even if he’s illegitimate, he’s still of the Duke’s bloodline.”
My fake panic worked. The Duchess began to spill her real intentions.
“I’m not trying to kill him, Lani.”
Her voice softened. She reached out and gently took my hand.
“I would never make you do something so dangerous.”
Sure you would. You definitely seem like the type who would.
