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Chapter 14
Tears welled up in my eyes as I spoke.
“Then what kind of medicine is it?”
“It’s a drug that causes muscle deterioration. Just a single drop will only have a minimal effect.”
I could see right through this vixen’s intentions. I knew exactly why she wanted to use this medicine.
It was to keep Hider from outshining Karte. And to hold back Hider from gaining exceptional skills after being trained by Taibern.
Seriously? She’d go this far to a child?
Hider might act mature, but he was only thirteen years old.
“No one will ever know. This much, you can do for me, right, Lani?”
The duchess spoke in a firm tone and forcibly shoved the vial into my hand. It wasn’t something I had the choice to refuse.
“…What if I use too much? If I accidentally add too much, couldn’t something serious happen?”
“That won’t happen, Lani. I told you, this isn’t poison. Even if you poured the entire bottle, Hider wouldn’t die. At most… he might lose function in his lower body.”
Wow.
The Duchess Kiera’s eyes sparkled.
And that’s not poison? Just because it doesn’t kill, it’s not poison?
No wonder she ends up burning to death someday.
Now let’s imagine I refuse to go along with this.
Kiera had money. And unlike me, she had power. If I said no, she’d just find someone else.
Someone willing to do what she wanted in exchange for her money.
Rather than letting that happen, it was better if I was the one holding this medicine.
I smiled brightly and said,
“I understand perfectly, Duchess! You’re saying we should teach that arrogant Hider a little lesson, right?”
“That’s right! You really are clever, Lani. I can’t tell you how much strength you give me.”
“Oh, you flatter me. I’d do anything for you, Duchess!”
“Thank you, Lani. I’ll never forget what you’ve done for me. I’ll make sure your future is secure.”
“Thank you, Duchess.”
She shoved a coin pouch into my pocket. Frankly, it was a measly sum compared to all the vegetables, socks, and clothes I’d been selling until now.
To think she tried to buy me with that tiny amount.
Now, what should I do with this drug?
The best thing would be to return it to the one who gave it.
The news that Karte had come home crying and carried in by a servant also reached Kiera. She rushed straight to his room.
Ever since Taibern arrived, there hadn’t been a single peaceful day. The children who used to be obedient and kind now cried every day.
Kiera hugged Karte tightly as he clung to her.
“That damn old man.”
She gritted her teeth. Who wouldn’t be furious after seeing their precious son crying and soaked in pee?
“Waaaah, Mom! Do something about Grandpa! He only loves Hider!”
Karte stomped his feet.
“Alright. I’ll talk to him, okay? But first, go wash up.”
“I hate morning training! Can’t I just go back to how things used to be?”
He begged with teary eyes.
And by “how things used to be,” he meant pretending to train.
There were eyes watching, and Taibern received regular reports from Karte’s swordsmanship instructor.
So Kiera had bribed that instructor with money. There was nothing money couldn’t buy.
The instructor then made false reports, saying Karte was training for three hours a day.
Karte clung to the Duchess’s arm and whined.
Kiera sighed deeply. Taibern was being too harsh on a boy who had just turned twelve.
“At ten, I could already take down small monsters on my own. And Karte can’t even do the basics? What kind of upbringing is that?”
No wonder Karte freaked out just at the sight of Taibern.
Honestly, Kiera couldn’t understand why Karte had to work so hard. That kind of effort was for commoners. Karte only needed to lead.
Why send this child into dangerous places?
Taibern was so outdated. The knights would follow Karte no matter what. That was his birthright as a Cartieron.
What Karte needed to learn wasn’t swordsmanship, but how to command and give orders.
Effort was for those who lacked things. Like Hider, for example.
“Stop crying. Didn’t I promise you I’d take care of it? If you keep this up, you’ll pass out.”
Kiera barely held back her fury as she watched her son’s retreating back heading to the bath.
She had already contacted a merchant known for handling strong medicines. She was looking for a poison that would never be traced.
If the old medicine doesn’t work, just get a new one.
But getting such a drug wasn’t easy, so she needed time.
She didn’t know how long it would take, but it wouldn’t be long.
And once Taibern was dead, peace would return to this mansion.
“Just trust Mommy, Karte.”
Kiera’s eyes glittered like a snake’s.
After hearing such nonsense and coming back, I was met with an even more ridiculous sight.
Hider had returned from training covered in bruises and blood. It was a total mess—like he’d been scratched and slammed into something.
“What in the world happened, young master?”
I grabbed both of Hider’s cheeks and glared.
As if I didn’t already know.
“Karte did this, didn’t he? That crybaby brat did this to you, didn’t he?!”
“I’m fine, Lani.”
Hider’s face turned red as he tried to pull my hands away.
But he couldn’t match my strength. He looked flustered as he tried to pry my hands off.
“If you tell me the truth, I’ll let go. Karte did this, didn’t he?”
“…I really am fine. Compared to injuries I’ve had before, this is nothing.”
“I’ll teach him a lesson. Want me to do to him what he did to you?”
“No, Lani!”
Hider looked panicked, even letting go of my wrist and shaking his head violently.
“No way. Grandpa already scolded him. He went crying and wet himself and had to be carried off by a servant, really.”
“Whew.”
Kiera, that fox of a woman—what kind of parenting is this?
I gritted my teeth without realizing it.
I started rummaging through drawers, imagining hundreds of ways to punish that damn brat.
I could feel Hider watching me nervously.
Compared to before, when he used to bristle and be on edge around me, he had become so docile. He followed me around like a little puppy now.
It should be around here somewhere.
People would start ignoring Hider again if he got hurt. So I had raided the medicine cabinet a while ago and kept a stash. I remembered seeing a salve that was supposed to be amazing for wounds.
Ah, found it!
I pulled out a round container and sat Hider on the bed. His eyes widened.
“Just a moment, young master. This is supposed to be very effective. They say new skin grows just from applying it.”
“Really?”
“Yes. Once I apply this, it won’t hurt anymore.”
Ugh, seriously. How could anyone be so wicked?
I gently blew on the wound and started applying the salve. But strangely, the more I applied it, the redder Hider’s face became. Maybe he had a fever.
Well, it makes sense. With injuries like that, inflammation is likely.
Ugh, I’m so mad.
Should I just feed that medicine to Karte?
No, no. Calm down, Lani. He’s just a kid too. Let’s not cross the line.
I ground my teeth.
Hider slowly leaned back, away from me.
“Young master? What’s wrong?”
I leaned forward to follow him, which made my body tip over too.
“Eek!”
