TPFB 21

Chapter 21

The Plan

In the quiet of the study, I sat across from Lord Keith, organizing my thoughts about Duchess Marguerite’s symptoms.

“Let’s see… the situation back then was…”

• She has been feeling unwell recently.

• Her complexion looks pale (like she might be anemic).

• She’s experiencing unexplained fatigue.

• Sometimes, she feels especially ill after certain meals?

I carefully wrote everything down on paper.

“…Hmm.”

Lord Keith lowered his eyes to the notes and fell into quiet thought.

“According to the physicians, the cause of Duchess Marguerite’s illness is currently unknown.”
“I see… Could it be related to her meals?”

The thoughts Lilybel had in my dream flitted across my mind.

“Meals? The palace food is strictly controlled. Every dish is tested for poison, and nothing has been detected.”

It seemed Lord Keith had already investigated various possibilities. I nodded as I listened.

(Not poison… something that might be harmful only to certain people…)

I recalled that such things existed in modern times. Certain foods or drinks could have a huge impact on some individuals. That’s right—I had also been unable to eat certain things in my previous life.

“It might be possible that the problem lies with the ingredients themselves,” I suggested.
“For example?”
“Perhaps she’s consuming something that doesn’t suit her constitution, or maybe something she regularly eats has somehow developed an abnormal effect.”

The phrase “food allergy” came to my mind.

I couldn’t eat shellfish like shrimp or crab. Not only could I not eat them directly, but even accidentally consuming them in powdered form in sweets caused my body to break out in hives, which was serious. I’d also heard that more severe symptoms could occur, and that allergies could develop later in life.

“That’s definitely a possibility,” Lord Keith nodded.

“However, to confirm it, we would need to examine the meals she actually eats.”
“In that case… should we speak with the lady-in-waiting who prepares Duchess Marguerite’s meals?”
“That is one approach, yes, but…”

Lord Keith paused for a moment before looking at me.

“How about speaking with your half-brother, Lord Roland?”
“Lord Roland?”
“Yes. He is the one who sees her mother most closely. If there’s anything unusual, he’s likely noticed it.”
“True…”

I stopped writing.

He might have noticed changes in Mother’s health. That tea gathering must be a regularly scheduled event.

“…Then, I’ll ask Lord Roland directly!”

I resolved to do so. There was no time to waste; I had to ask in person.

Of course, in my current state, I didn’t know where to find Lord Roland. I knew almost nothing about the palace.

“In that case, why not go while Lord Roland is training at the knight academy?”

I lifted my face at Lord Keith’s suggestion.

“Training?”
“Yes. Lord Roland usually practices with the knights in the evenings.”
“I see…!”

As expected of Lord Keith—he knew everything.

If I went after training, I might be able to naturally gather information. Speaking with my brother could even increase my chances of survival.

Now that I thought about it, secretly questioning the ladies-in-waiting might seem suspicious.

“Thank you for the advice, Lord Keith. I’ll go and speak with Lord Roland right away!”
“Yes. That would be best.”

Lord Keith gave a faint nod.

In any case, this was something I wouldn’t have noticed on my own. I would need to continue my investigation little by little, with his guidance.

(I hope it goes well with Lord Roland…)

Would he understand me? I clenched my fist quietly, trying to steady my nerves.

Passing through the palace gardens dyed in the colors of dusk, I arrived at the knight academy’s training grounds, alive with the sounds of clashing swords and shouted commands.

“Ha!”
“There!”

Every sharp clang of metal caught my eyes—each knight moved with speed, power, and precision.

(Wow… amazing…)

Living quietly in the palace’s secondary residence, this world seemed almost like another dimension to me.

And at the center of it all—

“There he is… Lord Roland!”

His red hair gleamed in the sunlight as he swung his sword with a sharp, focused gaze.

He exchanged strikes with knights repeatedly, finding openings to thrust and parry with precision. Every subtle movement avoided attacks while landing accurate blows. The sheer power and grace of his technique was mesmerizing.

(I don’t understand swordsmanship at all, but… incredible…!)

It was the first time I had seen him train like this. Honestly, there were very few opportunities to see him at all.

It seemed he had kept his distance from me too—likely because I, a younger sister with little presence in the palace, didn’t capture his interest.

(Really… why has Lilybel been treated so coldly?)

Even though I was related to Lord Luke by blood, I had almost no memories of meeting the king, who was supposed to be my parent. Perhaps I had been abandoned for not being exceptional… But to leave a child like that?

The thoughts were endless. Right now, though, Lord Roland was my priority.

Clenching my fist tightly, I observed quietly from the edge of the training ground.