YPDM 10

Chapter 10

I was greatly relieved to learn that Lennox wasn’t one of Karinne’s people, and at the same time, I was startled by my own feelings.

Why am I relieved?

Just because he had a reasonable explanation for recognizing the Kualum leaf didn’t prove that it had nothing to do with Karinne.

Then why… why do I want to trust this man?

A man I’d only met today.

Get a grip.

Shaking away the thoughts cluttering my mind, I returned to the original topic.

“But the Rutolu Forest is a restricted area, isn’t it? How could leaves from trees growing there end up circulating in the capital?”

“That’s what I’d like to know.”

“Could someone have secretly entered through the barrier and stolen them?”

“No living creature can set foot in the Rutolu Forest without my permission.”

“Then what about leaving the barrier?”

Lennox paused for a moment before answering.

“Leaving the barrier is just as impossible. With one exception.”

“Evil spirits.”

A flicker of surprise crossed his face, and I shrugged.

“I was just guessing. I’ve heard there are many sinister beings in the Rutolu Forest.”

Besides, I’d witnessed Lennox destroying an evil spirit with my own eyes.

In any case, the situation wasn’t encouraging.

Something that should never have left that forest was mixed into the tea people were drinking.

I was sinking into despair when—

Neigh!

The carriage came to a stop with the sound of the horses crying out.

Glancing out the window, Lennox spoke leisurely.

“So you were planning to have an herbal merchant identify the tea leaves.”

“That’s right. But… after talking with Your Highness, I honestly don’t think it’ll mean much anymore.”

I murmured weakly, staring down at the leaf resting on my handkerchief.

Even an herbal merchant wouldn’t recognize a Kualum leaf that only grew in the Rutolu Forest.

Naturally, they wouldn’t know its properties or whether it was poisonous either.

Now that things had come to this, meeting Lennox truly felt like a stroke of luck.

Aside from the person who had mixed the leaf into my tea, he was probably the only one who knew what it really was.

“The tea you were drinking contained a Kualum leaf…”

The carriage fell silent as Lennox frowned, deep in thought.

His long fingers began tapping lightly against the table.

Tap.

Tap.

The steady rhythm echoed softly through the carriage as his wrist moved with lazy precision.

“I don’t know how to interpret this.”

It wasn’t hard to understand his confusion.

A Kualum leaf that should have remained inside the Rutolu Forest had been found in the tea caddy of a noble household in the imperial capital.

“Is there… any chance this isn’t actually a Kualum leaf?”

“No.”

He shook his head firmly.

“Everything from the Rutolu Forest carries a unique aura. I can sense it. This is unquestionably a Kualum leaf.”

“I see…”

“If I had to describe it… it’s a scent that doesn’t belong in this land.”

So that had been the answer.

Thinking of Ash, who still hadn’t shown himself, I let out a bitter smile.

Just then Lennox muttered, his brows knitted together.

“It doesn’t make sense. There’s no reason for someone to secretly add a Kualum leaf when it has no effect whatsoever.”

“It isn’t poisonous?”

The question was a dangerous one.

It practically revealed that I suspected someone was trying to poison me.

But Lennox showed no sign of agitation.

He simply stated the facts.

“The Kualum tree’s poison exists only in its fruit. The leaves are colorless, odorless, and nothing more than ordinary foliage.”

“That can’t be…”

I hadn’t expected that at all.

Was I chasing the wrong lead?

That brought me right back to square one.

All the energy drained out of me.

I’d been full of determination when I left today, but now I had no idea what to do next.

“Are you alright? You don’t look well.”

“I’m just a little tired. I’ll be fine after I get some rest.”

I waved a hand dismissively and forced a smile.

But there was no hiding the turmoil inside me.

Watching me quietly, Lennox let out a soft sigh.

“I don’t know the circumstances you’re facing…”

He paused, appearing to weigh his words carefully before speaking in a thoughtful tone.

“But whatever choice you make, I hope it’s one you make for your own sake.”

What did he mean?

The words were so vague and broad that I couldn’t arrive at any clear conclusion.

Yet somehow…

They comforted me.

The entire ride back to the viscount’s estate, I kept thinking about what he’d said, turning the words over and over in my mind.

I made it back to my bedroom safely largely thanks to Lennox.

Not only did he escort me all the way to the estate, but he also circled around to a side path so I wouldn’t be seen.

There was a small hole in the wall there, just large enough for someone of a slight build to squeeze through.

It was the very same opening Olivia often used in the original story.

Meanwhile, Ash returned to the estate much later and couldn’t escape my interrogation.

“Tell me the truth. You knew an evil spirit might come after me, didn’t you?”

[“N-No! I-I didn’t know!”]

“Don’t lie. You were the one who told me there are plenty of beings who covet the power of Epure.”

[“Th-That’s…”]

“Well, we’ll find out tomorrow morning. Horns grow on the backsides of liars.”

[“E-Eek!”]

Faced with my half-serious threat, he panicked, fidgeting helplessly before finally confessing everything.

Not long afterward, he drifted off to sleep.

I carried the little guy—who was mumbling, *’No horns…’ *in his sleep—to the head of the bed before lying down beside him.

It had been an exhausting, overwhelming day.

Yet even late into the night, long after darkness had swallowed the world outside, I couldn’t fall asleep.

I simply lay there, staring endlessly at the ceiling.

Two peaceful days passed without any major incidents.

The disappointment from my outing gradually faded, and I recovered my spirits.

I still secretly threw away the tea containing the Kualum leaves without taking a single sip.

I just can’t trust it.

Even if the leaves weren’t poisonous, I had absolutely no desire to drink it.

No one secretly slips something into another person’s food with good intentions.

“The weather’s nice.”

I’d stayed cooped up in my room ever since, trying not to attract attention.

Now I desperately wanted to feel the warm sunshine.

I decided to step outside for a little while.

“Do you see anyone by those stairs?”

[“Nobody! I think it’s safe to go now!”]

As Ash fluttered his wings while keeping watch, I quickly slipped into the hallway and hurried down the stairs.

My palms were sweaty the whole time, worried I’d run into Karinne.

But my fears proved unnecessary.

I didn’t encounter a single person before making it outside.

“Whew…”

I had no idea where I’d found the courage to sneak out the other day.

Perhaps I’d simply believed everything would work out.

Maybe that hope had been stronger than my fear.

[“I’ll go check around the estate!”]

“Meet me in the back garden. Be careful not to get caught.”

After waving him off, I turned toward the rear garden.

The path there was quiet.

Unlike the carefully landscaped front garden, the back looked more like an open meadow.

Still, the warm sunlight made it feel like a pleasant stroll.

As I walked slowly, something caught my eye.

A swing hung beneath a huge tree.

There’s a swing all the way out here?

It was simple but sturdy.

The wood was smooth from years of use, suggesting it had been carefully maintained.

Maybe I’ll give it a try.

I sat down and pushed off with my feet a few times.

Soon the swing carried me gently into the air.

It traced wide arcs through the breeze.

The cheerful sound of the wind rushing past was surprisingly soothing.

“…I wish I could just live like this forever.”

A life where no one threatened me.

A simple life filled with small moments of happiness.

To make that possible…

I had to find a way to survive.

A way to protect myself from all my enemies.

I wonder what Karinne is doing.

I’d deliberately stayed locked in my room to avoid running into her.

If we met without any plan, I had no idea what might happen.

Thankfully, she hadn’t come looking for me.

But as time passed, uneasiness slowly began creeping into my heart.

Was it because of Epure’s intuition?

No matter how I thought about it, Karinne didn’t seem like the type to sit back and do nothing.

She’s probably thinking of every possible way to get rid of me.

Trying to shake off the gloomy thoughts, I kicked off harder.

The swing rose even higher.

The wide meadow spread out before me beneath the open sky.

The vibrant green scenery gradually washed away the muddy chaos in my heart.

A narrow footpath winding through the grass looked strangely inviting.

Where does that path lead?

[“Olivia!”]

My curiosity was interrupted by Ash calling my name.

“You’re back?”

As I slowed the swing to a stop, he immediately landed on my lap as though he’d been waiting.

“How did it go? Did you find Karinne?”

[“No. I looked everywhere, but I couldn’t find her. Are you sure she’s even in the estate?”]

“That’s strange. You checked every room through the windows?”

[“Yeah. But some rooms had thick curtains drawn, so I couldn’t see inside at all.”]

It wasn’t the answer I’d hoped for, but instead of showing my disappointment, I gently stroked his head.

“I see. Thanks for your hard work.”

Just then, a voice came from behind me.

“Miss Olivia.”

It was Mary.