B Chapter 32

Madness grass was actually only called by that name in Elpasa. In the Empire, it was called by a different name.

'Madness grass? I've never heard of it—where is she trying to scam!'

The imperial doctor had naturally never heard of such a poisonous plant. Since she was a girl brought by the Grand Duke, the doctor couldn't say a word and just wiped the sweat pouring like rain. Stopping that maid wouldn't help him know the patient's diagnosis either.

"Didn't you write that detoxification was possible?"

"Yes, if you boil wind flower and drink it, they'll recover quickly."

Fortunately, wind flower was something the doctor knew about.

However,

"Wind flower is a precious medicinal herb that can only be obtained from herbalists by ordering in advance."

The doctor said grumpily.

"It's difficult to obtain immediately."

"What? But there were plenty in the garden."

Chloe had toured the castle in the morning. The well-maintained garden showed at a glance how much effort the count's wife and three daughters had put into it. Moreover, the garden had many wind flower sprouts planted instead of grass.

'In Elpasa it was so expensive the seeds dried up, but in the Empire it's used as grass?'

Thinking it was such a waste and clicking her tongue, she had looked carefully around the garden to see if there were any other medicinal herbs.

"Nonsense! Wind flower is a precious medicinal herb that would arrive three days after ordering even now!"

The doctor snorted and scolded Chloe. Though her manner of examining the patients looked quite skilled, he couldn't believe the words of a lowly maid. But the Grand Duke ignored the words of the official doctor. Yet, as if he completely trusted the girl, he gave instructions without asking further.

"Bring it."

The doctor, whose pride was hurt, clenched his fists. Since it was an urgent situation, there was no other option.

"Yes, I'll go... and come back quickly."

Chloe ran to the garden.

'Who would have thought His Grace would entrust a knight's wellbeing to a maid?'

Silence settled in the bedroom.

'Though it was an urgent situation.'

Even for Evan, what had just happened was shocking. No matter how much the Grand Duke valued ability, that maid was a slave.

'A slave of unknown origin.'

Evan couldn't shake the feeling that he had seen the maid somewhere before whenever he looked at her. That's why he felt more suspicious... but Alessandro quite trusted that maid.

'Still, we should know exactly where she's from.'

Calling the maid for interrogation would be the same as insulting the Grand Duke.

'But since Aaron recommended her... it should be fine.'

Knock knock.

The one who knocked on the door was Chloe. Having returned to the bedroom in no time, she set down the handful of grass she had brought onto the table. Upon confirming this, the doctor scoffed. As far as he could see, these grasses were absolutely not wind flowers.

"Should we feed them this?"

"Yes, but it must be boiled and given to them."

Chloe answered, pretending not to see the doctor's expression. The Grand Duke ordered the maids.

"Go boil the medicine and bring it."

"Yes, Your Grace."

When the maids left the room, Evan cautiously approached the Grand Duke and whispered.

"Your Grace, this concerns Sir Rohan's life and death."

The Grand Duke, with his arms loosely crossed, answered in a flat voice.

"That doctor cannot provide detoxification. If there's another method, tell me."

"..."

Of course, he couldn't give any answer. Instead, Evan looked at Chloe and asked.

"Are you certain about the detoxification method?"

"Yes, in my opinion."

"Hmm, it's puzzling that only they were poisoned when everyone ate the same food."

Chloe recalled the story she had heard in the dining hall.

"Well, Sir Rohan, his attendant, and the maid secretly ate... baby wild boar."

Just then, the maids brought medicine with steam rising vigorously from it. For something boiled in haste, it seemed well-steeped. The maids blew on the medicine, cooling it with hoo hoo, and trickled it spoonful by spoonful into the patients' mouths. Fortunately, the knight swallowed the medicine, but the attendant spilled almost all of it. Thinking this wouldn't do, Chloe raised the attendant's upper body and tilted his head back. She helped so the medicine could go down more easily.

Evan, who had been watching the situation said,

"Then the count is unrelated to this incident."

"We'll know if we wait and see."

He meant they should watch Sir Rohan and the attendant's progress. But Evan's concerns didn't end there.

"Commander, we've lost Smith, so the knight order has no doctor. When should we contact the capital?"

They couldn't continue their journey across the Empire without a doctor.

"But even if a new doctor is dispatched, where should they join us..."

At Evan's worry-filled words, Alessandro silently watched Chloe. Focusing on her seriously treating the patients, he belatedly answered.

"I don't think we'll need a separate doctor."

The doctor couldn't be trusted.

'The high fever is starting to come down.'

Not only that, but their breathing, which had been erratic and chaotic, had stabilized.

And the next morning. What woke the doctor from his fitful sleep was none other than Sir Rohan. The doctor who examined the now-conscious Rohan was shocked to see his condition, which had improved beyond recognition compared to yesterday.

"So you really started having stomach troubles after eating the young wild boar?"

"That's right. My attendant caught and cooked it, so I only tasted it, but I had no idea this would happen..."

"When did the fever start?"

"The fever began that night. Oh, my maid also ate it with me—do you know how she is? Is she all right?"

"The maid was found dead yesterday."

Sir Rohan was horrified.

"I heard that a doctor from the knight order named Smith met the same fate."

"Dear God..."

Sir Rohan closed his eyes as if in silent prayer, comforting his grieved heart. Meanwhile, the doctor examined the attendant's condition.

'He'll regain consciousness soon.'

It was good news, but bittersweet. That maid had been right.

"In any case, I'm truly grateful. I'm in your debt. I shall repay this kindness."

Sir Rohan looked at the doctor as he spoke. However, the doctor couldn't meet his eyes for long and turned his head away.

'Why is he acting like that?'

Sir Rohan found it strange, but instead of pressing the doctor, he asked Evan's maid about what had happened during his unconsciousness. How many days he had been out, who had visited, and so on.

Knock knock.

Just then, someone knocked on the door.

"Deputy Commander Kupiheilt has arrived."

The attendant announced from outside. Sir Rohan quickly rose from his seat.

'I have no excuse.'

He knew the mistake he had made. Evan entered the bedroom with a stern expression and faced Sir Rohan.

"Truly disappointing."

"...I have nothing to say in my defense."

Comrades who fought back-to-back on the battlefield had to act together in all things. Therefore, it was a principle that the group ate meals together. Individual actions were absolutely forbidden in the knight order. Yet Sir Rohan had secretly eaten wild boar, and as a result, two people had lost their lives. The greatest sin was dishonor. To display such shameful behavior in a count's territory—it was a disgrace to the knight order.

If they hadn't been able to identify the disease, Count Lambut, as the lord of the territory, would have borne the full responsibility. The knight order wielded power as great as the imperial palace. The count had nearly been stripped of his lordship unjustly.

"Confine yourself to your room during our stay."

"...Yes."

Sir Rohan mentally berated himself. As Evan finished his business and turned to leave, the doctor called out to stop him.

"Ah, Deputy Commander."

The doctor's expression was serious.

"I would like to speak with that girl from yesterday..."

Early morning. The Grand Duke received his report.

"Sir Rohan regained consciousness at dawn. He's in remarkably good condition."

"The attendant?"

"The attendant is still asleep, but according to the doctor, he's in stable condition."

The Grand Duke showed no surprise at all. As if he already knew, he nodded calmly.

"You may go."

"Yes."

After the attendant left, Chloe brought a simple breakfast to his bedroom.

"Well then..."

As always, she bowed and was about to leave when his behavior was different from usual. He suddenly held out an empty water glass to her.

'Huh?'

Chloe froze like a broken doll.

'Ah, he wants me to pour water.'

Belatedly catching on, she quickly poured the water.

'Can I leave now?'

As she hesitated, this time he held out an empty milk glass. After she filled it with milk, next he held out an empty jam plate. Chloe hurried over to serve him jam. Having caught on to his intention, Chloe finally began properly attending to his meal by his side.

'He used to tell me to leave when he ate!'

She grumbled inwardly, but attending to him was her job.

'Does he suddenly want to be waited on because he's eating in a castle?'

Chloe helped with his meal time, recalling the service she had received when she was a princess. However, the Grand Duke hadn't kept her close to receive service—he wanted to observe her closely.

'How diligent.'

He was inwardly amused. The maid treated him as if he were a noble young lady. There were noticeable signs of this—for instance, the way she placed dishes. Young ladies' dresses had long sleeves, so all dishes were placed only in the center of the table. When Chloe set down empty plates, she only moved dishes toward the center of the table. She even absurdly tried to pull out his chair after the meal ended.

'Why would a slave have learned noble dining etiquette?'

Had she served a noblewoman?

'Because of Anna?'

It didn't add up. The more he learned about this maid, the more it felt like reading a fascinating novel. Every page he turned revealed completely unexpected things. Thanks to this, lately he had been making it a small pleasure to observe his maid. He wanted to slowly discover the answers. He could use direct methods to uncover the truth, but that seemed like cheating.

'I have plenty of time.'

Alessandro smiled silently as he watched his maid. She was quietly looking down, glancing at him and wondering 'when can I leave?'

"Go have your breakfast."

"Yes."