Chapter 87
“Mother!”
Aicel ran to the bed, where Diana and Calypso were tangled. Diana quickly escaped from Calypso’s arms.
“Aicel!”
Now that Aicel was here, not even someone like Calypso could do anything to her.
Aicel ran into Diana’s embrace. Thankfully, it seemed nothing had happened yet.
“Ugh…”
Calypso groaned from the bed. Diana glared at him coldly, then said sweetly:
“Let me help you up, Calypso.
Aicel, go call Alicia right away.”
“Yes, Mother!”
Aicel rushed downstairs. The maids who had heard the noise helped support Calypso, who looked like he was barely holding on. Because Aicel was here, he was trying not to lose control. Even if he lost his mind, he wouldn’t want to show anything shameful to the daughter he cherished.
Lying on the bed, he still breathed heavily.
Diana stared at him with a chilling gaze, her shirt completely torn at the buttons from his earlier frenzy.
“Just hold on a bit. Alicia’s on her way.”
Soon, Alicia arrived with Aicel. She flinched at the sight of Diana, who looked perfectly fine. Seeing Calypso trembling in bed, she realized nothing had happened. Her teeth clenched in frustration.
Diana smirked at Alicia’s flustered face. Alicia had probably expected one of two things—either Diana had been assaulted, or resisted and made Calypso suspicious.
Looks like the goddess is on my side, Alicia.
“Take a look at Calypso,” Diana said coldly.
“You gave him the drug. You can make the antidote, can’t you?”
“Huh…?”
Alicia froze.
“Isn’t it obvious? You’re the one who brought Calypso and me to the same room.”
Diana’s icy words made Alicia fumble to pull out her bag and scramble through her medicines. Her hands shook as she found the antidote—but dropped it. The bottle shattered on the floor.
Diana let out a light laugh at Alicia’s trembling hands and said casually:
“I know you were worried about Calypso and me, but this was unnecessary, Alicia.”
That hit Alicia hard. Diana hadn’t even realized she had almost walked into a trap. That fool didn’t suspect anything.
Behind her hair, Alicia’s lips curled into a small smirk.
So, Diana didn’t know about the affair—or worse, maybe she knew and still forgave them.
Either way, it didn’t matter. Diana had no intention of punishing her.
“Yes… I overstepped.”
Diana leaned in and whispered in Alicia’s ear, so Aicel wouldn’t hear.
“Aicel’s sudden arrival really startled me. Doing this kind of thing in broad daylight—so naughty.”
“Ahaha… I’ll try to bring it at night next time, Your Grace…”
What an idiot. Alicia laughed inside.
She had no more reason to fear Diana.
Completely unaware of the killing intent in Diana’s eyes, Alicia quickly prepared a new antidote.
Since she was the one who made the drug, the antidote was easy for her.
She fed it to Calypso, and his flushed cheeks returned to normal.
“Father should rest now.
Let’s go, Aicel.”
“Yes, Mother.”
* * *
Diana slammed the door behind her, fists trembling.
“Mother, are you alright?”
“Yes… Thanks to you, nothing happened.”
Though it had been Ruairi who really helped, Aicel didn’t want to lie to her mother. But remembering his pleading blue eyes asking her to keep the secret, she stayed quiet.
“This can’t go on.”
“What?”
“It’s time to deal with Alicia.”
“How?”
Diana didn’t answer. She just smiled sweetly—like someone who could never harbor a wicked thought.
“I’ll pay Alicia a visit.”
“Okay, Mother.”
Still smiling softly, Diana headed for Alicia’s room.
“Alicia.”
“Y-Your Grace?”
They had just parted. Why was Diana here again?
Alicia, feeling uneasy, looked at her nervously.
“I need a favor.”
“A favor?”
Alicia stiffened.
“Catherine’s been weak lately. Could you make her a tonic?”
“O-of course.”
The memory of Catherine pushing her away made Alicia reply with a lifeless voice.
Diana continued gently.
“You know those new books that were delivered?”
“Yes, they’re here.”
Books full of recent medical research were piled on the desk, well-used with notes written all over them.
Diana nodded approvingly.
“Make something with proven effects. The ingredients should be in the storage.”
“Yes, understood.”
“Thanks for your help, Alicia.”
The dice had been cast.
Alicia’s end was near.
It was as if a sandglass behind her had begun running out.
Diana left the room with a twisted smile.
* * *
“Mmm…”
Catherine groaned and slowly opened her eyes.
But something was wrong.
“Huh…?”
Even though her eyes were open, everything was still dark.
“Ahh!”
She screamed, groping the air. A bottle on the table shattered as it fell.
A maid rushed in.
“Your Grace!”
“I-I can’t see!”
Her voice trembled in fear.
“W-wait, I’ll go get the doctor!”
The maid ran straight to Alicia’s room.
Alicia burst in moments later, face pale with shock.
“Catherine!”
“I can’t see!”
Alicia grabbed her flailing arms.
“Calm down!”
“What’s wrong with my eyes?!”
She was panicking. Catherine had been getting better—why this now?
“What’s going on?!”
Diana came rushing in after hearing from the maid.
“Mother!”
Catherine pushed Alicia’s hands away and tried to get up, but tripped and fell.
“Oh, Catherine!”
Diana quickly helped her up.
“What happened?!”
“Mother! I really can’t see!”
Catherine was crying out of fear. It was real—she couldn’t see anything.
“Why does this only happen to you…?”
Diana glanced at Alicia, who looked shaken and rejected by her daughter.
“Alicia, get a grip! Check Catherine’s eyes!”
“Y-yes!”
Alicia nervously examined Catherine’s eyes. The sparkle was gone. The whites of her eyes were cloudy, and the area around them looked dark.
It was poison.
But who would poison Catherine?
“I-I think she was poisoned.”
“Poisoned?! Who would poison her?!”
Diana shouted with a composed but angry voice.
“I… I don’t know…”
Alicia trailed off, looking anxiously at the crying Catherine.
She’s panicking, Diana thought, then asked Belinda:
“Belinda, who’s been giving Catherine her medicine?”
“The doctor always administered it herself. No maids were involved.”
Belinda answered firmly. That snapped Alicia out of her shock.
Something was very wrong.
“W-wait a minute…!”
“Alicia, what did you give Catherine?”
Diana’s cold gaze pierced Alicia. She waved her hands nervously.
“What are you talking about? Why would I—”
“I’m not saying you poisoned her. I’m asking if you gave her the wrong medicine.”
Alicia’s hands trembled.
Her mind went blank.
Belinda was right. No one touched the herb storage but Alicia herself—it was locked, and only someone with great strength could force it open.
So if Catherine was poisoned, it could only be because of Alicia.
“Bring me every type of medicine you gave her.”
“Yes, Your Grace…”
Diana calmly watched Alicia tremble.
Today might be the last day Alicia could see the world.
A cold smile curled on Diana’s lips.
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