Chapter 52
“…I don’t know what you’re trying to say, Hanna.”
What kind of warning is she trying to give?
Does she know something I don’t?
If that’s the case, then how much does Hanna actually know?
Hestia’s eyes hardened.
“If you don’t understand, fine. Then I’ll ask just one thing.”
As if anticipating this, Hanna let out a short laugh.
“Is this what you’ve been looking for?”
She held out a small glass vial. Inside, white powder swirled with the slightest movement.
“….”
“Is that right?”
Hanna’s insistence made Hestia relax her shoulders with a soft thud. Perhaps it would be more accurate to say she had finally removed the mask she had been wearing all this time.
“…Where did you find this?”
Hestia spoke calmly, brushing back her hair. Her hand’s movement made her hair fall neatly into place.
“Hah. Reina, this isn’t exactly something to be so proud of.”
Hanna let out a short sneer at Hestia’s reluctant admission.
But Hestia wasn’t done.
“Alright, Hanna. Then may I ask what you think this powder really is?”
Hestia raised her eyes and fixed her gaze on Hanna.
“Well…”
Hanna pursed her lips, as if struggling to come up with a proper answer. Her hesitant words stretched on.
“It could just be a simple medicine. Or maybe sugar? Isn’t that the most normal assumption?”
Click.
At that sound, Hestia stepped forward. The echo of her footsteps filled the hallway.
“The fact that you reacted this way… the fact that you’re accusing me as if I’m guilty… it means you know what this powder really is.”
Click.
Another step. Hestia slowly approached, pressing Hanna with her words.
“May I ask how you know?”
Even I don’t know, she thought.
Hestia stopped only when she was close enough for her expression to be clearly visible, now forcing Hanna for an answer.
No way would the Empress have planted only one spy in the Second Prince’s palace.
Among the newly assigned maids, neither Sonya nor I were the candidates. That left only one possibility…
Hestia’s smooth lips curved into a straight line.
What would Hanna say?
“…How should I know that?”
A predictably trivial answer.
But Hanna didn’t stop there.
“What’s important now is that I just picked up this suspicious thing. And the fact is, you’re its owner.”
Hanna’s crimson eyes quickly settled into a calm focus.
“If this is really nothing, then prove it right here, Reina.”
Hanna stepped forward with determination, her face resolute.
As expected, being a spy wasn’t a role for just anyone. Hestia found herself admiring Hanna’s unwavering gaze, even in this situation.
Why was such a capable girl working as a spy here?
“Fine. Should I take it now to prove it?”
Hestia grinned and took the glass vial from Hanna’s hand.
Proving it was easy. Especially for Hestia. Moreover, it was something she had intended to go through anyway.
“What…?”
Without hesitation, Hestia opened the vial. Things had gotten slightly complicated, but finishing it this way didn’t seem bad.
Judging by Hanna’s reaction, she seemed to know what the powder was…
Not a bad method at all.
“No, wait…”
Hanna’s face immediately twisted in panic.
“Wait! Don’t! Reina!!”
She tried to snatch the vial from Hestia’s hand.
But Hestia didn’t care and poured the powder into her mouth in one swift motion.
It dissolved instantly, leaving no time to even taste it.
“Reina! Are you okay? My goodness! Spit it out quickly!!”
All her composure disappeared. Hanna shook Hestia violently, her hands trembling.
Her frantic cries filled the night, and her tearful, wet eyes shook violently.
Clang!
Hestia tossed the empty vial out the hallway window without a second thought and lightly gripped Hanna’s shoulder.
“See? I’m fine, Hanna. Stop overreacting.”
While Hanna remained horrified, Hestia’s expression was utterly calm.
Hanna covered her trembling mouth with her hands, still staring in shock at Hestia.
“The contents of the vial were really nothing. Believe it or not, whatever it was, I never intended to give it to anyone.”
Hestia truly looked fine.
And as if to confirm her words, she gently smiled and pressed Hanna’s shoulder down.
Gradually, Hanna’s trembling eased.
“Reina, you really…!”
Hanna lowered her hands and shouted again, full of frustration.
“I’ll leave now. I’m exhausted from looking for that all this time. Let’s finish this discussion later. I’m very curious about what you want to say.”
Hestia smiled gently and patted Hanna’s shoulder.
“From accusing me as a spy to worrying about me like this, thank you. See you tomorrow, Hanna.”
Hestia passed Hanna and walked upright toward her room. Hanna’s gaze burned on her until she left the hallway, keeping Hestia alert.
And as soon as she left the hallway:
Huh!
Hestia quickly pulled out a handkerchief and pressed it to her mouth. A fiery heat surged down her throat, as if all her organs were being burned alive.
Unfortunately, the powder had been poison.
I can’t collapse here. I need to get to my room.
Hestia struggled to take steps. The poison was stronger than expected. Its spread outpaced her movement.
Her vision blurred. She could feel the poison coursing through her veins with every heartbeat. The burning pain consumed her. She couldn’t hold on any longer.
“I… can’t…”
Thud.
Hestia’s vision went black.
At the same time, despite the late hour, Terhan’s study was lit.
Milan finally finished his day’s work and quietly looked at Terhan, a face full of things he wanted to say.
“If you have something to say, please. I won’t mind.”
Terhan, noticing Milan’s gaze, didn’t lift his eyes from the papers as he spoke first.
“Ah… then may I ask just one thing?”
After confirming Terhan’s nod, Milan continued.
“What is the reason you trust Miss Reina so quickly?”
It was a question he had wanted to ask many times. During her short surveillance, there had been no signs of suspicion. But that could simply mean Reina had been careful in the palace.
Terhan wasn’t unaware of such things, but it was natural for Milan to ask why he seemed to have completely lowered his guard.
“The reason I trust her… Very well. I’ll tell you.”
Terhan finally put down his pen and leaned back. Though a bit early, he had always intended to answer Milan’s question.
“Miss Reina may be the person I’ve been searching for all this time.”
He answered with a mixture of certainty and assumption, since Hestia hadn’t confirmed it, and he had no concrete proof to show Milan.
“Is that… really true?!”
Even as an uncertain assumption, Milan was naturally shocked. Terhan speaking of it implied he was convinced.
“I couldn’t find any trace until now… How is this possible? But her hair color is different, isn’t it? It doesn’t look like it’s dyed.”
Milan finally understood Terhan’s behavior toward Reina. Pouring water on her hair during their first meeting was likely to check if it was natural or dyed.
“That can be figured out gradually. For now, just know this, Milan.”
“Ah, yes. I understand. And…”
Since Terhan had reached a certainty, Milan simply trusted him.
“I’m truly relieved, Your Highness.”
Milan genuinely felt that even a small relief for Terhan was wonderful.
Terhan said nothing, simply smiling at Milan more comfortably than ever.
“Ah… seeing you like this is troubling.”
In the black darkness, deep blue eyes caught the suffering Hestia.
“This makes me worry too much.”
Purple hair swayed gently in the night.
“I wonder… can Hestia really handle me?”
It was also a curiosity.
In the darkness, Reinol’s eyes sparkled with pure curiosity.
“How… beautiful you are, even like this.”
Soon, he knelt beside the collapsed Hestia, carefully brushing the hair from her face.
“This is cheating.”
His touch was careful, like handling a flawless sculpture.
“Ugh!”
Cough!
Hestia curled up, pain wracking her body, once more spewing blood.
“This won’t do.”
Reinol quickly pulled a handkerchief and wiped Hestia’s mouth.
“I don’t want anyone to see Hestia like this.”
His dark blue eyes flashed harshly, briefly showing a cruel glint at the thought.
“Now, excuse me.”
Reinol slipped his arms under Hestia’s neck and knees, lifting her gently.
“Too thin, that’s a problem.”
Despite her voluminous dress, Hestia was very light. Reinol’s brow furrowed slightly in displeasure.
Even without guidance, his steps led him directly to Hestia’s room. His silent footsteps kept the surroundings quiet, but his soft hum floated through the darkness.
“Hmm… should I just ‘kidnap’ her like this?”
Reinol couldn’t endure the sight of Hestia, resting against his chest, struggling to breathe.
He stopped, towering over her, staring down at her. Her pained expression and labored breaths piqued his curiosity endlessly.
Oh 🥹 so he has a story as well. But honestly ge needs to show some respect 😂 she’s like a grandma to him.