AEIWDT 61

Chapter 61

“I’ll do anything Lady Reina desires! So please… please, save His Highness.”

Milan pleaded in a pitiful voice, as if he had already cleared her of all suspicion.

“Then ask someone else. There are other maids outside, aren’t there?”

But Hestia wasn’t the type to be swayed by such words.

“You’ve been watching, so you must know. His Highness has many enemies. If word of this incident spreads outside, who knows what more might happen to him.”

“So you trust me now? After treating me like a criminal just a while ago?”

Despite her cold tone, this time Aindeck suddenly cut in.

“For that, I deeply apologize to Lady Verner as well. If you wish, I’ll even kneel before you!”

The resolve blazing in his eyes suggested he was truly about to kneel.

Not to be outdone, Milan raised his voice again with greater desperation.

“Just tell us what you want! Whatever it is, we’ll make it happen!”

“Haa. And how exactly would you know what I want? Also, what kind of knight throws his knees around so lightly?”

Come to think of it, she remembered another knight somewhere who also knelt far too easily.

Hestia tilted her head as she met Milan’s emerald gaze, trying to recall where she’d seen it before.

But with Aindeck and Milan’s relentless pleading, she had no choice but to shake off her thoughts.

“In any case, absolutely not.”

Once again, she gave a flat refusal.

“If it’s money you want, I’ll personally speak to His Highness and reward you as much as you like!”

“Sorry, but I’m already rich. Probably richer than you, Sir.”

“Lady Verner! Then perhaps you’re in need of strength?”

“Ah. I have a very close friend who’s incredibly strong, so I don’t think I’ll be needing your help, Sir Ritus.”

“Then how about a tour of my laboratory? I’ve never let anyone—”

“Never let anyone in? Or simply no one ever wanted to go in?”

Hestia batted away Milan, Aindeck, and Grain one by one in the long back-and-forth.

“Haa…”

She exhaled, rubbing her throbbing temples. What on earth was she doing here? Even a sense of absurd self-mockery crept in.

“…Fine. I’ll do it. I’ll try.”

At last, Hestia raised the white flag. It was a hollow surrender.

“Lady Reina! Truly, thank you! I’ll be sure to tell His Highness—”

“No. Absolutely not. Don’t tell anyone. Not a soul.”

When Milan’s face lit up with gratitude, Hestia cut him off sharply.

“The moment this gets out, I won’t sit still. I really won’t.”

One might expect a retort—what could a mere maid possibly do if she doesn’t sit still?—but instead, they only nodded eagerly, unable to hide their joy that she’d agreed to such a difficult task.

“Now then—since we know the type of mushroom, Physician, please prepare the antidote. Sir Milan, find the culprit. Sir Ritus, tighten security so no one slips out. Not just my maids, but all servants in the Crown Prince’s palace.”

She assigned tasks with crisp precision.

“We’ve already been searching and monitoring the servants’ quarters, but I’ll intensify the watch.”

“I’ll get to work on the antidote immediately.”

Aindeck and Grain hurried out of the room.

“Then I shall…”

“Sir Milan.”

Just as Milan was about to leave, Hestia stopped him.

“The scent.”

“…What?”

“The culprit will likely carry a distinct odor. And if they’ve handled poisonous mushrooms for a long time, even indirectly, their hands won’t be unscathed.”

“Ah… Th-thank you! I’ll grant you any favor you ask!”

Milan rushed out. Hestia already had a suspect in mind but chose not to reveal it.

She believed Milan could uncover it on his own, and she didn’t want to stir fresh suspicion by admitting she’d been in contact with that person.

For now, she had a far more pressing matter to resolve.

Slowly, she approached the bed where Terhan lay. It was the first time she’d seen his face so quiet in sleep.

His hair damp with sweat, the sharp bridge of his nose, the smooth line of his lips—though his complexion was pale, it only heightened his otherworldly appearance.

“…He really is handsome.”

She whispered unconsciously, then startled at the sound of her own voice in the silence, shaking her head furiously.

“All right. Let’s do this.”

He looked merely asleep.

Hestia exhaled deeply, picked up a bowl of charcoal-filtered water, and held a mouthful between her lips.

This wasn’t a kiss between man and woman. It was a medical act. Nothing more than artificial respiration.

Yes. This was simply a necessary measure to save a life. Surely this wasn’t his first kiss… No, no, not a kiss. Just mouth-to-mouth.

It held no meaning—for him, or for her.

Don’t tremble, Hestia.

She repeated excuses in her head, unsure whether they were for him or herself, then steeled her gaze and leaned down.

Her heart fluttered strangely. Her palms dampened with sweat. At a breath’s distance from his lips, she even held her breath, afraid it might touch him too soon.

If someone had been watching, they’d have cried out in frustration at her snail-like pace. Finally, warmth and softness met her lips.

Supporting his jaw, she parted his lips and let the water trickle in.

Gulp.

She watched his throat move before pulling back. Again she took in water and leaned down. The second time was easier.

After about four rounds, she drew out a small glass vial from her clothes. Inside swirled a pale honey-colored liquid.

“This is an antidote.”

Reynold—knowing she’d once collapsed—had sent it to her as a recovery gift, with a note saying to use it in emergencies.

Since she no longer needed it herself…

Without hesitation, Hestia took the antidote into her mouth and pressed her lips to Terhan’s again. Strictly speaking, it wasn’t necessary—but perhaps she’d grown oddly attached already.

More than anything, she just wanted him to wake up.

Gulp.

Opening her eyes slowly, she withdrew, watching him closely.

His brow twitched, either from the strange sensation or the bitterness of the medicine.

Hestia gently smoothed his furrowed brows with her fingertip until his face relaxed again.

Her finger drifted down, brushing against his full lips.

These lips…

“Ah!”

Startled, she snatched her hand back, clenching it tightly. Heat flared up her body.

What was this? Why was it suddenly so hot?

Thankfully, Terhan hadn’t stirred. Hestia quickly stood and moved to the window, remembering to flip the hourglass on her way. The water had to be administered at intervals.

She drew the curtain aside just enough to let a cool night breeze soothe her flushed skin.

Outside, the world was steeped in moonlit darkness. The day felt endlessly long.

So much had happened, yet her mind was oddly blank now.

All she could hear were faint insects, someone’s breathing, and the steady trickle of sand in the hourglass.

She didn’t know how long she stayed like that.

Finally, she turned back to look at Terhan. Her hand pressed against her own heart, feeling the steady thump beneath.

“…Why?”

It wasn’t the useless flutter of love—that she was certain of. She’d long since forgotten such emotions, and Terhan had nothing to do with them anyway.

Was it because he resembled Linus? Or just shock from such an awkward, intimate act?

Or perhaps it was that raw, unknowable emotion she’d glimpsed in his eyes in the corridor, still lodged in her chest.

Shhh.

The hourglass ended.

Hestia sat beside him again, lifted the bowl, and leaned down with fresh water. His warm breath grazed her cheek.

She rested a hand gently on his face—finally warm, no longer pale.

Just as their lips neared—

Gulp.

She froze, staring into golden eyes that had silently opened. Startled, she accidentally swallowed the water.

“…Tia.”

A hoarse, broken voice rasped low. The words were slurred, but Hestia felt he’d called her name.

Her body locked in place, wide-eyed. Or rather, she was caught in his gaze, unable to move.