~CHAPTER 42~
* * *
Hoji fainted suddenly while reading documents in his office due to dizziness.
After calling the palace physician for an examination, it was confirmed that the cause of his collapse was my medicine.
The poison of a mutant anemone, one of the main ingredients, had accumulated in his body over continuous intake, inducing fainting.
I held his hand, my voice quivering.
“I’m sorry, darling. I thought I removed the toxicity, but I guess I was wrong. I’m really sorry….”
I had tried the medicine myself for about a week to check for side effects. I felt slight dizziness, but nothing serious, so I didn’t worry much.
I should have considered that Hoji had been taking it longer and in larger amounts than I had.
“Fortunately, there’s no life-threatening danger. He just lost consciousness briefly, and you should stop administering the medicine from now on.”
“Is there no aftereffect?”
“No, there’s nothing to worry about.”
Only then did I let out a sigh of relief at the physician’s assurance.
The new physician, hired after Laura was dismissed, was an elderly man with white hair, yet somehow carried the air of a master. It felt like he had been a skilled doctor in his youth, trained disciples, retired, and then was called back.
Of course, our family couldn’t possibly hire someone that impressive…
Still, he inspired a strange sense of trust, and the fact that he immediately figured out why Hoji collapsed confirmed his skill.
“The marquis will wake within three hours. I’ll take my leave now.”
“Thank you. I’ll contact you if there’s any problem.”
“Yes.”
After the physician left, I sniffled and pulled out a handkerchief to wipe the slight sweat on Hoji’s forehead.
But—
“Don’t touch me.”
Thwack!
It was the first reaction he had shown, his face still as white as snow until then.
I rubbed my stinging hand and looked at him. The small tremors on his facial muscles radiated pure anger.
“Hoji ended up like this because of you. Do you think you have done nothing wrong?”
“Father, I—”
“I ask if it’s just to blame you! You insolent and shameless—”
This time, I couldn’t deny it. Hoji collapsed because of my medicine.
I bowed my head deeply, feeling ashamed.
“Why poison… of all things, poison…!”
“I am truly sorry. But it was never intentional. I just made a mistake while trying to do well…”
“Silence!”
Father’s eyes flared red with uncontrolled anger, the bloodshot pupils glaring at me with a mix of resentment and rage.
“Do you think someone like you could ever save anyone? Don’t even dream of it! You—”
“Count Kreutz!”
Bam.
Greta rushed in, stopping my father from losing his temper completely.
“I apologize for intruding, but you are too excited.”
“…”
“Calm down. Anger toward the lady won’t solve anything.”
Father pressed his lips together, exhaling slowly as he glared at me sharply, quietly warning.
“Try not to catch my eye from now on.”
Then he left abruptly. I could only watch his cold, retreating back.
I had hoped to improve my relationship with him, but it seemed my lofty dream had only worsened things.
“Madam, are you alright?”
“…Yes, thank you for your help.”
“You must have been shocked… perhaps you should rest—”
“No. How could I, after everything?”
Watching Hoji sleep quietly, tears welled up in my eyes.
I think I became overconfident because all my previous medicines had worked on others…
I had acted too hastily with insufficient skill. Since it was about Hoji, I should have been more careful.
I felt negligent looking back at my past self, determined to regain my initial resolve. I vowed never to let this happen again.
Meanwhile, in the capital of the Elante Empire, Bresford, a young lady sat alone in a salon where young ladies often gathered.
Sylvia Hoffman.
She had longed to join the cheerful groups chatting around her, finally mustering the courage to approach them.
“Excuse me, may I join you? I-I’ll cover the salon fee—”
“Pfft.”
Laughter erupted before she even finished speaking. The ladies gave her condescending glances.
“No need. No one here is poorer than a young lady.”
“How excessively kind.”
“We’re busy talking among ourselves.”
The blatant exclusion, unlike anything in the north, flushed Sylvia’s cheeks red.
She had to return to her seat without protest, as she had no standing in the capital’s social scene. Rumors of her being expelled due to trouble made no one speak to her.
For the first time in her life, she felt isolation and loneliness, biting her lips nervously.
All this is because of Count Kreutz’s wife and Duke Calard…!
Her resentment extended not only to Jenna but also to Hoji. She had been repeatedly rejected in marriage proposals, and the other family’s wives had supported her, leaving Sylvia in misery.
Her love for Hoji had turned into anger, nearly hatred.
One day, both the duke and the countess will regret it. I will make sure of it…!
Sylvia slumped her shoulders but swore revenge. When she finally rose to leave the salon, unable to bear being alone, someone approached her.
“Miss Hoffman?”
“Would you like to have tea with me?”
A few days later, the Marquis of Hoffman arrived in the capital. Sylvia had insisted he come, wanting to discuss something important.
Though his daughter had caused trouble and been expelled, he still felt a twinge of sympathy. In truth, she hadn’t made that serious a mistake.
If only Duke Calard hadn’t abandoned our Sylvia…
Even though Hoji had acted alone without consulting her, the marquis blamed him too, like Sylvia.
After sighing deeply, he arrived at the townhouse. Sylvia grabbed his hand and pulled him inside, closing the door and drawing the curtains to prevent eavesdropping.
He stared at his daughter, who behaved unusually, without even a proper greeting.
Sylvia placed both hands on the desk, speaking with determination.
“Father, let’s overthrow the north.”
“…!”
Her bold statement made him instinctively check for others, though it was only the two of them. His heart pounded in shock.
“Are you insane, Sylvia? What nonsense are you suddenly talking about?”
“It’s not nonsense! I’ve planned everything. If it succeeds, we can rule an even wealthier territory.”
Sylvia’s eyes gleamed with strange intensity, confidently adding.
“Perhaps even the ruler of the north.”
“Tsk, Sylvia! Do you even realize what you’re saying?!”
The marquis, genuinely concerned for his daughter’s mental state, raised his voice. She was suggesting fighting the northern rulers, the Calard dukes, with reckless ease.
“Even if we’re a large family in the north, we can’t push out Calard…!”
“Of course, we can’t do it alone.”
Sylvia replied nonchalantly, her calm demeanor flustering the marquis, then smirked.
“There are people who will help us.”
“What? What do you mean…”
She whispered something into his ear, hands near her mouth. His eyes widened in shock.
He looked at his daughter, proud yet astonished.
“Shh, be careful what you say.”
“Huh.”
The marquis pressed his lips shut at Sylvia’s warning, heart racing with excitement and fear. Even his pupils reflected a similar desire to hers.
“So, will you now listen to my plan?”
“…Yes, let’s hear it.”
The marquis swallowed dryly, nodding.
When Hoji learned that Jenna’s medicine caused the collapse, he remained calm.
No one tried to poison me; she must have made a mistake while creating it.
If it had been intentional, the poison would have been administered more effectively to harm him. Mistakes happen in any endeavor.
Knowing Jenna was gradually building her skill from the start, Hoji did not worry. The problem was that others were not so forgiving.
“Madam seems greatly shocked by this incident. She’s barely slept and has locked herself away in research for days.”
Greta’s report made Hoji frown slightly. It made sense why he hadn’t seen Jenna much since the day she collapsed.
“Does she eat regularly?”
“About one meal a day. She says if she eats more, she becomes sleepy and can’t focus on research.”
“She must aim to collapse like me too, huh?”
Hoji’s frown deepened. No matter it was his medicine, it was troubling that she didn’t care for her health.
“If she falls ill, I’m at a loss. You make sure she eats better.”
“Yes, Duke.”
After dismissing Greta, Hoji sat at his desk to work, but words barely registered to him.
…How focused must she be to ignore the outside world like this?
He idly shuffled papers before leaving early. Changing into comfortable clothes to sleep, he paused, wondering what Jenna was doing upstair.
