~Chapter 103~
Calypso realized his mistake and glanced at Catherine and Diana. Catherine also seemed to realize what she had just said.
But Aisel and Diana stayed quiet, pretending not to notice.
Aisel simply smiled brightly and offered everyone the desserts she had prepared.
The awkward tea time ended. Catherine was the first to leave the room, looking like she was about to cry. Calypso also looked unwell.
After all, even if Catherine was illegitimate, she was still his daughter. Hurting her like that didn’t sit well with him.
And now, Alicia was pregnant. He was already stressed from preparing for the business, and now his temples throbbed painfully. As he watched Catherine leave, he rubbed his forehead hard.
“Dear, are you alright? You don’t look well.”
“…I’m fine. I just need to rest and review my documents one last time.”
“Good night, Father!”
Aisel’s cheerful voice made Calypso smile faintly and pat her hair before leaving the room.
Once they were all gone, Diana’s face turned icy.
“Did you hear that?”
The sound of her heels clicked closer to the bookshelf.
Then, with a creak, the bookshelf opened completely. Inside, Alicia was drenched in tears, restrained by Belinda.
“She tried to run out, but I caught her,” Belinda reported.
“Thank you, Belinda.”
Belinda bowed and left the room. Diana approached Alicia.
“Are… are you going to kill me?”
Hearing Belinda leave, Alicia’s voice was filled with fear.
“…Who knows?”
Diana’s voice was low. She truly had wanted to give Alicia a chance. If Calypso had wanted to protect her baby, Diana would have spared her—for the baby’s sake.
She crouched to meet Alicia’s empty eyes.
“Let me ask you one thing.”
Alicia’s body trembled violently. Diana ignored it and asked,
“Why did you betray me?”
“…Because I hated you.”
Alicia’s empty eyes faced Diana.
“What?”
“Because you had everything… I wanted to take even one thing away from you!”
Alicia’s voice was filled with resentment.
“You betrayed my sincerity… for such a ridiculous reason?”
It was shocking how such a petty reason could fuel all of Alicia’s horrible deeds.
“Can’t I be allowed to want something? I lived harder than anyone else! I worked harder than anyone else!”
“And you think that excuses your actions?”
Diana looked down at the desperate Alicia with disbelief.
“What’s so wrong about wanting my dreams? Please, spare me. We were friends!”
“Friends?”
Diana’s lips curled into a cold smile.
“You just denied everything we shared, idiot.”
“Would you even kill the baby in my stomach, Your Grace?”
Alicia tried to use her baby as a shield, just as Diana had expected. But Diana’s reaction was cold.
“‘You’ will be punished.”
Her voice was resolute. Alicia knew how firm Diana’s decisions were.
“T-then my baby…?”
“Of course, I won’t kill the child.”
Diana’s mocking voice was close to Alicia’s ear.
“Give birth. I’ll wait and then make your baby Aisel’s servant.”
“You… you even knew I used to make Aisel my servant?”
“Of course. Would you have kept it a secret if it were you?”
Diana stared straight into Alicia’s eyes and spoke slowly, emphasizing each word.
“It wasn’t enough for you to enslave her. You abused and humiliated her. Now it’s your turn, Alicia.”
Everything was her own karma. Alicia’s face collapsed into despair darker than any shadow.
Calypso tightened his jacket. The long-awaited day had finally come: the day he would present the new plant to the academic world—the day he would become rich.
“Finally, today’s the day.”
Diana quietly entered his office. Calypso was organizing the documents for his presentation.
“My wife.”
He greeted her more warmly than ever. Everything was thanks to Diana and Aisel.
“I’ll come with you.”
“You will?”
“Yes. I want to see how wonderful you’ll look.”
Diana caressed his cheek. In truth, she wanted to witness his downfall.
“Very well. Let’s go together.”
Calypso and Diana walked out together, appearing like a loving couple. A carriage was waiting outside.
As Calypso climbed in first, Shane approached Diana and whispered,
“The documents you asked for are ready.”
“Thank you, Shane.”
Diana smiled at him and followed Calypso into the carriage.
The carriage headed for the Imperial Palace, where the presentation would take place in the research division.
The results from the Imperial verification would also be released today.
“The Imperial results come out today too, right?”
“Yes. If they’re quick, they might even be announced during the presentation. It doesn’t matter.”
“Yes, since your father already checked everything and told you the results, right?”
Unlike your presentation, though, I know this plant is poisonous.
Diana smiled sweetly at him.
“When this business is over, let’s all take a vacation together.”
“Good idea. Aisel will like that too.”
Calypso was already giddy, as if success was guaranteed.
Soon, the carriage reached the Imperial Palace. Calypso’s shoulders were stiff with nerves.
They walked quickly to the research division, where many nobles and botanists were already gathered.
Among them sat the Marquis of Pereshte, pretending to be upset that his item had been stolen.
“My father is here.”
“…It’s fine,” Calypso muttered. He glanced at the Marquis nervously, but it was too late for the Marquis to do anything now.
They turned away from him.
“Good luck. You’ll do great. I’m going to the Emperor’s quarters for a bit.”
“The Emperor’s quarters?”
“Yes. I have some business there.”
“Alright.”
Calypso gave Diana a nod and entered the presentation hall. She quickly headed toward the Emperor’s quarters.
As soon as Calypso walked in, the noisy room went silent.
Everyone knew the “Laurel Bender” herb he was about to present could shake the botanical world with its healing effects.
Calypso bowed slightly to the audience and began nervously,
“I will begin my presentation.”
He laid out his documents and raised a small silver dagger.
“This new herb has revolutionary healing effects.”
He lightly cut his palm, and blood seeped out. He crushed a leaf of the herb and applied it to the wound.
In seconds, the wound healed.
“Whoa!”
“Incredible!”
The crowd gasped. No herb had ever healed so quickly.
If other ingredients were added, the effects would surely be even greater.
Calypso smiled proudly at the audience’s positive reaction and continued,
“That’s not all. This herb can cure all illnesses and even restore youth.”
“Youth!”
“Would anyone like to test it?”
An old nobleman with many wrinkles timidly raised his hand. Calypso gestured for him to come forward with a wide smile.
“Here, this is the juice of the Laurel Bender. Drink it.”
The nobleman hesitated but drank the juice.
Then, something incredible happened.
“No way!”
Everyone’s jaws dropped. The nobleman’s wrinkles began to fade. He didn’t look young again, but the change was clear.
It was practically a miracle drug.
“Wow!”
The nobleman touched his smoother skin in disbelief.
“Sell it to me immediately!”
“I have already grown enough Laurel Bender to sell right away!”
Calypso shouted confidently.
“Here, take my gold coins!”
“Me too!”
“I said it first!”
The people who had seen the herb’s effects rushed to offer their gold coins.
Calypso gleefully took the money and handed out the herbs he had prepared. His eyes gleamed as the pile of gold grew.
Gold coins soon piled up like a mountain.
Joy welled up from deep in his chest. At last, he was achieving his lifelong dream. Even though he had stolen the Marquis’s item, this was the first success of his business ventures.
“Now, now, slowly…”
But the joy was short-lived.
At that moment, the door burst open.
“Grand Duke Erenshte!”
It was the Duke of Frederic.
All eyes turned toward him.
“You scammer!”
The Duke hurled a leather pouch. Diamonds spilled out onto the floor.
The Marquis of Pereshte stood up slowly, picking up one of the diamonds.
“These are… fake diamonds?”
He said it loudly on purpose.
“What? No… These diamonds are from the Pereshte mines!”
“The Marquis of Pereshte says they’re fake!”
“That can’t be…”
Calypso shook his head in denial. He tried to say something, but the door opened again.
“Grand Duke Erenshte, come with us!”
This time, Imperial knights entered.
“How dare you try to cultivate and sell such a plant!”
“What? What plant?”
“This plant is poisonous! It causes severe poisoning!”
Calypso’s mouth opened slowly in shock. The crowd was frozen as well.
“N-no! My father…”
But he couldn’t say the Marquis had made it first. That would expose that he had stolen it.
The research hall erupted in chaos as people scrambled to get their gold coins back.
“Dear!”
Amid the panic, Diana appeared at Calypso’s side.
“We need to run. Now!”
Diana grabbed his hand and ran. Calypso, unable to think clearly, let her drag him away.
