TMLITTKM | CHAPTER 120

[CHAPTER 120]

“When Duke Wentworth showed interest, Count Ascard continued speaking.”

He said that they would move the nobles on their side to stage a rescue in line with that plan.

“The duke took in a bastard child out of pity, but dirty blood cannot be changed.”

“You can lie low for a few years, and once things calm down, you can return.”

Duke Wentworth did not refute the claim.

Count Ascard glanced at him and fiddled with the cap of the bottle in his hand.

“But all that matters is success.”

“If the Crown Prince dies, even the Emperor and the Imperial faction nobles will have no choice.”

“Isn’t this… too rushed?”

Count Ascard answered Duke Wentworth’s last question simply.

“It is extremely urgent.”

He clearly had no intention of explaining further.

Duke Wentworth struggled to respond.

Seeing his hesitation, Count Ascard picked up the bottle with indifference.

“If you don’t want to do it, so be it.”

“There are other ways to succeed without you.”

“But you won’t share in the glory afterward.”

As Count Ascard turned away, Duke Wentworth quickly called out to him.

“Wait, if it succeeds… what will I gain?”

“You will become the foremost power of the Empire, the one standing above the puppet Emperor.”

“You will enjoy eternal wealth and honor, something you could never gain if the stubborn Crown Prince ascends the throne.”

The words foremost power of the Empire made Duke Wentworth’s eyes flash.

A faint smirk passed over the Tower Master’s eyes, but he hid it quickly.

“As soon as possible, tonight if you can, deliver this vial to Amelia Wentworth.”

“Naturally, you shouldn’t call it poison.”

“If you say it’s poison, that child will hide it immediately.”

“She likes the Crown Prince far too much… but persuading her shouldn’t be difficult.”

Duke Wentworth, fully swayed now, came up with his own plan.

“Contact me as soon as it is done.”

“Tomorrow, no… even today.”

Leaving only those words, Count Ascard opened the study window.

He leaped out and transformed into a large raven midair.

Duke Wentworth did not seem surprised.

The Tower Master’s habits were already familiar to him.

Instead, he grumbled with displeasure.

“Today or tomorrow immediately? What on earth is going on?”

“Why is he in such a rush?”

The Tower Master was usually cautious.

This sudden haste felt strange, though Duke Wentworth had little reason to hesitate now.

He held the small vial given by the Tower Master and examined it.

Inside was a colorless, transparent liquid.

When he opened the lid and sniffed it, it gave off a sweet, appetizing scent.

Most will die, and only the extremely lucky will survive…

Remembering the Tower Master’s words, Duke Wentworth frowned.

He reached into the lowest drawer of his desk and pulled out a small iron case.

Inside was a small amount of white powder that carried a faint burnt smell.

He pinched a little and dropped it into the vial.

“Live if they’re lucky?”

“That won’t do.”

“If I’m doing this, it must be certain.”

This was a poison Duke Wentworth already possessed.

Combined with the Tower Master’s potion, it would kill anyone in one blow.

He rang the bell for a servant.

As he tightened the lid of the vial, he heard a voice beyond the closed door.

“Ah, Young Master Eric, what brings you here?”

The door opened, and the butler, James, entered.

“Did you call for me, Your Grace?”

“Yes, was Eric outside?”

“He passed by just now.”

Duke Wentworth nodded dismissively and picked up his quill.

With James standing before him, he began to think.

He won’t come just because I say so.

He had written countless letters to Amelia, but she never replied.

She used to tremble at his words, yet now that she lived in the Crown Prince’s palace, her attitude had changed.

It irritated him, but given her shallow mind, he could understand it.

He couldn’t go to the Crown Prince’s palace himself, and he could not send such an important item with a butler.

He had to lure Amelia out.

What was that child’s weak point again?

After tapping his quill, Duke Wentworth began writing a few lines.

He folded the paper, placed it in an envelope, and handed it to James.

“Deliver this to the Crown Prince’s palace.”

“For Amelia Wentworth.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

Once James left, Duke Wentworth stroked his rough beard.

“She won’t be able to ignore this.”

He clicked his tongue and slammed the window shut.

***

“Eric is in critical condition…”

I stared at James, the duke’s butler, who had brought the letter.

“Is this true?”

“My lady, I only delivered the duke’s letter.”

“Since I’ve completed my task, I’ll take my leave.”

James responded with his usual sharp tone and left.

Vivian, standing beside me, exploded with anger.

“What’s wrong with him?”

“He’s your family’s butler.”

“Ignore it.”

That wasn’t important right now.

The letter claimed Eric wouldn’t survive the day.

It also said the duke could no longer overlook the Crown Prince’s behavior and wanted to discuss the future with me.

There were no coaxing words.

The simplicity made it more unsettling.

Is Eric really in critical condition?

He had been perfectly healthy.

With James gone, there was no way to confirm whether it was a lie.

If I sent someone to check and something happened to Eric meanwhile…?

I didn’t feel familial affection for him, but among the Wentworths, he was the only one I felt anything toward.

I didn’t know what part of him could be fatally ill.

He was fine even at the graduation party.

In the original story, Eric barely appeared, so I didn’t know his fate.

That made it even more frustrating.

Either way, I had to go.

Duke Wentworth wouldn’t harm Amelia immediately since she still had value to him.

It felt uneasy, but not dangerous enough to avoid him.

And the second part of the letter bothered me too.

Talking about discussing future matters related to the Crown Prince…

It sounded more like a command than a discussion.

What order would he give me?

Maybe he wanted me to persuade the Crown Prince regarding some policy again.

Since I’d stopped replying to his letters, he might want to say it in person.

Or…

Given the story was progressing much faster than the original, one possibility wasn’t out of the question.

But I didn’t want to think about it.

If that guess was right, my crisis would come much sooner.

I had prepared for it, but whether things would unfold as I expected… I didn’t know.

I stood and spoke to Vivian.

“I need to go out.”

“Keep it simple, nothing flashy.”

Vivian bowed politely.

“Yes, my lady. Leave it to me.”

When I finished preparing, it was already late afternoon.

Of course, Derek would accompany me as a guard.

I should tell Vincent before I go.

Maybe he was back in his room.

If not, he might be in his office.

I don’t have time to stop by there.

As I paced the hallway in frustration, Oscar appeared from the other side.