“Why is Bennomain’s poison here…?”
I gasped in horror.
“R-Reina…!”
“Lady Reina!!”
Two maids and a servant rushed in. I pressed the bonding mark hard and shouted for Edmund.
“Edmund!! Come here—NOW!”
The butler arrived, and I yelled:
“Lock every exit of the manor—now! And send for the doctor!”
Reina had been poisoned by a mix of deadly toxins. If we didn’t act fast, it would spread through her body.
“Lady Reina! What should we do?”
“Lady Reina! Stay conscious—”
I quickly rifled through the table. Then I was struck by a thought:
The cup I drank from… and a knife.
I smashed the teacup on the table, grabbed the sharpest shard, and cut my right arm without hesitation. Blood sprayed. The maids froze.
“Lady Irine, what are you doing?! Please stop! You can’t—”
There was no time to explain. I pushed them aside and forced my arm into Reina’s mouth, letting my blood flow in.
“Out of time—just follow my lead!”
Her consciousness was hanging by a thread. My blood was helping neutralize the toxins—somewhat. But it wouldn’t be enough.
I remembered the Lethe Phaesia root I’d brought. From my other pocket, I pulled out the dried root, ground it to powder, sprinkled it into Reina’s mouth, then added more of my blood.
“Lady Irine—what is happening?”
I ignored the maids and kept going until footsteps sounded.
Edmund and Rosette burst in.
“Reina! Irine!!”
Edmund, pale with worry, ordered:
“All exits are locked. Guards are posted, locked with the master’s key. The doctor is on the way. What do we do?”
His voice was calm again—he was reliable.
“My lab. Second drawer from the bottom, eighth from the right.”
I needed the antidote I made: my blood mixed with mandrake petals.
“Go get it—now.”
Edmund sprinted away. I turned to the butler:
“Bring brandy!”
With my free hand I pulled out the syringe and a needle from the opposite pocket.
Then Rosette collapsed to the floor.
“Re-Reina…”
Her face was pale, eyes full of tears. She whispered, desperate:
“Mom…”
I held her and promised:
“I’ll save you, Reina. I promise—just hold on.”
Then Edmund returned with the medicine.
He handed it to me and I filled the syringe, checked it, and injected her. Then I gave her more of my blood—followed by a splash of brandy.
I checked her pulse: slow but steady. Her breathing returned.
Weak, I slumped, and Edmund helped me up.
“Her breathing and pulse are steady now… Lady Irine.”
The doctor arrived and confirmed:
“No abnormalities.”
The noblewoman (Reina’s mother) hugged her happily, tears flowing.
I was dizzy, but I watched. Rosette cried and hugged me. I patted her back with my bandaged arm.
The noblewoman said, grateful and tearful:
“Thank you, Irine… You’ve shown me a better world.”
Everyone decided Rosette should rest. The women helped her to her room.
Edmund came over and said:
“Irine, thank you. Reina is alive thanks to you.”
I shook my head, wobbly:
“We’re not safe yet.”
He urged me to rest, but I shook my head:
“I can’t, not yet.”
He looked at me, worried:
“Irine, what do you mean?”
I whispered:
“Someone’s trying to ruin me — from within Wolfgang.”
