Chapter 22

Three days had passed since the incident.

"Rapid heartbeat... dizziness…?"

Scholar Crellin gently posed questions to Vivian as he held her wrist to check her pulse.

His face was full of concern, but Vivian could sense the hypocrisy behind it.

"I-I'm feeling better now. It hurts less when I b-breathe, and my throat isn't as dry."

Vivian knew her voice was still weak, but she could feel her strength gradually returning.

Scholar Crellin nodded and said, "That's a relief. You're recovering much faster than expected. In fact, when I first heard about your condition, Lady Vivian... I didn't think we'd be able to converse like this again..."

Vivian remained silent.

She realized once again just how close she had come to death.

She gazed out the window. The river flowed peacefully, but her heart remained heavy.

Avoiding the poison didn't mean the problem was over.

She would have to live knowing that someone would continually target her.

And she had no idea who that enemy was.

If only it were the distant Allen family; she'd feel more at ease. But Vivian sensed that it was someone much closer who had committed the deed.

Perhaps it was one of the vassals she trusted, someone from a family that had sworn loyalty, her uncle, or maybe even a combination of them all...

Having overcome the crisis, Vivian felt that she was changing, even if just a little.

She realized it was a world where no one would show consideration just because she sat and cried.

There was no one to trust, and she shouldn't trust anyone.

"If you're done with the examination, p-please leave."

"..."

At Vivian's firm dismissal, Scholar Crellin seemed momentarily taken aback.

Normally, she would have used more considerate language or engaged in unnecessary conversation to create a gentle atmosphere.

But Vivian no longer felt like doing that.

Now that she knew someone had tried to kill her, engaging in hypocritical conversations felt utterly unnecessary.

Scholar Crellin cleared his throat and stood up.

"If you feel even the slightest discomfort, please come see me. I'll make sure to stay fully prepared for a while."

He turned and left.

As the maids opened the door, Scholar Crellin walked out.

"..."

Then Vivian noticed someone standing outside the open door.

Black hair that could be recognized anywhere.

Vivian briefly made eye contact with Kylo Allen.

But that was all. No words were exchanged, and Kylo Allen indifferently turned his head and walked away.

As if he could leave now that he had seen she was alive.

****

The penal unit was bustling.

In fact, the entire Castle of Rondor was buzzing.

The reason was, of course, one.

The attempted assassination of Vivian.

And at the very center of that incident was me.

I was lying in the dormitory, resting.

Around me were Balon, Willas, and Martin, who shared the room with me.

Balon sighed and said, "Wow... that's scary, seriously. I never thought things like this actually happened. Didn't know when I lived in the village."

"..."

"Hey, Kylo. So how did you know that using charcoal like that would work?"

"You wouldn't know since you're a commoner. For us who might be poisoned, it's common knowledge we've learned from before."

"Is that so? Then, I never want to know."

Martin rubbed his arms and muttered, "Lady Vivian must be scared too. She's younger than me, and yet she had to go through that..."

Martin was two years older than me, making him seventeen. Willas and Balon were the same.

"We have to stay alert, from now on," I said to them.

Then Willas, surprised, sat on my bed. "From now on? Are you saying things like this will happen again?"

"Someone tried to kill Vivian. They failed, so things like this will keep happening."

"...Thinking about it that way, I don't want to become a noble."

Balon jabbed at Willas's comment. "As if you could become one even if you wanted to?"

"It's just a figure of speech."

I could tell that these three found the incident intriguing.

Well, since it wasn't their own affair, they could watch comfortably.

I would have felt the same.

...If Vivian weren't the one being targeted.

They didn't hide their imagination and curiosity about this major event that had occurred after a long time.

"Kylo, but if things are as you say..."

"...?"

"If someone really intends to harm Lady Vivian... No, to be honest..."

"Don't beat around the bush; just say it."

"Wouldn't it be easier to just kill her openly? Who's even on Lady Vivian's side right now?"

I clicked my tongue.

"Execution is the problem."

"What?"

"Who's going to step up? Who's going to openly draw their sword?"

"Ah, now I get it."

If my predictions were correct, all attempts to take Vivian's life would proceed covertly like this.

No matter how much Vivian lacked allies, no one would step forward and get themselves covered in filth.

At first glance, openly killing Vivian might seem the easiest way, but in reality, it's the most difficult method.

The public scrutiny that would pour onto the murderer, the way they'd be treated, the power they could seize—none of it would go as they wanted.

It was obvious what stigma would attach to someone who, driven by a lust for power, killed a 14-year-old girl.

...If not for that, even I wouldn't imagine protecting Vivian.

Martin, like Willas, voiced his curiosity.

"Kylo, can I ask you something too?"

"..."

"Why did you save Lady Vivian? Aren't you enemies?"

"..."

I don't know either; why I did it.

I did think about it.

Maybe I've fallen for her, I wondered.

But I've never had my heart race painfully when I saw her, nor has my face flushed, my palms sweated, or felt nervous in front of her.

I haven't thought about wanting to hug her or hold her hand, either.

So I don't know the answer myself.

I have felt pity, but was that a strong enough emotion to go through all this trouble?

At this point, it's easier to believe that the old woman back then was indeed a witch.

That she cast a curse.

...But the old woman definitely used the word "love."

...But I don't think it's love.

I don't know.

In the end, I gave Martin an answer he could easily accept.

"If Vivian had died there, I would've been blamed for the crime."

"Ah… That's true. I didn't think of that."

Martin snapped his fingers in admiration. Balon and Willas nodded, going "Ohh" as they agreed.

Suddenly, I found this conversation tiresome.

So I got up from my bed and said, "I'm leaving now."

"Alright. See you later."

As I was about to leave, I added a word to them.

"Oh, and make sure to practice your tactics more. We're deploying soon."

"You should work hard yourself. We're already giving it our all."

Balon, who was getting thinner by the day, replied.

I looked at him, nodded, and left the room.

.

.

.

I moved my steps toward the hall with the long dining table.

Sure enough, Vivian was there. It was natural, given that I came at the right time.

She was sitting alone at that long table again today.

If it were filled with people, it would have been an impressive sight, but with only Vivian sitting there alone, it just seemed like a symbol of how lonely she was in her position as the head of the family.

In front of Vivian was a table full of splendid dishes.

Since she was still at the center of the incident, the kitchen seemed to have paid special attention to the food.

Golden-roasted duck. Various fruits. Soft-looking bread. Steaming tea and cool-looking water.

Even the maid beside Vivian had been replaced.

I heard that all the maids involved in the incident were being interrogated.

I didn't know if that would have any meaning.

The one in charge of the interrogation was Nestor, the intelligence officer, but he wasn't particularly trustworthy either...

"..."

I quietly looked at Vivian.

I intended to watch her take a bite of her food and then leave.

But Vivian was frozen in front of the table, not even moving her hand to the utensils.

Now that I think about it, I had no idea how long she'd been sitting there like that.

The maids behind her exchanged fearful glances, seemingly uncomfortable with her not continuing the meal.

I suddenly understood.

When I received the note saying "Be careful with the food," I was afraid to eat for days.

Vivian had actually been poisoned, so she was even more hesitant.

She was walking a path twice as hard as mine.

Vivian, who had been still, finally moved her hand.

She grabbed the utensils, her hands trembling. Like someone stuttering, her hands wouldn't calm down.

Her eyes couldn't focus on the food.

She wore an expression as if facing a blade rather than food.

Her eyes mixed with vigilance and fear. She seemed to try to hide it, but it was obvious.

Watching her crumble step by step was not pleasant at all.

I don't know how much more pitiful she has to become before they're satisfied.

Can't she even eat properly now?

But I couldn't bring myself to blame her; the situation she was going through was too cruel.

"...Ha."

I sighed and averted my gaze.

I didn't want to see her like that. And if I didn't want to see it, I had to act.

In the end, the one who feels the need moves.

So I moved my steps.

Entering the vast hall, I approached Vivian.

– – – The End of The Chapter – – –

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