Chapter 4
Above Seriniel’s emerald eyes, petals of many beautiful colors shone.
It was something I knew very well.
Leraie had told me it was good for my body and would definitely help me have children…….
Every day, every day, every day, I eagerly steeped the flower tea.
[If I had known it would take this long, I would have put the poison in every meal, not just the tea].
It must have been around this time. Leraie had given me this flower tea.
Yeah. It must have been hard-earned, indeed. The doctors were unable to find a name for Seriniel’s illness, not even when she began to struggle, not even when she was completely immobilized.
A poison that left no trace would have been quite a hit.
“Just wait a moment, my lady. I’ll be right back with the tea!”
The untruthful Kina smiled brightly, and Seriniel tightened her grip on her cuff.
“You don’t have to make me tea, Kina.”
“Ah, then why don’t you eat first and then I’ll prepare it for you? You’re still on an empty stomach, so that would be better.”
“No…… that’s not why.”
Seriniel said, shaking her head.
“There’s no way I’m drinking this again.”
“But it’s a gift from Leraie herself…….”
It was not unreasonable for Kina to react this way. For a very long time, Seriniel had been very fond of Leraie, and the same was true of Leraie.
Or so it would have seemed.
But now it wasn’t.
“I’m going to ask you for something else instead.”
Seriniel spoke in a low voice.
“Take this flower tea and go to the market, Kina.”
“The market? What’s……?”
“You remember, don’t you? Take this flower tea to him, and ask him about the ingredients.”
It was a third-generation apothecary. With ties to noble families like Seriniel’s parents.
A man like that would be able to find out. What this flower tea was made of.
“Tell them I sent you, and they’ll keep it a secret, but the sooner the better. I want the answer today, if possible.”
I could see it clearly now. The conversation between Calian and Leraie that she’d heard in her dying moments, the excruciating pain she’d felt even before that.
It wasn’t that she didn’t want to believe, but she couldn’t help but want to be sure.
“My Lady…….”
Kina, who had been taking care of Seriniel since childhood, was also witnessing such a scene for the first time. Seriniel always acted as if her life depended on Calian and Leraie. Always.
But to suddenly harbor such suspicions?
“It’s okay, Kina. Nothing’s wrong.”
“Well, if that’s the case, then I’m relieved, but…”
Are you really okay, though? Kina rambled nervously on her own.
Seriniel nodded silently, and only then did Kina tightly grasp the small box Seriniel handed her.
“And Kina, never touch those petals with bare hands.”
“…Yes?”
“The more careful, the better. And what about Calian… did he mention when he’ll be back? Was there any separate contact today?”
“Oh, he mentioned having a mine inspection today.”
Yes, around this time, Calian was extremely busy. With the recent start of intensive mining and various other matters to attend to, he rarely left the house. Although it was purely based on what he said, it was still the case.
“But I heard he’ll be back today. The time might be a bit late, though.”
Even if he comes back home, Calian rarely returns during daylight hours.
In that case…
Seriniel briefly immersed herself in thought, then rose from the bed and spoke to Kina.
“Kina, call for the steward.”
“Now? If you’re planning to go to the master’s place, I can send someone there first…”
“No, I have other business. Money is no issue, but you must find someone discreet. Do you understand what I mean?”
“Madam…”
“And the fact that I went out today must be known only to you, Kina. Don’t tell the master either.”
By this point, even without a clear understanding of the situation, it was apparent that something had gone wrong. Kina had a frightened expression, but she nodded as if she understood.
“Is there anything I can help with?”
“…”
“Whatever it is, anything…”
Looking at Kina, Seriniel faintly smiled.
Kina had always been there for her, whether during her time as a viscountess or in the midst of marriage. So, she could be trusted without a doubt.
However, even with someone like Kina, Seriniel couldn’t reveal what was happening. And especially with the uncertainty of what the future held.
“It’s okay. Call the steward, Kina. Even if I come back late, don’t worry about me.”
⚜ ⚜ ⚜
Prompt Kina promptly called for the steward. Although she asked if Seriniel really didn’t need her to come along, Seriniel simply reassured her and boarded the carriage.
“…”
Seated inside the swaying carriage, Seriniel’s expression as she looked out the window was undeniably somber. Despite her silence, she repeated deep breaths and absentmindedly toyed with her own hands.
What on earth happened?
Why have I returned to the past?
Was it divine mockery or a devil’s trick? No matter how much she pondered, she couldn’t find the answer.
[“I can’t go on like this, never…!”]
In that dream-like darkness, what enraged words did I mutter? Seriniel remembered precisely.
I will seek revenge. I will make them as miserable as I became, crumbling just like me.
Even that cursed blood.
So, although she couldn’t grasp what exactly had happened, one thing was certain.
I will never, under any circumstances, make the same mistake again.
The reason for getting on this carriage was also because of that. She needed to confirm. How much of what she knew was true, and from where did the falsehoods begin? Also, how did they deceive her…?
“We’ve arrived at the location you mentioned.”
After a considerable amount of time passed, the carriage stopped, and simultaneously, the voice of the steward was heard.
Seriniel took a deep breath once more, then quietly disembarked from the carriage.
“Wait here. Until I return.”
Yes. Upon hearing the steward’s response, Seriniel slowly moved forward.
Then, she gazed at the serene mansion in front of her.
…This place was a villa owned by Calian Helcar, quite far from the Helcar estate.
Not long after starting the mining business, Calian promptly acquired this villa.
At that time, when the business had not yet flourished, Seriniel couldn’t easily comprehend Calian’s actions.
To Seriniel, who was worried, Calian explained it this way:
[“I want to spend more time with you here, create memories. And I thought you might feel too lonely just staying at the estate.”]
However, except for the day when the villa was first acquired, Seriniel had never visited this place. Calian was too busy, and not long after, Seriniel fell ill, starting to languish in sickness.
[“I’ll send someone to the villa right away. Bring governess and Benny… for the 7th birthday, it will be celebrated here at this mansion.”]
Perhaps there was a hidden reason for you purchasing this villa, something you never shared with me. That’s the one thing he never revealed to me.
While pondering Calian’s voice that still resonated vividly in her ears, Seriniel clenched her fist, as if preparing for a significant task, displaying determination.
Then, very quietly, she began walking towards the villa, concealing her presence.
…But I must not announce my arrival. If I do, it will reveal that I know everything.
Still, since only one butler and a few maids resided in Calian’s villa, she could roughly observe the situation from outside. Moreover, Calian mentioned he was inspecting the mine, so the likelihood of him being here was low. Thus, she genuinely intended to just observe and return.
…And so, as she approached the villa with such thoughts in mind.
“Daddy. Daddy!”
An unexpected voice of a child…
“Yes, my child.”
The voice of her husband reached her ears.
Corna😔