Episode 85

The vitality potion, refined through healing magic, was characterized by its complete transparency, lacking both color and odor. When poured into a glass, it was often so clear that one might doubt anything was inside.

However, the potion in the servant’s bowl had a faint yellow hue.

It could be due to the lighting, I thought, brushing off my initial suspicion. After all, I knew that vitality potions were routinely served at this hour, and this timing fit the pattern perfectly. Still, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off.

“Are you feeling particularly weak? If so, I’ll summon a healer,” Father offered.

“No, Father. The vitality potion should suffice,” I replied calmly.

The servant quickly jumped in.

“This… this was specially prepared for the former Duke! I’ll prepare a separate one for you, my lady.”

“Specially prepared?” I questioned.

It was common knowledge that vitality potions varied in quality. The efficacy depended on the strength of the magic used during refinement and the purity of the holy water.

The potions I usually consumed were S-grade, the highest tier, costing dozens of gold coins per bottle. Often referred to as “elixirs,” they were the epitome of restorative tonics.

“What grade is this one?”

“S-grade… it’s an elixir.”

“That’s strange. It’s supposedly the same as what I’ve been drinking, so why does it look different?”

The servant’s face paled as he stammered, hastily altering his explanation.

“It… it’s prepared using a special method. The finest holy water from the temple was used, so that must account for the difference.”

Temple holy water was extraordinarily rare and expensive, to the point that most people never encountered it in their lifetimes.

If anything, such pure holy water should have made it even clearer, I thought skeptically.

Father furrowed his brow. “Sierra, you said the color was different?”

“Yes. It’s supposed to be transparent, but this one seems slightly cloudy.”

It wasn’t surprising that Father or others couldn’t notice the difference. It was a subtle change, easy for most to overlook. However, to me, it was unmistakably abnormal.

The servant’s pale complexion only deepened my suspicions.

“I’m curious to see how the temple’s holy water changes the potion. Bring it here,” I pressed, watching the servant shuffle forward hesitantly with the bowl.

“Father,” I said softly, leaning toward him as the servant approached.

Before I could finish my words, the servant stumbled, his footing suddenly unsteady.

“Ah… ah…!”

The bowl wobbled dangerously as he flailed, nearly spilling its contents.

“Father!” I called, but he had already moved. With swift precision, Father caught the bowl mid-air, preventing even a single drop from spilling.

The servant collapsed onto the floor, but the elixir remained intact. Relieved, I let out a quiet sigh.

“How did you know?” Father asked, turning to me.

I had whispered to him earlier: If the servant stumbles, make sure to save the bowl.

“If he had malicious intent, he wouldn’t want the contents of the bowl spilled. It would destroy any evidence,” I explained. “Especially under suspicion, he’d be desperate to protect it.”

This made my suspicions almost certain.

The servant sat on the floor, staring blankly at the bowl now held in Father’s hands. I stepped closer and peered into its contents. It wasn’t the lighting. Up close, the yellow tint was undeniable.

“If this is suspicious, it’s too dangerous to drink. We should have it analyzed,” Father declared.

I nodded. I hadn’t planned on drinking it anyway.

Father turned to the servant, his voice sharp and cold. “You have two choices: confess now and perhaps save your life, or wait until the analysis is complete and face the harshest punishment.”

The servant flinched, his body trembling visibly.

“I… I swear, it’s a vitality potion! I am innocent!” he protested, his voice breaking.

“If it’s genuine, and your innocence is proven, I will compensate you as an apology,” Father said firmly.

I crouched slightly, meeting the servant’s frantic gaze. “But if you’re lying,” I said quietly, “prepare yourself.”

“If the analysis reveals that this isn’t a vitality potion, and if it’s harming Grandfather’s health… you know what that means, right?”

I smiled while drawing a line across my neck with my hand. The servant’s face turned as white as a sheet.

“This is your only chance. I don’t care either way.”

The servant remained silent, trembling.

“Looks like you’ve missed your final opportunity,” I said, turning away.

Just then, a panicked voice called out from behind me.

“I’ll talk! I’ll tell you everything…!”

The servant fell to his knees, his body visibly shaking.

“It… it started a month ago,” he confessed.

A month ago—right before Grandfather’s health began to decline.

“I was regularly presenting the elixir to the former Duke, as usual.”

If he was in charge of the elixirs, this servant must have been Grandfather’s personal attendant.

That explains why his face looked familiar, I thought.

“Normally, I would receive the elixirs from Physician Herbert, but the head attendant insisted on sourcing something better. He ordered me to serve a vitality potion obtained from an external physician.”

“An external physician?” I repeated, my tone sharp.

To serve the Duke an elixir from an unknown source was outrageous.

“I… I objected as strongly as I could, but the head attendant was adamant….”

“Who was this external physician?”

“He… he was introduced by the head attendant. At the time, I was told he was affiliated with the temple, but I later discovered he worked for Baron Zetrin’s household.”

Baron Zetrin’s family was closely aligned with the Marquis of Avon.

So, this ties back to that conniving marquis? I thought, my brow furrowing.

“Since the physician was introduced by the head attendant, I didn’t question it. I took the elixir and presented it to the former Duke,” the servant continued, his voice quivering with remorse.

It was clear he now fully understood the gravity of his actions.

“Then one day, I noticed something unusual. As the lady mentioned, the elixir wasn’t as clear as it should have been.”

“And then?” I prompted.

“Shortly after, the former Duke collapsed. Overwhelmed with anxiety, I went to the head attendant, seeking guidance. That’s when… he revealed his true nature.”

The image of the head attendant, always wearing a friendly smile, flashed in my mind. It was shocking to think that someone who had served the family for so long could betray us.

“The so-called elixir I had been presenting wasn’t an elixir at all. The head attendant told me I was complicit and that reporting the matter would cost me my life. I was terrified… so I continued serving the unknown substance.”

The servant’s voice cracked as he recounted the events.

“I believe the head attendant was following someone else’s orders, though I don’t know who. I’ve committed an unforgivable sin….”

Father radiated a quiet, lethal rage.

The diagnosis given by the physician had been that Grandfather’s condition was due to a natural illness, a degenerative ailment called ‘Devarun’. Symptoms included weakness, occasional loss of consciousness, and progressive health decline.

But this was a meticulously planned conspiracy, clever enough to fool even seasoned physicians.

Whether we could reverse the effects on Grandfather’s health remained uncertain.

But…

I remembered the morning of the New Year’s banquet. Perhaps Grandfather had sensed something.

[You’re all dressed up. It must be time for the banquet.]

[Next year, you should come with me, Grandfather.]

[We’ll see. Now go on, you’re running late.]

[Alright, I’ll be back soon.]

As I turned to leave, Grandfather spoke words he’d never said before in his life.

[I love you.]

[What?]

I had stared at him, wide-eyed.

[Wait, what did you just say?]

[…I didn’t say anything.]

[You said you love me!]

[Enough nonsense. Go on now. I need my rest.]

Even if only to hear those words from him one more time, I had to find a way to fix this.

 

 

 

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