EIITAB - Chapter 118 < Rat >
Even if it is Trampled and Broken
Two more days have passed since Hestia lost consciousness.
She maintained the status quo, neither getting particularly better nor worse. However, her breathing was so weak that sometimes it felt as if she had stopped breathing, so much so that Aslan's heart sank and he put his ear to the tip of her nose.
Aslan stayed by Hestia's side most of the time, but sometimes he had to leave because he had to handle things himself.
Of course, it didn't take long, and after quickly solving the problem, he went straight to Hestia's room. The room that was so tightly controlled by others was opened up so easily to him. Aslan had to grit his teeth to keep from inadvertently sighing as the same scene unfolded every day.
Hestia's maid was still sniffling and crying without stopping, and he was so frantically searching through the medical books that Dr. Vito didn't even notice that his monocle was down.
After passing through those two people, his eyes finally landed on Hestia lying on the bed. Her breathing is not heavy and she does not look distressed. Pale, bloodless skin, quiet breathing. Aslan's fist tightened as she began to doubt whether she was breathing properly or whether she was alive.
"Your Excellency, are you here?"
The two people belatedly realized that Aslan had arrived and bowed their heads towards him. Instead of accepting the greeting, Aslan asked the same question as always.
"Did you find the reason? No matter how saintly she is, she won't be in endless pain, so there must be a reason."
His voice was calm, but everything around him was tense, which naturally revealed that he was impatient. Aslan thought that he would hear an answer from Dr. Vito today. But it wasn't. Dr. Vito pushed the monocle up with his fingertips.
"It's my first time seeing this in person too... I have studied these symptoms in medical books."
"Just cut to the chase and get to the point."
In response to Aslan's request, Dr. Vito briefly cleared his throat and began to explain.
"It seems like this is a side effect of the herb called silphium."
"Silphium?"
Aslan narrowed her brows and only moved her eyes to look sharply at Dr. Vito. Dr. Vito, who managed to understand that he was asking for additional explanation, swallowed dry saliva and immediately nodded.
"Yes. It is an herb called a gift from God."
Aslan laughed inadvertently. Here or there. God's will, God's gift. He just thought that there was no place where the word 'God' wasn't added.
"Excuse me. Continue."
Aslan, who quickly suppressed his laughter, gestured with his hand to indicate that he would listen, and Dr. Vito continued his explanation after a brief pause.
"It is a plant with so many different effects. If used in the right amount, it is a medicine, but if taken in excess, it is like ingesting a deadly poison. Your pulse and breathing become thinner, and your blood flows slowly. That's how you slowly die."
Aslan frowned.
"But there aren't any herbs like that in the Duchy of Kalathi, right?"
Although he was not as expert as Dr. Vito, he also knew his simple medical skills. During the battle, he cannot rely only on Dr. Vito, so he memorizes simple methods of treatment and the uses of medicinal herbs.
But no matter how much he thought about it, he had never heard of the herb called Silphium.
When he looked at Dr. Vito with puzzled eyes, he nodded with a serious face, as if he was thinking the same thing.
"Yes. As you know, it is a herb that does not grow in our territory."
"...That means."
Aslan's soft voice cut off as soon as he took a breath. His eyes began to shine quite sharply. Dr. Vito just held his breath so as not to disturb Aslan.
Aslan quietly exhaled. His mind was busily placing together new information.
'Hestia lost her mind after eating something that could not be found in Kalathi.'
Aslan only repeated the facts that had been accurately revealed. Then his clenched jaw gained strength. That means that there was either a southerner in contact or a northerner who was in secret communication with the southerner. His lips twisted, and a voice like a knife came out.
"This is why I can trust the Southerners."
Aslan pulled Hestia's hair away with his fingers. Unlike the harsh voice, it was a very friendly movement he asked Dr. Vito with a smile colder than his ice.
"Then what about the antidote?"
The doctor slowly shook his head with a sad look on his face.
"When silphium is used as a poison, there is nothing that can be used to detoxify it."
Therefore, when used as a poison rather than a medicine, the herb was called a punishment from God rather than a gift from God.
"The only thing we can rely on is the Princess's will. Since she has divine power, you must believe that she will purify the poison in her body on her own. For now, that's the only way."
Fuck. He's doing this now because that doesn't work. Aslan barely swallowed the harsh words that rose up in his throat. There was nothing good about revealing that Hestia was losing her divine powers.
It was outrageous that she had fooled him as well, but even if he had known in advance, Aslan would have come to the same conclusion as Yorgos and Boswa.
"Well, the important thing is not this."
Aslan let out a long, nervous sigh and consciously tried to shake off distracting thoughts. It was then. After hesitating for a moment, Dr. Vito seemed to have made up his mind and spoke with difficulty.
"And recently... There was someone who found Silphium."
"......Is it true?"
"Yes."
A cruel smile appeared on Aslan's lips.
"First we have to find the rat."
'How dare you touch mine without fear?'
Whoever it was, had to pay it back. Because that was Aslan Kalathi's way.
Before the full-scale investigation, Aslan treated Angela alone. This is because Angela, her maid, knew much more and more about Hestia than Hestia did.
"Was there any food that Hestia was hiding? It's like ingredients that she can't eat or that are not good for her body."
Angela whined as she wiped her tears into her handkerchief.
"No. There is nothing in particular. And you know the Duke... My princess is not someone who eats a lot."
"I know it."
Aslan nodded briefly in agreement, cleared his head for a moment, and then asked a new question.
"Then, has Hestia eaten anything new recently?"
"New?"
Well, Angela, who had been thinking for a long time while making a sound, shook her head again. It was such a large movement that the sound of the wind cutting through it was quite loud. Angela began to sniffle as if the crying that had barely stopped was getting worse again.
"Huh, huh."
The sound of her crying was briefly muffled, but then she calmed down and stuttered to open her mouth.
"Princess... She hasn't been eating well lately. She has no appetite... So he only enjoyed drinking tea."
"Tea?"
"Yes. Lady Dulcinea brought the tea up every morning."
Dulcinea. Aslan's heart sank to his feet at the sound of a familiar name. His face instantly became cold. Aslan, who seemed to have nothing more to ask Angela, got up from his seat and gave a short command to Hestia's maid.
"You must stay by Hestia's side."
"Yes? Ah yes. I understand, Duke."
Leaving Angela's voice behind, Aslan left the room.
***
"What would the condition be like by now?"
Dulcinea muttered, biting her nails again and again in her nervousness. She wanted to check on Hestia's health in person, but since she lost her mind, the access control had become so strict that she couldn't. Then...
Bang!
The door burst open, and Dulcinea, who was sitting there, turned her head in surprise. The moment she turned, her face was frowning, but it soon widened when she saw the person at the door.
"What kind of rudeness is this... Uh? Oh, Aslan?"
It was the first time he came to see her, so she was very happy. However, Aslan did not pay a single glance to Dulcinea.
"Aslan?"
Aslan, who had a stern face, strode inside without asking permission from the room owner and slightly twisted his body. Only then did Dulcinea realize that he had not come to her room alone.
"What is this...?"
"Everyone comes in."
Dean and other hesitant castle servants and knights hurriedly came to their senses as if they had been doused with cold water by Aslan's cold voice and entered Dulcinea's room.
It wasn't a very small room, but with about ten large men all entering it, it felt like it was full. Dulcinea looked back at Aslan with an expression that demanded an explanation. But this time too, he said nothing. He was treating Dulcinea like a completely non-existent person. Only then did Dulcinea realize that something was going wrong, but it was already too late to turn things back.
Aslan gave orders to those he had brought with him.
"Look around. If you find anything, bring it to me."
"Yes, master."
"I accept your orders."
The servants and knights began to search Dulcinea's room. Dulcinea's face turned pale as she Instinctively realized what they were looking for. At first, she looked at them in bewilderment as they began to carelessly turn over all over her room, but then quickly came to her senses and moved.
"What are they doing now!"
She lifted the blanket from her bed and stood in front of the workers to stop them from digging into the fireplace.
"Don't do it! Stop! I'm telling you to stop!"
Dulcinea's evil behavior continued. She even hung on the knights' backs. But because she was pushed back by force, she could not stop them. By that time she was tired of struggling and gave up.
"Your Excellency, I found it."
Someone raised their voice and raised the tea barrel high.
Comments
Post a Comment