Erna subdued Callion with magic.
The rumor spread rapidly within the Grand Duke's castle. Since there were so many witnesses, it could not be stopped from spreading, no matter how much they tried to keep people quiet. On the contrary, the attempts to silence them only served to confirm the rumor's truth, thereby accelerating its spread even further.
As with all rumors, what spread from mouth to mouth was bound to swell rapidly. This rumor was no exception.
The rumor, which had ended with 'attacked' in the morning, changed by evening to 'Erna tried to cut off Callion's breath with all kinds of evil magic, and Callion fought back without giving up, leaving a huge bloodstain in the corridor of the main building of the Grand Duke's castle, and the servants are desperately trying to clean it up and hide it.'
Adelaide, released from custody, heard the news while lashing out at her ladies-in-waiting.
“What? Is that really true?”
“That is correct. I have confirmed that security at the main building has indeed tightened even further, and that Grand Duke Callion has decided to stay at the Knights’ Order for the time being. I have also confirmed that doctors went to the Knights’ Order following the disturbance. Given the situation, one would expect the wizards from the Grand Duke’s castle to go and cast healing spells, but I hear that no one was able to go to the Knights’ Order due to Grand Duke Erna’s orders.”
The maid delivering the message spoke with a proud expression about what she had learned.
It wasn't that difficult to uncover the rumors.
At first, the attendants of the Grand Duke's castle kept their mouths tightly shut as if by prior agreement. However, when the dead person appeared, they spat out their pent-up anxiety in a mixture of fear and excitement, like clams spitting out dirt.
The maids only had to gather up the words that were being spat out together, mixed with that anxiety.
Adelaide thanked the maid who had spread the rumor for her efforts and called the head maid to commend her for her hard work.
Then the head maid handed the maid one of Adelaide's ornaments that she had brought from Havand. It was a small brooch with a few pearls.
'It was originally an item made for this purpose.'
It was undignified for a noble Princess to openly hand over gold coins like others.
The maid merely conveyed what she had heard out of pure loyalty, and the Princess, moved by that loyalty, simply bestowed upon her what she was carrying instead of money.
As the elegant transaction was over and the satisfied maid withdrew, the ladies-in-waiting standing beside Adelaide hurriedly opened the window to ventilate the room and then sprayed perfume on the spot where the maid had been.
Adelaide watched the movements of her ladies-in-waiting with a satisfied expression. For the past few days, the maids of the Grand Duke's castle had been hovering around Adelaide as if keeping watch. Moreover, they had not been able to serve her in a single way to her liking.
As expected of those who had served her since Havand, the handmaidens moved as Adelaide desired, like tongues in the mouth.
A moment later, a maid who had sent the maid out came closer and spoke.
“It seems the maid was right. The atmosphere in the Grand Duke’s castle has become even more tense. Upon inquiry, I hear that Grand Duke Callion's injuries are serious. It looks like he has broken a bone. He also seems to have coughed up blood.”
It is only natural. Since his body has not fully recovered yet, there is no way he could be safe after being attacked by magic.
'To think it would break a bone.'
At that point, it was clear he was serious. Besides, hadn't they said that Grand Duke Callion had mercilessly struck Erna in front of everyone?
'Did it go wrong because of the poison?'
They seemed quite close, but it appeared that a single poison attack had created a deep chasm.
Adelaide's lips curled slightly up behind the teacup. She wondered how she would find a gap, but to think it would just tear open on its own.
“Princess, what shall we do with this book?”
The head maid, who was tidying up Adelaide's room, brought a book from her belongings.
It was one of the ordinary books of proverbs. Since it was common for the royal family of Havand to read books of proverbs containing lessons and maxims morning and evening before going to sleep, it was a book that would not be a problem for Adelaide to have several copies of.
Adelaide took the book handed to her by the head maid. As the pages rustled, she came across a page with a torn edge. It was a section written on paper that was slightly darker than the rest. Difficult to notice unless looking closely.
"Burn it. I will not read it anymore."
"All right."
At Adelaide's command, the head maid threw the book into the fireplace without hesitation. The cloth covering the book burst into flames, and soon the book itself began to crumble in the fire.
Adelaide picked up her teacup again and looked at the book she was reading.
While she was being held captive, the maids of the Grand Duke's castle thoroughly searched her and her ladies-in-waiting's belongings. It was likely to look for clues about poison, whether or not it might be present.
However, the maids could not find anything. It was only natural. Who would have noticed that a page of the book was a drug? Since a strong perfume had been deliberately sprayed throughout the entire book, even the beasts could not notice.
On the day Callion collapsed, Adelaide dipped a part of the torn page she had seen a moment ago into the water and took it out.
'It's not poison.'
It was not poison, but a type of aphrodisiac. It was an aphrodisiac that showed no symptoms until consumed multiple times, and could never be discovered unless combined with other medicinal ingredients.
After feeding it several times, she intended to induce estrus when a good opportunity arose. Of course, since it is a mild substance that cannot be called poison, it does not produce a powerful effect. However, it is enough to give a hesitant person a push.
She had intended to work on it in advance in case it might be of help, but it is no longer usable. In that case, it was best to clean it up quickly.
Adelaide felt dizzy when Callion coughed up blood. And she broke out in a cold sweat when the Knights took away her water bottle. She was so anxious about what might happen if the doctors at the Grand Duke's castle found out what was in the water that she bit her nails, forgetting all manners and etiquette.
However, after doctors and wizards investigated, they concluded that someone had altered the contents using magic. She can't even begin to describe how relieved she was at that moment.
Adelaide took another sip of tea.
Her crime was not discovered, and Erna and Callion began to part ways. And her detention was also released.
"Milena."
Adelaide called the head maid's name.
"Give your order."
“Send flowers and a letter to the Knights in my name. Congratulate them on my vindication and Grand Duke Callion's recovery. I hope there are no misunderstandings between Havand and Grand Duke Callion.”
There is no need to bring up the wounds Erna inflicted on him right now. No, it is better to pretend she doesn't know.
'It must be humiliating.'
For a strong knight like him, the fact that he had been injured by magic would be an unbearable disgrace. Moreover, hadn't the incident spread throughout the entire Grand Duke's castle? However, rather than bringing it up to offer useless consolation, pretending not to notice was the attitude of a virtuous woman in Adelaide's eyes.
Adelaide intended to obey him. She would treat him respectfully, with an attitude completely different from Erna's.
Because men are bound to like women like that.
The doctors bowed their heads after changing the bandage wrapped around Callion's arm.
"It is a relief that it wasn't broken, but a crack is no small matter, so please rest and avoid moving as much as possible. Your body is still..."
"Understood. That's enough, so you can go now."
At the cold and blunt tone, the doctors left Callion's office without saying a word. They could sense the unpleasantness and irritation just by listening to his voice.
They did understand. After all, getting beaten by his wife inside his own home and having a fractured arm wasn't exactly something to brag about to him as a knight.
Besides, isn't the atmosphere even more ominous now because he ate poison?
As the doctors closed the door and left, Callion sighed.
The Knights' office was not an unfamiliar place to him. For him, who practically lived with the Knights all day long, the office was a place more familiar than his bedroom. On days when the Knights had a lot of work, he often slept here instead of returning to his bedroom.
Thanks to that, a bed for him was still in the office. Callion went to the bed and slumped down.
He felt the firm mattress. Feeling a sense of unfamiliarity at the sensation, which was completely different from what he had felt in the couple's bedroom for the past few months, Callion looked at his bandaged arm.
Nothing was touching him, yet a heavy sensation remained at his fingertips.
"Shit..."
Callion, who had been waving his hand as if to erase the sensation, frowned at the pain in the cracked part and let out a rough sound.
He hit Erna. And he hit her hard enough to tear the inside of her mouth, make her bleed, and leave her unable to stand properly.
The day before, the two of them practiced hitting and getting hit. However, after only a few times, the corners of Erna's eyes narrowed sharply.
“Aren’t you doing it properly? I can see you flinching right in front of my eyes, so do you think others will be fooled?”
Under the glare, Callion put strength into his hand again and swung it, but as expected, it did not please Erna.
'But it couldn't be helped. How could I possibly hit Erna?'
Then, he really steeled himself and punched her right in the face, causing her to flinch in surprise.
Seeing the fear flickering in her eyes, Callion hurriedly withdrew his arm.
Callion's heart pounded harder than Erna's.
"Good, keep it up."
Unlike the surprised Callion, Erna soon wore a satisfied expression. He should have noticed something was off when she suggested stopping practice, even though he still couldn't hit naturally.
“I didn’t know you’d just blindly shove it in...”
Erna approached him faster than promised, and his hand, unable to control its strength, ended up slapping Erna's face.
As he felt a dull thud in his hand, Callion wanted to die. Even more so when Erna spat out blood. Just as he was about to say, 'Let's stop this whole act; I'll just kill everyone,' his body suddenly floated up and flew away.
Not stopping there, Callion's body hit the wall several more times and then rolled on the floor.
The magic continued to attack him so that he could not utter a single word.
While the servants risked their lives to restrain Erna, the knights inside quickly supported Callion and wrapped their arms around him as if protecting him from Erna.
It was truly a tearful display of loyalty. However, at that moment, Callion felt annoyed.
"Move aside. I can't see Erna."
Fortunately, he didn't blurt that out.
After that, Callion said he would come to the Knights and stay here.
He sat up again and fumbled around the bed he was sitting on. Over the past ten years, he must have slept here tens of times more often than in the master bedroom. But why... why does this place feel so empty and unfamiliar?
Callion closed his eyes.
It was only the first day since he fell, but he already missed Erna.
While he was lost in longing, he heard a knock.
"It's me, Cedric."
“...Come in.”
Cursing inwardly that he was clueless, Callion ordered him to come in. In any case, it was clear that if Cedric had arrived, he absolutely had to report it.
“What’s going on?”
“The knight at the Grand Duke’s castle just reported...”
"Report?"
Cedric rolled his eyes as if hesitating, then cautiously began to speak.
“I hear that Grand Duke Erna has summoned Prince Ruben Ether to her room.”
At those words, Callion, who had been looking around the room, saw the wooden stick that Cedric had placed there as a sample of the wooden pillar he had newly driven into the training ground.
He approached and picked it up. Even though he held it with one hand, as Callion gritted his teeth and gripped it tightly, the wooden stick crumbled with a loud crack!
"Hiccup."
Cedric, watching the scene, held his breath and cowered. It was the first time he had seen him so furious since he had served Callion.
"Go find out."
“Huh? What...?”
“Find out everything that bastard discussed with Erna... and how he is moving.”
Callion cursed Ruben in his heart and resented Erna.
He knew Erna would call Ruben. After all, that was what she had decided to do. But...
'You didn't say you were going to call at night!'
Callion hurled insults at the innocent night sky.
The rumor spread rapidly within the Grand Duke's castle. Since there were so many witnesses, it could not be stopped from spreading, no matter how much they tried to keep people quiet. On the contrary, the attempts to silence them only served to confirm the rumor's truth, thereby accelerating its spread even further.
As with all rumors, what spread from mouth to mouth was bound to swell rapidly. This rumor was no exception.
The rumor, which had ended with 'attacked' in the morning, changed by evening to 'Erna tried to cut off Callion's breath with all kinds of evil magic, and Callion fought back without giving up, leaving a huge bloodstain in the corridor of the main building of the Grand Duke's castle, and the servants are desperately trying to clean it up and hide it.'
Adelaide, released from custody, heard the news while lashing out at her ladies-in-waiting.
“What? Is that really true?”
“That is correct. I have confirmed that security at the main building has indeed tightened even further, and that Grand Duke Callion has decided to stay at the Knights’ Order for the time being. I have also confirmed that doctors went to the Knights’ Order following the disturbance. Given the situation, one would expect the wizards from the Grand Duke’s castle to go and cast healing spells, but I hear that no one was able to go to the Knights’ Order due to Grand Duke Erna’s orders.”
The maid delivering the message spoke with a proud expression about what she had learned.
It wasn't that difficult to uncover the rumors.
At first, the attendants of the Grand Duke's castle kept their mouths tightly shut as if by prior agreement. However, when the dead person appeared, they spat out their pent-up anxiety in a mixture of fear and excitement, like clams spitting out dirt.
The maids only had to gather up the words that were being spat out together, mixed with that anxiety.
Adelaide thanked the maid who had spread the rumor for her efforts and called the head maid to commend her for her hard work.
Then the head maid handed the maid one of Adelaide's ornaments that she had brought from Havand. It was a small brooch with a few pearls.
'It was originally an item made for this purpose.'
It was undignified for a noble Princess to openly hand over gold coins like others.
The maid merely conveyed what she had heard out of pure loyalty, and the Princess, moved by that loyalty, simply bestowed upon her what she was carrying instead of money.
As the elegant transaction was over and the satisfied maid withdrew, the ladies-in-waiting standing beside Adelaide hurriedly opened the window to ventilate the room and then sprayed perfume on the spot where the maid had been.
Adelaide watched the movements of her ladies-in-waiting with a satisfied expression. For the past few days, the maids of the Grand Duke's castle had been hovering around Adelaide as if keeping watch. Moreover, they had not been able to serve her in a single way to her liking.
As expected of those who had served her since Havand, the handmaidens moved as Adelaide desired, like tongues in the mouth.
A moment later, a maid who had sent the maid out came closer and spoke.
“It seems the maid was right. The atmosphere in the Grand Duke’s castle has become even more tense. Upon inquiry, I hear that Grand Duke Callion's injuries are serious. It looks like he has broken a bone. He also seems to have coughed up blood.”
It is only natural. Since his body has not fully recovered yet, there is no way he could be safe after being attacked by magic.
'To think it would break a bone.'
At that point, it was clear he was serious. Besides, hadn't they said that Grand Duke Callion had mercilessly struck Erna in front of everyone?
'Did it go wrong because of the poison?'
They seemed quite close, but it appeared that a single poison attack had created a deep chasm.
Adelaide's lips curled slightly up behind the teacup. She wondered how she would find a gap, but to think it would just tear open on its own.
“Princess, what shall we do with this book?”
The head maid, who was tidying up Adelaide's room, brought a book from her belongings.
It was one of the ordinary books of proverbs. Since it was common for the royal family of Havand to read books of proverbs containing lessons and maxims morning and evening before going to sleep, it was a book that would not be a problem for Adelaide to have several copies of.
Adelaide took the book handed to her by the head maid. As the pages rustled, she came across a page with a torn edge. It was a section written on paper that was slightly darker than the rest. Difficult to notice unless looking closely.
"Burn it. I will not read it anymore."
"All right."
At Adelaide's command, the head maid threw the book into the fireplace without hesitation. The cloth covering the book burst into flames, and soon the book itself began to crumble in the fire.
Adelaide picked up her teacup again and looked at the book she was reading.
While she was being held captive, the maids of the Grand Duke's castle thoroughly searched her and her ladies-in-waiting's belongings. It was likely to look for clues about poison, whether or not it might be present.
However, the maids could not find anything. It was only natural. Who would have noticed that a page of the book was a drug? Since a strong perfume had been deliberately sprayed throughout the entire book, even the beasts could not notice.
On the day Callion collapsed, Adelaide dipped a part of the torn page she had seen a moment ago into the water and took it out.
'It's not poison.'
It was not poison, but a type of aphrodisiac. It was an aphrodisiac that showed no symptoms until consumed multiple times, and could never be discovered unless combined with other medicinal ingredients.
After feeding it several times, she intended to induce estrus when a good opportunity arose. Of course, since it is a mild substance that cannot be called poison, it does not produce a powerful effect. However, it is enough to give a hesitant person a push.
She had intended to work on it in advance in case it might be of help, but it is no longer usable. In that case, it was best to clean it up quickly.
Adelaide felt dizzy when Callion coughed up blood. And she broke out in a cold sweat when the Knights took away her water bottle. She was so anxious about what might happen if the doctors at the Grand Duke's castle found out what was in the water that she bit her nails, forgetting all manners and etiquette.
However, after doctors and wizards investigated, they concluded that someone had altered the contents using magic. She can't even begin to describe how relieved she was at that moment.
Adelaide took another sip of tea.
Her crime was not discovered, and Erna and Callion began to part ways. And her detention was also released.
"Milena."
Adelaide called the head maid's name.
"Give your order."
“Send flowers and a letter to the Knights in my name. Congratulate them on my vindication and Grand Duke Callion's recovery. I hope there are no misunderstandings between Havand and Grand Duke Callion.”
There is no need to bring up the wounds Erna inflicted on him right now. No, it is better to pretend she doesn't know.
'It must be humiliating.'
For a strong knight like him, the fact that he had been injured by magic would be an unbearable disgrace. Moreover, hadn't the incident spread throughout the entire Grand Duke's castle? However, rather than bringing it up to offer useless consolation, pretending not to notice was the attitude of a virtuous woman in Adelaide's eyes.
Adelaide intended to obey him. She would treat him respectfully, with an attitude completely different from Erna's.
Because men are bound to like women like that.
***
The doctors bowed their heads after changing the bandage wrapped around Callion's arm.
"It is a relief that it wasn't broken, but a crack is no small matter, so please rest and avoid moving as much as possible. Your body is still..."
"Understood. That's enough, so you can go now."
At the cold and blunt tone, the doctors left Callion's office without saying a word. They could sense the unpleasantness and irritation just by listening to his voice.
They did understand. After all, getting beaten by his wife inside his own home and having a fractured arm wasn't exactly something to brag about to him as a knight.
Besides, isn't the atmosphere even more ominous now because he ate poison?
As the doctors closed the door and left, Callion sighed.
The Knights' office was not an unfamiliar place to him. For him, who practically lived with the Knights all day long, the office was a place more familiar than his bedroom. On days when the Knights had a lot of work, he often slept here instead of returning to his bedroom.
Thanks to that, a bed for him was still in the office. Callion went to the bed and slumped down.
He felt the firm mattress. Feeling a sense of unfamiliarity at the sensation, which was completely different from what he had felt in the couple's bedroom for the past few months, Callion looked at his bandaged arm.
Nothing was touching him, yet a heavy sensation remained at his fingertips.
"Shit..."
Callion, who had been waving his hand as if to erase the sensation, frowned at the pain in the cracked part and let out a rough sound.
He hit Erna. And he hit her hard enough to tear the inside of her mouth, make her bleed, and leave her unable to stand properly.
The day before, the two of them practiced hitting and getting hit. However, after only a few times, the corners of Erna's eyes narrowed sharply.
“Aren’t you doing it properly? I can see you flinching right in front of my eyes, so do you think others will be fooled?”
Under the glare, Callion put strength into his hand again and swung it, but as expected, it did not please Erna.
'But it couldn't be helped. How could I possibly hit Erna?'
Then, he really steeled himself and punched her right in the face, causing her to flinch in surprise.
Seeing the fear flickering in her eyes, Callion hurriedly withdrew his arm.
Callion's heart pounded harder than Erna's.
"Good, keep it up."
Unlike the surprised Callion, Erna soon wore a satisfied expression. He should have noticed something was off when she suggested stopping practice, even though he still couldn't hit naturally.
“I didn’t know you’d just blindly shove it in...”
Erna approached him faster than promised, and his hand, unable to control its strength, ended up slapping Erna's face.
As he felt a dull thud in his hand, Callion wanted to die. Even more so when Erna spat out blood. Just as he was about to say, 'Let's stop this whole act; I'll just kill everyone,' his body suddenly floated up and flew away.
Not stopping there, Callion's body hit the wall several more times and then rolled on the floor.
The magic continued to attack him so that he could not utter a single word.
While the servants risked their lives to restrain Erna, the knights inside quickly supported Callion and wrapped their arms around him as if protecting him from Erna.
It was truly a tearful display of loyalty. However, at that moment, Callion felt annoyed.
"Move aside. I can't see Erna."
Fortunately, he didn't blurt that out.
After that, Callion said he would come to the Knights and stay here.
He sat up again and fumbled around the bed he was sitting on. Over the past ten years, he must have slept here tens of times more often than in the master bedroom. But why... why does this place feel so empty and unfamiliar?
Callion closed his eyes.
It was only the first day since he fell, but he already missed Erna.
While he was lost in longing, he heard a knock.
"It's me, Cedric."
“...Come in.”
Cursing inwardly that he was clueless, Callion ordered him to come in. In any case, it was clear that if Cedric had arrived, he absolutely had to report it.
“What’s going on?”
“The knight at the Grand Duke’s castle just reported...”
"Report?"
Cedric rolled his eyes as if hesitating, then cautiously began to speak.
“I hear that Grand Duke Erna has summoned Prince Ruben Ether to her room.”
At those words, Callion, who had been looking around the room, saw the wooden stick that Cedric had placed there as a sample of the wooden pillar he had newly driven into the training ground.
He approached and picked it up. Even though he held it with one hand, as Callion gritted his teeth and gripped it tightly, the wooden stick crumbled with a loud crack!
"Hiccup."
Cedric, watching the scene, held his breath and cowered. It was the first time he had seen him so furious since he had served Callion.
"Go find out."
“Huh? What...?”
“Find out everything that bastard discussed with Erna... and how he is moving.”
Callion cursed Ruben in his heart and resented Erna.
He knew Erna would call Ruben. After all, that was what she had decided to do. But...
'You didn't say you were going to call at night!'
Callion hurled insults at the innocent night sky.
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