Herscherik

On that day, a week after the raid in Castle Town, Hershelik was welcoming one guest. Gene bows his head deeply when, as usual, he is put through to the greenhouse tea party seat.

"Thank you, Your Highness, for last week.

To her somewhere nervous face, Hershelik smiled as usual.

"Oh, I'm so sorry I caught your scary eye. Please take a seat.

As Hershelik prompted him and Oran pulled the chair, Gene took his seat beside him.

"Again, those people are after His Highness's life…………?

"Looks like it. I don't know the details either. [M]

Hershelik answers Gene's question with a bitter smile.

I was just lying about what I said. It's true that I was being targeted, but I know about the jewelry of the case. Hershelik himself was not allowed to stand, but Oran, the lead knight, and Marx, the first prince, were present to investigate.

Oran's report ended up increasing Hershelik's troubles.

Those who have carried out the raid were only hired, and the investigation continues, but the employer is unknown. That's not because the raiders don't open their mouths, but because they found testimony and traces of that magic that the raiders were forced by magic to alter their memories and raid by spell. If they don't, they'll take their lives. The scary thing about spells is that they are enforceable as long as mediation exists even when a magic user dies. I just can't handle a magician in line to deal with such an imposing spell.

In the end, the raiders were not acquitted, but they were forced to raid and further raided without knowledge of the royalty, leaving room for discretion in the court of the Legal Department.

"Speaking of which, Mr. Violetta today...... what about Violetta?

"My sister is ill asleep. I apologize for being the only one today.

Hershelik tilts his neck at her lowering his head.

"Then you could have used it.

If it is discontinued, it will be fine if only the product used is handed over. Hershelik wonders if it's not a problem that the Marquis' maid is doing something like a small-time job. Gene takes out the box he brought to Hershelik, where the question is on his face.

"No, I left a treat for His Highness from my sister to eat. I mean thank you for protecting me the other day.

When Gene said that and opened the box, there was a line of cupcakes with plenty of chocolate and nuts. The cake, which swelled beautifully like a mountain, was also coated with chocolate, and the sweet aroma stirred Hershelik's nostrils. Hershelik broke his expression.

"It looks delicious! I'll just have it. Schwartz, get me some tea.

"Understood.

The groom and Hershelik instruct Khlo. Jean takes the bag out of a cage separate from the box when Crowe starts to prepare the teapot.

"…… Your Highness, use this for tea if you like.

"This?

"It's a rare tea from another country. I got it by chance.

Hershelik sees the receiving package. The country of origin was printed with a certain country in the Union of the South. And a small amount, but it's imported, and I know that these things are expensive in previous lives.

"Are you sure? Isn't it expensive?

"I would definitely like your Highness to drink it.

Hershelik nods at Gene's words. I thought it would be rude for them to say too much.

"Well, thank you.

When the tea is given to the clo, the clo confirms to Gene the amount of hot water and the time to steam it and puts the tea in. The tea served was candy and the rich aroma spread indoors.

Hershelik had a refreshing taste with little tannin when he sipped a cup of tea.

"Yeah, it's definitely a different scent of tea around here. The flavor is refreshing and delicious.

"…… Yes.

To Hershelik smiling, Gene nodded with a strong expression.

"Mr. Gene? You don't seem to have a superior complexion, but are you okay?

"…… so, I'm fine.

"Is that so? Don't push it, will you?

Gene turns away from Hershelik, who turns a carefree expression.

"... you seem really ill. Shouldn't you be back early?... Ah, I have to tell Violetta what you think of this cake.

I just hit my hand that Hershelik flickered. Gene's shoulder jumped frighteningly at the answer, but Hershelik unaware and held a chocolate-coated cupcake in his hand.

"Okay, I'll take it.

Open your big mouth. Hershelik tries to hit the cake.

Gene seemed to flow slowly as if the goddess of time had ruled the time on this occasion. The scenery, which is supposed to be a moment, moves slowly and slowly, and the cake approaches Hershelik's mouth.

"……… Dame"

Gene gets up with the momentum to knock down the chair and slaps the cupcake off with his own outstretched hand from Hershelik's hand. And when I had a box with the cupcakes on the table, I slammed them to the ground.

"No, no..."

Gene keeps whining as if he was distracted, and also slaps the teacup Hershelik was drinking off to the ground. As we approached the side table further, both the teapot with the tea and the open bag of tea leaves beat to the ground, and Gene stopped the movement.

"Mr. Gene.

A calm voice speaks to her as she raises and lowers her shoulders and breathes roughly. But that voice didn't reach Gene's ear.

"No……………."

Gene stood still on the spot. In my head, the week I prepared according to my father's instructions was flowing fast.

(I am…… what am I?)

As my father told me, she has been preparing to assassinate Hershelik. I poisoned the tea and the cake. There are two kinds of poison that are not considered poisonous by themselves and are ineffective. It's a poison that works by incorporating those two types into your body. How to never be suspicious without detailed knowledge. In this way, I have taken many lives. My father tells me so.

Until yesterday, I told myself it was always the same. This was the only way to protect my life and that of my sister. Yet when I saw Hershelik's face and he turned his smile the same as usual, my mind swayed.

And the moment he tried to have a cup of tea and a cake, the shaky determination broke apart brittle in an instant.

Hold hands. My nails ate into my palms and I felt pain, but still couldn't stop gripping. A warm hand wrapped his hand around it.

"Mr. Gene, calm down.

A gentle voice reaches Gene, along with the temperature you feel from your hand.

"…… Your Highness, Your Highness?

He's less tall than himself. He's looking up. Sitting in the chair as prompted by him, his gaze became closer.

Hershelik tells him to give up the child, holding one hand of Gene's placed on his knee.

"All because I knew.

"What…………?

To the words, Gene found his blood making noise and pulling away.

To reassure her that she will turn blue, Hershelik holds her hand and strokes her hand with her empty hand.

"I'm not poisoned either because Clo replaced the tea. Because I also believed that you would stop the sweets before I ate them.

"How...?

"Hmm? That's because my butler is too good.

I knew Barbasse was getting two drugs on the back route more than before. It's the poison of spending time killing people by being able to keep the right amount in your body. Besides, the cognition of that poison is very low, and I wouldn't have noticed it if Crowe hadn't known.

At the same time, I learned that the Marquis Barbasse family purchased luxury tea from the merchants they served. That's why I predicted that I might set it up, and I set up measures.

"Plus today's cake, Violetta made it. It was beautiful.

I didn't think Violetta, who even makes cookies a little burnt with distortion, could make a beautiful cupcake. I couldn't even think of Gene letting Violetta make a cake to poison it.

"Why, I..."

Whether you thought you were going to stop it or believed it, that's what Gene didn't know. I had decided to kill Hershelik until that moment just before me.

Hershelik leaks a bitter laugh at Gene's words. That was stopped by the bellies. But I was certain. No, I wanted to believe it. Take her.

"Um, guess what? But I wanted to believe it.

I just have to say that because I have no basis. Even though my bellies were frightened.

A tear streams through Gene's hazelnut eyes in the words, and he slices it to pieces.

Hershelik continued to stroke her head, which shed large tears and covered her face with both hands, until she stopped crying.