The Tainted Midnight Snack
Tremble.
Truly, just a little.
The moment his hair—barely longer than regulations allowed—was pointed out, Colonel Gailan's face drained of color.
"I'll... I'll fix it right away!"
"No need. It's got real personality like that. Looks peaceful—quite nice, actually."
On the surface, the words seemed fine. But everyone knew.
Colonel Gailan's chances of promotion to brigadier general had just dropped to zero percent.
"Belrum, base commander."
"Y-yes, sir!!!"
"I'll inspect the entire base. Lead the way."
"Right this way, sir! By carriage."
"What, you planning to lock me in a carriage to hide something? Just bring one horse."
"H-ha, understood."
The on-site inspection by General Maemold Sikaite began in a suffocating atmosphere.
Everyone had scrambled desperately to prepare just to survive, but they couldn't fool the eyes of a veteran like Maemold, grizzled from years on the front lines.
"The warships' maintenance is a disgrace. You think oiling them up today will cover for all the neglect?"
"No, sir!"
"Then why the sloppy job? Does war amuse you, Colonel?"
"No, sir!!!"
The warship captain—a colonel by rank—bellowed at the top of his lungs.
Palan could bet this was the worst day of the man's military career.
"Ship maintenance is life and death for the navy, yet your mindset's not just slipped—it's rotted through."
There was some intent to snap them back to attention, sure. But truthfully, his mood was foul right now.
If things stay like this, we'll have problems if the enemy attacks.
Hassmon Fortress, which he'd checked just before, and even Yalk Island.
Both were woefully inadequate in his expert eyes.
Can't fix this overnight. Tough spot.
If he'd still been navy chief of staff, maybe. But now he was supreme commander.
A position demanding a view of the whole picture.
Especially with the war centering on the army—he couldn't pour endless time into the navy.
Nothing for it but to replace the chief when I get back.
Mulling over such thoughts, General Maemold pressed on with the inspection.
And from that day forward, Yalk Island's defenses became incomparably ironclad.
"You're still awake, aren't you?"
Aurora plated some light snacks and stepped out of the kitchen.
She came down to the kitchen herself yesterday too, but why won't she say anything?
Of course, she knew it was consideration for her sake.
That's why she'd come to prepare a snack unbidden tonight.
"If only the young master would rest easy here at the estate."
Working as a maid meant hearing every rumor swirling through the mansion.
And the biggest topic, naturally, was Tems Oclo.
From what Aurora had heard, he flew into a rage at the mere mention of Palan's name.
Hand him the army on a platter, then shut up and stay quiet for once.
No maid in the estate liked the hot-tempered heir who'd been shoved aside from succession.
Not anymore, anyway.
"Truly pathetic..."
Thud.
"Eek!"
Walking down the hall, Aurora suddenly collided with someone who'd appeared from the side.
Recognizing him, her body froze solid.
"Y-young master! I-I'm sorry!!!"
The one who'd scolded her that morning—the very man she'd been cursing inwardly moments ago.
Having bumped into him no less, Aurora bowed reflexively.
"Hah, can't you watch where you're going?!"
Tems ran a hand through his hair, voice laced with irritation.
"I-I'm sorry. Truly sorry."
"Whatever. Take this. You expect me to hold it all night?"
Tems nodded toward the tray in his hand.
"Wha...? When did—"
"Caught it when you tripped. Otherwise it'd be all over my clothes."
"Th-thank you!"
Aurora bowed repeatedly in gratitude.
"Taking it to the runt, huh."
"Y-yes..."
"What makes that punk so great you bring him snacks this late? Tsk tsk."
Tems clicked his tongue in clear disapproval.
Aurora, standing before him, was at a loss for words.
"You gonna block the hall all night? If you're going, hurry up."
"I-I'm sorry! Good night."
Aurora bowed once more and fled toward Palan's room.
She knocked, entered.
Tems watched her go, his face a grotesque tangle of emotions.
"Gold veins everywhere he shops? Living the easy life."
The plot barreled forward at breakneck speed, maybe for that extreme catharsis payoff.
Next thing you know, he'll stumble on a dragon's lair.
Knock knock.
"Yes?"
Reflexively answering the knock, Aurora opened the door and came in.
"Young master, have this while you work."
"Oh? You didn't have to."
Words aside, his stomach was rumbling right on cue.
"That's what I'm here for."
"Fair enough. Thanks, I'll dig in."
Grateful, he reached first for a chocolate cookie.
Huh?
The moment his fingers touched it, a faint dampness.
Something was off.
Cookies don't get damp, do they?
Barring spit, cookies should be crisp and dry. Normal ones, anyway.
Especially these—not fresh from the oven, no reason to be moist.
"W-wait a sec."
"Yes? Something wrong?"
Aurora asked innocently, tilting her head.
Ignoring her, he grabbed a spoon from the drawer atop the desk... no need to even touch the cookie.
"Hah."
His hand already tainted, just gripping the spoon revealed a vivid purple stain.
"Wh-what's that?"
Aurora jumped, startled by the color change.
What mattered now was her sincerity.
Would you like to view the target's truth?
Cost: 5P
Not much.
An amount he could pay lightly.
Truth Eye pierces the target.
Looks innocent enough.
Curious if it'd been deliberate murder, but she seemed cleared.
"Where'd you get this?"
"Fr-from the kitchen."
Poison on snacks from the kitchen? That's weird.
Think about it—how would Aurora know he'd pick the chocolate cookie out of all those options?
"Any issues on the way here?"
"Um... I bumped into Young Master Tems before coming in. My fault for not watching where I was going."
Bingo.
The picture formed instantly.
"Tray must've been in his hands after you tripped, even briefly."
"H-how'd you know?"
"I've got my ways. I'll handle the cookie—you go back to your room."
"Y-yes, sir!"
Her head bowed at his firm tone, Aurora left the room.
"What the hell do I do with this bastard."
He was no doubt lurking somewhere, smirking, waiting for Palan to keel over from the cookie.
That was a close one.
Only caught it because he knew assassination plots were in play.
Otherwise, damp or not, he'd have scarfed it down without a thought.
Scary as shit around here.
First, he scrubbed his hands raw in the bathroom.
"Even if I tell Father now, he'll pin it on Aurora and weasel out."
One might argue Broad Oclo wasn't that blind, but fathers are weak to their kids.
Especially the eldest son.
Time to crush him outright.
Crush him outright.
Then it hit him—an expert was right by his side.
"So, you came to busy me with 'solve this'?"
Eden eyed him with clear displeasure.
"Nah, not full solve—just picking your brain. Bonus if you handle it."
"Hah. One screw-up subordinate, and now I'm meddling in noble family drama."
"This goes beyond family squabbles—it's life or death. Can't have a key player like me assassinated before a major op."
"Hm."
Who knew what he was thinking—he stroked his chin, leaning back in his chair.
"True, can't have you dying. You're the only soldier who's scouted with me."
"Rare agreement."
"Tsk tsk. So, odorless poison herb, huh?"
"Yeah. Brought the evidence."
He handed Eden the box with the carefully packed chocolate cookie.
"If you say so, Captain. Odorless poison herb—banned import without permit. How'd he snag it?"
"Really?"
"You didn't know?"
"Why would I? Never dealt with poison."
If anything, Eden knowing this stuff was the weird part.
How many poison plants are there to memorize?
Palan knew it was hard to import to the capital, but not the details.
"Tsk tsk. Special recruit, no training—green as they come."
"Happy to step down anytime."
"Not happening. Anyway, solve it? I could wrap it tomorrow if you want."
"F-for real?"
The unexpected offer widened his eyes.
"What's hard? Raid the place, done. Downside: owning capital-banned assassin's poison hits the family hard."
Eden's words hit like a hammer to the skull.
Oh, right.
In Korea, A commits crime, A pays. Not here.
Nobles dragged their houses down with them—couldn't escape unscathed.
"You hate that."
"H-ha, attached to the family, you know."
Less attachment, more pitying a soaring house's wings clipped.
Assets that'd be his someday.
"No choice, then. I'll handle it myself."
Eden's help looked tricky.
"How, solo?"
"Need to think, but first—trace the poison source. Raid it; they'll have records."
Crooks like that always logged buyers.
"Oh?"
"Show Father the proof of Tems buying it—irrefutable."
No father could defend him then.
"How to snag those records?"
"That's what I'm figuring out now."
Couldn't rampage with troops in the capital—toughest part, really.