Chapter 30
Chapter 30
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 30
Chapter Title: The Reek of Demonic Poison
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I wrinkled my brow, struggling to make sense of something utterly incomprehensible, when I suddenly recalled the mission to escort the war prisoners.
'Was it because they didn't want to assign him that task?'
But why?
Wouldn't it be far better for a knight's career to take on an important mission and visit the main estate rather than staying holed up in the branch family with Dad, who had fallen out of Grandfather's favor?
If there was a reason he absolutely had to stay in our house...
'No wonder the conversation with the kitchen servant felt suspicious.'
It was safest to suspect anyone tangled up with the main estate's hired help.
As I mulled it over quietly, I came up with one good idea.
I'd tipped off Dad about the messenger birds today, so security inside and outside the mansion would tighten up soon enough. The birds would all be cleared out too.
In that case, there was one decent method.
"Ditri, dis my salmon. Fo' Ditri."
First things first, I needed to soothe Dietrich. I showed him some kindness by placing my portion of smoked salmon on top of his salad.
But whatever happened today must have shaken him badly, because his mood didn't improve one bit even after we finished eating.
On the day the war prisoners were loaded into a carriage fitted with special alloy bars crafted by Walter and set off, a downpour started from morning.
Only Stipe and the knights still recovering from injuries stayed behind at the mansion. Everyone else formed the triumphant procession bound for the ducal house, leaving the garden unusually bustling with people.
"Baby, let's go closer over there."
Dietrich seemed fascinated by the war prisoners locked behind the bars.
'Heretics or not, they're all just people.'
I had no interest in gawking at the prisoners, but Dietrich kept tugging my arm and urging me on.
Seeing him so lively, as if his gloom over Stipe's injury had never happened, softened my resolve a little.
They'd all been securely locked up—what could go wrong?
I followed along as Dietrich pulled me right up to the bars, but before I could even get a good look at their faces, a nose-assaulting stench hit me first.
I pinched my nose shut immediately, but the stench was so violently overwhelming that it clung to my mucous membranes and wouldn't let go.
"Ugh, what the hell is this smell?"
I wasn't the only one who noticed it.
Dietrich pinched his nose in the exact same pose and pretended to gag.
The prisoners looked horrific, of course. They hadn't been properly cleaned, so they were filthy, and wounds covered their bodies, making them a total mess.
But the stench we smelled wasn't on the level of anything a human could emit.
It was like something left to rot for ages—damp, heavy, and so nauseating it made my head spin.
Dietrich dropped the umbrella he'd been holding, but we were too dazed to even pick it up.
'My vision...'
My sight flickered white and clear in strobing flashes.
"Oh dear, both of you, step back from the bars. You'll suffer from the demonic poison."
The knights saw us dry-heaving in agony and quickly scooped us up, carrying us far from the carriage.
Breathing fresh air away from the stench finally cleared my head a bit.
Dietrich and I practically collapsed to the ground.
It took a while before I even registered the knights picking up the fallen umbrella and holding it over our heads.
Only then did I have the energy to ask about that unfamiliar word from earlier.
"Demonic poison? What's dat?"
"Some magic beasts use a vicious poison. Unlike other toxins, demonic poison hits those with sacred bloodlines even harder."
Sacred bloodlines probably meant the imperial family and the four great ducal houses, like the ones explained last time, right?
Just as Divine Grace was lethal to magic beasts, this demonic poison seemed especially deadly to those with Grace—or the potential for it.
Unlike Dietrich and me, who nearly passed out just from getting close to the carriage, the knights around it moved about unfazed.
It didn't seem quite so lethal to ordinary folk without Grace.
But there were no magic beasts here—how were they using demonic poison?
"Den how dey use it here?"
"Those scum have transplanted parts of magic beasts into their bodies to control them. They're half-beast themselves."
How gruesome.
Locking eyes with the war prisoners glaring at us from the carriage with poison in their gazes sent chills down my spine.
One of them had a grotesquely oversized eye, with the white and black swapped around.
'Probably the magic beast eye they implanted.'
Dietrich pulled my hand with a slightly scared look, hiding me behind him.
"Then we'll be off now."
"See you again soon, miss!"
"Keep up your sword training till next time, young master! Don't forget!"
No need to remind him.
Dietrich knew better than anyone that consistent exercise was key.
The knights waved goodbye as they spurred their horses and left the mansion.
Rain continued pouring down on their heads.
'Time to head inside?'
It wasn't a cold season, but the rain made the air clammy.
As I turned toward the entrance with Dietrich, I spotted Dad out on the porch with Stipe right beside him.
I couldn't just walk past the person of interest hanging around with Dad.
Ignoring the splashing water, I splashed over to them. Dad gave a slight nod—and in that instant, the falling raindrops changed course and lifted me right up.
"Whoaaa!"
Whatever lingering headache from the demonic poison vanished the moment Dad's Divine Grace enveloped me.
Dietrich should join too.
I twisted my head side to side looking for him, but he'd already scampered off far away, hiding among the servants.
He usually bounced around excitedly at the sight of Dad.
'Must still be uneasy about Stipe.'
Then I'd better fix that quick.
Stipe watched me giggling while floating midair and couldn't hold back a grin.
"You're awfully brave, miss. Not even scared of floating in the air. Most kids would cry in fear."
"My daughter wants to be a pigeon."
"Pardon? A pigeon...?"
No, that's not it!
I whipped my head around to deny my career aspiration was anything like that, but Dad brought up something important, and the words stuck in my throat.
"For the time being, I'm leaving security inside and outside the mansion to you."
"Yes, sir. I'll do my best."
"First, replace all the garden patrolmen. Only with those who've served long in my house."
"Pardon?"
"Catch every single bird that flies in—no exceptions. Oh, and clear out all the messenger birds inside the mansion too."
Yes!
Good thing I'd told Dad.
With the birds gone and patrols swapped out, no one would dare send or receive info via them.
'If Dad's got my back like this, it'll be way easier for me to move.'
Pretending I hadn't heard a thing, I kept playing by grabbing at raindrops in midair.
Meanwhile, Dad gave Stipe a few more orders. Once he'd received them all, Stipe lifted his wrist with a slightly uncomfortable expression.
Right hand.
I made a mental note of the wrist he claimed hurt.
"The mansion physician sent word for me to pick up medicine. May I withdraw?"
With Dad's permission, Stipe turned and vanished from sight. Only after he was completely gone did I quietly descend from the raindrop perch.
"Why? Done playing?"
"Yeah. Cwothes all wet. Cwold."
"Can't have you catching a cold. I'll walk you to your room."
If he weren't so busy, I could float on raindrops for hours.
But the greater good came first.
Swallowing my regret, I wrung out my sleeves and followed Dad inside.
I'd momentarily forgotten how slippery wet marble could be. The price was brutal.
The instant I stepped forward, I slipped on the water I'd wrung out and went flying into the air.
'I'm falling!'
I could wring out the water on my clothes later!