The Mad Dog Collapses in the Bathroom
The bathtub Rood had lowered himself into was round and deeply recessed, shaped like a cradle. Unless someone peered directly inside, it was impossible to tell whether anyone was in it. The distance from the bathroom entrance to the tub was roughly ten paces, and soft sunlight filtered in through the window on the left. The basket where Rood had placed his clothes sat on the opposite side of the tub. On the shelf holding the basket lay full-length towels and an array of cosmetics.
When he heard the door open, Rood drew in a breath and silently submerged himself in the water. Underwater infiltration was basic training for special operations soldiers, so it came naturally. Was that too reckless? He already regretted slipping into the luxurious tub without telling the other servants. He had arrived when the sun was high overhead and assumed no one would be bathing at this hour. That had been the mistake. No one had been standing guard or moving about on the second-floor corridor.
Click. Click. Each time the sound of footsteps reached him underwater, Rood’s heart beat faster. As the steps gradually moved farther away, he regained some composure. They must have no business with the tub.
Creak. Creak, thud. The sound of a cabinet opening and closing.
Is a maid collecting the piled-up laundry?
Wait. If that’s the case, what about my clothes?
The moment Rood realized his own garments were mixed in with the rest, his heart hammered even harder.
Click. Click. Click. Even after the door shut, Rood did not rise hastily. He lifted his head with extreme care, careful not to create a single ripple. After confirming the bathroom was empty, he climbed out quickly and checked the basket.
“Ah, thank goodness.”
The basket had not been emptied. Rood opened the drawers beneath the shelf in search of a towel. He pulled out a thick white one, unfolded it, and found it large enough to cover his entire body.
What is this?
In the center of the towel, something small glinted.
Click!
Rood prayed the sound had been his imagination.
“Ugh, the chief strategist can’t even do his job right… huh?”
When he turned, Isabelle stood there, her face a shade of red he had never seen before.
“C-c-c-crazy—mmph!”
It happened in an instant. Rood wrapped the towel around his waist, sprinted forward, and clamped a hand over Isabelle’s mouth. Though the distance had been considerable, he had her pinned from behind in exactly three seconds.
“Mmph! Let go! Mmmph!”
“Shh. Please don’t make a scene. I’ll explain everything.”
If the servants came running because of this commotion, there would be no fixing it. He would almost certainly be executed for violating a noble. In truth, Rood already knew they had passed the point of easy repair; now he had to think fast.
The harder she struggled, the more firmly he held her, restraining her movements to calm her down. After a long bout of thrashing, Isabelle glared at him over her shoulder, breathing hard. Her face burned like ripe fruit, and tears shimmered at the corners of her eyes.
Rood felt an involuntary stab of guilt and could not meet her gaze directly. Isabelle tapped his fingers with hers. When he still refused to remove his hand, she opened her mouth and bit down.
“Ugh!”
Bright red blood dripped from Rood’s finger. The moment he slowly withdrew his hand, Isabelle spat the blood from her mouth and hissed.
“Ptoo! Mad dog, mad dog—they really called you that, and now you’ve truly lost your mind?”
“I’m sorry. I have nothing else to say.”
“Hah… Fine. I have no words left for an idiot like you. Just put on your clothes!”
Rood dashed to the basket and gathered his garments. The embarrassment was so acute that his face burned. The more he thought about it, the more idiotic his decision seemed.
“Wait. You—why is blood flowing?”
Rood looked back and forth between his bleeding finger and Isabelle.
“No, not your finger. The blood running down your thigh right now.”
Thigh? Rood checked beneath the towel covering his groin and saw blood trickling from his thigh. Ignoring the sting, he noticed a thin, short needle embedded in the flesh.
“Ah, the thing stuck in the towel was a needle…”
“Take that towel off right now!”
Isabelle rushed forward to yank the towel away, but Rood refused to let her.
“Why are you doing this!”
“Take it off, you fool! Remove the towel immediately!”
Rood tried to resist to the end, but the strength suddenly drained from his hands. The towel slipped from his grasp. Then his legs gave out as well, and he collapsed, sliding down to lean against the shelf.
Huh? What’s happening?
Isabelle seized both his cheeks and slapped him hard.
Slap!
“Snap out of it! Look at my eyes!”
She examined one eye closely. The pupil was dilated, and one corner of the lid already drooped severely. She checked the wound. A dark crimson patch had formed around it where blood had pooled. The injured thigh was beginning to swell and flush red.
“Damn it! Wait just a moment! It won’t take long!”
Isabelle left Rood in the bathroom and ran out. She raced down the stairs to the first-floor medicine room where the medicinal supplies were kept. Neurotoxin and hemorrhagic toxin. Most likely venom from a snake possessing both traits.
The servants inside the medicine room jumped in surprise and asked what was wrong, but Isabelle grabbed the antidote and a syringe without answering. When she returned to the bathroom, she drew the antidote into the syringe and injected it into Rood’s vein.
The commotion had drawn a crowd of servants.
“My lady! Please step away from that man at once!”
“This violates the Voenac code of conduct! We will handle the cleanup…”
Isabelle spoke in a low, heavy voice quite unlike her usual tone.
“Silence.”
The servants froze instantly.
“This man protected my life. I order every member of the staff: cease your duties and assemble in the first-floor corridor. All of you.”
When they hesitated, Pete stepped forward.
“Obey the acting head’s command immediately! Move!”
“Yes!”
“Understood!”
Isabelle continued slapping Rood’s cheeks, trying desperately to rouse him.
“Cough! Haa… What happened?”
“Your idiotic actions prevented my poisoning. It was a coincidence, but you protected me all the same. Are you all right?”
Rood nodded. The cold stiffness that had been spreading through his body had vanished, and color had returned to his skin.
“Damn. First day and I get this kind of welcome. New one for me.”
“Enough. Rest for today. I will handle the rest. Can you stand on your own?”
When Rood rose, Isabelle quickly turned her head away.
“L-let’s go quickly.”
“Sorry, but could you support me a little?”
“With your height and in that state, you have the nerve to ask for support?”
“You’ve already seen everything there is to see. Walking is difficult.”
“Be quiet! You pervert. The poison must have reached your brain. I have never met an idiot like you before.”
Rood leaned lightly against Isabelle as they walked down the corridor.
“I won’t forget this debt.”
Isabelle had said he protected her life, but Rood knew exactly what had occurred. Two life debts already. I’m still far from becoming the person I want to be.
It had been a long time since he relied on anyone like this. He clenched both fists tightly. Feeling a sharp gaze, he glanced sideways. Isabelle’s eyes were gleaming.
“Then does that mean you will become my guard knight?”
Rood did not answer at once. He chose his words carefully.
“That was not my intention. What I’m good at is, after all, killing enemies.”
“I thought so. Hmph, don’t get my hopes up for nothing!”
As they continued down the corridor, Isabelle asked another question.
“Do you remember the face? Or the voice?”
When Rood looked confused, she added, “The person who stuck the poisoned needle into that towel. They must have been in the same space, yes?”
“I was hiding in the tub, so I didn’t see the face. They didn’t speak much, either. However…”
Rood continued, “I heard the sound of shoes when they entered. The footsteps were loud but not heavy, so I believe the person was female.”
“That is enough. I will confirm the rest myself. Lie down here. I will prepare another medicine for you shortly.”
“Understood.”
“Then wait just a little. I will resolve this quickly and return.”
Isabelle opened the door, helped Rood onto the bed, and left the room.
Grind.
The information leaked faster than expected. I cannot afford to lower my guard.
It was something he had anticipated.
My child. The only one who can solve this is you. Share that talent without reservation.
At the voice from her memory, Isabelle gave a small nod. It was time to root out the culprit.
When Isabelle descended to the first floor, every servant except Pete stood lined up according to the color of their work uniforms—red, blue, yellow, green in that order. The arrangement had been ordered by Nellisa, the previous head’s legal wife and Isabelle’s mother. She had said the servants would enjoy wearing colored clothes and that it would brighten the atmosphere of the mansion.
It is bright, Mother. The servants are satisfied as well.
Isabelle recalled days she would never see again. It was one of the few moments she felt proud of the brain that remembered every past event. Therefore, what would happen today would not be forgotten either—the fact that among those colorful uniforms, one person had tried to poison her. This moment of identifying the culprit.
“Each of you, give your alibi. From thirty minutes before the sixth bell until twenty minutes after it, where were you and what were you doing?”
When Isabelle glared, every servant trembled.
“Speak truthfully. Unless you wish to repeat that cruel month once more.”