Chapter 38
Chapter 38
Translation: godsn
She had wandered across the continent during her expeditionary days, enduring all kinds of hardships.
There had even been times when she had to procure food for her party in the middle of nowhere.
"Your Highness, this isn't edible. It's a poisonous herb called Halus."
"Why not? It smells nice."
"It gradually drives you mad. Since it has no taste, it silently induces madness—that's why it's also called the silent killer. Even smelling it can be fatal, so please stay away."
"Well, if you don't want to drink it, that's fine."
Medeia's expression remained indifferent, as if she felt no particular interest.
"Your Highness."
At that moment, Neril entered the room, bowing deeply.
"Come in."
"Waaah..."
From behind her, a small figure peeked out with wide, curious black eyes that sparkled with excitement.
"Mommy!"
The child's clear voice echoed through the silent palace.
The round little head swiveled around until it spotted the person it was looking for, then darted forward like a squirrel.
The child immediately ran to the kneeling maid and threw their arms around her neck.
"J-Jeremy... Why... why are you here...?"
Siseo's maid still seemed utterly bewildered, unable to process what was happening.
"Mommy, you called me! You said you'd show me the royal palace. Pfft, even though you always said I could never come..."
The child pouted but then brightened again, eyes gleaming.
"Don't worry, Mommy! This pretty lady promised to keep it a secret! Grandma doesn't know Jeremy came here! We pinky-promised!"
As if seeking confirmation, the child looked at Neril, who nodded.
"It's so sparkly here! There's so much yummy food! And it smells so good! But where's the princess? Does she really live here? Can I see her? Does she really have horns like this on her head? Have you seen them, Mommy?"
The floodgates burst open the moment the child reunited with their mother, unleashing a torrent of pent-up questions.
The maid floundered in shock before suddenly stiffening, as if realizing something. Then, with fearful eyes, she turned her head toward Medeia.
Medeia stood and approached the child.
"Yes. I really do live here."
The child, nestled in the maid's arms, widened their eyes at Medeia.
"Wow, are you the princess?"
"Yes."
"Th-the horns...?"
Medeia bent down to the child's eye level.
"What do you think? Can you see them?"
"Nope! Not at all! You just sparkle like the moon!"
As if entranced, the child reached out with chubby fingers and grabbed a handful of Medeia's cascading hair.
Neril reflexively stepped forward, but Medeia raised a hand to stop her.
"It's fine."
She waited patiently until the child's wriggling fingers had let every strand slip free.
"Your name is Jeremy, right?"
"Yep!"
"Are you thirsty? Would you like some tea?"
It was then that the bewildered maid's eyes widened in horror.
"Yeah! I'm thirsty!"
The teacup was offered to the child—the very same tea the maid had refused to drink earlier.
"Can I really have some?"
"Of course."
Medeia answered warmly.
"There's plenty more where that came from."
Just as the child, eyes shining with excitement, brought the cup to their lips—
"No!"
The maid violently slapped the teacup away.
Crash! The cup shattered violently against the wall.
"P-please forgive me."
Clutching the child protectively to her chest, the maid dropped to her knees.
She pressed her forehead to the floor.
"It was my fault. I'll confess everything."
"Mommy! Waaah!"
The sudden outburst. The trembling in her arms.
Sensing her mother's unusual distress, the child finally burst into tears.
Terrified, the maid pulled the child closer, trying to muffle their sobs.
"Jeremy."
Medeia called the child's name softly. But the maid knew—it wasn't directed at the child, but at her.
"...Y-Your Highness..."
The princess's gaze was piercingly cold as she looked down at the prostrated maid. A shiver of dread ran down the maid's spine.
'W-what have I done...?'
There was no hiding anymore. No pretending.
Unconsciously, her arms loosened around the child.
"Waaah! Mommy, you're scaring me!"
Unaware of her mother's terror, the child wailed—then ran straight into Medeia's arms, the same woman who had just called their name.
"Jeremy! No—!"
The maid's heart plummeted. She couldn't even snatch the child back from the princess—her hands and feet trembled uncontrollably.
"Don't cry."
Medeia gently wiped the child's tears. The warm touch against his cheek made the boy's sobs subside with a sniffle.
She clasped the tiny, fern-like hand in her own.
"...So small. And so fragile."
"Your Highness, please—"
A pleading moan escaped the maid's lips before being swallowed back under Medeia's icy gaze.
"Your mother and I need to talk. Will you wait patiently until we're done?"
"Sniff... Sniffle... Okay. Can I eat that while I wait?"
The child peeked through tear-filled eyes at the cookies on the dessert tray.
Medeia smiled and handed him the entire tray. The boy's mouth formed a perfect "O" of wonder.
"Can I... sniff... look around too?"
"Anywhere you like."
At Medeia's signal, another maid led the child away.
"Bye, Mommy~"
Waving his chubby hand, the boy skipped off cheerfully as if he'd never cried, too distracted by cookies to notice his mother's face twisted in despair.
The maid crawled on her knees to clutch at the hem of Medeia's dress.
"Your Highness, I'll—I'll tell you everything. It was Duke Claudio. He gave me tea laced with Halus to serve to Minister Siseo. He threatened to kill me if I refused. I was scared, so terrified—"
"Since when?"
"First contact was three years ago. But I kept refusing—"
Three years. A hollow laugh escaped Medeia.
They'd been moving long before she'd realized.
"I have this child and an ailing mother. With my father gone early, I'm the only one to care for her. If I were gone... The threats were too much, I was so afraid— Sob, sob—"
"Enough. How long since Siseo drank that tea?"
"I-it's been four months since I first served it to His Excellency..."
Four months.
Less than half a year—still early enough to avoid full poisoning.
If the doses stopped now and he recovered properly, there'd be no lasting damage. A small mercy, if it could be called that.
"That's all I know. I'll resign immediately and accept any punishment. Just please, Your Highness, show mercy to my child—"
Her wrenching sobs grew more desperate. The maid's face was drenched in tears.
"I won't decide your fate. Go to Siseo and confess everything yourself."
The maid looked up. Through tear-filled eyes, Medeia saw despair give way to a sliver of hope.
Did she think she could hide this from Siseo? Or was she already plotting some way to save herself?
"Your child will stay with me until then. Unlike my uncle, I won't threaten you with his life. You've seen enough to know that."
Medeia's lips curved.
"Because it won't be you who dies."
The cruelty didn't suit her youthful face.
"P-please spare me. That child knows nothing—"
"Oh, that's entirely up to you."
She patted the maid's shoulder.
"I'll take your son as my palace attendant. He'll be educated among courtiers, raised almost like nobility."
She would keep him close and cherish him dearly.
A leash around the maid's neck—ready to tighten if she ever betrayed her again.
The maid understood the unspoken threat.
"...I'll do it. My body, my thoughts, everything shall obey Your Highness's will."
With a shuddering sigh, the maid collapsed forward in a deep bow.
Late at night, the door to Medeia's chambers finally opened.
"Mommy~!"
The maid, clutching her cheerful child's hand, staggered out.
Mariyu stood trembling in fearful silence.
Neril motioned for her to leave, then closed the door.
"......"
Medeia remained seated, gazing into the darkness beyond the window.
Neril approached as usual and stood behind her.
"You witnessed something ugly today."
Using an innocent child's life to threaten its mother. For Neril, proud knight that she was, it must have been repulsive.
And hadn't Medeia made Neril fetch that very child?
She didn't deny it. There was no excuse for her wretched actions.
"If it's too much, you may leave. I won't stop."
To punish beasts, she had to become one herself. By the time her vengeance was complete, her hands would be stained with blood and filth.
But it didn't matter. She welcomed it.
"Your Highness."
Neril knelt on one knee.
"I swore an oath. To uphold you in all things."
"...Thank you."
The last words were barely a whisper.
In the deep night, an untimely owl cried mournfully.