Chapter 14

‘Hermish… Then you could have already poisoned Rixus earlier.’

It could have been done when he tasted other spices. But he felt the will to see Rixus fall down in front of his eyes, with his own hands.

‘He wants him to die right in front of him because of his intense hatred.’

Hermish Tevelon.

He was a pathetic and cruel baron who burned his revenge on the wrong person.

He was in a secret relationship with the youngest daughter of Marquis Meilin, who conspired to rebel in Aktoum two years ago.

Marquis Meilen was one of the families that supported ‘conquestism’, but his scheme to kill Rixus was revealed to the public and completely destroyed.

It was a big event. Due to that, those who were called ‘the Ten Nobles’ became ‘the Nine Nobles’. As at that time, the Nine Nobles broke up with Marquis Meilin faster than anyone else.

Originally, extinction meant drying up the seeds of that bloodline.

Marquis Meilin couldn’t avoid death, and his youngest daughter was also destined to meet the same fate.

However, his youngest daughter was pregnant at the time.

The child in her womb was not the blood of the man who she was to marry by arrangement, but the blood of Hermish, who was her secret lover.

Taking into account the fact that she was pregnant while being buried in that situation, Rixus did not execute her. She just received a deportation order.

After that, Hermish secretly moved to Grinarita with her.

‘He must have believed that they could be happy.’

Until the woman reached her full-term and committed suicide, unable to overcome her longing for her deceased parents.

Hermish lived like a poor man for a while, biting his broken heart, then finally decided on the target of his anger.

It was Rixus, who killed her parents.

‘Actually, her suicide was unstoppable.’

Rixus was not responsible.

‘If there must be a person to be blamed, then it was Hermish’s fault for not taking good care of his shocked wife.’

But didn’t he simply turn the arrow to Rixus because it was difficult to hate himself?

In the original story, Rixus swallowed that poison and fell into a deathly sleep. And while lying down like a corpse, he suffered from all kinds of death threats. 

If it wasn’t for the elite knights protecting him, he would have died. The enemies of Rixus were defeated by them over and over again.

But… Unlike those who failed countless times, I had the ability to deal with those elite knights. Additionally, this time, I was sojourning in Aktoum.

Dealing with the unconscious Rixus was quite possible for me.

‘This… Is it my chance?’

My eyes fluttered anxiously.

Did I finally have a chance to defeat Rixus and live my life?

I died after seven miserable defeats by Rixus.

The odds of this being the case were overwhelmingly high.

Could he always be kind to me? Would it be true if a blue rose bloomed on my body and an oracle about the world being destroyed came down?

…It wouldn’t be. Never.

‘Rixus, just once, it’s okay if you die and I live…’

I wouldn’t even ask for it twice. Just this one time…

Perhaps today is the only opportunity God has given me.

I looked at Rixus with heartless eyes and slowly picked up the teacup.

“…….”

Rixus’ gaze met mine.

It was surprisingly simple to get someone to lift a cup and drink tea. It was rude to recommend blindly like Hermish. But a normal person would see the person next to him drinking and would drink too, without realizing it.

“It smells so good.”

I said it with a hidden heart.

“Right.”

A loose smile spread across Rixus’ lips, and then disappeared.

Without hesitation, he followed me and picked up the poisoned cup.

My heart felt like it was about to explode with tension, and a dizzying lightning bolt struck before my eyes. Cold sweat was running down my back.

The time it took Rixus to bring the cup to his lips felt like 10 years.

‘Why do I feel nervous?’

I had been wishing for Rixus’ death so that I could live for the last 7 years.

‘I chose the best I could to survive…’

Then the scars left on the back of his hand caught my eye.

The wounds from picking flowers for me through the early morning dew… That wound evoked certain images in me.

“Yes, thank you for accepting the flowers.”

His surprisingly gentle smile that was shown in that instant.

The celebration banquet where I climbed onto the feet of Rixus and we danced while hugging each other.

The figure of him standing by my side without hesitation in front of the coachman… 

These thoughts, once started, were like streams of water that forcibly broke the dam, rushing over and engulfing me. 

My eyes shook.

‘I don’t want Rixus to die right now!’

Bam- tak tak tak!

At that moment, a stalk of ice that broke through the floor wrapped around Rixus’ hand like a rose vine, stopping him from drinking the poisoned cup.

“Your Majesty?”

Hermish opened his eyes in surprise and called me.

I grabbed Rixus’ cup swiftly and brought it towards myself.

Then, in front of the puzzled Rixus, I calmly put my mouth on the poisoned cup and drank all the tea.

“!”

Hermish’s face turned white and his eyes widened.

* * *

At the same time, in Spinel, Duke Orléans was writing a letter for a long time.

As the secretary who had always been by the queen’s side, he cared for her more than anyone else.

The unlucky youngest princess who grew up in a swamp.

When she ascended to the throne, there were numerous enemies who tried to kill her. However, the young queen was remarkably calm; she defeated her enemies and seized the throne.

Her strength had always been the object of admiration.

In the process of defeating the nobles who opposed her, the young queen inevitably suffered countless stigmas.

But Duke Orléans knew.

His master, surrounded by a fence of notoriety, was actually a kind person… With that heart, she sometimes showed terrifying determination.

The gray-haired old man wrote each word carefully.

The candle flickered, illuminating his earnest request.

He sincerely hoped that she was safe. He hoped she wouldn’t get hurt in that cruel foreign country… 

If that’s the case, she wouldn’t be able to endure it alone. 

Hence, next, Duke Orléans wrote a list of old books and documents in clear writing under the note.

All of them were materials that could increase one’s understanding of Aktoum.

Perhaps the opposing party of Aktoum would try to insult her in front of the high priest, casting doubts about her status as the crown princess. In view of such a situation, he made a list of essential materials to help Berylia.

“Fly on the wheel and by all means, give this to Her Majesty.”

With a note tied around the ankle of the bright yellow-feathered bird, Duke Orléans let the bird fly out the window.

‘I hope you are doing well…’

* * *

The extreme poison warmed my esophagus and flowed in.

But it did no harm to me.

I had been living in a poison swamp since I was a baby, so I had a strong tolerance to extreme poisons.

I let out a low breath as I sipped the tea with my eyes closed, and slowly dropped the cup from my lips.

“…As I heard, it tastes good.”

Slowly putting down the cup, I continued.

“As expected, the first cup of tea that you poured is delicious.”

A smile of admiration spread across Rixus’ lips.

Then he said to Hermish.

“My wife’s taste is super cute, don’t you think so?”

“…….”

Rixus didn’t seem too surprised to see me use my ability now.

He probably thought I was just being grumpy while taking away something more delicious, so he gently accepted the other cup I had given him.

But Hermish’s reaction was bound to be completely different.

His face was completely devoid of blood, and his eyes were filled with astonishment and fear. He looked at me as if I was a monster; I had used my supernatural powers and was fine though I drank the poison.

I made eye contact with Hermish and formed a contemptuous smile with my lips. Then, waving over the contract, I warned in a cool voice.

“We have to continue discussing the contract. What are you looking at?”

Hermish’s shoulders trembled.

“Ah, y-yes… Your Majesty the Queen.”

He wiped his sweaty hands on his lap and hurriedly lowered his gaze.

The general provisions had already been negotiated, and only precise requirements had to be arranged.

Still, Hermish could not speak properly and kept dropping his pen. It was clear that his mind was blank and empty.

That appearance was enough to arouse the suspicions of the already sharp Rixus.

“Baron Tevelon, why are you sweating so much?”

“……That…….”

I calmly glared at Hermish.

I didn’t want Rixus to know about this and make it bigger.

If the poisoning really occurred, it would be me who was in danger. How easy would it be to frame the queen of an enemy country well-versed in extreme poisons? I wanted to avoid noise as much as possible, at least until marriage.

‘Then come up with an excuse. You stupid bastard!’

However, contrary to my wishes, Hermish was completely overpowered by the Rixus and was rushing in like a small animal crushed by the front paws of a beast.

I stepped up because I couldn’t stand it.

“Baron Tevelon said that he was attacked by robbers targeting noble children when he was young. After that, he always sweats and shakes his hands when he is in a tense situation.”

I explained calmly, glanced at Hermish and asked,

“Did the doctor say you had some pathological trauma left?”

Hermish was startled, as if pierced by a needle.

“Yes! I’m sorry I couldn’t tell you in advance. I apologize for the rudeness… Your Highness the Crown Prince.”

I was afraid that Rixus would doubt me as I appeared to know everything about Hermish’s circumstances, so I added.

“I listened to it while drinking tea in the garden, that was when we met and introduced ourselves… it was a really terrible episode.”

I said lightly, holding Rixus’ arm.

“You understand.”

Rixus stared at me for a while, then slowly opened his mouth.

“……Right.”

A deep sigh of relief came out inside.

Rixus did not doubt me and continued the contract without hesitation.

Soon after we finished signing, I asked for a stand-alone agreement, saying that Spinel also wanted to trade with Grinarita.

Before long, Hermish and I were the only people left in the room, and he completely collapsed in place, kneeling towards me. 

Then he lied down like a dog and begged.

“I have sinned worthy of death! Your Majesty, please, spare my life…”

“……”

I spoke as if I was looking at food waste.