Chapter 64

-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Harry Potta
Chapter: 64
Chapter Title: I Love Her
-----------------------------------------------------------------

With those languid words, Benia felt a murderous intent wash over her.

Panic set in.

“You… you're not really going to kill me, are you? How would you know who the next Pero will be? You don't actually believe you can predict the next Pero from a single document like that, do you?”

No matter how hard you try to figure out the pattern, if you're wrong, it's over.

What if the Pero appears somewhere else?

If one appeared in a place like Cartiel, do you think the current head, Siete Cartiel, would just stand by?

He might lock that Pero away somewhere no one could ever find them.

If they were imprisoned alive, Diello Argenta would never be able to awaken.

“Of course, I'm not certain.”

Diello replied leisurely.

The tip of his sword, aimed at Benia, didn't waver in the slightest.

“But whoever the next Pero turns out to be, marrying them would be far less nauseating than marrying you.”

He spoke in a low voice, the corner of his mouth twisting into a sneer.

Regardless of who his parents were, Benia was the one who had killed them, threatened Argenta, and on top of that, tried to disgrace Croire and use him.

“And I… I must have what I want.”

The one and only Pero I so desperately desire.

Benia voiced the absurd question that had been taking shape as she answered his many questions here.

“Don't tell me… you're actually in love with Croire Alloje?”

To her surprise, at those words, the tip of Diello's sword wavered.

No way.

The moment Benia's eyes widened.

A brilliant smile bloomed on Diello's face.

It was an impossibly swift transformation, like a river frozen in deep winter instantly thawing to welcome spring.

His eyes, holding a gentle smile, looked past Benia.

To be precise, he wasn't looking at something, but seemed to be thinking of someone.

Diello answered.

“How could I not be drawn to someone so lovely?”

“You've really lost your mind.”

Benia was flabbergasted.

Is he really so bewitched by a woman that he'd cast aside his Pero, his awakening, and even Argenta?

As she exhaled in disbelief, Diello's gaze fixed squarely on her.

His eyes, as if they had never melted with warmth, turned icy cold once more.

“If marrying you is what it takes to be considered sane, then I'd rather stay mad.”

After saying so, Diello slowly closed and opened his eyes.

“Yes, that's right.”

He lamented that he couldn't say these words in front of the one person he wished would hear and accept them.

Not yet. It would be too sudden.

So he opened his mouth as if practicing.

The excuse he'd used countless times while kissing her, delving into her, spreading his heat through her.

Practice.

Yes, I'm practicing.

He said, thinking of Croire.

“I love her.”

So much that it drives me mad that she doesn't know, that she won't even look my way.

* * *

“This is a poison that causes stomachaches and headaches. It isn't life-threatening, but it will make daily life difficult for about a week.”

The one who analyzed the poison was Nirua.

I'd thought this before, but he seemed more like a poison expert than a doctor.

“Is there any chance it was mixed in by accident?”

“None. This combination can only be created artificially.”

Nirua stated flatly.

Hearing that, I asked the others.

“What about the supply wagons?”

“We've stopped almost all of them. But…”

a knight said with a troubled expression.

“Apparently, the supplies have already reached a few houses.”

I froze at his words.

“Don't tell me, has anyone eaten it?”

“…We're still confirming, but there's a child in that house who is particularly fond of the supplies, so it's likely they've eaten some.”

I bit my lip at that.

“Is there an antidote?”

I looked back at Nirua, who replied with a troubled look.

“There is one, but the herb used for the antidote has more severe side effects. So for this poison, it's generally better to let the patient rest in bed and wait for it to pass.”

“If a patient emerges from a house that received the shadow supplies…”

it would affect the morale of all of Argenta.

A poison with no real antidote.

…Wait, poison?

I looked up. The sensation of moving water from moments ago still lingered in my hands.

Couldn't I… drive out the poison?

No, I could. Perhaps because I had just manipulated water, a clean certainty washed over me.

I had driven poison from my own body while unconscious, so I should be able to do it even better now that I'm fully aware.

“Can we go to that house now?”

“Pardon?”

Even the knights were surprised by my words.

“Explain the situation to Diello. Quickly.”

Redius hesitated, then bowed his head.

“…My lady.”

I thought he was going to stop me.

I had a list of reasons ready to argue.

But then.

“I will escort you myself.”

Redius made an unexpected offer.

“I also have the authority to commandeer an escort in an emergency, so we can cut through a lot of the red tape.”

My expression brightened at his words.

“Thank you. Let's move quickly.”

* * *

A village some distance northwest of the Argenta estate.

It was a quiet village, unless monsters appeared.

Yet, the neighbors were constantly interacting. Having all worked at the Argenta estate at one time or another, they shared a special bond.

An unexpected incident occurred in this peaceful village.

“There are troops coming from the estate?”

“What?”

Could it be a monster attack?

As the villagers hastily armed themselves, the next piece of news arrived.

“The lady of the house has come herself!”

“What!”

Does that mean it's something serious? The villagers began to pour out of their homes.

As they reached the village entrance, they saw a group of people.

Standing in formation, they looked for all the world like an army.

“…They seem tense because we arrived so suddenly. I think an explanation is in order.”

I looked back at Sir Redius.

*It could be fatal for a child. Especially for a child whose throat often swells, the poison could react and make it difficult to breathe.*

Nirua's words came to mind.

And as far as I knew, one of the children in this northwest village suffered from asthma.

At my words, Redius gave a short bow and stepped forward.

“Everyone been well?”

He greeted them with a bright face, and the villagers hesitated.

“We're not here to fight, so put your weapons away. Hey, you too. You're not planning on holding a weapon in front of the lady, are you?”

At his gentle words, the people lowered their weapons one by one, then quickly hid them away.

Then they looked at me, their eyes widening.

I could see a sense of bewilderment spreading among the people as they hurriedly greeted me.

“For such an esteemed person to come all this way…”

“Could it be… a traitor in our village?”

It seemed they had heard the news about the traitors being rooted out from the estate.

I waved my hand before they could grow more anxious.

“It's not that. I'm here because there was a problem with the supplies.”

As I spoke while dismounting my horse, the people's eyes widened.

“Are you talking about the goods that arrived this morning?”

“That's right. Did anyone eat them?”

The people looked at one another.

“We've only just put them away…”

“Ah, Riel must have eaten some!”

A voice rose from within the crowd.

Just as I thought.

“Take me to that child, quickly. And you, sirs, please explain the situation with the supplies to the villagers.”

I gestured to the knights and then, with Redius, quickly entered the village.

* * *

The child named Riel's house was in a corner of the village.

“Riel? Riel, are you there?”

As I knocked on the door, a pained groan mixed with a cough came from inside.

“Cough, who… who's there?”

The voice was weak. I looked back at Redius.

“She'll be startled if you say it's me.”

There was no need to frighten a child who was already suffering.

I removed my ornate hairpiece and borrowed a black robe from a knight.

“It's Uncle Redius. I'm here about the supplies. May I come in?”

Do they know each other? My eyes widened.

Just then.

*Creeak.*

The door opened on its own.

Do they have automatic doors in this world?

My surprise was brief; I quickly spotted an intricate wire connected to the door.

It seemed to be a device that allowed it to be opened from the inside as well.

It was a sophisticated mechanism, the kind an assassin might use.

“I will show you the way.”

Redius led me.

Following him inside, I saw the child.

The child was collapsed on the floor.