Chapter 11

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter Title: Chapter 10

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No way. No way.

A chill ran up my spine.

"This is different from usual."

"……."

"Looks like even familiar food can taste off sometimes, just as the maid said."

Rihart calmly set down his spoon and looked at me.

I didn't take his words at face value.

I wasn't foolish enough to miss that he was indirectly hinting the food contained that fruit.

I'd thought keeping a close eye on the cooking process would be enough, but apparently, that was wishful thinking.

How did they manage to slip it in?

"……Ugh."

"……!"

Rihart, who had been acting unfazed, suddenly let out a groan. I widened my eyes in shock.

His face was flushing bright red.

He didn't look well at all. He just hadn't shown it—sweat beaded on his forehead.

"……Are you okay?"

I reached out to wipe the sweat from his brow. In that instant, a strong grip seized my wrist.

His hand tightened around my wrist.

Even when he'd eaten food laced with poison herbs before, nothing like this had happened…….

According to the original story, that fruit didn't take effect right away. It built up over time before finally kicking in.

……Judging by his condition, the fruit the kitchen maid had been secretly adding to his meals over the long term was finally showing its effects.

'Why now, of all times…….'

I bit my lip as I watched him closely.

The thought that one wrong move could cost me my head made the pain in my captured wrist feel trivial.

"You shouldn't……come closer."

His vision seemed blurry as he blinked laboriously, issuing a low warning.

Contradictorily, even as he told me to stay back, he clung tightly to my hand.

Because of that, I was stuck there, facing him, unable to move forward or back.

Soon, his body gave out.

"Rihart!"

I hurriedly caught his collapsing form.

The way he was now reminded me of how he'd been the first time I saw him.

Gasping, begging for medicine.

He didn't need the drug itself, but the agony wracking his body was the same then as it was now.

'What do I do?'

I bit my lip until it bled in frustration.

If I called for help now, I'd be branded the one who poisoned Rihart's food and executed.

But I couldn't just leave him like this either…….

"……Maid."

Finally, after a long silence, Rihart exhaled a hot breath and spoke.

"……Touch me."

"……."

"……Please, I beg you."

His blue eyes, burning with fervent desire, fixed on me.

I didn't move a muscle after hearing him.

To be precise, my glitching brain refused to command my body.

Touch you? Me? You?

"Hurry……."

He pulled my captured wrist, guiding my hand to stroke his cheek.

My body, caught off balance by the sudden tug, toppled forward into his embrace.

I frowned, now helpless in his arms.

"Hey, come on……."

"Feels good……."

"……."

Why?

I had no special abilities, yet it felt like I was the only one who could counteract what Rihart was going through.

Watching him lose himself and lean into me, all I could manage was a sigh.

Compared to him getting caught doped up on medicine and turning out like this, if this could heal him, maybe it was better to let it play out.

Weighing my life against this bizarre situation, the answer was clear. I decided to stay put.

"Moderation, okay?"

He either didn't hear me or didn't care—his face took on the serene look of a traveler finding an oasis in the desert.

His skin against mine burned like a fever, making my fingers curl inward instinctively.

"Haa……."

He let out a low, hot breath. With a stiff expression, I watched his labored breathing.

As I stroked his cheek following his lead, his breaths gradually evened out. Watching him like that stirred something odd in me.

"Does it hurt a lot?"

"Less pain……more like……."

He exhaled another hot breath. He seemed somewhat calmer now, after barely holding it together moments ago.

"Honestly, I never knew I could get this violent."

What was that supposed to mean?

"To put it simply……."

He gave a troubled laugh.

"I wanted to kill."

"……."

"Must be from whatever I ate."

So that's why he'd warned me to stay away…….

I seriously debated shaking off his hand and bolting right then.

My gaze flicked to the mana restraints around Rihart's ankle.

If those weren't there, I might already be dead—I reflexively touched my neck.

"I've shown you another disgraceful side."

Now fully calmed, the grip on my arm loosened.

I pulled my arm free and thought.

The kitchen maid had started spiking meals with the fruit again.

As long as she kept doing it, another crisis like this could hit anytime.

Better late than never—now I knew what I had to do.

My foul mood from the past few days lifted in an instant.

The issue of drugging the monster's food because of that Rozhi had been resolved.

Marie brushed her brown hair back, a pleased smile on her lips.

Did they really need to spike the food right under the head chef's nose while he cooked?

There were plenty of ways.

She couldn't fathom why she'd wasted energy fuming over that Rozhi girl.

'Still pisses me off.'

She seemed like some commoner, staring Marie straight in the eye without fear…….

That Emily maid hanging around her was the same.

So, Marie planned to make it impossible for them to stay in the marquis household.

But she knew petty harassment like this wouldn't faze them.

The moment she realized that, a vague plan to oust Rozhi had already formed in her mind.

She'd exploit something the marquis was sensitive about.

The monster itself.

How, exactly? Well…….

"Hey, Marie."

"Y-You……!"

Marie gasped, startled by Rozhi appearing silently behind her.

"Wh-what do you want?"

"Nothing much."

Rozhi flashed a wicked grin.

Marie narrowed her eyes at the smile that felt anything but innocent. What was her game?

"I heard from the others you give great advice, Marie."

"……What?"

The words from Rozhi's mouth were utterly unexpected—totally out of left field.

"So, I was hoping you could counsel me on a worry of mine."

"Why should I?"

Rozhi just smiled warmly at the curt reply and hooked her arm through Marie's.

Stunned by the sudden intimacy, Marie wondered if she'd eaten something funny…….

"I want to be friends with you, Marie."

Only then did Marie catch a glimpse of Rozhi's intentions.

Her bullying had worn Rozhi down, making her submit. It was satisfying to see her bow first.

Marie's expression softened as she turned to Rozhi.

"A worry, huh? What is it?"

"Well…… I had this weird dream."

"A dream?"

As Rozhi nodded with unusual gravity, Marie found herself scrutinizing her closely without realizing it.

"In the dream, I was sitting at the table waiting for my meal. But when I ate, my mind got all hazy."

"……And?"

"The food tasted off, so I sneaked into the kitchen to check, and someone was drugging my dish."

"……."

"The next day, and the day after that, over and over……."

Drugging it.

Rozhi stared intently into Marie's eyes, reciting the exact orders Marie had given the kitchen maid.

"Did I piss someone off?"

"……."

"What do you think, Marie?"

"You……."

"Yeah? What do you think, Marie?"

Marie was speechless as Rozhi kept probing her weak spots.

Rozhi smirked at her, murmuring.

"……So it was you, after all?"