The Villainous Family is Against Independence

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But that didn’t apply to me.
No matter what poison I eat, the purification power of the Severes family will detoxify all of it. 

 

But the Duchess didn’t know how I make my antidotes.

 

I wiped the sweat from my forehead, pretending it wasn’t a big deal.

 

“It was too hot to refuse a cold tea….?”

 

“Life is more important than heat,” she countered.

 

“Because I like the smell of the tea…?”

 

“It’s tea that doesn’t smell.”

 

Whatever I said was interrupted repeatedly.
I had a gut feeling that it would be difficult to fool the Duchess with simple words. 

 

What should I do? 

 

I thought for a while, and then I shouted, “The Duchess and I are good partners! There’s no one who would be poisoning their partner…..”

 

“Partner?”

 

“Yes.
I’m sure you liked my abilities.
Didn’t the antidote pass this time? I thought that’s why you called for me.”

 

After I had said it, I was worried that I might look rude, but it was already done. 

 

I was nervously waiting for her response.

 

PHOTO

 

Duchess: “Partner….
Yes, partner.
You’re right, Elodie.”

 

Fortunately, there was no sign of displeasure with my attitude.
As I exhaled in relief, the Duchess’s words continued.

 

“I didn’t poison your tea.
If I were really going to poison you , it would have been in a different situation, not when you and I are talking.
Because I have to avoid suspicion.”

 

“ Uh…..”

 

“And wouldn’t I be able to hurt you anytime, if I made up my mind?”

 

This is how the Duchess sounded to me: ‘If I wanted to hurt you, I’d have removed you earlier, so you can rest easy.’

 

“The Duchess is right.”

 

When I answered with a bright smile, the Duchess smirked.

 

’

“As you guessed, this time I got a license to sell the antidote you made.
The supplies have been prepared, and distribution has started.
There was also an advance payment.
The amount of antidote produced was small, so it isn’t much, but here you go.”

 

“Thank you, Duchess.”

 

I pulled down the corner of my mouth that was about to creep up when I saw the money bag.

 

The Duchess said it was a small amount, but it was more than expected when I lifted it and heard the jingle.

 

I wanted to open it right away, but I endured it with extreme patience.

 

“Check this document for detailed cash receipts.”

 

“Yes.”

 

There was no way that the Duchess with her negligible wealth would have cheated on me, so I covered it with a glance.

 

“And I have another request.”

 

“Yes, tell me.”

 

“I’d like to order an additional antidote, but how long will it take?”

 

I answered, “It will be ready in a couple of days.
The amount won’t be much this time, but will that be okay?”

 

“Ideally, I’d like to buy the method to prepare the antidote if possible.
Would that be difficult?”

 

“Uh….
Sadly, yes, it’s a trade secret.” I smiled awkwardly and clapped my hands.

 

If I hastily disclose how to make the antidote, I was likely to be caught using the power of the Severes family.

 

Naturally the Duchess immediately moved on to the next question.

 

“There are quite a few other extreme poisons waiting, so I wonder if you can also make an antidote for them.”

 

“It is possible.
But the more toxic, the more demanding and time consuming it will be.”

 

Rather than being difficult, it would be painful for a long time, so I didn’t want to take one if possible.  The amount that can be made at once is also limited.

 

Standing up from my seat, I suddenly remembered the last family meal.
The Duchess firmly blocked Jansi from conducting a background check on her new pharmacist.

 

“Madam, thank you for keeping our partnership a secret from brother Jansi.”

 

“I made a promise, so of course I have to keep it.
Because we are partners.”

 

‘We are….’

 

It was a word that felt new to me, who was a Perdia but not a Perdia. 

 

Of course the Duchess didn’t mean anything with it.

 

*** 

 

To get to the annex where I was staying, I had to go through the west corridor.
After leaving the greenhouse, I walked toward the west corridor. 

 

Next to the corridor, I was passing by the door to the family’s dungeon when I heard the Duke’s voice.

 

“Lock him up.”

“Ah, your Excellency.
I feel wronged.
I swore allegiance to Perdia and his Excellency with all my might, why -!”

 

“Shut up.”

 

Thud.
Thud.

 

The sound of dull kicks stopped my steps.

 

As I turned my head toward the dungeon, a scary scene unfolded.

’

 

I saw a man whose face had been ripped apart so savagely that it was hard to recognize him and the Duke of Perdia standing in front of him.
The family’s soldiers surrounded them.

 

Although it was difficult to identify because of his face, I found out who was lying on the floor.

 

It was Tector Arold, the (former) aide of Duke Perdia.

 

“We have already collected evidence that you are in communication with the second prince.” 

 

“No, Your Grace, it’s a conspiracy! This must be the scheming of the second prince to cause a division in the Perdia family!”

 

I marveled at Sir Arold’s assertion and his audacity.

 

Look at that fluttering sheet of paper that sells even out his real master with whom he communicates.

 

On the other hand, it was a claim that could have restored his position, if the Duke of Perdia had trusted his aide.

 

“Conspiracy, you say…..” A smirk appeared on the Duke’s lips.
It was right after that.

 

Whack!

 

The Duke’s blade slammed into the floor without hesitation.

 

And there beside it–  

 

“Aaaah, aaaaaah!”

 

There was the aide’s hand.

 

Tector screamed at his hand severed by a sword, but the Duke did not remove the sword or blink. 

 

“ Help….please, please…..save me….”

 

Only when the aide who had been crying for a long time finally fainted, did the Duke pull out his sword.

 

Drop, drop…..

 

Red blood flowed from the tip of the sword.

 

Having unintentionally witnessed this terrible scene, I held my breath and crept behind a nearby tree to hide.

 

But my attempt to do so was unsuccessful.

 

“Elodie Perdia.”

 

I slowly raised my head at the low voice that called me.

 

A golden, cold gaze was staring straight at me.

 

Scared, my whole body froze.
His eyes alone were enough to overwhelm people.

 

At that moment I had a thought.
‘If he finds out that I´m not his real daughter, the tip of that sword might point at me.’

 

I’m trying so hard to avoid that ending, but will it work out as I thought?

 

Instinctive fear crept in.

 

Then the Duke stepped aside and passed me.

 

“I have something to tell you – follow me.”

 

It sounded like a command.
The passing Duke smelled thickly of blood.

 

“ ……..Yes!”

 

I followed him without saying another word.