Chapter 85 The Cursed Rose?

Nathan was led back to the Roselia estate and invited inside; there he was ushered to a room with a luxurious décor. He was offered a cup of tea, while he waited for Melanie and Audrey to return. Nathan eyes scanned the room, taking in all he could until eventually they settled on the maid who have given him tea. She remained standing by the entrance to the room and only moving once Nathan’s tea cup had been emptied. When she was close enough he got a whiff of her scent, she had been one of the people following them, back in the alley. Now that he thought about it, a lot of the scents he caught on to were floating around this mansion.

Nathan: “(Why are they all right here in the mansion? Are they just being protective of her…?)”

Melanie: “Sorry for the wait.”

Melanie, now having changed her clothes, to a more comfortable looking dress, sat down across from Nathan with Audrey standing right next to her. The maid poured Melanie a cup, before lighting a candle and taking her leave.

Nathan: “No it’s not a serious problem, but I do want to leave as soon as possible.”

Audrey: “Then I will get right to the point. How did you know? This has been going on five years and no-one has been the wiser. However, you picked up on it immediately.”

Nathan sighed out loud, rather she was doing it purposely or impulsively, her tone made it seem like an interrogation. Nathan thought it might as well be, the fact that they were hiding that they were sick made it all the clearer. Nathan should have not said anything. Matthew was right, he should really learn discretion beyond his on-kept secrets.

Audrey: “What?”

Nathan: “I knew you were sick, because of your scent.”

Audrey: “Our scent?”

Nathan: “Yup, it was a very unpleasant smell. Its’ similar to a scent I picked up before, the smell of death, but I didn’t know for sure; until now.”

That wasn’t a lie per-say, he did actually find out from their scent, it just ‘Pry’, showed him everything else.

Melanie: “Yes, I do believe I read that Lycanian’s had particularly strong senses. So what do you plan to do?”

Nathan: “Plans, for what?”

Melanie: “About us, what do you plan to do with it.”

Nathan: “Don’t worry; I don’t plan on telling anyone, I mean why would I want to?”

Melanie: “Really?”

Nathan: “Yeah, I have nothing to gain from it. If I had known it would cause you such distress, I would have kept it to myself.”

Melanie: “Thank you, the last thing I want, is for people to know of our curse.”

Nathan: “…………Curse?”

Melanie: “Yes, it happened a few years prior.”

Nathan: “So it’s a ‘curse’ is it?”

Nathan was confused, from their status; it clearly said that they were poisoned. Maybe they just couldn’t tell and the truth is only revealed to him because of his abilities.

Audrey: “If you’re worried about contracting the disease, put yourself at ease, the curse’s sickness cannot be passed on.”

Nathan: “And you were cursed too, why?”

Audrey: “I am with Milady at all times, surely there is no other reason, not one that I can deduce.”

Nathan: “It’s not really a good reason if you ask me.”

Audrey: “As Milady’s Knight, even in sickness I will be there to protect her.”

Nathan: “So what? Making you sick as well, could make it all the easier to kill you both?”

Audrey: “Or so my train of thought, but i digress, we appreciate your discretion on the matter.”

Nathan: “No problem.”

Nathan finally understood, someone is definitely trying to kill these two, by making them believe they were sick. There was no curse; they are just being slowly poisoned to death. What Nathan didn’t understand is how they are still administering the poison. To make it seem like they’re slowly dying of a disease, they should still be given small amounts every so often, just enough as to not draw attention from the targets.

Nathan continued to think about how the poison was being introduced, while he conversed with the two. Just as they were deep in conversation, Nathan finally got a whiff of the candles fragrance, it was very calming, but only for a moment. A second later Nathan’s ‘Threat Detection’ activated.

*Ding ding*

*Poison acquired ‘Hush Vapor’*

Nathan: “(What?)”

Nathan turned to the source of danger, his eyes landing on the candle.

Melanie: “Ah, are you interested in the candles fragrance? It is my favorite, imported from my home. It called Pale Lavender, a flower that only grows in my home country.”

Nathan stared down at the candle; he doubted they would be burning a candle from a poisonous flower. The only thing he could think of was that someone mixed the poison into the candle’s wax. The maids was the one who lit it before leaving, perhaps she is involved. He needed to prove his theory, so he reached for his tea cup.

Nathan: “Ah!?”

*Smash*

Nathan pretended to fumble his cup, knocking it over and letting the contents spill onto the candle, before letting crash to the floor.

Nathan: “Oh, I am so sorry.”

Melanie: “Oh my, no don’t worry about, these things happen every so often.”

Nathan: “Oh and I ruined your candle.”

Audrey: “I have one of the maids find a rag to wipe up the mess and we have plenty of candles. You think she would have heard the crash and come in already.”

Audrey went to the door and peered into the hall.

Audrey: “That’s strange?”

Melanie: “What’s wrong?”

Audrey: “The maid who usually waits here is gone. Good help is hard to find, I’ll be right back.”

Audrey was about to leave when a maid step in front of her.

Audrey: “Where were you?”

Maid: “Sorry, I step away for a moment, is there something I can assist with?”

The maid looked to be breathing irregularly, short quick puff like trying to avoid breathing in the room.

Audrey: “A tea cup was knocked over and its contents spilled out all over. Please clean it right away.”

Maid: “Oh, it looks like your favorite candle is ruined.”

The maid, who saw that the candle had been only put out, took a noticeable sigh of relief, at least to Nathan anyway. It confirmed that she knew of the poison and was a part of the plan to kill them. Nathan was thinking it was time to go, he didn’t know how many attendants they had or how many were crooked and he didn’t want to know.

Nathan: “I’m sorry for this, but I must be on my way.”

Melanie: “Oh really? Well then I will escort you out.”

Nathan: “Ugh, what about the maid?”

Maid: “There is no trouble, please don’t mind me.”

The maid went on about her business cleaning, while Melanie and Audrey led Nathan out.

Nathan: “Is she the only attendant you have?”

Melanie: “No, there are many more, but we keep to the bare minimum, when in contact with us, to prevent accidents.”

Nathan: “I thought the charm prevented such things?”

Audrey: “It does, but why take the chance?”

Nathan: “Why don’t you just get rid of the maids, you two don’t seem to be in a state where you need them as of yet?”

Melanie: “We’ve tried, but my family insists, just in case of the worst case scenarios. Though it’s true we don’t seem sick, according to our physicians, it could take years before we are bedridden. More importantly, I tend to leave every so often and need someone to take care of the estate while we’re away.”

Nathan: “Oh, why’s that?”

Melanie: “Ah, well-”

Audrey: “It’s best if we kept it secret, its rather sensitive issue.”

Nathan: “I see…forget I asked.”

Nathan and company had reached the front door and stepped out into the estate front yard.

Nathan: “Well, I wish you the best, thank you for the tea.”

Melanie: “Thank you for your silence and once again for the emblem.”

Melanie bowed to Nathan. It was a shame she was being poisoned by her family and being constantly watched by her attendants. Both of them unknowingly caught in a death-trap, with their enemies hidden in plain sight, it was surprising they were still alive. Nathan was starting to want to help them, but any thing he did would have to be in secret and, as if the universe was expecting it, an opportunity presented itself.

Nathan: “You a really good girl.”

Nathan patted her head, causing her to quickly stand and flush red.

Melanie: “Huh!?”

Nathan: “Sorry, force of habit, did I offend you?”

Melanie: “N-No just a little surprised.”

Melanie attempted hide her flustered face, but Nathan had already seen it.

Audrey: “Please refrain from touching Milady as you please.”

Nathan: “You sound almost jealous, one for you too.”

Nathan did the same to Audrey, causing her to step-back in a fluster and knocking his hand away.

Audrey: “C-Cease that at once!”

Audrey grabbed at her sword, her face going flushed as well.

Nathan: “Ahahahahahaha, oh that reaction, that was great. I wish you the best of health; see ya ‘Ladies’.”

Melanie & Audrey: “What!?”

Nathan quickly turned to leave, laughing his way out onto the city street. Audrey regaining her composure cleared her throat.

Audrey: “It seems he has seen through my disguise, as easily as he saw through our situation. It seems he will be a troublemaker.”

Melanie: “Oh come now, he isn’t that bad, I find him rather pleasant.”

Audrey: “Truly, even the fact that he saw under your dress, I thought you would be more distressed after realizing it was a man?”

Mealnie: “……………………...”

Audrey: “Milady?”

Melanie: “Audrey, simple things like that are of no real concern to me.”

Her words didn’t match her actions, sinking down into a standing fetal position. Audrey helped her master back to her feet; Melanie’s face now a crimson red after just realizing that was the case. Then recalling everything he kept saying made the shame of the situation all the tougher to bear.

They walked back to the room, the mess from earlier now gone. The candle had been replaced and lit. The fragrance had already wafted throughout the room calming Melanie down immediately, but Audrey looked rather cross.

Audrey: “Again, disappearing, right after she finished. What part of ‘wait in attention’, does that maid not understand?”

Melanie: “Do not fret over such a thing; be thankful she even chooses to stay with us, even after knowing our situation.”

Audrey: “*sigh* Milady, please to be a little more intolerant with the help.”

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A little past noon, the sun was still high in the sky, showering Loegrey with its eternal heat. During days like this, it was common for the people to move at a slower pace, rather than stay at home altogether. A simple defiance to the sun, as if saying ‘You won’t get the best of us’, however, the ball of fire was all too eager to continue its assault on the inhabitants of Loegrey.

Amongst the common folk, one individual was running at full speed down the streets. She was wearing a traditional maid outfit, her bonnet threatening to fly off her head, while she held her dress at the knees, to avoid tripping. One would only give her a passing glance, this would be a strange sight if it was someone else, but it wasn’t uncommon for servants to be rushing around town for the sake of their masters. The only real thought they gave her was pity, being forced to run so frantically out in this weather, but it was their duty, so there was nothing for it.

However, if anyone was to see her expression, they would definitely have noticed the panic. She had messed up, done something that could jeopardized her life. She needed to immediately get in contact with her superiors.

After running for a good while, she arrived in front of a small building. Paying no heed to her surroundings, she quickly entered. The interior was devoid of any furnishing, except for a lone desk in the corner of the room. A small vase that could hold only a single flower was placed on top. The maid reached in her pocket and pulled out an envelope. Opening the drawer, she placed the letter inside. Then she removed a single rose from her pocket and placed it in the vase. With that done she turned and left the building, she needed to hurry back to the estate before her master realized she had left.

She held her hands to her chest, she was anxious. She had made a grave mistake of allowing someone else besides her master and her guard, breathe in the vapors of the poisonous candle. Moreover, the one she had poisoned was none other than the Lycanian. Usually this wouldn’t be a big problem, but the way the Lycanian had acted led the maid to believe, that she knew of the candles poison.

From where the candle was placed and the distance it was from the Lycanian, the dousing of the flame, with a cup of tea, should not have happened and yet it did. However she did what she was told and replaced the candle, unconsciously lighting the poison candle. The Rselaia estate never had visitors before, so the need for a normal candle never came to be. Even though they had a stock of normal candles, the muscle memory of constantly retrieving the poison candles every single day, caused her to make the fatal mistake.

When she arrived back at her master’s estate, the guard at the gate waved her over. The expression on his face, led her to believe something was wrong.

Guard: "Captain Audrey is looking for you; you left your post too abruptly.”

Maid: “There was no other choice; it was a most pressing matter.”

Guard: “I understand the urgency, however if the two were to grow suspicious of us-”

Maid: “They won’t.”

Guard: “Let’s see that they don’t, you are the closest to them. If the plan fails, we will all face the consequences for your mistakes.”

Maid: “I get it; I don’t need to be told by you, just make sure someone is watching the Lycanian, we don’t want her coming in contact with the master.”

Guard: “Are you telling me how to do my job?”

Maid: “No more than you are telling me.”

The maid sucked air in through her teeth and continued inside. She knew of the consequences all too well; however complications were bound to arise and it was best to nip them in the bud immediately. For now, she made work for herself, to curve away any suspicions of her whereabouts. It would take a few days, but she was sure that the Lycanian problem would be dealt with by then.