Chapter 96
“…!”
Euclid held his palm close to Grizelle’s mouth as he spoke. Her face went deathly pale at his words. The woman who had been so brazen only moments ago began to tremble violently.
“What are you waiting for? I told you to eat it.”
His tone was calm, but his words pressed down on her like a blade. When he brought his hand even closer, nearly covering her mouth, tears streamed down Grizelle’s face. She shook her head desperately, trying to recoil, but Euclid glanced toward the attendants restraining her.
Reading the First Prince’s intent, the attendants seized Grizelle by the head and neck, holding her still so she couldn’t move an inch. Then Euclid forcefully smeared the powder against her lips.
As soon as he stepped back, the attendants released her on cue. Grizelle immediately wiped her mouth with frantic hands and began to spit furiously.
“Ptu! Ptu! Ptu!”
Euclid watched her with a perfectly calm expression. Sylaria stared at the scene in shock. Grizelle was trembling like someone awaiting execution, spitting again and again, heedless of the people watching her.
“Ptu! Ptu—ptu!”
“So it’s poison.”
At Euclid’s short statement, Grizelle glared at him, her eyes bloodshot. Her tear-streaked face twisted hideously as she shrieked.
“Fine! So what if it is? You’re going to poison me now, you lunatic?!”
“No. What you’re holding now isn’t poison.”
“…What?”
Grizelle froze, her expression blank. Even Sylaria looked startled, turning to him in confusion. From Grizelle’s reaction, she had assumed it really was poison, but apparently not.
“What you just swallowed was sugar. I never even took out the real poison.”
Euclid gestured to the crumpled paper bag still in his hand. Grizelle looked at it in disbelief, her face going slack with shock.
“What…?”
“Your confession was clear enough, Grizelle Willoughby. Take her away. Lock her in the underground dungeon.”
At Euclid’s command, the attendants grabbed hold of Grizelle. She thrashed violently, fighting to break free.
“No! It’s not like that! I’m innocent!”
But no one listened. Her screams grew fainter and fainter as she was dragged away down the corridor.
“A pitiful pawn.”
Euclid muttered under his breath as he looked after her, then turned toward Sylaria.
Just then, Cyan approached to report his findings.
“Fortunately, everything’s normal. It seems Lady Elenia didn’t ingest any of the poison. Since she’s been taking the antidote regularly, there’s no need to worry.”
At his words, the strength drained from Sylaria’s legs. She swayed, and Euclid caught her swiftly. Gently lowering her onto the sofa, he said,
“Ellie’s safe. Don’t worry.”
“…If I hadn’t kept watching, if I’d been even a little later…”
Sylaria’s voice trembled sharply. Clasping her cold hands together, she clenched her teeth.
She had been terrified that things would repeat as they had in her past life, that she might lose Elenia again.
The moment she heard from Marin that Grizelle had gone to see Elenia, she had run here without a second thought.
Every step had felt endless. The distance wasn’t far, yet it had seemed impossibly long, as if no matter how fast she went, she would never reach her. She’d been certain she was about to lose Elenia once more.
It had terrified her.
“Ellie…”
Tears welled in Sylaria’s eyes as she gazed at her sister. Elenia lay peacefully asleep in bed, her face calm and serene. The sight made Sylaria’s heart tremble.
“You’re the one who protected her.”
Euclid spoke softly, placing a reassuring hand on her back. Sylaria closed her eyes, feeling the warmth of his touch, letting her heartbeat slow. Then, as she steadied her breath, she opened her eyes again.
“What did you mean earlier?”
“Which part?”
“When you said they sent a pitiful pawn.”
“Ah, that.”
Euclid smiled faintly at her question. Taking her hand in his, he spoke in a low voice.
“I meant the mastermind behind Grizelle Willoughby’s actions.”
Mastermind?
Sylaria’s eyes widened at his words.
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