Chapter 13

Cura inclined her head and turned to Serin. “The Grand Duke… Can he touch this flower without any harm?”

“Vanaichi,” Serin emphasized with conviction. “He can handle it directly or even brew it as tea.”

“But earlier, you mentioned it was a poisonous plant…” Elena interjected.

A sly grin played on the corner of Serin’s lips. “He’s been consuming it since his youth to build immunity to poisons. And not just Vanaichi – he ingests various poisons.”

“But isn’t there a risk to his life in doing so?” Elena was too astonished to complete her sentence. The idea of Kennard willingly ingesting deadly toxins made her stomach churn.

“He’s teetered on the edge of death many times during his youth. Ingesting poison, detoxifying, ingesting another poison – that’s how he built his immunity. Vanaichi, in particular, is classified as a lethal poison.”

“But why on earth…”

“The role of the Grand Duke demands it. To safeguard the position, one must be willing to risk everything. Being closest to death is the only way to stay alive in that role.”

Elena shook her head. “It still doesn’t make sense. Even if he’s building immunity, shouldn’t he cultivate such poisonous plants in a more controlled environment than this open greenhouse?”

“Why bother? Who would dare to poison the Grand Duke with something like this?” Cura retorted.

“It’s possible,” Elena muttered, but quickly realized that her words might be misconstrued as suspicion towards those around Kennard, so she fell silent.

“No sane person would even think of poisoning the Grand Duke within this castle. If anyone were to try, it might be from a rival tribe, such as the White Fox Tribe, or perhaps spies sent by them,” Serin remarked. Elena felt the intensity of Serin’s gaze, as if he were trying to probe her thoughts.

“But it’s beside the point. The Grand Duke has developed immunity to Vanaichi. He continues to enjoy it as tea because he appreciates the scent. Why he’s so fond of the aroma of this poisonous plant, I can’t fathom. His tastes are rather peculiar.”

“What about you, Lord Serin?” Elena asked. “You must also be exposed to these poisonous plants.”

Serin chuckled, derisively dismissing Elena’s concerns.

“I’m not as intimately acquainted with them as the Grand Duke, but I, too, am in the process of building immunity to poisons. With the Grand Duke by my side, there are those who might be foolhardy enough to target people like me.” Elena’s gaze fell upon the leather gloves Serin was wearing.

Sensing her curiosity, Serin looked at his own hand, then removed the gloves and casually placed them on a nearby bench.

“I don’t fear having immunity to poison,” he added briefly.

Draped in a cloak of the same azure shade as his eyes and wearing a mask, Serin carefully inspected the opening of the bag containing Vanaichi. He slung it over his shoulder and made his way towards the greenhouse’s exit.

“In this garden, you’ll find herbs like Ervejo, which were used to treat you, as well as poisonous plants like Vanaichi. Exercise caution, especially within this greenhouse, where most of the trees and flowers contain toxins,” Serin cautioned.

Elena hurried to keep pace with Serin, taking long strides. Cura also followed closely behind, her expression serious.

“Maintaining this garden involves more than just watering and repotting,” Serin explained.

Elena nodded. “I understand.”

“Starting tomorrow, I’ll teach you the names and types of these plants, so you can leave it for today.”

Elena replied, “Alright.”

Then, without warning, Serin halted and turned to face Elena. “I don’t trust you. If you ever harbor ill intentions against the Grand Duke in return for his kindness, know that you’ll meet your end at my hands before that can happen.”

“What?” Elena stood there, dumbfounded by his sudden and ominous declaration.

Serin gave her one last piercing stare, then swiftly exited the greenhouse, muttering something under his breath in evident irritation.

***

Elena luxuriated in a bath filled with warm, herb-infused water, courtesy of Cura’s meticulous care, before returning to her bedroom.

She took great care to gently dry her hair with a soft cloth, and then applied fragrant oil, running a brush through her fiery red locks, which flowed in graceful waves, almost as if engaged in a dance.

With each brushstroke, the rich aroma of the oil enveloped the room.

Seated in front of the fireplace on a comfortable chair, Elena began to drift off to sleep.

“Your hair has certainly improved since you first arrived,” Cura commented with a radiant smile.

Elena, rousing from her drowsiness, gave Cura a grateful smile. “It’s all thanks to your care, Cura.”

“It would be even more beautiful if you gained a bit of weight. Are you naturally thin?” Cura inquired.

“I had quite a meal today, so I might put on some weight soon.”

“Do you think so?”

Elena found it challenging to engage in casual conversation with Cura.

〈You should gain some weight. With that body, you won’t be able to withstand even one night.〉 

These words triggered a recollection of what Kennard had mentioned in the study the previous day.

An inexplicable sensation stirred within her abdomen.

“I may have overindulged in the bread and stew; I’m still digesting,” Elena replied, her cheeks slightly flushed as she tried to steer the conversation away from her physical discomfort.

“Did you enjoy the venison stew?” Cura inquired.

Elena nodded. “Yes, the potatoes were delicious too, but the meat was incredibly tender.”

“The Grand Duke has been hunting a surplus of deer lately, resulting in an excess of meat. The cooks have frozen it, and there’s still plenty left. That’s why my brother has been urging even the servants to partake in deer meat.”

“The Grand Duke goes hunting?” Elena asked in surprise.

“Yes, he used to hunt occasionally, but recently, he ventures out alone every night. That’s why my brother has been so irritable about it. He’s even gone hunting during the day, so he might have reprimanded you, Elena.”

“I understand.”

“Oh, Elena, you do know what the Grand Duke left behind when he went hunting, don’t you?”

Elena swiftly regained her composure and recollected.

“He abandoned the deer he caught that day in the forest and brought only you back. My brother had to accompany the servants to retrieve it from the woods. He was incredibly cross that day as well.”

“But how can Lord Serin speak so informally about the Grand Duke? Does he act this way in front of the Grand Duke?” Elena inquired.

Cura giggled, concealing her mouth with her hand. “He does it quite often. Whenever he does, those of us who are present nearby become anxious, fearing the Grand Duke’s potential displeasure.”

“How can that be?” Elena mused, her voice tinged with disbelief. “I’ve heard the Grand Duke is a rather formidable figure.”

“That’s right,” Cura confirmed. “He’s earned himself the moniker ‘Black Wolf Who Devoured the Demon.'”

“‘Devoured the demon?'” Elena repeated.

“Yes, that’s the kind of reputation he has. Do you recall when I shared stories about him during the Terra Demorte campaign?”

Elena nodded, her curiosity piqued. She eased her arms into the robe that Cura was holding, the soft fabric enveloping her. Once Cura had artfully arranged Elena’s hair outside the robe, she resumed brushing it. The gentle strokes provided a sense of comfort in the midst of the conversation.

“Perhaps it’s because the Grand Duke has been by my brother’s side since they were young that he’s at ease with him,” Cura offered. “According to Lord Lassino, there might be only my brother and Viscount Leemid with whom the Grand Duke converses so informally.”

“Viscount Leemid?” Elena queried, her mind racing to grasp the dynamics of the Grand Duke’s relationships.

“He’s a close friend of the Grand Duke. Even when the Grand Duke becomes exceedingly irate, he doesn’t harm those two.”

Elena made an attempt to envision Serin displaying the same annoyance he had exhibited towards her when interacting with Kennard, but the image remained elusive.

“By the way, are you truly feeling well? If you experience any discomfort or dizziness, please inform me immediately.”

Cura had been vigilant, continuously scrutinizing Elena’s countenance since her return from the glasshouse.

“I’m genuinely fine. Look, nothing’s amiss,” Elena reassured Cura, raising her hands and even playfully sticking out her tongue. “Everything appears perfectly normal, doesn’t it?”

Cura’s expression relaxed, a smile of relief crossing her face. But that expression swiftly darkened as she bit her lower lip.

“It’s truly remarkable. How were you able to touch Vanaichi without any adverse effects?”

Elena sighed, her own confusion echoing in her words. “I’m just as bewildered. I had no prior knowledge of a flower called Vanaichi.”

“That’s absolutely true,” Cura remarked with a shiver, her brows furrowing. “It’s fortunate that nothing is amiss, but if that flower were indeed poisonous… Oh, the mere thought is terrifying. In any case, please exercise caution in the greenhouse, where you’ll find plants like Vanaichi. My brother will provide more details starting tomorrow, but until then, refrain from touching anything.”

“Understood,” Elena replied, eventually breaking into a warm chuckle. Seeing Cura’s maternal concern, she couldn’t help but be touched, and her smile returned.

However, before the moment could settle, the bedroom door clicked open unexpectedly. Startled, Elena turned to find Kennard standing at the entrance, clad entirely in dark attire, like a mysterious figure.

She swiftly rose and inclined her head towards him. “Your Highness, at this late hour, may I inquire…” Before she could finish her greeting, Elena realized her attire—a sheer robe, barely concealing her slender form.

Quickly adjusting the front of her robe, she raised her head, only to discover Kennard standing in close proximity.

Taken aback, she instinctively stepped back. It wasn’t just the abruptness of his appearance that surprised her; it was the intense, almost fiery, gaze in his deep, pumpkin-colored eyes. Unconsciously, she hunched her shoulders under the weight of his scrutiny.

“Your Highness,” she began once more.

Ignoring her words, Kennard grasped her wrist. As the robe’s sleeve slid down, her slender wrist was revealed.