Chapter 88

"More drinks! Bring more over!"

In the distance, a bearded man, the Marquis Broderick, was filling his goblet. While having the Thieves' Guild investigate alchemists and pharmacists, I had Kadkeus keep an eye on the Marquis to see if he would show his hand.

The Marquis Broderick was a man who frequently held balls, dinners, and salons. Even on days with no events, he seemed to indulge in wine. It seemed that his excessive indulgence was indeed true. Just looking at the frequency and scale of his events made one worry if it was all right, as it would surely lead to the decline of his house.

In order to monitor the Marquis' household, I gathered various information. It turned out that Broderick originally owned iron mines in his territory, but the tunnels around Termwillis had turned into a labyrinth, producing various base metals, precious metals, and gems. Due to transportation costs, the importance of the iron mines had decreased.

Despite this, the Marquis maintained a lavish lifestyle similar to his prosperous days. Naturally, his finances deteriorated. That's when he set his sights on the nearby earl's household. The Gartner Earl's territory and the Sylm Baron's territory were granaries. Since the labyrinth did not produce grain, there was a steady demand. Once the shortest route to Termwillis was established, the situation would stabilize.

Since people would inevitably travel through this route, if Broderick could piggyback on it, he could significantly reduce transportation costs and compete with the old tunnels that had turned into a labyrinth. However, the shortest route was a difficult area with many monsters, which is why settlers avoided it. This was the reason why the development was slow.

So, the Marquis Broderick proposed to the previous Earl Gartner. He suggested that unemployed miners be recruited as settlers and adventurers, and that iron weapons be supplied at a low cost to deal with the monsters. Additionally, the Marquis himself would strongly push for the central government to allocate funds for development to significantly advance the route's development.

At this point, it was probably a mutually beneficial arrangement. The Marquis and the previous Earl recognized each other as partners and sought to strengthen their ties by marrying the Marquis' daughter to the Earl's heir.

"Sir, it will harm your health."

The butler advised the Marquis, but the Marquis laughed it off.

"This much won't get me drunk."

He drank the cup in one gulp and exhaled deeply. After a moment, the butler hesitantly spoke.

"---I am truly sorry, but I have a report for you, Sir."

"---Speak."

The butler's tone must have given him a bad feeling. The Marquis frowned.

"The long-serving servants of Miss Catherine have been dismissed."

"---Is that true?"

"Yes."

I had Kadkeus keep an eye on things, and finally, I heard the information I wanted. I was getting quite tired of hearing useless talk.

"This... We must withdraw from the Earl's household."

He didn't seem worried about his daughter. In fact, the information was outdated. His father had already taken the next step against the Marquis' household.

"That's how it should be seen."

"Truly detestable. It's beyond our control."

And with that, he drank more wine that was brought to him. Indeed, it seemed he was trying to interfere with the Earl's household through Catherine. This much can be confirmed.

His father probably manipulated the information to delay the leak of the servants' dismissal. Compared to his father, who was already planning the Marquis' household's retreat, the Marquis seemed to be lagging behind.

The Marquis' mines have been producing less in recent years. Even if the route is developed, if the key items are depleted, it will lead to a gradual decline. If he could significantly influence the Earl's household... he could expect further reduction in transportation costs and a sense of security in the future by securing favorable policies from the Marquis' household.

Still, the talk about Catherine's servants at this point... This means...

"Report."

At that moment, Sheila, who had gone to gather information from the Thieves' Guild, arrived. I cut off the link with the other side and turned to Sheila.

"There doesn't seem to be any alchemists closely connected to the Marquis' household. There are some pharmacists who visit, but only a few times a year. The Marquis doesn't seem to take care of his health."

"---I see."

Given his excessive lifestyle, it was clear that he didn't value doctors.

Binge eating... just thinking about it made me feel heartburn, so I decided to cleanse myself with the herbal tea Grace had prepared. The sound of Ilmhirld's lute playing alongside it helped me relax and calm my thoughts.

---Well, up to the point of using Catherine, it was fine. But the idea of a secret potion... I can't help but think it was something the Marquis had in mind. If he could prepare such a thing, he wouldn't have declined, normally.

"What about Catherine's movements on the day in question?"

"She definitely visited the Marquis' household. Her carriage was spotted."

"What about the Marquis' household on that day?"

"A ball. Here is the list of attendees. I obtained a copy of the guest book."

She handed me a list.

"---How did you get it?"

"I don't know the specifics, but I heard that servants sometimes sell it for pocket money. Young people who want to make connections in society often desire such lists."

"---Hmm."

Should I commend the Thieves' Guild, or should I criticize the quality of the Marquis' household's servants? Perhaps the Marquis is a poor payer. It's a harsh world.

From what I can see on the list, the Marquis' household has a lot of people coming and going. It's likely that Catherine met someone there. Is there anyone with vested interests... especially someone who could prepare a secret potion?

Or someone who might want to interfere with me or Byron?

Catherine used the drug largely because she was being held accountable by her father after the Byron incident. Given that she didn't know about the servants, it's unlikely that the Marquis' household prepared the secret potion. The original purpose might have been different.

"Can Ashley see anything from this?"

"---This is the eldest son of a family whose name is listed in the school."

We filled in the gaps by discussing with Ashley, Sheila, and Ilmhirld. As I added notes to the list with a quill pen, the overall picture began to emerge. Knights, baronets, lower nobles, and merchants' children... there aren't many big names. It seems the Marquis' household is seen as declining. The people listed seem minor. It has the impression of being a social gathering and a place for young people to meet.

But there is one person with an unusual title among them.

"Fortune teller, huh."

Anastasia Almendaris.

"She is a rather famous fortune teller. From a wealthy family, and popular among the court nobles because her predictions are accurate. She often appears in society."

Sheila added.

Catherine, who came to Termwillis to build connections with Byron and others, ignoring her father who was stationed in the territory, could have met her in society.

"---I might go and meet her. As a fortune teller, she probably won't refuse, and I might be able to hear about the day in question."

"Wouldn't it be dangerous if she is the perpetrator?"

Grace, who had been listening, tilted her head.

The perpetrator, huh. Well, that's true. Given her connections to the court nobles and her wealth, it's possible. She might have a motive. The question is whether she would believe the drug's effects if she was given it... but there would be no evidence left. If she drugged the servants and demonstrated it, there would be no question of belief.

"Taking care with food and drink should be enough, but... I have a countermeasure."

Since the magic potion's seed has been revealed, a countermeasure can be taken.

...The Evil-Repelling Necklace. A necklace that nullifies debuffs and bad statuses.

It is a powerful item, but it also nullifies buffs and useful magic potions, and has a chance of breaking. However, this characteristic should also apply to the Alraune's kiss, which falls under the category of magic potions.

To make the necklace, instead of engraving a normal spell on a magic stone, one needs to imbue it with the prayers of a priestess or priest of the goddess Shuas. In my case, I have a very good connection.

In fact, wouldn't the nobility and royalty need such necklaces more than I do? If they knew about the Alraune's kiss, they would certainly take countermeasures. The fact that they haven't suggests that the existence of the drug itself is unknown. Currently, the danger is high because both the existence and the countermeasures are unknown. To break this balance, I need to act.