Chapter 81

※This contains a mild depiction of vomiting. Please be cautious if you are eating or if you are sensitive to such content.

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"Sorry for the sudden call, but they insist on seeing you."

When the king said this directly, I could only nod. Robert, who was setting the scene, was vigilantly scanning the surroundings.

The king was smiling, but his voice was serious. Beyond this door, a situation had arisen where I had to be called, even though I would rather not be involved.

"Let me be frank, as it cannot be hidden. One of the envoys from Rotus, Hydrangea, has collapsed. It seems she was affected by some kind of curse, but the cause is unknown."

"Lenji?!"

I was shaken. There was no way I wouldn't be.

"Since the cause is unknown, we cannot take any action."

Robert shook his head.

"Even the court magicians are at a loss, so there is nothing we can do. However, the other envoy, Viscountess Emma Cupid, has requested that you be called. From Albion's perspective, we cannot abandon the envoy here."

That's why I was called. Perhaps I could figure something out. Court magicians are the top magicians, sages, and scholars in this country. They also handle medical procedures.

If even they can't figure it out, what could I possibly know? But there's no time to think. I need to check on Lenji.

"Wait, we're not done talking yet."

While I was standing there, her condition might be worsening. The ballroom where the evening party was being held was temporarily closed. I tried to open the door, but the king stopped me.

"We cannot afford to lose the envoy. However, what would be even worse is if the cause remains unknown. For example, if there is a culprit, and we don't know who it is, the relationship between the two countries will only deteriorate."

I stopped. From Albion's perspective, it would be enough to identify the culprit. The king's words sounded to me like he was saying that it didn't matter if Lenji died.

"…So, what exactly do you want me to do?"

"Even if you find out the cause, come back without saying anything. We will handle the rest."

I widened my eyes in surprise. I couldn't grasp the king's intentions.

"Understood?" The king nodded to Robert, not giving me a chance to respond. He sent me through the door.

I quickly found the person I was looking for. Lenji was lying on the red, luxurious carpet, looking pale.

"Lenji!"

I hurried to her side.

Lenji was pressing her chest, looking in pain. I felt the gaze of Viscountess Emma, who was standing a step back with her arms crossed. Alice stepped in, on guard.

"Noah, you are our last hope. Please help your sister."

At that moment, I began to understand what the king meant. The surrounding area was filled with Albion nobles, watching us. At first, I thought it was about not tarnishing the reputation of the court magicians.

"(It's not just that. If I go all out here, it would be like acknowledging that Lenji is my sister, right?)"

I looked at Lenji. Large beads of sweat were on her forehead, and her breathing was shallow and rapid. I asked the court magician about the possibility of poison. They had given her antidotes and cast healing spells, but she showed no signs of recovery.

"Lenji, I know it's painful, but try to look at me, even for a moment."

I used my skill to check Lenji's status. I could see that her health was still decreasing. Something was still affecting her body.

The court magicians had been casting healing spells at regular intervals, but without removing the cause, Lenji would continue to suffer.

If the court magicians couldn't trace the curse, the possibility of poison couldn't be ruled out. I learned that they had only given her herbs and hadn't made her vomit, which is a basic procedure.

"If it were poison, other noble guests would also be affected. She ate the same things as everyone else."

I almost said that there were plenty of other targets, like Viscountess Emma or the king, but I held back. Such talk would be dangerous.

"Alice!"

I worked with Alice to lift Lenji's body to make her vomit. This might reveal the cause.

At the same time, I scanned the surroundings for any suspicious movements. I noticed a maid who had turned pale and stepped back.

I recognized her face. Alice seemed to notice my gaze. She watched as a nearby server took over supporting Lenji.

First, we needed to help Lenji. We nodded to each other and were about to act when Robert stopped me.

"Following the king's orders, we will leave this to them. Come this way."

Why? I hadn't forgotten the order. But I couldn't leave Lenji in this state. I met the king's eyes, who seemed to be beckoning me. I didn't have the courage to defy the order, but my feet wouldn't move.

"Let him go."

"Y-Your Majesty, the late king!"

Robert's hand released me, and I looked up to see Eustace Albion, the late king.

"Noah, you just want to help your colleague, right? That's all?"

"Yes, I worked with her at the guild. I just want to help my colleague."

In truth, I had cared for her like a sister, but I couldn't say that now.

The late king smiled and told me to continue. I decided not to look at the current king. I would do what I could. If it didn't work, I would think of something else.

In the vomit, there was a black flower decoration, about the size of a small wooden fruit. I immediately recognized it as a magic item.

It wasn't poison. Lenji had ingested the source of the curse. Even if she recovered, as long as this magic item continued to exert its power, she would remain in pain.

I wrapped the black flower in a cloth to avoid direct contact.

"Lenji, are you okay?"

Tears were spilling from the edges of her eyelids. Her eyes slowly opened, and I saw myself reflected in them.

"Noah, senpai…"

"Excellent, Noah. As a representative of the Rotus Empire, I must thank you."

Viscountess Emma, who had been observing, said this insincerely. She had never shown any concern for Lenji.

"Noah, I caught her."

Alice brought the suspicious maid, whose hands were bound by Robert's subordinates.

"I don't know anything! Please, let me go! I was told it was medicine. I was only asked to give it to the young lady because she had a stomachache…"

The maid, who had been struggling, suddenly stopped talking.

I turned to look at her, puzzled. She had been staring at a point, and then her face contorted in fear as she began to tremble.

The knight who had been restraining her led her away.

"Well, who could have orchestrated this?"

The Rotus Empire, being the victims, would naturally suspect someone from the Albion Kingdom. But would they really attempt an assassination in a place that would make Albion look bad?

"Hey, open your mouth!!"

"Someone, anyone, help! Damn, what did she drink?"

From the direction the maid was taken, the knight's angry shouts and the nobles' screams could be heard.

"It seems she sealed her own lips?"

Viscountess Emma smiled thinly.

Half a day had passed. The Rotus Empire's envoy was apparently on schedule to return home today.

Lenji had recovered, though she still felt fatigued.

As for the maid, it was determined that she was not from any specific country.

She was not from Albion, and no one knew her identity or family. People who entered and exited the palace were supposed to be managed, but this incident cast doubt on that system.

The Rotus Empire also joined the investigation. They insisted that the maid was not from their country.

Still, the maid's last words were troubling. She had said that she did not act intentionally. But after that, she had ingested a poison hidden in her mouth and died almost instantly.

A cover-up. Viscountess Emma had said that. I agreed. But without knowing the reason, the Rotus Empire's envoy had returned.

"Why didn't the maid, who had a poison that could cause instant death, use it on Lenji?"

"Alice… I don't know…"

The maid had been looking at Viscountess Emma before she lost her voice. Why did she go through such a roundabout way to make Lenji suffer?

"Bringing Noah out was just a pretext, but they returned so easily. Do you think this is over?"

"Stop it!"

While having this conversation, looking at the beautiful courtyard, a guard ran up. Alice stood in front of me, but he ignored her and said the king was calling me.

"Let me be straightforward. Noah, you are to be taken to the Rotus Empire. The details will be provided later. The reason is as a token of gratitude for helping the envoy. The emperor of Rotus himself has requested it. From Albion's perspective, there is no reason to refuse."

I was so shocked that my legs almost gave out.

King Optimus's eyes seemed to blame me for causing trouble.

I haven't been abandoned by the Albion Kingdom, right?

"But we will try to find a way. My father also thinks we should. However, this time, it might be impossible to avoid. Be prepared."

While writing, a strange line popped into my head: "Looks like an adult, mind like a second life, his name is Detective Noah!" It's not a mystery story!

As always, the plot moves quickly!

2015/01/12 Revised