Chapter Nine

How many people would be prepared for a poison cloud attack? I was worried about Rodrigo and his men. I knew what kind of poison they were facing.

I quickly examined Ada and Kalen from afar. They were busy swinging their swords and throwing shuriken, and neither of them was wearing a mask.

It’s definitely the poison our mother made.

The Kartinas’ specialty poison. We had been continuously exposed to Hela’s uniquely crafted poison. It was a kind of training for us to develop a tolerance against it. The Kartinas were therefore immune to the otherwise-lethal poison cloud heading toward Rodrigo.

I rummaged through my drawer. After I had been reborn as a Kartina, I had taken on the role of making sure the Kartinas did not commit greater misdeeds. Because of this, I had been developing an antidote to counter Hela’s poison.

Hastily, I searched for the antidote for the reeking yellow poison cloud. I skimmed through the leather pouch that held various bottles of medicine. “Here it is!”

I fished out a bottle containing a clear liquid that sloshed inside the glass. Is it really this one?

I opened the lid and sniffed. The notes of citrus confirmed that this was indeed the antidote for the poison cloud outside. I tied the small bottle securely to an arrow.

After writing “Drink this immediately, E” on the lid, I moved to the window to draw my bow. I aimed at the empty space just past Rodrigo’s shoulder.

It had to miss him by a tiny margin. If the arrow went too far, he wouldn’t notice it, and if it was too close, he could get hurt.

I took a deep breath.

Noting the direction of the wind, I reminded myself that in my past life, I had been a descendant of Jumong, famous for his archery skills, and released the bowstring.

***

Rodrigo readied himself to dodge the arrow heading toward him, but he froze. Something attached to the arrow had glinted in the sunlight. But that’s not why he didn’t dodge it. The reason Rodrigo changed his mind was the blonde hair fluttering in the breeze in the distance, where the arrow had come from. A woman with bright blonde hair, like strands of gold.

Estella.

“Watch out, Your Grace! An arrow!” Gunther shouted, but Rodrigo held up his hand to activate his magic.

The arrow came to a halt right by Rodrigo’s shoulder, and he read the attached note. It was indeed from Estella. The corner of his lips rose into a smirk. No wonder they’re pulling their punches. They used poison. As expected of the Kartinas.

Poison clouds weren’t usually part of a sword fight. Poison was the last resort. And they’re starting the fight with it? It was incredibly underhanded.

With no suspicion whatsoever, Rodrigo took a sip from Estella’s medicine bottle and handed it over to Gunther and Devlon.

“Drink this.”

“Who is it from?”

“My lover.” Rodrigo grinned widely as he brandished his sword. “All this effort just to see my girl.” Look at all these obstacles in my way. Rodrigo clicked his tongue as he raised his sword.

***

“Sir Rodrigo!” Once Rodrigo reached the front door, I shouted for him and entered the scene.

Five Kartinas surrounded Rodrigo and his two knights. As I witnessed the way Rodrigo’s smile didn’t falter, even at knifepoint, I felt like my worries had been wasted.

“Estella.” His voice was soothing and kind. It was enough to shake all the Kartinas who were present.

“Everyone, stop!” I pretended to be agitated. And then I pushed aside Stefan, shocked at my tone, and ran toward Rodrigo. To create a dramatic scene.

As I pushed off the ground and jumped, he opened his arms wide and caught me in an embrace. A puff of dirt and dust came off his clothes. Holding back a cough, I hugged him as tightly as I could—as if reprimanding him for all the commotion.

“Estella, that man is…” Stefan trailed off, staring at me clinging to Rodrigo.

Hela and my siblings had a similar reaction. As if they were facing death, they were as pale as a sheet.

Rodrigo snickered as he hugged me back. He must have found the Kartina’s reaction amusing. He lifted his hand and stroked my hair for them to see, crooning, “I missed you, Estella.” A cringeworthy line for good measure.

I could practically hear everyone’s hearts sinking all the way down to their feet. When I lifted my head slightly, I caught sight of their devastated faces. Due to the sudden heavy atmosphere, the Kartina servants found themselves tiptoeing around, unable to approach.

A moment of silence hung heavy in the air. Rodrigo’s two men eyed their surroundings during the deathly hush. Another battle had begun, a silent, invisible one.

I had witnessed the Kartinas commit countless evils, but I had never been afraid of them. But the frigid glares of the Kartinas, sharp and cold like ice, at this very moment were a little, no, a great bit frightening.

Amidst the razor-sharp edges of the Kartinas’ glares, the eerie silence continued. I guess I’m the only one who can break this silence.

“Sir Rodrigo,” I said, startling the others out of their quiet. “Thank you for coming.”

“No, Estella. You agreed to call me Rodrigo.”

I lifted my head, still in his embrace. That’s some first-rate acting. This is someone who will go from zero to a hundred in a heartbeat.

Meeting my eyes, Rodrigo let out a chuckle. It was a sound that made my heart flutter just a bit. Aha, I see. We’re going all out, aren’t we?

I immediately understood what Rodrigo was trying to do. I pushed away from his chest with both hands. His jacket had been cut up during the battle, and the only thing separating me and Rodrigo was a thin shirt. Rodrigo’s heartbeat was rapid, probably still fueled by adrenaline because of the fight.

“All right, Rodrigo. Since you’re here, I want to properly introduce you to my parents.” I stepped out of his embrace and slipped my hand into his.

Hela and the rest of my family were staring at me as if the world had ended. The question on all of their minds was clear: Are you two really dating?!

***

“I’m impressed by your hospitality.” Rodrigo wasn’t just sweet-talking. We were seated in the reception room, and he and I sat next to each other while Stefan and Hela sat facing us. Hela and Stefan seemed to have forgotten the commotion moments ago and were calling for the butler to prepare something for our guest with all the grace of a generous host.

Soon, a line of servants entered the room, bringing in refreshments, tea, and other drinks. A tower of macarons took up a corner of the large coffee table, alongside a valley of chocolate, various floral teas, and fresh fruit. If it weren’t for their tattered, battle-worn clothes, it would have looked like a perfect tea party.

“Since you have entered the premises, we might as well treat you well before we decide to kick you out. Isn’t that right, Your Grace?” Stefan addressed Rodrigo politely to prevent him from nitpicking his words. It was Stefan’s way of showing he wasn’t letting his guard down.

“Go ahead. The tea is getting cold.” Hela said as she pushed the teacup toward Rodrigo, her long sleeve briefly brushed over it.

I was certain. She poisoned it.

But Rodrigo seemed to suspect nothing as he reached out to take the offered tea. I realized why Rodrigo was always in danger. He was careless enough to drink the tea offered to him by his enemies. If he’s that trusting, it seems like it won’t be easy to protect him.

Under the table, I lightly kicked Rodrigo’s foot.

Rodrigo turned his head toward me. Smiling brightly, I wiggled my eyebrows. That tea you’re about to drink is poisoned! I glared at him. The Rodrigo who stroked my hair for everyone to see by the front door should be able to understand.

“What is it, Estella? You want me to hurry up and try the tea?”

Despite my signal, Rodrigo simply smiled and willingly lifted his teacup. For a moment, I was in despair. He’s so clueless.

There was definitely poison in Rodrigo’s tea. If I knew what kind of poison it was, I wouldn’t be so anxious about him drinking it since I could just give him an antidote. But I had no idea what poison Hela had added to the tea. It would take too long to find the right antidote, which meant that there would be lingering effects even after the poison was neutralized.

The Kartinas were digging their own graves.

I sent Rodrigo another pleading look, trying to dissuade him from drinking it, but he simply gave me an odd smile.

“Thank you, Countess Hela.” The teacup reached Rodrigo’s mouth. His scarlet lips parted.

Without hesitation, I threw myself at Rodrigo’s side. “Rodrigo, it’s been so long! What have you been doing all this time without me?”

His hand swayed. Rodrigo moved his hand away from me so that the tea spilling from the teacup wouldn’t reach me. Rodrigo’s eyes crinkled.

***

Rodrigo knew his tea was poisoned. How could he not, when Estella was clearly panicking? The reason he had tried to drink the tea anyway was because he wanted to see what Estella would do, and most of all…

“E—Estella, did you just hug that bastard?”

“Estella…”

He wanted to see how the Kartinas would react. It was amusing to watch the Kartinas rendered speechless as they looked at their daughter in despair.

“Oh my! I nearly forgot. I said I would introduce you formally to my parents.”

Estella plucked the teacup out of Rodrigo’s hand and placed it on the table. Acting as if she hadn’t just thrown herself at him like a woman desperately in love, Estella straightened herself like a modest noblewoman and scooted a respectable distance away from him.

How amusing.

Rodrigo made great effort to suppress his smile and readied himself to play along. “I’ve been busy, Estella. Things got hectic when the eastern wing of the manor was blown up.”

Estella’s gaze quivered at the mention of an explosion. She knew it wasn’t simply an accident and that the Kartinas were behind it. Estella looked over at Hela and Stefan reproachfully. They avoided her gaze.

Of course. Estella let out a small sigh. “Mom, Dad, everyone.”

When Estella addressed them with a stony expression, the Kartinas tensed up. Estella was always smiling—except on very rare occasions when she was absolutely furious. That was why the Kartinas were nervous. Our darling Estella is scary when she’s angry.

“This is the man I love.”

At Estella’s firm tone, Stefan and Hela’s expressions were doused in despair. Her siblings reacted in much the same way. And that despair soon turned to fury directed at Rodrigo. That goddamned Erhart seduced our innocent Estella! Five pairs of blazing eyes glared daggers at Rodrigo.

Rodrigo remained silent, smiling.

Ada and Ayla fumed. That’s not the right attitude for someone who wants to court our precious Estella!