I Need to Raise My Younger Sister Right

Chapter 5

After examining Rachel’s body for a long while, Luman put down his medical device. “Everything seems normal.”

Despite her worries, Rachel let out a sigh of relief at the anticlimactic results. There was nothing wrong with her body.

“Wait. Then what was the drug that I’ve been taking so far?”

Judging by Abigail’s personality, there was no way she would have given her something that was good for her body…

Luman answered with a quivering voice, suppressing a rush of anger. “Your Grace, by chance, have you ever heard of Pierrot’s Grass?”

“I haven’t. What is that?”

“It is a poison that cannot be cured even with divine powers. Ingesting this poison is said to kill your soul and can prevent you from reincarnating.”

“And she fed such a terrible thing to me?”

“Lord Lanton informed me that you might’ve been taking it for the past six months…” Luman tilted his head, unable to understand.

It was difficult even for an experienced doctor or priest to identify the symptoms of an addiction to Pierrot’s Grass. The symptoms were difficult to distinguish from the symptoms of alcoholism.

There was only one clear difference.

Those who took this drug for more than a half year were no longer able to speak in full sentences.

But in the duchess’s current state, her pupils were clear, and she spoke fluently.

“This is a poison controlled by the imperial family. If I hadn’t been exposed to it before, I wouldn’t have recognized the symptoms even if Lord Lanton told me about them.”

How strange.

If the imperial family directly controlled this poison, that meant that it was unobtainable even with money.

She had to find out how Abigail was able to get her hands on such a thing.

The crease that had formed in her brow deepened.

Aside from that…

“How is it that I’m perfectly fine even after taking such a thing?”

“As far as I know, there are only two cases in which people have been fine after ingesting such poison.”

“Two cases?”

“The person addicted to this poison was either a saintess who was blessed by god, or…”

There’s no chance that this body is that of a saintess, so pass on that.

“Or?”

“A mage who has awakened very special powers.”

Magic existed in this realm. It was an innate ability awakened by those who were chosen rather than something acquired through training. There was a one-in-a-million chance for someone to be born with such an ability, and those who were chosen were called mages.

“According to history, there’s only ever been one mage who awakened that particular ability.”

Those who awoke their abilities were able to naturally use their unique attribute magic as easily as breathing air.

My favorite character Liz’s unique attribute was water.

But to say that I am a mage who has awakened such a special ability...?

“I’m not sure. I’m not entirely sure what you’re talking about, but I don’t think it applies to me. I can’t even feel any magical powers flowing inside me.”

Luman quietly looked into Rachel’s eyes.

The duchess appearing before him was someone completely different from the Rachel in his memories. A young heir who was never able to unleash herself from under her domineering and aristocratic parents… Naturally quiet and introverted, Rachel was often seen as unfit to be an heir.

Yet, the current duchess was…

It’s said to be a poison that kills the soul. Has her personality changed because of that?

Unlike before, her eyes were clear, and her speech was eloquent.

“Not much is known about this poison, and so there are many things that even I don’t know. It’s possible that you only recently began to take this poison, so it would be best to check your condition periodically.”

“Indeed. I understand. Anyway, thank you for coming back.”

“I’m just grateful that I can still be of use.”

Despite having devoted half of his life to House Agnus, he had been kicked out for unknown reasons. He had deeply resented and missed this place which was basically his home.

A bitter smile briefly settled onto his lips.

“You must have had a difficult journey coming all the way here. You should go get some rest. I’ll call for you when I’m in need of your assistance.”

“Yes. Then I shall take my leave now. If you’re facing any problems, please call for me anytime.”

“All right. I will.”

She waited for Luman to take his leave before asking herself, “What’s going on...?”

The symptoms of Pierrot’s Grass were similar to the symptoms experienced by the former Rachel before the transmigration.

Yet her body was suddenly fine after the transmigration?

A poison that kills the soul…

She was lost deep in thought until Ann came in.

“Your Grace, may I come in?”

“Huh? Yes, you may.”

Ann, whose expression looked brighter than before, placed a bundle of mail on top of the table.

“These are a selection of the most important letters we’ve received addressed to you, and these ones are the mail we just received.”

“Hmm?”

It was an elegant-looking envelope embossed with a fancy pattern. The symbol of the Castor Empire was clearly engraved into the wax seal.

“It’s a letter from the imperial family.”

The current emperor was Georgio Von Castor. As the uncle of the male lead, he would eventually be apprehended as the male lead ascended to the throne.

Pierrot’s Grass was said to be controlled by the imperial family, right?

Feeling uneasy, she opened it with her letter knife.

“Hmm?”

Grand Duke Theo Von Lexerville… It was an imperial invitation to attend a party commemorating his victory.

***

In the underground prison of the Agnus Estate, a very haggard-looking Abigail leaned against the damp wall.

It seemed as though the smell of mold and sewage with every breath she took was telling her that her life was over.

“This is all because of you! If you hadn’t done something so foolish, we wouldn’t be locked up like this!” Tayle, who was locked up in the cell next door, blamed Abigail with an anger-filled voice.

“This is my fault? Who was the one who followed after me in excitement?”

“Argh! Well, either way, you’d better solve this quickly. I really feel like I’m going to die.”

A hollow laugh hung in Abigail’s mouth. The only thing she could do right now was persuade the duchess.

“What wrong have we done? Damn it!”

The knights who had rallied behind Tayle began to complain.

“Look here! We have absolutely no connection to this matter! Please tell the duchess!”

The officials that had been appointed by offering bribes to Abigail began to plead with the soldiers who were standing guard.

At the very least, I won’t be penalized with death.

Like Tayle, Abigail was also of nobility as the former countess of House Weiber.

If she were a commoner, she could’ve been executed without a trial, but a noble would have to be tried before they were punished.

In other words, Rachel would need evidence that was significant enough to merit a death penalty.

Not many people know about that drug…

If it was brought up during her trial, all she had to do was act clueless.

In fact, there was a strong possibility that she could come out free if she claimed that she was wrongfully imprisoned and had been framed.

The evidence was simple: the duchess was perfectly fine.

But how is it that she’s fine?

No matter how much she thought about it, it didn’t make sense. Just the day prior, Rachel had been drunk on the alcohol that Abigail had given to her, making her unable to think properly.

She had been using it on her for half a year. With that much dosage, her brain should actually have melted a lot sooner. It didn’t make sense that such a person would appear perfectly fine overnight.

Don’t tell me she’s been fooling me this entire time?

But why would she? There was no reason for her to do that over a half year.

Hearing a creak, Abigail quickly raised her head.

Rupert stood in front of the prison bars with a frightening look flashing in his eyes.

“Come out.”

“I-I told you, I have nothing to say, no matter what you ask!”

She was still under the impression that House Agnus was under her control.

Rupert glanced at Abigail apathetically as he said, “Come out. It is Her Grace’s order.”

“I knew it. Her Grace has finally come to realize my loyalty!”

Loyalty?

Rupert smirked to himself, grabbed her by the rope that bound her, and dragged her outside.

“You’ll be moved elsewhere.”

She would be taken to a place where she wouldn’t be able to see the sunlight for a long time. Because according to Her Grace’s order, Abigail was to be managed in complete secrecy, somewhere not even a rat could crawl into.

***

Who was Theo Von Lexerville?

“In short, he’s a madman.”

Upon hearing Marcus’ words, Rachel groaned and planted her face on the table.

The grand dukes of Lexerville had walked the path of fire mages for generations now.

Though the traits of a mage weren’t hereditary, oddly enough, the grand dukes of Lexerville all awakened their fire magic one after another.

People referred to it as the blood curse.

In exchange for awakening their magic, every grand duke was forced to wander the battlefields to quench their thirst for blood before their lives came to an eventual end.

They always lived amidst the dead.

The same went for the current grand duke.

But that man didn’t appear in the novel.

Theo only appeared as a brief mention of bad news when his life ended shortly after the male lead ascended to the throne.

“It probably won’t matter if I don’t attend, right?”

Marcus responded as though her words were utter nonsense. “Your Grace, there is no better chance for you to announce the revival of House Agnus than an imperial party. You know that, don’t you?”

Marcus was right.

Upon becoming the duchess, Rachel had taken a step back from all social activities and secluded herself in her mansion over the past half year.

“There are all sorts of speculations surrounding you in high society. You must use this opportunity to show everyone that you are fine and well.”

“You’re right, but...”

“Is it because you’re concerned about Grand Duke Lexerville? I’m sure you’ll be fine as long as you’re nowhere near him.”

“Ergh.”

Grand Duke Lexerville… Perhaps it was because she knew his ending? For some reason, she felt uneasy with the idea of seeing him.

She recalled Rachel’s memory.

Black hair as dark as the night sky and pitch-black eyes that didn’t reflect anything… All that remained in his eyes was emptiness.

At the memory of his eyes, chills began to run down her forearm.

“Your Grace, you must remain steadfast. It is a hurdle you must cross someday anyway.”

“Right. I suppose it is...”

She let out a deep sigh. She was determined to do anything if it meant that her favorite character could walk down a flower path.

Therefore, even if she didn’t want to, she had to attend the party.

“But Marcus…”

“Yes?”

“Isn’t there something you need to tell me?”

“What do you mean by that?”

“The child.”

“Pardon?”

Watching Marcus tilting his face with a puzzled look at her sudden question, she brought up the name that she had been harboring deep inside her heart.

“Liz. Where is my half-sister currently?”

At her words, Marcus’ eyes began to quiver as if there was an earthquake.

“How did you...?”

Liz Agnus.

The former duke’s illegitimate child and a guarded secret that only a select few knew about.