The Murderous Duke's Domestic Affairs - Chapter 31

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 31
“Say that again.”
Aster found himself repeating the question without thinking. His hand, which had been brushing back his hair, froze mid-motion. Maili—a servant with medical credentials who had been roused from the brink of sleep—rolled her eyes and glanced sidelong at the master of the Estate. Her green irises had widened considerably; she was genuinely startled.
“Well, from my assessment, it appears the lady may be addicted to some substance….”
“What substance?”
Aster seized upon Maili’s trailing words. He had been the one asking first, and his uncharacteristic urgency caught Maili off guard.
“Your Grace, to determine what substance it is, I would need to conduct a detailed examination. That would require drawing blood….”
As Maili’s voice faded, Aster pressed his forehead and exhaled heavily. Maili’s honey-colored eyes darted about uncertainly. She had obtained her medical credentials out of curiosity and practical necessity, but ultimately she remained a servant of the Duke’s Mansion. No matter how lenient Aster was as a master, if he discovered she had set up a laboratory without his knowledge, it would be grounds for severe punishment.
“Blood? How much?”
“Not a great deal. Roughly this much….”
Maili held up a small vial before Aster’s eyes. He squinted at it, scrutinizing the container intently, before finally nodding after a long moment.
At last, she could use the drug composition analysis kit she had purchased by saving her wages. Though she knew this was hardly the time for such thoughts, Maili felt a flutter of excitement. What else were all those expensive samples for if not for a situation like this? With Aster’s permission granted, she carefully picked up the syringe.
Aster squeezed his eyes shut, unable to bear watching the thick needle pierce Lauren’s pale, delicate skin. Lauren, her face drained of all color and breathing in ragged gasps, showed no signs of improvement whatsoever.
I had thought it was merely the alcohol, but a drug? My clenched fists trembled with mounting force. The pain of my nails digging into my palms was almost a relief. If anything happened to Lauren, I would never forgive myself for having been absent.
“Um….”
Maili spoke to me carefully, her words hesitant. I took a shallow breath and turned my gaze toward her.
“I administered an antipyretic injection to bring down the fever. I’ve also set up an IV to prevent dehydration.”
“When will the test results be ready?”
“You’ll need to wait until tomorrow.”
Maili delivered her words despite her nervousness, which somehow made them more credible. Perhaps it would be better for Maili to remain at Lauren’s side for now. Lauren had been reluctant to summon a military physician, after all. But.
I gazed intently at Lauren lying on the bed. Then, suddenly, I understood what I truly wanted.
To be at her side.
I froze at the realization. Was this merely guilt? For having been away from Lauren too long. For failing to prevent her from drinking that drugged alcohol. For allowing this to happen to her—it was all my fault. No matter what the Emperor said, I should have returned to her sooner.
I couldn’t simply wallow in self-recrimination. I turned my attention to Maili. Right now, the only person I could trust was her, standing before me with her hands clasped. Where did Maili belong again? My thoughts wouldn’t connect. My mind felt frozen.
“You may change your position. From tomorrow onward, stay at Lauren’s side. I’ll inform Calvin.”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
Maili bowed quietly and withdrew. It was perhaps an abrupt reassignment. But what mattered most now was Lauren’s inability to open her eyes in this moment.
I moved to the chair beside the bed. My movements made no sound. By habit, I might have deliberately made noise, but I had no inclination for such things tonight.
My gaze remained fixed on Lauren. From the small bottle suspended above, clear liquid dripped steadily through the tube inserted into her arm.
Perhaps because of her dark hair, her already pale face appeared even more ashen. Like the unforgettable visage of my parents on that day—a day that felt like hell itself. As I drew my hand across my face, it had gone as white as Lauren’s.
I was still being tormented by that memory.
A brief knock pulled me from that terrible phantom. At what could hardly be called a response—a mere groan—the door opened. Calvin approached me without a word and bowed his head.
“Give Maili the position of resident physician at the Duke’s Mansion. Have her guard Lauren’s side from tomorrow onward.”
“Understood.”
Though I had never made demands of the servants before, my loyal Butler simply nodded at my words without question.
Maili’s skills were undeniably excellent. Servants who had difficulty accessing hospitals all sought her out. Her examinations were thorough, and the medicines she prepared and distributed were effective.
From mild cold remedies to painkillers and antipyretics—small but essential things. No matter how secretly Maili conducted her practice, it was natural that her name spread throughout the Estate.
The fact that Maili possessed medical credentials eventually reached me through Calvin. Maili seemed to have worried about reproach or punishment, but I let the matter pass without comment. After that, her clandestine practice evolved into something resembling a proper clinic.
Yet Maili had never become a resident physician. Because I had not wanted changes to the Duke’s Mansion. Maili, understanding the circumstances of the Estate, had expressed no dissatisfaction with that decision.
And now I, who had felt that way, was bringing up the matter of a resident physician. Calvin gazed intently at the master of the Estate, whom he had observed since childhood.
For Aster Veil Lilywood, who wished to maintain this place as it had always been, this personnel change was a surprisingly significant shift. Aster himself seemed acutely aware of it, his head bowed and eyes tightly shut.
He appeared somewhat troubled.
But Calvin Stewart found this change pleasing. The one who had brought about this transformation must be the new mistress of the Estate, lying quietly in bed. The young and beautiful Duchess who had shaken Aster—who had abandoned everything and sought only to maintain the status quo.
Only she could set the Duke’s Mansion in motion again, that place where time itself had stopped. Calvin Stewart quietly observed Aster, who remained steadfast in his vigil, and Lauren, who lay unconscious, then bowed respectfully and slipped out of the room, closing the door softly behind him.
It brought him no joy to witness Aster’s suffering. So he could only hope that Lauren would regain consciousness soon.
Calvin Stewart released a quiet sigh and made his way to Maili’s chambers. He had Aster’s orders to convey.
* * *
Lauren drifted in and out of consciousness. When she opened her eyes in that hazy state, either Aster Veil Lilywood or Maili was always at her side. Aster gazed down at her with a melancholic expression, while Maili connected something to the needle in her arm or wiped her forehead.
I had no idea how long I’d been asleep. The mere fact that I had awakened brought such joy to Maili that I could only surmise considerable time had passed.
I thought I could shake it off and rise quickly, but that wasn’t the case. Fever kept rising, bringing chills. When the pain became so intense that tears streamed down my face without my realizing it, Aster would grow flustered, then grip my hand tightly.
The warmth of that hand felt so comforting that I found myself smiling for reasons I couldn’t explain. Then Aster would lower his head as if he might cry instead.
It was quite some time later before the needle was removed from my arm. After that, my waking hours increased, and I could lean against the headboard and converse with Aster. He bit his lip in silence for a long while before finally asking what had happened on the Glass Palace’s Terrace.
“The Crown Prince… he offered me a drink.”
At my brief answer, Aster’s face darkened considerably. The Crown Prince had a poor reputation, so it was easy to see that Aster disliked him. Yet hearing the Crown Prince’s name seemed to irritate him far more than I would have expected.
“It appears the Crown Prince laced the drink with a drug.”
The way he swept his golden hair back was irritable and jerky. A drug? I couldn’t understand what Aster meant and demanded a fuller explanation. Unlike usual, Aster spoke haltingly, choosing his words with care.
Apparently, Maili had investigated the composition of the drug. And traces of the substance had been confirmed in my blood after I drank it.
I felt as though my mind had been struck by something. Ah, so that was why… Trace Siaz had apparently gone to considerable trouble trying to drag me to my room.
“But I showed no obvious symptoms.”
“You were wearing an artifact.”
“Ah.”
I made a short sound of realization. The necklace I’d worn that day was indeed an artifact said to protect its wearer. Aster had mentioned it, and I’d decided to put it on because of his words. It seemed that necklace had protected me as I’d hoped. Considering that I’d lost consciousness without succumbing to the drug’s effects.
“I suspect my Uncle may have made a deal with the Crown Prince.”
I lowered my head and explained to Aster what had happened that day. How the Crown Prince had proposed that I become his mistress. How I’d drained the drink in one gulp and returned to the Ballroom, only to find Trace Siaz waiting for me.
I heard Aster exhale sharply. Shame and irritation washed over me at having exposed my own weakness.
“If you drink like that, you’ll die, Lauren!”
Rarely did Aster raise his voice. My eyes widened. I’d expected him to be angry at the Crown Prince and Trace’s actions, but Aster was concerned with something else entirely.
“The drink you consumed was incredibly strong to begin with. And then to add a drug on top of that…”
Aster muttered on, pouring out his words. Strong drink or not—I simply watched him with his head bowed. After all, I knew little about such things.
Then suddenly, Aster fell silent and lifted his head. Eyes the color of poisonous plants that grow in shadow met mine for a long moment.
“…I’m sorry, Lauren.”
The words Aster spoke were entirely unexpected to me. What could he possibly have to apologize for? I was the one who’d encountered the Crown Prince, and I was the one who’d decided to drain the drink he offered in one gulp. Yet Aster averted his gaze as though it was difficult even to face me.
“If I had hurried back there sooner, you would never have had to face the Crown Prince…”
Ah. Aster was blaming himself. He thought my taking the Crown Prince’s offered drink was his fault.
There was no need for that. I called out Aster’s name. But my voice was too quiet, and he didn’t lift his head.
“Aster.”
So I spoke a bit louder. Aster’s body flinched. It seemed he expected me to blame him.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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