[Matthias]

Afte receiving the order from the King to continue watching Elmer-sama, I went back to the Green Water Palace.

I entered my private quarters to change my clothes before meeting Elmer-sama.

I always think whenever I enter this room.

There is no great difference between my room and that of the prince’s, what kind of situation is this? I don’t dislike this room particularly, but this room isn’t appropriate for someone of a high social status to live in.

“Matthias-sama.”

I heard Ieden’s voice from above.

“What’s the matter? I told you to watch the Prince’s room. And yet…”

“Please forgive me. This Ieden wasn’t able to accomplish the mission.”

“What?!”

My hand slipped, and the three b.u.t.tons left wasn’t properly secured.

Just now, Ieden said what…?

“Report. As soon as the orders were received, I immediately went to the ceiling of the Prince’s private quarters. The room’s state was the same just as Matthias-sama left, and just as I was holding my breath on my position above the ceiling, the Prince suddenly fixed his gaze at the lower left corner where I was and his mouth moved. At the beginning, I thought I was just imagining it but I judged that he really noticed when our eyes met directly. I withdrew since continuing the mission was deemed impossible.”

Did you relaxed yourself just because it’s a baby, I stopped myself from asking this. I know that Ieden will never do something like that.

“Did the Prince really notice you?”

I can’t believe it. Elmer-sama noticed a Shadow. No, the reason must not be because it was Elmer-sama. If a Shadow erased their presence, even I won’t be able to tell.

“Even I thought that it must be just a misunderstanding in the beginning, however those eyes and that facial expression… They were the eyes of a predator’s when they found their prey. With all due respect, I’m not bragging my abilities but I have survived dangerous situations countless times. However, in that instant my body was miserably restrained with fear.”

I was not able to say anything anymore. After I told Ieden to take a rest today, I entered Elmer-sama‘s room.

Elmer-sama was already sleeping. I quietly got near. He hasn’t changed at all. Though I don’t doubt him, I can’t help but wonder if Ieden’s report isn’t actually true.

Nn?

There was nothing strange with the Prince, but there is something I’m not used to seeing on the bed. When I lifted the thing near the pillow quietly as to not wake him up, it turned out to be a nursing bottle.

Nursing bottle…

I opened the lid and look at its contents.

At that moment, my eyes narrowed slightly.

“Ieden.”

I called once again for Shadow in a low volume.

“Right here.”

The Shadow I told to rest for today was near as I expected.

“This is an order. Find the culprit. I don’t care how many Shadows you use. You have two days.”

The voice that held no emotions and can be said to be almost cruel resounded in the room. The prince didn’t wake up from this voice.

“As you will.”

The next day.

“This is the truth?”

Inside a room in the royal palace, a young man and two middle-aged men sat opposite each other.

“That is right. They waited until I was out, and then they placed this.”

Matthias placed the nursing bottle made of opaque material on the desk with a thump.

“The contents?”

The King who hasn’t uttered anything yet, asked.

“A large amount of Elfarren was detected in the milk that Elmer-sama usually drinks. I got someone from the Royal Palace’s Medicinal Department to confirm it, so it’s certainly the case.”

“Elfarren!”

Matthias’ father gasped. The King said nothing, but he seemed to be surprised.

Of course, it’s natural.

Elfarren… it’s unknown to the public, but it’s a deadly poison manufactured from a certain plant. It boasts a strong level of toxicity that can’t be compared to others, but it is said to be unsuitable for a.s.sa.s.sination due to its unique smell.

That’s why it was added to milk this time. It was placed in a nursing bottle that carefully hid its smell.

A teaspoon is enough destroy an average adult’s internal organs in just several seconds, and eventually kill after a few minutes. Such a poison was given to an infant. This case isn’t merely meant to be a threat. Simply, it only indicates that the main objective was to kill.

“Right now, search for the culprit.”

Calling out his aide, the King stood up.

“That is not necessary. The perpetrator, and the mastermind. I have already found out everything.”

Matthias answered while fixing his gaze at the baby bottle.

“Even so, the incident was just yesterday..!?”

Cristobal, Matthias’ father, who was the only one showing surprise since a while ago displayed an even more surprised expression.

Showing this much surprise, is he going to be alright? The King who originally saw Cristobal as a weak-minded person worried a little.

“Right. It was one of Elmer-sama‘s maid who gave the poisoned milk. She is someone who pledged her life to the Head of the Baraash House. The Baraash House – I think you are already aware of this, but he is a new aristocrat who has been trying to expand his power recently.”

“Because the daughter of the Head of Baraash House, who had receive the favor of His Majesty among his harem, judged that the day His Majesty would be unable to have another child is near, she planned to kill off the Prince in order for her child to succeed the throne.”

“Moreover the other maid was also discovered to be under a n.o.ble’s support. As of now, there has not been any action taken as I judged to report this matter about the Prince first.”

“You fool!”

The King spitted out these words. Turning their fangs against the royal family, such a thing was absolutely unforgivable.

“Thereupon Matthias, I expect this from you.”

— Report everything after you have investigated thoroughly.

Cristobal wanted to say something, but the King’s pointed gaze shot at his direction stopped him from doing so.

The weak-kneed father, and the son in front of him. Are these two people really father and son?

Matthias raised his eyes from the nursing bottle.

“They will be handed their judgement.”

Almerti Kingdom’s n.o.ble and Head of the Baraash House died in an accident of an unknown cause.

Additionally, two of the Third Prince’s maids burned to death.

“Good morning.”

Matthias opened the window today, too. The garden could be seen.

He discovered the unbosoming tiny flower from the other day now blooming.

Until the end, the King never questioned whether the Prince was safe or not.

If he did not leave to report, would the nursing bottle never fall into the Prince’s hand? Matthias wondered.

Matthias recalled. Certainly, he didn’t report anything about it. The Prince is fine. However, there were traces that the volume inside the nursing bottle decreased.

Why didn’t anything unusual happened to the Prince?

He doesn’t know.

Why was the Prince who took the poison beyond the lethal dose alive?

What was the reason?

Why did Elmer wake up like the usual?

He himself does not know.