Doctor Resignation

“I feel good strolling across the garden after a long time.” 

The Duchess said with a satisfied expression.

“I’m glad to hear that.” 

I smiled as I replied.

‘I think this is kind of weird.’

Today, I had dinner with Erhan and the Duchess.

During the meal, Erhan seemed to have regained his appetite even though he was still struggling.

I said that it would be better if he moved more after taking his meals, and suggested that we can take a stroll to the greenhouse.

The two of them agreed.

Naturally, I thought the Duchess would be standing in the middle between me and Erhan. But, they both stood next to me as we were walking while holding hands.

I was trapped in the middle whereas the Duchess and Erhan held my hands firmly from both sides.

“Erhan, do you mind if I ask you about your outing with Frederick?” asked Duchess.

“We rode horses together this afternoon.”

“Horse riding?”

“Yes, Zikel taught me how to ride a horse.”

“I see.”

The Duchess nodded in surprise. 

“And I won.”

Erhan added as I looked down at the small boy overwhelmed with emotion.

I was quite happy to hear about his achievement in defeating Frederick.

If he gains more experience, he won’t be swayed by Frederick’s words. 

“Good job,” I said so and smiled at him gently. “I wish I had seen it.”

“Yes, I also want to show you that I won.”

“Even if you don’t win, I will always support you.”

Erhan’s proud expression was cute and made me smile softly. 

“Still, it’s a pity that I didn’t see your victory.”

“Then you can cheer for me next time.”

“Next time, I will only support you, Master Erhan.”

“I look forward to it.”

Erhan grinned and his eyes looked like crescent moons.

At that moment, the magic communication ring on my finger suddenly sparkled.

That’s from Diel.

Erhan squinted his eyes at my left hand. 

“What’s this?”

“Oh…… Shall we go to the greenhouse now? We just have to turn around the corner right there.”

I led the two in a rush manner.

There was no light in the greenhouse. But again, the greenhouse door that was supposed to be locked was surprisingly unlocked.

“Huh…..? Why is the door open? It would still be bright if Diel was in there.”

“The door opened?” 

The Duchess frowned. 

We ran into the greenhouse and I immediately lit up the light using magic and shouted loudly.

“Who are you?!” 

I heard a bunch of Cipuz fall on the floor. A woman in the maid’s uniform was shaking when she heard that she was busted. Behind me, the Duchess and Erhan seem to be confused about the maid’s sudden appearance.

Indeed, there was no way that Baron Ishid and Frederick would steal the plants by themselves.

I didn’t think that it could be this easier to catch the culprits’ acquaintance.

I don’t really know what they were planning.

“Are you trying to steal my beloved Cipuz plants?” I raised my voice dramatically.

“Oh, n-no, no……”

The maid was clearly nervous, her eyes shaking violently from the pressure.

“It’s….., it’s D-Diel’s request, Miss–”

“I never asked you to do that,” Diel shouted.

Diel crawled out from the pile of fertilizer baggage, putting his hands on his waist. He did a tremendous job of doing what he was asked to do.

The maid kneeling in front of me just clenched her trembling hands.

I spoke with my arms crossed, with the Duchess and Erhan looking at the scene in disbelief.

“The Cipuz does have a unique scent and it diminishes naturally at night. You aware of it, right?”

“M-Miss Lise, I just wanted to try it–”

“Try it? It tastes the same as a melon. Cipuz is not a particularly famous fruit. Though it’s hard to get it because there’s no demand in the market.” 

“Well, that’s……” 

“Cipuz’s strong scent specially neutralized the unpleasant smells of hippie flower.”

I turned my eyes to the Duchess as I continued.

“……Hippie flower can cause addiction for a long period. The symptoms if one’s consumed this poison should be a headache, blood clots, and stomach aches. You do know that right?”

The Duchess flinched.

She was the only one here who could relate to these symptoms. Diel and Erhan who were not aware of her condition remain silent.

I walked to her slowly as I raised the maid’s chin.

“At my request….., all the seafood in the kitchen was cleaned. You’re in trouble because there’s no suitable food to hide that bad smell. But….., you have to give poison regularly. ”

Tears welled up in the maid’s eyes. She doesn’t seem like a great spy.

“But the fruit you were planning to steal, suddenly appeared in this greenhouse……, and you really need it.”

“M-Miss, this……”

“There’s no way ‘he’ doesn’t know that this place is filled with the smell of Cipuz.”

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry! I don’t know anything! Really, I just did as I was told.”

The maid fell on the floor in contemplation. 

“Lise, how……” 

When Erhan blinked and asked, I held Diel’s hand and showed him the magic communication ring that was twinkling with light.

“Actually, it was all a trap. I planned it with Diel with this magic ring.” 

This is the end of my role. 

I glanced at the Duchess. 

“Erhan.” 

The Duchess spoke coldly. Anyone can feel the pressure being emitted by this so-called ice madam.

“Call Lord Joaquin. I’ll have to ask him myself.” 

As I expected, the Duchess wanted to keep her sickness a secret.

There was no way to know when she wanted to disclose her symptoms.

The Duchess seemed to have decided that there was no need to create an uproar inside the territory when Erhan’s chronic disease was still unknown. 

Besides, the culprit was a maid working as the Duchess’ attendees…… This is a serious security problem.

“Well, please do not worry, madam.”

I quietly held her trembling hand. 

She looked at me with her damping eyes as she suddenly hugged me. 

“Thank you, Lise.” 

She whispered in a shaking tone. It was completely different from her cold voice a moment ago.

“I will interrogate her in person.”

I raised my little hand and patted her on the back.

***

That night, I came to see Diel.

“The maid bit her tongue as soon as torture began.” 

“Really?” 

I asked back calmly, as I kept on reading my book and relaxed inside the lab.

I didn’t think that everything would be solved this easily anyway. However, it was somehow a success that the Duchess would be alerted because someone was aiming for her life.

‘They’ve been destroying her until she passes away.’

Trying not to be disappointed, I made up my mind. 

‘Of course, it couldn’t be this easy.’ 

A maid who had served the Duchess for a long time could have not sided with Baron Ishid.

He must have planned to threaten the maid, for example, her family’s life.

“She came in four years ago and the person who wrote her recommendation letter has already left the Duchy. She’s a kitchen worker and lied about her origin.”

“So, who wrote her recommendation letter?” 

“At that time, it was Perelman’s former assistant.” 

I closed my book.

Perelman’s assistants were famous for not holding onto the job for less than ten days. In other words, it was a perfect scene for outsiders to come and go without any doubt.

‘Then I’ll be in danger if I’m still here.’ 

Now I had to worry about my safety. 

“Lise.” 

Diel stared at me with his sparkling blue eyes. 

“I don’t know the details, but have you thought about something?” 

“Yes.” 

“I don’t know if it’s actually the Cipuz scent or the Hippie flower, but….., this is going according to your plan, right? “

“Of course. It’s all medical knowledge anyway, so naturally, the general public doesn’t know.” 

“If Baron Ishid was there, would he be able to explain it in more detail?” 

“Excuse me, what?” 

“Oh, Baron Ishid is not a doctor, but he has a lot of knowledge in that area.” 

I’ve never heard of this before. 

As expected, he couldn’t plan so thoroughly without having any knowledge about herbs, but I can’t believe he was the person who was involved in the herbal areas.

“He was the one who helped Perelman’s wife in giving birth.”

“Huh?” 

“His wife gave birth after seven months of pregnancy on Baron Ishid’s estate, so Perelman doesn’t even know his daughter’s face. The only thing he knows is that she has bright blonde hair and a pair of green eyes, just like his wife.”

“I see.” 

“That’s why he’s been searching for all thirteen-year-old girls who are blonde and have green eyes on the continent.” 

I wasn’t interested in it, but now all the puzzles were being put together. 

Baron Ishid was more vicious and well-planned than I thought. A man who destroyed his own sister and nephew for a very long time and blew up this land.

“Lise, you were a little cool today.”

“Sure, if that’s what you said.”

I replied insincerely. 

“If you’re smart, then this is nearly nothing.”

“Well, obviously.”

“But everything was easy thanks to you. Thank you for your hard work.”

“What?”

Diel smiled proudly. 

“If you have anything to do- no, if you have anything to ask, just let me know.”

“After Perelman left, you complained about your position.”

“Well, that’s……”

Diel said with a serious expression on his face. 

“I feel more proud after listening to your order. There’s an after-effect.”

“That’s a good thing.”

Diel seemed to be going to be obedient about everything I will ask in the future. 

“By the way, there was someone else who had a rather thrilling and vicious stare.” Diel continued with a distant expression. “It would have been the same but I couldn’t understand, Master Erhan was looking at you with his eyes sparkling.”

“Oh, really?”

“He must have thought you were cool.”

Well, maybe that’s it. I shrugged my shoulders not paying much attention to Diel’s words.

“Perhaps.”