Chapter 86: Wine Poison

As always, a serene atmosphere lingered in Artasha’s office.

“I’ll be back, Mother.”

I left a light kiss on the lips of my mother, whose elegant beauty remained unchanged today.

“Tina.”

“Pardon?”

“…Never mind. Just come back safely.”

With a gentle smile, my mother softly stroked my head. Leaving her affectionate farewell behind, I stepped out of the office, where the deep, tranquil hallway greeted me with calm.

How long had I walked down that seemingly endless corridor? Suddenly, the sound of soft footsteps approached me from behind.

“Miss.”

It was one of the few loyal maids in this estate who obeyed only my orders, not my mother’s.

She cautiously handed me a letter.

“A reply has arrived from Count Abreldine.”

“My mother doesn’t know about this, does she?”

“No, I waited until dawn to slip it out unnoticed.”

“Well done.”

As I tucked the letter into my chest, I handed her a gold coin and another letter.

“Deliver this letter to Count Abreldine tonight at 8 o’clock.”

“Another letter?”

“Yes. And this time, make sure you’re not caught.”

For a brief moment, a flicker of doubt crossed her eyes, but she silently nodded. I smiled, placing another gold coin into her hand.

“You do understand, don’t you? If you’re caught, it won’t end with just your head.”

“I—I understand, Miss.”

Satisfied, I smiled.

I had specifically requested my mother to assign me a maid with strong familial bonds.

After all, nothing secures loyalty better than valuable collateral.

This nameless maid, who had a mother and two younger brothers to support, would never dare defy my orders, even in the face of death.

Truly a wretched fate.

“May you be born as a noble in your next life.”

With a peculiar sense of pity, I continued walking alone down the corridor. Humming a tune, I took out the letter from Count Abreldine and began to read it.

***

Harmonious instrumental music resonated throughout the grand ballroom. In stark contrast, Mardian’s heart burned with an unshakable tension like a hidden ember.

‘Set aside your worries. The plan is flawless.’

Harming the Saintess was tantamount to provoking the royal family. Mardian had therefore spent a great deal of time preparing meticulously.

Every trace of her involvement had been erased, leaving no evidence behind.

The Abreldine family, outwardly noble, was inextricably linked to the underworld behind the scenes.

The actual arrangements were carried out by mercenaries from the underworld, and she had even received confirmation two nights ago that the alchemist who had concocted the poison had been eliminated.

The servant who would slip the poison into the Saintess’s wine was also a skilled operative disguised as a servant, hired through the underworld guild.

Even if something went wrong, the guild had assured her of their silence regarding her identity.

Moreover, Mardian had carefully crafted an impeccable alibi over several days of active socializing, ensuring there would be no loose ends.

Her only lingering concern was one thing: the effectiveness of the poison.

Would the poison she had prepared work on the Saintess?

The Saintess was a miraculous being capable of reviving severed limbs.

Not only could she heal severe wounds, but even deadly poisons were rendered harmless in the face of her divine power.

She had spent weeks pondering this single question, grappling with profound uncertainty.

Ironically, it was her beloved Tina who had provided the solution.

[I happened to find this in a book… Could you take a look at it?]

What Tina handed her was a book containing forbidden knowledge about black magic, banned in the Empire.

It sparked faint memories from her past religious studies—knowledge she had deemed useless and forgotten.

But as she read the book, fragments of those forgotten lessons resurfaced one by one.

The blood of a corrupted dark mage was antithetical to divine power.

If a being overflowing with divine power were to ingest the refined blood of a dark mage, the tainted blood would gradually corrode their divine essence from within.

Of course, someone as overwhelmingly powerful as the Saintess might purify the tainted blood. However, if combined with a lethal poison, the outcome could be entirely different.

A poison concocted by blending highly concentrated blood of a dark mage—a substance so lethal that even drinking a small amount could be fatal.

It was a mixture prepared solely for the saint, a poison designed exclusively for her.

Even an accomplished alchemist had vouched for its potency.

They claimed that, even for the saint, nine out of ten would meet their end upon consuming the poison. And should she miraculously survive, the divine power within her body would be completely eradicated.

‘Tina is more meticulous than I thought.’

While she couldn’t quite understand why Tina harbored such intense hatred toward the saint, she decided not to dwell on it.

After all, once this matter was resolved, Tina would belong entirely to her.

She planned to turn her into a dependent, living slave and then simply ask her directly.

Her mind, already consumed by sinister desires toward Tina, refused to entertain any troublesome thoughts.

The real issue, however, was that obtaining dark m’s blood seemed impossible.

Dark mages, who sacrificed countless humans and made pacts with evil gods, were rare to begin with. Even among them, finding one willing to offer their blood was an even greater challenge.

Moreover, locating such individuals was no easy feat, given their shadowy and devious nature.

Even if one managed to find them, dealing with them presented significant risks.

Yet, as if the heavens had intervened, a miraculous opportunity presented itself.

One day, at an anonymous underground auction, refined dark mage’s blood appeared as a lot.

The anonymity ensured there was no risk of exposure, and because the use of the blood was unclear to most, she was able to acquire it at an affordable price.

Everything had aligned perfectly.

‘The heavens must also want Tina to be my gift.’

Mardian sipped lightly from the wine glass in her hand and shifted her gaze across the hall.

In her line of sight, the saint appeared, wearing a gentle smile as she conversed among the young noblewomen.

Though she seemed engaged in their conversation, her gaze occasionally drifted toward Tina, who sat some distance away.

Tina, seemingly aware of the saint’s glances, looked visibly uncomfortable, seeking refuge among the noblewomen of the Versha faction.

‘The saint’s interest in Tina is evident.’

Little did she realize that her curiosity would cost her her life.

Mardian drained the remaining wine in a single gulp and silently placed the glass on the table.

It was the prearranged signal.

The moment the wine glass touched the table, a man in a neatly tailored suit approached the saint, carrying a tray laden with various drinks.

The parched noblewomen summoned the attendant to pour wine, and he skillfully filled their glasses.

When the noblewomen encouraged the saint to join them for a toast, she requested a glass of wine.

The attendant politely poured wine into her glass.

In that fleeting moment, a small bead, concealed in the attendant’s sleeve, slipped into the saint’s wine glass.

The motion was so subtle that even Mardian, who was watching intently, barely noticed it. The attendant was undoubtedly experienced in such tasks.

The saint raised her glass without suspicion, clinking it with the noblewomen’s, and brought the rim of the glass to her lips.

As Mardian confirmed the sight of the crimson wine touching her lips, she averted her gaze, feigning casual conversation with other nobles to pass the time inconspicuously.

Not long after, the incident occurred.

.

.

“Aaaah!”

A sharp scream pierced the air in the center of the hall.

The sound was so jarring that it instantly drew everyone’s attention to its source.

At the scene stood the saint.

Her soft pink eyes trembled with unease, and her face was pale, almost ghostly white. Dark red blood trickled from her lips.

“Cough.”

A short cough escaped her before she collapsed onto the floor. Her vitality visibly ebbed from her body.

As blood poured from the saint’s lips, chaos erupted in the banquet hall.

Mardian quickly turned her gaze to assess the situation. The perpetrator who had injected the poison had already disappeared. By now, they were probably riding a horse, racing beyond the empire’s borders.

Guards hurriedly rushed to the Saintess’s side, while nobles, faces stricken with terror, began to flee the banquet hall.

It was the very scene of an attempted assassination of the Saintess. In such a scenario, even a coup wouldn’t seem out of place, and chaos enveloped everyone.

In the distance, Tina could be seen leaving with other young ladies, her face pale with fear.

‘Heh, Tina has quite the knack for acting.’

Mardian thought with a sly smile. The idea of grooming Tina into a personal slave and useful subordinate seemed increasingly appealing.

As she moved with the young ladies to exit the hall, she observed her surroundings. Due to the gravity of the situation, knights had already begun to gather at the main entrance.

However, there were still far too few of them to control the scene effectively.

Since the banquet wasn’t hosted by the royal family, there would be some time before a formal royal decree could be issued.

Mardian casually exited through the front gate of the banquet and boarded her family’s carriage.

“To the estate.”

At her words, the carriage began to move slowly, leaving the scene of tragedy behind.

On the surface, she appeared calm, but her fingertips were beginning to tremble slightly.

She had dealt with countless people before, but never had she been this tense.

‘It’s over now.’

All evidence had been meticulously erased, leaving no trace of her involvement.

Even if the Saintess miraculously survived, the black magic tainting her blood would completely consume her divine power. There would be no miraculous recovery for her.

As she tapped the carriage window to steady herself, the vehicle arrived at the Abreldine Count’s estate. Mardian stepped down from the carriage under the guidance of a waiting knight and gave a concise order.

“I’ll be heading to Baron Blanc’s estate tomorrow morning. Make the preparations.”

“Yes, my lady.”

There was no longer any reason for restraint.

She would confine Tina to her room as soon as possible. From that moment on, any food or water Tina consumed would pass only through her hands, and all her basic needs would be addressed under her supervision.

She intended to break Tina’s spirit by exploiting her shame, molding her into a loyal and obedient pet who would wag her tail only for her.

Mardian’s lips curled into a chilling smile as she imagined what Tina would look like as her possession.

‘Master… Let me serve you…’

As she pictured Tina’s tearful eyes and imagined her licking her hidden crevices, a heat began to stir in her lower abdomen.

Wiping her lips, she approached the estate’s front door, which opened to reveal someone waiting for her.

“…Father?”

It was the head of the Abreldine family, her father—a man wielding immense power both in the shadows and the light. His face was contorted with rage as he strode toward her, his voice icy and commanding.

“Follow me.”

“What?”

The murderous intent in his voice sent shivers down her spine. Though she had a terrible foreboding, one could not refuse the head of the family. Silently, Mardian followed him into his study.

Slap!

A sharp sound rang out as pain blossomed across her cheek. Her head snapped to the side, and when she looked up, her father’s hand was still raised, his face red with anger.

“Speak clearly, Mardian.”

His voice trembled for the first time. The man who had never flinched at even the most heinous acts now looked as if he were gripped by fear.

“Did you poison the Saintess?”

Her chest tightened with icy dread.

“H-how did you…”

“This wretched woman!”

The family head’s hand struck Mardian’s cheek once again, a sharp blow that sent her crumpling to the ground from the searing pain, as if her flesh had been torn apart.

“You dare act above your station and provoke an enemy you can’t even begin to contend with?”

His roar echoed like it was tearing through her eardrums, but Mardian’s mind was too overwhelmed to even process his words.

‘How did Father find out?’

What had she missed?

She had been meticulous in covering her tracks, paying close attention to leave no trace. No matter how hard she tried to recall, there was no mistake in her memory.

The shadow guild she had hired operated entirely anonymously and had maintained client confidentiality for centuries. There was no reason to believe they would leak this information.

“Foolish girl, to be caught like this and not even know how it happened—pathetic doesn’t even begin to describe it.”

With eyes burning with fury, the family head flung several sheets of paper in front of her. The documents bore elegantly written sentences and were accompanied by photographs.

“These letters arrived an hour ago. They contain all the evidence of what you did. I summoned you immediately, but rumors of the saintess falling victim to poison had already spread across the empire.”

“This… What is this…”

With trembling hands, Mardian picked up the letters scattered before her.

Each letter detailed her every action.

Photographs captured her exchanging poison with an alchemist, followed by the alchemist’s lifeless body.

There were even images of her entering and leaving the shadow guild.

Every detail in the photographs was vividly clear.

“This… This can’t be.”

She couldn’t accept it. No matter how she thought about it, there was no one who could have anticipated her plan to assassinate the saintess and collected such evidence.

She hadn’t shared the plan with anyone.

And yet, someone had meticulously tracked her every move, gathering proof as if they had known all along what she intended to do.

“As much as I want to tear you apart right now, I’ll give you one chance.”

The family head tossed another piece of paper onto the floor, his eyes cold.

“If this poisoning is exposed, our entire count’s family will be doomed. However, this person seems willing to give us an opportunity to atone.”

The paper bore no seal, no emblem, only a single sentence. The family head ground his teeth as he gave his command.

“Go and beg. If you fail to secure their cooperation, I’ll end this with my own hands.”

Mardian froze as she read the words on the paper.

It contained a single, concise sentence.

[Please come alone to the Camillia Gambling Den at 2 a.m., Mardian.]

The handwriting was all too familiar. From the start, the unmistakable charm radiating from those strokes could only belong to one person.

“Tina”

“Y-You…Why?”