Chapter 73: Insight

Chapter 73: Insight

“Heup, eut..”

“Hmm? Is there something wrong…?”

“Ah, no. It’s just… I’m feeling a little unwell.”

Scarlett spoke, trying to compose her breathing.

Cold sweat trickled down her forehead, and her cheeks were flushed.

Carson, sitting opposite her and taking out the items for trade, looked concerned.

“I haven’t seen you much lately, I didn’t realize you were sick.”

“Um, hut… I… I’ve been recuperating lately… I’ll be fine soon.”

Carson’s meddling was never welcome, but there was never a day when she wanted him to mind his own business more than today.

Scarlett sighed faintly, feeling she was showing an uncharacteristic and unsightly side.

However, it seemed to Carson like a request for help.

He left his seat for a moment and returned with a steaming cup.

“It’s ginger tea. Drink it down, it’ll do you good.”

“…Thank you.”

She hadn’t asked for something like that.

But she couldn’t refuse it either, so she reluctantly accepted the ginger tea.

After blowing on the hot liquid and taking a sip.

The warmth spread through her body, slightly calming her mood.

It actually works. Scarlett’s eyes widened slightly in surprise.

“Isn’t it quite effective? I make this for my daughters when they’re sick, it’s the best medicine.”

“If you want, I can give you a special discount!” Carson added with a playful expression.

To be selling something even in this situation. As expected of a renowned black market dealer.

In any case, after confirming Scarlett’s condition had stabilized.

He took out the items for trade.

“You sent me a letter urgently this morning, so I’ve carefully selected the highest quality items. Would you like to take a look?”

There was no need to check Carson’s goods, but.

It wouldn’t hurt to be sure. She opened the bag and examined the items.

Inside were a large quantity of sweet-smelling herbs, all mixed together.

The ratio of herbs didn’t matter for making the antidote, so she had asked him to mix them all.

It would be convenient for both making and transporting them.

“They’re all here… Properly. Phew… Thank you.”

Even as she spoke, her insides twitched and trembled.

But she managed to hide it.

Her physical condition was quite poor due to the medicine she took yesterday.

Fortunately, she had a partial antidote left from the remaining ingredients, so she was glad she took it.

Otherwise, she might have leaked arousal fluid from the carriage’s vibrations.

‘I came too much yesterday…’

And there was one more reason for this sensitivity.

It was because she had climaxed too many times at the peak of her arousal, which was extremely heightened by the drug.

The pleasure was unlike anything she had ever experienced.

The thrilling pleasure still lingered on her body.

Making drugs too well could also be a problem.

Thinking so, Scarlett slowly packed the items.

“Phew… This is your share for this transaction. As a reward for getting it to me so quickly, I’ve included a little tip, so please check it.”

“Oh, you shouldn’t have…”

Although her words seemed to decline, her expression was beaming.

There was only one thing that Carson reacted to honestly.

That was money.

With three family members to support, it was even more so.

Carson reacted particularly strongly to talk of money.

“Phew… I should get going now…”

Now that the transaction was over, she wanted to hurry back to the mansion to make the antidote.

As she finished packing her belongings.

“Ah, right. Young Lady. I have something I wanted to ask you for a moment. Do you have time?”

“Something to ask?”

What is it? Was the tip insufficient?

But she quickly dismissed the foolish thought.

He was usually very quiet about the money he received.

“Well, it’s nothing major… I was wondering if your younger sister is still staying only inside the mansion.”

“…Yes. Today, I decided to go out alone. Eut… cough. She’s… resting well at home.”

“Then, please wait a moment.”

Before she could ask what it was, Carson took out a small leather pouch from a nearby drawer.

Scarlett’s nose twitched, and her face stiffened for a moment.

“What… is that?”

“It’s a fruit that’s good for your health. It’s not usually for sale, but I’m giving it to you as a special favor! Please give it to your sister.”

“…Thank you.”

Scarlett nodded and left the room immediately.

Scarlett then boarded the waiting carriage.

“Phew, eut… Euston.”

“You’re here. What is it?”

Euston looked at Scarlett, whose face was slightly flushed, with a hint of worry.

Then he erased the expression.

Such a face in front of his master was disrespectful.

He cleared his throat a couple of times.

And adopted his usual expressionless demeanor.

“Carson… Investigate that person…”

“Investigate? Was there something wrong with the traded items?”

“No. Eut, phew. Before… you know those guys who attacked our Young Lady…”

“Ah, you mean those masked guys, all of whom were dealt with except for one.”

“Yes. This fruit. I’ve smelled it before, from those masked guys…”

At the moment she smelled Cecil’s scent, which she didn’t want to recall.

She had smelled the same scent nearby.

At first, she thought she had smelled it wrong, but her sense of smell was not mistaken.

“Understood. Please give me a few.”

Euston, who responded simply, took a few of the fruits.

The rest were to be taken back to the mansion for further investigation, so he kept them.

Although it was a rather shocking statement, Euston showed no surprise.

Scarlett was used to this. He was rarely surprised by anything.

“I don’t know why he has these fruits…”

Recently, mercenaries had appeared who tried to kidnap Cecil.

And with the King offering a large sum of money, there was no harm in being cautious.

For now, information gathering was the priority. Action would come later.

Even after knowing Carson for two years, Scarlett didn’t trust the time spent on business.

She stared blankly out the rattling carriage window.

Carson’s shop was slowly getting farther away.

Whether she would be able to see this shop continuously in the future, or if she would have to find another trading partner.

“Haa..”

For some reason, she felt that she didn’t want to find another trading partner.

****

Creak-

The door opens. It’s the sound she had been waiting for.

“Young Lady, Young Ladyi..”

Lying on the bed, I called out to Scarlett energetically.

“…S-Sorry. It’s not Scarlett Young Lady… it’s Aileen.”

Standing there was Aileen, with a slightly awkward expression.

Why is Aileen coming into the room?

Did something happen to Scarlett?

I tilted my head and stared at Aileen, who was holding a large tray in her hands.

Inside were three plates.

Scarlett had taken care of breakfast, so it seemed to be lunchtime.

“Hehe.. Aileen..”

Aileen is good too.

I don’t love her, but she shows the second clearest smile in the mansion.

As I smiled broadly, Aileen smiled softly in return.

She placed the meal on the dining table and then sat down.

“Ugh, hyauum..”

Lucy seemed to have just woken up from the sound of Aileen entering.

Rubbing her sleepy eyes with her hands, she crawled towards me.

Then, she kissed my cheek with a peck.

This has been Lucy’s routine every morning lately.

Then she hugged me and smiled sweetly.

Her appearance was so cute that I couldn’t help but let out a ‘Hiii..’ sound.

“Scarlett Young Lady told me to prepare your meal. Here… Come this way. I’ll move you.”

Aileen gently stroked my head and then lifted my body.

Even though Aileen is tall, her strength is truly amazing.

My height alone is about 165cm.

Aileen carefully lifted me and then slowly sat me in the wheelchair.

She must have done this a lot, as her movements were very stable.

With her help, I was able to sit in front of the dining table.

In fact, there was no problem with my body’s functions.

But I couldn’t let anyone in the mansion know that my body was fine.

Who knows. Scarlett might try to cut off my limbs.

Click-

When the plate lid was opened, a steak was revealed.

It was the same steak I always ate, but I had never gotten tired of it.

Since I couldn’t move my hands, Aileen helped me with the meal.

After the meal was finished.

Since there was nothing else to do, I decided to lie on the bed and chat with Aileen.

“By the way, Scarlett Young Lady’s room seems really nice. It’s spacious, and it smells good too…”

I heard that the servants’ rooms weren’t bad.

But it was the first time I had seen a room as pretty as Scarlett’s.

“Really…?”

“Yes. I used to work in the military… Ah, did I mention I was in the military?”

I had guessed as much from her tone, but as expected.

I shook my head wordlessly.

“I was a career soldier for over 5 years… So, I’ve been completely distant from pretty things like this.”

“It doesn’t mean much now, though.” Aileen added with a hearty laugh.

She always seemed very energetic and cheerful.

How did such a person end up as a death row inmate?

I stared intently at Aileen with a dazed expression.

“If you look at me like that, I get embarrassed. Even if I look like this, my heart is that of a maiden.”

Aileen giggled playfully.

Suddenly, for some reason.

Aileen’s face now overlapped with her face when she watched my sex with Scarlett before.

Thinking of that, I felt my cheeks heat up.

“A-Are you very hot? Your face is a little red.”

It seemed I wasn’t the only one who noticed this strange atmosphere.

Aileen raised her voice slightly and laughed heartily.

After a moment of awkward silence between us.

“Ugh. Auu.”

Lucy, with a strangely displeased expression, hugged me tightly.

Perhaps because she had grown so much lately, her hug seemed stronger than before.

Even so, she was a small figure, barely reaching 150cm.

“Uhaha, Lucy. Are you jealous? I understand. I’m not so wicked as to touch someone who’s taken.”

Lucy didn’t react much to her words.

She just perked up her ears and buried her face in my shoulder.

Creak-

And then the sound of the door opening resolved my doubts.

“Phew… Did you enjoy your meal?”

Scarlett returned to the room with a very tired expression.

The blush she had this morning was gone.

She had gone out, but the drug’s effects seemed to have disappeared with the outing.

“Welcome, Young Lady. Then, I’ll be going now.”

Now that Scarlett was here, Aileen had no reason to stay any longer.

She got up from her seat and moved towards the door.

Tap.

But.

Scarlett seemed to have something specific to discuss with Aileen.

“…Aileen. Just a moment.”

“What is it, Young Lady?”

Scarlett grabbed Aileen’s wrist and took out a small leather pouch.

A very strong sweet scent emanated from it.

At the same time, Aileen’s face stiffened slightly.

“Do you happen to know what this is?”

The room instantly filled with a cold atmosphere.

Aileen moved her lips slightly.

Then, she opened her mouth.