Chapter 70
What on earth is inside that bottle?
Could it be… poison? No, maybe I’m overthinking it. I shouldn’t jump to conclusions.
It might just be medicine—something she drinks before going out.
No.
If it’s not medicine but poison instead—if Mother’s poor health isn’t a natural illness but the result of someone poisoning her—then… she could be saved! I could prevent her death!
If it really is poison, then no matter how long her treatment continues, she’ll never recover—because it’s not an illness in the first place.
But even with a personal physician, no one noticed it wasn’t a disease? That means multiple people must be involved in this. Or perhaps… someone with even more authority.
In the novel, it was written that this happened when Ellie was a child. The details of her mother’s death weren’t given, but it’s certain that it happens soon.
If I can change the future where Tiana dies, then maybe—just maybe—I can change Mother’s death too.
First, I need to find out what that liquid really is. Whether it’s a harmless medicine—or a dangerous poison.
But if I suddenly show up in front of Camilla and ask, “What did you just put in the tea?” she’ll just brush me off and get suspicious.
I can’t just take a wild guess and say, “It’s poison!”
If only I could get even a small sample of the tea to analyze it…
After pouring all the liquid into the teapot, Camilla began walking toward Mother’s room.
Phew… I have to go now.
Tiana started walking—then running—toward Camilla.
Thud!
“Wah!”
Tiana ran full speed and bumped into her.
Camilla lost her balance and stumbled, spilling the tea she’d been carrying onto the tea cart.
“Oh no, I’m so sorry! I spilled the tea. I’ll clean it up right away.”
Tiana reached into her pocket, pulled out her handkerchief, and bent down to wipe it.
“M-my lady!!”
Camilla, unlike before, suddenly raised her voice in panic. She clearly didn’t want Tiana to touch it.
But Tiana didn’t stop. She focused on soaking up as much as she could into the handkerchief.
“I–I can’t possibly let you dirty your precious handkerchief, my lady!”
Camilla quickly tried to take the handkerchief from her, but Tiana stepped back to keep it away.
“I was the one who bumped into you and made you spill it, so I’ll clean it up. Or… is there some reason I shouldn’t be the one to wipe it?”
Flinch.
For just a moment, Camilla’s expression darkened.
“N-no, of course not. It’s just that I can’t possibly let the duke’s beloved daughter clean up something I spilled.”
She said all the right things—but there’s definitely something behind it.
Good. I managed to soak up enough.
There’s still tea left, but I’d better get out of here now. Who knows what she might do if I stay.
“I really am sorry for bumping into you.”
After apologizing once more, Tiana quickly left before Camilla could grab the handkerchief.
Once Camilla was out of sight, Tiana stopped and carefully pulled out the stained handkerchief.
To keep it from touching anything else, she placed it into an empty cookie wrapping bag.
When I get back to the duke’s mansion, I’ll have someone analyze its contents right away.
If Mother has been ingesting poison continuously, it must have affected her body somehow. I just hope we can find out what it is soon.
But if, by any chance, it really was just normal medicine… then I’d be falsely accusing Camilla.
Maybe I shouldn’t tell Father about what happened today—at least not yet.
With countless thoughts swirling in her mind, Tiana headed toward the garden.
