Mae stopped right in front of Lucian Voss. Her mind went blank instantly.

Lucian let out a slow breath. Damn. She found the bottle first.

Silvara reflexively stepped half a pace forward. "Healer Mae? Why are you here?"

Mae blinked, then lifted the bottle in her hand. "I-I just wanted to check on Anya. But earlier I smelled something strange. And then… I found this inside the cave."

Her gaze locked onto Lucian Voss.

Silence.

Stillness.

Unhealthy.

Lucian raised an eyebrow. "Why are you looking at me like that?"

Mae swallowed. "Because I just realized… two things."

"And those are?" Lucian asked flatly.

"First… I admit, I once wrongly accused you of being a man who's… too interested in the rear ends of other men."

Mae closed her eyes briefly.

"Second… now I'm convinced you've been poisoning people with an extremely powerful stimulant."

Lucian: "…What?"

Silvara froze.

Mae pointed at the bottle. "Evidence."

Lucian stared at the bottle. Then let out a short breath.

Great. Another problem, he thought.

"POISONED WINE," Mae cut in.

Silvara finally spoke, quietly. "Mae… the wine does… have an effect."

Mae spun toward Silvara. "So you've been poisoned?!"

Silvara's face flushed. "…Yes."

Mae trembled. "S-So you… y-you…" She swallowed. "Lady Silvara, you've alrea—"

"Yes," Silvara cut in quickly. "And it was purely because we were poisoned."

Mae froze.

"…We?" she repeated softly.

Silvara nodded slightly. "Ye… yeah…"

Silence.

Mae's brain stopped updating.

She looked at Silvara.

Then Lucas.

Then the bottle.

"…So," she said very slowly.

"You two… drank an aphrodisiac… together… in a cave…?"

Lucas covered his face with one hand.

"…Please don't frame it like that."

Mae stepped back.

Mae swallowed, then forced herself to speak again.

"…Where did you get that wine from?"

Silvara hesitated for just a second.

"…From Lina."

Mae stiffened.

Her grip on the bottle tightened.

Lina.

That name hit far too close.

Yesterday—

she had smelled the same substance on Lina's clothes.

Her thoughts spiraled.

Did someone order Lina to poison Lucian Voss?

Or worse… was Lina dragged into this without knowing anything?

Then another thought struck her.

And Lady Silvara drank it too…

Mae's face drained of color.

She stepped forward abruptly.

"Please—don't punish Lina."

Lucian blinked.

Silvara turned in surprise. "Mae…?"

"She's just… a good girl," Mae said quickly, almost desperately.

"She only works in the kitchen at the brothel. She doesn't have the mind for schemes. She can't possibly have meant any harm. She wouldn't poison anyone on purpose!"

Her voice shook.

"Whatever happened… it's not her fault. Please."

For a moment, only the wind answered.

Then—

The translucent panel flickered into existence beside Lucian.

[DING~]

(￣▽￣)ノ

[Oho? Drama detected.]

[Kitchen girl, poisoned wine, unjust accusation…]

[Classic villain event route unlocked.]

Lucian twitched.

[So? What now, O Fearsome Lord Lucian Voss?]

[( •̀ ω •́ )✧]

[Going to execute the poor little cook?]

[Or will you pretend to be a magnanimous tyrant today?]

Lucian clicked his tongue.

"Shut it."

[(≧▽≦)／]

[Ohhhh, cold! Ruthless! The villain atmosphere is perfect!]

Lucian exhaled sharply.

[So? What's the play?]

[Execute? Exile?]

[Or— (¬‿¬) —improvise and look cool?]

Lucian clicked his tongue.

"Annoying."

He straightened, then spoke in a deliberate, cold tone.

"Very well," he said.

"If that's the case… Healer Mae."

Mae looked up.

"I order you to examine this poison immediately," Lucian continued.

"Find out exactly what it is."

He held out the bottle.

"And if possible… create an antidote."

Mae froze.

"…M-Me?"

Silvara glanced at Lucian, then inwardly exhaled.

He's really using Lucian reputation like a weapon, she thought.

In a good way… but still terrifying.

Mae straightened.

"…Yes. I will."

She took the bottle with both hands.

Then paused.

"…Ah. One more thing."

She looked up at Silvara again.

"Anya… is she alright?"

Silvara's expression softened immediately.

"She's fine. Better than fine. She was even learning how to write today."

Mae blinked.

"…Write?"

Silvara nodded lightly. "Yes."

Mae turned to Lucian instinctively.

"…Write what?"

Lucas curled one corner of his mouth upward into a crooked grin.

"My name."

Mae held the bottle tightly against her chest.

"…Then I'll take my leave."

Lucian nodded. "Be quick."

"I will." She bowed once to Silvara, then hesitated. "And… thank you. Both of you."

She turned and left the cave at a hurried pace, her cloak disappearing into the fading light.

The field system panel immediately flickered.

[DING]

+10 EXP

+2 Progression Points

Lucian glanced at it.

"…That's it?"

The panel blinked, offended.

(¬_¬)

[Paperwork EXP.]

They began walking back toward the field.

Silvara walked half a step behind him, quiet.

Lucas felt it.

Not danger.

Not hostility.

But that uncomfortable kind of silence that usually came before something went wrong.

"Healer Mae is a good healer," Silvara said softly. "The village is fortunate to have her."

Lucas nodded inside.

Yeah. She is.

"Okay," he replied through Lucian's mouth. "And?"

Silvara slowed her pace.

"…You should help her."

Here it comes, Lucas thought.

"How?" he asked.

"…When the tomatoes are ready," Silvara said, folding her fingers together, "could you share some? She can turn them into medicine for the villagers."

Lucas considered it.

Not a bad investment.

The breeze passed between them, gentle and cool.

Then her thoughts turned heavy.

He's not him..

The wind brused her cheek.

If he wants it…

If this is for the sake of the village…

Then… I can endure it.

Her chest tightened.

She slowed again, gathering courage.

"Lucas," she said softly. "As compensation… you may touch—"

"Okay," Lucian cut in calmly. "I'll calculate how much yield we can spare later."

Silvara froze.

"…Wha?"

Lucian kept walking. "I'll run the numbers first."

Silvara stood there completely still.

Her face burned.

Her mouth opened.

Then closed.

Slowly, she walked again.

Her gaze drifted to the back of his neck.

Pale.

Unprotected.

Her fingers twitched slightly at her side.

----

The wind tore past Aldric's cloak as his horse thundered down the dirt road.

His jaw was set.

The fake.

The crushed fragment.

That damn merchant's smile.

You won't run.

The road ahead curved through a stretch of low hills.

Then—

A lone carriage appeared.

Black canvas.

Two thin horses.

Cheap wheels.

Aldric narrowed his eyes.

"…Found you."

He pulled the reins hard.

The warhorse veered sideways, hooves digging into dirt as Aldric cut across the road in a blur of iron and wind.

The carriage screeched to a halt.

The driver yanked the reins in panic. "H-Hey! What do you think you're—"

Aldric drew his sword halfway from its sheath.

Metal sang.

"Get down," he commanded coldly.

The man stiffened.

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