Chapter 27: The Culprit Behind The Poison

Chapter 27: The Culprit Behind The Poison "You know," Mikhailis continued, his voice dropping to a lower, more intimate tone, "I've always found breakfast to be the most important meal of the day. Sets the tone for everything, don't you think? But what happens when you start the day with a little... poison?" The maid's face turned ashen. Her hands trembled visibly now, and Mikhailis could see the panic rising in her eyes. She was trapped, and she knew it. There was no easy way out of this, not with him staring at her like a predator toying with its prey. Mikhailis leaned forward slightly, resting his chin on one hand, as though pondering something completely unrelated. "Back in my homeland, when someone tried to poison me, you know what I did?" The maid's eyes flickered toward the door, and Mikhailis could almost hear the gears turning in her head, looking for an escape. But Mikhailis didn't give her a chance to move. His expression remained lighthearted, but his next words were delivered with a quiet, deadly calm. "I made them eat it." Her breath caught. The other maids stood frozen, too frightened to even blink. The silence in the room stretched thin, like a wire about to snap. "Would you care to try this lovely meal?" Mikhailis offered with a smile, motioning toward the plate in front of him. "Come on, just a little bite. I'm sure it's delicious." The maid didn't move. She couldn't. Her body had stiffened with fear, her mind likely racing with excuses or ways to deflect. But Mikhailis wasn't going to give her that luxury. He remained perfectly still, watching her with a gaze that made it clear there was no room for negotiation. Rodion's voice broke through the tense silence, a hint of amusement in its monotone delivery. Mikhailis almost chuckled at Rodion's dark suggestion but kept his focus on the maid. "You know, it's funny," he continued, as though they were having a casual chat. "I've been in this exact situation before. Someone tries to slip something into my food, thinking they're clever, thinking I won't notice." He paused, letting the weight of his words sink in. "But I always notice." Rodion remarked dryly. Shut up, Rodion. Can't you see I'm playing my role very well here. Mikhailis sighed, but he didn't drop the act. Instead, he picked up his spoon again, dipping it lightly into the poisoned soup, and held it out toward the maid. "Last chance. Either you taste this soup, or we both know what's going to happen next." The maid flinched, and her knees buckled slightly. "I... I didn't... I didn't mean..." she stammered, but the words caught in her throat. Her gaze darted nervously around the room, searching for support, but the other maids stood silent, unwilling to meet her eyes. Mikhailis tilted his head, feigning confusion. "Didn't mean to? Oh, no, I'm sure it was just an innocent mistake. People poison others by accident all the time, right?" His smile never reached his eyes. Sweat started to bead on the maid's forehead, and finally, she broke. "Please, don't... don't make me..." Mikhailis leaned forward again, his tone suddenly serious. "Then let's make it easy. Tell me who sent you." The maid's eyes widened in panic, and her breath came in short, ragged gasps. She opened her mouth to speak, but no sound came out. Her terror had choked her words. Rodion's voice, ever pragmatic, chimed in again. Mikhailis sighed dramatically, setting the spoon down with a clink. "Alright, I get it. You don't want to eat the soup. I won't force you. But..." He leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms. She stared at him for a moment longer before finally letting out a soft, relieved laugh, resting her head on his shoulder. They stayed like that for a few moments, the tension of the situation slowly melting away. But then came the sound of someone clearing their throat. Ahem! Elowen stiffened slightly before pulling away from him, straightening her posture. She turned to face the doorway, where three familiar figures now stood: Aelthrin, her prime minister; Serelith, the ever-watchful court magician; and Vyrelda, her personal knight. All of them wore expressions of concern, though Aelthrin's had a hint of amusement, as usual. Elowen sighed, reluctantly stepping away from Mikhailis. "I'll deal with this," she said quietly, giving him one last glance before turning to face her retainers. "I'm glad to see you're alright, Your Highness," Vyrelda said, her green eyes sharp as they darted between Mikhailis and the pinned maid on the floor. "But I must admit, I'm curious. How did you know there was poison in your food?" Mikhailis blinked, feigning surprise as he looked back at the untouched plate in front of him. "Oh, that? Just a lucky guess," he said with a grin. "Happened to notice a strange smell, and well, you know me. Sharp nose." Vyrelda raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced. But before she could press further, Serelith stepped forward, her violet eyes gleaming with curiosity. "A lucky guess, indeed," she murmured. "Still, we'll investigate this thoroughly. Whoever is behind this must be found." Elowen nodded, her expression turning serious. "Yes. This cannot go unpunished. I'll see to it personally." Mikhailis watched as she spoke, noting the way her hands clenched into fists at her sides. There was a fire in her eyes, a determination that made him feel... proud, in a way. Elowen was no fragile queen. She was strong. But even so, Mikhailis couldn't help but feel a little guilty for making her worry. As the retainers discussed the next steps, Mikhailis leaned back in his chair, his smile fading slightly. He could sense that this was just the beginning of something bigger. And whoever was behind this? They weren't going to give up easily. Later that night, as the castle grew quiet, Elowen returned to the royal chamber, her face weary and her steps slow. Mikhailis was sitting at the desk, tinkering with one of his insect projects, when she walked in. He glanced up, immediately noticing the dark circles under her eyes. "You look exhausted," he said softly, setting down the tools and walking over to her. Elowen sighed, collapsing into the nearest chair. "It's been... a long day," she muttered, rubbing her temples. Mikhailis knelt beside her, his hand resting gently on her knee. "What happened?" She hesitated for a moment, her gaze distant, before finally speaking. "The maid... she didn't tell us anything." Mikhailis frowned, his eyes narrowing. "Nothing at all?" Elowen shook her head, her expression darkening. "Right when she was about to confess... we discovered she had been hiding a poison beneath her tongue. She bit down on it before we could stop her." Mikhailis raised an eyebrow, leaning back slightly. "So... she chose to die rather than talk?" Elowen nodded, her voice barely above a whisper. "Yes." For a moment, the room was silent, the weight of the situation settling over them. Mikhailis's mind was already working, trying to piece together what this could mean. Whoever was behind this was more dangerous than they had initially thought. Someone who could inspire such loyalty—or fear—in their servants was not someone to be taken lightly. Finally, Mikhailis let out a low whistle, shaking his head. "Well," he said, his voice laced with amusement, "now that's interesting."