“This can’t be true.”

The moment I recognized what it was, my mind flashed for an instant, and I pressed my nose against his nose once again, touching his ear.

“Astel.”

The scent of Astel was emanating from Kaern.

It was Astel.

The poison on the dagger was Astel’s.

Why didn’t I think of Astel?

Come to think of it, the answer was too easy to find.

The culprit had consistently used Astel to endanger Kaern.

So, if poison was used again, it was obvious that Astel was used.

“Astel.”

“…Herena, what did you say?”

Adelia asked, unable to hear my soft voice.

“Astel.”

I repeated the same words once more.

“Astel? Are you talking about going to rescue him today by any chance?”

Adelia knows about Astel.

I looked at her with a puzzled expression and nodded.

But that wasn’t important now.

“The Duke seems to be addicted to Astel. So, we need to find herbs or antidotes that can detoxify Astel.”

“Astel?”

I hoped, but the doctor also seemed clueless about Astel.

In that case, I had to find something to detoxify Astel on my own, without relying solely on the doctor.

So, as I hurriedly went to the library to search for books on poisonous plants and herbs, Calyx, who had been silent all along, spoke up.
“If you’re talking about Astel, are you referring to the flower that blooms in the western desert?”

In response to Calyx’s mention, implying familiarity with Astel, I stared at him with wide eyes.

“Lord Craeton. You know Astel?”

“Yes. I know.”

“Do you know what Astel is?”

“Yes. You’re talking about the yellow flower, right?”

“That’s right. It’s a yellow flower.”

Calyx knew exactly what Astel was.

“Calyx, tell me everything you know about Astel. How do we detoxify Astel? Huh?”

Adelia pleaded with Calyx, holding onto him.

I, too, stared at Calyx with desperate eyes.

“Calyx, we need to save my brother. Please tell us.”

“I’m sorry, Adelia.”

But Calyx’s words were an apology, not information on how to detoxify.

“I know Astel is a poisonous plant, but I don’t know how to detoxify it. Adelia, I’m sorry.”

With that, Calyx apologized to Adelia again, wrapping his arms around her shoulders.

“Oh… then, what do we do now?”

Adelia, with a face soaked in despair, shed tears incessantly.

“Adelia, calm down. You need to calm down.”

“Lord Craeton, is knowing about Astel all there is? Even the smallest detail would help. Please tell us anything.”

In response to my words, Calyx comforted Adelia while being lost in thought.

I desperately hoped for any clue to come from him.
As if my prayers had been answered, Calyx, after a moment of thought, opened his mouth.

“Come to think of it, I know about the flower that is the opposite of Astel.”

“The opposite flower?”

“Yes. So, Astel cannot grow where that flower blooms. It’s a blue flower, but I can’t seem to remember its name. It was blue, with overlapping petals.”

A blue flower.

What blue flowers do I know?

I tried to recall if any of the flowers I knew matched Calyx’s description.

Then, suddenly, I remembered what Kaern had told me during the hunting competition.

He mentioned that wild boars addicted to Astel couldn’t approach him and the emperor. At that time, I had given him a sachet containing a blue flower as a gift.

If Kaern had the sachet with the flower during the hunting competition, it explained why the boars avoided him.

“Yurensia.”

“What?”

Adelia looked at me with teary eyes.

“Yurensia is certain, Adelia! I’ll go home and get it for Kaern.”

I wanted to use the flower in the sachet I gave Kaern, but for Yurensia to be effective as an antidote, it had to be a fresh flower.

Why didn’t I plant that flower in the Duke’s garden?

Regretfully, I didn’t hesitate and quickly mounted behind the knight leading the way, heading home.

I regretted not learning proper horseback riding at times like this.
While resolving to learn horseback riding if I could get through this incident unscathed, I continued urging the knight to ride faster. Nevertheless, the speed felt too slow for me.

After arriving home, I rushed to the garden where Yurensia was located. Madly searching through the darkness, I obtained the flower and swiftly returned to the Duke’s residence.

“Herena!”

Adelia, who had been anxiously waiting for me, ran towards me.

“Are you sure about the Yurensia flower? Can it save my brother?”

“I don’t know for sure. But this is the only flower with a possibility. Lord Craeton, is this the right flower?”

I showed Yurensia to Calyx.

“Yes, that’s the right flower.”

“Then I’ll quickly go and make the antidote.”

The doctor took the flower from me and went out of the room.

I anxiously approached Kaern.

“Kaern.”

And gently held his hand.

“Hold on a little longer, Kaern.”

Even though it had only been a few seconds since the doctor left, it felt like hours had passed in perception.

In that waiting, everyone fell silent, staring at the closed door with earnest hearts.

Fortunately, the doctor returned earlier than expected, opening the door.

“I’ve made the antidote!”