At Velia’s words, Derick had an expression as if it was no big deal. But that was not all.

“He might not live much longer. Given his current state, probably about a year?”

“Do you have a basis for that thought, Princess?”

This was something nobody knew until Duke Cellon passed away. But Velia had recalled and confirmed from previous memories. Fortunately, Duke Cellon had come to the kingdom himself.

“There’s a tiny black dot on his nail. I confirmed it again at the banquet a few days ago. It would be fatal for Duke Cellon, who is ill.”

The dot was still faint and not noticeable, but she had clearly seen a trace appearing.

Upon Velia’s words, Derick stroked his chin.

There was only one reason a black spot would appear on the nail.

“……Poison, then.”

Velia nodded.

It was an obvious story, but the mastermind was the Duchess of Cellon.

The cause was Derick’s existence. The duchess, who learned that her husband had a bastard child not long after their son died, had poisoned the food that the Duke ate.

Because the amount was extremely small, others who ate the same food had no significant problems.

‘But for Duke Cellon, who was already ill, symptoms will soon appear.’

Moreover, the Duchess will poison him several times after this.

Velia hesitated for a moment whether to tell Derick this fact, but she decided not to make any suspicious actions here and kept her mouth shut.

“Derick. Enter the Duke’s house.”

“Princess.”

“I’m not forcing you to take the Duke’s position. Whether you ruin the Duke’s house or grasp and wield the power, I don’t care. Just, lend a hand to Khaled for the succession of the throne later.”

Velia really didn’t care whether he squandered the Duke’s wealth or coveted the power.

But now was the time when the name of Duke Cellon’s house was needed for Khaled, and there was someone who could easily hand it over right in front of her.

Of course, it is right to persuade him.

“I will keep what you said in mind.”

He appeared suddenly one day as the successor of the Duke Cellon’s house, just before the Duke’s death.

Velia became acquainted with Derick after that. Therefore, she did not know exactly why he, who was so reluctant to enter the Duke’s house, obediently went in and became the successor.

But there was a suspicious circumstance. Velia remembered something that happened far into the future.

“Derick. I know a cure for your mother’s illness.”

She knew him, who exhausted all of the Duke’s property trying to cure his biological mother’s disease. And that a cure for that disease was developed after his mother’s death.

It was that drug that made great strides in the medical business led by Velia as the empress. When the drug was developed, Derick’s expression, who bitterly smiled and regretted, was vivid.

Velia smiled.

“I ask you to enter the Duke’s house in return for telling you that. And please be on my side.”

Derick Cellon would never refuse this offer.

Looking at Velia, who was smiling with the smile of victory, Derick snorted with a laugh.

“How did you know my mother was sick?”

“It’s a secret.”

Velia was confident.

“Do you have proof that the medicine is effective?”

“No.”

This time, she was much more confident than before.

Derick sighed with an astonished expression.

“And you say that you will take that as the price from me?”

“Yes. Because the effect will be certain.”

“Do you think I will believe that?”

“You’ve searched the entire continent, haven’t you? But you couldn’t find it. But here’s the only person who can say they can cure that disease, and you, who want to grasp at straws, can’t just pass over my words, can you?”

Velia had nothing to show. She also knew that he would doubt. But on the contrary, he, who had many doubts, would be confused by her audacity to ask for a deal in such a brazen manner.
To deceive someone, one must meticulously plan and fabricate evidence. Hence, Velia believed that a simple approach like this would work for him.

Velia’s heart pounded in her chest. She hoped he wouldn’t refuse. A small feeling of unease sprouted within her.

“……It requires trust.”

Velia realized from his words that he had chosen her. She felt at ease and warmly smiled at him.

“Then make your decision after I first treat your mother.”

“And if I don’t keep my promise?”

“I doubt a master of an information guild that lives on honesty would break his trust.”

Derek had met many reckless people while running the information guild, but he felt none were as unpredictable as Velia.

“Huh. Is it your style to trap your opponents in this way?”

Derek, realizing he was ensnared by Velia’s hand, sighed.

“……Then tell me the medicine to cure my mother’s illness. If her disease is really cured, I’ll enter as a Count.”

“Good.”

Velia handed over a note she had previously prepared.

“Grind the ingredients listed here after drying them and soak it in water. A spoonful once a day. Eating more is dangerous, so please make sure to control the amount.”

“……Understood.”

Derek treasured the note with the medicinal herbs. Velia, who was watching this, spoke up.