The Terminally-Ill Duke Clings to Me Every Night (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 117

[Duke Haideorn has been poisoned as planned, and his condition is extremely critical. If left as is, he will certainly die within a few days, barring any unforeseen changes.]

[Moreover, the Duchess was immediately placed in isolation as well. She did see the Duke, but only for a fleeting moment—and since the Duke was unconscious, even the most skilled physician would struggle to visually distinguish whether this was an infectious disease or poisoning.]

Ilay set the finished letter down on the table.

The letter had come from a trusted subordinate planted in the Haideorn territory—more precisely, from a local villager he had successfully turned into his own agent.

‘So even that ever-cautious Akia has been poisoned.’

Though satisfied with the report, Ilay couldn’t shake a lingering doubt. He had been betrayed before by those he trusted most, and that memory weighed heavily on him.

“Ricks, are you certain Akia has been poisoned?”

At Ilay’s call, Ricks, who had been standing behind him, stepped forward and knelt on one knee.

“Yes. I sent someone beneath me to verify. The agent we planted in the territory is quite capable. He’s also the one spearheading the spread of rumors about the Duke.”

“I see…”

Ilay stroked his chin, lost in thought.

The Emperor recalled how he had once bestowed food in Akia’s name.

Thanks to the food arriving just in time for the Haideorn territory’s festival, the villagers had been deeply moved by the Duke.

Perhaps because Akia, who had long shown indifference toward the territory, had personally granted them food, the villagers gathered together and shared it—unaware that the enoki mushrooms within had spoiled.

In other nations, consuming raw enoki mushrooms was strictly forbidden. Of course, since Croatea did not cultivate this mushroom, few people there knew this fact.

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