Chapter 57

A maid shrank with fright, almost crawling on the floor. When they looked at her, they saw a long snake slithering on the grass slowly.

“Oh! What is that ?! Oh my gosh!”

“Isn’t it viper? Catch it now!”

“Ahhh! It’s so gross! ”

The banquet hall quickly became a mess. The crowds dispersed in all directions. Grasping the situation, the knights pulled swords and came running. Before they arrived, however, somebody pierced the snake’s tail with the pointed heel of her shoes. Almost at the same time, she cut through its neck with a knife at once.

“Rane!”

“Marianne!”

Duchess Lamont and Ms. Beatrice, who were standing right behind, stopped her, frightened.

“Wow! Do you grow snakes at the Elior Mansion, too?”

Brave snake hunter Rane bravely trampled on the dying snake harder.

Noblewomen and young ladies around her covered their faces with fans or had the dry heaves as they couldn’t stand it anymore.

Briefly surprised by Rane’s skillful handling of the knife, Marianne also frowned and turned her head. Eckart lifted his cloak and covered her, so she couldn’t see it. His tight forearms touched her cheeks. A refreshing smell like that of a snow-covered lake or the breeze that passed through the pasture tickled her nose.

He showed her too much favor again.

Only then did Marianne realize her situation. As she was so absent-minded, she didn’t even realize she was wrapped in Eckart’s arms.

The moment she was about to push him and turn, she heard someone on the other side shouting, “Mother!”

That voice was familiar.

She felt ominous feelings like the knife stuck in the snake’s neck.

Marianne slowly looked away.

She saw Countess Renault wrapped in Jed’s arms, her body limp.

“The snake was a viper,” said Mrs. Charlotte said with a somber look.

Eckart let out a heavy, long sigh. His dishevelled golden hair drifted slightly over his forehead.

“Fortunately, this snake was not poisonous. Her treatment was quick and the bite was far from the heart, so there would be no major aftereffects. The antidote that was in stock in the medical building was of the highest quality, so you don’t have to worry about her too much.”

As if to soothe Jed, Mrs. Charlotte quickly added a detailed explanation.

“It looks like she passed out a while ago. Did she wake up?” asked Marianne, who was nervous.

“She is unconscious. Her fever was up a bit, but not high enough to worry.”

“How about Sir and Sir Arthur?”

“Both of them said they would not step out of the room until their mother recovers her consciousness.”

Marianne nodded with a terrible look. While watching her facial expression, Cordelli handed warm tea to her. When the refreshing scent of herbs warmed the air around her, she felt tired. But she couldn’t even smell it.

The party was stopped. The guards took care of the snake carcass, and most of the guests returned with heavy hearts. Colin argued that it was not right to send them right now because they were suspects, but Eckart ordered their dismissal, ignoring his request.

If some cold water had been poisoned or someone had been attacked by an assassin, everyone on the spot would have been a suspect. But the snake was a natural animal. It was very difficult to find out whether it came in through the cracks or climbed over a high wall.

As the banquet hall was crowded with many people who moved around on the grass, it was impossible to chase the traces of their footsteps on the grass. Even if the snake had an owner, it was impossible to find the owner because the snake didn’t carry a name tag on its neck.

‘It could be an accident, but I smell a rat because too many conditions are on the side of the snake.’ Marianne touched the handle of the teacup with a puzzled look.

The woman who first discovered the snake was the daughter of a viscount who followed Countess Renault. When the countess said she felt her ankle stinging, she lifted her dress a bit and wept while complaining that the snake in question popped out.

Kloud interrogated her on behalf of Eckart, and reported that there was an extremely low probability of her being the culprit. They isolated her in a separate place, just in case they needed further questioning, but Eckart didn’t think she was the culprit. Earl Renault also agreed, adding that everybody knew she had reptile phobia.

Meanwhile, the staff at the mansion said in unison that they had never seen a snake. Even the old maid, Sophia, who worked in the mansion for more than 40 years, testified that she had never seen a snake in her life.

The staff at the mansion used to weed daily and sprayed against the pest on the grass in the garden. Accordingly, it was impossible for snakes to slither into the grass there.

‘If that’s the case, who deliberately brought the snake here?’

However, all the guests arriving at the party had their bags inspected for any dangerous stuff, and no one was detected.

And if anybody wanted to hide that large snake, it had to be hidden in the spacious skirt of a lady. As there was no specific evidence, they couldn’t insult the ladies by lifting their skirts one by one.

“Where did the snake come from? I have no idea at all.”

Marianne lamented while touching the teacup. Everyone in the room just kept silent.

Although no one openly mentioned it, everyone was thinking that there would be someone behind this strange thing.

“There were a lot of people in the banquet hall. Why didn’t anyone notice it until the snake was slithering to the table? And why was the countess among all the guests bitten?”

“Unless someone didn’t control the snake, it’s just her bad luck.”

“That’s what the suspect must have aimed at,” said Eckart in a cold voice.

“The suspect must have planned that the whole thing would end up as an unfortunate accident by leaving no evidence. He probably picked a species that did not have fatal venom because it should be a moderate accident that should be forgotten after generating some rumors.”

“How did he do that?” asked Marianne, frowning.

“Why do you think the suspect chose a snake among many bad things?”

Marianne recalled the secret letter she had received from Ober. The snake-shaped seal at the bottom of it was still vivid in her memory.

“The suspect wants to warn me,” said Eckart, clenching his fists as hard as he could.

Dark blue veins and bones on the back of his hands grew clear as if they showed his surging anger.

“This is his clear threat that this won’t be all next time, and at the same time he wants me to share my power even now,” he said.

Marianne looked at the source of the voice as deep and low as the night. Eckart looked at her too. Their eyes met and got entangled.

“Why do you think Countess Renault among others was bitten, Marianne?”

Was it an illusion? Marianne seemed to have seen some pain in his blue eyes.

He continued, “Because Mrs. Chester wants her role.”

Only a few noblewomen were selected to help Marianne prepare for the engagement. Only a few women, including Mrs. Charlotte, who had already served as the chief maid at the mansion, were given the honor of serving the emperor and his future wife at hand.

Countess Renault and Lady Beatrice. The emperor singled out them at the recent cabinet meeting.

Pondering over his reply, Marian finally said, “Then, please do as they please.”

Eckart made an uncomprehending expression on his face.

“Marianne, you have to decide very carefully.”

“Well, I made a careful decision. If you bring someone else, she’ll be hurt like the countess.

As you said, you might get into bigger trouble next time.”

“But it’s dangerous for you to keep the marquise too close.”

Mrs. Charlotte dissuaded her with a worried look. But Marianne did not bat an eyelash.

“Your Excellency, Please think of it cool-headedly. Also, please don’t forget your special assignment for me.”

Although she described it elegantly, it referred to her role as a hostage.

“… Marianne.”

“The next candidate to replace the countess is just one of those who will help me, right? I have other allies like Cordelli, Mrs. Charlotte, and Lady Beatrice.”

“…”

“What are you worried about? Am I not the safest person from their standpoint? As long as they need me, they will never kill me.”

“…”

“Don’t hesitate. You told me about it already. In other words, I have to pay the price for what I know and what I don’t know. That’s what you said. I think it’s right that I have to pay the price for this. I don’t want anybody else hurt again on behalf of you or me.”

Eckart looked at her blankly. She was an innocent and pure lady until last month. She trusted people easily and hated the ugly aspects of politics. She was offended by somebody’s trifling betrayal and she was too kind-hearted as if she was a woman born and raised in a different world from his, just like the daughter of a selfish bystander.