Chapter Ninety-Seven: Poison

“Yes. I finally soothed Dana, only to find that I was the one who could not sleep, so I came to talk with my sister for a while.” Yala stood nearby, watching Henry with flickering eyes, as though lost in thought.

“All right, then speak. Henry, what brings you here so late instead of resting?” Madam Bejen sat down and looked at her son.

“Mother, Xius has returned,” Henry said softly, head bowed before her.

“What?” Madam Bejen was so startled by those words that she nearly sprang up from her seat.

Then her gaze shifted toward Yala. Yala had been here quite some time, yet she had not once brought up this matter.

Madam Bejen quickly collected herself and looked at Henry with a smile.

“Your brother’s return is a good thing. It’s already very late, and you should go to bed!” she said in a tone that admitted no argument.

Henry seemed about to say more, but when he heard his mother’s decisive tone, he opened his mouth and swallowed the words back down.

He left Madam Bejen’s room as well, preparing to return to his own.

“It really is late. I’ll go back too,” Yala said when she saw Henry leave. She had no intention of staying any longer, so after saying a few words to Madam Bejen, she departed as well.

Through the whole of that night, Madam Bejen sat motionless in her chair, her face full of worry. She did not know why Xius had come back this time, nor what he intended to do.

By the time the sky had taken on a pale chill, Count Claye had already risen. Madam Bejen, too, had prepared breakfast early.

She knew that today Count Claye was going with Count Ulot to inspect a shipment of goods, so she had prepared everything in advance. After some thought, she also called Henry up to keep Count Claye company at the table.

“Should we call Xius down as well?” Madam Bejen asked the count absentmindedly as she ate breakfast. Deep down, she did not want Xius to come down at all, but appearances still had to be maintained.

“No need. Let him sleep a little longer. Prepare him breakfast later and send it up,” Count Claye said, eating rather hastily and speaking somewhat unclearly.

“Yes.” After hearing the count’s reply, Madam Bejen suddenly found herself at a loss for words.

“All right, I’m off. Henry, you can ask Xius for advice on swordsmanship. His skill is quite good,” Claye said, wiping his mouth clean.

“Henry?” Claye raised his voice when he received no answer.

“Ah? What? Yes, Father, I’ll stay at home properly?” Henry was jolted awake by the count’s voice and fumbled in confusion.

Coming to himself, he realized he had said the wrong thing. He quickly stood up, lowered his head, and did not dare meet his father’s eyes.

From Henry’s answer, Count Claye could tell that he had not listened to a single word just now.

“It’s fine. If you’re sleepy, go back and rest,” he said, and then led his people out.

“Mother.” After Claye left, Henry could not help but lower his head and call out to Madam Bejen in a very small voice.

“Eat. Your father isn’t angry,” Madam Bejen said. She could see that her son was a little off, but in the end she said nothing else.

“Go back and rest for a while,” she said after they had nearly finished eating. Seeing Henry looking listless, she understood why he was like this. It was not only Henry; even she herself was growing impatient.

“No, I’m going to practice swordsmanship for a while,” Henry refused his mother’s suggestion and turned to leave.

Madam Bejen then instructed the servants to clear away the dishes, and she herself collapsed heavily into her chair at the table.

The servants who came to tidy up saw that Madam Bejen had no intention of leaving, so they could only work carefully, afraid that any loud noise might upset her.

Sunlight spilled through the window, and Xius slowly awakened.

After washing and dressing, he went downstairs. The moment he reached the floor below, he saw Madam Bejen sitting there. When she saw him coming down, her face seemed to tighten with a trace of panic.

“His lordship has already gone with Count Ulot to inspect a shipment of goods,” Madam Bejen said with a smile.

“Oh.” Xius thought his father was rather busy.

Madam Bejen said nothing more. Soon the servants brought breakfast to the table.

Looking at the food, Xius realized he was somewhat hungry, so he sat down and prepared to enjoy the lavish meal.

On the table before him lay several dishes, and among them was a soup. Xius decided to start with that.

As soon as the lid was lifted, a wave of heat, carrying a rich fragrance, surged outward. Seeing the milky-white broth and breathing in its tempting aroma, Xius’s appetite was immediately whetted.

He tasted it with a spoon, and the flavor did not disappoint. It lifted his mood considerably, and a smile appeared on his face.

All the while, Madam Bejen simply stood there watching him drink the soup.

“Ding. The host has ingested a trace amount of poison.”

Just as Xius was about to take another sip, he heard the chip’s voice and set the spoon down.

A faint smile touched his lips as he turned to look at Madam Bejen, who stood there expressionless.

When Madam Bejen saw Xius smiling at her, she did not understand what was happening. Just as she was about to ask, she saw Xius raise his right hand, fingers spread, palm facing the table.

“What is it, Xius? Is it not to your taste? Should I have the servants remake it?” Madam Bejen asked in confusion under his gaze.

“Come here,” Xius said, signaling for Madam Bejen to stand beside him.

Unable to refuse, Madam Bejen had no choice but to walk over.

Seeing that she was so cooperative, Xius said nothing further.

“Look at my hand.”

Xius’s voice reached her ears, and Madam Bejen had no choice but to turn her eyes toward his hand.

The moment her gaze reached his palm, she saw a burst of blue light blooming from within it.

Terror flashed across Madam Bejen’s face, and she hurriedly stumbled backward, only to lose her footing and fall hard to the floor.

The instant she hit the ground, a deafening explosion thundered through the entire castle.

“Cough, cough!” Madam Bejen choked on the dust filling the air. When she looked up, the exquisite dining table from a moment ago was gone, and only scattered debris remained to prove it had not simply vanished into thin air.

The ringing in her ears had not yet faded. She tried to push herself up from the floor, only to realize that she could not stand at all. She felt as though all strength had left her body.

She could only stare in horror at Xius standing beside her.

“I...”

She was afraid.

She had intended to use poison to erode Xius’s body little by little, but she had never imagined that he would taste through it after only a single sip.

She had also never imagined that after merely two years away, Xius would possess such terrifying power. Thinking of the blue light she had just seen, her body began to tremble uncontrollably.

Xius looked down at her shaking form, his eyes full of cold indifference.

“Put away those little schemes of yours. I have no great interest in being the heir to this countship,” he said, and with that one line he turned and went upstairs. The pleasant mood of the morning had already been ruined by Madam Bejen.

Whether Madam Bejen had heard him or not, she remained sitting dazed on the floor, staring blankly at the shattered place where the table had stood.

Earlier, Xius’s lightning strike had been heard throughout the castle, and many soldiers rushed over.

Henry, who had been practicing swordsmanship, heard the loud blast and immediately dropped his sword and ran back.

As soon as the soldiers entered, they saw Madam Bejen collapsed on the floor, motionless.

Rael also hurried over, and the scene before him startled him as well.

The destruction here was clearly not something an ordinary person could cause. Even he would not have been able to tear the place apart so instantly.

Then he thought of Xius. Thinking of Xius’s two years away from home, Rael more or less understood that this was probably his doing.

“Mother, Mother!” Henry came rushing in from outside in great haste.

When Henry heard the sound coming from the castle, he had intended to investigate. With Count Claye not at home, only he and Xius remained in the castle, so naturally he had to make himself useful.

He had not expected, however, that the sound would come from near the dining table. The first thing he thought of was Madam Bejen, and he hurried over at once.

Henry skirted around the soldiers and paid no mind to anything else around him. Once inside, he saw Madam Bejen sitting on the floor, and he quickly rushed forward to help her up.