The dining hall of Schmaichel Castle was bustling with busy footsteps from early morning.
'Soon.'
Joel fiddled with the cold surface of the wine bottle hidden inside his coat.
This wine, personally bestowed by Henrik, had the effect of activating mana when consumed and traded at a very high price.
It was a gift perfectly suited for Dane, the master of the Kalmar Mine.
'No one would ever suspect.'
That Dane's own weapon and powerful asset would become a blade pointed at himself.
Even if the wine's components were examined later, no poison or anything of the sort would be detected. It acted fatally only on Dane.
Now it was time to move the final chess piece.
'Is that her?'
Sonya was seen inspecting ornate tableware in the corner of the dining hall while scanning her surroundings.
According to what Henrik had told him, she was a greedy woman who delivered Viscount Vikander's orders to the Duchess.
But Sonya did not know Joel's true identity. She only knew him as the faithful physician.
"Sonya."
When he called her in a low, gentle voice, Sonya turned around in surprise.
"Sir Joel. What brings you here?"
"The Madam asked me for something, so I came."
Joel deliberately put on a troubled expression and took out the wine bottle from his coat. Sonya's eyes quickly scanned the vintage label on the bottle.
"What's this…?"
"The Madam personally prepared this for His Excellency's birthday today. It's a pricey vintage wine, but it seems she couldn't muster the courage to bring it herself."
Joel lowered his voice another notch and stepped closer to Sonya.
"Make sure to emphasize that it's a gift the Duchess prepared for His Excellency when you hand it to the dining hall servant."
The corners of Sonya's mouth twitched. It was plainly obvious she was doing mental calculations.
"Me? Oh my, the Madam really… she can't do anything without me, I tell you."
Sonya snatched the wine bottle as if she were doing some grand favor.
"Make sure you do. His Excellency needs to appreciate the Madam's sincerity, after all."
"Trust me."
Sonya shrugged and walked toward the dining hall. Watching her retreating figure, Joel swallowed a soundless laugh.
This way, even if the wine's origin was questioned later, he could pin it on Sonya and Rose acting on their own.
People would trust the word of the physician over Sonya's, after all.
Clack.
Joel pulled out a pocket watch from his pocket. The final hour was near.
'Should I head over soon.'
Joel naturally headed to the dining hall right on time. The butler Bill, head maid Selma, and other retainers had already arrived.
"Welcome."
"The day has finally come."
The atmosphere was unusually lively for the normally serene Schmaichel Castle. Everyone's face was filled with joy and pride.
"Where is His Excellency?"
"I heard he set off from the upper floor."
Joel nodded at Bill's answer and found his place to stand. Then he subtly scanned the dining hall.
"Now, now! Hurry up! Not a single mistake is allowed!"
Fabri was breathing fire as he frantically drove the servants on.
Fewer servants than usual were moving about. Only close associates were gathered to enjoy an intimate victory banquet.
"The most perfect cuisine! Understood!"
"Yes, Head Chef!"
Just then,
"I'll be going now."
Joel spotted Sonya just coming out of the kitchen.
"There's another gift the Madam has prepared."
Sonya was not holding the wine. It meant she had properly handed it to a servant.
'Looks like she's heading to the underground passage.'
Joel glanced at Sonya's retreating figure before turning his eyes away.
"The Madam is entering."
Soon after, accompanied by a servant's guidance, Rose entered the dining hall. Behind her, a blonde maid followed with quick steps.
"You're here."
"Please have a seat here."
The retainers stood up and showed their respect.
Although her relationship with the lord wasn't what it used to be these days, Rose still bore the Schmaichel name.
Moreover, the retainers still liked Rose, so they showed her amiable attitudes.
Click.
Rose was wearing a beautiful dress, elegantly adorned.
It was a sight that reeked of a pitiful desperation to somehow win Dane's favor.
Or perhaps it was a desperate struggle to hide her wretched situation, even if only like this.
'A futile effort….'
Joel swallowed a sneer as he watched Rose's appearance.
"……."
Rose's eyes briefly swept over Joel, but only for a moment,
"…Haa."
Rose plastered a smile over her melancholic face and took her seat.
And not long after,
"Everyone, prepare yourselves."
The retainers straightened their postures with tense faces.
"His Excellency, Dane Schmaichel, enters!"
The dining hall servant's voice was brimming with unmistakable joy.
Thud.
Dane finally revealed himself in the dining hall.
"Congratulations, Your Excellency."
"Welcome."
All the servants and retainers in the dining hall bowed at the waist to show their respect.
"……."
Dane paused and surveyed the hall.
Bill standing at attention with reddened eyes, Selma biting her lip as it trembled with emotion, Fabri beaming with joy across his entire face, and Joel wearing a faint smile.
And lastly, Rose standing awkwardly, constantly looking around to gauge the mood.
Thud.
After surveying everyone, Dane walked into the dining hall.
Confident, unwavering steps, and a gaze fixed straight ahead.
A perfect creation who closely resembled the previous Duke and his wife stood here. Despite countless adversities and interference from his blood relatives, he stood whole.
"Ah…."
Bill sniffled and wiped the tip of his nose.
Having served him the closest as his butler, the emotion was surely extraordinary.
Thud.
Dane walking toward the seat of honor was dazzling. The morning sunlight breaking over his silver hair scattered into brilliant fragments.
Dane sat in the chair pulled out by a servant. Then he finally opened his mouth.
"As of today, I have turned twenty-three."
His low, deep voice resonated through the high ceiling of the dining hall.
It was a confession of an ordinary age, but to Dane, it was equivalent to a declaration of victory.
Dane nodded toward the retainers.
"Until I could sit in this seat, I am well aware of the dedication of all of you who have served under the Schmaichel name."
He was not one to easily express sentimentality to his retainers, but today, this moment was an exception.
"Your Excellency, we merely fulfilled our duties. It is an honor in itself that you have safely welcomed this morning."
Bill replied with a trembling voice.
"All the servants of the household have also been eagerly awaiting this day."
A faint moisture gathered around Selma's eyes as well.
"Today's banquet is the stage where the masterpieces of my lifetime will be displayed, so please enjoy them to your heart's content!"
Fabri replied in a booming voice filled with pride and loyalty.
"Please lay down the heavy burdens you have carried for a while and enjoy yourself, Your Excellency."
Joel stepped forward with a relaxed and gentle smile.
Finally, everyone's gaze naturally turned to Rose.
"Your Excellency, happy birthday. How much you must have endured to welcome this morning today…."
Rose paused to collect herself, her voice seemingly catching in her throat.
In that moment, Joel did not know that beneath the table, Dane tightly grasped Rose's hand.
"…I may not be able to fathom it all, but at least for today, I hope you forget all that weight and find peace."
Eventually, Rose slowly finished speaking. Dane gave a brief nod and opened his mouth.
"Someone may have desperately wished for me not to see this morning, but I survived. And I will continue to hold this position."
After the confident and resolute declaration,
"Bring out the food."
The banquet began.
True to Fabri's boast, unprecedentedly lavish dishes filled the table. Just as the savory aromas were about to briefly melt the tension in the hall,
"Your Excellency."
A servant carrying a silver tray approached Dane's left side and stopped.
"This is the vintage wine the Madam prepared for Your Excellency."
Rose looked at the wine with a flustered face, then glanced at Joel. When Joel gave a subtle nod, Rose relaxed her expression with apparent relief.
"…R-right. Sonya must have brought it."
Then she offered Dane an awkward but sincere smile.
"I… prepared this to celebrate Your Excellency's birthday."
With the addition of Rose's claim that she had prepared the wine, the perfect trap was complete.
'It's over.'
Joel clenched his fist behind his back. His long patience was on the verge of bearing fruit.
Swish.
When Dane gave Bill a glance,
Clatter.
Bill took out a small glass as he always did. He was about to go through the procedure he performed at every meal.
"I shall test for any signs before partaking of the Madam's gift."
Bill poured the wine into Dane's glass and Rose's glass. Then he poured a little of the wine from Dane's glass into his own.
"……."
Silence hung over the dining hall. Everyone's gaze was fixed on Bill's lips as he brought the glass to his mouth.
Clack.
Bill took a sip of the wine and waited a moment.
After a silence passed,
"There is nothing amiss."
Bill bowed his head with a calm face.
"An excellent vintage worthy of its reputation."
Sighs of relief slipped out among the retainers. The servant moved briskly to pour wine into the other retainers' glasses as well.
Clatter.
Dane raised his glass high.
"You have all waited long. To the destiny that today will bring us."
Everyone followed Dane and raised their glasses high.
"To destiny!"
Everyone's voices rang out with joy and reverence, and
Swish.
Dane brought the glass to his lips.
"……."
Joel held his breath and stared intently.
In a fleeting moment, a single sip would end it all.
Gulp.
Dane's Adam's apple moved with one large swallow.
The moment the red liquid disappeared into his mouth,
Crash!
The silver goblet fell to the marble floor.
Dane clutched his chest with his hand, and
Thud!
He collapsed onto the table.
"Your Excellency!"
"Kyaa!"
The retainers' shouts and screams erupted in a tangled mess.
"Your Excellency!"
Joel moved first.
"Good heavens!"
He rushed to Dane, cradled his face, and began checking his pulse.
"H-how…."
"Ah…."
The retainers stared blankly at Dane and Joel in shock. Rose in particular was frozen stiff in her spot, unable to move.
"This is…."
Joel urgently checked Dane's symptoms.
A completely pale complexion. His heart was beating madly fast, but his extremities were cold as ice.
They were the symptoms of mana backflow that Joel had anticipated and hoped for.
"J-Joel."
Bill approached hesitantly with a deathly pale face.
"W-why… the wine… there was nothing wrong with it…."
"—Now."
Joel looked up and ordered the servants.
"Lock the dining hall doors! Let no one in or out!"