CHAPTER 42

"Then why did you eat the poison. . . . ! Don't you know it's dangerous?"

I felt like I was getting upset. I couldn't understand why he did this when she was in so much pain. However, Edith shed tears and said she was not the culprit until the end.

"It's not me!"

Strangely enough, I felt like I was just listening to her protest that it wasn't her.

'Maybe it's not her, seeing that she insist that she not, even with the evidence? But then, who would do that?'

In the midst of such suspicions, Edith, wrapped in a blanket as if to hide her tears, said in a tired voice.

"If you don't have anything to say. . . . . Just go back."

Killian realized then. Edith didn't look at him. She didn't expect anything from him. It's always been that way. Killian got so angry about that for some reason.

'I'd rather you tell me everything and hang on to me! doesn't you realize that I'm the only one who can help you right now? Or, it's because 'I'm not trustworthy enough?'

He wasn't sure if he was really anger or it just something else, and he wasn't sure it was directed to Edith or himself. He wanted to say something more, but he couldn't think of anything to say. He just gritted his teeth and walked away. He left with a lot of undefinable feelings toward Edith.

***

It was Lizzy who saved me.

"There's no way Edith would do that."

"But that's the same poison she ate!"

"Edith said she doesn't know. If Edith was really trying to make me a culprit, why would she say she had an upset stomach as soon as she woke up?"

"She must have thought that you would make her look innocent."

"Why would Edith, the Count's daughter and already Killian's wife, want to hurt me in the first place? it doesn't make sense."

'Because Killian loves you!'

It seemed like they're having a bit of an argument, As a member of this family who couldn't answer 'because Killian love you!' Out loud. They couldn't break Lizzy opinion. In addition, Lizzy picked a words that stabbed their conscience.

"Now Edith isn't feeling well, but it's too cruel to push her around with something that's not certain yet! Edith just a lady same age as me!"

In the end, the duke and his member family decided step back from it. They still believes that it was me the culprit, but they should respect Lizzy's opinion, so they didn't punish me or hold me guilty. In fact, what I was most curious about when I received this news from Sophia was Killian's reaction. However, I couldn't bring myself to ask Sophia about it. Anyway, thanks to Lizzy, i managed to get out from this crisis. More than that, I felt a little guilty for doubting Lizzy so far.

'That's a lot of compassion, even though she was almost accused of being a poisoner because of me, but it's a great mercy. As expected, she's the main character.'

In fact, this episode end like in the original story, where Edith ended up being the culprit. In the original story it's was really Edith the culprit. However, she barely escaped from being kicked out after she apologized to Lizzy. But this time, i didn't eat the poison myself. it's was Sophia doing and made me look like I'm the culprit of this incident. More than that, Lizzy covered me for not apologizing. Thanks to that, I was able to get back to my daily life without being questioned.

'Yes. Maybe it was all because of my jealousy that i seemed suspicious to Lizzy so far.'

I tried not to pay attention to Lizzy, but the constant comparison and discrimination made me hate her without realizing it. Now i understand why Lizzy seemed to be framing me as the culprit in the document leak incident. For her point views It was enough that it make me suspicious from her perspective.

'There's no way in the world that the main character would harm a lowly villain like me. Was I being over self-conscious?'

I felt grateful to Lizzy for making this happen. If it weren't for Lizzy, I might have been stuck in this room for another few months. I could have survived for a few months, but the problem was that I was running out of time before my neck was cut off, and Sophia was here.

'Should I get along with Lizzy?'

That's how I decided to ask Killian carefully, who stopped by a few days later to check on my condition.

"Do you. . . . Know what Lizzy likes?"

"Why do you ask that?"

"Anyway, thanks to her, I'm not being falsely accused, so I'm thinking of giving her something as a gift."

Killian's eyes, looking at me, somehow shook. By the way, it was kind of amazing that Killian came to visit me. It's good, but I'm a little nervous because he is doing something he doesn't normally do.

"If that's the case, well. . . . . I guess it's embroidery."

"Self-made?"

"Yes. She likes reading and embroidery, but if you are going to give her a gift, I think embroidery would be better. There are many things to present."

"Ah, i got it."

After answering, I was stunned inside. It wasn't because I really had any special intentions that I had to repay Lizzy. Even that was influenced by the flow of the original. In the original, Edith gave Lizzy an embroidered needle set as an apology. With a lot of poison on it.

'So, what happened?'

The original Edit wasn't very stupid either, so it wasn't a deadly poison. After applying the poison in small doses, she got an excuse by watching Lizzy get weaker.

'But in the end, the poisoned embroidery needle was discovered by Cliff, who thoroughly investigated everything Lizzy touched.'

My stomach was drying up. And Killian, seeing me, was pleased. He went out saying that he would call a handcraft merchant right away. After some time, the handicraft merchant, who had been called by Killian, spread out all kinds of things and recommended this and that.

"How about this? It's a high-quality embroidery needle set. I've sold dozens of sets of this because this needle set was so good. You can try them, people who have used this needle set recommend them to others. "

Why is the first thing you picked up is a needle!

"No needles!"

"Yes?"

"Oh, no, it's. . . . .It's too small! it's a gift, so i need something looks good. Well, what is that?"

I quickly turned the merchant's attention to the other side.

"Ah! that's great, too! This is a set of embroidery threads imported from the Kingdom of Suitan. It's made from the finest cashmere wool. You've got good eyes."

"Then, I'll take that!"

There were so many colors and it was quite expensive because there were a lot of threads, but I didn't think it was a waste at all, so I bought it and packed it myself.

'This will be fine. There's no way she'll be stabbed by the thread.'

I didn't know what she would do if I left it to Sophia, so I bought the thread, wrapped it, and immediately visited Lizzy.

"Edith! Are you feeling better now? I still don't have a good complexion. . . . . "

"It doesn't hurt much now. More than that. . . . . I heard that Lizzy worked so hard for me. Thank you very much."

"It's a matter of course! Edith is just a victim, too."

Looking at her worry about my physical condition first, I sincerely wished that I could be friends with her.

"This is. . . . . It's nothing, but it's my little sincerity."

"You don't have to do this. . . .!"

Lizzy seemed embarrassed when she received my gift.

"You've saved 6 a lot of trouble, so just take that as a gift, Lizzy."

Killian, who was sitting in Lizzy's room, gave a hateful answer. Did you come in advance and wait because you were afraid that I might say something harsh to Lizzy?

"Killian. I've known for a while that you and Lizzy have a good relationship, but it's rude to sit in her room."

"Sit down. . . . ?"

"I'm sorry, Lizzy. My husband is a little bit. He doesn't know how to go in and out."

He doesn't know too much about working in and around limits. At that, Lizzy burst out laughing, and Killian smirked in disbelief. However, the mood wasn't bad. It's enough to make you think we are on good terms.

***

But things didn't turn out the way I had hoped. It seems like it's always been that way. The damned "flow of the original" crawled out of the woodwork, as if it couldn't get enough of making me the villain this time. It was an evening a few days after I'd given Lizzy the embroidery thread. Suddenly, my door burst open, and a contemplative Killian jumped in.

"Edith Ludwig! What the hell have you done!"

I was grateful for his sudden appearance because I was almost hit by Sophia, but I couldn't understand what he was saying.

"Killian? What the hell is going on? What's wrong with you?"

Killian paused at my question.

"Edith. I'm sure you'll say no again this time."

"Yes? what? you have to explain yourself before I can answer!"

He grabbed me roughly by the shoulders and said.

"Lizzy collapsed."

"Yes? Lizzy? Why?"

"She was poisoned while embroidering with the embroidery thread you gave her as a gift."

"What. . . . ?"

I was so surprised this time. Because it can't be.

"No way! What are you talking about? I bought the thread from a handicraft merchant, packed it on the spot, and took it with me. In the meantime, no one touched it!"

"So didn't you ask? What the hell did you do?"

I had a headache. Does it mean that even if I didn't do anything, the flow of the original was changed to a solid thread?