Chapter Nine.

Lady Delinda stood in her garden, surrounded by her mother's herbs, where she cultivated plants with potent effects. She got her order today and decided to cultivate it the tea plant,one meant to bolster immunity and one, identical in appearance, that was deadly poisonous. These two plants were indistinguishable to the untrained eye, but her father had taught her well. No one else was permitted to enter this garden, she alone planted and harvested, warning the maids to stay clear. Carrying her harvest, she returned to her chamber, her mind drifting back to the days when she was nothing more than a poor village girl.

Born into a family that valued only sons, Delinda's early years were harsh. Her father, a drunkard, would return home in a rage, beating both Delinda and her mother. "You worthless woman," he would shout, "all you bring is bad fortune. Eight years it took you to bear a child, and yet you give me nothing but a useless daughter!" He would call Delinda over, taunting, "You, come here, you good-for-nothing, just like your mother." This abuse continued for years, casting a shadow over their lives.

Delinda's mother, though, was skilled in the lore of herbs. She would often take Delinda into her small garden, teaching her the properties of each plant. "This tea plant is harmless," she'd say, "but this one, this is deadly poison and takes a long time for it effect to manifest, you can call it slow poison. They look alike, but only the wise can tell them apart." She'd explain how some plants could be brewed for love potions, others to heal illness. Delinda, wide-eyed, had once asked, "Why not make a love potion for Father? Perhaps he would love us then." Her mother shook her head solemnly, whispering, "It is said that these herbs bring a curse to those who use them for ill. Every wrong done with them will surely return upon the doer."

At eighteen, Delinda had begun slipping out to the inns, sometimes drinking and spending nights with men for money. She had long felt worthless, but one night changed everything. Her father returned after a week's absence, reeking of drink and perfume, and started a brutal quarrel. "I hear what you've become," he sneered, "lying with filthy men for coin." Delinda spat back, "How else are we to survive when you care nothing for us? You dare call them filthy, look at yourself, Father! You're the filthiest man I know." Enraged, her father seized a heavy stick and lunged at her, but her mother stepped between them, taking the blow. She collapsed, unconscious.

Tears streaming, Delinda knelt beside her mother, desperate to wake her. But when her pleas went unanswered, a fierce determination rose within her. She grabbed the stick and struck her father until he lay still, his head bloodied and lifeless. Without looking back, she fled the village, eventually finding refuge with a group of travelers. She told them she was an orphan and joined them, finding herself, for the first time, in the countryside.

The travelers were servants of the Duke, and through them, Delinda found work within the Duke's estate. She lived among the other servants and was content for a time. One evening, she was called to serve a meal and caught sight of the Duke's son, Timothy, the future heir. She had heard rumors of his charm and handsomeness, but seeing him stirred a fierce desire. From that moment, she was determined, Timothy would be hers whether he had a wife and child which was 4 years of age, she didn't care.

Knowing the Duke's son would never choose her willingly, Delinda laid her plans carefully. She observed his habits and discovered that he would often visit the inn, where he drank heavily and took women to his bed. Each night he visited, Delinda slipped into his room with a special brew, a tea laced with herbs to heighten his desires. Under its influence, he took her without recognizing who she was. She repeated this scheme several times until she confirmed her pregnancy. Then she bided her time, waiting for the right moment.

When the Duke passed away and Timothy became the new Duke, Delinda's child had already been born. Through a discreet messenger, she began sending letters to Timothy, informing him of his son and threatening to reveal the affair if he did not acknowledge the boy. Her persistence paid off, and in time, she was brought into the estate, rising to the status of Duchess while Timothy's first wife, Lady Elisabeth, was quietly sent away after she almost discovered her secret.

Delinda had endured too much to arrive at her place of power, and now she had greater ambitions still. Dismissing Lady Elisabeth had been simple enough, securing her son's future as Duke was the ultimate goal. She imagined her mother, who had lived and died in poverty, witnessing her triumph. How proud she would be, and how just it would have been to see her father rotting in a dungeon.

Returning to the present, Delinda allowed herself a small smile and patted her shoulder in satisfaction. "Well done, Delinda," she murmured. "Just a little longer, and soon, you and your son shall rule."