Volume 6, Chapter 24: The Real Nature of the Poison (1/2)

Yao, the priestess, and the priestess’ other food taster. Out of the three, Yao had it the worst. Though she was in remission for a time, she had relapsed once again. Now, three days later, she seems to have mostly stabilised, but there were no grounds for guesses.

Maomao had taken over Yao’s duties at the priestess’ villa to nurse them. However, as their symptoms were minor, she was only staying over as a precaution.

Most importantly, the real issue was regarding the individual deemed as the poisoner.

(Why is it Airiin again?)

Why would this woman from Sha’ou, the same country as the priestess herself, poison her?

(She’s only treated as a suspect, though.)

There was a witness. It’s been confirmed that Airin had indeed procured the poisonous incense powder beforehand, and that she was seated close to the priestess during the banquet, as her former compatriot. Moreover, although she was under constant monitoring, Maomao knew that wasn’t strictly the case. When Maomao delivered the incense, there hadn’t been a maid around Airin. She imagined the consort must’ve snuck it onto the plate when the opportunity arose.

It wasn’t impossible.

After looking at the witness and the circumstances, she was told Airin was undergoing questioning about the matter.

(We have to find the culprit as soon as possible.)

It’ll blow up into an international problem.

(But if that person is from the same country…)

The situation is convenient for Rii as a country. They can shift the responsibility of the priestess’ attempted poisoning over to Sha’ou’s as internal strife. If Airin turned out to be the actual culprit, it will be all the more convenient.

(If so, how will things pan out for Rahan?)

Maomao recalled the small man whose head was full of numbers and was only attracted to appearances. To begin with, Rahan had invited Airin into the country under the guise of either improving food security or providing asylum. Even if it was a mistake on his part, that calculative man probably won’t be implicated as an accomplice. Nevertheless, it’s not something that can be brought up comfortably in conversation.

(There might be something more to it.)

Above all, Maomao felt sick. There were too many things she couldn’t figure out.

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“Priestess-sama is already doing better.”

It was on the morning of the fifth day when the attendant relayed this to Maomao.

“Priestess-sama’s complexion still seems poor, though,” Maomao said.

“That’s due to her frame of mind. With someone like that as the other party, there’s no way she’d feel well.”

(I know right.)

Considering how even though her life had been targeted in a distant, foreign land, the poisoner was still someone from her own country.

“That’s true. Do they know each other?” Maomao asked.

“…yes. She was originally among those who had shown up as the next priestess candidate,” the attendant replied.

(I see now.)

“Understood.” Maomao thought as she agreed.

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A horse-drawn carriage arrived just as she left the priestess’ villa. Maomao stepped on board as is, but the person inside was Dad.

“Is Yao all right?” she asked.

“For the moment, yes. En’en is looking after her. She will let me know as soon as her condition worsens,” Dad answered.

Maomao was told that Yao had been in remission, after which her condition had worsened, and has now stabilised. They couldn’t let down their guard just yet, but there was probably a reason behind Dad coming to pick up Maomao. Dad looked outside, and as expected, he said:

“We’re not returning to the medical office. We’ll be going a little further inside.”

The inside of the medical office was the area where the so-called big shots in the imperial court congregated. Maomao had an inkling as to why they were headed there. “…is it about the banquet?”

Maomao with the priestess and the priestess’ attendant, and Dad with Yao, respectively. The two of them have been providing medical care to victims of the poisoning. With Airin as the suspect, it wasn’t hard to guess why Maomao and her dad were summoned as witnesses.

The carriage passed by the medical office and headed for its destination. It was Jinshi’s palace.

“Come in.”

Greeting them with a polite bearing, was Suiren. The aging maid, with her white hair twisted into a bun, gave a faint smile as soon as she saw Mamao. Maomao bowed her head at the somewhat crafty old lady in response.

The old lady guided them into a room with Jinshi, Basen, and Rahan. Briefly, she wondered why Rahan was present, but he was the one who had a hand in Airin’s entry into the inner palace. He seemed perplexed at the current situation—the short, bespectacled man’s lips were twisted.

“Did you hear about the matter at hand?” Jinshi asked.

“Is it the matter regarding Consort Airin?” Maomao said.

“Then let’s get to the point. First, I want to hear from Ruomen-dono.”

The discussions proceeded without preamble.

“I can only talk about Yao, a court lady who assists court physicians,” Dad said.

(That has to be a lie.)

Maomao thought. Dad has a cautious personality. Or more accurately, something along the lines of “he only verbalises thoughts grounded in concrete evidence?” He’s the type of person who refuses to speak of assumptions.

“Yao is in a critical condition. She has symptoms of abdominal pain, vomiting and diarrhoea. Though she was in remission, her condition deteriorated once again, and she is currently back to a stable state.”

It was also as Maomao had heard. The symptoms matched those of incense powder poisoning. But the severity of her symptoms, where her condition worsened again, made Maomao tilt her head a little.

Shikimi, an ingredient in incense powder, is toxic. It is a potent poison that is potentially fatal, but the poison itself is only found in high concentrations within the fruit. The powdered form of the leaves and peel are what’s used in incense. If you eat copious amounts to such an extent…

(I would have expected her to notice it.)

Maomao had taught Yao how to food taste. She also told the court lady to examine by smell. However, Yao’s complexion had been bad since before the food tasting, so Maomao feared she may have had a blocked nose.

However, what Dad said next transformed Maomao’s uncertainty into something more decisive:

“I believe the poison is likely to be mushroom poison. It is not shikimi poison.”

At the words that overturned their assumptions, everyone was dumbfounded. The ones who summoned Dad were probably here to clarify the suspicion of Airin over the assembled evidence.

“I see….” Maomao understood now. Mushroom poison has many varieties, some of which are much stronger than shikimi. Moreover, the symptoms are similar. Indeed, Yao wouldn’t be able to identify the smell and taste of poisonous mushrooms.