3 The Poisoned Soup (2/2)
A fitting phrase he knew from his previous life.
It was a warning.
Telling him to not try anything rash and act like a corpse just as he always had.
She must have been quite agitated due to the recent talks about the successor.
”Oh Master Lazy Sword, it's good that you are showing such manners but your mother must be getting worried. Shouldn't you go back?”
Orelly whispered to herself as she turned her back to Riley.
”Oh wait, is it the other way around? My bad.”
”...”
”Who cares, right?”
***
Riley entered his mother's room, and asked Ian who was looking after her.
”How's mother?”
”She is alright. For now.”
She had made it through the worst of it.
That thought sank deep in Riley's heart.
With an expression as serious as Riley's, Ian put his hand on Riley's shoulder.
”Young master, may I have a word with you?”
Ian whispered with a grim face.
He was wary of the possibility that someone would be eavesdropping.
”The truth is, in the soup...”
Riley cut Ian's words before he could finish.
”There was poison right?”
”...?!”
Ian nodded in surprise with cold sweat running down his back.
He was wondering how Riley managed to find out, but that was not an important matter.
”...Yes, the poison is not strong enough to significantly harm a normal person, but Lady Iris is a special case. Her body is already weak from her genetic condition. It must have been a combination of both that caused her to faint.”
Riley stared at his sleeping mother.
”...”
It bothered him that he could not do anything but watch his mother fall.
”Therefore, someone in the mansion tried to assassinate Lady Iris. She is being targeted. We have already captured the maid who was in charge of the dinner. She will be questioned soon. And...”
Ian fixed his tie and bowed to Riley.
The action showed Ian's feelings of guilt.
”I am sorry. This old man was not aware of this until it was too late.”
Ian had looked after Riley ever since he was born.
He had neglected housework in order to try to convince Riley to train his swordsmanship.
The result was Lady Iris's poisoning.
If he had been on guard, it would not have happened.
Ian was prepared for the punishment.
”Ian.”
”Yes.”
”About the dream I had, in that strange world.”
”...”
”There's a saying like this.”
”Yes?”
”Don't wake the sleeping lion.”
Riley spoke while opening and closing his hand.
”Where's my wooden sword?”
”Young...master?”
Riley continued as he walked out of the bedroom.
”I must go to the training room.”
Today, Riley's eyes burned quietly, as he thought of his mother.