44. Though Poisoned

Two weeks passed in the blink of an eye, and the day of the second match in the Platoon Leader Appointment Exam had arrived.

After her usual light practice routine and breakfast, Charlotte headed to the office to meet Reet—who was supposed to arrive two hours before the match.

“Good morning!”

She arrived right on time, expecting to find him already there. Instead, only Ursu and Larg greeted her.

“Ah, good morning.”

“Good morning.”

“Um, where is my master?” Charlotte asked.

Ursu said he hadn’t arrived yet.

That’s when Charlotte sensed something was wrong.

Reet was an extraordinarily punctual man. Over the past month, they had practiced together almost every single day, and he had never once been late to a scheduled time. Yet on such an important day—the day of the match itself—he was late.

Just one minute past the scheduled time, yet the wrongness of it felt immense.

And that wrongness proved justified.

“…Good morning.”

Two minutes late, Reet appeared at the office.

Charlotte was relieved to see him—until she saw his appearance.

His face was deathly pale, sweat pouring down his forehead. He was somehow managing to stand, but his balance was unstable, swaying as if he might collapse at any moment.

“M-Master!”

Charlotte hurried toward him.

“Are—are you okay!?”

“…Yeah.”

Reet’s answer was unconvincing. It was obvious to anyone present that he was in no condition to fight.

“Reet, what happened!?” Larg rushed over, flustered.

“…Well… according to the doctor… it seems I’ve been poisoned.”

“Poisoned!?”

“Don’t worry. The doctor says it’s not lethal. I just have a foggy mind, and my body won’t move properly.”

“Who would…”

To that question, Reet had an answer—or at least, he understood the likely culprit.

Reet had been taught about poisons by his father, yet despite that knowledge, he had consumed one. Which meant the answer was clear: his father, Duke Welzley, must have hidden it away in preparation for just such a moment. If that were not the case, there would be no way to administer a poison unknown to Reet so precisely.

But he chose not to voice this aloud.

“The antidote?”

“I got medicine from the doctor and I’m taking it. But apparently it won’t take effect immediately.”

Watching Reet speak in a breathless voice, Charlotte clenched her small fists tightly and gazed at him.

“Don’t worry. I’m fighting in the match.”

Reet said this to Charlotte.

“…In this state? That’s reckless, no matter how you look at it.”

Ursu offered Reet his shoulder for support as he spoke.

But Reet had no intention of changing his mind.

Not for my own sake, of course.

If they lost here, Charlotte would never become a knight. If he let that happen because of himself, he might as well be dead.

“This morning was much worse. I’m doing considerably better now and should be fine by the time the match comes around.”

“But…”

Reet lowered himself into a chair in the office.

“In any case, I’m competing in the match. Being at home wouldn’t change the fact that I’m suffering anyway.”

Reet made his declaration.

There was no one left who could argue against it.