The False Vice-Commander ~The Forest Witch Blooms in Secret Love~ - Episode 5

Noir and Celes, having returned to the royal castle, had no way of knowing. Beneath the Marquis Monfort estate, in a secret room disguised as a wine cellar. In a space surrounded by cold stone walls, Vira Esfort was opening a small silver box. Her fingertips touched the dried, silver magical herb. Lunabane, which grows only under moonlight. Its eerie glow, now illuminated by the dim light of a candlestick, looked just like the scales of a snake lying in wait for its prey. Vira's lips slowly curled upward. "Heh heh... heh heh heh..." She was laughing. But her eyes were not. Her beauty, like an ice sculpture, was burned by twisted jealousy, a mere shadow of its former self. "That forest witch. If you get in my way, this time you'll disappear for good—" Vira clenched the Lunabane. The magical herb crumbled with a dry sound, releasing a potent toxin that was palpable even through her white gloves. "On the day of the Star Festival, that woman will definitely brew tea. For His Highness. And for that foolish guard knight." She carefully transferred the crushed Lunabane into a small silver tea caddy. Inside was already the moonlight tea that Noir always used. "Exactly the same color as the tea leaves. No taste, no smell. There's no way they'll notice." Her movements were graceful, as if singing a lullaby to a beloved child, and yet... utterly twisted. "This is the end. Your little tea parties, and your false vice-commander act." Vira gently closed the tea caddy and hugged it as if it were a jewelry box. In her cold, jade-colored eyes, a light akin to madness dwelled. "I won't give up the queen's throne to anyone. You can just lie at my feet, never able to move again." The underground darkness enveloped her laughter. --- Several days later. On the eve of the Star Festival, the royal capital Lumiere was wrapped in an unprecedented fervor. In the central market, Fontaine Square, countless star-shaped lanterns were hung, and at night they shone as if the Milky Way had descended to earth. The sweet scent of spices and baked goods filled every corner of the city. The royal castle was no exception. Civil officials and servants were busy with final confirmations for tomorrow's ceremony. Third floor of the east wing, the Vice-Commander's office. Noir sat at her desk, preparing for tomorrow's tea party. Tomorrow was a special day. The main event of the Star Festival was also the day when Gilvest's magical power was at its peak. The magic transfer ritual needed to be performed more carefully than usual. "Hmm. The tea leaf stock is... oh my, it's already this low." She opened the wooden box she had brought from the forest and tilted her head. Inside, only a little moonlight tea remained. "This is enough for tomorrow, but I'd like some backup. This is a problem. It takes time to order more from the forest..." Just then, there was a knock at the door. "Noir! This is huge, big news!!" It was Crown Prince Gilvest who entered. His dark chestnut hair mixed with red was as messy as ever today, and his golden eyes, unique to the royal family, sparkled with excitement. "This is huge" had practically become his standard greeting, and no one bothered to point it out anymore. Noir smiled and spun around in her chair. "Hello, puppy prince. What's the news today?" "I told you to stop with the puppy thing... no, this is no time for that." Gilvest waved his hands exaggeratedly. "A messenger came from Vira yesterday. The Marquis Monfort family is going to offer some incredibly precious moonlight tea leaves as a celebration gift for the Star Festival." Noir blinked in surprise. "Vira did? Moonlight tea?" "Yeah. And it's supposedly the highest grade, specially harvested from the Cardona Forest. Offering these tea leaves means she acknowledges the results of your research into my problem—in other words, she's acknowledging you." Gilvest smiled happily. Because he was the type to prioritize the people around him over himself, he was now thinking of Noir's position first, unconsciously dismissing the malice directed at her by others. While it sometimes made one worry if that was fitting for a crown prince, at other times it was also a relief, offering a glimpse of the delicate nature of a young man who possessed both dignity and kindness. Noir remained smiling, but her indigo-violet eyes narrowed sharply for just a split second. (It hasn't even been ten days since the incident at the soirée. Would that woman really give in so easily?) However, saying such a thing in front of Gilvest would only trouble him. "I see. That's appreciated. ...So, where are these tea leaves?" "They've already arrived. Look, here they are." Gilvest took a small silver tea caddy from his pocket. It was indeed crafted with elaborate workmanship that marked it as a high-quality item. Noir accepted it and gently opened the lid. The distinctive aroma of moonlight tea wafted up softly. A sweet, bluish scent, reminiscent of a queen of the night flower. In appearance, it was completely identical to the tea leaves she always used. "...These are good tea leaves. Truly." Noir closed the lid and placed it on the desk. Her fingertips stroked the silver surface smoothly. "Right? With this, tomorrow's preparations are perfect." "Yes. ...Say, Gilvest." Noir stood up and walked over to the window. Her long, jet-black hair swayed in the afternoon light. "If, just hypothetically. If something were tampered with in these tea leaves. Who do you think would benefit the most?" The air in the room tensed sharply. Gilvest's smile froze. "...What are you saying, Noir. Vira is certainly a disagreeable lady, but she wouldn't go so far as to—" "Hmm. Just a hypothetical. Don't mind it. More importantly, is Celes not coming today?" Noir changed the subject. Her profile as she gazed out the window was as calm as ever, as if the earlier tension had never existed. "Ah... about that, listen. That guy, since last night he's been feeling unwell and is in the medical office..." Noir slowly turned around. "...What?" The usual leisurely pause vanished from her voice. (Aftereffects of the enchantment magic from the soirée, now? Or could it be—) Without a word, she dashed out of the Vice-Commander's office. --- Royal castle north wing, the court medical office. In a room smelling of disinfectant and poultice medicine, Celes lay on a bed. His complexion was paper-white, and greasy sweat beaded on his forehead. His lips were dry, his breathing shallow and rapid. His blue eyes were closed, his brow furrowing in pain from time to time. "...Noir... -dono..." As if in delirium, he repeated that. Chief Medical Officer Mathis silently ran his pen across the medical chart. In his fifties, he was famous for never changing his expression no matter how severely injured the patient. Just then, Noir rushed in. "Celes!!" She ran to the bed and grasped his hand. The same hand that had held hers back in the carriage on the way home from that soirée. (So cold. Even colder than that time.) Noir bit her lip. "Doctor Mathis, what is Celes's condition?" Mathis slowly looked up. "...I don't know. I thought it might be aftereffects of the enchantment magic, but it's not just that. His magical power is rampaging inside his own body. As if reacting to some kind of toxin." "Poison...!" It was then. Celes faintly opened his eyes. His unfocused pupils moved, searching for Noir. "...Noir... -dono. Those... tea leaves..." "Tea leaves? What are you talking about?" "Delivered yesterday... Vira... to the Vice-Commander's office... a tea caddy..." Celes's voice was fragmented. But to Noir's ears, each word struck like thunder. (Vira did. To the Vice-Commander's office.) (Something in my tea leaves?) "...Ah, I see." Noir's indigo-violet eyes held a strong light unlike ever before. It was anger. When attacked by beasts in the forest, when insulted in the royal castle, she had never gotten angry. But, now. Someone precious to her had been hurt. That fact awakened something that had been sleeping deep within her heart. "Hey, Celes. I gave you a magic recovery potion, didn't I? Why didn't you drink it?" "...Because... it was something I received from you." "What are you saying at a life-threatening time like this?!" Scolding Celes lightly, Noir turned and addressed Mathis. "Doctor Mathis, I will detoxify him. Please give this potion to Celes. And one more thing—" Noir took a small vial from her skirt pocket. A deep blue liquid swayed inside. A magic recovery potion. A homemade specific remedy she had concocted in the forest. She opened the vial and gently brought it to Celes's lips. "Celes, can you drink? Slowly is fine." Celes nodded faintly and drank the potion from Noir's hand. A moment of silence. Mathis gasped. "...The poison is being neutralized...!?" Celes's complexion visibly returned. His shallow breathing deepened, the greasy sweat on his forehead receded. A faint rosiness returned to his pale lips. "...Noir-dono...?" Celes called her name in a clear voice. Noir smiled softly. "Hmm. It seems I made it in time. Good." Saying that, she stood up. "Well then, I'll be going out for a bit." "...Where to?" "To catch the culprit, of course. I have to make sure she pays properly for hurting you." "I'm coming too." "No. You rest." Noir's smile was as gentle as ever. However, both Mathis and Celes felt a chill run down their spines. (This person is the scariest type when angry.) Noir swished the hem of her skirt and left the medical office. As she walked briskly down the connecting corridor, in her hand she gripped the silver tea caddy she had practically snatched from Gilvest's hands. --- Marquis Monfort estate. Vira's private room was on the third floor, with a good view of the royal castle from the window. Today too, she was elegantly drinking black tea. Tomorrow, everything would end. That forest witch would disappear from the queen's seat, and Gilvest would have no choice but to choose her. Her lips broke into a smile at this elegant vision of the future. It was then. BANG!! The door burst open. "Wha, what is it!? How rude!!" Standing there was Noir. Not a trace of her usual gentle smile. Her indigo-violet eyes were cold and clear, like a winter night sky. "Vira Esfort. You are under suspicion of high treason and attempted murder. Attempted murder by poison against His Highness the Crown Prince and Guard Knight Celes Lindbloom." "Wha, what are you talking about!? Do you have any proof!?" Vira stood up, shrieking. Her face was deathly pale. Noir quietly held up the tea caddy. "The contents of this tea caddy are the moonlight tea you offered. If this is analyzed, components of Lunabane will be detected. Lunabane is a toxic herb that requires a permit to possess. And you do not have that permit." "Tha, that's...!!" "That's not all. I have a keen nose, in more ways than one. When you tampered with the tea caddy, were you drinking wine? Come to think of it, there's a wine cellar under this mansion, isn't there? Why don't you show it to me? Ah, perhaps we might find a hidden room while we're at it, and Lunabane might turn up from there. The evidence that you tampered with the Star Festival's magic circle might all come together as well." Vira's legs began to tremble violently. Noir took a step closer to her. A leisurely pace, but one that brooked no argument. "You know, I didn't care what you said to me. Forest witch. Inscrutable woman. False Vice-Commander. ...It's all true, after all." "...Wha, what are..." "But you hurt someone precious to me. That, I will absolutely never forgive." Noir's right hand rose softly. "I'm going to cast a spell on you. This is a curse that causes excruciating pain if you lie. If you tell even one lie in response to the questions I'm about to ask—your body will experience a burning agony from the inside out

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Episode 5

Name: The False Vice-Commander ~The Forest Witch Blooms in Secret Love~
Author: Novelia

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