[Chapter 179] Money-Hungry Revenge

Idalia greeted Neris briskly.

"Hello, Neris. Long time no see."

"I didn't know you were here, Idalia."

Neris replied somewhat unkindly. Idalia's expression stiffened slightly.

'Do men really like such arrogance?'

Even after Idalia switched to theology, she hadn't completely lost touch with Neris. Whenever she heard news of Nelucian treating Neris well, she couldn't understand it at all.

But now, facing an inappropriate marriage right in front of her.

However, it was Idalia who had intruded into Neris's space. This was not Neris's room but the modest ground-floor reception room attached to the small and humble temple, yet it was closer to Neris's territory than Idalia's.

Idalia continued to speak briskly.

"I'm taking classes at the theological school in Ulveris this semester. I found out you were here by chance, so I came to say hello."

"Is that so?"

A smile seemed to appear on Neris's face. Idalia felt a sense of humiliation.

In reality, if it were up to her, she wouldn't have barged in before being invited. She would have met Neris by chance somewhere, then invited her to her own quarters or invited her over here.

However, before asking for Idalia's opinion, Hedda had already volunteered to handle the matter with the Pope. And the Pope immediately instructed to resolve the issue today.

'Just one drop. Feed only one drop. Not two.'

As soon as he mentioned bringing Neris Trued to the Pope due to their acquaintance, Hedda's attitude changed, and he took out his ring and handed it to Idalia.

Idalia absentmindedly caressed the ring adorned with a large jewel. Inside it was an unknown substance.

'...It's not lethal poison.'

If it were a deadly poison, the Pope wouldn't have sent only Idalia. Hedda had clearly reassured her.

To calm her racing heart, Idalia muttered to herself several times. Then, she pretended to be cheerful and asked Neris. It seemed best to act as if she hadn't heard about Neris's rumors.

"Are you here alone? Did you come here right after graduation?"

"No."

"Really? Then where were you before?"

"You don't need to know."

The conversation simply couldn't continue. Idalia didn't know how to engage with someone who clearly didn't welcome her. And to make matters worse, Neris didn't even offer a drink for the guest.

Feeling at a loss, Idalia struggled to come up with a topic that might interest Neris.

"Um, well... I regret that things weren't good between you and Megara when we were in school. I actually wanted to be friends with you in the first year, but Megara didn't like you much..."

At that, Neris's eyebrows twitched for the first time.

The nonsensical words she had casually spoken seemed to have piqued Neris's interest, thankfully. Idalia didn't find Neris's response as enthusiastic as she had hoped, but she still considered it positive and felt somewhat relieved.

Indeed, a slight smile appeared on Neris's face a moment later.

"Yeah. Megara didn't like you much either."

"I-I mean, not to that extent... It's just that there was a bit of a misunderstanding between us..."

"Everyone wanted to be friends with you, but Megara didn't like you. It's unfortunate, isn't it? But who can stop Megara from saying what she wants, right?"

"Uh... yeah..."

Idalia didn't know she could dislike someone so much. She didn't know she could be pricked in a sore spot like this.

Finally, a young messenger girl working in the temple brought herbal tea. When Idalia saw Neris offer to pay the girl, she thought it was the perfect opportunity given by fate.

Following the Pope's instructions, when Idalia gently pushed the jewel ring's gemstone, a liquid-like substance dripped out from a hidden groove inside.

With trembling hands, Idalia dropped the liquid into Neris's tea. Just one drop...

How much was exactly one drop? To Idalia, the amount of liquid that had just fallen seemed too little to be the first drop. Could it be a failure due to the small quantity?

If so, should she count it as 1.5 drops if she adds one more drop? Still, it was less than two drops, so perhaps she had followed the instructions correctly?

As Neris engaged in a brief conversation with the messenger girl, Idalia's forehead broke out in a cold sweat. Her heart was pounding so hard it felt like she might die.

A moment later, the next drop of the liquid from earlier flowed out from the jewel ring.

Idalia pondered for a brief moment. In that moment, something unfamiliar whispered in her mind.

"What if I put in two drops?

The Pope didn't say what would happen if two drops were added. However, the mere implication was enough to understand that the person who drank it would be in great danger.

What if it becomes dangerous?

Something whispered in her mind. Neris was a wicked woman. Her character was bad, her status was low, yet she dared to get close to Nelucian, dared to aspire to a position like the Duchess, and...

Wouldn't it be a good thing for many people if Neris disappeared from here?

Idalia realized that she genuinely believed that. She closed her eyes and swallowed hard.

Then, she dropped the newly emerged second drop of liquid into Neris's tea.

The liquid, which had a slight reddish tinge while in the ring, dissolved instantly and lost its color as it entered the tea. At that moment, Neris returned to her seat.

"To be honest, Idalia."

Idalia watched nervously as Neris began with 'to be honest' as soon as she sat down.

"Uh, yes?"

"The fact is, Idalia, that there is a reason why I accepted you coming here without an invitation."

"Yes?"

Idalia's spine tingled. It was a warning from her intuition.

Neris smiled slyly without picking up the teacup.

"This connection with you is getting tiresome. I thought our student days were over, but when you came looking for me directly to help, I felt there was no need to refuse. With Hedda coming along, it's perfect."

"W-What do you mean?"

Hedda had been wearing a hood all the way here, unsure if Neris would recognize her, and she was still waiting outside the door with her hood on. Idalia was so flustered that she accidentally knocked over her teacup.

"Oh, what a mess."

Neris took out a handkerchief to wipe Idalia's hands and smoothly removed the Omnitus jewel ring from Idalia's hand.

Swallowed it. Idalia shouted as if her soul was about to escape.

"I-I'm being blackmailed!"

"Well, that's right. Now that you know, you should drink this tea. Your tea is the one you spilled, isn't it?"

As she said that, Neris pointed to the tea that Idalia had put the potion into earlier. Idalia paled and trembled.

Neris now spoke indifferently and nonchalantly as if bored.

"Drinking one or two drops won't kill you. It just puts you in a coma for a long time."

"How do you know that?"

"I've seen someone drink it. One drop puts you out for a few days, two or more drops for a few months... depending on how much you hear, it could be years. It looks like you stop breathing and your body goes cold as if you're dead, but when the effects wear off, you wake up. Sleeping for a few days won't cause any major issues, but being in a coma for several months will likely have other side effects, right?"

Idalia looked at Neris with disbelief. Neris met her gaze and smiled slyly.

Delicate iridescent shimmer like hundreds of swirling gems. Idalia had heard the rumors, but from the moment she was guided into this room, she didn't like it.

Why only for Neris?

Was it a saying that only such luck came to that wicked girl? Idalia finally realized that what had been whispering in her mind all along was just her own feelings.

At the same time, her mind stopped thinking.

***

As Idalia collapsed after drinking the tea as per the command to "deal with what you've done," Neris sighed.

In a previous life, she had seen the Omnitus jewel ring and the potion inside being used. It wasn't a noble lady who held the ring back then, but Omnitus's attendant who couldn't even make proper excuses.

Smart.

"Come in."

The door opened, and Cladwin entered with a smile. Behind him, Aidan was restraining Hedda Railing and following behind.

"Let her go! How rude!"

Hedda's hood had long been removed. Neris sat and waved her hand in greeting with a smile.

"Hello, Hedda. Long time no see. It's been since you and your father were kicked out of Diane's house, right?"

"Neris Trued!"

Hedda growled like a beast.

The current situation was decidedly in Hedda's favor, and Neris knew Hedda was good at assessing situations. So, after a brief surprise, Neris calmly evaluated the growl.

"You look like you want revenge with money."

"What did you do to Idalia?"

"Well, I should call you 'Miss.' Anyway, you're the noble lady she serves. I won't ask how you knew I was here. You must have found out by any means necessary."

Neris had never paid attention to what happened to Hedda after being kicked out of Diane's house.

She wasn't forgiving. Since the noble society valued reputation greatly, she thought that with her father being a sinner, Hedda would now find it difficult to even enter the fringes of that society.

Yet, defying expectations and even rising to be the beloved daughter of Viscount Kendall, Hedda's abilities were extraordinary. If born into nobility, she could have competed with Megara.

Cladwin, with a pale face, glanced at the lying Idalia and asked, "Is she dead?"

"She's not dead."

"Too bad."

"If you had upset her, would you be upset too?"

"If I upset my wife, it would upset me."

Saying so, he sat next to Neris, kissed her hand, and glanced at Hedda as if he would kill Neris.

"Well, I'm not sure how Idalia will fare in the future. She'll suffer as much as she caused. ...Hedda, I'm really glad you're here. Thanks to you, things might get easier for us."

Ren's plan was indeed risky, but if successful, it would bring a significant ally. Despite the current unnecessary conflict of opinions.

Neris gestured to Aidan.

"Leave only her and go out. I need to talk with Hedda."

"I don't recommend it, Visionary."

Aidan frowned, using the changed title he had adopted recently. Neris smiled leisurely.

"Then tie her up and leave. Since it's a conversation between women, no one else should be here anyway."

What kind of conversation between women was happening in the midst of this? The men who entered the room couldn't understand but followed Neris's instructions nonetheless.

With a regretful look as if reluctant to leave, even Cladwin stood up and left, following Neris's lead. Neris approached the bound and kneeling Hedda.

"You'll be cursed if you live like this! You're a terrifying woman! You used to fawn over Diane when you were young, now you cling to high-status men!"

"Like how you clung to Sister Myriel? You really think others are just like you. It's strange, the more vulgar a person is, the more they think others are the same. Perhaps it's hard for them to imagine something beyond their small world."

Ignoring her, Hedda glared with fiery eyes. Staring directly into her eyes, Neris spoke with a compassionate expression.

"It's not that you did wrong, Hedda. I understand you too. I'm also a person driven by revenge with money."

Hedda's gaze gradually lost focus as she stared back.