[Celia's POV]
"Mrs. Jonathan doesn't live here?" She repeated under her breath. Celia walked back to Enzo's house, hunger forgotten. How was that possible? The more she thought about this, the more she felt strange. The fact was so random yet it felt so strange to her.
She did not know what to think of that. The shop looked clearly rundown and…
"You took a lot of time at the palace." Celia yelped at the voice. She turned to find Enzo standing at the end of the stairs, arms crossed against his chest. He was frowning, his eyes held disappointment.
"I…" Celia trailed off clutching the bag of food to her chest in nervousness.
"Let us have lunch first. We will talk later," he said dismissively.
Celia stood there a bit frazzled as she watched Enzo go back upstairs. She hurriedly went back to her room and changed into a different gown, a pastel blue shade with small flowers on the skirt.
When she went to the kitchen, she saw that Enzo was already sitting at the dining table.
"Take a seat," he asked, and Celia complied.
She kept her head bowed as she sat down. Her heart was thudding in her chest. What would he ask?
"About the visit," she started before he could ask her questions. "I went to the palace and wanted to give Artemis the instructions and return, but…the duke wanted me to assist with the medicine."
Celia mumbled the last few words, but Enzo heard them as he let out a heavy sigh.
"And you agreed?" He asked calmly. Celia was more than aware of this tone. She clenched her hands into fists.
She gave a curt nod at that.
"Why?" He asked in a level tone. Celia fought to keep her hands on her lap and not bang them loudly on the table.
"How could I not? He is the ruler of this state, even if he chooses to stay near this town. How could I refuse him?" She asked in a taut voice, but she couldn't help the anger from leaking in her tone.
When she peered at him, fearing that he would look angry, she was taken aback to see the look of astonishment in his eyes as well. Although he was quick to mask it.
"Very well. I will not send you there from now on. Please do not make decisions without consulting me, because you are my…apprentice," he said firmly. There was something in his tone, that made Celia shudder inwardly.
Celia opened her mouth to speak but at that moment Mrs. Gibson entered with a tray of food. She placed the dishes on the table and asked Enzo, "Anything else, Master?"
Enzo shook his head. "Nothing else."
Mrs. Gibson nodded and threw a scathing glance at Celia before leaving. However, Celia wasn't bothered by her icy look. She could be angry for anything, but at the moment, Celia was seething with anger.
"Excuse my forwardness, Doctor O'Neil, but I couldn't really make a decision right then. He was not ready to be assisted by Artemis, and―"
"Fine, I understand. I won't send you to places where I deem fit," he said in a placating tone.
Celia gulped in fear at the words she was about to say next, "Well, he also wants me to visit him every day to assist with the medicine, so…uh I tried to refuse but―"
She stopped mid-sentence when she saw the thunderous look in Enzo's eyes. She was slowly realizing that the man who looked so calm and collected, kind and soft-spoken from the outside, wasn't so in reality. It was a little heartbreaking but now that she had left the Wilson manor, she would have to stick around here until she found a better job.
"He said what?" He asked slowly.
Celia swallowed nervously. "My Lord, you have to understand―"
He couldn't be angry and envious now. She was not at fault, but at that moment she felt scared. His blue eyes had darkened, his lips were set in a deep frown and his expression conveyed that he might as well murder someone.
He pushed back his chair, leaving his food untouched. "Excuse me. You eat, I have something urgent to do."
Celia tried to protest but he stormed out before she could let out another word. She stood up as well and ran after him, but she couldn't go far as her hand was gripped by someone and then she found herself face-to-face with Mrs. Gibson.
"What. Did. You. Tell. Him?" She glowered at her as she asked the question. Celia looked at the way Enzo had stormed off, and back at the housekeeper.
"I will explain later. I need to stop him," she said in a pleading tone.
But Mrs. Gibson kept her in her grasp. "No. Let him do what he pleases. You, on the other hand, should repent for whatever you did."
"Why?" Celia cried out and suddenly wrenched her hand away from the older woman. The housekeeper looked at her with shock.
"I am not the one who went there. I went to the Duke to deliver the medicine, and he asked me to assist with it. How can an ordinary girl like me, refuse his order? If Doctor Enzo gets angry, what am I to do? I tried to decline, I did but he wouldn't listen." Celia's vision was blurry. She was crying.
Mrs. Gibson looked slightly chastened. She averted her gaze and said, "Fine, you don't have to act so sensitive due to that. We are employed here, so, do not expect to find justice. Also, watch your mouth when you speak to your employer, understood?"
Celia's jaw twitched but she gave a nod of acknowledgement.
"Now go back and finish your food. I don't like people wasting things," the older woman said before leaving.
After she returned to her room, she closed the door and took out the notebook where she had been writing her observations.
She began writing:
Heart's Bane ― when in raw form, it inflamed the skin. In elixir form, no reaction.
Unknown plant with yellow flowers ― poisonous (?)
She closed the book and decided to take a look at the garden. It would be best if she gained more knowledge of them. There was too much on her mind right now, too many questions whose answers she would not get any sooner.
She walked up to the plant where she had seen the butterfly. There were no flowers. The plant looked inconspicuous.
'Should I touch it?' She thought. Something about the plant intrigued her. She raised her hand and lightly touched the plant.
But before she could do anything further, she heard someone say, "Don't touch that."
She saw Fredrick standing a few steps away from the doorway. When did he arrive?
"I―"
"That is Ivy of Death. That is dangerous if you even touch it," he said as he came to stand beside her.
"Then what is Heart's Bane? That is dangerous too." Celia felt perplexed.
Fredrick hummed. "But you can make an elixir from the Heart's Bane, which is beneficial. However, with this plant, you cannot. The juice, the leaf and the stem whether touched for too long or consumed accidentally will be fatal for a person."
Why was Enzo keeping this kind of plant here in the garden?
"A doctor has to keep both poison and cure in hand," Fredrick said as if answering her unvoiced question.
"Look but don't touch, unless Master is with you," he said gruffly.
"Yes, I will," Celia murmured.
Ivy of Death? Where has she heard it? Fredrick left her alone. It reminded her of the duke, how he had given her the piece of information about the Heart's Bane.
The thought brought back her earlier worry. Did she deepen the rift between the two brothers?
And then…
She rushed to stop Fredrick.
"Ah…excuse me," she said, making him stop in his tracks.
He turned and looked at her quizzically.
"Do you know, Mrs. Jonathan?" She asked with her heart in her throat.
The butler stiffened and then turned away his gaze. "Who is that?"
Celia wanted to elaborate but the man said, "Don't ask me silly questions." And he left.
However, Celia swore that she saw some kind of recognition on his face, but why did he lie then? What was happening here? Or with her?