"Excuse me, sir, may we take a blood sample?" A man in a white coat, wearing glasses, with a metal nameplate beside his chest pocket identifying him as a doctor, asked while a nurse stood beside him with a tray.
Several individuals in hospital attire rushed back and forth in the hallway, carrying tables filled with advanced testing equipment. Some of them were setting up a state-of-the-art medical facility with a tent in the open ground.
The garden quickly filled up with doctors, equipment, and even palace maids helping out.
"Hmm," Avendial crossed his arms in his bathrobe, allowing the doctor to insert the needle for a blood sample. He wasn't going to remove his bathrobe due to having an erection, likely the effect of the potent aphrodisiac, which, combined with his own stamina, kept his shaft still hard even after 2 hours, though it wasn't completely erect but firm enough.
'Viscount, Baron, and a member of the Duke's family,' Avendial had noticed several noblemen standing at a distance, observing him with various intentions. He looked towards his butler to convey a different impression of himself to these individuals, a message that Alfred understood.
"Master, who is responsible for this incident? Did Miss Rivia go in search of the perpetrator?" The butler came forward in a professional manner before bowing, inquiring in a formal tone while remembering the woman who should be the first one to react in such a situation of their master being poisoned.
"Exactly, we already have the perpetrator, Alfred." Avendial, hearing the name of Rivia, was reminded of the time, which was already 2 hours since he had left her behind in those trees with a blanket. However, putting that aside and knowing how difficult it would be to escape this place without getting noticed by guards, he calmly replied while seated on a chair, as the doctor took his blood, and his face remained composed.
"Master, may I know the name of that person?" Alfred bowed with his white-gloved hand placed on his chest and eyes closed. The killing intent surging within him was already visible to everyone due to Synergy leaking from him. A few of the doctors glanced at Avendial with narrowed eyes, showing their loyalty and curiosity in knowing the name of that particular special individual.
A chill filled the atmosphere due to the sudden silence caused by the behavior of those who stood around Avendial.
"We are in their territory, Alfred," Without hesitation, Avendial, who had been cheerful and flirtatious just moments ago, now sat composed with his eyes closed and hands folded, making it clear to others that he would hold the royal family accountable for the events of today. His demeanor had shifted from carefree to indifferent, revealing his true personality. The noblemen were left wondering about this sudden change in attitude.
When they first saw Avendial flirting and teasing with each individual and even declaring investments in Sertsul's business, it brought about a sense of confusion. But it turned out to be the effect of the poison.
Now, seeing how he isolated himself once again, they truly missed his previous self when he was offering free investments to everyone.
Unbeknownst to them, his such nature was needed to make these people believe he was targeted by that particular poison.
Since he couldn't just scream out the name, he left clues for these people, more specifically Princess herself. But now that his men were going to fill this place, there wasn't any need to keep up that facade in front of these two-faced individuals.
"This?" Alfred's eyes slightly widened upon hearing the word, realizing that the one behind this event was none other than the royal family.
'....' A few of the noblemen also took note of this, including Princess Katheria herself, who understood that this looming incident would definitely not be beneficial for their relationship going forward.
In high society, there are always two sides to a coin or an individual, just like how Marquess appeared sincere towards these individuals a few moments ago but now slowly showing his dissatisfaction with today's events.
It was expected, as this was no small matter but poisoning. It was clear that the Marquess himself was trying to act calmly to buy some time for their trusted people to arrive. This is something she would have done in such a case as well.
She, as a princess, gave him the permission to bring his doctors, but in the end, it was her responsibility as the host of the gathering to provide safety and security for such a thing.
Now, it depended on Marquess's decisions for what his course of action will be towards this whole event—like taking this to Royal court and demanding compensation from her for such improper security.
But, he cannot use this as a reason to end their engagement since there is no evidence, and both of them must agree to end the marriage.
She, on the other hand, had no support except for this endorsement from the Marquess provided by the Emperor himself, so it would be foolish for her to accept an annulment of the engagement if the Marquess wanted it.
In the end, Katheria was well aware that whether he wanted to or not, he was clearly bound by the emperor to marry her.
Turning her eyes away from him, she slowly rose from her chair before approaching Lady Margaret, whose eyes were observing the expressions of the noblemen while trying to find some clue about the one behind Count Patric.
Princess Katheria and Baroness Margaret knew that the royal family itself was behind this matter, not some nobleman.
However, they were also aware that, understanding the ways in which the royal family operated, there definitely needed to be a partner supporting Patric from behind in this entire event.
"Princess, I will join you tomorrow in the early morning before departing from the Royal Capital. Please allow the noblemen to take their leave and not worry about my presence." Recognizing that the time had come to separate from the group, Avendial requested the princess and the other noblemen who were with him to allow him some solitude. They comprehended his need and consented to give him the space he desired without making him form any negative opinions about them.
'....She is stubborn', Avendial was seated, being assisted by doctors as he glanced towards a woman in a black dress. She stood with folded hands, her eyes fixed on him with an intense gaze, showing no intention of leaving the place. Her golden pupils, accompanied by her black lips being bitten under her teeth, enhanced her allure.
"Miss Aecilia, I would like if—" Avendial wanted to send her away given the fact that it could be a problem if she saw Rivia coming out in a blanket or dressed from behind the trees, but before completion of his words she interrupted.
"Why are you erect?" With a raised eyebrow, she inquired while looking towards a bulge in his pants peaking through the bathrobe, causing her lips to twitch and her face to form a frown not understanding if he got excited due to feeling touch from a mere nurse.
"Don't tell me, are you into nurse cosplay, Marquess?"
This was the only thing coming to Aecilia's mind as she looked at the man, knowing that after the bunny and maid costumes, this was the third most popular clothing choice in demand at most of Sertsul's pleasure houses.
'....This woman', Avendial blankly looked at her, already noticing how her words had caused every individual present here to perk their ears. The doctors seemed to maintain a calm approach and focused on listening, while the nurses appeared to glance at him.
Of course, if this were truly the case, it could become popular news among the free cities. Marquess's favoritism towards any of them could greatly impact their lives.
Being a concubine of such a rich man would not be that bad, but of course, only two or three dreamed this, as others seemed professional towards their profession and kept testing the blood samples to detect poison.
"Huh? What's with that look, Marquess? Tell me, are you aroused—" Aecilia did not care about formalities, knowing that despite others portraying him as a business monster, she understood his true nature and was not afraid of any retaliation against her family business. However, before she could finish her words, she was interrupted.
"I need to pee...," Avendial stated with a straight face, 'and there goes my remaining reputation.'
Silence~
With those thoughts, he had silenced everyone present there, all while looking towards Aecilia who had her mouth wide open in shock. Not content to stop there, he took an oath, 'You will pay for this, Miss Aecilia Sertsul.'