I Regress if the Villainess Dies! Chapter 18: Chapter 17 Onwards to the Academy

Read chapter 18 of I Regress if the Villainess Dies! by Yuzai_Rearu on NovelPedia.

The chief maid stopped her movements. Right then and there she had just finished administering two potions in a fragrant tea. She especially selected one with a strong aroma to mask any signs of foreign smell. "… Why do you ask Miri?" With a smile, she questioned the innocent maid. She had been as discreet as possible. Long before the young miss, Moris, or even the special butler had arrived, she had already been in possession of these potions. As the chief maid, all matters within the estate were handled under her supervision. There was no direct authority from the duke’s household residing here. The estate had been purchased simply because many noble houses had begun acquiring land around the academy. Thus, most of the authority fell into her hands. "N-nothing. Its just… it smells quite fragrant." "It's because I especially chose leaves that will rouse you up. Here, don't wait for it to get cold now." "O-okay. Can I bring this with me?" "… No, drink it here, Miri. Let me take care of the cup afterward." She had to see her take the tea. Once that's done, she only needed for the potion to take effect and complete the required gesture in order to fully realize the potions effect. "U-uh…" But instead, the maid hesitated, holding the cup of tea in her hands. By this point, the chief maid had grown suspicious. Why did the innocent and obedient maid suddenly hesitate? Why is she asking if the content's of the cup is medicine? 'There's no way she knows.' No one had seen those potions. She brought them directly from outside, hidden in her body at all times. For the past years she had worked here. That included the needles laced with poison. Those were spacial crafts of her and her alone. "What's wrong? Could it be, you don't like the smell?" "I-Im really sorry! But I can't accept this!" Unable to take it anymore, Miri couldn't come up with a lie and straight up refused. "… Why?" "I cant tell you why…" The chief maid stayed silent. For a while that was the only thing between them. Miri could hear her own nervous heart as she avoided the chief maids eyes like a plague. 'I messed up…' She knew that her question and her action just now were enough to make the chief maid suspicious. There was a reason why she applied to be a maid and not anything else. All she's capable of is following orders and chores, the combat and healing were only subpar abilities of hers. Sometimes she even messes up, like right now. That's the way she learned to live her life and now she's defying that very nature of hers for someone else. But Xian wasn't just someone to her by this point. After all, he recognized her too… "Alright, I can't force you." The chief maid finally sighed in apparent defeat, which made Miri feel a wave of relief. With this, perhaps no plan would proceed. Perhaps no suspicion would fall upon the chief maid. That was the best outcome she could hope for. "… Then, I'll take my leave." "Okay. Make sure to work hard." She nodded and turned around as a blurred figure went past by. Clang! A familiar sound rang loud behind her. She recognized it as the sound of metal hitting another metal. At some point, Xian was already by her side. And upon looking back, she saw a needle falling on the ground. Xian had adeptly parried it with a metal bowl he got from who knows where. As comical as that appearance is, she couldn't help but feel cold in her heart. 'She… tried to subdue me?' She knew the needles used by the maids were dangerous. Carrying one herself for emergency. The poison laced in their needles were specially made to react upon contact. The amount of needles represented effects. One, caused weakening. Two, caused paralysis. Three, caused lethal poisoning. Even touching three of them at once could cause the poison to seep into the skin of the holder. That was why they were meant to be thrown immediately and were not suitable for prolonged handling unless one wore gloves. "Tsk." Xian couldn't help but click his tongue. He sacrificed his sleep for