Saving The Villainous Monster From The Male Lead-Chapter 85 - 84: The True Perpetrator

Lilith’s advice was true. There is no point in waiting in that room of hers until the result comes from the imperial laboratory, only to declare her the culprit.

’But what’s wrong with this damn system? Did it perhaps stop functioning?’

Marina was on the balcony looking around for any traces of Verbena or Adena in the backyard. She doubted Verbena could ever leave just like that. Moreover, if she could find a good proof to help plead her mistress innocence. Eleanore’s trust in her will increase and she might never be discarded from her side.

"My lady." She turned around. "We should take the advice of the head maid. Should I go see what they are up to?"

Eleanore pondered over it for a while, before nodding. "Yes."

Marina almost sprinted out of the room. She had her doubts that they might be plotting more in the backyard. For that is the only place where no one goes.

Eleanore also got up. She felt suffocated in that room, that was never hers. Within a few days, she wouldn’t even be able to call it her room. It isn’t like she wants to live here forever, after all ever since she came here everything is going downhill. The attacks are taking place probably because of her and instead of keeping Stella safe she is only increasing trouble for her.

As she reached the main hall of the mansion, she remembered the day she first entered this mansion, along with her brother. Caelestis was so unwelcoming. Look at how much he has changed since that day.

He couldn’t accept that Eleanore could ever do that until the last minute. Even when all the proof was standing against her, he still found it unsettling and difficult to blame her like always.

Eleanore chuckled a little at that thought.

’If everything goes well, I might as well be able to turn him into a good man.’

Unknowingly, Eleanore had already stepped out of the mansion, her forwarding steps had turned into a direction she had never once explored. The one opposite the rose path. She thought, why not take a look at how beautiful this place may be, before she leaves this place and never gets to see this part of the mansion.

Eleanore turned to the right, slowly trapping in this place in her small eyes. The trees have bright green leaves handing over its branches and some brown once fallen below them. There were no flowers here. Just greenery. Bushes decorated with berries and shaped into long pillars. If seen from above, it would look like it was carved on the ground.

"— did you call me?" Eleanore heard a voice from behind the mace-like structure. She went closer to here what they were talking about.

"I heard you are leaving?" It was a male voice.

"Yes, it’s all because of that witch but don’t worry, I did what you asked me to do." The voice was familiar. It belonged to Verbena.

Eleanore’s eyes widened on hearing that. She might probably be talking about poisoning Stella. But who is that man?

"Anyways, here. This is the antidote." The man says. "It is the kind of poison that can only be eliminated by its antidote. Before a person could create an antidote for it, the poisoned person will die." He explains.

"Then why do you have this? Do you want to keep her alive?" Verbena asked.

The mysterious man didn’t reply for seconds, as if he was contemplating whether to tell the reason to a foolish woman like Verbena or not.

"Yes." He answered anyway. "I will bring her back and you will take the credit for it. The Grand duke will be thankful to you all his life."

"I thought you wanted her dead."

"True." His voice started to sound distant. "But we can always find more opportunities to do that."

After that none of them talked for minutes. Eleanore stood there eavesdropping on them, but could only hear unbearable silence. Then suddenly she heard the sounds of heels tapping on the stoned floor, going the other way. 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

’Verbena is leaving.’ She guessed, as she sprinted off to the other side to catch up to her.

When the long man-made bushes came to an end, Verbena appeared completely stunned by Eleanore’s sudden appearance in front of her.

"What are you—" Before she could complete her question, Eleanore quickly grabbed the small glass jar, similar to the poisoned bottle. The tip however had a different color. It was blue unlike the green one found in marina’s pocket.

She tried to snatch it out of her hand, but Verbena’s grip was so tight, and the bottle was so slippery that it slipped out of Eleanore’s hand.

"You call me a witch and look at what you are doing." Eleanore yelled before pouncing over Verbena again.

One of her hands grabbed her wrist while the other tried to pull the jar out of her hand. They struggled for a long time. Verbena had scratched over Eleanore’s face several times, with her claws like nails.

"Get off me!" She yelled but Eleanore had already gotten the jar out of her hand.

"You are Shameless! How can you play with someone’s life? Is life a joke to you?" She asked, feeling breathless.

"Give it back to me." Verbena was about to take it back from her, but Eleanore moved behind.

"Let me take care of Stella first then I will make you wish death!" She shouted and was about to turn around and leave, but—

It was too late.

Bam!

Eleanore felt a sudden sharp impact in the back of her head. The jar fell out of her hand as she tried to cover up her wounded head. The pain surges in, blacking her out, she stumbled a little, before the pain intensified and became sharper. She lost balance in her legs and fell on the ground. Everything turned black, her vision shivering, fighting to remain open.

A huge foot came in her view, someone crossed from above her and picked up the jar in their huge hands. She couldn’t see his face but was sure he was the same man, Verbena was talking too.

"What have you done?" Verbena was shocked, covering her mouth in fear.

"Saved you." He answered.

"She is the duke’s sister. We will both die if he finds out." She warned.

"Don’t worry, he will never know."

He squatted in front of Eleanore, yet she was unable to see his face; only a dark grin remained fixed in her eyes as she lost her consciousness.