Chapter 91: A Poison Assassin
>Anne
"Yes, Young Mistress. I’ve already administered the poison..." I spoke into the phone hiding in the inside pocket of my dress in a low, quiet voice the moment I stepped away from the emergency room’s waiting area as soon as I had confirmed that no one noticed my presence.
A few bags of Young Madam’s stuff hanging in my hand. I made sure to confirm that they are all inside the room before I left to fetch these things.
My shoes slowed against the polished floor as I stopped near the corner of the hallway. I lifted my gaze and carefully scanned my surroundings, my eyes moving from one passing nurse to another, then to the open doors and reflective glass panels. I made sure not to be caught by any security cameras so I moved as naturally as I could and slipped away.
Only after confirming that no one was watching me did I turn my attention back to my second phone and took it out, the one where the other person in the other side had remained silent until now.
"I assure you... the Young Madame won’t be waking up anytime soon," I continued, keeping my tone steady.
A long breath came through the speaker. It dragged on, slow and deep. I couldn’t tell whether it was a breath of relief or one meant to steady herself.
"Then, I leave her to your care..." she finally spoke. Her voice was distorted by a voice changer, flat and emotionless. She paused briefly before adding, "...Assassin of the Limitless Poison."
The line went dead.
I lowered the phone and let out a quiet sigh, my shoulders sinking slightly.
What a strange nickname to carry.
All because I possessed the ability to concoct any poison with any desired effect. Lethal or harmless. Fast or slow. But even that ability was beginning to feel stale.
"I quite enjoyed living as a maid myself," I whispered softly, the words disappearing into the empty hallway.
It truly was one of my most enjoyable disguises. Simple clothes. Simple duties. No one ever looked twice at me. My master was kind and warm. I leaned back against the cool wall, letting my head rest against it for a brief moment. Perhaps it was because I was simply tired of this life lived in darkness.
Right now, I just wanted to escape everything.
To leave it all behind.
Just to be Anne.
l
I pushed myself off the wall and walked back toward the waiting room. Through the glass doors, I could clearly see the anxious husband pacing back and forth, his movements restless and uneven. His tie hung loose around his neck, and his fists clenched and unclenched at his sides, knuckles pale.
Her child clung tightly to the hem of Ms. Bryce’s coat, small hands gripping the fabric as if afraid to let go.
I never would have imagined even a shadow of these people worrying so deeply about someone and a single person at that.
But I couldn’t blame them. The Young Miss had a way of bringing warmth wherever she went.
Their eyes snapped upward every time a frantic doctor entered the room, hope flashing across their faces before fading just as quickly when they are given an explanation.
I fell bad for them, they probably felt overwhelmed having to carry out their duty with something so unexplainable. But nevertheless, it doesn’t concern me.
Because I had done my job perfectly.
The poison I administered was already at work. It spread quietly, gently, precise in every detail. It mimicked a rare neurological complication—one that would confuse doctors and delay answers for weeks. I made sure it wouldn’t cause her any pain.
It would simply place her into a long, silent sleep.
Exactly as requested.
I lowered my head, carefully arranging my expression into one of concern before stepping back inside the waiting room.
After all, a maid must never stand out.
l
And an assassin must never be seen.
"Excuse me, Young Master? I have brought with me the things the Young Madam would be needing."
I stepped forward carefully, stopping a few steps away from him. My head stayed lowered as I spoke, my hands holding the bag tightly in front of me.
Though I hadn’t served this household long enough. I’m still confident in one thing—this man’s world revolved around his wife.
Right now, his patience was thin. I made sure my eyes never lifted even a little.
"Tell me again how this all happened?"
His voice cut through the room. It was flat and cold, like early winter air that slips into your bones before you can react.
I made sure to appear stiffened. Slowly, I bent my knees and bowed deeper, letting my shoulders curl inward. My fingers loosened, then tightened again, showing a small noticeable shake.
"Forgive me, Young Master!" I said quickly, my voice rising with panic. "The Young Madam said she wanted to step out for a moment and look at the accident. I never imagined she feared blood!"
As I spoke, I swallowed hard and kept my head low. My chest rose and fell faster, as if I were struggling to breathe.
It haven’t told them a single lie. I did let her step out without a single idea what was about to happen next. When I had reported everything earlier, my master’s voice never changed. She took the news calmly and told me what to do next. As if she knew exactly what resulted of this.
"Fear of blood?!"
He slammed his fist against the side of the bed. The sound echoed sharply in the room.
"Then why hasn’t she woken up until now?!"
His jaw tightened, the muscles clearly moving as he clenched his teeth.
I said nothing. I let the silence stretch.
The poison would already be gone by now. It would leave no trace. The needle was too small and soft enough to melt in the blood—nothing anyone could find.
"I apologize, Young Master," I said again, forcing my voice to crack. "I truly don’t know."
I bowed even lower. My hands shook harder now, but this time I made sure they noticed. A warm hand suddenly reached out and closed around my trembling fingers.
I froze.
When I dared to glance up just a little, I saw his face. His eyes were red, tears clinging to his lashes. Yet instead of anger, his gaze softened when it landed on me.
What an angel of a kid.
No wonder my chest always felt strange when I was near him.
"Brother? What happened?"
All of us turned at once.
The door had opened without a sound. A tall man with blonde hair and clear blue eyes walked inside, his steps quick but controlled.
I knew him. His gentle look fooled many people, but not me.
"Vale."
That was all the Young Master said before turning his gaze back to the bed. His fingers tightened around his wife’s hand, as if afraid she might disappear.
"Was she in an accident?" Vale asked, stopping beside the bed. "I rushed here as soon as I heard something happened to my sister-in-law."
"No," the Young Master replied. "The doctor said it was vasovagal syncope. But she still hasn’t woken up."
Vale leaned closer. He studied her face, then checked the monitor beside the bed. His eyes moved slowly, carefully, missing nothing.
He listened as the Young Master explained everything again, step by step, just as we had told it before.
"That is strange," Vale said after a moment.
He straightened and crossed his arms.
"There are no signs of a personal attack."
He shook his head slightly.
"It’s unlikely your competitors were involved."
He paused, then added, "Even with their hatred over you entering the munitions industry, they wouldn’t be able to act this quietly."
"I’ll have Kaizer investigate everything," Ms. Bryce said, stepping forward. Her heels stopped sharply on the floor. "Every movement. Every rival. We’ll know soon enough."
At that moment, the little kid suddenly pressed his face into my neck as I scooped him out. His small hands grabbed onto my clothes.
I caressed his back gently, holding him close. His body trembled lightly, and I gently patted him, keeping my movements slow.
"You."
Dr. Vale turned toward me.
"No one else entered this room, correct? Aside from you and the guards outside?"
I adjusted my hold on the child and nodded.
"Yes. I only stepped away when Ms. Bryce arrived. She was already nearby."
"Brother?"
The Young Master spoke again.
He sat down beside the bed and lifted the Young Madam’s hand with both of his. He brought it to his lips and kissed it gently, holding it there for a moment longer than needed.
"She would hate missing our son’s first day of school," he said softly. His voice shook, as if it might break at any second. "Can you delay it?"
Vale hesitated. His eyes lowered before he answered.
"I’ll try. But my students come from powerful families. One week is the most I can manage."
"That’s enough," the Young Master said. He pressed her hand against his cheek and closed his eyes.
"She’ll wake up before then."
His fingers tightened slightly, as if making a promise.
"I’ll make sure of it."
