6 Meeting The Duke (Olivia POV)

There's no class for Francis right after my first day as his study partner. So, the day after that I visited the duke's mansion to do my job there. Along the way, I lost in my thoughts, thinking about the last meeting with Francis at that bookstore.

The cookie I gave her as Olivia really has nothing in it. Instead, the antidote I gave him before was poison. Yeah, I gave him poison by myself, saying that was an antidote. I did the same with the previous antidotes I gave him so far. Those antidotes are actually poisons.

After I got closer to Francis as Charlize, we got to know each other better. He knew me as an assistant at Ashford's secret poison laboratory and asked me if I could help him.

Francis is the first prince, yet he was born from a commoner woman. A lot of noblemen wanted to kill him, especially by poison. To reduce the poison effect, I gave him a low dose antidote.

By time, I wasn't giving him antidote anymore, but poison. The dose of poison I gave him also increased every time I gave him one. I wonder how his body can endure that much poison. That's why I said, he escaped death many times.

I returned to my senses when the carriage stopped moving. "We have arrived, my lady." The coachman informed me.

I got down from the carriage and a servant came to greet me. "My lady, his grace is waiting for you in his office."

"Alright, I will visit him right away." I walked inside the duke's mansion, right to his office.

This mansion is so big that I had to walk several minutes just to be at the duke's office. "Inform his grace that I'm here." I asked a servant who was standing in front of the duke's office.

That servant nodded and entered the room. "Please enter the room, my lady," said the servant.

I entered the room and bowed to Duke Ashford. "Greetings your grace." I greeted him.

The duke offered me a seat. "How are you Olivia? Is there any problem at the palace?" He asked right after I took a seat.

"Instead of a problem, I have something to report, your grace." The duke put his teacup back to the table. I could see, he raised his eyebrows a bit. So, he was interested in what I was about to say.

"When I returned from the palace, I saw Prince Francis at street xx." I paused a bit to add the duke's curiousness. "I saw him from a carriage, but I'm quite sure that was him. Also, he met someone."

"He met someone? Who could that be?" From his tone, I could guarantee that the duke was curious. If he knew that I was the one who met Francis, he maybe would kill me on the spot, or frame me for something.

"I couldn't see that person clearly. I beg your pardon."

"No, no need to apologise." The duke tried to comfort me, making sure I wasn't feeling bad. "I should thank you instead." He continued.

He should thank me? Is my information enough? "You don't have to thank me for something, your grace."

"No, I should. I'm talking about relations with the Helsa Kingdom." He paused a bit, sipping his teacup. "I'm in charge of building relations with the Helsa Kingdom. If that's not for you, I won't have such a chance. I was able to get to know Duke Echetier. He's a good business partner."

So, that's what he was talking about. I had no intention to help him build a relationship with a noble from the Helsa Kingdom to begin with. "I'm honored, your grace."

….

After having a conversation with the duke, I went to the poison laboratory. Along my way, I found Rowan Ashford, the oldest son of Duke Ashford, was unloading some stuff. I couldn't see the things clearly, but maybe those are some weapon materials. The Ashford family is well known for their weapon production.

I didn't have any intention to approach him, so I just kept on walking. "Welcome, Lady Whitley." All the workers at the poison laboratory welcomed me.

"Back to your position." I ordered them. All those workers bowed to me and went back to their work, while me, observing their progress.

"You have to add more to this plant." "Don't use it too much." "I guess this substance will improve the quality." I gave them some directions.

A few moments later, Sir Clark entered the room, welcomed by every worker there, including me. Sir Clark bowed back to me. "How have you been, my lady?"

"Everything went well, sir," I answered him as we walked to his office. "Here's my report on the research I'm in charge of. There's some problem if we mix that many ingredients." I offered him my paperwork.

Sir Clark read my report and nodded. "I agree. Then, we have to try another method. Please check about these ingredients and report them."

"Yes, sir." I took the ingredient given by Sir Clark and walked to my separate office.

In this poison laboratory, there are only two separate offices beside the main laboratory. Those are Sir Clark's and the other is mine. The fact that everyone trusted me made it easier for me to hide something in my office. Inside my office, I did some personal research and made my own poisons secretly.

I entered my room and started the research Sir Clark assigned to me. I boiled a glass of water with the ingredients, then observed it. After that, I write every detail of the result on a piece of paper.

Along with the assigned task, I also did my own research. Truthfully, my secret research was actually quite the same as Sir Clark's. I just made a simple modification to see if there's another way to make the more effective and stronger poison.

Sigh, I'm so tired. Tired of my life, even some people envy it.