The Return of the Mad Witch
Suspicion of Valencia

Valencia did not immediately respond to Sammy's confusion, the young girl was focusing on the main ingredients of making Linita's antidote. Regardless of Sammy's confusion, Valencia headed for the bushes near the blooming rose. Valencia pulled out some grass that looked like weeds. However, no one is aware of what the use of the grass really is.

Sammy was still observing Valencia, not only the weeds he took, in addition there were also shoots of wildflowers. Still unknown Sammy the usefulness of the two wild plants, he only acts as a spectator now. Valencia returned to where Sammy was waiting for him.

“Actually what did you take that for? Isn't that just a wild plant?” Sammy asked Valencia once again, the girl completely confused Sammy.

“This is not a wild plant, you just don't know the benefits. These two plants are called ron grass and lillian flowers. This is the main ingredient in making a cure for toxins that spread in the body of the Empress,” explained Valencia.

“Hah? Ron grass and lillian flowers? It was the name of a rare plant, but due to the lack of source and no pictures explaining the shape of the two plants, it was not, so the medics no one knows the shape of the ron grass or the lillian flowers. Then you yourself from where can you know that these two plants are ron grass and lillian?”

“Let me tell you, now we have to make an antidote for the Empress before it's too late.” Valencia pulled Sammy's wrist. They spurred a step towards the room that had been prepared specifically for Valencia concocting the antidote.

The two of them cooperated with each other and relied on their medical knowledge. In the first trial until the fifth, they failed to make an antidote. However, on the sixth try they managed to make it. The two of them were both chased by time, they were also enveloped in a deep feeling of worry.

Exactly thirty minutes before the poison managed to eat Linita's entire consciousness and take his life, Valencia and Sammy ran panting towards the palace of Linita's residence which was located quite a lot of time from where they concocted the antidote. There are many people who are waiting for Valencia with a chaotic feeling. When Valencia appeared, the tense atmosphere immediately turned relieved.

“Valencia! Hows it? Did you manage to make the antidote?” ask Abraham.

“Already, Uncle. Now take it easy, I will definitely save Aunt Empress.”

Sammy rushed to inject the antidote into Linita's body, slowly the antidote mixed with blood and spread throughout the body. A split second after the antidote was injected, the bidder went straight to work. Now that Linita's life had been saved, it was only a matter of time until Linita regained consciousness.

No other sound was heard other than the sound of a sigh of relief, Linita's regular breathing made Abraham's tension disappear instantly.

“For a while the Empress will not be aware, but please do not worry because of it. The empress will regain her consciousness later as the antidote works carefully to conquer her poison. Even so, keep tightening security around the Empress' palace and report to the Emperor or Archduke Calestine if one of you finds any oddity,” Valencia said loudly.

The knights and servants agreed to Valencia's call, they were also asked to bring at least one small weapon in case any enemy infiltrated the palace. Now all the people in this palace are asked to be careful and asked not to lower their guard.

“Beauty, I'll leave the rest to you. If you are not strong against them, just tell me later,” Valencia said turning towards Henzo while shaking his waist.

The whole room was shocked, Valencia really treated Henzo as he pleased. They feared that Henzo would run amok and rage at Valencia because anyone in the empire knew that Henzo did not like to be regulated let alone treated like a weakling like Valencia did at that time.

“Do you underestimate me? I'm much stronger, you don't have to say that to me,” Henzo replied as he giggled.

“Then be well. I believe Uncle is very strong.”

What kind of situation are they witnessing? Henzo did not get angry at Valencia who dared to be disrespectful. Henzo's treatment of Valencia was far better than anyone else expected. Abraham admitted surprised, the stubborn brother could be so soft in front of Valencia.

Now he understands more and more the reason why Henzo asked to adopt Valencia. In addition to the girl's strength, Henzo needs a child who can be one frequency with her. Although Henzo always said he did not need a wife, but he needed a child like Valencia who was able to melt his stubbornness.

Valencia did not immediately return to the residence of Grand Duke Allerick. The girl planned to stay tonight at the palace as she had to investigate some things about the assassins who had previously poisoned Linita. There are still some irregularities left in the palace.

"Didn't you promise to tell me where you got the information about the ron grass and the lillian?"

Valencia's move paused for a moment Sammy demanded an explanation. The young girl was immediately confused to give an answer like what to Sammy. For a moment Valencia took a breath and twisted his brain to make a new lie for Sammy to believe him.

"Actually I found an interesting book yesterday that contains various kinds of poisons and how to make the antidote. In the book also emblazoned with pictures of ron grass and lillian flowers. That's why I can know a lot about various poisons as well as handling the poison," explained Valencia.

"Books? What book is that? Can you lend me that book? I'd like to read it, too" Sammy's pinta with sparkling eyes. He was very excited when Valencia mentioned the poison book.

"Well, I'll lend it to you."

In the end Valencia managed to make Sammy believe in his lies. Even so, Valencia was a little relieved, at least now Sammy would not ask him again.

After that, Valencia resumed his investigation around the palace. He checked every detail he went through. However, he found nothing there, the assassins swept through the entire palace grounds so that not a single trace of their existence was found.

Later in the middle of the investigation, Valencia was confronted by his encounter with Rudolf who had just returned from the outside. Rudolf, the First Prince was indeed rarely felt in the palace. He had just returned to complete the task Abraham had given him to inspect the eastern region of the Alegra Empire.

"Miss Valencia, we meet again" he said in a friendly manner.

"Ending your greetings, Miss. I heard the Empress was poisoned, is that true?" asked Rudolf.

Valencia raised his head and looked straight at Rudolf. Somehow he always felt displeased whenever he saw Rudolf. However, Valencia brushed aside any bad feelings he felt towards Rudolf.

"Right, Your Honor, I lost track of the perpetrators. But now the Queen's condition is much better because me and doctor Sammy have given a potent antidote against the effects of the poison" Valencia explained.

Valencia saw Rudolf's friendly look turn sour, but Rudolf quickly returned his friendly expression. From here Valencia immediately suspected Rudolf, his eyes could not possibly be lied to. Moreover, Rudolf's personal assistant who had always been beside him became the main reason why Valencia felt uneasy.

"that, huh? Thankfully, I was worried about my mother's condition. That's why I went home after I got word from the palace. For that, I thank you, Miss, if it weren't for you maybe my Mother's life wouldn't have been helped."

Rudolf sounded so sincere, he bowed his body in gratitude to Valencia. However, Valencia did not capture Rudolf's words as sincere gratitude but rather a subtle-clad lie through gentle words and a friendly expression.

"You don't need to thank me, Your Majesty. It's my duty to help the Empress because after all she's my Aunt."

"You are indeed noble-hearted. Then as my thanks, what if next time I invite you to dinner with me at the restaurant?"

Valencia felt increasingly uncomfortable, everything Rudolf showed was a lie.

"Alright, I will not refuse your invitation, Your Majesty." Valencia had to agree so that their talks would be completed sooner.

"Good! I'll send you a dinner invitation later. Now I want to go inside first to see the Empress," Rudolf said.

"Okay, Your Majesty."

Valencia lowered his gaze slightly, as Elkin the personal assistant Rudolf passed right beside him, Valencia felt an uneasy vibe coming from Elkin. Valencia turned his eyes to Elkin. Now that Valencia's suspicions were growing stronger on Rudolf, it was just that he held him off for a while to look for evidence of the suspicions.

'It was suspicious, every expression was fake. I will not be easily fooled by the deception of the first Prince.'

Time passed a few hours later, right at one in the morning, when everyone was asleep, there was an incident that almost blew Linita's life. An assassin entered out of nowhere, he carried a sword in his hand.

Aura wanted to kill cloaked in the body of the killer. This time the target was Linita who was still asleep. However, just as he was about to lift the sword hilt and planned to stab Linita in the chest using the tip of the sword, Henzo directly hit the body of the killer until dragged into a corner of the room.

"How dare you sneak in here while I'm here!"

Henzo looked furious, the sound of a loud blow invited a sense of alertness and curiosity from the knights. They rushed into the room to see what was going on.

"Your Majesty—"

"You stay there, let me take the life of this intruder" Henzo said.

The intruder killer looked terrified as he looked into Henzo's angry eyes. He felt his spirit being pulled out by the killing aura from Henzo which felt even more gripping.

'Who is this guy? Why can't I feel the air of her presence when I enter the room? He's very scary.'

Henzo smiled wickedly, this time he actually rode apoplexy. Breaking up while he was in this room was a most reckless and courageous act. Henzo looks scary when he's faced with something like that.

"You've got a lot of guts, are you tired of living? Your plot has poisoned my sister-in-law and now you're trying to kill her?"

Henzo stepped forward, his right hand clutching the handle of the sword. Soon the tip of the sword will be directed at the killer.

"No, I don't want to die!" The killer tried to escape from Henzo, but he had no power to do so because Henzo had already ambushed his movements.

"You think you can escape death after making me angry? However, I congratulate you on meeting the inhabitants of hell soon."

First, Henzo slashed the killer's legs to torture him to death. Next, Henzo cut off the killer's tongue so as not to make the palace rowdy due to his screams. After letting the murderer suffer the consequences of his actions, he slashed his head.

"Well, this is good. The most perfect masterpiece of my hand. Hahaha, next time think back if you want to deal with me."