Garden Of Poison

Music Recommendation: Ballade in B-flat Minor: Descent- Nicholas Britell

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A gentle breeze blew where Anastasia stood, watching Dante's silhouette continue to walk away. She shivered in the cold, turning briefly to look behind her, and when she looked back in the direction of Dante, he had disappeared from her sight.

When she looked down at the brown coat that belonged to the first Blackthorn prince, she said softly,

"Thank God that he didn't draw a sword to point at my neck." She was thankful she was still alive and had been spared harsh words.

Anastasia's eyes moved from the coat and fell on her bosom. Her eyes widened upon noticing the fabric of her dress had turned slightly transparent to reveal the valley of her breasts. She quickly hid them under the coat and, mortified, closed her eyes to curse,

"How shameful! I was standing in such a state!" Her cheeks turned hot. She then said, "No wonder he gave me his coat," because earlier she had believed it was only to hide her drenched self, not knowing she had revealed her goods.

Anastasia's eyes then fell on the fountain. Walking closer to it, she noticed the water in it and wondered if she needed to wash the dress once again, as she had already immersed it once. With no one around, she decided to test it and commanded the magical dress,

"Turn the dress into a light orange-pink silk dress, full-sleeved and dry."

Two seconds later, the dress transformed into another one, bringing a smile to Anastasia's lips. But the smile didn't last, as the memory of blood on the ground invaded her mind. She inhaled and shakily exhaled the air through her lips.

Anastasia made her way back towards the palace, and once she entered, she noticed the corridors had turned quiet, as the guests must have moved to the dining room. On seeing a servant, she called the person and said,

"This coat belongs to Prince Dante. Have it washed and sent back to his room."

"Yes, milady," the servant obliged, taking the coat into his hands.

Farther down the palace, Mr. Gilbert entered the common room for the servants, where they sat down and ate their meals. He patiently waited for every servant to be brought to the room before asking,

"Is everyone here?"

One of the senior maids answered with a bow, "The kitchen staff and the servers are busy, but I had everyone else come here right away after your order. Did something happen, Mr. Gilbert?" She asked him with concern.

Mr. Gilbert's lips were set in a thin line, and he said loudly, "I want to know who has been drawing in here. Whoever it is, step forward."

The servants looked confused and glanced around at each other to see who would step forward. At the mention of the drawing, Theresa turned slightly wary and wondered if Charlotte's lie had been caught, which was why Mr. Gilbert was questioning them.

"Queen Sophia wants to know who was helping the maid named Charlotte until today. The servant who did shall receive an instant promotion from the current level," Mr. Gilbert's eyes continued to stare at every one of them, waiting for the person to come out, but no one did. "You will also receive five gold coins for the talent that you hold. Quick."

But even after a minute passed, no one came forward, and Mr. Gilbert's expression turned grim because of the unsuccessful find of the hidden artist. The royal family had sent him to fetch the person, but he doubted there was any talent there. When his eyes fell on Theresa, he noticed a missing person in the room. He demanded,

"Where is the mute girl?"

Theresa had hoped that no one would notice, but now that she was being asked, she bowed with a response, "Anna has not been feeling well since noon. I asked her to rest a little." She then added, "I received permission from the senior maid beforehand."

Mr. Gilbert didn't take the maid's word for it, and he turned to look at the senior maids, where one of them nodded. He then asked the senior maid, "Did you see the girl, or did you only receive information through the other maid? I thought it was clear that you needed to hear it from the respective person. I will have it looked at," he said with a slight glare at the senior maid.

Though the servants of the royal palace didn't lie, knowing the consequences one would face, he still believed it was better to check than blindly believe someone's word. He then announced,

"One of the maids named Charlotte lied and insulted the royal family. Which is why she won't be in the servants' quarters anymore. Her head will hang in the underground dungeon as a warning for anyone who is trying to lie their way to the top. They will be punished severely. Everyone can return to their work." Mr. Gilbert dismissed the servants, who bowed and quietly hurried away from there to talk about the dead maid. "You there. Tell me which one is the girl's room. If she's sick with something, it would be better to keep her away from the rest," he said to Theresa.

Theresa's face paled as she offered a bow to Mr. Gilbert. Soon they began to make their way towards the servants' quarters, while the woman wondered what to tell him when they arrived at the room.

Upon reaching the front of the room, Theresa turned to look at Mr. Gilbert, staring in his direction. He ordered, "Open the door."

Theresa opened the door as she was commanded. Mr. Gilbert stepped inside the empty room and saw the bed empty. His eyes narrowed, and he turned to ask the woman, "Where is she?"

"S—she must be in my room," Theresa replied nervously, under the in-charge's glaring gaze. She stalled by saying, "I forgot about it. We were in my room when I found out and I asked her to rest there."

Mr. Gilbert was bent on seeing the sick maid, and he said, "Lead me to your room then."

Theresa wondered why Mr. Gilbert wasn't busy with the guests in the inner heart of the palace, instead of wasting his time here. Forcing her feet to move, the woman made her way to her room and pushed the door…

When the door opened, Mr. Gilbert's eyes fell on the mute girl on the bed, covered in a blanket. Anastasia opened her eyes, as if their footsteps had woken her up, while Theresa released an internal sigh of relief.

Seconds ago, when Theresa was about to open the door and turned to look at Mr. Gilbert, her eyes had fallen a little to the side and behind him, Anastasia had arrived in her maid clothes, and she had slipped into the room. Anastasia's nose tickled, and she tried to control the sneeze, which jerked her body.

"Mr. Gilbert," a senior maid arrived at the front of the room and informed him, "The Mother Queen has summoned you immediately to the dining room."

Mr. Gilbert nodded before his eyes noticed Anastasia's red nose. He said,

"Looks like she has a cold. Give her hot water to drink and see to it that she doesn't step out of this room. I don't need the others falling sick too," he left the room and the corridor with those words.

Theresa asked her in a low voice, "Did you really fall sick?"

Anastasia shook her head and pulled off the blanket she had covered herself with, along with the head wrap, revealing her wet hair. She replied, "I fell in the fountain."

"What were you trying to do at the fountain? Dip yourself?" Theresa asked, remembering Anastasia's question she had asked earlier this day. She continued, "Oh, that doesn't matter! I am just relieved to see you got here before Mr. Gilbert caught our lie! Is it true… about Charlotte?"

Remembering Charlotte's head lying away from the rest of her body and blood smeared around, she quietly nodded before whispering, "It is true… I saw it."

A shocked Theresa brought her hand to cover her mouth in disbelief.

After dinner, the royal family and the guests moved to another room. Mr. Gilbert stepped inside and went to where the Mother Queen was seated. Offering a bow, he asked,

"Your Highness, did you ask for me?"

The Mother Queen turned and said, "Fetch a physician. I heard that Tasia has retired to her room as she hasn't been feeling well, which is why she couldn't join us for dinner. Which is a shame." She then murmured, "I don't know where her parents are. I would like to have a little chat with them."

The Mother Queen had been looking forward to spending time with her future granddaughter-in-law, but the timing hadn't seemed to work out. She ordered Mr. Gilbert, "Have the physician come here, and find Tasia's room. I will go take a look at her."