Chapter 188 - 2-70
When I returned to Louis-sama's room from the temple, I found Theodore-sama and Prince Alberic there as well. They were huddled over a table covered in various small vials, deep in discussion.
"What are these?" I asked.
"These are the drugs and poisonous herbs Prince Faust had in his possession," Prince Alberic explained, looking weary as he let out a heavy sigh. It seemed Louis-sama had tasked him with the analysis.
"It's reassuring to have an expert in the family who can perform such an analysis. Right, Louis?"
"Yes, exactly. Alberic, I'm truly grateful. More than half of these herbs can only be found in Orta. I could only ask this of you because you're so knowledgeable about their flora."
As Theodore-sama and Louis-sama showered him with praise, Prince Alberic cleared his throat, looking embarrassed but clearly pleased.
"I know you're just saying nice things so you can dump more troublesome tasks on me later, Brother."
"Haha, no doubt! Louis is a real slave driver. Cyril is practically worked to the bone all year round."
"That's a bit of an exaggeration," Louis-sama replied, shrugging his shoulders. Theodore-sama playfully slapped him on the back twice.
"Alright, let's take a break! Resting is an important part of efficiency. Oh? Is this tea leaf one we can use?" Theodore-sama looked around and picked up a pale pink tea tin.
"Theodore-sama, you can't have that. That's also part of the seized evidence." The tin was quickly snatched away by Prince Alberic.
"It looks like ordinary tea, but is it an illegal drug too?"
"This tea isn't particularly dangerous, but it is somewhat addictive. It seems it was commonly enjoyed among the nobility before it was banned twenty years ago. It's a rare leaf, so it wasn't widely circulated."
As Prince Alberic explained and opened the lid, a sweet scent like honey lightly tickled my nose.
"This scent... I... I might have drunk this before."
"You have? But these leaves are rare and only handled in Orta. If you don't mind me asking, where did you have it?"
A cold sweat broke out as I recalled a certain memory, and Prince Alberic tilted his head in confusion. "Prince Alberic, what kind of effect does this tea have?"
Recalling the time I drank it, I felt an uncontrollable palpitation and clasped my hands in front of my chest.
"This tea heightens one's mood, but it also amplifies emotional fluctuations. In other words, you lose your self-restraint. Normally, even if you're irritated, you can endure it with reason. This tea removes that stopper."
"...Lose self-restraint."
"The taste is honey-sweet, so it was popular among women, but it was banned because those who drank it frequently caused problems."
"Are there any aftereffects from drinking it?"
Depending on the answer, my future might change. The thought made me want to run away before hearing it. I waited for his answer as if waiting for a verdict. Louis-sama and Theodore-sama must have noticed my unusual state, as I heard someone catch their breath.
However, Prince Alberic spoke without hesitation. "Drinking it regularly over a long period causes the symptoms I described, but the tea itself isn't addictive in a physical sense, so the symptoms vanish as soon as you stop drinking it. There are no aftereffects."
No... aftereffects...
It took a moment for his clinical explanation to sink in. As I slowly processed it, I was finally able to breathe a sigh of relief.
"I... I see."
"Rachel, do you have some idea about this tea?"
"...Yes. I believe I mentioned it to you before, Louis-sama."
"I see. So the tea served at the Higgins Marquis house was this?"
I had previously told Theodore-sama and Louis-sama about the tea served at the Higgins estate. They likely realized immediately that the characteristics matched perfectly.
"...Most likely."
Louis-sama seemed to have expected my answer. He crossed his arms and groaned with a grim expression. "I see. The Higgins family was able to obtain rare tea leaves from Orta. They're becoming more and more suspicious. Are they connected to the Orta royal family? Or..."
Louis-sama didn't finish his sentence, falling silent instead. I didn't press him, as I felt I understood what he was suspecting without him having to say it.