Chapter 14
“So it was strange that she suddenly had a seizure even though she takes her medicine regularly.”
“When I checked the pills, I found a different one that looks similar mixed in.”
Laura flipped the pill bottle and poured the contents out to show everyone.
“Is that true?” Wilhelm asked sharply.
“Yes. Since everything was fine this morning, someone must have swapped the medicine around lunchtime.”
“Who would dare do such a thing to Renée…”
Wilhelm clenched his jaw, anger rising in his ruby-red eyes.
Laura hid the faint smile that almost appeared and calmly suggested, “Perhaps we should organize the situation first.”
She deliberately glanced toward Jena.
Noticing Laura’s gaze, Wilhelm frowned, suddenly aware that someone not truly family was still in the room.
“You should go back now.”
“May I stay until Mother wakes up?”
“My wife is my responsibility. Don’t argue—go.”
Wilhelm pointed at the door firmly.
Jena had no choice but to rise to her feet.
As she left, still worried for Renée, Laura watched her go with an unreadable expression.
***
On the way to her room, Jena couldn’t stop picturing her mother-in-law collapsing.
Feeling uneasy, she glanced back a few times before turning to Greta.
“Do you think Mother will be okay?”
“Yes, Your Grace. The Duke is with her.”
“But if her illness was supposed to be a secret, how did anyone know enough to change her medicine?”
Greta shook her head slightly, just as confused.
Jena tried to guess who might have done it but gave up. She didn’t know enough about this family yet.
Instead, once back in her room, she opened a book to study epilepsy and its treatments.
She was absorbed in reading when a section called “Herbs to Avoid” made her pause.
Knock, knock, knock.
Tilting her head, she looked toward the door. Miriam entered with two maids behind her.
“My Lady, please come with us.”
“What’s going on?”
“You’ll see once we get there.”
Miriam’s tone was stiff and her face solemn.
Why does she sound like that? Did Mother’s condition get worse?
Worried, Jena hurried after her.
Miriam led her straight to Wilhelm and Renée’s chamber.
Inside, Renée sat up in bed with Laura supporting her, while Wilhelm stood nearby with his hands behind his back.
“Mother! Are you feeling bet—”
“Kneel.”
Wilhelm’s harsh voice cut her off.
Jena froze, not understanding the situation.
“What?”
“I said kneel!”
His shout cracked like thunder.
She blinked in shock, realizing he was serious.
“Why are you angry with me? Did I do something wrong? I swear I didn’t do anything…”
“How shameless.”
Wilhelm let out a bitter laugh and glared coldly.
“I know you’re the one who changed Renée’s medicine.”
“What? Me? No, that’s not true!”
She waved her hands frantically, denying it.
Why would she ever do such a thing?
But Wilhelm’s expression only hardened.
“Don’t lie to me! I know your true nature!”
“My true nature? What do you mean…?”
Was he talking about the real Jena before she possessed this body?
He bit back his words and turned his head sharply.
“Laura, explain.”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
Laura stepped forward, folding her hands politely.
“The Madam knew that the Duchess was taking medication. She was told it was for cold extremities, but she still knew the pills existed. And she’s the only one who knew.”
Laura’s eyes flashed like a self-satisfied detective’s as she looked straight at Jena.
“Furthermore, the Madam studies pharmacology—she could easily make medicine herself.”
“Wait. Are you saying I knew about Mother’s illness and deliberately made fake pills to replace hers?”
Laura didn’t deny it. She even pointed at Jena dramatically.
“The Madam also argued with the Duchess this morning!”
“I did? With Mother? About what?”
Jena blinked. She was from a country that respected elders—she’d never raise her voice at one.
“You asked her to hand over the authority of the household. When she refused, you were clearly disappointed. I saw it with my own eyes!”
“That’s not true. I only asked for advice on the responsibilities of the lady of the house, and she kindly told me not to overwork myself.”
“That’s not what I heard.”
“Then you misunderstood, Laura. You weren’t part of that conversation, were you?”
Why was she acting like the judge of their talk?
Laura faltered for a second before one of the maids entered and handed something to Miriam.
After checking it, Miriam’s face stiffened.
“We found this hidden in the Madam’s room.”
She held up a small paper pouch.
Jena’s eyes widened.
That was in her room?
Before she could go closer, Laura snatched it and cried out,
“This is it! These are the Duchess’s real pills! I marked the packet myself!”
Oh no. That made Jena look completely guilty.
Everything pointed to her.
Wilhelm’s eyes turned icy.
“Anything to say?”
“Yes—a lot!”
She raised her hand quickly.
“First of all, I don’t know how Mother’s medicine ended up in my room. I swear I never touched it. Why would I do that?”
“It’s all Laura’s misunderstanding. Please, Father, believe me. I didn’t do it.”
She clasped her hands beneath her chin, pleading.
Wilhelm met her gaze, then frowned.
“Do you expect me to believe you?”
“Yes!”
“On what grounds?”
“Because we’re family! I’m your daughter-in-law—shouldn’t that make me a little trustworthy?”
She blinked rapidly, trying her best to look sincere.
But Renée’s cold voice cut in.
“Take her away. She’s confined to her room until further notice.”
Renée, eyes closed as if exhausted, looked toward Jena briefly.
“You’re the only one in this family who could have done it. I don’t want to see your face again.”
With a flick of her hand, the maids came forward and grabbed Jena’s arms.
“Mother! Father! I didn’t do it!”
Her cries echoed down the hallway, but no one answered.
Soon she was locked inside her room.
Her cozy space now felt like a prison.
She clutched her head in frustration, staring at the tightly shut door.
Then a familiar voice came from outside.
“My Lady, are you all right?”
It was Greta.
Relieved, Jena hurried to the door.
“Greta! You know I didn’t do it, right?”
“Yes, I know.”
Those firm words brought tears to her eyes.
At least someone believed her.
“But until the Duke and Duchess calm down, you won’t be allowed out.”
“Can’t Aizen get me out?”
She was desperate to prove her innocence—but she needed freedom first.
“Where is he? When will he be back?”
“I’m sorry, I don’t know.”
“Please tell him to come see me as soon as he returns.”
“Yes, My Lady. Is there anything else you need?”
“Thank you, Greta.”
And so began her confined life, waiting for Aizen.
Three days later, he finally came.
“I heard what happened. You’ve lost so much weight…”
“Aize—?”
She froze mid-bite, halfway through the snacks Greta had smuggled in.
Aizen stopped at the doorway, seeing her sprawled on the sofa.
A faint, dry smile tugged at his lips.
“So you’re fine after all. My mistake.”
***
The night Renée collapsed, Aizen returned home late from the ducal estate.
Sensing something off about the atmosphere, he frowned.
Robert approached and briefed him.
“The Madam tampered with the Duchess’s medicine and is now confined. The Duke and Duchess are furious.”
“She did what? My mother’s medicine?”
“Yes. It turns out the Duchess suffers from epilepsy. The Madam replaced her pills with fake ones, which caused the seizure.”
“What? Mother…?”
Like Wilhelm, Aizen hadn’t known about Renée’s illness.
He rushed to see her, but she had locked herself in her room, even refusing Wilhelm’s presence.
Unable to meet her, Aizen went to his study—where Greta was waiting.
“My Lord, the Madam has been accused of harming the Duchess.”
“I’ve heard.”
“She insists she’s innocent, and I believe her. Please see her and find out the truth.”
Greta bowed deeply.
Aizen, standing by the window, studied her quietly.
There was genuine worry in her eyes.
“I’ve been watching the Madam closely. If she’d snuck into the Duchess’s room, I would have known.”
Greta’s voice carried conviction.
Aizen didn’t think she was lying—but he couldn’t rule out bias either.
‘For all I know, she’s just pretending to have lost her memory and set Mother up.’
When it came to Jena, he had learned not to trust appearances.
Her innocent looks and kindness could all be an act.
Sitting on the window ledge, he folded his arms.
“I’ll investigate. But until the truth is proven, I won’t grant her any favors.”
Greta’s lips pressed together.
She understood it was a refusal to visit Jena.
“Yes, Your Grace.”
She bowed, turned to go, then hesitated.
Taking a small box from her pocket, she placed it on his desk.
“This is from the Madam. She wanted to repay you for the necklace and bought this in town today.”
It was the secret errand Jena had mentioned earlier—she’d gone out to buy a surprise gift for him.
Greta continued, her voice calm but slightly sad.
“She bought only this and some chestnut tea.”
“Chestnut tea? Why?”
“She first served the Duchess ginger tea for cold hands and feet, but the Duchess didn’t like it. So she searched for another tea that might suit her better.”
“…”
“She thought the Duchess had a simple circulation problem, not epilepsy.”
With that, Greta bowed and left.
Feeling unsettled, Aizen picked up the box.
When he opened his drawer to put it away, he found another box waiting inside.
