SMR | Chapter 156

~Chapter 156~

“Roxana Balbanners was seriously injured and taken to the Pellon estate.”

“…Critically injured? You’re saying she’s critically injured?”

The man delivering the report scratched the back of his neck awkwardly, avoiding her eyes.

“Did I tell you to keep that woman alive?”

“But her guards…”

“I told you there would be guards! You couldn’t even prepare for that?!”

Lauren, the one who ordered the assassination, glared fiercely at the hired killer known as Butcher Harry and shouted.

He protested defensively.

“But you never said her guards would be that skilled.”

“You idiot! So you’re saying I have to investigate her guards’ abilities and report them to you?”

Lauren looked ready to throw something at him. Harry hurried to soothe her.

“But the carriage flipped completely into the wheat field. Judging by how her guards were panicking to open the door, she must be in terrible shape. She’ll die soon. You could say the job is basically done.”

“You’re all talk.”

“Please check for yourself. Anyway, with the acting head of the family on the verge of death, your son will finally have a chance to become the Pellon heir.”

Lauren clicked her tongue.

“That woman’s life is too damn long.”

If only Roxana had been taken by her father’s creditor, all this trouble would never have happened.

Lauren tossed a coin pouch to Harry.

“She’s still alive, so you’re only getting half.”

“But your son becoming the Pellon heir is—”

“She has to die! What I want is that woman’s death, you worthless insect!”

She no longer looked anything like a refined noblewoman. Lauren stormed out of the room, fists shaking from anger.

The humiliation she suffered at the Kailas duchy haunted her every night.

If it weren’t for that woman…!

It was Harriet who exposed the truth, and Lauren would never forgive her either. But in Lauren’s mind, everything had started because of Roxana.

If even a drop of Pellon blood hadn’t existed in Roxana, none of this would have happened.

As long as she’s alive, I can never take the Pellon family.

Rumors had already spread everywhere that Lauren did not carry Pellon blood.

But Roxana was officially registered as the acting head of the family, and once she died, the only one who could take her place was Lauren’s son, Jayden.

The information was correct. That means the Pellon estate only has Roxana right now…

Lauren’s eyes narrowed sharply.

This is the only chance to kill her.

She ordered a servant to bring Joseph.

He had been hiding at the Marshal estate because of the recent mess. His job was to quickly issue a death certificate for Roxana before Trisha could intervene.

Joseph was practically dragged in, looking confused. Lauren had no intention of explaining kindly.

She grabbed his collar and asked:

“You still have that medicine, right?”

“That medicine…? The one we used on the Countess Pellon?”

“What else would I be talking about?”

“I—I do, but… why?”

She squeezed his collar tighter, then released it slightly as she whispered:

“Don’t fail this time, Mr. Alden. You were paid.”

His spine stiffened at the murderous glint in her eyes.

“We’re going to the Pellon estate right now. To ‘treat’ the newly arrived, critically injured acting head, Roxana P.”

“A-Are we really treating her?”

“Do you think so? Your job is to write her death certificate! Hurry, disguise yourself.”

Joseph did as ordered—he put on thick-rimmed glasses, a fake beard, and carried a doctor’s bag.

Lauren and Jayden were already in the carriage. As soon as Joseph boarded, Lauren banged on the wall and ordered them to depart. Jayden simply followed whatever she said, showing no will of his own.

Something feels wrong…

Joseph nervously asked:

“W-What if they don’t let us in?”

“Right now the Pellon estate only has a half-dead Roxana and some servants. Who would dare stop the next heir’s personal doctor? I brought an ‘expert.’”

Lauren smiled, but her red lips curved with malice.

***

At the Pellon Estate

As expected, Andre the butler blocked their entrance.

“You can’t just barge in! Please leave.”

Lauren stared at him coldly, then stepped closer—and slapped him across the face.

SMACK.

The sound echoed through the lobby. The servants gasped.

“A tea-picker from Carverhill somehow became a butler thanks to that senile old man—and now you dare act high and mighty?”

“M-Madam Marshal…”

When Andre tried again to stop her, Lauren slapped him once more.

“Are you disrespecting me because I’m not the Count’s real daughter?”

“That’s… not the issue.”

Even with blood dripping from his lip, Andre maintained his manners. But Lauren found it offensive.

“If you don’t like it, beg your new mother to adopt you too. Otherwise, don’t act superior.”

“Lady Roxana needs absolute rest!”

“That’s why I brought a doctor! How am I supposed to trust that you know how to treat the acting family head properly?”

“That’s nonsense—!”

The guards Lauren brought shoved Andre hard. He fell backward, unable to stop them any longer.

Lauren looked down at him with disgust.

“You’re nothing. Know your place.”

With him out of the way, no one could stop her. She marched straight into Roxana’s room.

Roxana lay pale on the bed, wrapped in bandages. A makeshift screen separated the area, and clutter had been pushed behind it.

“W-Who are…”

The doctor Andre had called stood up, startled, but Lauren snapped her shawl off and barked:

“Get out.”

The doctor and maids hesitated, but after she shouted again, they ran.

Finally alone with her prey, Lauren smiled wickedly.

“Joseph. Take out the medicine.”

“Yes…”

He pulled out a brown bottle. The tablets clinked inside.

“You said giving several at once can kill someone, right?”

“It’ll cause heart failure or shock. B-But we’ll definitely get caught…”

Lauren snorted.

“And what then? Once she dies, this place becomes my house.”

Her laughter grew louder—almost deranged.

Joseph, pale as a ghost, crushed the pills. About seven remained—leftovers from what he had used on Trisha.

“Is this enough?”

“For someone who’s never taken it? Three or four is fatal. I took extra in case some spills.”

He crushed them quickly, wanting to get this over with.

Kong, kong, kong — the mortar echoed in the quiet room.

Lauren looked around, muttering:

“A filthy little thing who should be thankful even for an attic—and she got a room like this? Every time I saw that dying hag waste my money, my blood boiled.”

Jayden wondered if she was speaking to him, but Lauren didn’t even glance at him. She only stepped toward Roxana.

“Tsk tsk. You should’ve behaved smartly, Roxana. You wanted things far beyond your place, and now look at you.”

She used her fan to lift Roxana’s chin, inspecting her.

Bandages around her head were stained with blood. Her complexion was ghostly pale.

“It would’ve been so much cleaner if the carriage accident killed you. You’re just like Trisha Pellon. No matter how many deadly pills I fed that old hag, she kept clinging to life.”

Lauren grinned, baring her teeth.

“This time, I’ll make sure you die. And don’t worry—you won’t be lonely. That old hag you love so much? I’ll send her right after you. Ahahahaha!”