Chapter 44 Antidote First

Violet liquid touched the prepared stem before Lady Elowen’s fingers closed around its harmless-looking bowl.

Damien crossed the reception through Flicker and struck her glass using his wrapped sample from the service cart.

Both vessels shattered above the table, spraying clear wine across silver mourning clothes while nobles recoiled around them.

"Forgive the coat, Lady Elowen, though drinking that would ruin considerably more fabric," he said, catching the server’s white cuff.

The young man twisted free with trained speed and vanished behind guests before Vivienne reached her aunt.

’He delivered one part through the stem and another inside that vial, damn, identify the reaction before his route closes.’

Mina’s receiver flashed against Damien’s collar when mingled wine ate a black hole through the tablecloth.

"The active poison destroys blood mana after binding to glass powder," she said, sending six antidote profiles across his vision, "test them now."

Damien dropped each sample onto the smoking cloth while Isolde blocked curious guests using her crimson skirt and one cold smile.

Five antidotes turned gray upon contact, but the sixth produced a bright orange foam around every dissolved thread.

[Veylroot antidote confirmed]

[Poison identified: Pale Mercy]

’Antidote first, good, now save the victim before chasing whichever bastard carried the dose.’

He pushed the orange vial toward Vivienne while Lady Elowen stared at her ruined sleeve through delayed shock.

"Make her swallow half and rub the remainder across both hands," Damien said, turning toward the eastern divider, "the stem touched her skin."

"You expect me to administer an unknown mixture after attacking her glass," Vivienne replied, holding the vial beneath hard steel-blue eyes.

"That tablecloth is losing a fight against the poison," he said, pointing toward the widening hole, "trust me for ten seconds."

Fear broke through her formal control when black veins appeared beneath Elowen’s fingertips.

Vivienne uncorked the vial with her teeth, poured half between her aunt’s lips, then covered both hands using the rest.

Orange light spread under pale skin until every black vein retreated toward the broken glass fragments.

[Target saved before lethal attachment]

[Execution frame interrupted]

Lady Elowen caught Vivienne’s wrist and remained upright while Marlowe healers finally reached their table.

"Go after him," she whispered, forcing each word through trembling lips, "I refuse to die during another family’s dessert."

"Nah, Aunt, insulting another family’s menu proves your recovery remains promising," Vivienne replied, but relief made her voice unsteady.

’She will stay with Elowen if I move now, good, nobody should watch what happens once I corner that assassin.’

Isolde stepped beside Damien and slid a green vial into his palm without looking away from the eastern divider.

"Pale Mercy requires this catalyst before swallowing becomes fatal," she said, closing his fingers around it, "the carrier possesses another dose."

"You sound very certain about how he prepared the kill," Damien replied, reading her anger through the careful calm.

"My family invented that poison for painless executions," she answered, exposing one sharp tooth through her smile, "somebody stole the name too."

The server crossed the garden door while Bram sealed every public exit from his tablet near the fountain.

Damien followed through the service corridor, using Eye of Reckoning against wet shoe marks beneath hanging kitchen lamps.

’Quiet first human target, fuck, constructs never beg or explain who waits behind them.’

The trail entered a walled garden filled with trimmed hedges and white flowers closed beneath evening cold.

A red escape signal burned above the far fountain while the server removed his formal coat beside one unlocked gate.

Without house clothing, he looked older than his narrow face had suggested, with cropped brown hair above a scarred neck.

His lean build wore fitted gray combat cloth under the servant uniform, and two empty vial loops crossed his waist.

"Stop before the gate and place both hands where I can count them," Damien said, drawing Verdict beneath the red signal.

"Well, the Trash heir learned command voice after stealing a dead woman’s saber," the assassin replied, turning one hand toward his belt.

Verdict cut the final vial free before his fingers closed, leaving it spinning across garden stones.

The man kicked soil toward Damien’s eyes and attacked through the distraction using a black needle from his sleeve.

Iron Veil caught its point near Damien’s cheek while poison smoked across the silver barrier.

’Fast and desperate, he expected an easy exit after Isolde received blame, not somebody waiting beside the route.’

Damien Flickered behind the fountain, forcing the assassin to follow before Silverlight Draw opened his right forearm.

The needle fell beside white flowers while Verdict’s edge stopped against his throat without breaking skin.

"Who removed Lady Elowen’s name from the public guest registry tonight?" Damien asked, driving him against the fountain through one forearm.

"She was never supposed to become the intended death," the assassin replied, smiling through pain while blood entered his gray sleeve, "Lady Marlowe held that position."

"The script changed after your hidden employer completely lost control," Damien said, watching recognition enter the man’s eyes.

"You cannot possibly know that protected word from any public source," he whispered, reaching toward one false tooth before Damien struck his jaw with Verdict’s guard.

The tooth broke loose and landed near the catalyst Isolde had given him, carrying another clear dose inside its hollow root.

’He has poison prepared for capture, good, that means fear can open his mouth before loyalty closes it.’

Damien pushed the assassin against wet stone and held the green catalyst near his split lip.

"Tell me who paid for Isolde’s frame, then this stays outside your mouth," he said, letting one drop touch the man’s chin.

"You still think payment matters after the Benefactor marks a correction," the assassin replied, and black residue spread beneath his tongue.

The mark began erasing his face from Eye of Reckoning before another answer could leave it.

Damien looked toward the red escape signal, seeing one handler’s shadow waiting beyond the locked garden gate.

’The mark kills him either way, damn, mercy only gives the Benefactor time to rewrite whatever remains.’

He picked up the fallen Pale Mercy vial while the assassin fought beneath his arm with growing panic.

"You wanted a painless execution for somebody who never touched your life," Damien said, pressing the dose against his teeth, "test the family branding yourself."

"Wait, the mark forced the target change after I entered the hall," the man said, jerking his face aside, "I can identify the original handler."

"You had that chance before Lady Elowen touched the glass," Damien replied, forcing Pale Mercy between his lips.

The assassin swallowed while Damien added Isolde’s green catalyst and held his mouth closed until movement stopped.

No dramatic struggle followed, only one shudder against the fountain before weight sagged beneath Damien’s forearm.

’A person died under my hand, fuck, I chose it and relief still arrived before guilt, so remember that honestly.’

He lowered the body behind the fountain and wiped Verdict using the abandoned servant coat.

[Script Quest: Antidote First]

[Perfect Clear]

[Lethal event prevented before reaching bearer]

[Death Refund not triggered]

[EXP Gained: 8,190,000]

[Level increased: 380 → 401]

[SP awarded: 8,000]

[Current SP: 29,880]

[Divergence: 31%]

The red signal flashed twice above the gate, then its handler entered wearing a Marlowe security mask.

He found the assassin beneath the fountain with black residue burned away from his dead tongue.

Damien had already crossed the western hedge through Flicker, leaving no blood across either formal cuff.

’Handler saw the result without seeing me, good, let him report that his execution route swallowed the wrong man.’

Vivienne waited inside the service corridor after leaving Elowen with three healers and Isolde’s personal physician.

Her gaze found the clean cuffs first, then moved toward Verdict where fresh poison smoked along its sheath.

"That servant will never answer another question about tonight’s poisoning now," she said, blocking the corridor until Damien stopped before her.

"No, his mark started erasing him after he admitted the Benefactor ordered a correction," Damien replied, meeting her eyes.

"That explanation describes necessity without telling me what you personally chose," Vivienne said, voice low while reception music resumed beyond the divider.

"I forced him to swallow the poison intended for your aunt," he answered, refusing any softer wording between them.

Pain crossed her face before something colder replaced it, though she did not reach for the sword beneath her white coat.

"Thank you after saving her tonight," Vivienne said, stepping aside, "do not mistake gratitude for approval of everything afterward."

"I will not mistake your gratitude for approval of my decision," Damien replied, and relief hurt more than any accusation she might have given.

’She saw where my mercy ends and stayed honest, damn, that matters even if neither of us likes the answer.’

Isolde approached carrying Elowen’s poisoned glove inside a sealed glass case while her uncle followed at a nervous distance.

"Lady Elowen will recover completely," she said, offering Damien one small nod before looking toward the garden door, "the carrier failed to escape?"

"He died after naming the Benefactor and confirming you were the original target," Damien replied, passing her the broken false tooth.

Isolde examined it without flinching, then closed her hand around the evidence until the hollow root cracked.

"You saved the future where my family framed me, not merely tonight’s body," she said, anger roughening her controlled voice, "I understand the difference."

The quest display changed above her shoulder before Damien could answer.

[Execution frame adapting]

[New target removed from observable routes]

[Academy tournament registration finalized]

Every reception screen switched into Halcrest’s intramural bracket beneath sponsor banners and cheering promotional music.

Damien found his name on the gauntlet side while Lucas waited inside the semifinal slot through a golden seed.

’The framer moved beyond anyone I can watch, and the tournament just locked me toward Fate’s Favorite, fine, handle one killing route at a time.’

He walked back into the reception beside both heiresses while the assassin’s handler remained alone beyond the garden door.