A Family in Decline

Arriving at Fiora's house, I finally saw the person I had been longing for day and night.

She lay peacefully on the large bed, as if fast asleep.

What is most stunning about her is still her appearance; the years have not left a single trace on her face.

Because of her illness, her skin turned from fair to pale, and her short hair grew into long hair.

My heart clenched; the Fiora, the Duelist had never been so weak before!

"When did she become like this?" I asked Nora, no longer caring about etiquette or manners.

"Around this time last year, without any warning, the young lady initially thought she had caught a cold, but her consciousness gradually faded until she fell into a deep sleep about six months ago."

What did the doctor say?

"His Your Majesty King summoned the best doctors from the palace, but to no avail; they could only prolong her life with some precious medicinal herbs."

"My father and mother had the same symptoms, just a little later than my sister Fiora," Felina added.

At that moment Riven leaned over and asked, "Can I take a look?"

"Please." Felina didn't mind.

Riven walked over to Fiora, circled her, touched her forehead, sniffed her scent, and then shared her thoughts:

"I think she wasn't sick, but poisoned!"

"Poisoning!" We were all shocked and couldn't believe that someone would do such a thing in the Laurent Family.

Riven continued, "When I lived in the Ice Plain Basin, I saw a drug that could paralyze people called Ice Orchid. Small doses are harmless, but long-term use will cause people to fall into a deep sleep."

Are the symptoms the same?

"Yes, many of our customers who come for pleasure often take it. After taking it, they feel slightly warm and seem to enjoy it. I've even brewed it for them. The owner said that long-term use can cause strong side effects, leading to a deep sleep that they can't wake up from."

Is there any way to treat it?

"It's very simple. Just stop taking it and rest for a while, and you'll gradually recover. I don't know exactly how long it will take."

If stopping the medication will restore her health, then it means someone has been feeding her this poison continuously.

Just then, the head maid came in, carrying a bowl of medicine. "It's time to give Miss her medicine. The doctor said she needs to take it every day."

Riven took the medicine, held it to her nose, and smelled it. "It smells very similar! There should be some other substances in it."

The head maid didn't understand what we were talking about, and a hint of panic flashed across her face. I quickly asked her, "Where did this medicine come from?"

"It was a prescription from the royal physician; I went to buy the medicine."

"Okay, you can go now. I'll feed her the medicine."

"Guest, are you...?"

"Alright, you can go now," Felina commanded.

After the head maid left, I asked Jarvan, "Are there any apothecaries in the palace?"

"If it's just doctors and pharmacists, the Tabor Family has many; they are very knowledgeable in various fields."

"Then let them check if there's anything wrong with the medicine!"

"Okay, let's go now!"

"I think it would be best to bring Fiora along too; something's not right here!" Riven thought it through very well.

Felina and Nora followed, leaving Fiana to watch the house. We chatted a lot on the way.

→

They had all noticed something was wrong at home, but Fiora and her husband Fili were both ill, leaving no one to take charge and so there was nothing they could do.

Later, when Bordewin became the head of House Laurent Family, everything in the kingdom was running smoothly, even better than Fiora's, and gradually no one cared about the matter anymore.

Felina and Fiana had just grown up and had never dealt with family affairs, which led to the family's increasing decline over the course of the year.

With no income and their regular salaries inexplicably cut off, the servants gradually left, and the once large household became what it is today.

"Doesn't Lord Bordewin care about you?" Jarvan asked, puzzled.

"My uncles often helped us out, but we couldn't do anything about it. These precious medicinal herbs alone have exhausted all our savings."

Although Felina said so, I don't think so. I think it's all a conspiracy by Bordewin!

He plotted to frame Fiora and her husband Fili, thus becoming the head of the family he had always dreamed of!

If that's the case, I will make him pay the price, no matter the consequences!

Nora was surprised by my behavior; why would a complete stranger like me be so interested in the Laurent Family's affairs?

"Do you know this lady? You seem quite interested in her."

"Out of admiration," I replied casually, then turned my gaze to Nora's hands.

I noticed many scars on the back of her hands. You wouldn't accidentally hurt your hands while doing housework, and these were clearly the marks left by whipping.

Does the head maid often make things difficult for you?

Nora remained silent, which was taken as tacit agreement. I took her hand, rolled up her sleeve, and discovered that her entire arm was covered in scars!

"Please don't do this!" She tried to pull her hand back, but she couldn't break free.

"Yasuo! What's wrong with you?" Jarvan stopped me.

"Alright, then I won't hide it anymore. I know all of you, you're all my family. Seeing you suffer, besides feeling sad, I'm also feeling very angry!"

"So you're finally going to tell me?" Jarvan had never asked about my background, but that didn't mean he wasn't curious, since I had told him a lot when I helped him regain his memories.

"I know Fiora, we're good friends. You'll find out when she wakes up."

I didn't say much because it would be too complicated to explain. By showing that I'm Fiora's good friend, I mean I'm going to see this through to the end!

"You know us? I don't remember ever seeing you before."

"Trust me, Nora."

Hearing me say my name, Nora was quite surprised. If I were just a friend the Prince had made outside, there was no way I would know her.

Jarvan was equally puzzled. "You actually know an ordinary maid from the Laurent Family? That's incredible!"

"She's no ordinary person. Do you remember what Noviya said when we left? She told me to say hello to her sister when I see her. Nora is her sister."

Jarvan's expression changed upon hearing this. Noviya had taken good care of him when he was injured before, and he had long considered her a friend.

How could he possibly turn a blind eye to his friend's sister being abused?

Now there's one more person who's angry, and their anger is no less than mine. "Once we've dealt with this, I'll make that old woman who bullied you pay!"

Nora didn't respond to the matter further. Judging from the Prince's reaction, she guessed that we had a shared experience with Noviya.

"Thank you." Her tears fell in a steady stream.