"Aconita... you say?"
"Yes. It grows in the mountains. When people go out to gather wild greens in the spring, the plants are still small, so they sometimes pick it by mistake, thinking it's an edible variety."
Martha explained that if someone accidentally ate it, it caused numbness in the limbs, vomiting, and difficulty breathing.
"That certainly sounds like a match."
"Doesn't it? It grows in the mountains around here, too. Once summer comes, it grows quite large and blooms with distinctive purple flowers, so there’s no mistaking it then."
Based on her description, Jin suspected it was similar to what was known as monkshood on Earth. He recalled seeing photos of it before.
"...But it isn't a poison strong enough to kill, you know."
"Eh?"
"At most, you'd be numb for a few hours. I've never heard of anyone actually dying from it."
It seemed to be less toxic than the monkshood Jin was familiar with.
If that was the case, and if the poison really was aconita leaves as Martha suggested, then the motive for using such a weak toxin became a mystery.
Jin fell into thought for a moment, but he quickly shifted gears, realizing it was time to get back to Elsa.
"Thank you. This was very helpful."
"Are you leaving already?"
"Yes, I'm worried about Elsa."
"Onii-chan, be careful. Make sure you protect Big Sister Elsa, too! Reiko-oneechan, please look after Onii-chan!"
"I will, Hanna-chan."
Reiko smiled at Hanna, while Jin patted the girl's head. Then, the two of them turned to leave.
"Well then, we're off."
Upon returning to Hourai Island, Jin confirmed that the inspection and modifications to the airship were complete.
"My Lord, as per your instructions, I have installed a small Warp Gate. To compensate for the added weight, I have performed a general weight reduction by revising the internal structure."
"Yeah, you did a great job."
"And here are the ultra-miniature golems for intelligence gathering."
Ten golems, each five centimeters tall, were lined up before him.
"They can use simple Craft Magic, beginner-level attack magic, barriers, and stun-type spells. Naturally, they are equipped with Invisible."
"That's more than enough. Alright, I'll take it from here."
Jin began installing the necessary control cores and other components into them.
"Alright. Wake up."
"YES, MASTER."
For easy identification, the numbers one through ten were written on their chests and backs.
"You guys are... Sam."
"YES."
The name was a play on Tom Thumb, but since there was a man named Tom living in Kaina Village, Jin had opted for "Sam" as a derivative of the word "thumb."
"Alright, let's go."
Jin boarded the airship and used the transporter to reach the skies above Alban. He then descended and landed once again in the square in front of the Royal Castle.
"Jin-nii, welcome back."
A slightly tense Elsa greeted Jin. Edgar and the escorting knights were with her.
The moment Elsa saw Jin's face, she looked visibly relieved.
"What's wrong? Did something happen?"
"Mhm....Anyway, let's go to the room."
Jin and the others moved to a room within the Royal Castle. He had left Steward behind on the airship.
Since having them inspected during entry would be a hassle, he left the Sams on the airship for now. They would likely start moving on their own once there were no more people around.
"So, what happened?"
After closing the door to the room, Jin asked Elsa once more.
"...A servant was found dead."
"What!?"
"According to the report, he was in charge of managing the supplies for the guest rooms at the Detached Palace. His body was found in his room this morning by a colleague."
Elsa shared her suspicion that it was likely an act of silencing a witness. Jin agreed.
"And you're okay, Elsa?"
"Mhm. There was no poison in lunch, either."
"Laojun believes they likely won't use the same trick twice," Reiko spoke up.
"According to Laojun's deductions, the direct target is Elsa-san. The reason is that someone would be troubled if the King were to be cured."
"You mean it's a conspiracy...?"
Since there hadn't been time for a proper meeting with Laojun, he was communicating his findings through Reiko.
"Yes. Furthermore, Laojun says, 'The most suspicious party is whoever stands to gain the most from the King's passing.'"
"..."
That would mean someone with a claim to the throne. Jin's expression turned grim.
"Does that mean... Prince Arthur, or Prince Edmond?"
Elsa also frowned. She likely couldn't fathom the idea of someone harming their own parent for personal gain.
"No, it isn't necessarily limited to those two," Reiko continued, relaying Laojun's thoughts.
"Laojun says there is also the possibility of it being someone who would benefit if either of those two became King."
"I see..."
Jin recalled the succession disputes he had seen in period dramas. Plots where a chief retainer would prop up a young lord as a puppet to take over a house.
"It's unbearable to be caught up in such a mess," Jin spat out.
"Mhm. But that's exactly why I can't forgive anyone who would plot such a thing."
In the past, Elsa's brother had been manipulated by Hypno magic, and her father had been enticed by the demon race into acting against the country's interests. Her resentment toward people being used as pawns for others' ambitions was stronger than most.
Jin sensed this as well, and he resolved to uncover this conspiracy no matter what.
"By the way, about that poisonous plant in the herbal tea."
Jin shared the information he had heard from Martha in Kaina Village with Elsa.
"Well, it seems it might be a poisonous plant called aconita. According to Martha-san, it isn't a particularly strong toxin, though."
"Aconita... Yes, that's highly likely. I was panicked at the time because it was so sudden, but thinking back on it now, the Minister of Industry's condition didn't seem all that critical."
Everyone present had been in a flurry because poison had been served, so it was an understandable oversight.
"I thought how they obtained such a poison might be a clue, but it's difficult to say."
Jin and Elsa continued to exchange various theories, but they didn't make much progress. There was simply too little information.
"By the way, how is Delite?"
"I diagnosed him a little while ago, and he was much better. I think he'll be able to get up tomorrow. I suppose the low toxicity helped."
"That's good. He was basically just a bystander caught in the crossfire..."
Meanwhile, back at Jin's airship.
It was securely moored and covered with a temporary tarp, designed to stay rock-steady even in a stiff breeze.
Steward was on guard duty.
Because of that, no special guards had been assigned by the castle, and there were only the periodic patrols by soldiers.
Utilizing those gaps in surveillance, the Sam golems dispersed into the Royal Castle.
In such a manner, the day drew to a close without Jin and his group being called for anything in particular.
The next day was the 11th. According to Princess Lieschen, they were currently in the process of searching for a patient with symptoms similar to the King's. Once one was found, Elsa would perform a diagnosis and then demonstrate the treatment.
"However, I am so bored... Hanna is not here either..."
Lieschen, who had grown bored, had come to Jin's room to chat, but she seemed to have tired of even that.
"Want to play Shiritori?"
When Jin suggested it, Lieschen's face turned slightly red for some reason.
"T-Taking the tail? Wh-What is that?"
Sensing that the Princess was imagining something untoward, Jin immediately began to explain.
"Well, you take turns saying one word at a time, but there's a rule. You have to take the last letter of the word the previous person said and use it as the start of your word."
Understanding finally dawned on Lieschen, and she nodded repeatedly.
"Yes, yes, I see, I see. So that is why it is called 'Taking the Tail'! How clever!"
"Right. And you can't use the same word twice. If you can't come up with a new word, you lose."
"Ho, ho, I see. That sounds interesting."
"There are also ways to add strict restrictions to it, but I guess we can start without anything complicated."
"V-Very well, let us try it. Jin, you may begin."
"Alright, then... how about this. If I say 'GOLEMATIC,' then the next word has to start with 'C.'...To give one more example, I'll say 'CROSS.' Since that ends in 'S,' the next word has to start with 'S.' Lies, can you think of one?"
Princess Lieschen thought for a moment before answering.
"Let me see... S... S... 'STRAIGHTROAD'!"
"DRIEDPLUM."
At Elsa's answer, Princess Lieschen voiced a question.
"What is that? This 'Dried Plum'?"
"...It's a food made from drying the fruit of a tree called a 'Ume'."
"Is it sweet?"
However, Elsa frowned and shook her head.
"It's sour and salty."
"..."
Upon hearing that, Princess Lieschen's face took on an indescribable expression.