The Scoundrel's Tribute

Immortal step-mother

Dmitry

I was looking at the pale Rene, she looked like a corpse but she was still breathing and her heart was beating. The doctor checked her condition and shook his head.

- She is alive. That's all I can tell, it looks like sever poisoning.

- Could it be an accident? She has many weird stuff in that garden. - I asked and the doctor shook his head again

- As I know, the Duchess knew how to handle dangerous flowers and she consulted many things with me. I find it impossible that she could make such a fatal mistake. - I looked at her motionless body and sighed.

- Maybe this is another one of her attempts to call your attention Duke. - Victor said and if it was the Rene of a year ago, I wouldn't be standing here now. But something about this woman, makes me believe that she didn't do this.

- It was Uncle Victor! - I heard my daughter's scream from the door. Her eyes were filled with tears but the look in them was cold as ice. She seemed like a knight who was fighting for his life on the battlefield. Determined, strong and mercy-less.

- Little Lady! - the teacher screamed and caught Dina's wrist. She bowed and tried to pull her put of the room.

- Apologies my Duke. - the teacher said and scolded gently Dina but she fought against her.

- Let me go this is an order! - she said and the teacher's eyes widened at her. She looked at me waiting.

- You heard her. - I said and the teacher released Dina, she bowed and left. Dina ram to Rene and gasped as she saw how grey her skin got.

- Is she dead? - she asked and my blood froze in my veins. The doctor kneeled next to Dina and reached for her hand. He caressed his own long white beard and fixed his glasses before he said.

- Give me ypur hand Little Lady. - Dina gave her hand and the doctor lifted two of her fingers, he put them on Rene's wrist and said.

- Do you feel the pulsating under your fingertips Little Lady? - Dina nodded.

- That means that the Duchess is not dead. She is just not in her best condition. - Dina looked at the doctor with teary eyes.

- Can you fix her? - he sighed.

-I'm trying my best Little Lady, but I don't want to promise anything. - Dina sobbed and she rushed to Victor hitting him woth her fists.

- It's all your fault! You wanted to kill her! I hate you Uncle Victor! I HATE YOU! - I grabbed Dina in my arms and turned her to face me restraining her arms.

- Dina, what are you talking about?! - I asked and I've never seen my little girl so desperate and angry. When her mother passed away she barely understood what happened, since she was very young back then. However, now she was almost nine years old already, she could understand the concept of death and loss.

- Lord Victor had an argument with the Duchess two days ago. I heard them talk in an ugly manner to each other. The Duchess said to Lord Victor. "- What a pleasant surprise! You have free will as well! I thought you were the Duke's loyal dog! Does your owner know that you are trying to kill me?" That's when I decided to enter. I don't want the Duchess to die! Lord Victor had something in his hands that he protected and he acted suspicious. I took the nag but it had only powered sugar in it.

- How do you know that? - I asked and Dina blushed looking at the ground.

- I tasted it. - I shook her a bit.

- Dina! How can you be so irresponsible?! What if it was something that might be bad for you?! - I have expected her to cry and ask for forgiveness, but Dina stomped and shouted into my face.

- I KNEW IF IT WAS DANGEROUS, UNCLE VICTOR AND THE DUCHESS WILL STOP ME! But they didn't, so I left it like that. She lost consciousness after that. - I looked at Victor and he nodded. I felt so angry, I wanted to get rid of Rene too, but I didn't think that Victor would go this far, right when she was really showing signs of change.

- Dina, go back to your lesson, we must discuss this between adults. - She nodded and headed out but stopped in front of Victor and said.

- If Duchess Rene dies, I'll order the knights to kill you on the day I turn eighteen. - she left without saying another word and I saw Victor's eyes tearing up. I held my temple.

- Victor, what have you done?

- I made a terrible mistake... - he said and the doctor asked.

- What was in that pouch? - Victor's hands trembled.

- It had opium poppy extract. A dosage that could kill someone easily, I.... She... The Duchess ate it all.

- We will talk about this further, now what is important, can she be saved? - I asked turning to the doctor.

- It would be difficult, it is a miracle that she is still alive to be honest. We would need the extract of a very rare flower.

- Bring her maid here, she must have the key to the Duchess's garden. - I said to Victor and before he left I added.

- Pray that she has the flower we need. - Victor left but the doctor kept looking very pensive at Rene.

- What is in your mind doctor? - he looked into my eyes. His grey eyes seen so many tragedies and miracles in his sixty years that it would be enough for ten other people to bare with it.

- I think the Duchess is resistant to this poison.

- If so, shouldn't the poison be ineffective?

- If she wasn't resistant, she would be dead already. - Victor came back with Magda who opened the door of the tower garden for us. The doctor's eyes widened and they sparkled like a kid's.

- My Dear Lord... This is breathtaking. Such a variety, and everything categorized, well taken care of and in perfect places. My Duke, you never mentioned that your wife is a genius! - I didn't want to believe the doctor's words, but the garden Rene created in the tower was indeed a work of art. He looked around and seemed that he couldn't find what he was looking for. The doctor turned to Magda and asked.

- My Dear, didn't your Lady bring a bright yellow and white flower that looks like a star when it blooms? I'm also looking for one, which has three tiny petals, either dark blue or white colored ones, that look towards the ground.- Magda headed into the garden and brought the flowers the doctor was looking for. He smiled happily and asked Magda.

- May I take a bit? - she nodded and the doctor cut the parts of each he needed.

- I'll be back soon Duke, I just need to prepare the medicine. - he headed towards the stairs but Magda stopped him.

- Do you need these to cure the Duchess? - the doctor nodded and Magda looked a bit conflicted after a moment she sighed.

- She probably won't scold me, please follow me doctor. - we followed her as well and that was when we discovered that instead of the walk in wardrobe, Rene had previously filled with clothes, there was a small laboratory. The doctor gasped and headed to the desk to work on the medicine immediately. I called Magda out and let Victor there in awe.

- Since when is she so interested in these things? - I asked and the maid didn't dare to look into my eyes.

- My Lady had been interested in medicine and herbalism since she had that accident with the Little Lady.

- Which accident?

- When she Little Lady spilled tea all over the Duchess and she got burned. Ever since that day she changed and we started to work on this garden and room. The Duchess spent here all her free time. - I looked around and realized I knew nothing of this woman whom my daughter became so devoted to. The doctor finished the medicine and gave it to Rene. But she remained asleep. Her skin got some more color almost immediately and that was a relief. Victor told me what he did and I knew I must clear up things once Rene regained consciousness. She had been asleep for three days, and Dina got haggard. She didn't talk to Victor at all and she also avoided me, Dina spent all her time with the Duchess waiting for her to wake up. On the fourth day, I went to check on Dina. She didn't come to my room despite of being terrified of thunderstorms. I walked to Rene's room to see if she had been there already and when I opened the door, I saw my daughter sleeping calmly, resting her head on Rene's lap and she was caressing Dina's hair smiling at her. When our eyes met she bowed her head gently and I didn't know what to do with my mixed up feelings. I wanted to resent Rene, I wanted to hate her, she would never take Catherine's place as long as I was alive, yet, she looked so noble, strong and lovely that my heart ached at the thought that she would also disappear.