Field stored the bottle of poisoned water in her storage ring.
Her primary reason for keeping it was to find someone to analyze the toxin’s components once they reached the next town.
Now, she had arrived back at their carriage to discuss a countermeasure with Alice and Liyakade.
“…Stop right there, Natalia!”
“Eek!”
Field’s sudden sharp command startled Natalia, who was following closely behind.
Natalia froze in her tracks, clutching her chest as she caught her breath, then looked at Field with confusion.
“Master Feide? What… what’s wrong?”
“Don’t get close to the carriage, and don’t let anyone else approach either.”
Field’s tone was incredibly stern, even more so than when they were discussing the water source issue earlier.
“Ah, yes, Master Feide!”
Natalia was puzzled but complied, standing guard where she was.
Field, meanwhile, became even more cautious.
She first blanketed the carriage with magic power to prevent any sound from leaking out, then cast a visual interference spell on the door.
Only then did she crack the door open and slip inside through the narrow gap.
Natalia watched this series of maneuvers with wide eyes.
Anyone watching would think the carriage contained some sort of ferocious beast.
Not only was no sound allowed to escape, but even opening the door required visual interference.
In truth, as Field had approached the carriage, she had sensed something was off.
She felt the carriage vibrating slightly.
Initially, Field thought it was just Liyakade being rowdy after being poisoned, moving around restlessly.
However, just a moment ago, Field thought she heard faint, rhythmic moans coming from inside.
This was why she had sharply stopped Natalia and used magic to isolate the sound and sight before entering.
“You two…”
“Ah… hng!”
Inside, Alice was covering her mouth with her slender hand, trying to restrain herself from making any noise.
She sat on the seat, her face flushed crimson, allowing Liyakade—who was kneeling on the floor—to toy with her wantonly.
The air in the carriage had become thick and heavy.
The sudden opening of the door gave Alice a fright.
Alice, who had been right on the verge of reaching the peak, was immediately startled back down.
Her legs tensed up, briefly clamping onto Liyakade’s head.
It was only when she saw it was Field, and noticed the visual interference was active, that she finally relaxed again.
“Fi—Field… you’re back…”
Alice’s body trembled slightly and involuntarily.
She looked at Field with a hint of embarrassment.
Liyakade, who had been diligently “working” with her tongue, stopped her focused movements after being squeezed and then released by Alice.
She turned her head toward Field.
Field closed the carriage door immediately after entering.
Her nose twitched slightly as she caught the faint, exotic scent in the air.
She looked helplessly at the two—one sitting, one kneeling, both with their clothes in disarray.
“Why on earth did you two… start doing this… in a place like this?”
Field didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.
While she was exasperated that they would indulge themselves regardless of the setting, she was also surprised and heartened to see that Liyakade no longer seemed afraid of intimate contact with Alice today.
“Now our carriage is completely filled with your scent.”
“Actually, it’s…”
Alice started to speak, trying to come up with an excuse, but Liyakade was clearly faster.
“Hehe, it’s been so long since I played with Alice, I just couldn’t help myself.”
Liyakade’s eyes were still pink.
She gave a playful smile and wiped a silver thread from her lip.
“Honestly…”
Seeing Liyakade like this, Field couldn’t bring herself to stay angry.
Besides, the fact that Liyakade was willing to touch Alice again was a very good thing.
Even if she didn’t know the exact reason, at least their conflict had been resolved to some extent.
“Even though you’re in the middle of your fun, I have to interrupt. Get your clothes back on properly.”
“Mhm.”
Hearing Field’s serious tone, Alice realized something must have happened outside.
Although she felt a bit unsatisfied having been interrupted before the finish, she knew now wasn’t the time to continue.
She straightened her top and skirt, which Liyakade had pushed up, and waited for Field to speak.
After her outburst, Liyakade also seemed less aggressive and was more willing to listen to others.
“I’ve found the reason why Liyakade and I fell into that dazed state. The problem is in the caravan’s water source. Someone poisoned it. All three of us drank it, which is why things turned out like this.”
“Huh? Is that so? But I drank the caravan’s water too?”
Alice was confused.
In her memory, all three of them had shared the water.
Why did she feel perfectly fine?
“Heh, have you forgotten who you are?”
Field gave a light chuckle, reminding Alice.
“You are a Light Element Magic User. You naturally have a high resistance to many types of toxins. I only recovered from the confusion thanks to your magic, didn’t I?”
“Mhm… that’s true.”
“As for Liyakade.”
Field turned to look at Liyakade.
“You don’t seem to be having hallucinations… but aren’t you a bit too excited?”
“Hehehe, aren’t I always like this?”
“Where exactly…?”
Field sighed.
Based on her observations, Liyakade was clearly resisting the drug due to her demonic bloodline.
Her mind was actually clear and she was capable of thinking, she had just become exceptionally hyperactive.
Therefore, there was no need to worry about the toxin causing her any real harm.
“Many people in the caravan have been poisoned now, and the water source is completely contaminated. We don’t know if the victims will develop further symptoms. In short, the caravan might have to stay here for a while.”
“What…? So many people are poisoned?”
Upon hearing Field’s summary of the situation, a look of shock appeared on Alice’s small face.
She stood up, wanting to go outside the carriage.
“Eh? Alice, what are you doing?”
Field reached out a hand to stop her.
“To save the poisoned people, of course!”
“…Wait a second. If you go save them directly now, won’t your identity be exposed to everyone? What if there’s someone among them who wishes you harm?”
“Are we just supposed to sit here and do nothing?”
Alice couldn’t just sit idly by while people were hurt.
What if there really were follow-up symptoms?
This was exactly the problem Field was grappling with.
As the Princess, she certainly wouldn’t leave the members of the caravan—her own subjects—to die.