obsession chapter 24

ing by her behavior over the past few days, he had expected her to wield a knife backward, if at all. 

However, Shariette, preoccupied with her ongoing dilemma, remained oblivious to their scrutiny. Was there another spy I wasn’t aware of? Two years ago, shortly after she’d helped Nox escape, the information she’d passed on to the Rubelletes included a list of spies. The culprit was likely someone who had survived the purge or had been planted afterward. The question is, how do I tell them?

1. Oh my! You’ve been poisoned by a new type of toxin! It’s asymptomatic, so you wouldn’t know! Rejected. They’d never believe it.
   
2. May I examine Madam and Lady Nixia’s tableware? And perhaps search their rooms? Rejected! She’d be lucky if she wasn’t dismissed as suspicious or rude.
   
3. The culprit is among us! Let’s search the staff immediately! Rejected!! Who would they believe, someone they’d trusted for at least two years, or her, a complete stranger?
   

Moreover, Shariette lacked the skills of persuasion, which required trust and rapport. At Willowhill, she relied on intimidation and threats, but those tactics wouldn’t work here. The most effective persuasion is proof. Catching the culprit red-handed was the answer. Until then, she’d have to administer an antidote discreetly. Having reached a decision, Shariette finally turned her attention to the meal. Nixia, noticing the shift in her expression, seized the moment. 

“Miss Verdett. May I call you Shariette?” 

“Yes, please, call me Shariette.” 

“Alright, Shariette. Your table manners are quite impressive.” 

“Thank yo-” 

“You must be from a noble family?” – u… was not the correct ending. Shariette’s hand paused momentarily. She mentally pulled up a relevant title. 

“Essential Etiquette Guide (II): Dining with Distinction.” 

“I read it in a book. ‘For those who appreciate refinement, the dining table should be a display of elegance, and this chapter covers seating arrangements and-’” 

“Oh my.” 

The Duchess’s genuine admiration cut short the rambling encyclopedia. 

“Remarkable. You’re as polished as a lady raised with proper instruction.” 

“Thank you.” 

The straightforward reply, devoid of customary modesty, made Nixia smile silently. Interesting. This seemingly naive woman was undoubtedly unfamiliar with social interactions. Her speech, even beyond noble formalities, was subtly off. When flustered, she recited textbook theories, and even her honorifics felt unnatural. 

She seemed isolated from her surroundings yet consciously aware of them. It was as if she had been secluded from society for a long time. They said she was brought from Willowhill in the east? That’s not exactly a remote area. What was peculiar was her upright and dignified posture, as if she were of noble birth. 

Such poise couldn’t be imitated or learned overnight; it had to be ingrained over time. Commoners rarely have the opportunity. She must have received some form of education. Most concerning was the unconscious grace in her demeanor. It was identical to someone she knew. 

A familiarity that only Nixia, who had spent years navigating social circles, could recognize, not her aged mother, nor her brother who had brought Shariette here. Blanche Argent. From the way she held her cutlery, to the curve of her fingers around a glass, to the angle of her head, it was all perfectly replicated. As if possessed by the ghost of that deceased madwoman.