Chapter 67: Adolph’s Questions

Adolph walked into the room where they brought Maria and took a steadying breath, hearing her weep. He sat across from her and offered her a handkerchief. She took it with a little whimpering cry.

“Y-Your Majesty… Is she okay?”

“The priestess has said she will recover with time.”

She nodded stiffly, “That’s… That’s good. I… After this I… I wish to tender my resignation.”

Arthur tilted his head, “Have you passed on the recipes?”

She sniffled, looking up at him with confusion, “The imperial jam’s recipe is recorded in the archives, of course.”

“Not the imperial jam,” Adolph smirked, “*Your* petal jam recipes.”

She blinked as he relaxed into his seat, “I’m not prepared to start eating someone else’s petal jam, Maria, so I can’t allow you to resign.”

“B-But…” She sniffled. “I… Someone… I… I didn’t see it.”

“I’m not worried about what you didn’t see. I’m worried about what you did.”

She nodded, “I-I understand. W-Where should I start?”

“The poison has been determined to be crimson oleande