Sister I am the Queen in This Life [Novel] Chapter 150

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Translator: Harry Potta
Chapter: 150
Chapter Title: The Assassination of Queen Marguerite (1)
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- "Announcing Lady de Mare!"

As Ariadne entered the queen's luncheon to the long call of a royal attendant, she exchanged a glance with the Marchioness Cibo, who had already arrived and was seated.

The hostess of the luncheon and the highest-ranking person present, Queen Marguerite, had not yet made her entrance, and the guests were trickling in according to their status.

- "Announcing Countess Marquez!"

Countess Marquez, splendidly dressed in a red gown, entered the hall and took the seat next to Ariadne.

Ariadne's seat today was directly to Queen Marguerite's left, a position reserved only for her closest confidantes. It was the seat usually occupied by Countess Marquez, effectively displacing her.

Countess Marquez shot Ariadne a displeased look.

"It seems you've won Her Majesty's favor, Lady de Mare."

Ariadne put on the most modest expression she could muster and replied. She had no energy to engage in such petty provocations.

"How could I possibly know Her Majesty's heart?"

The time for the luncheon to begin was drawing near. As the clock struck noon, the sound of a horn echoed.

- *Toot!*

Everyone seated in the hall rose in unison. There were about thirty of them, all noblewomen of varying ranks, each a prominent figure in San Carlo's high society.

An attendant's cry rang through the hall.

- "Her Majesty, Queen Marguerite, arrives!"

The guests all curtsied, showing their respect for the royal family.

- "We greet the full moon of San Carlo!"

Receiving the greetings of the radiant noblewomen who filled the room, Queen Marguerite surveyed the assembly with dignity. The queen had no penchant for keeping her audience standing for long.

"All of you, be seated."

- "We thank Your Majesty for your grace!"

The noblewomen were just about to sit down in unison.

"Oh my, sitting down already?"

A voluptuous, red-haired beauty who had arrived late sneered. She was even holding a small pet dog in her arms. A royal attendant belatedly announced the latecomer.

- "Announcing the arrival of Countess Rubina!"

For a guest to enter after a member of the royal family had already arrived was a grave breach of etiquette. The protocol for official entrances dictated that all attendees of a lower rank than the new arrival must stand to greet them, and this was considered disrespectful to the royal who was already present.

The pet dog was also inappropriate. While it was common for pets to wander about during mealtimes, it was unheard of for a guest to bring their own dog into another's dining hall.

Despite Countess Rubina's rude entrance, not a flicker of emotion crossed Queen Marguerite's face, but the other noblewomen of the queen's faction could not manage their expressions.

Marchioness Cibo, whose rank was higher than Countess Rubina's and thus was not required to stand, was of a timid nature and reflexively rose from her seat to greet the countess.

Countess Marquez, who held the same rank as Countess Rubina and for whom standing would have been a sign of goodwill, remained seated without so much as a twitch, an annoyed expression openly displayed on her face.

With no other choice, Ariadne joined the line of those rising to greet Countess Rubina.

- "A pleasure to see you, Countess!"

- "You look more beautiful than ever, Countess Rubina."

- "Oh my, what an adorable puppy. Is his name 'Rocco'?"

The noblewomen close to the queen remained seated with displeased expressions or skipped the greeting altogether, but the neutral ladies at least stood, while those closer to Countess Rubina offered their greetings one after another.

Since her seat was too far for her voice to be heard anyway, Ariadne simply stood and quietly sat back down.

'This will be the last time she gets to be so smug.'

Once this luncheon was over, Countess Rubina would be thrown directly into the dungeons. Ariadne felt a slight sense of unease.

'Would someone planning to assassinate the queen really act so conspicuously?'

If it were her, she would have kept as quiet as a mouse right before committing such an act.

Ariadne shook her head, dismissing the thought. In any case, the assassination attempt would happen today. The culprit's state of mind or motive could be considered after their capture.

As the commotion in the room subsided, Queen Marguerite offered her greetings.

"To all the loyal subjects of Etruscan who have traveled far to be here today, welcome. I should host gatherings like this more often, but my poor health has kept us apart for too long."

She gave a small cough, as if her throat was dry, then continued.

"I know the atmosphere has been unsettled lately due to various events. I ask that you do not waver, and that you continue to protect San Carlo and the Kingdom of Etruscan, as you always have."

As Queen Marguerite finished her brief opening remarks, the thirty or so guests erupted in thunderous applause. Countess Rubina and a few other ladies wore displeased expressions, but even they could not refrain from clapping.

The queen, feeling thirsty, asked for water, and Ariadne quickly handed her the water cup from her own place setting. It was water she had already checked for scent and color, and had even taken a sip of herself to confirm it was safe.

As she passed her own cup, Lady Carla, standing behind Queen Marguerite, glared daggers at Ariadne, but Ariadne feigned ignorance, deliberately looking away.

"Oh my, today's meal looks so beautiful."

Marchioness Cibo, seated to the queen's right, exclaimed as she saw the antipasti being served. Ariadne, for a different reason, let out a sigh of relief.

Thankfully, today's antipasto was not a soup, but a salad of new sprouts tossed in vinegar and olive oil, decorated with red-dyed turnips, and topped with minced seafood.

It wasn't a liquid. But even knowing that, she couldn't help but feel tense.

At a formal dinner, it was proper etiquette for the highest-ranking person to lift their fork first.

Queen Marguerite raised her silver fork, took a bite of salad, and placed it in her mouth. Arsenic did not react to silver, but Ariadne watched with wide eyes, just in case the silver fork might discolor.

Despite the watchful eyes, Queen Marguerite chewed the vegetables with her lips sealed, and everyone else began to eat their salads in unison.

'…!'

Even after everyone had taken a bite and swallowed, no one foamed at the mouth and collapsed.

'Phew!'

Ariadne breathed a silent sigh of relief. It felt like years were being shaved off her life.

"Lady de Mare."

Ariadne, who had been too tense to take a single bite, turned at the voice calling her from the side. It was Countess Marquez.

"Why haven't you touched your food?"

On the surface, it was a question of concern, but her tone was cold.

"It is impolite to be the only one with your utensils down when everyone else is eating."

…Just as she'd expected. It was not a friendly gesture.

Ariadne forced a smile and replied.

"I am so nervous to be seated in such an undeserved place that I find I have little appetite."

As she pleaded with a pitiful expression, Countess Marquez's face softened slightly. Her expression seemed to say, *So you do know your place.*

"Everyone here is so distinguished, and it's such a formal occasion, I can't help but be cautious."

Countess Marquez turned her upper body toward Ariadne.

"Still, you must try to keep pace with the others."

Her tone was much gentler. Ariadne was surprised by the countess's softened attitude. It wasn't because she had become one of the queen's confidantes. It was because she had shown deference first, which elicited pity.

To think that the way to handle Countess Marquez, the noblewoman who had fought her so stubbornly and unyieldingly in her past life, was to act weak.

'Somehow... I really took the long way around in my past life.'

Regardless of Ariadne's belated realization, Countess Marquez advised her in a matronly fashion.

"Drinking lukewarm water helps in times like these."

*Lukewarm water? I'm in this mess because of lukewarm water, my lady!* Ariadne screamed inwardly, but outwardly, she bowed her head demurely.

"I will do that."

But there was no water cup at Ariadne's place. She had given it to Queen Marguerite a moment ago. Countess Marquez noticed the missing cup at Ariadne's setting and her eyes narrowed.

"What? Where is your cup? Which attendant set this table…!"

Ariadne glanced at Queen Marguerite's place to check on her cup.

'Gasp!'

Queen Marguerite had already drained Ariadne's cup. Feeling thirsty, she had just ordered Lady Carla to bring her the usual lukewarm water with a slice of citron.

Lady Carla was in the middle of placing the water glass at Queen Marguerite's spot.

The queen's hand reached for the glass.

'No!'

Without thinking, Ariadne swatted Queen Marguerite's water glass with her fist, like a polo player hitting a ball.

The glass, full of water, flew through the air.

"Oh, my goodness!"

The queen's sharp cry echoed through the hall.

The sight of the glass sailing over the black, silver-decorated table played out in slow motion before Ariadne's eyes.

The liquid sloshed, swayed to one side, and splashed up. A startled Queen Marguerite stared at the glass. The process of the glass hitting the marble floor with a loud noise and shattering into pieces all registered in Ariadne's perception with excruciating slowness.

- *Crash!*

With a truly awful sound, the glass broke into dozens of pieces, scattering across the marble floor. Everyone in the hall stared at Ariadne.

"What in the world!"

Countess Marquez shot up from her seat, aghast.

"Lady de Mare, are you mad?"

She unleashed a torrent of accusations at Ariadne over the frozen silence.

"What is the meaning of this, in the presence of Her Majesty the Queen!"

This wasn't what she had intended… Ariadne bit her lip.

Her original plan had been to ask the queen to pour out half the lukewarm citron water before she drank it, so she could test it with the concentrated sulfur spring water. She had built up enough trust from the recent incident with Princess Lariesa to make such a request.

But it was not enough trust to be forgiven for knocking a drink out of Queen Marguerite's hand in front of everyone.

'Will the concentrated sulfur spring water still react with the water pooled on the marble floor?'

The amount seemed too small. According to her experiments in her room, there needed to be at least a fifth of a cup for a significant reaction.

'I can't just do nothing.'

Having made her decision, Ariadne answered Countess Marquez resolutely.

"Countess Marquez. Your Majesty, Queen Marguerite. Please forgive my disrespect. I can explain everything."

Countess Marquez did not look at all convinced.

"This whole commotion? Are you going to plead temporary insanity?"

Seeing is believing. Ariadne took a step forward, about to pull the vial from her dress.

Just then.

- *Woof!*

The pet dog that Countess Rubina had brazenly brought into the dining hall trotted over on its own and began to lap up the citron water spilled on the floor.

- *Yip! Yip!*

"Ugh, that filthy…! Now even the dog is causing a scene!"

As the furious voice of Countess Marquez boomed through the hall, Countess Rubina's dog suddenly began to convulse.

- *Shudder.*

"Rocco?!"

Countess Rubina's shrill, high-pitched voice pierced the dining room. But this was no time to blame her; it was obvious at a glance that the dog was not well.

The pet trembled violently, then foamed at the mouth and vomited the water it had drunk.

"Rocco!"

Countess Rubina shot up from her seat and rushed to her pet, sweeping it up into her arms.

"Are you alright, my Rocco?"

But the dog's condition was rapidly deteriorating. The Spitz, shaking violently, not only threw up everything it had eaten but also began to lose control of its bowels.

- "Oh my, oh my!"

- "What is happening!"

While the noblewomen who saw the filth covered their mouths with napkins in disgust, those who grasped what was happening watched the situation with grave expressions.

Ariadne took control of the situation.

"Your Majesty. It would be best to summon the royal physician."

Queen Marguerite looked at her with a heavy expression. Marchioness Cibo, who hadn't understood, asked in bewilderment.

"Are we calling the royal physician to treat a dog?"

Ariadne shook her head.

"No. We need an expert who can detect poison from the water on the floor and the dog's body."

The word 'poison,' now spoken aloud, shocked everyone. But Ariadne finished her sentence.

"It seems... there was poison in the water Her Majesty was about to drink."