Chapter 137

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 137

Chapter Title: The Poisoned Tea

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'I've always believed that any cheating scum should be stripped naked and dangled off a cliff right then and there, but I decided to hold off for the moment.'

I crept backward, sneaking away, then covered my mouth with both fists and giggled to myself.

There was only one reason the bumbling Marquis Nodelri—who botched every business venture he touched—hadn't gone bankrupt yet.

'The continent's finest diamond mine, bestowed by the late Emperor as a wedding gift to Princess Ingrid.'

But if Princess Ingrid claimed the mine in the divorce, he'd have no choice but to carve up and sell off his own territory just to secure a water source, let alone buy up abandoned mines.

'Perfect!'

I clenched my fists tight and shook all over with excitement.

Princess Ingrid's pride would never let her tolerate her husband's infidelity. Putting up with an affair was just too heartbreaking.

'Thank you, Elizabeth. If you hadn't repeatedly crashed my plans, giving the Empress Dowager no cause for worry, I never would've had the chance to witness this.'

Gratitude upon gratitude!

On my way back to the Empress's drawing room, I sorted through my thoughts.

'How should I drop this bomb?'

I needed to make sure it exploded in a way that enraged both Princess Ingrid and the Empress Dowager to the fullest—and quickly, at that.

If Marquis Nodelri secured a water source first, all my preparations would go up in smoke.

When I returned to the drawing room with a pensive look on my face, a few more guests had just arrived.

"Hello, Little One."

"Lady Duvered, lovely to see you."

These were people I'd gotten familiar with at various parties. I greeted them politely and headed straight for Yohan.

"Have Her Majesty the Empress and the Princess arrived?"

"Over there."

The conversation must have wrapped up briefly, because the Empress was already inside the glass doors connected to the drawing room, exchanging greetings with the noble ladies.

Servants soon wheeled in trays. The garden quickly filled with chatter, and the Empress stayed by my side the whole time, looking after me.

'The philanderer must be running late from his affair.'

While the tea was being reset, I casually scanned the interior. Something felt off, though.

'Why is Elizabeth taking so long?'

Was she so furious about the Empress praising me earlier that it took her ages to compose herself?

"Please, sit."

At the Empress's gentle command, the guests who had been milling about in small groups in the garden gathered around the large round table.

It was far smaller than a typical tea party, but since it was hosted by the Empress, the attendees were the families of the empire's most elusive power players—people who rarely showed up even at my parties or the Grand Duchess's.

The Empress seated me right beside her in the midst of them all.

"I've prepared some of my most cherished tea for these dear friends of mine. It would make me so happy if it suited your tastes as well, child."

With a light wave of her hand, the servants gracefully placed teacups before us.

'No teapots.'

Normally, tea was brewed in a teapot and poured into individual cups. But here, the cups already contained the steeped tea.

One noble lady smiled brightly and said,

"Isn't it lovely?"

I peeked into my cup and froze for a moment. Unlike regular tea, this was made from whole dried flowers. A chrysanthemum bloom floated in the clear, barley-wine-yellow liquid.

'Looks like seaweed...'

It struck me as a bit grotesque, but as a cunning child who prioritized survival above all, I flashed a beaming smile.

"There's spring inside the teacup!"

Everyone burst into fond laughter at my words.

"Is it your first time? Her Majesty often shares it with me."

Elizabeth, who had slipped back into the garden unnoticed, boasted proudly. One noble lady added a light explanation.

"It's the tea Her Majesty serves only to her most honored guests."

The Empress nodded.

"No guest is more honored than you, my lady. Every cup and leaf has been prepared with utmost care. Go on, have a taste."

I had my hands folded neatly in my lap and was just saying "Yes" when a butterfly fluttered in from somewhere.

It hovered over the Empress's teacup, and she let out a shriek. It was well-known that Empress Ivonne despised butterflies—hence why not a single fragrant flower bloomed in this lavish garden.

Every guest at the party watched the pale-faced Empress with worried expressions.

"Are you alright?"

"...Yes. How embarrassing to cause such a fuss. Lady Duvered, please don't mind me—enjoy your tea."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

I took a sip.

The child inside my head screamed for me to dump in milk and cream right away, but outwardly, I smiled wide. I even clapped my hands in delight, insisting how delicious it was.

"The fragrance is incredible. It's truly wonderful tea."

The Empress nodded, visibly pleased.

But then—

"Huh...?"

Leblain blinked, then clutched her forehead and furrowed her brow.

"Leblain."

"My lady?"

Yohan and the Empress called out in concern, but the child just shook her head vigorously, saying nothing.

"I feel dizzy... why..."

She mumbled blankly before toppling off her chair with a thud.

"Leblain!"

Screams erupted.

"Poison!"

"The tea's poisoned...!!"

Yohan rushed over and scooped her up.

"Call the doctor—now!"

At his shout, attendants scrambled out in a panic.

The garden descended into chaos in an instant, leaving even the Empress pale and at a loss.

The Duvered ducal family arrived at the imperial palace. Even the Emperor set aside his duties to seek an update from the court physician treating Leblain.

Court mages and investigators tore through the Empress's garden, conducting exhaustive searches.

"It's poison, alright."

Empress Ivonne shrieked like she was having a fit.

"Poison? Impossible! How could poison enter the palace? If anyone smuggled it in, it would've been caught at inspection!"

"This isn't ordinary poison. It wouldn't show up in standard palace import checks. It's like a curse medium—only activates once inside a person's body."

"No... such thing..."

Once Leblain's poisoning was confirmed, the Empress's palace was sealed off. Party guests were confined to individual rooms, and the Empress herself was effectively under house arrest.

Empress Ivonne bit her nails anxiously.

"How the hell did this happen?!"

The maids shrank back uncomfortably at her hysterical outburst.

'No guest touched her ladyship's cup—everyone saw. Can't pin it on some outsider.'

This meant the poison had been added before the tea was served.

'Everyone will think I ordered it.'

And there was motive aplenty. Leblain choosing Prince Adrian, for one.

They'd suspect I feared a Duvered-Adrian alliance and eliminated Leblain to cut off the bridge between them.

'Even if not, I can't escape blame for negligence.'

"And right now, of all times..."

With talks of selecting a new Empress underway, this scandal...

"Y-Your Majesty..."

Audrey, the maid who had overseen the tea Leblain drank that day, approached with a face drained of color. The Empress's eyes sharpened instantly.

Slap!

A sharp crack rang out as Audrey's head snapped to the side.

"What the hell did you do? How could you not notice poison in the tea?!"

The head maid rushed in to restrain the Empress.

"Please calm down. This won't undo what's done. You must think of the future."

The elderly head maid gave a subtle glance at the trembling Audrey.

Audrey flinched.

'What was that look?'

A chill unease crept up from her ankles.

The Empress took a deep breath and slumped into her seat. The head maid flashed a strange smile and gently gripped Audrey's shoulder.

"You may go."

"Lady Terrasa...!"

"Don't take this personally. Wait outside—I'll summon you separately."

Dismissed by Head Maid Terrasa, Audrey stumbled out and leaned against the wall, shuddering.

'They're going to throw me under the bus.'

Pale-faced, she headed straight for the room where Marquis Nodelri was confined.

"Philip!"

"What? Why the long face..."

"What do we do? The Empress is going to pin this on me."

"What...? No way. Aren't you her loyal right hand?"

"Does Empress Ivonne strike you as someone who cares about loyalty?"

"Ridiculous. Why would you poison Duke Duvered's orphan girl?"

"They'll make something stick. Maybe claim I acted out of misguided loyalty to kill the lady who chose Prince Adrian. What do I do...! This is all your fault!"

"My fault?"

"If you hadn't dragged me off that day while I was preparing the tea—if you hadn't listened to your daughter's request...!"

"My daughter's request?"

"Elizabeth asked me about Lady Duvered's cup! I prepared the tea. I never added any poison—so who? Your daughter!"

Marquis Nodelri recoiled as Audrey screamed.

"Impossible. My nine-year-old daughter wouldn't do something so cruel...!"

He trailed off, frozen.

[This one? Wise gave it to me. He said if I use it, everyone Elizabeth hates will disappear.]

He recalled his daughter beaming innocently with a small vial before they left the estate.

"Elizabeth... no, impossible..."

"So your daughter comes first after all?"

Audrey glared resentfully, lips pressed tight.

"I was a fool to love you. I should've walked away when you ditched me for the princess. To you, I was just a bed-warmer, wasn't I?"

"Audrey!"

Marquis Nodelri pulled her into his arms.

"Nothing could be further from the truth. You're the only one I love."

"Wh-what do we do..."

Sighing as he held the pitiful, trembling woman, the marquis thought.

'Elizabeth is Ingrid's daughter. Even if her poisoning comes to light, her life won't be in mortal danger.'

The Empress Dowager and Ingrid wouldn't stand for it.

"I'll handle it. Trust me."

"Philip... I love you."

"Yes."

As he stroked Audrey's back, Marquis Nodelri's eyes hardened.

"Have mercy and execute me, Your Majesty!"

Marquis Nodelri prostrated before the Emperor, who sighed in disbelief.

"So you're saying Elizabeth put the poison in."

"I'll gladly accept punishment for failing to raise my daughter properly."

"What madness drove her to such a horrific act?!"

Elizabeth shrieked in panic.

"No! I didn't! I swear, I never did!"

"Search her, and you'll find the vial."

"Marquis!!"

Princess Ingrid bellowed like a banshee.

"Have you lost your mind? Do you even realize what you're doing to your own daughter?!"

"It's right to punish her now, while there's still time. Only then can Elizabeth grow into a proper adult—"

Slap!!

Princess Ingrid struck Marquis Nodelri across the cheek.

"Ingrid!"

The Emperor shouted, but Ingrid's eyes darkened ominously.

"What the hell has gotten into you?"

"Mother, Father! I didn't do it! Yes, I meant to put the drug Wise gave me in her cup, but... but I ran out of time! Audrey came back sooner than I thought, so I couldn't!"

Elizabeth wailed, her face ashen yellow, and the Emperor gave the order without hesitation.

"Confine Elizabeth Nodelri to the underground dungeon."

"No! I didn't do it! Your Majesty, please!"

"Elizabeth!"

Chaos erupted in the palace. Clutching the back of his neck, the Emperor groaned. His headaches showed no sign of letting up.

Meanwhile, in the palace infirmary.

The physician stared at Leblain, who lay with eyes closed like the dead.

"Little One, honestly..."

"......"

"His Grace and the young master are all with His Majesty the Emperor, so drop the act!"

Leblain's eyes snapped open. She bolted upright, glanced around, and lowered her voice.

"How dare you say that so loudly? What if someone hears?"

"Who could've imagined? That you'd stage your own poisoning!"