The Poisoned Cup
I stood up and apologized to them. "I'm sorry, but I think I have to leave first."
"What's going on?" asked Micaris.
"The Lady has summoned me."
Micaris asked, her voice laced with worry. "Lady Estupina? Are you going to see that woman again?"
"It's nothing major, don't worry."
Lonia joined the conversation with a puzzled look. "Why? What is it?"
"I feel like I've been causing too much of a ruckus lately. I figured it's time to secure some backing from the Duke's family."
"That's true. You have been rather reckless. I can think of a few incidents off the top of my head."
"..." Micaris looked displeased, but...
"Haha... Well, I'll be off then. Enjoy your meal." With an awkward laugh, I followed the Lady's personal knight.
Come to think of it, speaking of causing a ruckus, Winston's lack of reaction was strangely quiet, even putting Lutera aside. Are they just letting the incident during the Dungeon Practice slide, or have we simply not crossed paths? Was it because he was the heir to a ducal house, meaning he didn't get worked up over trivial matters? Not letting petty emotions sway them—truly fitting for the young lords of a Duke's family.
Well, works for me. Lost in thought, I soon arrived at the Lady's room.
"I have brought him, my Lady."
"Come in."
Upon entering, my eyes fell upon the Lady, fully adorned in glittering jewelry and a magnificent dress.
"You look beautiful, my Lady."
"Thank you for the flattery. So, I assume you know the proper etiquette?"
"Of course. There is nothing I do not know."
Naturally, that was a lie. They wouldn't give me any major tasks anyway, so I could just watch the other servants and copy them. I had managed to replicate Edelian's swordsmanship just by watching her; surely I could mimic noble etiquette.
"Very well, let us go then." Following behind the Lady, we arrived at the Emerald Garden, one of the famous landmarks of Estrada Academy. The servants who had arrived ahead of us had already finished all the preparations.
"Do not say a word, and do not make a single move. Keep in mind that you are in the presence of the Crown Prince."
"Yes, I understand."
"Good." Just as the Lady finished speaking and I was about to take my place among the servants, her personal knight approached me.
"If you are a commoner, know your place."
"Excuse me?"
"Though I cannot touch you because of the Lady's orders, do not harbor any foolish ideas."
What was his deal? Why was he suddenly acting like this? I gave a lazy nod and replied.
"Ah, yes. Of course, of course."
"..." The Lady's personal knight still looked displeased with me, but what could he do? He was just a minor character.
Taking my place and looking ahead, I saw the Lady seated, waiting for the Crown Prince. However... though I was doing my best to copy the posture of the nearby servants, this was surprisingly difficult. Keeping my back straight, head held high, and remaining completely still was grueling. My body was itching to move. I couldn't help but feel a deep respect for these servants.
Just as a sigh of frustration and discomfort was about to escape my lips, the Crown Prince made his entrance.
"His Highness, the Crown Prince, the Small Sun of the Empire, is entering." The Lady rose from her seat, placed her hand on her left side, and bowed her head. "I greet the Small Sun of the Empire."
"There is no need for such stiff greetings between us. Are we not engaged?"
"Yes, indeed..."
This was my first time seeing the Crown Prince since coming to this world. Blonde hair and red eyes. A fierce gaze. Judging by my extensive experience with romance fantasy novels, there was a very high probability that he had the face of a madman. While there were occasional cliché-twisting cases where such a character turned out to be good, this guy was definitely a lunatic. Who on earth tries to poison their own fiancée just to break off an engagement?
Seating himself, the Crown Prince spoke. "How is your alchemy going lately?"
"As usual. Nothing out of the ordinary."
"..." The atmosphere was beyond awkward—it was downright desolate. Was this really a conversation between an engaged couple? Standing stiffly was already uncomfortable enough, but the suffocating atmosphere made it even harder to bear.
The Crown Prince let out a heavy sigh and continued. "Whew... I suppose you will handle it well enough on your own, so it is none of my concern. You are capable, after all."
"I am merely grateful for Your Highness's interest. If I may ask, what is the reason for hosting this tea party today?"
"Does wanting to converse with my fiancée require a reason? You look uncomfortable simply talking to me." The Crown Prince's face contorted, clearly displeased.
"Not at all. How could I harbor such disrespectful thoughts?"
"Exactly. That stiff tone of yours is the problem."
He wasn't wrong. Their exchange was incredibly rigid. It was making even me feel self-conscious. Well, it wasn't hard to understand. Linet was a notoriously straight-laced character. But that didn't mean she only had flaws. In truth, she possessed a more diligent nature and a kinder heart than anyone. Besides, for a lady who wanted to immerse herself in alchemy, an arranged marriage was nothing but an obstacle in her path, so it was only natural she despised it.
Perhaps finding the rigid atmosphere uncomfortable, the Crown Prince curled his lips upward, attempting to shift the mood. "Well, we can correct that slowly over time, so it is no issue. First, have some tea." The servant standing behind the Crown Prince began to pour tea into Linet's cup. But then... I saw it. A distinct red mass swirling inside the teacup. It was a cup laced with deadly poison. Why was the assassination attempt happening already? The plot was moving faster than in the original novel. The very reason I had asked to participate as a servant was to prevent this assassination, but I hadn't expected it to unfold the moment I arrived. Was this also a butterfly effect caused by my presence?
I fell into deep agony. This was a lethal poison that could cause instant death if handled poorly. Could I survive drinking it? Linet was here, so she would take immediate action, but... the one holding the antidote would be her personal knight. He clearly disliked me; would he react properly? Even if I possessed Aura, this was a deadly poison prepared by the Crown Prince himself—it wouldn't be some half-baked toxin. I had planned to recover using the Spring Water of Life, but that plan could easily go up in smoke. The sheer terror of death sent cold sweat pouring down my back, completely drenching my suit.
There were other ways, but... if anyone other than Linet or myself drank it, they would undoubtedly die instantly. I couldn't change my decision to drink it. I didn't want innocent people to suffer because I had twisted the original plot. Most importantly, this incident was supposed to be the catalyst for my relationship with Linet.
I made up my mind, so why am I hesitating now? Linet lifted the teacup, which was swirling with the red mass, and began to savor the aroma.
"What kind of tea is this? I do not believe I have seen it before."
"We recently opened trade with the Eastern Continent, did we not? It is a tea imported from there, and it has received rave reviews among the nobility. I brought it specifically to show you. I do hope it suits your taste." At the Crown Prince's words, Linet offered a faint smile.
"Indeed. Though it is a scent I have never encountered before, it is quite lovely." The Crown Prince rested his forearms on the table, wearing a bright smile. On the surface, it looked like a pleasant atmosphere, but... this guy was definitely a psychopath. How could he wear such an expression while handing over a cup of deadly poison? Perhaps Winston and Lutera were actually decent guys in comparison. I suddenly felt a bit sorry for them.
At that moment, Linet brought the poisoned tea to her lips. Ah, screw it! I strode forward rapidly and snatched the teacup from her hands. The Crown Prince's eyes widened as he roared.
"Who do you think you are! Do you not realize where you are standing right now!" Linet was equally shocked, her face filled with utter bewilderment at my sudden, erratic behavior.
"I greet the Small Sun of the Empire, His Highness the Crown Prince. First, I apologize for my insolence. However, I cannot allow the Lady to drink this tea."
The Crown Prince leapt to his feet, shouting, "What on earth are you talking about...! What is everyone doing! Drag this man out immediately!" The Crown Prince's royal guards, the surrounding servants, and even the nearby sentries began to swarm toward me. The choice had to be made now. Squeezing my eyes shut, I gulped down the tea. I absolutely refused to watch her collapse from poison.
"Cough...!" The moment I drank it, an agonizing pain flared up. It felt as though my insides were not just burning, but solidifying. He actually intended to feed this to Linet? That crazy bastard... I had planned to recover immediately with the Spring Water of Life, but this was a different story. I couldn't breathe. My vision went pitch black as if I had gone blind, and a sharp ringing echoed in my ears.
"Cough!" Blood erupted from my mouth. Seeing this, Linet hurriedly rose from her seat and rushed toward me.
"What on earth is happening?!"
"...Poison."
"Poison? Hound! Hound...!" Saving a villainess is truly hard work.
I could see. I thought I had gone blind, but apparently not. Fortunately, it seemed Linet had administered immediate first aid, allowing me to survive.
"Ah..." My voice came out properly, too. I had truly thought my organs were turning to stone the moment I swallowed it. Turning my head, I saw Micaris and Lonia fast asleep, each holding one of my hands. Did they nurse me? I had told them it was nothing to worry about, so they must have been terrified when they heard I had collapsed from poison. I felt nothing but guilt toward them.
I tried to move my waist to sit up, but I couldn't muster any strength. It seemed to be a side effect of the lethal poison. It was even difficult to move my hands; all I could do was stare blankly at the patterns on the high ceiling. Ah, I need to drink the Spring Water... I nudged Micaris, who was sleeping beside me.
"Mica... Lady Micaris."
"Mmm..." Micaris rubbed her sleepy eyes and lifted her head. "Hound!"
"Ugh..." Micaris threw her arms around me and began to sob. "Sob... Why, why on earth did you do something so dangerous?!"
"...I couldn't just stand by and watch the Lady get poisoned."
"Even if it cost you your life?!"
"Not quite... but I am an Aura user, after all."
Micaris gripped my shoulders tightly. "If the Lady hadn't administered the antidote so quickly, you wouldn't even be opening your eyes right now!"
She was right. The Crown Prince's poison was far more potent than I had anticipated. But then again, did I drink it without a safety net? Of course not. With the Spring Water of Life on hand, and since I had to save the villainess anyway, I drank it with the intention of securing a major flag with her.
"...Lady Micaris. I'm incredibly thirsty right now, so could you get some water from my bag over there...?"
"Water? Alright." Micaris pulled the bottle containing the Spring Water from my bag. "Should I feed it to you? Can you drink it on your own?"
"My body won't really move..." Supporting my back, Micaris helped me sit up and brought the bottle to my lips. "...Thank you."
"It's nothing." My hands, which had been trembling uncontrollably, and my back, which couldn't muster an ounce of strength, instantly began to recover as the vital energy of the Spring Water coursed through every corner of my body. My physical functions rapidly returned to normal.
"Whew..."
"Are you alright now?" Micaris's eyes wavered with concern.
"I'm fine. Did you stay by my side the whole time?"
"Yes! Do you have any idea how shocked I was when I heard the news? You dummy!" Micaris pouted, her cheeks puffing out slightly. And calling me a dummy... it was actually pretty cute.
The sound of our chatter woke Lonia. Seeing me awake, she tightly clasped my hand. "Are you alright?"
"I'm fine now, thanks to the Lady administering the antidote in time."
"We were so, so worried! It was a deadly poison—you could have died!"
"I can only apologize for causing you both such worry."
"Please value your own life a bit more..." Lonia lowered her head, her voice trailing off.
"Lonia? Hound just woke up, so he should probably get some rest. Let's head out for now."
"Okay. Rest well, Sir Hound."
"See you later." Micaris and Lonia left the room. Not long after they departed, the Lady walked in.
"Hound, you are awake!"