HIFH | Chapter 24

Episode 24

“I had never heard of a place called Contuny before, so it was difficult to determine what its specialty products might be.”

It’s not Contuny, but Courtney.

However, I didn’t bother to correct them.

This was just one of those snide remarks nobles liked to make.

“It probably isn’t a region rich enough to have vineyards. If it were, we would already know about it, wouldn’t we?”

I forced a smile and nodded.

“So, drink up. If not today, when else would you have the chance to taste such fine wine?”

Cecil came to mind.

She had said the exact same thing to me before.

“I heard you’re close to Sir Lu.”

Hmm. We’re not just close—we’re engaged.

“Sir Lu certainly looks after a lot of people. How kind of him.”

Hahaha.

I came to a conclusion.

The Countess doesn’t just dislike me.

She despises me.

‘Oh, dear.’

But what can I do?

There’s no need to win over someone who already dislikes me.

In fact, the harder I try, the worse it might get.

‘And besides, I don’t need to win her over.’

After all, my goal here is to make these people dislike me even more.

As I sat there, I subtly glanced around.

What could I possibly do to make a spectacular mess and be praised for it?

I could just flip the table over—that would certainly cause a scene.

But that would also make Lu suspicious.

‘He’d definitely ask, “Why does Charles turn into a fool every time she attends a social gathering?”’

So, another method…

At that moment, something caught my eye.

A wine glass sitting right in front of the Countess.

‘This is it.’

I stifled a grin.

Everlyn Floria had always been a selfish person.

She had no hesitation in calling herself selfish.

After all, being selfish meant she could protect herself better, and it also meant she knew how to act in her own best interest.

In a way, one might even call it a sharp personality. That was why Everlyn defined herself as selfish.

So, she had always thought that she wouldn’t like someone easily, that she would never give her heart unless it benefited her.

Yes.

That’s what she thought.

“Oh, this wine is quite tart! I wonder which region these grapes are from?”

But why…

“My goodness, this cheese is delicious too. The pairing is absolutely perfect.”

Why is Charles so adorable?

Her pink hair fell naturally, swaying gently.

The neatly styled hair showcased her bright and lively energy, but a single strand falling over her forehead added a playful charm.

Whenever Charles widened her eyes in curiosity, she looked just like a small animal perking up its ears.

And when she smiled—especially that mischievous little smile—it made her even more endearing.

‘She’s too cute.’

It was unbearable. She wanted to run over and pull Charles into a tight hug.

‘But I can’t.’

As a member of House Floria, she had her dignity to uphold. She couldn’t let anyone know she had fallen for a mere country girl like Charles.

‘Besides, she’s Lu’s fiancée.’

And Lu Vansen was no ordinary man.

Though he had suddenly emerged as a rising noble, his keen intelligence and charismatic presence had captivated the entire aristocracy.

Everlyn had seen more than a few nobles laughing, thrilled after making fortunes based on his investment advice.

Even her father, Count Floria, had told her she must win Lu over.

‘I could have had Lu, but then Charles appeared.’

So, she should hate Charles.

She should despise her, not find her adorable!

But…

“Yes! I finally understand the taste of wine! I’m so happy!”

…Does she really have to?

Couldn’t she just hug Charles once, just because she’s cute?

Everlyn tightened her grip on her fork, desperately trying to suppress her emotions.

“Oh, I finished my drink.”

At that moment, Charles murmured to herself.

Since her glass was empty, she should wait for the sommelier to refill it.

But she didn’t.

Instead, she reached for the wine glass beside her.

And it just so happened to be the Countess’s glass!

W-wait.

The Countess already despised Charles. If she found out Charles had taken her glass…?

She’d be thrown out of this party immediately!

No!

“Miss Charles!”

Everlyn raised her voice in alarm, but Charles was faster.

She lifted the Countess’s wine glass to her lips.

Oh no.

Everlyn hurriedly looked around.

Fortunately, the Countess wasn’t at the table, and everyone else was too busy chatting to notice Charles’s mistake.

Everlyn quickly got to her feet and rushed over.

“P-put that glass down right now!”

She called out urgently.

“That’s the Countess’s glass!”

Of course, Charles already knew that.

She had deliberately chosen to drink from it while the Countess was away, betting that the woman would explode with rage and throw her out.

And if Charles insisted it was an innocent mistake, Lou wouldn’t suspect a thing.

That was why she had chosen the Countess’s glass.

But then—

“Miss Charles?”

Ignoring Everlyn’s warning, Charles frowned and stared at the wine glass in her hand.

‘This is…’

She swirled the wine in her mouth for a moment.

Then, in one swift motion, she flipped the glass over—spilling the remaining wine onto the floor.

“Kyaaah!”

Everlyn shrieked in shock, and at the same time, every eye in the room turned toward Charles.

“What are you doing?!”

Pouring wine onto the floor—at a wine party?

“And that was my glass, wasn’t it?”

And not just any wine, but from the Countess’s glass?

Everyone stared at Charles in stunned disbelief.

But she remained unfazed.

She simply watched the spilled wine with an impassive gaze.

“Young Lady Charles Courtney!”

The Countess stormed toward her, face flushed red with fury.

“I was willing to overlook a bit of poor etiquette, but this is beyond outrageous! How dare you display such blatant disrespect?”

She jabbed a finger at Charles, voice rising.

“You may dress like a noble, but in the end, you can’t hide your true nature! Hah! What an appalling girl!”

Despite the Countess’s outburst, Charles kept staring at the ground.

“I demand that you leave this party immediately—”

“Countess.”

Then, suddenly, Charles lifted her head, locking eyes with the Countess.

Her irises, a mysterious shade of violet like translucent amethyst, gleamed as they fixed on the woman.

“Look at the floor.”

The floor…?

There was something about Charles’s tone—an undeniable weight that made it impossible to ignore.

The Countess instinctively looked down.

And then she saw it.

“…What?”

Sssss…

The floor, where the wine had spilled—was melting.

“This.”

Charles gestured to the glass still in her hand.

“It’s poisoned.”

A brief silence.

And then—

“KYAAAAAH!”

A bloodcurdling scream filled the banquet hall.