“The topic naturally shifted to fashion trends in high society.”
“Yellow is quite popular these days. Madame Capre’s boutique just launched a new collection—shall we visit together?”
“That sounds lovely! Lady Apenzeller, with your silver hair, a pale yellow scarf would suit you beautifully.”
Ruby clapped her hands, excited at the idea of buying a new dress.
“Then let’s go tomorrow—”
“Your Majesty, would you like to go shopping at Madame Capre’s boutique tomorrow?”
Ruby’s voice rang out, cutting through Eloise’s sentence.
“Since you and Lady Apenzeller both have silver hair, a soft yellow shade would complement you wonderfully!”
She even offered to buy me a gift as thanks for yesterday.
Eloise’s expression stiffened.
She had been desperately trying to get closer to Ruby, yet all Ruby’s attention kept drifting toward me instead.
I could practically hear her internal frustration:
“Why does she keep focusing on the Empress instead of me?”
Ugh.
This is exactly why I prefer one-on-one meetings.
This situation was one misunderstanding away from turning into a full-blown love triangle.
My goal is the ruby necklace, not the Duchess!
And yet, Eloise was now looking at me with betrayal in her eyes.
That’s not fair! I didn’t even do anything!
Quickly, I attempted to change the subject.
“That sounds wonderful! Oh, by the way, this tea has a very unique flavor. Is it from Helios?”
“Ah!”
Before I could fully shift the conversation, Eloise suddenly spilled her tea.
Bright orange liquid splashed across the pristine tablecloth—
Dripping onto both Ruby’s dress and mine.
“Oh no! Your Majesty, Duchess, are you alright?!”
“Ah, it’s fine. Just a little spill.”
Panicked, Eloise hurriedly grabbed a handkerchief from a nearby maid and started dabbing at the stains.
“I’m so sorry, truly…!”
“It’s alright, Eloise. As long as no one is hurt.”
I reassured her, but inwardly, I thought:
‘How annoying… but this is actually a perfect opportunity.’
A shared mishap was a great way to bring people closer.
“Changing clothes together? That’s prime bonding time!”
Right on cue, Ruby soothed Eloise’s nerves and stood up.
“It’s really okay, Lady Apenzeller. A quick change will fix everything. Your Majesty, would you like to freshen up inside?”
“Yes, let’s do that.”
Eloise remained at the table as Ruby and I left together.
As we followed a maid to the dressing rooms, I internally smirked—
“Alone time secured.”
While changing, Ruby kept showering me with compliments.
“Your Majesty, you’re always so kind and gentle!”
“Me?”
“Of course! You’re so considerate to everyone and take care of others so well. And you’re unbelievably beautiful!”
It seemed she had been impressed by how patiently I handled Eloise.
Her eyes practically sparkled with admiration.
Ah, if only she knew the truth…
If she ever found out I had spent my early days as a drunken mess in the imperial harem, her eyes would pop out of her skull.
Still, constant praise was undeniably nice to hear.
Feeling amused, I teased her lightly.
“Aren’t you actually complimenting yourself? You never got upset either, and you’re so sweet and grateful.”
“O-oh, Your Majesty!”
Ruby’s cheeks flushed pink, her admiration reaching dangerous levels.
“I truly adore you, Your Majesty! Out of everyone I’ve met in Bermut, I like you the most!”
“Really? Then let’s be friends!”
Initially, I had only approached her for the ruby necklace, but she was so genuinely warm and kind that I found myself enjoying her company.
I playfully winked, and she eagerly nodded, her face practically glowing with excitement.
“Y-your Majesty! Then… would you really go shopping with me?! I want to get you a gift as a symbol of our new friendship!”
“That sounds lovely. But it doesn’t have to be anything extravagant—I’ll cherish anything from you.”
“Aah!”
Ruby clasped her hands together, squealing in joy.
Satisfied that our bond was growing stronger, I casually steered the conversation toward the real topic.
“By the way, about the ruby necklace you wore yesterday… I absolutely loved it.”
“Oh?”
I continued smoothly, acting as if I didn’t already know its significance.
“It was so dazzling—I can’t stop thinking about it. Could you tell me where you got it? I’d love to find something similar.”
I watched carefully as Ruby hesitated, momentarily flustered by the question.
She bit her lip, deep in thought, before finally asking—
“You… really liked that necklace?”
“Yes! The craftsmanship was stunning, and the color was so vibrant. I’d love to own something just like it.”
I poured on the admiration, and sure enough—
Ruby’s face turned a deep shade of pink before she made a firm decision.
“Then… I’ll contact you soon! I know a place where we might find a similar gemstone!”
Got it!
The red book had mentioned that there were multiple jewels that could amplify my powers.
Even if I couldn’t get my hands on the necklace, another gemstone would work just as well.
“Jackpot!”
Maybe I had been drawn to Ruby from the start because we were destined to meet.
“Thank you, Ruby Shire. Let’s stay best friends forever.”
“Your Majesty, when will you be available? I’ll schedule the gemstone hunt accordingly!”
“Oh, I’m free whenever—”
As we happily chatted on our way back, we reached the garden entrance faster than expected.
Excited about our plans, we weren’t paying much attention to our surroundings—
Until—
I squinted as something caught my eye.
“…What is she doing?”
At the tea table, with her back turned, I saw Eloise secretly adding something to a teacup.
A mysterious powder dissolved into the liquid.
And she was being extremely careful—stirring, watching to ensure it fully dissolved—
Before swiftly straightening up when a maid arrived with cookies.
She then smiled sweetly, as if nothing had happened.
“That little—”
What the hell was she putting in my tea?!
I inhaled sharply, keeping my expression neutral.
I was already well-known for having a weak constitution.
Even though people no longer suspected pregnancy, Xian’s overprotectiveness was common knowledge.
And Eloise knew it too.
Which meant…
She was fully aware of what she was doing.
Was she always like this?
Had she been hiding her true nature all along?
Thinking back…
She had insisted on me singing that day, despite my clear discomfort.
“What do I do?”
Technically, I had nothing to worry about—I was already taking Lindo’s universal antidote daily.
Unless it was an extremely potent poison, it wouldn’t affect me.
But…
I wasn’t about to let her get away with this.
“Duchess!”
I suddenly pulled Ruby against the wall, startling her.
“Y-your Majesty?!”
“Does the timing matter? What’s more important is enjoying this thrilling moment.”
I casually whispered nonsense, subtly observing Eloise.
She had only spiked one cup—
Mine.
And now, she was watching me with that same innocent, angelic expression.
Two can play at this game, dear cousin.
If she wanted me away from Ruby so badly…
Then I would just have to get even closer to her.
“It’s not your fault. Actually, my lady-in-waiting mentioned the tea was quite hot, so she poured it in advance. The aroma is wonderful.”
Even as Eloise spoke, Duchess Shire—who had been clinging to me the entire time, holding my hand and following along with eager little steps—remained utterly mesmerized, gazing at me as if she were dreaming.
“That’s right. This is Epsilon tea, which becomes even more fragrant as it cools. You both should try it.”
The Duchess explained with a bright smile, then happily picked up her teacup while looking at me with sheer delight.
Eloise responded with a polite smile and reached for her own teacup.
That was the moment.
Beneath the table, I subtly stepped on Eloise’s foot.
“Ah!”
“What’s the matter, Lady Eloise?”
Eloise flinched reflexively and glanced down under the table. Duchess Shire followed suit, tilting her head to look.
That was my chance.
In the brief distraction, I quickly swapped my teacup with Eloise’s, ensuring no one noticed.
“I’m so sorry, Eloise! I shifted my seat and accidentally stepped on you. Are you hurt?”
I had barely pressed down, but I exaggerated my reaction, making a fuss as I apologized.
Eloise, seeing my concern, let out a light laugh.
“No, Your Majesty. I just thought a bug had bitten me for a moment, so I was startled.”
“Whew, that’s a relief. I’ll be more careful next time.”
The conversation remained lighthearted, and the unsuspecting Duchess Shire smiled, commenting on how close we cousins seemed.
Once the minor commotion settled, Eloise was about to continue the conversation.
“Where were we? Ah, I heard that yellow lace gloves were recently released.”
“Oh my, really?”
Duchess Shire, already daydreaming about our upcoming shopping trip, absentmindedly reached for her tea.
“Wait a moment.”
I gently grabbed her hand and smiled warmly.
“They say it becomes even more fragrant as it cools. Why don’t we play a little game while we wait?”
“A g-game? With us? I’d love to!”
The moment I said we, Duchess Shire agreed immediately, without even asking what the game was.
Eloise blinked her long lashes.
“A game? What kind of—”
“Isn’t it boring to just drink tea? Since we’re already here, let’s use this as a chance to bond. We’ll play a question game, and whoever fits the description has to take a sip.”
It was a little twist on a common drinking game—
Essentially, a royal version of ‘Never Have I Ever.’
