Eloise’s brows furrowed ever so slightly. I pretended not to notice and demonstrated the game.
“Who here has the last name ‘Bermut’?”
Naturally, only I raised my teacup. Taking a sip, I explained,
“Whoever the question applies to drinks. The first person to empty their cup loses. How does that sound?”
“That sounds so fun!”
Duchess Shire was thrilled.
Eloise, who had been hesitating and refusing to touch her tea, saw me drink first and smiled, finally nodding in agreement.
“Alright. Shall the Duchess start us off?”
And so, the game began.
“Who thinks they’re beautiful?”
All three of us drank.
“Who prefers cats over dogs?”
I was the only one who drank.
At that, Eloise turned to Duchess Shire with a delighted expression.
“So, you prefer dogs, Duchess? Me too!”
“Oh! Yes, I love both, but I find dogs just a little cuter.”
She made it seem like pure coincidence, but I knew what she was doing—building a connection while simultaneously keeping me out of the conversation.
She’s trying to get me to drink more tea while also excluding me from the discussion.
Amused, I simply smiled and threw in my own question.
“Who likes mint flavor?”
“Looks like it’s just me this time.”
Eloise glanced between us, then casually lifted her teacup without hesitation.
“That’s so interesting. To me, mint just tastes like toothpaste.”
Unaware of the trap she had just stepped into, Eloise shrugged as she sipped her tea.
“That refreshing taste is what makes it appealing, Your Majesty.”
“Is that so?”
I wondered if her refined palate was failing her, or if the drug had been properly mixed to be tasteless.
Eloise remained perfectly composed, not even sparing me a glance as she cheerfully continued,
“Duchess, it’s your turn again!”
The game continued through multiple rounds.
I, of course, took my time, leisurely enjoying the game.
Eloise asked balanced questions, ensuring all of us took turns drinking. But if I paid close attention, I could tell she was subtly targeting me more than the others.
Meanwhile, Duchess Shire remained blissfully unaware, thoroughly enjoying herself.
Whenever she excitedly discovered something in common with me, she would chatter on, unintentionally leaving Eloise momentarily sidelined.
By the seventh round, the score stood as follows:
“The winner is the Duchess!”
“Oh, but you and Eloise emptied your cups at the same time!”
Since the first to empty their cup lost, Duchess Shire was declared the winner. She gasped in surprise, seemingly unaware she had been a contender.
Looking at the empty teacups before Eloise and me, I clapped.
“Winners deserve a prize! What should it be, Eloise?”
“That’s true. Ah! Since the Duchess hosted us today, how about we have our next tea gathering at the Appenzeller estate?”
Instead of suggesting a real prize, she took the chance to promote herself.
“That doesn’t really sound like a reward. A gift would be better, don’t you think?”
I took a leisurely sip from my freshly refilled cup. Eloise met my gaze, confident, and smiled.
“Is that so? But I promise you wouldn’t regret visiting. Your Majesty should come too!”
She then launched into a charming pitch about their estate’s special desserts and newly renovated gardens.
“Oh my! That sounds lovely.”
“Yes, and we’re even getting a dog to guard the garden. Isn’t that adorable?”
Eloise, having subtly pushed me out of the conversation, chatted enthusiastically.
She had no idea I had let her win.
She also failed to realize that the real game had just begun.
Hah. Childish. Did she really think this would bother me?
Feigning disappointment, I subtly checked the time.
The drug should be kicking in soon.
Just as I had that thought, Duchess Shire was on the verge of accepting Eloise’s invitation.
“Um, are you sure I wouldn’t be imposing if I visited the Appenzeller estate…?”
“Imposing? Not at all! You’re welcome anytime—”
Just before the date could be set, Eloise suddenly frowned.
“L-Lady Eloise? Did I say something wrong?”
“Ah, no, it’s just…”
Her face gradually paled, and she forced a smile while clutching her stomach.
“I… my stomach feels a little off. But it’s nothing—anyway, when would you like to—”
Sweat beaded on her forehead as her expression twisted slightly.
Duchess Shire, misunderstanding the situation due to her timid nature, panicked.
“Lady Eloise, if I upset you, I sincerely apologize!”
“Haa… No, that’s not it.”
“If I made a mistake, please tell me so I won’t do it again—”
“I said it’s nothing!”
Eloise, who had been smiling moments ago, suddenly snapped.
She shot to her feet, gripping her skirts, and bolted away in a hurry.
Tap, tap, tap!
“Y-Your Majesty, Lady Appenzeller—!”
Duchess Shire, flustered, looked close to tears.
I gently patted her shoulder reassuringly.
“Shh, don’t worry. I think something urgent just came up for Eloise.”
Not far away, I spotted Eloise grabbing a passing maid, completely losing her usual composure.
For someone who always maintained perfect etiquette, seeing her sweating and raising her voice was… quite the sight.
“W-why is she upset? Is she leaving?”
“Hmm, I don’t think that’s quite it.”
While Duchess Shire worried over Eloise, I curiously picked up the teacup she had used.
The faintest trace of an unusual scent lingered.
A weak toxic residue—one I had smelled before in Lindo’s laboratory.
If she had drunk the entire cup, then…
“Reyri! What happened? Why did Lady Appenzeller yell at you?”
The maid Eloise had grabbed came running back, looking shaken.
Duchess Shire quickly asked, concerned.
The maid furiously shook her head.
“N-no, my lady! She wasn’t scolding me! She suddenly demanded to know where the nearest restroom was—she was yelling in a panic…!”
“What?!”
Duchess Shire’s face filled with confusion.
Just as I thought.
She had spiked the tea with something—only for it to backfire spectacularly.
What an unfortunate choice of drug.
“Oh dear, what could she have eaten to end up in such a sorry state…?”
Duchess Shire murmured sympathetically.
I took another sip of my tea and smiled.
“Indeed. The answer, dear Duchess, is none other than… a laxative.”
****
Eloise never returned.
She merely sent a brief message via maid, informing us of her return to the count’s estate along with an apology for her rudeness.
With Duchess Shire flustered and unsure of what to do, I reassured her, calming her down completely.
As a result, she became an even more devoted fan of mine.
So much so that when it came time to choose her prize for winning the game, she asked me to call her by her first name.
And so, from that moment on, she was no longer Duchess Shire, but Ruby.
“Ruby?”
“Gasp! Your Majesty actually called me by my name… I’m so happy!”
Who knew a simple name could bring someone this much joy?
Her sparkling eyes were so overwhelmingly bright that I almost felt embarrassed.
Thanks to Eloise’s self-destruction, I was able to grow even closer to Ruby.
We finished our tea time with lively conversation, and when it was finally time to part ways, she clung to my hands earnestly.
“Have a safe trip back, Your Majesty! I’ll contact you soon!”
“Alright, I’ll be waiting!”
Ruby, who seemed to adore everything I did, was around my age but had a rather endearing charm.
Even if it wasn’t intentional, she had a way of making me feel good.
For the first time in a while, I genuinely looked forward to our next meeting.
“Then I’ll reach out soon!”
“Ruby?”
Just as I was about to board my carriage, a voice called out.
From another carriage that had just arrived, a man stepped out—his red hair and friendly smile catching my attention.
“Ah, brother! You’re finally here?”
Brother? Her biological older brother?
Intrigued, I watched as he walked toward us.
“Brother, this is Her Majesty the Empress!”
“It is an honor to meet you, Your Majesty. I am Kaibel Helios, second prince of Helios and Ruby’s elder brother.”
Kaibel.
His name rang a bell.
Just as I was processing the unexpected encounter, Kaibel greeted me with a bright smile, effortlessly charming.
He took my hand and lightly kissed the back of it.
I responded with a simple but polite greeting.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Prince Kaibel.”
“Please, just call me Kaibel, Your Majesty.”
Despite being both a prince and older than me, he had an easygoing nature.
Seeing no reason to refuse, I nodded, and he smoothly continued.
“Did you like the flowers?”
“Flowers?”
What flowers?
Tilting my head in confusion, Kaibel chuckled, then gestured to the embroidered rose on his coat.
“The rose I sent to your palace yesterday. It’s a specialty of Helios, and it bloomed particularly beautifully, so I thought I’d offer it as a gift to Your Majesty.”
Oh.
That rose was from him?
“So that was from you. Thank you, it was truly beautiful.”
“I’m glad to hear that. It’s an honor to finally meet you in person, Your Majesty. I brought plenty of them, so if you’d like more, just let me know.”
After a courteous bow, Kaibel tactfully excused himself.
Apparently, he had come to visit Ruby and would be staying in Bermut for a while.
From what I gathered, among his numerous half-siblings, Ruby was the only full-blooded sibling he had, and the two seemed to be quite close.
With that unexpected encounter, I finally boarded my carriage and returned to the imperial palace.
Now all that’s left is finding that gemstone to amplify my power…
Lying on my bed, I happily reviewed today’s accomplishments.
And, of course, I took note of my newest potential threat—Eloise.
It’s clear now.
The way she had encouraged Ruby to overeat and then conveniently offered her digestive medicine—it had all been calculated.
And today, she had actually tried to drug me with a laxative.
Even if I generously assumed her only motive was wanting to get close to Ruby…
What was she thinking?
For someone with such a sweet face, she certainly had a devious side.
If it had simply been about ambition or jealousy, it would’ve been easier to understand.
But the fact that I couldn’t quite figure her out made her even more unsettling.
Lying flat on my bed, I made up my mind.
No matter what…
I was never meeting Eloise again.
We love a smart female lead😌