69. The False Accusation

I invited Isella to a tea party.

I moved a table to the entrance of the small forest in the greenhouse and laid out a tablecloth. Sunlight danced gently on the floral patterns of the cloth whenever the cool breeze blew.

The dense trees obscured the sky, but the sunlight filtering through the leaves added a charming touch.

I couldn’t avoid her forever. According to her, I had every right to stay in this mansion, and there was no need to feel uncomfortable around her.

I needed to get closer to her. Living in the same house meant we would run into each other often, and we couldn’t keep being awkward.

“Here it is.”

Isella, shaded by a parasol, walked into the forest, guided by a maid.

“The forest is really beautiful. Did you landscape it yourself?”

As she reached the table, she closed her parasol.

She looked around the forest, admiring the scenery. Although I had transplanted the trees, the forest didn’t look chaotic. In a few years, once the support stakes were removed, it would look even better.

“Did you design everything yourself, Leonie?”

“Yes. In fact, I also chose the room you’re staying in.”

At this, she seemed to ponder for a moment.

“I see. I was thinking of changing the wallpaper, but if you chose it, perhaps I should leave it as is. It would be hard to alter something you picked according to your taste.”

Oops. When I moved in with the maid, I had left the mismatched wallpaper as it was.

I felt embarrassed that my pettiness might have shown.

“You’re going to stay here, so feel free to change it as you like. Would you like me to introduce you to a supplier?”

I quickly thought of Philip. He could find suitable items quickly.

“Is it necessary to trouble yourself so? I wouldn’t want to owe His Highness for something as trivial as wallpaper. We’ll procure what we need from the count’s estate.”

Her words, although meant to be considerate, felt like small jabs at my pride.

The Baron Sien family wasn’t wealthy enough to provide such material assistance. The wallpaper, along with display ornaments, hairpins, even a single duster, had all been purchased with his personal funds. It left me feeling uneasy, as if I had indeed incurred some debt.

An awkward silence followed.

Steam escaped from the small teapot, and the sound of boiling water could be heard from the spout.

I had learned the art of tea-making by watching the maids prepare it over their shoulders. Though I was still clumsy, missing a few steps wouldn’t drastically change the taste of the tea.

I had specifically requested rare tea leaves, preferring dried leaves over fresh ones. I had prepared the finest tea cups, tablecloths, and tea leaves for her.

I picked up the teapot. Her expression remained unreadable.

Her face gave away nothing. Despite the unfamiliar tea brewing, she seemed neither intrigued nor expectant.

I glanced at her, gauging her reaction, then finally spoke.

“Actually, I arranged this meeting because I have a delicate request to make.”

Isella’s expression didn’t change, but her gaze met mine with a hint of curiosity.

“Go ahead.”

She said, her tone polite but distant.

I took a deep breath, preparing to lay out my request.

“I know that our relationship has been… strained. But we’re now sharing this space, and it would be beneficial for both of us if we could coexist more harmoniously. I’d like to find a way for us to support each other.”

Isella tilted her head slightly, considering my words.

“Support each other? How so?”

I hesitated, then continued.

“There’s been a lot of tension lately, and I think it’s affecting everyone in the household. If we can show a united front, it might ease some of that tension.”

Isella’s eyes narrowed slightly.

“And what exactly are you proposing?”

“Let’s start with small things, Like this tea party. Sharing time together, getting to know each other better. Maybe we can even work on some projects together around the estate.”

There was a long pause. Then, Isella nodded slowly.

“That sounds reasonable, But you must understand, Lady Leonie, that trust is not easily earned. I will give this a chance, but I will be watching closely.”

“I understand, Thank you for considering it.”

I poured the tea, hoping this small gesture could be the beginning of a better relationship.

As the tea steamed between us, I felt a glimmer of hope. Maybe, just maybe, things could start to change.

“What is it?”

“…I was hoping you could take care of a bird for me.”

“A bird? Do you have a pet bird?”

Only then did she show an expression of interest.

“So, you have a pet.”

“Yes, I used to keep it in the greenhouse out back… but I’ve set it free now. If you go deeper into the forest, you’ll find a birdcage hanging. It’s probably lingering around there. Even though I set it free, it couldn’t leave. It’s been hand-fed since it was a chick, so it doesn’t seem able to hunt for food in the wild.”

“Why are you asking me to take care of it when you can do it yourself, my lady?”

“I will be staying here for a long time, but I might have to leave unexpectedly. Of course, I’ll take care of the bird until then.”

“…I see.”

She pretended not to know, even though she had already ordered me to move my residence.

I poured out the tea and refilled the pot. Yellow water slowly spread from the dried tea leaves.

I handed her a cup of tea. Her mysterious purple eyes sparkled beautifully as the tea rippled.

She took the cup without a word. I followed suit and lifted my cup.

I took a sip. The sweetness enveloped my tongue to the point it tingled.

Flowers floated on the surface of the water. The more they sank, the more brightly the petals spread, forming a beautiful shape.

I wondered if she felt the same. Her expression was obscured by the thick steam.

Clink.

As I savored the tea, I heard the sound of a cup breaking.

I looked up. She was trembling.

She suddenly stood up.

Tea spilled onto her skirt and soaked in. She awkwardly tried to shake off the liquid with her hands and then untied the ribbon at her waist.

In a short time, the white ribbon was stained yellow from the tea.

She didn’t stop there and spat the tea she had held in her mouth onto the lawn.

I couldn’t understand her sudden action.

I wondered if the tea was bitter, but then I felt a surge of delayed anger at her rudeness.

“If you didn’t like it, you could have just said so. I could have prepared another tea.”

“It’s not that.”

She took a handkerchief from her pocket and wiped her mouth. The same embroidered handkerchief that had once bound my arm. It irked me.

She silently dabbed at her lips, then folded the handkerchief. In a calm tone, she said,

“The tea is poisoned.”

She looked up at me as she spoke.

“What?”

“Poisoned, yes. Because of our military influence, my family has many enemies, so I’ve been educated on this since I was young. It’s just enough to numb the tongue. This particular poison seems… a bit stronger. It might cause some mild stomach pain.”

A chill ran down my spine, and my body froze.

I had prepared and served the tea and organized the tea party. It seemed I would be blamed without a doubt.

My mouth went dry. I had to say something. At the very least, I needed to come up with a plausible excuse.

“I… I didn’t… I didn’t do it…”

But the words that came out of my parted lips were nothing but a foolish protest. As I struggled to stammer out my defense, she picked up the fallen teacup.

“It would be wise to be more cautious. Although many poisons aren’t detected by silver utensils, it’s safer to follow basic precautions. Often, poisons are added not to cause harm, but as a simple warning or to check if the security has been breached. If word gets out that someone fell ill after drinking this tea, it would indicate that the defenses of the Imperial Palace have been compromised.”

She stared at the wooden utensil that had stirred the tea.

“…I used a wooden utensil because I was recommended it for this tea. It wasn’t to avoid detection of poison…”

“I understand. But flavor isn’t more important than life. If you intend to stay in the Imperial Palace, you must be meticulous and thorough in everything. There’s no harm in being cautious.”

She called over a maid who had been waiting at a distance and instructed her to bring silver utensils.

Isella looked calm and composed despite having ingested poison.

Soon, the maid returned with the utensils. She unwrapped the cloth and handed over a silver teaspoon. Isella stirred the tea she had drunk with it. As she had said, the silver quickly turned black.

As the utensil darkened, the maid’s face turned pale. I was no different. My hands trembled as she stirred the tea, each joint shaking uncontrollably.

As she stirred the tea, it felt as if she wasn’t just stirring the liquid but also my heart.

My hands, resting on my knees, trembled. With nowhere else to hold onto, I clenched the hem of my dress tightly, forming deep wrinkles in the fabric.

Beneath the table, drops of water still fell, originating from the tea I had brewed. The tea that was so carefully prepared had become poison overnight. Instead of worrying about the danger I had been in, I was more concerned that I might be suspected of poisoning her.

She continued without pause, taking out a new utensil and stirring my teacup. Despite being held in the tea for a long time, the silver did not change color.

With a clink, she set the spoon down.

“Fortunately, there is no poison in the tea you drank, my lady.”

I understood what that meant. It made me appear even more suspicious.

The maids flinched, nervously observing the cold atmosphere and watching both Isella and me.

The commotion in the forest suggested that a servant had called for the knight and Deon.

“Isella.”
Tl/N: He said “이셀라.”= Isella and Not lady Isella

Deon emerged from the forest.

“Poisoned?”

He approached Isella and inspected her closely. Until then, I had been staring blankly at the tea.

“Don’t come too close. Even smelling it can allow the poison to seep into your system.”

“I won’t get poisoned by this level of toxin, so don’t worry.”

Isella stopped him, gripping the teacup firmly. Their hands overlapped on the cup.

Seeing that, I flinched again. Though it was a fleeting moment, they looked very intimate.

Neither of them shook off the other’s hand as if it was nothing.

Deon examined the teacup carefully and spoke quietly.

“…It seems the security has been breached. Again.”

He clenched the teacup tightly.

Though he wasn’t directly blaming me, it felt as if his words were aimed at me.

Isella, even if it’s a mocking reproach, please say something to scold me quietly.

No, I almost wished my cup had been poisoned too.

Everyone rushed to check on her. It was only natural, but a feeling of resentment washed over me.

The sharp looks felt piercing. The knights waiting in the forest, the maids hastily collecting the utensils.

Though no one glared at me with bloodshot eyes or berated me, the oppressive atmosphere was suffocating enough.

The maids swept up the broken cup and cleared away the mess.

She coughed softly, bending forward as if trying to expel every last drop from her body. I winced each time her thin back heaved.

It felt like it was my fault. It didn’t seem like a trivial accident.

“Are you okay?”

She wiped her mouth again with a handkerchief.

“I’m fine, Your Highness. Since there is nothing wrong with Rioni’s cup, it seems the problem is not with the tea. It might be an issue with where the lips touch the cup, so this teacup should be inspected.”

She finally stated that there was no poison in my cup.