Chapter 94. The Effect of the Potion

Enoch sensed something was wrong right after Ellen took her lips off the champagne glass.

“Ellen?”

She stared blankly at him for some reason, then looked around in confusion. She then looked down at the champagne glass in her hand and spoke.

“Enoch, this…”

“……?”

The glass was half full of champagne. Enoch took it and sniffed it. The scent hadn’t changed. But on closer inspection, the champagne’s color was slightly darker than that in the other glasses.

Feeling something was off, Enoch pulled Ellen into his arms. He held her protectively and scanned their surroundings. Almost immediately, he spotted a brown-haired maid with a pale face.

‘That maid…’

He had noticed a maid approaching and switching the champagne glasses. He hadn’t paid much attention because it didn’t seem worth it.

‘But this champagne…’

It was definitely brought by that maid. Enoch narrowed his eyes. The maid with thick glasses looked strangely familiar.

‘Her trembling is very suspicious…’

At that moment, the brown-haired maid started running towards the party hall entrance. Enoch pointed at her and shouted loudly.

“Catch that maid!”

The party hall was crowded with people, but the maid running frantically towards the entrance stood out.

Servers and other maids rushed in from all directions and apprehended her. The brown-haired maid, her legs giving out, was easily subdued.

Enoch, holding Ellen who kept snuggling into him, walked towards them. As he approached, the maid’s face turned increasingly pale.

Finally reaching the maid, Enoch let out a bitter laugh. The glasses had fallen off during the struggle, revealing a very familiar face.

“What did you put in the champagne?”

“……”

“Melissa Lopez.”

Melissa flinched violently at the sound of her name and began to tremble like a leaf. Enoch clicked his tongue, looking at her as if she might faint at any moment. If she was so terrified, why did she do something as bold as spiking the champagne?

“Answer me. What did you put in it?”

“I, I…”

Melissa hesitated, trying to think of an excuse. The best she could come up with was to deny being Melissa Lopez, claiming to be just a maid who looked like her… But that wouldn’t work. Not in front of the Grand Duke of Bayern.

‘What do I do now?’

She felt the countless stares directed at her, filled with suspicion and contempt. Someone suggested it might be poison.

“N-no!”

Melissa screamed reflexively, horrified. She had spiked the champagne, but it wasn’t poison. She didn’t want to be accused of trying to assassinate the Grand Duke.

“What isn’t it?”

Enoch asked coldly. Melissa, half out of her mind, shook her head frantically.

“I-it’s not poison, there’s no poison!”

“Then what did you put in it?”

“T-that, it’s, a love…”

Melissa glanced nervously at the Grand Duke and the other guests. Some of them might have also bought love potions from that foreign old witch, just like she did. Surely they had used them too. A faint hope sprouted in Melissa’s heart.

Moreover, the Grand Duke was a generous man. Melissa recalled the kindness he had shown at the Lopez mansion. If she confessed honestly and begged for forgiveness, she might avoid severe punishment.

She hadn’t done anything that bad. It was just a love potion… Although Ellen had drunk it… But she saw the Grand Duke right after drinking it, so it should be fine. There should be no side effects. Please.

In the end, Melissa confessed the truth, hoping for the Grand Duke’s mercy.

“A-a love potion.”

“What?”

“I put… a love potion in the champagne…”

The Grand Duke’s face slowly filled with disbelief. He frowned and muttered angrily. A love potion?

“You tried to make me drink that?”

“……”

Melissa bowed her head in silence, acknowledging the truth. She began to deny reality. My plan failed, this can’t be happening. Is this a nightmare? Why did Ellen appear at that moment… The Grand Duke should have drunk the champagne, not Ellen. Then everything would have gone smoothly.

“You’re out of your mind.”

The Grand Duke, coldly dismissing her, signaled his attendants. The attendants, who had been watching from the corner of the party hall, hurried over and bowed deeply. Enoch handed the problematic champagne glass to one of them and gestured towards Melissa with his chin.

“Take her away.”

“……!”

Melissa looked up sharply, her eyes wide with disbelief. She hadn’t expected to be taken away.

Enoch sneered at her foolishness and ignored her. The clueless woman could be interrogated later at the mansion. Experts could analyze the contents of the champagne.

But that wasn’t the immediate issue. Right now—

“Ellen.”

He called her gently. Ellen, with her face buried in his chest, was trembling like a bird caught in the rain.

She was frowning as if suppressing something, and her body was burning hot. Her breath was rough, and her face was flushed.

D*mn it, Enoch cursed under his breath as he hurried out of the party hall. He was extremely anxious that something might have gone wrong with Ellen because of the ridiculous love potion.

Enoch quickened his pace as if his heels were on fire. Felix Werner tried to intervene, but Enoch ignored him and walked past. He couldn’t remember what Werner had said. He was only irritated by his worried face and the affectionate look he gave Ellen.

After boarding the carriage with Ellen in his arms, Enoch examined her condition more closely. Once they were alone, Ellen seemed somewhat relieved, raising her head from his chest and meeting his eyes. Her labored breathing was heavy with moisture.

“Ellen, are you okay?”

“E-Enoch, this…”

“Take your time, speak slowly.”

“It feels like… an aphrodisiac…”

“…What?”

His mind went blank for a moment.

Then, blazing anger consumed his thoughts.

That crazy woman…

Enoch clenched his teeth and fists tightly. If Melissa Lopez had been in front of him, he might have strangled her to death.

“Just hold on a bit longer. As soon as we get home, I’ll have them bring an antidote.”

“Ah… Hic…”

Seeing Ellen twist in discomfort, Enoch felt like he was going mad with concern and affection. There might be perverts in the world who would welcome such a situation, but he wasn’t one of them. He had no desire to take advantage of Ellen, who was under the influence of a drug.

“Enoch, Enoch…”

“Ellen, don’t lose consciousness.”

Her eyes, looking up at him blankly, were unfocused. The voice calling his name was unusually coquettish, leaving Enoch bewildered.

“Stay with me.”

“……”

“This isn’t how I wanted you to desire me.”

Enoch held Ellen gently and let out a heavy sigh. The desire that surged whenever he saw her after being cursed was sometimes frustrating. For someone who had dismissed their relationship as mere indulgence, being swayed more than necessary was unpleasant.

So he wanted her to desire him equally. For their desires to weigh the same. But Ellen was always maddeningly pure. Like a deep, calmly flowing river.

If I were a wicked b*stard who genuinely wanted to break you, it might have been easier. If I had treated you carelessly, not caring how much you got hurt and broke. Then, you would have…

“Enoch…”

You wouldn’t cling to me like this.

Enoch gazed quietly into Ellen’s water-colored eyes. Eyes full of trust. A body clinging to him. He welcomed it all. He didn’t want to ruin it with something as trivial as an aphrodisiac.

“Ellen, the way you’re acting now is because of the drug.”

“Drug…”

“The d*mn love potion Melissa Lopez put in the champagne.”

“Melissa.”

Ellen’s voice sounded like it was boiling when she pronounced that name. It probably wasn’t his imagination. Enoch smiled faintly. He liked it when Ellen got fierce. When she unleashed her anger and hatred without restraint.

“You can’t lose to someone like Melissa, right?”

“……”

Ellen gritted her teeth and let out a suppressed groan. She seemed determined to stay conscious. Enoch took out a handkerchief and wiped the sweat off her forehead.

“Hold on a little longer.”

We’ll be home soon. Ellen nodded silently at his whispered words. Enoch gently stroked her back, feeling both pity and pride.

A while later, the carriage carrying the two of them stopped in the garden of the Winter Palace. As soon as the servant opened the door, Enoch dashed out, carrying Ellen urgently.

Hubert, witnessing this, was visibly startled and opened his mouth to speak.

“Your Grace, what happened? Why is Her Highness…”

“Call the doctor to Ellen’s room. Bring all kinds of antidotes.”

Hubert was curious about the sudden need for antidotes and deeply concerned about the Grand Duchess, but he answered respectfully instead of asking questions.

He instinctively knew from long experience that now was not the time to upset the Grand Duke.

Jasmine, who followed them into the main building, looked pale, and the others’ expressions were equally grim. But what caught Hubert’s attention the most was the brown-haired maid being dragged along by the servants like a criminal.

Hubert asked in bewilderment.

“Who is this maid?”

“His Grace ordered her to be taken away.”

“His Grace…”

There were many questions, but calling the doctor was the priority, so Hubert issued the proper instructions.

“Then, lock her in the solitary cell in the west corridor on the first floor. Post guards to watch her.”

“Yes, Butler.”

Hubert’s steps towards the doctor’s office were filled with urgency.

* * *

“Ellen.”

“Ugh…”

“Please calm down.”

Enoch felt like he was going insane.

Ellen had held on well until they arrived, but she seemed to have reached her limit.

She smiled loosely, her eyes half-closed. It was a very relaxed smile she would never normally show.

“Enoch…”

Her voice dripped like honey.

Her eyes looked at him with desperate longing.

Unable to endure any longer, Ellen wrapped her arms around his neck and whispered.

“I like you… I like you so much…”

“……”

Enoch swallowed hard.

It seemed the love potion did have some effect after all.