Chapter 13 Part 4

“…Yes?”

“I asked if you truly find it unfortunate that we couldn’t complete the bouquet.”

“…Of course.”

Caught off guard for a moment, she then unfolded her fan and painted a perfect smile. She seemed well aware of what her most potent weapon was. The trust she had built over time was supporting her now. However, I planned to shatter all that right here.

“Then you wouldn’t mind if I complete it for you.”

“…Yes?”

“The emerald earrings that Lady Queenie said she lost—I happen to have them.”

I slowly inserted the emerald earrings into their place while facing Daisy Queenie, who briefly displayed a look of confusion. Those who wholeheartedly believed Daisy Queenie’s excuse nodded in relief, but a few nobles who sensed something was amiss cast dubious looks towards her.

“I suspect many are wondering why I have these earrings.”

“……”

“Lady Queenje claimed she lost them, but the story I heard was quite different.”

Despite being a common topic of gossip among the nobility, Daisy Queenje and Rose Knight’s past entanglement over a love affair still attracted attention. It seemed to liven up the otherwise dull party with an interesting spectacle.

“I found these earrings through a maid who has been with our family for a long time.”

“Oh…”

Many nobles listened with interest to my story. The intrigue was apparent—the earrings Lady Queenje had lost were discovered with a servant of the Knight family.

“Not long ago, the maid came to me in tears, confessing that she had sold her loyalty for money and begged for punishment.”

“How dreadful!”

The reaction of the nobility grew more fervent, not hesitating to tarnish the perfect image Daisy Queenie had built up over the years. They eagerly embraced this sensational rumor that could potentially mark the high-standing Daisy Queenie.

However, Daisy Queenie maintained a calm smile amidst all the commotion. Any prior discomposure had been smoothly managed away. She seemed undisturbed by such rumors, maintaining a composed demeanor.

“She got involved in various dealings to raise money for her sick mother’s medicine, and in the end, she sold her loyalty as well.”

“Ah, how terrible…”

“However, unable to bear the guilt, she eventually came to me, confessing her wrongs and pleading for punishment. She asked not to be forgiven for failing to repay the loyalty she owed.”

A touch of melodrama always engages people more deeply. They seemed too engrossed in the story to even glance at Daisy Queenie, unable to take their eyes off me.

“As she begged for forgiveness, she said…”

“…”

“The lady with silver hair had given her the earrings, asking for information in return.”

Although they might have already guessed the gist of the story, there was a murmur of disbelief at this point. Expressions of incredulity and denials that it couldn’t possibly be true mixed and filled the room, creating a commotion.

Most leaned towards disbelief that Daisy Queenie would do such a thing. Separate from any desire to see her flawed, her reputation had been too impeccable.

“I would like to hear more about this story, Lady Queenje. Is what my maid claims true?”

“Unfortunately…”

Daisy Queenie, still maintaining her composed demeanor, began to speak. She seemed detached from the current turmoil, her face serene. As ever fitting her role as the socialite par excellence, she wore an elegance that was unrivaled.”

“It seems like a story I’m completely unaware of.”

“…Is that so?”

“Yes. My earrings… you say your  maid had them?”

Daisy Queenie tilted her head with an innocent expression, as if she truly knew nothing. To anyone unaware, her demeanor was convincingly oblivious. To me, knowing all, it was just her natural acting prowess that provoked nothing but instinctual repulsion.

“It was my oversight not to anticipate having a servant with improper conduct. It was my responsibility to keep track of my belongings… and now, unfortunately, this oversight has marred a fine occasion. I apologize, Lady Knight.”

Her response was elegantly phrased, but boiled down to ‘So my servant stole them and you’re blaming me. I’ll be magnanimous and overlook this, you should be thankful.’ That was the gist of it.

“A servant with improper conduct…”

“Of course, I trust that the Knight house wouldn’t teach such behavior. But as for me…”

Daisy Queenie’s lips quivered as she stopped speaking. The surrounding nobles were captivated by her, looking at her as if she was the tragic heroine of the moment.

Amidst this, the elegance with which she turned the accusation about our family’s servant training into such a noble comment truly confirmed she was no easy adversary. Of course, I had not expected things to resolve this easily either.

“Lady Queenie’s statement implies that there was a misunderstanding on the maid’s part, and that you, Lady, had no involvement in such matters.”

“Yes, my lady. While you might trust the word of a maid who has been with you for a long time… I truly had no part in this.”

Her voice, pleading in tone, seemed to sway many onlookers. They quickly rallied around Daisy Queenie, enveloping her in their support.

“Well then. If Lady Queenie states so, it must be true.”

“Of course.”

Her face, bright with a smile, seemed to radiate like the sun’s glow. To think her beauty was used only for such trivial matters.

“Then, might I share a drink with you?”

“…What?”

Daisy Queenie’s face betrayed her confusion once again. Having just navigated her way out of one predicament, she now faced another, likely wondering what this was all about. Being well-versed in etiquette, she understood the implications of my words almost immediately.

“I am touched by your grace in generously covering for your subordinate’s mistake. Would you honor me by sharing a drink?”

Nobles detest acknowledging their faults. Believing they must be flawless, it is natural for them. Thus, rather than outright admitting a mistake, they often offer a ‘noble’ apology by sharing their drink, implicitly acknowledging their fault.

My request was also from that perspective, asking her to share a drink as a recognition of my own fault, since she had ‘nobly’ shifted the blame to my maid. It was only fitting I respond ‘nobly’ as well.

“Lady Queenie is the flower of high society. She will graciously accept the drink.”

“That’s good, my lady.”

Some who were deceived by Daisy Queenie’s flawless act pushed her forward. Since I had admitted a mistake first, they probably thought Daisy Queenie had outmaneuvered me this time.

They just needed something juicy to chew on; thus, this sort of conclusion would suffice for them. From their point of view, whether it’s Daisy Queenieor Rose Knight, either was a tasty morsel.

“Bring the drinks.”

I instructed one of the attending servants to fetch a fresh glass. I intended to share it with her in front of everyone. Watching Daisy Queenie, who couldn’t hide her pallor anymore, almost made me laugh, even though it wasn’t the time.

But it wasn’t over until it’s over. I kept up my usual smiling face perfectly as I watched her.

“The drinks have been brought.”

“Alright, please divide the drink between the lady and myself.”

The servant solemnly transferred half of the drink from my glass into a new one. I watched with a pleasant demeanor as the servant presented the glass to Daisy Queenie.

“Thank you for accepting my request, my lady.”

“…I, I…”

Daisy Queenie fumbled for words, her face filled with things she wanted to say but apparently finding no proper excuse to extricate herself from the situation.

“May blessings be upon Lady Queenje.”

“…and upon Lady Knight…, may blessings be upon you too…”

She whispered in a faint voice, still hesitating with the glass in her hand while I took a sip from mine. Daisy Queenie’s eyes trembled as they met mine, and I feigned ignorance of the implications, offering her a slight smile.

“…Lady Queenie? Why do you just hold the glass?”

“My lady, you may drink now.”

Those who had been supporting her seemed to notice her hesitation and subtly pressured her. It was disconcerting for them to see someone who usually upheld strict etiquette, now seemingly breaching it. But since Daisy Queenie had poisoned my drink, her peculiar behavior was far from over.

‘Locus said that after three sips, one would fall asleep…’

I recalled Locus, who had approached me with a worried expression before the party started. Concerned about potential harm to my body, he had devoted all his energy to analyzing the drug until the party began. His words were undoubtedly true.

“This drink…”

“Is there a problem, Lady Queenie?”

As I casually asked after taking the second sip, pretending to be unaware, Daisy Queenie hesitated as if she must stop me now, believing I knew nothing. Watching her face, which was only concerned about her own safety, not the life at stake, my suppressed disdain surged.

“Do you… dislike sharing a drink with me?”

“That, that’s not it…”

“Then, perhaps the rumors that you disdain me are true after all.”

“That’s not what… Lady, you seem to be misunderstanding something.”

Daisy Queenie said desperately. The gazes that were on me now turned to her with renewed curiosity. It was a rare sight to see her, who usually played the gentle role of a flower, raising her voice, and this too must have been an entertaining spectacle for them.

“If that’s not the case, then why won’t you share a drink with me?”

But even until that moment, Daisy Queenje couldn’t bring herself to lift the glass. Knowing what she had done to it, it was only natural she couldn’t lift it out of fear.

The gaze of the surrounding nobles began to sharpen. To those who had been pondering over what gossip to spin about Daisy Queenje and me sharing a drink, her hesitation seemed nothing more than a waste of time. Nobles are a folk with little patience, after all.

Eventually, unable to bear it any longer, one of the noblewomen tried to point out Daisy Queenie’s behavior, and that’s when Daisy, trembling, dropped the glass. It was an uncharacteristic mistake for someone who always practiced perfect etiquette and was the envy of all ladies and young women.

And that was the moment I had been waiting for. I swallowed the third sip of my drink, wondering how long it would take for the effects to set in.

“…Lady?”