The Villain's Sickly Wife Dislikes Being Overprotected - Chapter 2.17

Were they trying to make me use violence at the banquet due to the drug’s effects? To tarnish the Duchess’s honor?

I barely leaned against the wall, fearing I might fall and make a loud noise due to the dizziness.

At that moment, I heard the sound of someone coming out of the room.

I held my breath.

She passed in front of the storeroom where I was hiding with hurried steps. She didn’t notice my presence.

I waited for a while even after she had turned the corner, then carefully opened the door and came out again.

I was still dizzy and walking unsteadily. But as time passed, the dizziness improved, while the anger boiling inside me intensified.

As the drug’s effects were kicking in, the dizziness was decreasing and the delirium was starting in earnest.

I headed towards the room where Lady Stober had been.

She had said there was an antidote or something.

If I didn’t drink it immediately, it felt like I would soon lose my mind completely and assault someone like a madwoman.

Even though I thought that with this weak body, how much damage could I really do, it was obvious that it would be a fatal flaw for the Duchess.

First, I need to check that storeroom…

But I soon stopped in my tracks.

The person who had still been in the storeroom was now coming out and came face to face with me.

“…!”

It was the servant who had brought the champagne glasses earlier.

“D-Duchess…?”

He recognized me immediately.

“Wh-what brings the Duchess to this place…”

He couldn’t finish his sentence. Because I had grabbed him by the collar.

“How convenient to run into you.”

Thanks to the drug’s effects, I didn’t hesitate even for a moment before grabbing his collar. It felt like if he acted even slightly more irritating, I could slap him right away.

“You have the antidote, right? Hand over the antidote.”

Before I half-kill you.

“Wh-what are you talking about!”

Sensing the crisis, the servant denied it vehemently.

“I don’t know what antidote you’re talking about!”

Lucy Stober had left the banquet hall and was out on a small balcony. The drug she had drunk earlier was causing anger to well up inside her.

At this rate, she might lose her temper before the Duchess. She had come out to the balcony to distance herself from people.

She had even closed the door to prevent others from entering.

One little annoyance and she felt she might resort to violence.

However, as the antidote’s effects gradually kicked in, her emotions had now largely subsided.

Thank goodness she had brought the antidote.

It was fortunate that she had an antidote capable of neutralizing the effects of any kind of drug.

In any case, apart from the drug, she was in a foul mood.

She still felt angry when she thought of the moment the Duchess had switched glasses, almost snatching it away.

And here she thought the Duchess was an idiot incapable of thinking.

Switching glasses was an overt display of suspicion. In other words, it was rude behavior. So naturally, she thought the Duchess wouldn’t do such a thing.

Moreover, the Duchess was known for her kind and stupid personality.

She had almost gotten into big trouble by underestimating her. It seemed she would need to plan more carefully next time.

After all, she still had many plans to bring that woman down.

Today’s plan was to make that woman pick a fight with anyone or assault someone in anger.

Plus, she had just experienced the drug’s effects herself, so she was certain of its potency.

Now, all she had to do was wait for the right moment.

She had been able to prepare for today because she had obtained information that the Duke and Duchess would attend the banquet.

Once that woman’s reputation hit rock bottom, the Duke would surely cast her out.

What slightly bothered her was the Duke’s attitude. He was supposed to be someone who held no affection for his wife, but the way he had embraced his wife and left in the middle of dancing was quite different from the Duke she knew.

Surely it wasn’t some romance novel-like situation where he suddenly fell in love with his wife.

Lucy laughed softly.

Duke Dermond isn’t that kind of person.

It wasn’t that she was still obsessed with a marriage that had already slipped away. After all, she had given up on the position of Duchess on the day of the Duke’s wedding.

However, she couldn’t just stand by and watch someone who didn’t know their place brazenly enjoy power and luxury.

She planned to slowly bring down the Duchess and send her back to her rightful place. She would make her feel as if her brief marriage had been an illusion, returning her to her original position.

This isn’t a bad deed. She’s simply taking the lead to correct what’s wrong.

The emotions that had boiled up due to the drug had now almost completely subsided, and Lucy decided it was time to return.

She also didn’t want to miss the entertaining spectacle of the Duchess causing trouble due to the drug.

She left the balcony.

As she scanned the hall, she found, as she had hoped, a commotion with people gathered in one corner.

As expected. My plan couldn’t possibly fail.

The corners of her mouth curled up into a smirk.

I need to see up close just how much of a mess she’s made.

She moved towards where people were gathering. Her steps were quite lively.

She could hear people’s exclamations.

“Duchess!”

As planned, people were calling out for the Duchess.

So the Duchess has caused trouble as expected.

Did she hit someone? Is she throwing a fit over something trivial?

While the unknown victim was pitiful, sometimes sacrifices were necessary for a greater goal.

Lucy approached with a joyful heart.

“Duchess!”

“My lady, are you alright?”

However… as she got closer and heard people’s cries, Lucy realized something was amiss.

‘Are you alright?’

This is strange.

Shouldn’t they be asking if the person who was hit is alright, not the one doing the hitting?

She pushed through the crowd to get closer.

She needed to properly assess the situation.

“Duchess!”

“Someone call His Grace the Duke!”

Someone’s choking sound ominously drew closer.

No. This can’t be.

The drug she had given was meant to cause mental confusion, not physical symptoms.

She knew this for certain because she had experienced it herself. If she hadn’t taken the antidote, she would still be seething with anger.

But as she got closer, she saw the Duchess… coughing up blood. She looked to be in extreme pain.

The people surrounding the Duchess were sympathetic and trying to help her. The sight of the Duchess coughing up blood was enough to evoke pity.

This can’t be happening.

Lucy shook her head and stepped back.

She wasn’t stupid enough to do something that would make it obvious she had deliberately drugged someone.

If she’s coughing up blood like that, wouldn’t people suspect someone had poisoned her?

She had planned to make it look like the Duchess just had a character flaw, without anyone knowing!

Could it be that the Duchess had figured everything out and was deliberately causing a scene? Even to the point of coughing up blood?

Considering her actions in the waiting room and switching the glasses, it wasn’t impossible.

The Duchess was more vicious than she had anticipated.

She gritted her teeth.

Let’s get out of here for now. That wicked woman might target me and start spouting nonsense.

As she was slowly backing away, trying to escape…

“Your Grace!”

“His Grace the Duke has arrived!”

The murmuring crowd announced an unwelcome arrival.