Chapter 123 - Tea Time

"So? What do you think?" Aries tilted her head to the side with an excited smile plastered across her face. Across from her were Gertrude and Minerva, who were tasting the tea Aries brewed herself. 

"My lady, it's really good." Minerva grinned, blushing as she felt honored sitting across from Aries and drinking the tea Aries personally brewed. 

"I agree, my lady. You're getting better at brewing tea." Gertrude nodded, exchanging looks with Minerva. "We're certain many noble ladies will want to accept your invitations to tea parties."

Pleased, the side of Aries's lips stretched from ear to ear until her teeth were showing. Her eyes lowered at her cup of tea, picking it up to her lips. 

She looked at the two ladies over the rim. "I hope they do," she replied, sipping from the teacup modestly before placing it back on the saucer. 

As soon as the bottom of the teacup hit the saucer with a soft click, her smile curled into a smirk as a thud reached her ears. She snapped her eyes up at Gertrude and Minerva, both unconscious on the long settee. 

"How long did it take before they lost consciousness?" she wondered, checking the pocket watch hidden underneath the cushion on the divan she was sitting on. "That's not bad." 

It had been almost two weeks since Dexter started teaching her the art of poisoning and the different types. She was slowly getting a hang of it and had started experimenting. Today, she tested it out on Gertrude and Minerva.

"It's not deadly, though," she muttered while she pushed herself from her seat and marched towards the two. She placed a finger on their upper lip to check their breathing. 

Aries nodded in satisfaction upon confirming they simply lost consciousness just as she expected. She took a deep breath, planting her hands on the backrest of the settee Minerva and Gertrude were sleeping on. 

"I'm sorry," she whispered with another sigh, darting her eyes between the two. "I just had no option. This amount of poison can't kill me, so I need test subjects. My brother is also immune to poison and Abel is out of the question."

All she could do was shake her head lightly before she pivoted on her heel. Aries then walked towards the window, standing in front of it. 

"Tomorrow is the banquet my brother is hosting," she murmured, eyes glinting dangerously.

That was all that passed her lips, but her eyes spoke a thousand unspoken words. After tomorrow, everything would proceed as planned. Although it would take some time before her official betrothal with the crown prince of the Maganti Empire, since Abel was delaying it, time was fleeting. 

The memories of the day she met Abel for the first time still felt vivid. The time she had to tremble and tread on eggshells around the man in question. It was as if everything happened just a week ago, the reason she wasn't wasting a second in absorbing all the knowledge she could. 

"Daniella will win everyone's heart in Haimirich and Maganti," came out a determined whisper, jaw tightening at the thought of stepping foot in that damned empire. "After tomorrow, I shouldn't waste any more time."

Aries closed her eyes and when she opened it, the contempt dominating it faded without a trace. As she gazed outside the window, she could not help but see her own faint reflection in the glass. 

She looked different now, unlike the first time she came to Haimirich. Before, she simply looked like an aggressive and wounded cat. Now… she looked like a tigress. She couldn't take all the credit since she also had to thank Abel for giving her such an opportunity.

She had always known she needed help if she wanted revenge. Although it wasn't in her plan to ask for Abel's help, she had always known she couldn't do it on her own. She would never have succeeded. 

"I should also visit him after I debuted." She nodded, thinking that she wouldn't see Abel if the latter didn't visit her. Once she debuted, she had a lot of excuses to visit the imperial palace. One of them was visiting Dexter since he regularly went to the palace a few times a week. 

Aries crossed her arms as she heard a faint knock on the door before it creaked open. Usually, Gustav would wait for her permission to enter, but Aries ordered him earlier today to come to her room. 

"My lady, Gustav has arrived." He placed his palm across his chest and bowed politely. His eyes caught the two unconscious servants on the settee. 

"Gustav, will they know I knocked them unconscious?" she inquired without casting him a look. 

"No, my lady." Gustav straightened his back, crossing his hands behind it. "The drug you used will give them a false memory of what they did during the day, albeit it will be a blur."

Aries nodded as Dexter also explained it to her. Apparently, the drug she used had properties to fill the memories of the person that consumed it. Although it could also backfire on her if it was used recklessly. 

For instance, Minerva and Gertrude had their world revolving around serving Aries. So, their life was following a strict routine. After they woke up, they would remember serving Aries like usual. 

However, those who had different routines or had to deal with different important matters daily would notice that something was wrong. It would be very difficult for her if her target would get suspicious. 

"I see…" Aries carefully peeled her eyes away from the window as she turned around to face Gustav. This man knew most of their secrets, so Aries didn't feel the need to act like a saint. Dexter trusted him and Abel vouched for him that he was trustworthy… except that Abel couldn't truly trust the butler since, well, only the crazies liked Abel. Aries was first on the list.

"Please take them to their room. You know what to do, am I correct?" A smile turned up on her lips but didn't reach her eyes. 

"Yes, my lady." 

"Thank you." She waved before facing the window again, eyes sharp and menacing.. "It's good to let them rest early for today since tomorrow will be a big day."