CH 5.01

5. Engagement Ceremony at the Princess’s Palace

What a fine day it was. After hearing about my condition from Lacius, the princess stepped up and wrapped up the hugely successful opening party. Fortunately, the fact that I drank champagne with paralytic drug did not get out. However, how they were able to make me the only one to drink the poisoned champagne when there were so many people at the party was still a mystery. 

“Why would they use a paralytic drug instead of a poison if they were planning to kill me?”

“I hate to admit it, but Kun Geisha is right. Because it can be disguised as an accidental death.”

“Only a few people in Terran can do such a vicious thing, right?”

I frowned at Lacius, indicating that I was full and didn’t want to eat any more.

Lacius scooped up a spoonful of soup, held it out to me, and answered, pretending not to notice my frown.

“It is a product that is widely available in the black market. Given that they have not yet been punished, it was safe to assume that the one behind it was a powerful individual.”

“They have to be. So, neither you nor the princess know who they are?”

“If we want to find it, we will find it, but it is more accurate to say that there was no grounds to do so. Until now.”

I tried to avoid eating by changing the subject, but the soup settled in front of my mouth without a shake. I sighed and opened my mouth as he refused to leave until I had another spoonful.

“Very good.”

Lacius praised me, then took another spoonful and held it out to me. I just closed my eyes, took it again, and turned my head away.

What the—, how old does he think I am?!

Even if I were a patient, both of my hands were still intact. However, Lacius, Theobalt, and Maynard all treated me like a child. Of course, I almost fell down the stairs while under the influence of the drug, but that fall would not kill me. The most dangerous situation would have been being kidnapped by Kun Geisha. In other words, I was not traumatised nor injured enough for them to lock me in my room for three days and even serve my meals to me.

“I’m fine now. The paralysis has gone away, and I am feeling alright.”

“Even if you took the antidote, some traces may still be present in your body. You’re not entirely healed.”

“No, but treating me like a child—”

“Perhaps you are having an illusion that you are fine even though you aren’t in reality. You are trying to be strong by thinking you are already fine.”

Is he serious? What about Theobalt?

Nobody is on my side here.

I sobbed and pouted. Then Lacius spoke loudly once more.

“Place your hand on your chest, look at the flowers, count the amount, and then think again. Are you really all right?”

“There are one, two, three flowers. Once more, one, two, three. See, I’m perfectly fine!”

“…….”

I followed the instructions, so why am I getting a look of mistrust in return? Lacius put the bowl away while still acting sceptical of me.

“Please let me know if you ever feel ill.”

“Fine. Anyway, I’m really alright. But I can’t eat anymore. It feels like I’m eating four servings.”

“Four servings?”

“… was it not?”

“This is for a single person. You eat too little, like a bird.”

“……?”

“You need to eat this much to have enough energy to move around.”

I gaped at Lacius’ staggering standards.

No, if that was for just one person, I’m afraid I’d have to roll* around sooner or later.

*(If she gets too big to walk, she’ll have no choice but to roll around like a big ball.)

I quickly removed the blanket that had been covering my thighs, feeling a sense of impending doom.

“I’ve been resting for three days, so I’ll be moving today.”

“I don’t think you’re in good shape—.”

“I won’t go far. I’ll just go for a walk. Inside the house!”

“… Alright.”

I’m not complaining about the sudden overprotection, I’m just a little embarrassed.

I literally receive ujuju* for doing anything.

*(Ujjujju is a word used to soothe a baby. So in this sense, she was being treated like a baby.)

Rather than checking my physical condition, I wanted to know who the hell gave me the paralytic drug and how they did it.

“Does the princess-unnie have any news for me?”

“So far, nothing.”

“Hmm. Three days have passed. She couldn’t possibly have missed the culprit.”

With doubt in my eyes, I looked in the mirror on the dressing table.

I had been eating so well for the past few days that I had gained weight and looked chubby and cute. I stroked my stretched cheek, which felt like a rice cake filled with milk, and organised my thoughts for a moment before turning around.

“In fact, I had a rough idea of who the perpetrator was. The fact that princess-unnie was remaining silent only confirmed it.”

“You have someone in mind?”

“Yeah.”

Who else do you think it could be? Of course, it’s Peridot, the Villainess #1.

First circumstantial evidence. Peridot is conducting plant research under the imperial family. 

But that’s only the tip of the iceberg. In fact, her involvement in medicine was mentioned in the original work. As a result, she was an expert in poisons, paralysis, and anaesthesia.

Second, Peridot never puts herself in the spotlight.

She preferred to handle things behind the scenes. She got away in the original story by framing Shay for injuring the female lead.

Then there’s the third piece of evidence. The princess, who definitely could find the culprit, was silent.

The princess was not an inept individual. She obviously knows, but she chooses not to say anything.

So, who compelled her to do so?

“In fact, having two favourite cards is beneficial to the princess. It would be preferable if they were not so close and fought as rivals. That way, she can profit from both sides and even bring competition to the table.”

“Peridot is the only possible answer. Is she the one you’re referring to?”

“Yeah.”

Princess-unnie was my favourite. She has the power and intelligence to turn the situation in her favour.

That is to say, I was not disappointed or upset with Princess-unnie for quietly covering up Peridot and the incident.

If I want to destroy Peridot, I should do it without using the princess’s power.