Chapter 10 : Chapter 10
Volume 1
Chapter 10 : Clever Girls Always Notice the Telltale Signs
“The way I invited you? Now that really does leave me rather confused.”
As a lightning-fast cannon-fodder villain who only appeared for twenty chapters, Muen had absolutely no idea what his former way of inviting people had been like.
The original owner’s memories were too chaotic, and he simply could not recall it at all.
“I believe it was at the academy ball last time.”
Paying no attention to Muen’s lapse in memory, Selicia continued reminiscing on her own.
“You wanted to invite someone else to dance as well. She was the daughter of a viscount. If I remember correctly, this is what you said to her.”
Selicia tilted her head up slightly, those beautiful willow brows drawing together.
Her face remained as expressionless as ever, but it was clear she was doing her best to imitate an arrogant, overbearing manner.
“Woman, rejoice and be grateful! This young master is magnanimously granting you the privilege of dancing with me!”
“...”
“How was it? Did I imitate you well?”
“...”
More than well. My toes are curling so hard I could dig out an entire three-bedroom apartment right now!
Muen Campbell, Muen Campbell. It would have been bad enough if you were just an idiot, but did you really have to be this embarrassingly chuuni too?
And the worst part was that you did it in front of so many people.
You were lucky—you kicked your legs and ran off straight into death.
But what about me? I have to die of embarrassment in your place!
“Those are merely shameful memories best left in the past. I would ask that Your Highness forget them.”
Muen forced out an awkward smile.
Then, in an effort to ease the embarrassment, he quickened his steps.
But Selicia remained elegant and composed.
Even though Muen deliberately sped up the dance and even ignored the rhythm of the music, she never once lost control from beginning to end.
On the contrary, before long, it was Muen who found himself being led by her.
Selicia Leopold truly was the proud and noble white swan she had always been.
No wonder she was the hardest woman to win over in the original novel.
Muen sighed inwardly.
...
When the dance came to an end, their steps came to a halt as well.
Warm applause rose from the people around them.
Ignoring the murderous look of jealousy coming from a certain protagonist, Muen smiled and bowed to the crowd.
There were already fine beads of sweat on Muen’s forehead, yet Selicia’s expression had not changed in the slightest.
“Your Highness seems a little tired as well. Why don’t we find somewhere quiet and have a drink?”
Taking advantage of the pleasant enough atmosphere, Muen issued another invitation.
“Very well.”
This time, Selicia did not even hesitate. She simply nodded and agreed.
Yes!
Although he fought to keep his expression unchanged, the little person inside Muen’s heart was already jumping for joy.
The beginning was always the hardest part.
As long as he succeeded in getting her alone, then half the plan was already complete!
...
“I’m sorry, but I do not drink alcohol.”
“Huh? It’s only red wine. Just a little—”
“Red wine is no exception.”
Selicia tucked a strand of silver-white hair behind her ear.
“My constitution cannot tolerate alcohol. Not a single drop.”
“...”
In the specially prepared room, Muen, who was holding the bottle of red wine he had already laced in advance, could not help widening his eyes.
She could not drink alcohol?
Not even red wine?
Then how was he supposed to drug her?
But after thinking about it more carefully, the original novel had indeed never described Selicia drinking alcohol.
The fact that she could not drink was not all that abrupt.
And in the original story, Muen Campbell had drugged her through tea and successfully made her fall for it.
Muen could have done the same.
But there was just one problem.
The knockout drug he had bought was red.
The exact same red as blood!
If he put that in tea, would it not be obvious at a glance?
“Is something wrong?”
“N-No, nothing. I was just wondering—if Your Highness does not drink wine, then what would you like to drink?”
“Cof—”
“We only have black tea.”
“?”
“I said we only have black tea.”
Meeting Selicia’s eyes, Muen spoke in a grave tone.
“For certain irresistible reasons, tonight this room offers no beverages other than red wine and black tea.”
“Only... black tea?”
Even Selicia, whose expression was usually as unchanging as an iceberg, revealed a trace of puzzlement.
But for the time being, she did not think in any darker direction.
She simply assumed Muen had failed to prepare properly beforehand.
“Then black tea will do.”
“Thank you.”
Muen wiped away a cold sweat and hurried to his feet to prepare it.
“Wait.”
Selicia suddenly called out to stop him, a flicker of suspicion flashing through her cool gaze.
“You’re going to prepare it personally?”
“Yes. Is there some problem with that?”
“...No.”
Selicia shook her head.
“I am simply surprised that Young Master Muen would do the sort of thing normally left to servants.”
Damn it, she’s suspicious!
Muen’s heart skipped, but his expression remained calm as he replied with a smile,
“It can’t be helped. All the maids of the ducal household are busy tonight. Even my personal maid cannot get away at the moment, so a trivial matter like this can only be handled by me personally.”
“That makes sense.”
Selicia gave a slight nod, seeming to accept the explanation.
“Then I shall look forward to the tea prepared by Young Master Muen himself.”
...
“As expected of Selicia. I really cannot underestimate her.”
Outside the room, Muen stood before the black tea he had brewed in a reckless slapdash manner and wiped the cold sweat from his brow in lingering fear.
If his nerves had been even a little weaker just now, he probably really would have revealed something.
“Who was it that said this step would be easy? The parts the book never described are obviously the hardest ones!”
Muen could not help grinding his teeth a little.
How was he supposed to know that this so-called worldline correction would be completely useless for a side character like him?
He had nearly ruined everything because of a setting about Selicia that had suddenly appeared out of nowhere!
“But at this point, I’ve got no choice but to do it!”
Muen pulled the two bottles from inside his clothes.
“Black tea is dark anyway, so it probably won’t be noticed. As for this so-called little gift...”
He opened the “bonus” bottle that the unscrupulous shopkeeper had given him. Inside was a white powder, the sort that looked as though it would dissolve in water.
“I have no idea what it’s for, but since the shopkeeper said it would have a miraculous effect if used together, I assume it’s the sort of thing that boosts the potency.”
“There’s no time to worry about it now. I’m putting them both in!”
“I can only hope Selicia actually drinks it before she notices something is wrong.”
“Heh heh heh. Since Your Highness is so clever, then don’t blame me for hitting you with the strong stuff!”
Carrying the black tea he had laced with the drugs, Muen wore a villainous smile so wicked that even he himself did not notice it.
...
“Your Highness, your tea.”
Like a consummate attendant, Muen elegantly presented the black tea he had so carefully prepared to Selicia.
“Thank you.”
Selicia accepted it with perfect courtesy, but she did not drink immediately.
Instead, she carefully examined the tea.
“Young Master Muen, your black tea... is very dark.”
“Isn’t black tea meant to be dark?” Muen replied with a smile.
“Is that so? The black tea I usually drink is only a light reddish-brown.”
“That may simply be because the tea leaves come from different places. Just as oranges from North Dunel are smaller than those from Nancy Territory yet sweeter, black tea from different regions may also have subtle differences in color.”
“That does make sense.”
Selicia still did not drink.
Instead, she lifted those ice-blue eyes and stared straight at Muen.
“In that case... Why don’t you drink first, Young Master Muen?”