Chapter 86 : Chapter 86
Volume 2
Chapter 86 : Clever Girls Always Notice the Telltale Signs
“The way I invited people? That really leaves me rather baffled.”
As a one-note villain who had only appeared for twenty chapters before crashing out at lightning speed, Muen had absolutely no idea how his former self used to invite people.
The original owner’s memories were too jumbled, and he could not recall it at all.
“I think it was at the last academy ball, was it not?”
Not paying any mind to Muen’s forgetfulness, Selicia simply continued reminiscing on her own.
“You wanted to invite someone to dance too. She was a viscount’s daughter. If I remember correctly, this is what you said back then.”
Selicia lifted her chin slightly, her lovely brows drawing together.
Her face still remained as expressionless as ever, but it was obvious she was trying her best to imitate an arrogant, overbearing attitude.
“Woman, rejoice and be grateful. I, in my mercy, grant you the honor of sharing a dance with me!”
“...”
“Well? Did I imitate you well?”
“...”
Well? That was beyond accurate. My toes are about to dig out an entire three-bedroom apartment from sheer embarrassment, all right?
Muen Campbell, Muen Campbell. It would have been one thing if you were merely an idiot, but why were you this unbearably chuuni too?
And the worst part was that you acted like that in front of so many people. Then you just kicked your legs up and died, leaving the mess behind.
What am I supposed to do now? I am the one dying of social humiliation here!
“That is all an unbearable past I would rather not revisit. I ask that Your Highness please forget it.”
Muen gave an awkward laugh. Then, in an effort to ease the embarrassment, he quickened his steps.
Yet Selicia remained elegant, remained composed.
Even though Muen deliberately accelerated the dance and even ignored the rhythm of the music, she never lost control from beginning to end.
If anything, it was Muen who found himself being led along by her before long.
Selicia Leopold truly was forever noble, forever proud, a white swan through and through.
No wonder she was the hardest woman to win over in the original book.
Muen sighed inwardly.
...
When the song ended, the dance came to a close as well.
Warm applause rose all around them.
Ignoring the murderous jealousy in a certain protagonist’s gaze, Muen smiled and bowed to the crowd.
A fine sheen of sweat had already appeared on Muen’s forehead, yet Selicia’s expression had not changed in the slightest.
“Your Highness seems somewhat tired as well. How about we find somewhere quiet and have a drink?”
Taking advantage of the pleasant atmosphere, Muen extended another invitation.
“All right.”
This time, Selicia did not even hesitate before nodding in agreement.
Wonderful!
Though he tried hard to keep his face unchanged, the little person in Muen’s heart was already jumping for joy.
The beginning was always the hardest part.
As long as he succeeded in inviting her away to be alone, then half the plan was already complete.
...
“Forgive me, but I do not drink.”
“Hm? It is only red wine. Just a little—”
“Not even red wine.”
Selicia tucked a loose strand of silver-white hair behind her ear. “My constitution cannot tolerate alcohol. Not a single drop.”
“...”
Inside the room that had been specially prepared in advance, Muen, who was holding a bottle of red wine he had already drugged beforehand, 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 carefully, there really had been no scenes in the original book of Selicia drinking.
Her inability to drink did not seem especially abrupt.
And in the original book, Muen Campbell had indeed drugged the tea instead and successfully caught Selicia off guard.
Muen could have simply done the same.
But the only problem was that what he had bought was red.
A red so vivid it looked like blood.
If he put that into tea, would it not be obvious at a glance?
“Is there a problem?”
“N-No, nothing. I was only 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 said with absolute seriousness,
“Due to certain irresistible circumstances, there are no drinks available here tonight besides red wine and black tea.”
“Only... black tea?”
Even Selicia, whose expression was usually as unchanging as an iceberg, revealed a trace of confusion.
Still, she did not suspect anything malicious for the moment.
She merely assumed Muen had failed to prepare properly in advance.
“Then black tea will do.”
“Thank you.”
Muen wiped away a cold sweat and hurriedly rose to make the preparations.
“Wait.”
Selicia suddenly called out to stop him, a hint of suspicion flashing through her cool gaze.
“You are preparing it personally?”
“Yes. Is there a problem?”
“...No.”
Selicia shook her head. “I am simply surprised that Young Master Muen would do the sort of work usually left to servants.”
This is bad. She is getting suspicious!
Muen’s heart skipped a beat, but his face remained calm as he smiled and said,
“It cannot be helped. The maids of the Duke’s estate are all very busy tonight. Even my personal maid cannot get away at the moment, so I can only handle this sort of minor matter myself.”
“That makes sense.”
Selicia gave a slight nod, as though in agreement.
“Then I shall look forward to it, Young Master Muen—tea brewed by your own hands.”
...
“As expected of Selicia. I really cannot underestimate her.”
Outside the room, Muen stared at the black tea he had improvised in utter panic and wiped the cold sweat from his brow with lingering fear.
If his nerves had been any worse just now, he probably would have exposed himself on the spot.
“Who was it that said this step would be easy? The parts the book did not describe are obviously the hardest!”
Muen could not help grinding his teeth in frustration.
How was he supposed to know that this so-called world-line correction was completely useless for a supporting character like him?
It had nearly ruined everything just because Selicia suddenly had this setting thrown in out of nowhere.
“But now that it has come to this, I have no choice but to go through with it!”
Muen pulled out the two medicine bottles from his clothes.
“Black tea is red too, so she probably will not notice. As for this so-called little gift...”
Muen opened the “bonus item” the unscrupulous shopkeeper had given him.
Inside was a white powder, the sort that should dissolve in water.
“Even though I have no idea what it does, since the shopkeeper said it would have a miraculous effect if used together, then I suppose it must be something that boosts the potency.”
“There is no time to worry about that now. I am putting it all in!”
“I can only hope Selicia actually drinks it before she realizes something is wrong.”
“Heh heh heh. Your Highness, who told you to be so clever? Do not blame me for using the heavy stuff!”
Carrying the drugged black tea, Muen revealed a wicked smile unique to a villain, one that even he himself did not notice.
...
“Your Highness, your tea.”
Like a perfectly trained attendant, Muen presented the carefully brewed black tea to Selicia with graceful poise.
“Thank you.”
Selicia accepted it politely, but she did not drink it right away.
Instead, she examined the tea closely.
“Young Master Muen, your black tea... is very red.”
“Is black tea not supposed to be red?” Muen replied with a smile.
“Is that so? The black tea I usually drink is only light red.”
“Then perhaps it is because the tea leaves come from a different place. Just as the oranges from North Dunel may be smaller than the oranges from Nancy Territory, yet sweeter, black tea from different regions may also differ slightly in color.”
“That is a reasonable explanation.”
Selicia still did not drink. Instead, she lifted her ice-blue eyes and stared straight at Muen.
“Then—why does Young Master Muen not drink first?”