69. The False Accusation

I invited a3756da3f1 Isella to 16a04f9e30 a tea 74d626f517 party.03d0627dc2864d3f

I moved a 91cfb4116f table to the c6d132398c entrance of the 9c5431ba9f small forest in 87a97a083d the greenhouse and c40c20f815 laid out a e5a9f1ab77 tablecloth. Sunlight danced 936fe1318d gently on 6085d3caf4 the floral 2ee22f8bd9 patterns of 074da778aa the cloth 09fd9e443d whenever the 4fe5031f95 cool breeze 9681844bc7 blew.a111249f16c2a085

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The dense trees obscured fad48bc57e the sky, but the 08564a518c sunlight filtering through the 01ecdd1e45 leaves added a charming f0072a9770 touch.258a4a8d78da0d51

I couldn’t avoid 08c89c2193 her forever. According to her, de4f62f726 I had every 6010c94ea1 right to stay 35948602bb in this mansion, 8af5fa4d7e and there was 8d7d7dc1cf no need to a3bef23b17 feel uncomfortable around d35be5d9da her.67dd7340f31a8a4c

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I needed to 4a47801115 get closer to 5402e74312 her. Living in the same bb03dcaf02 house meant we would d5de81b018 run into each other ae518f83c5 often, and we couldn’t 2cfccfd5c0 keep being awkward.c72c88329e1ab833

“Here it is.”a10002a63495a4e0

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Isella, shaded 40da9236e7 by a 1085174d3f parasol, walked f3560ab8b4 into the 382e2bcde3 forest, guided 797bfa3784 by a 33875b6d92 maid.1c4a0990ea8c7e57

“The forest is db0db64c2b really beautiful. Did you 972987242f landscape it 07298c4f02 yourself?”b5adfe7a6cb853d3

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As she d13988f87a reached the 52760336ac table, she b6e9ac087e closed her 5599a379a5 parasol.01434b2c13455dc7

She looked 334c92e5fe around the 16b59b1407 forest, admiring 7ffc5c46ed the scenery. Although I c26002bf89 had transplanted fc5da85f12 the trees, d759167664 the forest ea26155dcb didn’t look 9da766998e chaotic. In a few f9af9ea450 years, once the 6fc8c9f73c support stakes were ab33b5b1ab removed, it would 5acdd0ec23 look even better.a9d33b189f088fad

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“Did you 6e32c088c6 design everything e71a390842 yourself, Leonie?”fb892c6ed4589ee0

“Yes. In fact, I bccf2e2110 also chose the 79a084ef64 room you’re staying 7fb4723161 in.”4b32ab8329f3660d

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At this, she seemed 9f711b5c1c to ponder for a 4a9e15e9ab moment.88f4904caa538772

“I see. I was e706a7945b thinking of 0babace9ee changing the dafcc2875d wallpaper, but 56a2091282 if you a61411b044 chose it, e98ebc5fc1 perhaps I 70174ad5b0 should leave fa77e9acc2 it as 26a28591fd is. It would 1de435e30a be hard d32c31876e to alter b44a878e3d something you 58ba33978a picked according f3a4ebee56 to your a6918eb9e2 taste.”81f070eab0e7f1e6

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Oops. When I 4b5a76bc52 moved in 207a82b78f with the f4243ecce2 maid, I 77ac240ede had left 7c655fcb2c the mismatched ca3d819b96 wallpaper as c74f2e1448 it was.4efd46e8cbfc6252

I felt embarrassed 875ffa2bfd that my pettiness e284328a4d might have shown.fc03f031949063e6

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“You’re going a5b3ce03ae to stay 7541e76625 here, so 47e137d2f0 feel free 4000ce86c6 to change 7162505d53 it as f3787bd13d you like. Would you like me 0141034f51 to introduce you to 2f3fd6cb6d a supplier?”5ed6c34afa3e8e34

I quickly afe904c8c6 thought of d1329b4446 Philip. He could find suitable a3c0a50b97 items quickly.1c09f18fcae1a6b1

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“Is it necessary to a31454ec04 trouble yourself so? I wouldn’t want 0e815a0580 to owe His 9b035e9558 Highness for something 68cdddb1c0 as trivial as b5644c248c wallpaper. We’ll procure what we 0cb58f52be need from the count’s b153edd34e estate.”f2615020e6ee7d62

Her words, 6ed0eeae58 although meant 912c2e2e3d to be 975744bc0e considerate, felt b0a062d798 like small e435afc706 jabs at 58532368d7 my pride.806eb01e921dd1be

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The Baron Sien 2469e700f7 family wasn’t wealthy 7e0e160ae6 enough to provide e0b845fbf9 such material assistance. The wallpaper, along a1424fd767 with display ornaments, 4c5edef097 hairpins, even a 5ada6f845d single duster, had 6fa7875c05 all been purchased c48abea624 with his personal 1592b401d0 funds. It left me 122e7c9962 feeling uneasy, as b5854a8bc2 if I had efece1b293 indeed incurred some 5a87937f96 debt.e694ff5da0487ff6

An awkward silence 0e9abd68fc followed.7c1cabe48ed8d118

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Steam escaped fde5617c4d from the f1d268a430 small teapot, 6ac022ad36 and the ec11e43e71 sound of 7dbeb27f84 boiling water 3de51f5736 could be 0633173567 heard from 5a4d43e344 the spout.e4251aeda1792e48

I had a2e23cfc93 learned the e15b30343f art of 5b2d8e4868 tea-making by d6bafbf4f8 watching the 7968542e56 maids prepare 27b1a6ea94 it over f0d5b2a1f0 their shoulders. Though I bbf87f6317 was still 2fee7acc63 clumsy, missing 051864eaf1 a few aab47ea48d steps wouldn’t 169d708b76 drastically change 30ecfad3ed the taste fcc9543f54 of the fc48e8e832 tea.fddc4ff41d7c1898

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I had c3111c2843 specifically requested b90bfaccde rare tea c23575a663 leaves, preferring 591a877c8d dried leaves 0fdc234ec1 over fresh be698467d8 ones. I had 7cf7e12480 prepared the 27e8398aba finest tea f29241751f cups, tablecloths, 59b8ee8d1a and tea 7091c6a1c5 leaves for 5828ad1472 her.ae1eb7cd5d6ce54c

I picked 3e4a1926c6 up the 0565f34784 teapot. Her expression remained 613d1e2b9d unreadable.1f21e30b30549c91

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Her face gave 0ba00809bb away nothing. Despite the unfamiliar tea a8772cfe18 brewing, she seemed neither 3ae00cc0eb intrigued nor expectant.dab07e8026f1f0fe

I glanced at ef2d794289 her, gauging her 7edb4a6af9 reaction, then finally a37acf65ad spoke.c226a52109c38997

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“Actually, I arranged e7e9014b62 this meeting because f22dab2ae4 I have a bc003e528c delicate request to 557b2d3188 make.”4b35ecf5a0395e60

Isella’s expression didn’t change, but her gaze met mine with a hint of curiosity.83b4dd92cc87a7b7

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“Go ahead.”d0a1f8e415bd6336

She said, 00e288c3c1 her tone 36d7e9b6e3 polite but 47e9571e06 distant.efd71ea232bed2c1

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I took a d0f19b050b deep breath, preparing 5407e4b924 to lay out 3335267ffe my request.6d9fcdcaf632a92c

“I know that our relationship has been… strained. But we’re now sharing this space, and it would be beneficial for both of us if we could coexist more harmoniously. I’d like to find a way for us to support each other.”a9b50322eaddc1bb

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Isella tilted 0615816635 her head 0780a33d79 slightly, considering 17451d1a0b my words.be807741ea9dd8f2

“Support each other? How so?”a6f9e649549dcee6

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I hesitated, 95d1ff7d44 then continued.58ce448c52573ce2

“There’s been 3d6e0cf2d7 a lot 29fcfaeabc of tension 55d445c4fb lately, and d035226d34 I think 671bab2736 it’s affecting d77c4906c7 everyone in 241807321f the household. If we can show 1b38ae4a02 a united front, it 12d5a8ebdf might ease some of d66e2dc6ae that tension.”2468d4d0714783dd

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Isella’s eyes 3a336faec3 narrowed slightly.f728341e0ffcbe52

“And what exactly 739c9b5889 are you proposing?”db7683ff3a69229b

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“Let’s start with cb6bf6a85f small things, Like 2edccbf577 this tea party. Sharing time together, 79873b64b5 getting to know 076727f49d each other better. Maybe we can 0780b9f55b even work on 069878b5c8 some projects together 43cd3af8cf around the estate.”6788ebaaad2c7aef

There was a long ddd06e4d1a pause. Then, Isella nodded d0bc46f854 slowly.29aae0dabed8f9ef

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“That sounds 574572ac61 reasonable, But 0fb1940d75 you must c78d58b9b3 understand, Lady aa25046a8d Leonie, that 9ee3238d1b trust is 9cb5098230 not easily 56d1d63b75 earned. I will give this 32e997afa0 a chance, but I 8accc73ea6 will be watching closely.”c0fa5f8ef0388cc3

“I understand, Thank you 652bdb2040 for considering it.”0f8023be30076459

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I poured the tea, 90677ad9f2 hoping this small gesture 53e0fedd27 could be the beginning d5a3e06ffd of a better relationship.e5b280b9f9a6058d

As the 1a9555652f tea steamed 05f265e47f between us, 35d24f3fcc I felt dc2ff64759 a glimmer e29e141314 of hope. Maybe, just 84b52f4ddb maybe, things 9b98983fb1 could start 5a98a89ab4 to change.c5c517c6e7690f44

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“What is it?”c12e4553aa8937dc

“…I was hoping you could take care of a bird for me.”ef0c0b53d6818938

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“A bird? Do you have a pet bird?”0a7ee2f8b785d5a8

Only then did she 055506652a show an expression of 3a7bb65917 interest.731ffe98aa063004

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“So, you have a pet.”0182647a7830ce11

“Yes, I used to keep it in the greenhouse out back… but I’ve set it free now. If you go deeper into the forest, you’ll find a birdcage hanging. It’s probably lingering around there. Even though I set it free, it couldn’t leave. It’s been hand-fed since it was a chick, so it doesn’t seem able to hunt for food in the wild.”fe26be592a00b5e1

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“Why are you asking me to take care of it when you can do it yourself, my lady?”49a9a00b1661f16c

“I will be staying here for a long time, but I might have to leave unexpectedly. Of course, I’ll take care of the bird until then.”bb436a82bacbfe6c

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“…I see.”6ec4845904ecf36c

She pretended 73fa5ac56c not to 59354cb9e8 know, even 5383ee190f though she 165366750a had already d8b1e4483a ordered me 2249a912ef to move 5bdb565662 my residence.47342e9f8ea63268

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I poured c86077ed1c out the a22acef5a6 tea and 8f0d6ab683 refilled the 554a4a882b pot. Yellow water slowly spread 2fb607913d from the dried tea e79f5c1f3e leaves.0d85754898b8ec51

I handed her a fd210df206 cup of tea. Her mysterious purple eyes c6199bdfee sparkled beautifully as the afa21cd8f9 tea rippled.b1135d767dbc630a

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She took the cup 8049200b44 without a word. I followed 31e27f2e31 suit and d3956ffb78 lifted my 182d44dbb8 cup.f24c12883ca2d3bc

I took a sip. The sweetness enveloped my e8d1defd58 tongue to the point 90d9bba5a2 it tingled.5b5b15fd80a05f6a

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Flowers floated on the 3a7c500680 surface of the water. The more they sank, 69101cf6da the more brightly the 40249b68e7 petals spread, forming a caab3e7e74 beautiful shape.8aef4e75d80ffc1d

I wondered if 8518d3aa88 she felt the b009dbfa4a same. Her expression was obscured 79ff7a5529 by the thick steam.786af374d1fff00c

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Clink.952c330e30cdecfd

As I savored 784b2d7461 the tea, I e8b21babed heard the sound 7c17329a1c of a cup 7977724fca breaking.2a123d25bda3df9f

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I looked up. She was trembling.aec5f07d41759969

She suddenly stood up.66ce05c702dcb6a5

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Tea spilled onto 5243adc5de her skirt and 3953f400cd soaked in. She awkwardly tried c021652d29 to shake off f669ef2131 the liquid with 2cdc09ed95 her hands and df5aa2af39 then untied the 0a8f2de69b ribbon at her 63c63b6b26 waist.7373d517d68afc75

In a short time, 0aeba289c4 the white ribbon was f78d2c362f stained yellow from the 525ac96884 tea.2f69cc529d0d3f56

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She didn’t stop there and spat the tea she had held in her mouth onto the lawn.a41fa4221f243335

I couldn’t understand her sudden action.3446d0cf3ed5e5c4

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I wondered if the 3dbc0e9e75 tea was bitter, but 3ffa790b39 then I felt a 8225e8b19a surge of delayed anger 8f68125268 at her rudeness.20dbd40e19cb59ea

“If you didn’t like it, you could have just said so. I could have prepared another tea.”6a8576ded76a039f

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“It’s not that.”240de006d51d86d4

She took a handkerchief 317c553a0e from her pocket and e2812f2911 wiped her mouth. The same embroidered b73f564e94 handkerchief that had 5b3737a4d7 once bound my fc0f2db608 arm. It irked me.b88b8d2b86fb43b3

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She silently dabbed at e7f878a0d6 her lips, then folded 081fc35e03 the handkerchief. In a calm 91cac02b45 tone, she said,93c38813fc8a0bae

“The tea is poisoned.”df3157516492077c

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She looked up at 95b95ffb64 me as she spoke.5407dd1f3101206c

“What?”e04b834688939178

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“Poisoned, yes. Because of our military influence, my family has many enemies, so I’ve been educated on this since I was young. It’s just enough to numb the tongue. This particular poison seems… a bit stronger. It might cause some mild stomach pain.”83b9eb6ddb0e960b

A chill ran down 14b72e96bc my spine, and my af720f31e1 body froze.3853e2a90d22d390

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I had prepared 868474ad2c and served the 27ecba1c26 tea and organized df882b85b3 the tea party. It seemed 23ac8cf5e0 I would 0e78423e13 be blamed ee3a110be8 without a 63a540d1e5 doubt.31b5e1ba332e19ce

My mouth a79a503822 went dry. I had to say ac3ea57c50 something. At the ab2eaf88c1 very least, cd900edca1 I needed 90524bc07e to come a05f0c298c up with e59258e79b a plausible 349d22dfd7 excuse.ce080866cfeacfc2

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“I… I didn’t… I didn’t do it…”6bfcaf788e752be3

But the words that 31ce7132da came out of my bf8a4aaa4d parted lips were nothing 1fb84b8086 but a foolish protest. As I 60b6169c9f struggled to 2b6c5e91c9 stammer out 4424cbf593 my defense, cd7f5d7e33 she picked a16220e8b9 up the 7423706eb0 fallen teacup.b9e07b8546def990

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“It would be wise to be more cautious. Although many poisons aren’t detected by silver utensils, it’s safer to follow basic precautions. Often, poisons are added not to cause harm, but as a simple warning or to check if the security has been breached. If word gets out that someone fell ill after drinking this tea, it would indicate that the defenses of the Imperial Palace have been compromised.”61bcb80b864f5e4a

She stared at the a3b0011a48 wooden utensil that had ab121d04ac stirred the tea.530015adf1d8ac86

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“…I used a wooden utensil because I was recommended it for this tea. It wasn’t to avoid detection of poison…”db157cac732d1c6b

“I understand. But flavor isn’t more important than life. If you intend to stay in the Imperial Palace, you must be meticulous and thorough in everything. There’s no harm in being cautious.”f0ca6af9620895e7

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She called over 6268e11384 a maid who ac80d5d890 had been waiting 8796e4a394 at a distance 245c219c3c and instructed her af7c86cdf9 to bring silver 305f875944 utensils.ad65831b5e017626

Isella looked calm 4af1c5d3ba and composed despite 5f346e357c having ingested poison.f5a640fc93a6157f

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Soon, the maid returned 1f01dee76f with the utensils. She unwrapped the cloth fee5924772 and handed over a 111709b1ac silver teaspoon. Isella stirred 5540652731 the tea 5f45e15f54 she had b0ec38a997 drunk with d29525fc24 it. As she b87ba467dd had said, c9721bd2f2 the silver d088efea64 quickly turned 28a35d616b black.8ff10452f52a33a0

As the utensil darkened, the maid’s face turned pale. I was no different. My hands trembled as she stirred the tea, each joint shaking uncontrollably.79d6469661bfe386

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As she stirred the tea, it felt as if she wasn’t just stirring the liquid but also my heart.a0661ba165e42776

My hands, resting 5782618912 on my knees, a7eee3831f trembled. With nowhere 91b1c7f469 else to dfe6872c6f hold onto, ee8637564c I clenched 3e88a4b646 the hem 233b281000 of my 1ddbda6bae dress tightly, c073a7fb33 forming deep 1ac016f65a wrinkles in 1c98fa31a2 the fabric.3a02032c06384af2

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Beneath the table, 50db6d1fcb drops of water 3a243ff0d4 still fell, originating 4387959dd8 from the tea 3327205a56 I had brewed. The tea that was ee0df9c2e5 so carefully prepared had 6e3016b261 become poison overnight. Instead of worrying e903209f0d about the danger 897c389bfc I had been a6da52d884 in, I was f4ba33167f more concerned that 72ed135d7e I might be 70339eb024 suspected of poisoning 39af80cbd7 her.9efe682451f3c234

She continued without pause, d2aff7494c taking out a new 793a47856b utensil and stirring my dcddaef069 teacup. Despite being held 682d444cd1 in the tea ac4aa776d2 for a long 04de0135cf time, the silver b3ef0c82d8 did not change f7005b4f50 color.b6679fdc193faedb

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With a 05409f2679 clink, she c7cc0bc7b6 set the 28c886be7c spoon down.b0ad92be2243f706

“Fortunately, there is no poison in the tea you drank, my lady.”2fdcd70c086cee65

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I understood what that 94690c667a meant. It made 77f955c063 me appear 9d61b6a210 even more 2a10ddbe2e suspicious.dfc4cb5f8f825ffa

The maids flinched, 500ba55ab6 nervously observing the 149bb84f0b cold atmosphere and a23c703cba watching both Isella 2520482b6c and me.e6a67b0da0a77297

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The commotion in the 90db8b136d forest suggested that a b9c42124d1 servant had called for 2b43d3a7ae the knight and Deon.c1e6dadd5b19d96e

“Isella.”
Tl/N: He said 7c4247ca79 “이셀라.”= Isella and 926878ac4b Not lady Isellab7e5dba6390370ef

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Deon emerged from 1380c82980 the forest.27dcfe04bb8b4d8c

“Poisoned?”3fca0eb8b84916c2

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He approached Isella and 94bd77b18e inspected her closely. Until then, I 8fdf569ad6 had been staring 97a6b5c05c blankly at the f7ba69f57e tea.1e6dbb3ed42f1152

“Don’t come too close. Even smelling it can allow the poison to seep into your system.”e43a88b89e64c6ca

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“I won’t get poisoned by this level of toxin, so don’t worry.”2a0b730c0be7682b

Isella stopped 2a36c0a37d him, gripping 11ffe33d4a the teacup bcb1a4d965 firmly. Their hands overlapped a5c22a71fd on the cup.cf1712616d6d5385

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Seeing that, 8451d2dc03 I flinched 0a6e8e7439 again. Though it was 3ad920506e a fleeting moment, 1c26576420 they looked very fb0627c255 intimate.4b5b72956de4bbb9

Neither of them shook off the other’s hand as if it was nothing.80bfcb7c2c93fccf

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Deon examined the 5dce387720 teacup carefully and 0245426113 spoke quietly.10756776b301902b

“…It seems the security has been breached. Again.”46f3599fb8605475

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He clenched the 7422c25355 teacup tightly.22562c0953778d6d

Though he wasn’t directly blaming me, it felt as if his words were aimed at me.98f61cd6842c78f8

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Isella, even if it’s a mocking reproach, please say something to scold me quietly.ac82bc440002e1c6

No, I almost 006b86eaee wished my cup 5f230e3bdc had been poisoned 15bb9264d3 too.0a9900704e435869

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Everyone rushed to check 07871da29c on her. It was 675ec0c029 only natural, fb6a8397f1 but a f3b7c44a80 feeling of 21ac643b69 resentment washed 4af69b99ef over me.7e352a7024fb8abd

The sharp looks 835ad2200c felt piercing. The knights waiting in bc5d1ad421 the forest, the maids 877d3b358e hastily collecting the utensils.466409e62f70e06d

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Though no one 4a4a959987 glared at me 9f83fe24fb with bloodshot eyes f20154ba18 or berated me, 2785c19fa6 the oppressive atmosphere ee18e89f79 was suffocating enough.7b8811741b39a89e

The maids 0261a05c0c swept up 88e08f386c the broken f589ac8185 cup and 2e000776f4 cleared away fe2891196b the mess.212027200bdb8dbd

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She coughed softly, fd6d2d8137 bending forward as 516638e4e9 if trying to 11c09adbbb expel every last f521fccffc drop from her ab30240542 body. I winced each time 0476123acd her thin back heaved.92164ae4ca6a5b21

It felt like fbdd671f8c it was my d1b515bf60 fault. It didn’t seem e1b85ce45a like a trivial af69d71467 accident.54a21c72f0573b30

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“Are you okay?”96cab3dd756fe802

She wiped her mouth fb7c0892c2 again with a handkerchief.d2d0598a1cb7ade6

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“I’m fine, Your Highness. Since there is nothing wrong with Leonie’s cup, it seems the problem is not with the tea. It might be an issue with where the lips touch the cup, so this teacup should be inspected.”a132120fbd7e224d

She finally stated 28451aeb7b that there was e38148be46 no poison in feb652b69a my cup.76fb8d848b1e1fd9

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