HTEVD 09

Chapter 09 …

‘Is it a coincidence… or does she actually know how to use her status to her advantage?’

“Hibiscus tea clears the skin and reduces swelling. But it’s not suitable for those whose body heats up easily or who experience flushing after drinking it.”

“Oh my, is that your constitution too, Lady Viscount?”

“Now that you mention it, I do feel a bit flushed. Does that mean it’s not suitable for me either?”

“You must really enjoy tea, Lady Viscount.”

“No, not at all. I was just interested and learned a little, but I don’t know much.”

“How humble.”

Evelyn shyly lowered her head.

“Bring out the chamomile.”

At Terezia’s command to the maid, everyone showed surprised expressions.

“I’m curious since the young lady of the viscount enjoys it.”

Evelyn’s face reddened a little, but she didn’t spout flattering nonsense like “It’s too cheap for Her Highness the Princess to drink.” The maids brewed a new pot and poured it into fresh cups, and the noble young ladies fussed excitedly.

“It smells wonderful!”

“The floral scent lingers so long in the mouth.”

Tea’s value depends on rarity. Regardless of its fragrance or flavor, chamomile — a flower that grows abundantly in mountains and fields — is considered a cheap drink for commoners. And yet here were the most prestigious noble daughters of the Empire praising it in unison. Terezia found this quite amusing.

“The scent is actually… rather nice.”

◇ ◆ ◇

The bow of the ship turned toward the shore.

‘Looks like this outing will end without incident.’

I was alone in the cabin, using seasickness as an excuse. In my second life, I had nearly drowned, and ever since, the sight of deep water made my heart shrink. This unexpected boat ride made my stomach churn, and of all things, they served hibiscus tea — the very same tea that had been used to poison me in my past life. I couldn’t even swallow a single sip. Thankfully, Christine’s petty malice during all this was too trivial to even take seriously, and thanks to the princess offering chamomile tea, I barely managed to wet my throat.

‘Not seeing the water makes me feel a little better.’

As I leaned back against the sofa, I knew I couldn’t stay away from the others for too long, so I sluggishly stood up — just as the cabin door burst open.

“Don’t mess it up this time — do it properly!”

At Christine’s sharp, irritated voice, I instinctively hid behind the lounge sofa.

“You can handle it, right?”

“Yes, my lady.”

Christine lowered her voice threateningly at her maid.

‘Handle what, exactly?’

Just then, there was a knock at the door as someone came looking for Christine, and she left with the maid. I waited a moment before stepping outside. Something felt off.

As I headed toward the distant deck, I unexpectedly locked eyes with a maid walking briskly — almost running.

‘That maid…!’

I flinched and took a step back. The maid looked even more startled and quickly averted her gaze. Curly hair, with a scar on her cheek. She was the one who had pushed me into the lake in my second life.

As I watched her hurriedly bow and walk away, my fists clenched involuntarily. Rage boiled up inside me.

‘Don’t act on emotion.’

I barely held myself back, reminding myself that in this life, she had done nothing to harm me yet.

The boat was drawing closer to the lakeshore.

“Someone must have stolen it while I wasn’t looking!”

“That can’t be. Maybe it just fell somewhere?”

The tea table area was in an uproar. The noble girls stood up and gathered around Christine, while only Princess Terezia remained seated.

“What’s going on?”

“Lady Wales’s earring has gone missing.”

…Ha. Earrings, really.

I cast a cold glance at Christine.

‘You never change, do you.’

Christine glared right back at me.

“I saw the black-haired young lady pick up the earring!”

The scar-cheeked maid glanced my way as she addressed the princess. All the tea party guests turned their eyes on me. I stared quietly at the maid before speaking.

“I didn’t do anything of the sort.”

“Lady Viscount, of course I don’t believe her either.”

Princess Terezia rebuked the maid in a stern voice.

“If you’re lying, you will be severely punished.”

“Who knows—maybe she stole it to sell it off!”

Christine, growing frantic, shouted, and the murmuring grew louder. I spoke with a faintly hurt expression.

“Lady Wales must be convinced that, since I grew up poor, I’d resort to theft.”

“Christine, watch your tongue. How dare you speak such nonsense to Lady Viscount.”

Flushed with agitation, Christine pointed at me and shouted,

“Search her clothes! That will settle it!”

Shock flashed across everyone’s faces. Such treatment was reserved for slaves — and she wanted to do that to a viscount’s daughter?

It was an absurd demand, yet a chill ran down my spine. Christine and the maid’s confidence in accusing me meant only one thing: they had a plan. They’d find a way to make the earring appear on me.

The maid was already approaching. Right now, most of the young ladies probably thought Christine was being rude. But if the earring appeared from my clothes, their opinion would flip instantly. A small earring could easily be palmed and planted during a search.

‘I can’t let this happen.’

I slapped away the maid’s reaching hand with force.

“What do you think you’re doing!”

The maid stumbled but grabbed my arm roughly. A mere maid could act this brazenly for one reason only — she was sure the earring would turn up on me.

“How dare you behave so rudely!”

I glanced at the princess for help, but she only watched silently, hiding her mouth behind her fan. The maid — a large woman — grabbed at my collar roughly, and I resisted with all my strength.

Just then, the boat veered sharply, sending up a spray of water. My body lurched, and suddenly the world tilted — my upper body was hanging out over the railing.

‘No!’

My back was exposed to the empty air. I flailed desperately, but my body had already tipped over the edge. In my panic, I grabbed the maid’s hair with all my strength.

“Argh!”

The maid screamed. And then — both of us fell into the lake.

Splash!

Something small and glittering slipped out of the maid’s grasp and slowly sank beneath the surface. I recognized it instantly as Christine’s damned earring — but all I could do was struggle to stay alive as the icy lake swallowed me whole.

The maid scratched at my arms wildly, and I gripped her hair even tighter — not for revenge, but because if I let go of anything, I’d lose my mind. Water rushed into my nose and mouth; my limbs went stiff.

‘Damn it…’

Was drowning really fated for me no matter what?

As my breath ran out, I saw a dark shadow moving toward me through the shimmering water. A hallucination born of fear? I inhaled sharply in shock — and swallowed more water.

It was Lloyd. Lloyd was swimming toward me.

“I’m warning you that you’re in danger.”

In the choking darkness, his earlier words echoed in my mind. Maybe because I had been genuinely moved that he’d secretly called me out to warn me, I had started to believe — or wanted to believe — that he actually cared. So, instinctively, I reached out to him.

But then—

…Lloyd grabbed the unconscious maid by the arm and, without hesitation, turned his body toward the surface.

‘Ha. You son of a—’

As consciousness slipped away, all I could think about was how badly I wanted to punch that handsome face of his. Lloyd always abandoned me at the moments I needed him most.