PDTVD 02

Chapter – 02 

 Buying an Ally

I closed my eyes, trying to calm down, to banish that translucent window from both my sight and my thoughts.

I am Olivia, daughter of Marquis Irvine.

I was imprisoned for the crime of attempting to poison the saint, and then I died—poisoned in my own meal. After that, in a dream, I met the creator god Demiule, who told me he would give me another chance to be happy. He also promised me unique knowledge and power.

Then, when I woke up, I was back in my bedroom at the marquis’ estate—and younger again.

On top of that, I retained my memories from my previous life, and now there’s something like a game status screen—something I used to see often in my past life—appearing before me.

“Wait. So the ‘unique knowledge’ is my past-life memory, and the ‘power’ is this poison skill displayed on the window…?”

So the chance to be happy must mean I get to redo my life as Olivia, going back in time.

Understanding that much, I sank weakly onto the carpet.

“No… that’s not what I meant at all. That’s not what I wanted!”

If I could have chosen, I would have wanted to be reborn as a commoner, far away from any threat of poisoning.

If that had happened, I wouldn’t have needed any knowledge or skills at all. I just said I wanted a quiet, modest life—did Demiule not hear that part?

“That carefree, smiling god—I should’ve punched him when I had the chance.”

The violent thought startled me. It seemed that gaining my past-life memories had affected my personality as well.

I was angry, yes—but strangely calm at the same time. There was little confusion, and instead, I felt oddly clear-headed.

“Well, I’ve learned one thing—reasoning with gods is useless. Since things are the way they are, I’ll just have to make the best of what I’ve been given.”

With that resolution, I decided to check my status screen.

————————————

[Olivia Bell Irvine]

Sex: Female Age: 13
Condition: Weak Occupation: Marquis’ Daughter / Poison Eater

————————————

〈Blessing of the Creator God (Pity)〉　new!

Poison Skill　new!
・Poison Resistance Lv.1　new!

————————————

“There are… so many things to comment on. Actually, there’s nothing here that doesn’t deserve a comment.”

Noticing even my speech patterns had changed, I began checking line by line.

Olivia Bell Irvine.
That was exactly the same name as the villainess in the otome game “The Holy Maiden Who Saved the Kingdom.”

“Does that mean this really is the world of The Holy Maiden Who Saved the Kingdom…?”

Next: Age, thirteen.

When I was imprisoned and killed, I was sixteen. So I’ve gone back three years in time—assuming I’m not the only one who’s younger now.

Then there’s my condition: Weak.

“Yeah, no kidding. I’m all skin and bones. I can’t believe I ever looked this frail.”

One look in the mirror nearly made me cry.

My skin was pale and dry, completely devoid of moisture. My cheeks were hollow, my silver hair dull and lifeless. My limbs were nothing but sticks covered in skin.

The only beautiful thing about me was my blue eyes—but even they were bloodshot and frightening.

The part of me that used to be a beauty consultant in my past life screamed inside my head, “I can’t even look at this!”

What caught my attention next was my occupation.

Next to “Marquis’ Daughter” was the term Poison Eater.

I had never taken up any such dangerous profession. It was probably related to the skill I’d been granted.

A Poison Skill. That was something I’d never seen in The Holy Maiden Who Saved the Kingdom.

Demiule had said it was “unique,” so it must be a skill only I possess…

“Still, doesn’t ‘Poison Skill’ sound really ominous?”

It sounded exactly like something a villainess would have.

If anyone found out a noble lady possessed such a skill, I could easily imagine how they’d look at me.

“It doesn’t seem like I can attack people with poison—at least not yet—but I definitely can’t let anyone know about this.”

Then there was Poison Resistance. That one seemed self-explanatory.

So the wish to “never suffer and die from poison” had been granted in the form of resistance.

A bizarre interpretation, really. I didn’t need this kind of curveball—I wanted something more straightforward, like “reborn as a simple village girl.”

And that “Blessing of the Creator God (Pity)”—did he really have to add the (Pity) part? It was infuriating. If he pitied me so much, he could’ve given me a peaceful life instead of this half-hearted blessing.

“So my body’s probably resistant to poison now—but how much, exactly? Knowing that god, I doubt it’s perfect.”

But how could I even test it?

It’s not like I could willingly swallow poison. That would be insane.

As I pondered this, a knock came at my door.

I hurried back to bed, and a voice said, “It’s Ann. I’ve brought your lunch.”

A maid with chestnut-brown hair pushed in a food cart.

Ann was young, probably still in her teens. She’d been attending me for some time, but we’d barely spoken beyond what was necessary.

A quiet girl, always nervous and gloomy—that was my impression of her.

“You’re awake, my lady. Has your fever gone down?”
“…Yes.”

Apparently, I’d been bedridden with a fever.

Without showing much concern, Ann simply said, “Then you should be able to eat,” and parked the cart beside my bed.

At that moment, a familiar ping! sounded, and a bright red window popped up before my eyes.

—————————————

[Venison Stew in Wine Sauce (Poisoned): Veroth Seed (Poison Lv.1)]

—————————————

“Wha—”

I nearly screamed “It’s poisoned!?” but managed to clap a hand over my mouth just in time.

I stared hard at the dish. Without the warning, it would’ve looked like a perfectly ordinary, delicious meal.

Ann continued her work silently, her freckled face pale.

“Hey,” I said.

Ann froze.

“…Yes, my lady?”
“This meal—did you bring it directly from the kitchen yourself?”

At once, her hazel eyes began darting nervously.

“Y-yes, I did…”
“Really? No one ordered you to deliver it? You decided to bring it here of your own accord?”

I asked calmly but firmly, and she began trembling.

Watching her, I added, “Actually, I don’t have much appetite today.”

“So, I’d like you to eat it for me.”

“M-me!? I—I could never—such a thing—”
“I’m telling you to. Go on, don’t be shy. Or… is there some reason you can’t eat it?”

Cornered, Ann fell to her knees and burst into tears.

“I’m so sorry, my lady!” she wailed.

“So you do understand what I mean,” I said quietly.

Urging her to explain, I listened as she hiccuped through her confession.

She said my meals always came from the kitchen via the head maid, who instructed her to deliver them to my detached residence.

Once, she had seen the head maid add something to my food—and had been threatened into silence.

(I see. So that’s how it is.)

The head maid had come to the estate with my stepmother when she married into the family.

There was no doubt—the one who ordered the poisoning was my stepmother herself.

Apparently, I’d been getting poisoned for quite some time without realizing it.

“Is the head maid blackmailing you, Ann?”
“Well… my little sister’s sick, and I need money for her medicine. The head maid said if I told anyone, she’d fire me—and make sure I could never find work anywhere else. I’m so sorry…”

I glanced at the food again.

Only the venison stew had a red warning window. The other dishes were fine. So, as long as I avoided that one, I’d be safe.

“I understand. Keep doing exactly what you’ve been doing—keep bringing me my meals from the head maid.”
“What!? B-but—”

Right in front of her, I picked up the plate, walked to the window, and flung its contents outside.

“Just tell the head maid that I ate it all,” I said.

Ann stared in shock. I smiled at her.

“How about it? Can you keep up the act?”
“I—I couldn’t possibly…”
“I want you on my side, Ann.”

She looked away, clearly conflicted.

I knelt down and gently took her chapped hand in mine.

“I’ll pay for your sister’s medicine—separately from your wages.”
“I’ll be your ally!!”

She shouted before I even finished.

Her eyes sparkled like gold coins.

“You’re forgiving me and paying for the medicine? My lady, you’re a goddess!”
“Goddess? More like the villainess, actually…”
“I, Ann, will follow you forever, my money—er, my lady!”
“…You just said ‘money,’ didn’t you?”

Her open greed made my cheek twitch. So much for the gloomy maid.

Still, I’d gained something I didn’t have before my death—a companion.

(Well… I suppose I literally bought her loyalty, but… was that really the right move?)

As I watched the overjoyed Ann, I couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling that she might betray me someday.