Chapter – 04
The Eternal Dieter
Stepmother’s move came faster than I’d expected.
That night, Isabella — my stepmother — appeared at my detached residence accompanied by the head maid. As always, she was decked out in heavy makeup and glittering jewels from head to toe.
“Just as the head maid said — you seem to be in rather good spirits, Olivia?”
Her cold smile made the maid, Anne, who stood timidly in the corner, tremble.
Most likely, before the Creator God turned back time for me, this woman was the one who poisoned and killed me. My father, Marquis Irvine’s second wife — the one who had abused me, treated me like a servant, and even ordered a saint to poison me.
I fought the urge to punch her smug face and instead bowed politely.
“Did you need something, Mother?”
“I heard you left your quarters without permission. Even went to the kitchen to request a meal. What are you scheming?”
“Scheming? Not at all. As I told the head maid, I merely stopped by during my walk.”
Apparently my answer didn’t please her. She glared at me, then called for the head maid.
“Yes, Madam.”
The head maid wheeled over a cart and, right in front of me, slowly lifted the silver dome lid.
With a puff of steam, a delicious-looking meal appeared — and then:
BEEP!
BEEP!
BEEP!
A bright red text window popped up with that all-too-familiar electronic sound.
[Vegetable Soup (Poisoned): Beryl Seed (Poison Lv.1)]
[Ginger Tea (Poisoned): Beryl Seed (Poison Lv.1)]
[Apple Jelly (Poisoned): Beryl Seed (Poison Lv.1)]
(All of them are poisoned!? How thorough can you get!)
I wanted to roll my eyes and faint on the spot. Each dish came neatly labeled “(Poisoned)” with even the toxin’s type and level.
Demiul, that so-called Creator God — if you’ve got time for this kind of obsessive labeling, how about giving me a different life instead?
I forced my face to stay neutral while Isabella commanded:
“Sit.”
Was she planning to stay until I ate everything?
“Come, we’re leaving! Out, now!”
The head maid shoved Anne toward the door. The girl looked back at me with tearful eyes.
“My lady…!”
I smiled at her — a gesture that said, Don’t worry about me.
Of course, I was bluffing. In truth, I was completely cornered.
Once the two left, the air around Isabella turned even colder.
She gestured for me to sit at the table. I had no choice but to obey, though my heart screamed to run.
“Be grateful. I’m personally serving you tonight.”
Laid out before me was exactly what I’d requested earlier — creamy milk-based cleanse soup, pale golden ginger tea, and apple jelly.
Simple dishes, but beautifully plated. Normally, I would’ve been delighted and thanked the chef from the bottom of my heart.
(I’m sorry, Head Chef! I don’t want to eat this!)
Memories of my death in the tower flooded back — the agony of being poisoned. My hands trembled. I never wanted to experience that again. That’s why I prayed for a second chance!
“What’s the matter? Can’t eat? Shall I shove it into your mouth myself?”
As my stepmother reached for a spoon, I panicked, grabbed one myself, and gulped nervously.
Calm down. I had that new divine skill — the “Poison” one. Maybe this poison wouldn’t affect me. Maybe.
But if I die from this, I swear I’ll curse you, Demiul!
Bracing myself, I scooped up the soup and swallowed.
“…!”
The shock made me cover my mouth. My hand shook so badly I almost dropped the spoon.
“Eat more, Olivia.”
My stepmother smiled thinly. My teeth chattered as I obeyed, spoon after spoon, until the bowl was empty.
Satisfied, she stood.
“Finish everything. And don’t leave your quarters again. Though… I doubt you’ll be able to anyway.”
She left, chuckling as she closed the door.
I wanted to scream, Just get out already! But I had bigger problems.
Finally alone, I pressed both hands to my mouth and looked up at the ceiling.
“What is this…”
Then I blurted out the truth.
“It’s… so good!”
What the heck!? The soup was so unbelievably delicious I’d forgotten it was poisoned!
“That depth! That richness — and this is just onion peel broth!? I’ve never had anything this good in my life — or my last one!”
Was the head chef some kind of genius? But wait, the same chef cooked for me before time was turned back…
“Wait a sec…”
I reached for the ginger tea. The red window still warned “(Poisoned),” but I sipped anyway.
“You’ve got to be kidding me…”
Just honey and ginger — yet it tasted like an exquisite herbal blend! The sweetness was delicate, refreshing, and divine.
“And this jelly—so crisp and cool!”
The apple jelly was light, minty, almost luxurious. I’d stand in line for hours to buy something this good.
Each dish outdid the last. I had no clue how this flavor was possible.
“So… the poison tastes good now?”
And as soon as I realized that, I collapsed from my chair.
(Why!? Why would you program something so ridiculous!?)
I never asked to enjoy poison! I only said I didn’t want to die from it!
Now I had a body that made poison taste irresistible.
“It makes me want to eat it! The poison — I want to eat the poison!!”
I pounded the floor, recalling Demiul’s lazy smile.
That god’s sense of priorities was completely broken.
“It’s like the forbidden fruit all over again… wait—what happened to the poison I just ate?”
Before I could finish the thought, another electronic chime sounded.
[You have consumed poison.]
[Poison has been neutralized.]
[Poison neutralization successful.]
“Ooh… so that’s how poison resistance works. Meaning, as long as the poison’s level matches mine, I can safely eat it!”
Just remembering the taste made me drool.
No, stop! Even if it’s safe, it’s still poison! It can’t be good for me!
But… it was so good.
As I wrestled with my conscience, another window popped up:
[You gained 20 EXP.]
I froze.
Experience points. Like in a video game — the thing that raises your level when you collect enough.
And my ability was Poison.
Meaning… to level up, I had to—
“Eat poison!?”
I slammed my fist against the floor again.
What kind of sick joke was this? Giving someone who died of poison a power that requires eating it!?
“L–Lady Olivia!? Are you alright!?”
Anne had returned just in time to see me pounding the floor. She panicked and shoved me onto the bed.
Thinking I was convulsing from poison, she screamed that she’d fetch the doctor and ran off.
Left alone, I stared at the empty dishes and sighed.
“Well… if I have to eat it to gain EXP, it is better that it tastes good… oh no, I’m drooling again.”
I’d just have to be careful not to get addicted — keep eating my poison, detox after, and level up slowly.
It felt like I’d become the world’s most hopeless eternal dieter.
