Lishi had completely forgotten about LaCroix’s presence. After settling into the hall, LaCroix remained remarkably quiet. The same was true for this party.

“Oh, don’t mind me.”

As everyone approached to greet him, LaCroix just said that and sat on a sofa in a corner of the hall. From there, he silently kept staring at Lishi.

The attendants and noblewomen who were chatting around Lishi dispersed in all directions after LaCroix’s arrival. They were probably worried that LaCroix was staring too much at Lishi, fearing sparks might fly.

Lishi, preoccupied with LaCroix’s intense gaze, didn’t notice Brittany approaching.

“Iris, it’s a really splendid party.”

“Yeah.”

Brittany put her arm around Lishi’s shoulder.

“You’re the host, so why are you quietly sitting in the corner? You should enjoy it too.”

Lishi wanted to shake off Brittany’s arm, but there were too many eyes watching. Despite breaking up, she couldn’t treat Brittany roughly, especially since Brittany hadn’t done anything wrong.

‘What kind of trick is this?’

While telling her to go and enjoy, Brittany took Lishi to a quiet place away from the crowd.

Just as a servant carrying drinks passed behind Lishi, Brittany said, “Iris, I want that drink.”

I absentmindedly picked up a glass from the tray and handed it to Brittany. Seeing Brittany smile, I suddenly realized.

‘Ah, I see!’

+++

The nobles attending the party had no particular thoughts. It was a party welcoming Princess Mary and a New Year’s party. Plus, there was a chance to see the rumored ‘Lady Green Count.’

Nobles who knew the rumors about Mary and Kay anticipated some entertaining spectacle, while those uninterested in such stories considered using this opportunity to establish a connection with Princess Minas Aric.

The usual party atmosphere, unchanged until now, began to break down once with the appearance of Milanthis Piamon, Duke LaCroix Ochsiridis, and again with the appearance of Iris.

“Princess Mary Catven. Iris wants to propose a toast to you.”

“Oh, thank you.”

Mary smiled kindly and accepted the glass. Some who turned to look at Iris at that moment saw her making a stern expression.

And then it happened.

“I’ll toast to Lady Green Countess, who organized such a wonderful party for me.”

With a clear voice, Mary, toasting, drank the contents of the glass in one go.

A few nobles made a toasting gesture and took a sip of their drinks. They were so engrossed in drinking that they didn’t see Lishi’s gaze, which lingered for a moment on Baroness Dixon Cairn, the head of the Baroness who was also the head of the noble newspaper agency.

And then.

“Gulp… Cough…”

Mary coughed up blood.
From the moment the head of the investigation bureau and the newspaper company’s president were on the guest list, Lishi had anticipated that Mary would try something that would make headlines.

When Brittany raised her glass with a smile, Lishi even thought, ‘Is she going to drink a poisoned beverage and collapse?’ However, Mary herself never expected to drink and collapse.

“Princess!”

The maids screamed, supporting Mary.

“What’s going on?”

“Oh dear, oh dear. Princess, what should we do?”

“Aaah! I think… I think it’s poison!”

“The princess drank poison!”

“Wh-who would do such a dreadful thing…?”

“Princess, your face…”

Lishi silently observed all the commotion. Mary, embraced by a certain baron, sprawled out as if dead. Blood flowed from her lips, and her once pale skin now had red spots and pimples scattered all over, resembling a toad.

“Except for the maids and the screaming baroness who embraced Princess Catven, everyone, please do not leave this place! If you leave, you will be considered a suspect.”

Dixon Cairn, the head of the investigation bureau, shouted. People who were about to leave behind Mary abruptly stopped. Standing still and observing everything, Lishi noticed Erwell.

When did he come in?

Erwell was whispering something to Eldie.

“It seems there was poison in the drink the princess drank.”

Dixon said, looking at Brittany. Brittany paled, raising her head with a horrified face.

“T-that drink was… Iris gave it to me… Iris gave it to me, not too long ago.”

All eyes, including Dixon’s, turned to Lishi.

Lishi calmly accepted their gaze without lowering her head.

“Is that true, Baroness?”

“No.”

“But I distinctly heard Whitlow Yang say something. Lady Green Countess said she wanted to offer a drink to the princess.”

“That didn’t happen.”

“But you did. You grabbed the drink, gave it to me, and said you would bring it to the princess.”

At Brittany’s words, a nearby maid nodded.

“I saw it too. Lady Green Countess clearly grabbed the drink and handed it to Brittany.”

“That’s right. I saw it too.”

“So did I.”

Lishi suddenly recalled her past life. When she was at the Duke of Whitlow’s mansion, she always ended up being blamed for something she never did, getting scolded, beaten, and even imprisoned.

At that time, she had nothing to protect herself, so she could only cry. But now, it was different.