Chapter 20

Strange things I’ve believed in (8)

They began to debate fiercely.

Even Annabelle, who was confident in her physical strength, endlessly changed clothes until she was exhausted.

After deciding on the dress, the hairstyle, and then the accessories…

It was almost dark outside when Annabelle’s ‘opera performance look’ was completed.

“By the way, are you close with Prince Robert? To be invited to an opera performance as a partner…”

After it was all over, Marilyn, who had been on fire all day long, asked.

Leslie also looked at Annabelle with a rare serious expression.

Seeing their serious reaction, Annabelle responded as if nothing had happened.

“It’s a one-time, casual meeting, so don’t take it too seriously.”

“But everyone else would place a heavy meaning on it…”

Annabelle smiled brightly at Marilyn’s worried words.

“Well, it’s none of their business then.”

That day, after letting Annabelle go, Leslie was alone in her thoughts.

Being a partner in someone’s opera performance meant quite a bit in the social world.

Even if it wasn’t a romantic relationship, it could mean showing off a political friendship.

As far as she knew, Annabelle was scrambling to become a member of the Marquis Abedes.

Didn’t she stop a terrorist attack through the Marquis of Abedes last time?

Was it okay to continue taking the opposite route to the Marquis of Abedes?

Leslie became worried unnecessarily because of her misunderstanding, so she confessed this to Braden that night.

“What? Miss Annabelle is going to the opera as the prince’s partner?”

But Braden seemed to be obsessed with something else altogether.

“Don’t tell Ian for now.”

He said with his eyes glistening mischievously.

“He might find out how he feels if he can’t get over the unexpected situation.”

At Leslie’s questionable look, he shrugged.

“You know, that day I confessed to you on impulse.”

“Well.”

Leslie snorted.

“He may be an impulsive idiot.”

Without knowing his parents’ conflicting predictions, Ian was getting ready to attend the opera without much thought.

~*~

On the day of the opera.

“Miss Annabelle?”

Robert’s eyes, who came to pick me up at the front of the mansion, were wide open.

“Is it not okay?”

I asked with a little nervousness.

It didn’t look bad in the mirror.

No, to me, it was really pretty, but I was more worried about what Robert would think.

As the prince’s partner, I would draw attention from everyone, but I still didn’t really want that.

“It’s not alright.”

Robert grinned and reached out his hand.

“If you look like this right now, you won’t be able to point a sword at Ian Wade.”

“That’s not it.”

I gave a straight answer.

“Ian Wade’s hatred towards me is not enough to be shaken by the outer appearance.”

“Actually, I think so too.”

Robert admitted immediately.

“It’s just you saying the highest praise you can imagine.”

“That’s true. Thank you.”

“Can’t you give me a blessing as a thank you? I feel better when I hear Miss Annabelle’s blessing.”

I thought about it for a while and answered, recalling Leslie’s words that fruit punch is served after the opera.

“I hope all the pieces of watermelon in your fruit punch will not be seeded.”

“That was worth it.”

Now my outfit was the best combination Leslie and Merilyn had ever found.

The dark blue dress, studded with sparkling diamonds like stars, matched the color of my eyes.

Even Leslie sent a professional maid to the mansion, making my hair elegant for the first time in my life.

It was my first time wearing fancy accessories and heavy makeup…

I rode a carriage with Robert to the Opera concert hall.

We arrived fairly early, so most of the seats were empty.

I was even prepared to infiltrate, but things were going very well since I was able to get in very easily.

In the Empire, an opera was not only a performance, but also a means of socializing by providing light food and drinks.

Usually, nobles who had a lot did not think deeply about what they were enjoying.

For example, on the day of performing an opera in such a large venue, they were not conscious of how much labor was needed to prepare everything.

Of course, the maids who dealt directly with the nobles were the employees of the concert hall, so their identity was certain.

However, the people who carried and set the food were all daily workers who worked only for one day.

On days when operas were not performed, those types of daily workers were not needed in the concert hall.

In other words, it was the perfect environment for Reid to plant people to infiltrate.

As I sat down at the viewing box with Robert, one of the maids quickly brought me a welcome drink and finger food.

She was our dedicated maid until the end of the opera.

“It’s not as good as Rainfield Restaurant, but it won’t taste bad.” she said.

Robert smiled and offered me a welcome drink and cookies.

“You don’t have to worry about poisoning. The food and drinks are tested and served by the maids on tenured contracts with the opera house.”

I grabbed the largest of the cookies and just nodded.

According to his explanation, the food that came to our table had already been given a taste test by the maid in charge, who was already standing in front of him.

Of course there was no danger of being poisoned.

Reid also did not dare to poison Ian.

“I see.”

I answered half heartedly and fiddled with the antidote I had secretly hidden in the folds of my skirt.

Today, Reid secretly hired a person and planned to put a drug that’ll disturb Ian’s swordsmanship in his welcome drink.

Naturally, even if a maid who did not know how to handle swords drank it for hundreds of days, there would be no way for her to take any damage.

According to the original story, Ian did drink a drink mixed with a drug that disturbs his movements according to Reid’s scheme.

At first, his hands and feet would only become slightly numb, but during the swordsmanship competition, that drug would’ve significantly slowed down his movement.

So Annabelle also confidently participated in the match…

She was defeated beautifully by Ian, who at the time wasn’t in a good physical condition.

The difference in their skills was much greater than expected.

Instead, after noticing enough abnormalities in Ian’s body, the insides started investigating as soon as the sword competition was over, and the results of the magic items came out just in time.

From there, all the evil deeds of Reid and Annabelle were exposed.

So this time, I had to ruin Reid’s plan.

Reid’s henchman would watch to see if Ian really drank the drug, so I had to let it happen.

The antidote would be effective if consumed within two hours.

So, after watching Ian drink the welcome drink, all I had to do was shove the antidote into Ian’s mouth in some way.

If he didn’t swallow it smoothly, I made a terrible plan to put his foot on the ground and cover his nose and pour it into his mouth.

‘Then I’ll be done with Ian.’

It will all be over after tonight.

Reid would be confident that his ruse had been successful and would not withdraw his gambling pay until the competition.

It didn’t matter to me since I want to survive by not tasting the bitterness of the world.

Ian would win first place in the swordsmanship competition without any doubt and live happily ever after inheriting the duke’s title officially.

I was sure he would have a hard time getting involved in some political situations, but he would do well by the end of the year.

As I was lost in thought, Robert spoke to me.

“Have you looked up the opera?”

“No, what is it about?”

I was not interested in opera anyway, so I didn’t know anything except for the title: “Don’t go crazy.”

“It is a work depicting the anguish of a lover who watches a gentleman gradually lose his mind.”

“Losing his mind?”

“Check out the details while watching.”

Every time Robert smiled sweetly at me, I felt his gaze on me.

It was almost time for the opera to start, so people were slowly entering.

Everyone looked at us once.

“Who is that woman next to Prince Robert? I’ve never seen her before.”

“Well, isn’t it his first time escorting a woman in an official setting like this?”

“Oh, isn’t that Annabelle Nadit? There’s a rumor going around these days!”

“Oh, the illegitimate daughter of Marquis Abedes?”

“Was she always that pretty? When I saw her at the swordsmanship contest, it was different…”

I could clearly hear the voices of people whispering in secret.

It didn’t matter what they said.

I had nothing to do with these people anyways.

“Would you like to have a glass of wine?”

“I’ll take just one sip. I was weaker than I thought.”

“Is that the first time you drank alcohol on your birthday?”

“Yes. In the meantime, I haven’t had anything to drink…”

“What an honor.”

“What?”

“The first birthday celebration, the first birthday present, and the first taste of wine are also called on me.”

“Sure, if you look at it that way.”

There was nothing wrong with Robert and I, so of course, the conversation went on amicably.

Besides, Robert was such a sweet and kind masked man.

When it was time to bump the wine glasses that Robert had ordered, for a moment, I could feel a line of sight burning from the entrance.

‘Why is it that you feel so bad as soon as you see me?’

Ian stared at me with a terrifying expression while standing at the entrance without taking a step.