Chapter 21 - This Is The Beginning (2) (1/2)

Helen’s mind raced as she tried to think of a way out of this situation. Refusing the cup, however, was tantamount to revealing that something was in it.

She felt everyone’s questioning eyes drawing in on her. She had failed to destroy the evidence, and she had no choice but to drink it. Once this was over she would take her chance again and break the teapot. Helen accepted the teacup from Elena with trembling hands.

“Of course. There is nothing in it.”

She spoke smoothly, despite knowing how much salt was in it the tea. Drinking it would be far from pleasant, but she couldn’t retreat now. Helen closed her eyes and took a sip.

“Uub…ub!”

Helen tried to endure it, but she had been brought up as a delicate and pampered noblewoman and could not tolerate something that horribly strong. She spit it out of her mouth.

Helen hurriedly tried to wipe off the spilled salty tea from her bright red face, but it was too late. She made an irreparable mess in front of so many people.

“Hmm.”

Elena held her head elegantly as she looked at Helen. The crowd was murmuring about them. It was part of Elena’s plan to pay Helen back in her past life by giving Helen the salty tea, which Mirabelle was about to drink. Elena predicted that Helen would try to get rid of the teapot and blocked her attempt. However, even if salt was added to the teapot it would be difficult to actually prove it was Helen’s doing. Some may quietly suspect her, but if a culprit wasn’t actually identified then the situation would eventually be buried.

Elena wouldn’t lose so easily. Helen had to try and break the teapot in front of everyone, otherwise it might have been difficult to drive Helen into the corner she was in now.

Elena pretended to cover her mouth in surprise, just as Helen had done.

“Oh, what could be in the tea? Didn’t Lady Selby say there was nothing in it? It’s not a poison, is it?”

The single word rippled through the crowd greatly.

“Poison?”

“Surely not…”

The noise of the crowd grew louder, and Elena looked around with a frightened expression.

“Lady Selby, I’m worried about your health. We should call a doctor.”

Marissa had a look of thunder, realizing that her tea party was completely ruined. Her fury was directed towards Helen. If anyone had seen Helen make several attempts to try and break a teapot, one couldn’t help but think she was the culprit.

Helen’s face turned ugly the as she saw the tide start to go against her. Honor was as important as life to the nobility. If rumors flew thick about what happened today, Helen wouldn’t be able to show her face in southern society. Her attempt to ruin Elena had ended in her own defeat.

Helen quickly pointed to Margaret standing next to her.

“What did you put in this?”

“What? W-well, that’s–”

“Did you use me to embarrass of Lady Blaise? I didn’t even realize…”

Helen wore an innocent mask as she lay blame on Margaret for her crime. Margaret, already frightened, started to panic even more.