Chapter 11: On Despicability, I am Even More Wretched
“Your Highness, do you really think I’m the kind of person who would add strange things to the tea?”
Hearing Selicia’s words, Muen paused for a moment, then immediately seemed to be struck by a heavy blow. His expression turned despondent, as if he were about to beat his chest, stomp his feet, and wail to the heavens in despair. Then, snow began to fall in June, a sign of his grievance to the heavens.
“Since Your Highness distrusts me so much, then I’ll have to prove myself through actions!
I’ll start by serving!”
Muen grabbed his own cup of tea and was about to tilt it back to drink it all in one go.
“Hold on.”
Selicia suddenly spoke up, stopping Muen in his tracks.
“Young Master Muen, there’s no need to be so upset. I was merely making a small joke.”
“A joke…”
Your face, which hasn’t changed expression from start to finish, doesn’t look like you’re joking at all!
“As Young Master Muen’s betrothed, naturally, I have always believed in him from beginning to end.”
Selicia’s lips curved slightly, which for her seemed to be a smile.
“I was just teasing Young Master Muen. Please don’t take it seriously.”
“Is that so?”
Muen set down his tea cup, subtly exhaling a sigh of relief.
“In the future, Your Highness, please refrain from making such jokes that could easily damage the trust between us.”
“Naturally, I have realized my mistake.”
Selicia still did not drink her tea.
She lowered her head, toying with her tea cup, the rich red tea inside seeming to gaze into her own eyes.
“Actually, there’s a reason behind why I make these kinds of jokes.”
“Hmm?”
“Young Master Muen should know, in fact, I’m a few months younger than you.”
“…Of course I know.”
Know my foot.
I was actually startled, okay!
The student council president of St. Marika Academy, Selicia, who is two whole grades above Muen, is actually younger than him in real age? The original book didn’t mention this at all!
Huh?
Wait a minute, so you’re saying that the Selicia in front of me, although she looks like my senior on the surface, is actually my younger sister in secret?
After all, there’s usually some blood relation between the royal family and nobility, so it’s not too much to call her sister.
Is this another extension of the legendary “cute and dignified” archetype?
This is not good.
The image of Selicia, who is normally a cool and aloof senior sister, calling him “big brother” in private made Muen feel extremely uneasy.
This contrasting attribute hits right at the heart!
“After all, I’m a genius who skipped two grades, so it’s not surprising that such a situation would arise.”
“But precisely because of this, I often feel very tired, because those around me are not of the same age. Yet, I must become as mature as them, even more so.”
“So, someone like me, once in private, once in a comforting environment, will inevitably show some childishness.”
“Childish?” Muen was taken aback. He never expected the words “childishness” to come from Selicia’s mouth.
“That’s right, just like earlier.”
Selicia’s silver eyelashes fluttered as she softly asked, “Young Master Muen shouldn’t be angry, right?”
“Of course not.”
Muen couldn’t help but smile and replied without hesitation, “If it’s Your Highness, I can accept even more childishness. In fact, such a side of Your Highness makes you even more approachable.”
“Really? That’s wonderful then.”
Selicia suddenly lifted her head.
“Perfect timing, I have another very childish request, which I would like Young Master Muen to fulfill.”
“Huh?”
“Young Master Muen, your tea seems to be a bit better. So… Can we swap?”
“Huh?”
Muen’s mouth froze instantly.
He looked at Selicia, feeling a chill run through his body.
Her eyes still held that distant coldness, keeping people at arm’s length, but through the icy facade, Muen seemed to glimpse a hidden hint of cunning… and mockery.
Damn it, inattentive for just a moment, and he was caught by this woman!
The so-called childishness was all a lie; she really did suspect his tea!
But she probably didn’t expect him to be bold enough to directly tamper with it. Otherwise, what awaited her would be bone-chilling ice.
“This… isn’t a good idea.”
“What’s wrong? Didn’t you say you could accept all my childishness? Or perhaps…”
Selicia tilted her head, asking each word deliberately,
“What are you afraid of, Mu, en, Young, Master?”
“H-how… How could I be afraid? I haven’t done anything wrong, why would I be afraid?”
Muen tried hard to keep his smile from showing any flaws.
“Then why…”
“Because… I’ve already drunk this cup of tea!”
Muen clenched the tea cup tightly, saying in a trembling voice.
“If Your Highness drinks it, then it’s… it’s indirectly like a kiss!”
“Oh, is that so?” Selicia remained unmoved, continuing to inquire.
“That’s right, exactly like that.”
Muen widened his eyes, staring fixedly at Selicia.
Well, Princess, what do you say?
As the aloof goddess, the Ice Princess, can you withstand the invincible words “indirect kiss”?
You’re probably so pure that just hearing those words would make your cheeks flush with embarrassment.
“It’s okay, I don’t mind.”
But Selicia showed no sign of embarrassment at all.
“After all, I’m your fiancée. I can accept this level of intimacy.”
Seemingly having truly accepted the identity of fiancée, Selicia even took the initiative to gently stroke Muen’s hand with her own delicate one.
However, Muen didn’t feel any delight; instead, he felt a chilling sensation akin to being in an icy dungeon. This was because Selicia was systematically prying his fingers open, taking the tea cup from his hand.
But at this point, there was nothing he could do. He could only watch silently, despairingly, as if watching the countdown to his demise.
“I must say, I’m quite looking forward to the tea Young Master Muen brews.”
Selicia didn’t show any expression that could be considered anticipation, but she did bring the cup of tea that originally belonged to Muen to her lips. Then, she looked at Muen, puzzled.
“Aren’t you going to drink, Young Master Muen?”
“I’ll drink. I’ll drink it.”
Muen forced a smile as stiff as a corpse’s.
He also picked up the tea cup and slowly brought the cup that originally belonged to Selicia to his lips.
He did it very slowly, as if trying to make the moment last as long as a diamond, but under Selicia’s gaze, even the slowest process would eventually reach its end.
With a sense of resignation, Muen closed his eyes, tilted his head back, and poured the tea into his mouth.
Watching this scene, Selicia narrowed her eyes slightly. She glanced again at the tea in the cup, then turned her head slightly to look outside.
Amidst the clinking of glasses and the sounds of laughter, a grand ball was taking place just a wall away from this room. Most of the nobles in Bellrand had been invited to attend.
Even if he was the son of a duke, he shouldn’t dare to do anything foolish at a time like this.
Selicia finally took a small sip of the red tea in her cup.
Hmm?
Why does the tea still taste strange?
Selicia frowned and lowered her head to look at the tea cup.
The tea in the cup swirled, vividly red like blood.
Could it be…
Selicia suddenly looked up.
Since a while ago, Muen hadn’t said a word.
And now, he was smiling.
It was the kind of smile where his lips were almost reaching his ears, but his mouth remained tightly closed, looking incredibly eerie.
“You!”
For the first time, a look of panic appeared in Selicia’s eyes.
But it was too late. She felt her whole body starting to weaken.
And Muen finally opened his mouth.
With a loud “wow,” he spat out all the tea.
