Ch#79
Ch#79
Ch#79
~Chapter 79~
‘Thank goodness there are people who think well of Viviana. It must be possible because she’s worked so hard all this time to maintain her reputation.’ Harriet thought as she watched the gossip and conversations flowing around from afar.
But Harriet knew well that reputation alone wasn’t enough. Even Viviana’s solid image had crumbled in an instant at a few words from Bella. If the situation had been reversed, Viviana’s words wouldn’t have wielded such great power.
That was Bella’s strength—power itself. With the tip of her tongue, she could distort reality and brand someone a villain. And the sad truth was that Viviana herself had contributed to solidifying that power over a long time.
Bella always wielded her influence skillfully. She drew allies close and cast out enemies. That was her game, and she played it very well.
‘But not anymore, Bella.’ Harriet narrowed her eyes and thought resolutely. ‘I won’t let you have your way. It won’t be easy to correct the lies you’ve spread about me, but I’m prepared to do whatever it takes.’
Harriet believed she had finished the stage of mere defense. She decided to confront Bella’s power with a strategy that would directly weaken it—by destroying the tools she used to manipulate others.
The efforts she had recently poured into helping Viviana weren’t just out of friendship or sympathy. Of course, she wanted to prevent others from falling victim to Bella’s schemes, but she had her own reasons as well. Harriet recognized that the first step in proving her own innocence was to tarnish Bella’s reputation.
To do that, she needed to join hands with those who disliked Bella. Even if they were reluctant to show it openly. That was exactly where Annabelle came in. Annabelle had long maintained a subtle rivalry with Bella. Harriet hadn’t only helped Annabelle clean up her image and supported Viviana; she had also strengthened her own network of allies.
In exchange for helping sway public opinion, Harriet had to faithfully attend every one of Annabelle’s upcoming tea parties. That was the implicit deal.
But Harriet considered it a small price to pay to quash the malicious rumors about Viviana. Compared to the gains, her time and effort were a worthwhile investment.
The fact that Annabelle was in a subtle competitive relationship with Bella made things even easier. And it gave her an even more important lesson than Annabelle’s help.
Bella wasn’t loved by everyone, as she pretended to be.
Far more people secretly disliked her than Harriet had anticipated.
‘If only I’d known this sooner… I wouldn’t have endured it all alone like that.’ She murmured to herself with a touch of regret.
Still, she was grateful it wasn’t too late. At least now she had a chance to set everything right.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the ballroom…
“Cedric!”
A loud voice calling for Duke Kailas rang out.
Edgar, who had gone off to dance and hadn’t returned, had originally been scheduled to play the role of Cedric’s partner for this event. But instead of Edgar, a most unwelcome figure approached him.
“Albert.” Cedric set down his champagne glass on the nearby table and stood, responding calmly.
The man who had called him was Albert Kingsley. Cedric’s cousin and Benedict’s son.
And, as expected, Albert wasn’t alone.
“I wanted to introduce you to my friends.” Albert slung an arm casually over Cedric’s shoulder as if they were the closest of friends and smiled. “Everyone, this is my cousin Cedric. As you all know, Duke Kailas.”
The way Albert introduced him made it sound as if Cedric were somehow beneath him, as if he could wield his status for his own convenience. Just like his father, Albert always acted as if the ducal house was under his control.
It never failed to displease Cedric.
Even so, Cedric nodded calmly with a polite smile. There was no gain in causing a scene.
Albert either didn’t know or pretended not to notice Cedric’s true feelings as he continued the introductions.
“This is Dwayne Morris, Kane Hensler, and Jonathan William. And the beautiful ladies next to them are Christine Walter and Leslie Ogden.”
The young men and beautiful women greeted Cedric with bright smiles. As if on cue, a shallow, noisy conversation erupted.
“Wow, you’re really tall up close. About 190cm?”
“Not quite that much.” Cedric gave a short laugh in response.
“You look taller because of that short guy next to you! Hahaha!”
“Who did you come with tonight? I don’t see a partner.”
“I came with a friend, but I don’t see them now.”
“What about Christine or Leslie? Either one would be perfect by someone like you, Your Grace.”
Cedric felt his patience wearing thin.
Their words weren’t outright rude, but they were vulgar and irritating, gradually encroaching on personal territory. Unfortunately, he couldn’t just push them away and walk off. Even a duke would face backlash for rude behavior.
Albert knew that perfectly well.
In fact, that was exactly what he was aiming for.
‘Let’s see how long our noble duke can keep his composure.’ Albert thought gleefully.
While the forced conversation dragged on, Albert stealthily passed a small vial to Leslie, who was standing behind Cedric.
Leslie took it wordlessly, carefully opened it, and dropped a few drops of clear liquid into Cedric’s champagne glass.
Satisfied, Albert suddenly acted as if he’d just realized they were bothering Cedric.
“Hey, hey, everyone, let the duke rest a bit! We’ve been hounding him too much. Sorry, Cedric. They all really wanted to meet you.”
“It’s fine.” Cedric replied coolly.
“Come on, don’t be like that. You’re a handsome, capable duke! You really have no interest in Christine or Leslie? I could properly introduce you if you want.”
“They’ll meet far better men than someone like me.” Cedric humbly downplayed himself with practiced modesty.
But to Albert’s ears, it sounded entirely different. ‘How dare he think those women are good enough for me?’
Swallowing a sneer, Albert grinned and said, “Well, you never know what the future holds. Don’t draw the line so firmly. Anyway, how about a toast before we part?”
That was something Cedric welcomed.
He raised his glass and offered a polite farewell.
“It was a pleasure meeting you. I hope you enjoy the rest of your evening.”
“Cheers!” They all clinked glasses and drank.
As he watched Cedric down the drink—diluted to a far stronger concentration than what was sold commercially—Albert felt the tension ease.
‘A few drops of the concentrated extract should be more than enough.’ He thought triumphantly. ‘If he finished the whole glass, he’d be drooling in front of everyone by now.’
But Albert didn’t get greedy. He was satisfied with the covert attack.
He leaned in and whispered to Leslie.
“There’s a greenhouse behind the garden. You know it?”
“Of course.”
“I’ll bring the others in ten minutes. Get everything ready.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll make sure our great Duke Kailas exposes both his body and his pride.” She whispered back with a sly smile.
The two exchanged twisted smiles and left.
The moment they departed, Cedric dropped his polite mask and stared coldly at their retreating figures.
‘Now he’s hanging out with that sort. Drunken fools and women used as bait. Disgusting.’
Their glassy eyes, disheveled attire, loud laughter… everything was vulgar. Things Cedric despised.
Even the way the group treated the women like disposable entertainment was the same. Recalling how Leslie had just pressed her body blatantly against him, it wouldn’t be surprising if it were true.
He reached for his champagne glass again but stopped. He didn’t want to drink from the one he’d toasted with Albert. It felt somehow off.
Instead, he took a fresh glass from a passing server and scanned the ballroom again.
His gaze swept across the ballroom once more, searching for something.
There she was.
The woman in a soft pink dress, her dark brown hair cascading down her back.
‘The balcony this time? What’s she trying to find out now?’
His troublesome business partner, Harriet, was buzzing around the hall like a restless bee. She was pretending to be nonchalant, but Cedric had been watching her from the start.
And he knew exactly what she was doing.
She was gathering information. Gossip, rumors, anything of value.
‘Wonder if she found something interesting.’ He smiled faintly and took another sip.
But this time, something was wrong.
Heat spread rapidly. Far too quickly. It was definitely different from the previous drinks.
“…Am I drunk?”
He tilted his head in confusion.
No… it wasn’t intoxication. It was something entirely different.
His chest tightened. His heart pounded. A strange warmth rose from within, as if fire had been lit just beneath his skin.
His fingertips trembled.
And worst of all was the unfamiliar, alien sensation coursing through his entire body. A prickling feeling like electricity, as if…
His whole being might float up off the ground.
‘What is this? Poison? An aphrodisiac? Who did this? When?’
His mind spun chaotically, but no answers came. Questions only multiplied.
Even so, he maintained his composure. No one had noticed yet. But it was only a matter of time.
He needed to think. He needed to escape. But his thoughts fogged like wandering through mist, and his vision blurred.
Only one thought burned crystal clear in his mind. He couldn’t lose control here.
‘I need to get out of here. Right now.’
He desperately scanned his surroundings for a quiet place where he could regain his self-control. At that moment, beyond the open door leading to the garden, he caught sight of a pink blur— like a bouquet of flowers—rushing toward the rose greenhouse.
Before he could think, his body moved first.
He didn’t know why, but instinct drew him in that direction. He tried to walk as normally as usual, acting as if everything was fine.
He had no idea if it was working.
The moment he passed through the door, he felt something—or someone—brush against his left arm.
