PDTVD 06

Chapter – 06

Poisoned Cuisine, Once Again

“Bored…”

Lying on my bed in the happy baby yoga pose, I muttered to myself.

Flat on my back, knees bent outward, pulled to my chest, and both soles held with my hands — a posture that, in this world, would be considered scandalously indecent. I only did it when I was sure no one else was around.

If Ann ever caught sight of me like this, she’d probably add another Demiul statue to my bedside collection, so I made sure to do it in secret.

Still—

“I’m so bored. A week of confinement is starting to feel endless.”

Since I was technically under house arrest, I’d decided to use the time to focus on detoxing. My health had indeed improved — my blood circulation was better, the pallor had faded from my skin, and my appetite had returned, suggesting my organs were recovering, too.

My hair and skin still lacked moisture, so I wanted to start nutritional care and use lotion or oils, but…

“Oh right, back in this time of my life, everything related to beauty was confiscated, wasn’t it?”

Cosmetics, dresses, jewelry — all of it was managed by my stepmother, Eliza.

Even in my first life, until I enrolled in the Royal Academy, I hadn’t been allowed to live like a proper noble lady.

“It’s not like I have anywhere to go, so I don’t need fancy clothes… but as a former beauty consultant, I need to do skincare and makeup.”

Beauty wasn’t just work for me — it was both passion and purpose.

I could spend hours on skincare, and I’d lose track of time while researching makeup techniques. If I just had my cosmetics back, I wouldn’t have to fill the hours with excessive yoga or end up mass-producing Demiul statues.

“Still, there’s nothing I can really do right now… Maybe I’ll take a little walk.”

I figured a stroll through the grove behind the annex wouldn’t attract attention, and was about to get out of bed when a knock came at the door. The timing — predictably bad.

Sure enough, without waiting for permission, the head maid entered, her brows creased as always.

“Were you trying to sneak out of the annex again?”

I tilted my head innocently.

“Whatever do you mean? I was only going to the washroom.”

As I smiled and feigned ignorance, Ann appeared behind her, pale-faced, pushing a serving cart.

On it sat a silver cloche, a glass, and cutlery.

(Ah, I figured it was about time.)

Even without lifting the lid, I knew.

Poison. Poisoned cuisine.

I had expected this — once the head maid learned that my health was improving thanks to my detox diet, she’d surely try again. So, I wasn’t surprised. If anything, I was morbidly curious.

What kind of poison would it be this time?

“It seems your appetite has returned, Lady Olivia. How wonderful. If you’re feeling better, perhaps you should increase your food portions.”
“…Yes, perhaps I’ll do that gradually.”
“Preparing separate meals for you is quite the burden. I’ll inform the head chef to make your meals the same as everyone else’s — shall I?”

In other words: Don’t make any special requests.

I’d have to ask the chef privately, but if the head maid found out, it could cause trouble for him and the kitchen staff — something I wanted to avoid.

“How impertinent of you to speak that way.”

A calm voice came from the doorway.

Startled, I looked up — behind Ann stood an older man with graying hair and a neatly trimmed mustache.

Wearing a black coat and gray trousers, he was the head butler of the marquis household — the highest-ranking servant, even above the head maid.

One glance at her face told me she was in deep trouble.

“M–Mr. Butler, why are you here in the annex?”
“I came to deliver a message to Lady Olivia… but may I ask what’s going on here?”
“You misunderstand! I was merely offering the young lady some advice about her meals—”
“I heard everything.”

The butler glanced down at the serving cart and said politely:

“Pardon me.”

He lifted the cloche.

Beep-beep-beep.

A series of warning tones only I could hear — a bright red alert window flashed before my eyes.

Lunch today consisted of: oatmeal soup with cabbage and tomato, herb-sautéed beans, and a fruit-and-cheese salad — a colorful, detox-and-beauty-focused meal.

Of course, every bit of it was poisoned.

(Let’s see… ‘Jaconis Scales Powder (Poison Lv.1)’. A different poison from last time, but Level 1 should be safe enough to eat… right?)

I swallowed the drool that threatened to spill as I remembered how delicious the last poisoned meal had been.

“Hmm…”

The butler looked at me, his intelligent gaze sharp. I straightened reflexively.

“Lady Olivia, may I see your hand for a moment?”
“My hand…?”
“Excuse me.”

He took my hand respectfully, gloved fingers brushing my wrist.

A faint frown crossed his face at how thin and frail my arm was.

“Are you feeling unwell? Any pain, nausea, dizziness?”

I stayed silent, unsure of his true intentions.

Why had he come here now? How much did he know?

Ann looked anxious — if it were revealed that she’d served poisoned food, she could be in danger.

As I hesitated, his expression darkened.

“I’d heard you’d been bedridden often, but… I hadn’t realized the extent.”

He urged me to sit on the bed, then turned a glare on the head maid.

“Head Maid. How could you allow Lady Olivia to deteriorate like this?”
“I—I merely provided her a quiet place to rest in the annex—”
“Without consulting a doctor, without monitoring her nutrition — and you call that ‘rest’? You’ve done nothing but confine her here.”
“Confinement!? That’s ridiculous!”

Her indignant tone almost impressed me — perhaps she’d been an actress in a previous life.

“Indeed, utterly ridiculous. That someone like you was ever entrusted as head maid of this house shames me. If not for the servants who spoke to me about Lady Olivia, it might have been too late.”
“I don’t understand what you’re implying!”
“Then allow me to be clear. You are hereby dismissed.”

Not only the head maid, but even Ann and I froze.

“The madam will never approve of this! I’ve served her since before she married into this family—”
“You misunderstand. The authority to hire and dismiss servants rests with me.”
“B-but the madam is the mistress of this house!”
“True. But the head of House Irvine is the marquis. I act on his behalf. Do you understand what that means?”

The head maid’s knees gave out.

No matter how much her position relied on my stepmother, she couldn’t defy the marquis himself. My stepmother would likely abandon her rather than risk angering her husband.

The butler turned from her to Ann — and I quickly tugged his sleeve.

“Mr. Butler, that won’t be necessary.”
“Lady Olivia… but—”
“I don’t want this to become a bigger issue. Just make sure she stays away from me — that’s all I ask.”

If things escalated, Ann could be implicated — my only ally right now.

Our relationship was transactional at best, but she was still all I had.

The butler looked dissatisfied but relented when I insisted.

The head maid was stripped of her title and sent back to my stepmother’s service, forbidden from approaching the annex on pain of punishment. She left, face twisted with rage.

Once she was gone, the butler smiled kindly, his tone softening.

“We have wronged you, my lady. Out of deference to the madam, we allowed this cruelty to continue. I beg your forgiveness.”
“It’s fine. I’m alive and well now, that’s what matters.”
“Is there anything you desire, my lady? It cannot make up for what’s happened, but please allow me to provide whatever you wish.”

He looked so remorseful that I decided to seize the opportunity.