Chapter 50 A Cup of Kindness
Days passed by in the blink of an eye.
And with them, Amaria was given enough time to refine her plans.
She had learned through careful trial—the smallest variations, the slightest excess, the consequences of impatience.
Much like her previous experiment, only this time more meticulous—leaving no loophole that could come back to haunt her.
The birds around the palace annex had been useful.
They were easy to observe.
Easy to dispose of.
And the very subject of her initial trial when she was still under the Baron's care.
Hidden beneath the soil of the annex garden, their small bodies rested where no one would think to look. No one ever paid attention to what lay beneath beauty.
It's time.
Amaria smiled faintly at the thought.
Perfection required patience.
And now—
she had it. It was now time for her to pay a visit to the Schuan duchy.
---
When Amaria arrived at the ducal household, she was escorted to the guest room without delay.
Everything was prepared.
She took her seat, folding her hands neatly on her lap, her posture as composed as ever.
She did not wait long.
The door opened.
Amaria lifted her gaze.
And there she was.
Esmeralda stepped inside, her presence calm, composed—yet there was a sharpness in her eyes that did not go unnoticed.
"My apologies for keeping you waiting," Esmeralda said, her tone polite. "I needed a moment to prepare myself."
Amaria smiled gently.
"It is no problem at all. I did not mind waiting."
A brief pause.
Then—
"Leave us," Esmeralda said to the maids.
They hesitated for only a moment before bowing and exiting the room.
The door shut behind them.
Silence followed.
Esmeralda took her seat across from Amaria.
"...Let's not waste time," she said plainly. "Why did you really come here?"
No pleasantries.
No pretense.
Just direct to the point.
Amaria lowered her gaze, her expression softening.
"...I came to apologize."
Esmeralda didn't respond.
"I behaved shamefully," Amaria continued, her voice quiet, almost fragile. "What I did at the balcony..."
Her fingers curled slightly.
"...was nothing more than a desperate attempt to gain His Highness' attention."
Silence lingered.
"I thought that if something happened to me... even for a moment... he might finally look at me."
She let out a small, self-deprecating breath.
"...How foolish of me."
Esmeralda watched her carefully.
"But I understand now," Amaria continued, lifting her gaze. "I understand that there was never any place for me."
A faint, wistful smile touched her lips.
"Because His Highness only ever looks at you, Lady Esmeralda."
Esmeralda's expression didn't change.
"...That's quite a conclusion to come to so easily."
Amaria shook her head.
"It wasn't easy," she said softly. "But it is the truth."
A pause.
"...So I came here to ask for your forgiveness."
The words settled between them.
Esmeralda leaned back slightly, her gaze sharpening.
"...And you expect me to believe that?"
Amaria didn't flinch.
"...No."
A small, almost knowing smile appeared.
"But I hoped... you might consider it."
That gave Esmeralda a pause.
Only for a moment.
Then—
"I brought something," she said gently. "A tea I received from Her Majesty, the Empress. I thought... it would be nice to share it with you."
Amaria rose from her seat and moved to the tea set nearby, beginning to brew the tea just beside them.
The soft sound of liquid pouring in the cup filled the silence.
The floral scent that followed was delicate.
She slid the cup toward Esmeralda.
"...Please."
Esmeralda's gaze lingered on the cup. Suspicious of the sudden offer for tea.
Then lifted her attention to Amaria.
"I see you have doubts," Amaria said with a soft smile. "Then... allow me."
She poured tea into her own cup and drank it in one smooth motion.
Without pause.
Without hesitation.
Setting the cup down, she looked at Esmeralda again—smiling as if to reassure her.
Esmeralda looked at the cup with distrust, inhaled the scent, then took a small sip.
Amaria watched closely.
The subtle movement of her throat.
The swallow.
She had drank the tea.
A flicker of satisfaction passed through Amaria's eyes—
gone before it could be noticed.
Beneath the table, her hand curled inward.
A thin line of red traced along her finger.
Fresh blood smeared on the hems of her sleeves. Small enough so no one would notice.
Then she looked up again.
And smiled innocently.
"I hope," Amaria said gently, "that we can get along from now on."
Esmeralda set the cup down.
Her gaze steady.
"...Of course," she replied.
Her tone polite.
But edged sharp enough to cut.
"I would like that as well."
The words lingered.
Yet beneath the calm, something inevitable was drawing closer.