[Chapter 202] Natasha vs. Megara

Natasha was satisfied.

The luxurious decorations of the grand hall. The leaders of the noble families. The lower nobles who dressed up as if this was a once-in-a-lifetime event.

They were all soon to be under her.

"What a beautiful night, Your Highness."

The atmosphere between Natasha and Abelus, which had been quite sharp lately, was remarkably gentle tonight. Abelus nodded solemnly at her playful voice.

"It's fine."

It was not just fine. It was exquisite.

Among them, Abelus, who had been escorting Natasha politely since earlier, was particularly exquisite. Natasha looked affectionately at the man who would soon be her fiancé. She had to show this attitude to Megara now.

Although Megara would soon become a presence not worth bothering about.

The official escort in such a place was nothing short of a declaration that the engagement would soon take place. So today, Natasha was in the midst of being proclaimed as the future Princess.

If she became the Princess soon? Of course, she would soon become the Empress.

Deciding to 'feed' Megara 'poison' in such a significant setting was Natasha's own sense of humor. Isn't it amusing? Showing the difference between them to the audacious one who dared to crawl up to the lowly mixed-blood subject, she could thoroughly bring them down today.

Among the palace attendants, it was easier than expected to insert someone from the Grunehalts family. Natasha suspected that Kamil might even know about Megara's background. Normally, anyone from the royal family would have prevented an unfamiliar attendant from being inserted into such a formal setting.

"It will be easier once I become the Princess."

When that day comes, everything that bothers me will have to be cleared away. Natasha was delighted.

"Oh, you there. Come here."

A passing attendant carrying a drink tray was just passing by. Natasha arrogantly called him over.

Even Natasha's opinion was taken into account when choosing the drinks to be served at the party that day. The remaining nine drinks on the tray swirled in glasses of different shapes.

Natasha selected apple juice that she liked and cream wine that Abelus liked. There were several types of wine, but there was only one glass of apple juice left, which she preferred as grapes tended to make her feel unwell.

"Cheers, Your Highness."

"Indeed, Taisi."

Abelus accepted the glass smoothly. The two clinked their ornate glasses once, made a sound, and each took a sip of their drinks.

Although they took several sips in high spirits after the toast, Natasha soon realized that the drink she had was not apple juice. It looked similar in color and was supposed to be served in a flute glass intended for apple juice, but it turned out to be lemon juice.

Frowning, she remarked, "Your Highness, we need to be careful with the attendants. They are serving drinks in the wrong glasses."

"Is that so? Understood. I will address it."

"If these incorrect glasses continue circulating during the party, it will be a problem. It will lower the standard of the party. I will call the palace steward now."

Natasha could not tolerate any mistakes at her future husband's engagement party. Following her strong insistence, the palace steward in charge of overseeing the palace attendants was summoned.

After scolding him for a while, Natasha, feeling thirsty, finished the lemon juice she held in her hand. She had intended to ask Abelus to dance, but suddenly felt unwell.

It was strange. She felt slightly dizzy and unwell. Could she have caught a cold during this period of drastic temperature changes?

It was unbelievable to suddenly feel unwell on such a good day. As Natasha's condition continued to deteriorate, she decided to go to the lounge with her maid. She wanted to relax, loosen her ornate and grand dress, and lie comfortably on the chaise longue.

"Oh, Miss."

Natasha's maid, who had come with her, suddenly looked surprised. Natasha asked with a puzzled expression.

"Why?"

"Oh, Miss! There's blood on your dress...!"

"What?"

It was not close to her menstrual cycle date. Looking down, she noticed that her dress was slightly damp. And there was pain... As she realized it, a slight headache and back pain rushed over her like a flood.

It was very uncomfortable. Had the date been moved up because she was too focused on Megara? In any case, it was not helpful in her life. Natasha mumbled like that and then fell silent.

While others may not know, she was well aware. She knew the effects of the ancestral poison passed down in her family.

Originally, it wasn't poison. It was a refined herb chewed by the Grunehalts Duchess's women when they decided not to continue an unwanted pregnancy or for health reasons. Since some ancestor thought it could be used to arbitrarily terminate someone else's pregnancy, it had become poisonous.

The ancestors of the Grunehalts family added a few ingredients to enhance the effects of this refined medicine. The resulting substance was a slightly yellowish, potent liquid.

One drop caused hemorrhaging, two drops induced miscarriage, and three drops rendered one unable to conceive again.

While there were many substances in the world that harmed pregnant women, what made the Grunehalts family's poison unique was its ability to achieve the desired effect precisely while having minimal impact on other aspects of health. If there were any side effects, a light hemorrhage or a change in the menstrual cycle was common.

That lemon juice...! Natasha's face turned pale.

When Natasha gave the poison to the attendant to serve to Megara, she did not specify the exact type of drink. However, there were not many beverages that could pass for the yellow liquid.

"...This will kill...!"

Natasha gritted her teeth. She abruptly turned to her maid and ordered frantically.

"Doctor! Fetch a doctor! Someone who can perform an emergency treatment, quickly!"

❖ ❖ ❖

When will the effects of the medicine appear?

As Megara conversed with noblewomen she knew well, she pondered inwardly. After all...

"It's not our family's item, so what do I care."

Since it might be an item that required multiple ingestions for the effects to show, she too had to be cautious with her food for a while. What if it was all a misunderstanding, and Natasha never sent poison to Megara?

"Well, that's good. Nothing should happen just from drinking lemon juice instead of apple juice."

Having known each other since childhood, Megara was well aware that Natasha could not consume drinks containing grapes. So, she had prepared a simple prank.

"Understood. It can't be helped. Go and attend to your duties. Well done."

Not many nobles would even thank a servant who failed in their task. The attendant was inwardly touched. Indeed, Lord Ricardo's attendant, Yeong-ae, was as good-natured as an angel. Such a person was truly noble.

However, just before the attendant left, a storm hit like a disaster.

"Move aside! Clear the way!"

The sharp voice of Natasha Grunehalts drew closer. People who were peacefully chatting furrowed their brows and fell silent.

The social circle did not favor Natasha. She was rude and impatient. Of course, some elders viewed such traits as noble and admirable.

Pushing through the crowd haphazardly, Natasha approached Megara, her face contorted in a terrifying manner. She looked at the attendant standing helplessly in front of Megara. Then, with a horribly distorted face, she shouted at Megara.

"What are you doing! Are you insane!"

The onlookers gasped as they saw Natasha's dress. "Blood...," someone murmured. Whether by the location of the stain or its size, Natasha simply appeared to be walking around the party as if she had leaked menstrual blood.

But could that be true? For the strong-willed lady? Wouldn't her maid be keeping a close eye to see if anything stained her expensive dress?

"That's my line, Natasha."

Megara furrowed her brow and spoke elegantly. Despite her calm expression, her heart was filled with joy.

Seeing her so lively, and witnessing that scene, it seemed the poison took effect immediately after ingestion. If that was the case, could it get any better than this?

"Your Highness, your behavior at this party is uncivilized. How embarrassing for the others present here? And what did I do? I was just chatting with friends here."

Even to onlookers, Megara's words rang true. If Natasha didn't have the same standing as she did now, everyone would have agreed with Megara and spoken up.

Upon hearing such words in her current humiliated state, Natasha was so infuriated that she felt a headache coming on. She was so angry that she couldn't even speak properly.

"This, this...!"

Beneath Megara's kind and polite demeanor, she looked down on Natasha with disdain. Hmph, how foolish. What was she going to say in front of everyone?

Did she send the poison for me to drink?

Did she turn my body into one that can never bear a child?

Natasha couldn't say a word. Not only about marrying Abelus, but also about forming any alliance with any prestigious family. In a few days, enough suspicion about Natasha's health would spread, no matter how hard she tried to keep it a secret.

Well, it was pitiful. Megara thought to herself with a smirk. But Natasha's life wasn't over, was it?

Whether she could bear a child or not, Natasha was the esteemed Duchess Yeong-ae, and her brother Yustas held her like the sky. Unlike the other women who had been poisoned by her so far, those women were from impoverished families, and when approaching Abelus, they were somewhat pushed by circumstances. How would those women live now?

So, Megara had truly done a good thing according to her own thoughts. Preventing the birth of a mad Empress who would shake the fate of her people at will. If that was the price, she could take a slap or two. It didn't matter if she was tormented from behind. Megara knew her popularity in society, and if she could secure the vacant seat next to Abelus, then Natasha would truly be nothing.

As expected, Natasha raised her hand with a flushed face. And with all her might, she struck Megara's face.

Slap. The sharp sound echoed in the now silent space. While receiving the blow, Megara couldn't help but smirk inwardly. In a new voice, Natasha shouted at Megara.

"You wretch! A woman with a dirty birth who can't even attend your parents' funeral dares to disrespect me!"