Hiding My Identity From My Husband - Chapter 24

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 24

“I confess, I’ve never heard of the Cortney region before, so I’m afraid I don’t know what its specialties might be.”
It’s Cortney, not Cortge.
But I didn’t bother to correct her.
This was just how the nobility spoke—with veiled mockery.
“I doubt it’s prosperous enough to have vineyards. If it were, we would surely know of it, wouldn’t we?”
I forced a smile and nodded along.
“Do help yourself generously. When else will you have the chance to taste such fine wine?”
Cecile came to mind.
She’d said something nearly identical to me once.
“I hear you’re quite close with Lord Lu.”
Well, it’s more than just close—we’re betrothed.
“Lord Lu certainly does look after many people, doesn’t he? How very kind of him.”
Hah-hah-hah.
I’d made my judgment.
The Countess didn’t merely dislike me.
She despised me.
‘How delightful.’
But what could I do?
There was no point in trying to win over someone who hated me.
In fact, the harder I tried, the worse things might become.
‘And there’s no need to try, either.’
After all, wasn’t my purpose here to make people dislike me?
Still seated, I glanced around the table.
What would I need to do to be praised for causing proper chaos?
Overturning the table itself would be one option, but Lu would certainly grow suspicious.
‘She’d wonder, “Why does Charel always turn into an idiot whenever she goes to a social gathering?”‘
So I needed another approach……
Then something caught my eye.
The Countess’s wine glass, sitting right in front of her.
‘That’s it.’
I held my breath and let out a silent smirk.

* * *

Evelyn Florian had always been a selfish person.
She made no secret of it, happily calling herself selfish.
Selfishness, after all, meant better self-preservation, meant knowing how to act for one’s own benefit.
It was almost a mark of cleverness, really—so Evelyn had long ago accepted the label as apt.
For this reason, she’d always believed she couldn’t easily care for someone, that she would never give her heart unless it profited her.
Yes.
She was certain of it.
“My, this wine has quite a sharp tang to it, doesn’t it? Which region do you suppose the grapes are from?”
But why……
“Goodness, this cheese is delicious as well. The pairing is absolutely perfect.”
Why is Charel so impossibly adorable?
Her pink hair cascaded softly, flowing with natural grace.
The overall neat arrangement of her style captured her characteristic brightness and vivacity, while a single wisp of hair falling across her forehead lent her an impish charm.
When Charel widened her eyes with curiosity, she resembled a small creature perking up its ears.
Especially when she smiled that subtle, playful smile—it made her impossibly endearing.
‘She’s far too cute.’
It took all my restraint not to rush over and pull her into a tight embrace right then and there.
‘But I can’t do that.’
As a member of House Florian, I had my dignity. I couldn’t afford to show that I’d lost my heart to a country girl like Charel.
‘Besides, she’s Lord Lu’s betrothed.’
And who was Lu Vansen?
A newly risen noble who appeared suddenly one day, yet someone who has captured the hearts of all aristocrats through their unique brilliance and clever conduct.
I’ve seen more than once the nobles who took his advice and invested in ventures laugh about hitting the jackpot.
That’s why Father, Count Florian, had expressly ordered me to win him over.
‘Things could have gone well with Roux, but then Charel showed up.’
So I’m supposed to hate Charel.
Not to find her endearing, but to despise her!
And yet…….
“Wonderful! Now I finally understand the taste of wine! I’m so happy!”
……Did I really have to? Could I not simply embrace her, given how adorable she is?
Evelyn gripped the fork in her hand ever more tightly, struggling to suppress the tumult in her own heart.
“Oh, it’s all gone.”
Just then, Charel murmured to herself.
Since her glass was empty, she ought to wait for the sommelier to come and refill it.
But Charel did no such thing.
Instead of waiting, she reached for the wine glass sitting beside her.
The Countess’s wine glass, no less!
Oh, oh no?
The Countess already disliked Charel as it was—if she discovered that Charel had taken her glass……?
Charel would be thrown out of the party on the spot!
This can’t happen!
“Charel!”
Evelyn quickly raised her voice, but Charel was faster still.
Charel brought the Countess’s wine glass straight to her lips.
Oh no.
Evelyn hurriedly glanced around the room.
Fortunately, the Countess was not at her seat, and the others seemed too engrossed in their own chatter to notice Charel’s blunder.
Evelyn sprang to her feet and rushed toward Charel.
“Put that glass down, right now!”
Then she cried out urgently.
“That’s the Countess’s glass!”
Of course, Charel had done this knowingly.
She had calculated that when the Countess left her seat, drinking wine from her glass would provoke her anger and lead to Charel’s expulsion.
Since it could always be pleaded as a mere “accident,” there would be no cause for suspicion against Roux either.
And so she had drunk from the Countess’s wine……
“Charel?”
Ignoring Evelyn’s urging, Charel’s brow furrowed. She stared intently at the wine glass she was holding.
‘This is…….’
After swirling the wine briefly in her mouth, Charel turned the glass upside down and poured the remaining wine directly onto the floor.
“Eek!”
Startled by Charel’s reckless act, Evelyn shrieked, and in that same instant, every eye in the room turned toward Charel.
“What on earth are you doing……!”
Pouring wine onto the floor at a wine pairing?
“Is that glass not mine?”
And the wine from the Countess’s glass, at that?
Everyone stared at Charel in bewilderment, unable to believe what they were witnessing.
But Charel remained utterly unmoved.
She simply gazed down at the wine-soaked ground with an impassive look.
“Now listen here, Charel Cortney!”
The Countess approached Charel, her face flushed crimson with rage.
“I was willing to tolerate some lack of manners, but this is beyond the pale! How could you commit such an outrageous breach of decorum?”
She jabbed an accusing finger as she raised her voice.
“You dress yourself up to look like nobility, but your true nature cannot be hidden, can it? How is it that such a person even exists!”
Though the Countess raged, Charel kept her gaze fixed upon the ground.
“You will leave this party at once—”
“Countess.”
Then, abruptly, she lifted her head and met the Countess’s eyes.
Eyes shimmering with that enigmatic amethyst hue, as transparent as polished crystal, turned toward the Countess.
“Look at the floor.”
The floor……?
There was an ineffable pressure in Charel’s words and manner that brooked no refusal. And so the Countess found herself, almost involuntarily, looking downward.
And then she saw it.
“…What?”
Sizzle—
The ground where the wine had touched was melting away.
“This.”
Charel pointed at the wine glass still held in her hand.
“It’s poison.”
A moment of silence fell.
And then.
“Ahhhhh!”
A chilling scream filled the ballroom.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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