Lily had barely epted the ss of wine when Princess Harriet suddenly turned to her with a piercing gaze and said, "Our new esteemed guest should take the


    first sip."


    She then turned her back to scoop up a few small fish with a, feeding them to the golden koi in the aquarium.


    "My darlings are quite delicate," she mused, setting the aside and walking over to Lily. "You''ve been abroad quite a bittely, haven''t you, Lily? I''d like you to bring back some exotic fish for my aquarium. You know how I adore them." Then, with a challenging tone, she added, "Why hesitate to offer a ss to a stranger of nobility?"


    It was a clear test, gauging Lily''s loyalty-mentioning her recent travels abroad and attempting to hand me, the neer, a potentially poisoned drink.


    I tried to lighten the mood by reaching for the wine ss in Lily''s hand, but she hesitated, unwilling to pass it to me. I nodded at her, encouragingly.


    Still, she pulled away, saying, "Harriet, stop this nonsense. What right does she have to drink the royal wine? Just a wealthy noblewoman is nothing in the face of the royal family."


    As she was about to down the drink herself, I swiftly took the ss from her and poured its contents into the fish tank.


    If Princess Harriet was so concerned about her fish, I thought, let''s see how they fare with this poisoned wine.


    The moment I did, Princess Harriet''s maid fainted on the spot.


    Yet, Harriet remained eerily calm, her eyes, however, bore into me with venom.


    No matter how hard her stare, she managed a sinister smile and ordered the unconscious maid to be "taken out and minced for the poor."


    Once again, I was appalled by the ruthlessness of this kingdom.


    No wonder my parents chose to flee this dreadful ce, why Lily sought to stand against such power, and why everyone seemed to protect me from the royal family''s cruel indifference to life.


    Watching the koi belly-up in the tank, I knew the wine was potent enough to kill even when diluted.


    Princess Harriet, dabbing her eyes with a handkerchief, suddenly leaned on Lily''sp, crying over her fish, "Oh sister, how did my precious fish die?"


    Her theatrics could outshine those of Kate Goodwin from back in the day.


    "Did you poison my fish? Dear sister, how much money must this noblewoman spend today for me not to throw her out?"


    I wasn''t about to let her manipte me. "You know exactly how your fish died. Besides, I''m here to spend money, not my life."


    Lily gave me a look that screamed caution before telling Harriet, "I''lpensate you with a better fish some other time. This noblewoman is from another country, and we can''t afford international disputes. It wouldn''t bode well for you.


    Only then did Harriet stand up, pretending to wipe away tears before dering, "I''ll hold a funeral for it at the most luxurious hotel in Braventand. Everyone must attend, and expect a pigeon blood ruby as a condolence gift for each, about ten carats should suffice."


    She pointed at me, "You must attend our fish''s memorial service too."


    I couldn''t help but feel disgusted by the absurdity of the situation in such a bizarre country.


    Just then, Valery entered, "The royal auction is about to begin. I''vee to escort this noblewoman. The butterfly design she''s wearing is thest of its kind; all others have been destroyed, leaving hers uniquely intact."