11. When It Comes to Being Underhanded, I’m Still Superior
“Does Your Highness think I’m the type of person who would add strange things to tea?”
Hearing Celisia’s words, Mu’en froze for a moment, then immediately acted as if he’d received a heavy blow. His expression turned dejected, just short of pounding his chest, stamping his feet, and wailing to the heavens. Next, it would start snowing in June to witness this grave injustice.
“Since Your Highness distrusts me so much, I can only prove myself through action!
I’ll drink first!”
Mu’en grabbed his own cup of tea, preparing to down it in one go.
“Wait.”
Celisia suddenly called out to stop Mu’en.
“Young Master Mu’en, there’s no need to be so upset. I was only making a small joke.”
“A joke…”
That face of yours, which hasn’t changed expression from start to finish, doesn’t look like it’s joking at all!
“As Young Master Mu’en’s fiancée, I naturally trust you completely.”
Celisia’s lips curved into a slight arc—for her, this seemed to count as a smile.
“I was just teasing you. Please don’t take it seriously.”
“Is that so?”
Mu’en put down his cup, discreetly letting out a sigh of relief.
“In the future, please refrain from making jokes that might damage the trust between us.”
“Of course. I’ve already recognized my mistake.”
Celisia still didn’t drink her tea.
She lowered her head, fiddling with the teacup, seemingly gazing at her own eyes through the deeply red tea.
“Actually, I had a reason for making such a joke.”
“Oh?”
“Young Master Mu’en should know that I’m actually a few months younger than you.”
“…Of course I know that.”
Know it? Hell no.
I was scared out of my wits!
The student council president of Saint Marika Academy, who was two full grades above Mu’en, was actually younger than him in real age?
The original novel never mentioned this!
Wait?
So, the Celisia before him, although outwardly his senior at school, was secretly his junior? Given that there must be some blood relation between the royal family and nobility, calling her little sister wouldn’t be too much of a stretch.
Could this be another extension of that legendary combination—both cute and dominant?
This isn’t good.
Just thinking about the scene of the normally cold and aloof senior Celisia privately addressing him as “elder brother” made Mu’en feel very uneasy.
That gap in character completely hits the bullseye!
“After all, I’m a genius who skipped two grades, so such a situation isn’t surprising.”
“But because of this, I often feel tired, because everyone around me isn’t my age, yet I must become as mature as them, or even more mature.”
“So someone like me, when in private, when in an environment that makes me feel at ease, tends to show some childishness.”
“Childishness?” Mu’en was stunned. He really hadn’t expected the word “childishness” to come from Celisia’s mouth.
“Yes, just like earlier.”
Celisia’s silver eyelashes fluttered as she asked softly:
“Young Master Mu’en wouldn’t be angry, would you?”
“Of course not.”
Mu’en couldn’t help but smile, answering without thinking:
“If it’s Your Highness, I can accept any childishness. In fact, this side of Your Highness makes you more approachable.”
“Really? That’s wonderful.”
Celisia suddenly looked up.
“As it happens, I have another extremely childish request that I need Young Master Mu’en to fulfill.”
“Eh?”
“Young Master Mu’en, your tea looks more delicious. So… could we switch?”
“Huh?”
Mu’en’s smile instantly froze.
He looked at Celisia, feeling his hands and feet turn cold.
Her eyes still held that distant coldness, but through that frozen surface, Mu’en seemed to see a hint of cunning… and mockery hidden deep within.
Damn it, in a moment of carelessness, this woman had outmaneuvered him!
All that talk about childishness was a lie—she really suspected something was wrong with her tea!
But she probably hadn’t expected him to be bold enough to directly drug her, otherwise he would be facing icy frost rather than words.
“That’s… not appropriate.”
“Why not? Didn’t you say you could accept all my childishness? Or—”
Celisia tilted her head, asking word by word:
“What are you afraid of, Young. Master. Mu’en?”
“How… how could I be afraid? I haven’t done anything wrong, why would I be afraid?”
Mu’en tried hard to keep his smile from betraying him.
“Then why…”
“Because… I’ve already drunk from this cup!”
Mu’en gripped his teacup tightly and declared loudly:
“If Your Highness drinks from it, that would be… that would be an indirect kiss!”
“Oh, is that so?” Celisia remained unmoved and continued questioning.
“That’s right, that’s how it is.”
Mu’en stared at Celisia, eyes slightly widened.
How about that, Princess?
As the cold goddess, the ice princess—can you resist the invincible words “indirect kiss”?
You’ll probably blush from embarrassment just hearing these words.
“That’s fine, I don’t mind.”
But Celisia showed not a hint of embarrassment.
“After all, I am your fiancée. I can accept this much.”
As if truly accepting her identity as his fiancée, Celisia proactively placed her delicate hand over Mu’en’s larger one.
But Mu’en felt no delight, only an icy chill as if he’d fallen into a freezing cellar.
Because Celisia was prying his fingers open one by one, taking the teacup from his hands.
At this point, there was nothing he could do. He could only watch quietly, silently, despairingly.
Like watching a countdown to death.
“Come to think of it, I was quite looking forward to tasting tea made by Young Master Mu’en.”
Celisia didn’t show any expression that could be described as anticipation, but she did indeed bring what was originally Mu’en’s cup to her lips.
Then, looking at Mu’en, she asked puzzledly:
“Aren’t you going to drink, Young Master Mu’en?”
“Drink, I’ll drink.”
Mu’en stretched his lips into a smile as rigid as a corpse’s.
He also picked up the teacup and slowly brought the tea that was originally Celisia’s to his lips.
He did this very slowly, as if wanting to make the process as enduring as a diamond, but under Celisia’s gaze, even the slowest process must come to an end.
Mu’en closed his eyes resignedly, tilted his head back, and poured the tea into his mouth.
Watching this, Celisia narrowed her eyes slightly.
She looked at the tea in her cup again, then glanced outside.
Glasses clinked and music played just a wall away from this room, where the grand ball was taking place, with most of Berland’s nobles in attendance.
Even the Duke’s son wouldn’t dare do something foolish at such a time, right?
Finally, Celisia took a small sip of the red tea.
Hmm?
Why does the tea taste strange?
Celisia frowned and looked down at the cup.
The tea rippled in the cup, as red as blood.
Could it be…
Celisia suddenly looked up.
Mu’en hadn’t spoken since earlier.
And now, he was smiling.
It was the kind of smile where the corners of his mouth were stretched almost to his ears, yet his mouth remained tightly closed—quite eerie.
“You!”
For the first time, Celisia’s eyes showed panic.
But it was too late. She felt her body starting to go limp.
As for Mu’en, he finally opened his mouth.
With a “wa” sound.
He spat out all the tea.