Chapter 17

Charlotte was furious, but let Maki be.

When she thought of Navia who got happy when she heard about the apple juice, she couldn’t bring out the words to refuse.

“…thank you.”

Charlotte thanked them with a gentle attitude.

“Did you say that you have a lot to pack for Lady Vivian? I’ll help you.”

Maki’s mean smile deepened from the servility.

“You don’t have to.”

Maki said that, but did not dissuade Charlotte from helping.

Charlotte quickly brought trays and plates, helping them work easily. Then when Charlotte tried to move the glass of juice, Maki took it.

“I’ll do this.”

She was just going to move the glass since it didn’t matter if Charlotte did it but Maki felt like she was going to be caught, so she asked Laura to carry the juice herself.

Laura poked her lips out when she picked up the tray of the four cups.

“My arms are going to fall off.”

“What’s so heavy about holding those for just a moment?”

Because Maki made a big deal about the apple juice and fit all the juice, which could have filled ten cups, in five large cups, it was quite heavy.

Laura mumbled discontentedly.

“…it’s really heavy though.”

At that time, Maki pretended to be busy when Charlotte looked at them with a strange look.

Charlotte cut the bread with a knife for Navia and Vivian and then took out the butter.

When Charlotte resumed preparing the meals normally, Maki relaxed and moved slowly.

‘Even if we prepare food right now, the Lady won’t wake up so we don’t need to take any.’

So she was going to pretend to work moderately. When Charlotte showed signs on leaving with a tray soon, Maki, who was mixing a salad, greeted her with a big smile.

“Let’s help each other like this often, Charlotte.”

Charlotte nodded with reluctance.

“Okay.”

Soon, after Charlotte left the kitchen, Vivian’s maids burst into laughter.

“You’ll get in trouble if Master catches you drinking juice, so even if you get sick, you won’t be able to talk, right? Ha, serves you right.”

While Laura was cackling, Anne chuckled looking at the door in sympathy.

“The cook still hasn’t looked for the doctor. The medicine we put in must be really effective.”

To avoid being caught for putting medicine in Charlotte’s apple juice, Maki fed the chef stomach pills.

Laura stuck her tongue out, letting Maki float.

“As expected of Maki, you’re scary. You were born for these things.”

Maki shrugged her shoulders.

“This much is nothing.”

They gave a toast with their own apple juices.

“Mm, it’s sweet. It’s such a waste that you gave that fake some. It would’ve been better to mix it in the soup.”

Maki shook her head.

“No, Charlotte’s quick-witted. We would’ve been caught if we did that.”

“Tch.”

They took care of Vivian’s meal as the servants, who had been idle and sent out to rest because of the chef’s absence, began to return.

Maki spoke as soon as she left the kitchen.

“It’s about time the medicine started working.”

“Already? We must have been moving too slowly. Let’s go quickly.”

“Yes. We can’t afford to miss the good scenery…”

Laura suddenly stopped talking to Anne mid-sentence. Her complexion turned white in an instant.

“What’s wrong?”

When Maki asked curiously, Laura hunched over without answering.

Crash!

The tray she was holding fell and all the food spilled on the floor.

Of course, the apple juice for Vivian also spilled.

“Kyak! What are you doing, Laura? Lady Vivian fell asleep looking forward to the apple juice so much today!”

“Eu…”

Laura was shaking and curled up, hugging her stomach.

Maki looked flustered and was at a loss for words, but slowly became alarmed by Laura’s behavior.

“What’s wrong with you!”

“My, my stomach…”

Laura left in a hurry as if she couldn’t stand it.

“Laura!”

Anne shouted out to Laura, but there was no answer.

“Maki, what do we do! What do we tell the Lady? We should have left our share of the drink!”

Maki’s expression changed suddenly.

“No way.”

She muttered in disbelief and asked Anne urgently, “Anne, did Charlotte approach Laura earlier?”

“Charlotte? No. She didn’t even talk to Laura.”

However, Laura’s reaction made it clear that she drank the juice mixed with pills.

Maki stared at the food spread on the floor furiously and ran wildly.

“Just when the hell did she change it? Charlotte, you f*cking thief!”

***

Knock knock.

“Miss, please eat.”

When Charlotte arrived at the Emerald room, she shook the sleeping Navia gently.

“Yeah…”

Navia blinked with a look of sleepiness.

Charlotte took the bowl of soup and gave a spoonful to Navia.

“Eat the soup, take the remaining medicine and then rest.”

Navia quietly ate the soup as Charlotte said to.

Maybe it was because she hadn’t fully waken up yet, but these services still felt like a dream.

When Navia emptied half the bowl of soup, she didn’t want to eat anymore. Then Charlotte took the bowl and held out the apple juice instead.

“Apple juice, Miss.”

Navia woke up when she said apple juice.

‘You really brought it.’

Navia clasped the cup with a puzzled look.

There was a golden liquid in the cup. Her mouth seemed to be sweet already from the smell without having to drink it.

“Thank you.”

“This is nothing. Please enjoy it now.”

Navia brought the cup to her lips carefully.

‘It’s my first time drinking apple juice.’

Though rare, she had baked apples a few times, but it was her first time trying apple juice. Navia swallowed a sip.

‘Wow…’

How could it be so sweet?

Navia blinked several times as if her tongue was melting.

“How is it?”

When Charlotte asked with an anticipated look, Navia answered with a slightly choked voice.

“…it’s delicious.”

So this is what apple juice tastes like.

The deep taste of the apple juice made her feel drowsy as the sweet taste spread through her mouth.

Navia took another sip and gave the glass to Charlotte.

“Let’s drink it together.”

Charlotte looked embarrassed because she didn’t know Navia would offer her the juice. Then, she carefully took the glass with a moved look.

“Thank you, Miss.”

For Charlotte, the juice was a little expensive, but not precious.

However, she knew how precious the juice was for Navia. She couldn’t believe she was willing to share it.

‘I’m glad I brought the juice.’

Charlotte pretended to drink it so she wouldn’t reduce the amount that Navia could drink.

Navia endured the sleepiness and drank the juice slowly.

There was no class, and she drank sweet juice.

‘It’s like a birthday.’

Navia was savoring the juice when she suddenly realized the cup was quite strange.

‘I don’t think this is for juice.’

The cup was so heavy that Navia had to use both hands to lift it.

“It must have been heavy to bring everything by yourself, Charlotte.”

Charlotte shook her head, recalling the situation earlier.

“This cup is the work of Lady Vivian’s dedicated maids. I wasn’t going to use this cup because I thought it might be heavy for Lady Navia… but I think they did something to the juice, so I traded it for theirs.”

Charlotte suddenly wondered who drank the juice she switched in.

It would be nice if Maki had drank it.

‘How can I not know the juice is weird if you’re acting that suspicious, I’m not an idiot.’

Charlotte was convinced that Maki, with her personality, would have mixed something to upset the stomach into the juice.

Laura also had neither patience nor strength because she’s small.

But what would happen if you made that Laura hold such heavy things and work like a snail?

‘Of course she’ll put the tray down and rest her stiff arms and shoulders.’

Charlotte purposely took a long time to prepare the food and circled around the kitchen.

Thankfully, they used the same cup, so it was easier to change the juice.

“So that was what happened.”

Navia figured out the situation in her head without haring any other explanation.

Such a childish and low prank was what Maki enjoyed doing.

“Then someone drank juice that was tampered with.”

“Someone must have.”

Navia got out of bed and poured her own medicine into the cup.

Then the color of the golden juice changed strangely.