“She knows,” Zuko chuckled.
I was curious what kind of poison she favored. I hoped it was at least a good one.
I took it, lifted it to my lips, and downed the entire thing in one go.
Ah.
Cyanide.
How quaint.
Several members of the family blinked.
Archibald’s brows shot up.
Antoinette actually paused mid-bite.
“Thank you,” I responded, passing the empty cup back to Delphine. I smiled at her, letting my eyes go soft and harmless.
“You’re welcome,” she replied with a smile. “I’m sure you’ve never tasted such exquisite tea before.”
Humphrey scoffed. “I don’t know why you’re allowing a servant to drink from our cups.”
“Oh, stop,” Antoinette said with a little laugh. “Delphine just has such a kind heart.”
Archibald snorted. “Yeah. It’s not like Octavia would ever do that.”
I pressed a hand to my stomach and let my face pinch. “Oh…I—I don’t feel so well…”
My knees buckled.
Dimitri blurred forward, catching me before I could hit the floor.
“I’m sorry,” I mumbled, leaning into him, inhaling his cinnamon and nutmeg scent. “I don’t know what’s wrong…”
Delphine gasped dramatically, hands flying to her mouth. “Oh my Fates! Octavia, why would you poison the teaagain?”
Octavia’s head snapped up, her big brown eyes going wide. “What?I—I didn’t—I couldn’t—no, wouldn’t…”
Antoinette shot to her feet, heels clicking sharply across the marble as she walked straight up to Octavia.
Without hesitating, she slapped her across the face.
The crack echoed through the room.
Octavia’s head snapped to the side. She cupped her stinging cheek, her eyes filling with tears. “I didn’t do it. I swear, I didn’t?—”
“Obviously, you did,” Antoinette snapped. “Who else would? You must have thought your sister would drink it. Thank Fates only a maid did!”
Cassie, Bradley, and Dimitri all looked at me with varying degrees of alarm.
I straightened in Dimitri’s arms, letting the fake weakness fall away. “No. I’m okay. It wasn’t the tea. I just felt lightheaded. I’m not used to so much labor, that’s all. I’m most definitely not poisoned.”
Delphine’s face dropped into a sudden, shocked expression.
Antoinette’s brows pulled together in confusion. “You mean you’re not poisoned?” She glanced between me and Octavia, shame staining her features.
“No, ma’am,” I repeated. “The tea was lovely. I am so sorry for my reaction.”
