Plan vs Trap (3)

Ch 60: Plan vs Trap (3)

Kali gracefully put her drink down.

"Lady Penelope, is your father, the Viscount, home?"

"Yes, He is. Why?"

"I am just wondering if I could meet the Viscount before I went back. Holwaldy Household is famous for producing top quality doctors and especially the current head is known as Genius among the Holwaldys in medicine field and he is also one of the imperial doctors."

Lady Penelope blushed at sudden compliments to her family and father. She straightens her back and proudly answers.

"Oh. I wonder if he is done with his meeting." Penelope instructed one of the maids to check her father's schedule.

"Maybe you can stay for dinner to meet your father."

"Yes yes, stay for dinner, Lady Kaleena, please don't go back yet. Stay in the capital for a very looooong time." Grizelda said and other ladies agreed in unison.

'It's not like you can meet them even if I stay for dinner or even a day. We live in the same house but I barely see them.' Kali awkwardly smiled.

She had not seen even their shadow because they are always out ever since the debutante ball.

"I'll send an invite for the south's festival. You can stay at the-- our residence."

The ladies smiled brightly and started conversing among themselves happily. Kali accepted her failure in charming the ladies, their excitement is because of her adopted family.

'How come it was easier in books?' She thought. In the books she read, Women fall for sweet words, compliments and kind gestures.

The maid returned and approached Penelope and said something.

"What should we do Lady Kaleena, it seems that Father's meeting is running late." She sounds genuinely apologetic.

"I guess our fathers are discussing many boring things." Jacqueline added.

'Their fathers?'

"Lady Grizelda, is your father included in the meeting?"

"How did you know?"

"Just a guess. Indeed the three of them have many things to discuss."

"Oh, wait, I saw a carriage earlier with Delacorte Crest. Maybe Lord Delacorte is also there with Father."

"Ah." Kali smiled at the information.

"Lady Kaleena, Is Sir Theodeous already a special someone if there is no one yet . . ." Lady Grizelda shyly asked.

*snap*

"What about Sir Giovanni?"

*snap*

It was her veins popping while maintaining her strained smile.

"My ladies, I'm afraid I have to go. It's getting late." Kali chut Grizelda's momentum of confession.

'I can't do this anymore.'

She had enough. Dealing with squeaks and giggles for more than 3hours is much more exhausting than her daily run.

The young ladies agreed that it was getting late for an afternoon tea so Penelope decided to end it. Kali was getting ready to leave when the head butler of the Holwaldy household stopped their tracks and extended the dinner invitation of Viscount Holwaldy. Penelope overjoyed and led Kali to the drawing room while they waited.

Dinner time arrived, not only the Viscount Holwaldy was present but also Count Dela Corte.

"Young Lady, Is the dish to your liking?" Viscount Holwaldy asked.

"Yes, very much so."

Kali smiled as she put a piece of meat in her mouth.

'What do they really want from you, Kaleena?' Kali thought as she glanced at the Lord's dining together with her.

"My son has been visiting Lady Kaleena these past days. I hope he is disturbing you a lot."

"Not at all Count."

"Hohoho. why don't you have dinner with us next time?"

"It would be an honor but I have to go back to the South soon."

"Lady Kaleena, do you really have to go so soon?" Lady Penelope sounded really sad when she asked.

"It seems that my daughter is fond of you." The viscount pushed back his round glasses. His monotone voice sounded displeasure to Kali.

"It seems so, Lady Penelope, I will send an invitation to the South's Festival. I hope the Viscount will allow you to stay. . . with me." Kali looked at the strained face of the Viscount.

'Heh! I knew it.'

"We will see, Lady Kaleena."

Kali slightly nodded and picked up her drink. She twitches slightly her eyebrow when she notices the Count and Viscount are watching her.

She put the drink in her mouth and took a sip.

*Ting *Ting

[Unknown 'Toxins' detected]

[Activating Skill: Tolerance]

[5. . .4. . . 3. . .2. . .1]

~ Unknown 'Toxins' are not harmful

[Cancelling Skill Activation]

'What the . . .' Kali frowned at the notification. She was only brought back by the stares directed to her.

"Lady Kaleena, Are you okay?" Penelope asked.

"Yes, Lady Penelope."

Kali takes a sip again and the same notification pops out. She then put down her drink slowly.

"Viscount, can I ask a favor?"

"Ah. . . oh yes? What is it?" The viscount unconsciously watches Kali putting her drink.

Kali almost raised an eyebrow at the Viscount's bad body language.

"I am also very fond of Lady Penelope, will it be alright to spend a night here? "

"OH! What a wonderful idea! Please father, Let Lady Kaleena stay here for the night."

". . ." Viscount is staring at Kali.

'Are you waiting for the effect? What the fuck did you make me drink?' She smiles while cursing inside.

Kali had no idea what it was. This is the first time the system popped out like that. She ingested toxins but not harmful enough to activate her skill tolerance.

"Father?"

"Oh? What is it again?"

"Can Lady Kaleena stay for tonight?"

The Viscount looked at the Count Delacorte and the count only raised his wine. The Viscount returns to face the ladies.

"Ofcourse, you are welcome to stay, young lady."

"Thank you Viscount, I will have to inform my family."

*throb *throb

Kali felt something heavy start pulling her eyelids down.

"I will send someone to--"

"Vico!" Kali's voice came out strong as she gripped her fist under the table. She didn't even notice that she cut the Viscount's sentence.

Vico stepped forward and adjusted his height to Kali's level.

"Send the carriage back and tell my family I will be spending a night in Holwaldy's residence." Kali glances at her drink and Vico looks at it too.

"Yes young master."

"Tell them to pick me up soon."

Everyone at the dining table was looking at her. The Lords were frowning at Kali's attitude.

'She acts high and mighty like that damn Konrad.' Count Delacorte's thoughts reflected in her expression.

"Lady Kaleena, why did he address you as Young Master?" Penelope confusingly asked, breaking the sour atmosphere in the dining room. The Lords cleared their throats before returning to their usual respected and noble look.

"That's how I wish to be addressed."

"Oh I see. By the way, Young lady Kaleena, How are you adjusting with everything?"

"I am good. . . Lord Delacorte. "

"Don't push yourself too much." The Count tightened his grip on his knife and fork as he forced himself to smile.

"Yes, Count. Thank you for your concern." Kali ended the conversation, she could feel the drowsiness creeping in.

'Dammit Dammit! I fell into their trap.' Kali is panicking inside. The only thing that keeps her eyes from closing in is her tightly closed fist. Her nails are digging to her skin. The pain is forcing her to stay awake.

"Are you okay? Young Lady?" The Viscount asked when Kali looked at him, her vision was already blurry.

'Hold it in. Hold it in'

Kali is concentrating so much to stay awake that she misses seeing Vico entering the dining room.

"Young Master, I've already sent a word. " Vico's voice made Kali relax a little.

'Ah.' Her vision spun around. She put her hand in her throbbing head. The voices seem to be getting farther and farther away. Her vision dimmed and she fell down from her seat. Before she hit the floor, Vico caught her in his arms.

She opened her mouth before surrendering to her fate of falling unconscious.

"kyaaa! Lady Kaleena! " Penelope suddenly stood up and ran to her side. Same goes for the Count and Viscount.

"Do not get close." He said it in a small controlled voice.

"Please make way." The Viscount steps in and kneels in front of Kali and Vico. He was about to reach for Kali's wrist when Vico hugged Kali's body away from the Viscount's touch.

Vico glared at them while cradling Kali's body.

"Do not get close!"

"Sir knight, I am a doctor, please let me check on the young lady." Viscount Holwaldy slowly approaches again as if he ignores the threatening tone of Vico.

"DO.NOT.GET.CLOSE" Vico grabs the hilt of his sword while pushing Kali's head back to his chest.

"...?!" The Viscount froze up.

". . . but, Sir Knight, what about Lady Kaleena? What if something happens to her?" Penelope was scared but still managed to voice her concern.

". . ."

The Viscount can order his knights to subdue the impudent knight but this is Count Alexanders' knight. One wrong move and this might end badly for him.

"The young lady suddenly fell down. Please Sir Knight let the doctor take a look." Count Delacorte said hastily.

Even the Count did not dare to cross the Alexanders because both the Count and Viscount witnessed how the Alexanders ended an entire noble line and got away with it.

"Do not let them get close." Kali mumbled before losing consciousness.

"Do not get close." He said it calmly this time but his eyes and stance were far from approachable.