I Don't Know the Original, I'm Too Busy Trying to Make a Living

Chapter 96

"Ah, so you were genuinely worried about my dancing skills. I thought you just didn’t like me."

"Oh, no, it’s not that. It’s just... I’m from a rural territory, so I’ve never really had the chance to dance before..."

Penelope trailed off, raising her hand to cool her flushed cheeks. She couldn’t shake the feeling that she was oversharing irrelevant details.

"I’m not confident, but I’ll give it a try. So, uh, what do I do now?"

"Just take my hand."

Placing her hand in Enrique’s, Penelope let him guide her. He skillfully placed his hand on her waist and began moving in time with the lively tune.

‘Ah...’

From the first step, Penelope felt her head spin. The tempo of the music was much faster than she had anticipated.

By the time they finished the piece, she was utterly exhausted.@@@@

‘I... somehow made it...’

Seeing the look of relief on her face, Enrique chuckled softly.

Penelope suddenly realized she was parched. Dancing had left her overheated and thirsty.

At that moment, she noticed a servant passing nearby carrying a tray of punch. The drink was a mix of lemon juice, ice, red wine, and syrup—perfect for parties.

"Could I have something to drink?" she asked.

"Of course. I could use something to drink myself."

Enrique signaled the servant, who brought the tray to them. Penelope downed a glass of punch in one go, the warmth spreading through her stomach. It must have been the red wine, even though it was diluted.

Enrique took a graceful sip from his glass, smiling again as he watched her.

Feeling her nerves dissipate, Penelope pouted slightly and asked, "Why do you keep laughing every time you look at me?"

"Because the Lady of Halo is so different from what I imagined."

"And what sort of preconceived notions did you have?"

"To be honest, I envisioned a shrewd and ambitious businesswoman."

"It seems my reputation in society paints me as a ruthless entrepreneur," Penelope replied with a wry smile.

Enrique laughed again, his reaction confirming her suspicions.

"If I’d known how charming you were, I would have sought you out sooner."

"..."

Penelope was struck speechless. Her face burned, turning crimson in an instant.

‘Charming? Is it really appropriate to say something like that to someone you’ve just met at a party?’

She opened her mouth to respond but hesitated, feeling her throat go dry again.

"May I have another glass of punch?"

"Of course."

Enrique motioned to the servant once more. Penelope accepted the glass and sipped it carefully this time, determined not to gulp it down too quickly.

Yet, despite her efforts, the glass was soon empty again after just a few small sips.

‘Strange. I barely drank anything, but the glass is already empty.’

"It seems the young Viscount of Elrn is quite interested in you. Am I perhaps interfering with something between the two of you?"

Rianel’s gaze pierced into hers. Penelope felt her words catch in her throat.

It was the first time she’d met Rianel’s eyes from this close, and it left her strangely flustered. Her cheeks flushed, and her entire body tensed.

Looking away from his intense gaze, she muttered, "No, it’s not that... If that’s his intention, then I should refuse. After all, it’s probably not me he’s interested in, but the Halo territory."

"It could be interest in you, Penelope."

Rianel’s voice was low, almost a murmur. His sharp, cold eyes gave no indication of his thoughts.

Penelope lowered her gaze and let out a soft hum.

"Falling for someone at first sight, especially a lady from a rural estate who just arrived? I’m not naive enough to believe that."

"You’re far too harsh on yourself, Penelope. You’re much more charming than you think. And, of course, quite adorable."

Penelope bit her lower lip, her entire face and even her neck growing hot. She was starting to feel lightheaded, likely from the wine in the punch.

‘Why does my body feel so out of sorts from just two glasses of punch?’

Normally, she could handle a glass or two of wine during meals without issue. This strange reaction left her bewildered and uneasy.

Perhaps it wasn’t the punch. Perhaps it was the way Rianel’s unwavering gaze seemed to bore into her.

"By the way... why do you keep calling me Penelope so familiarly?"

As Penelope raised her head, her vision spun. The room blurred, and her stomach churned.

Just as her legs gave out beneath her, a large hand caught her by the shoulder.

"...!"

"Are you all right?"

The low voice calling her name sounded distant.

Penelope looked up at Rianel before tightly shutting her eyes.

"I feel... nauseous..."

The words barely left her lips before she retched. What came out wasn’t just the punch she’d consumed.

Covering her mouth with her hand, Penelope was overwhelmed by shame and confusion.

And then, the gasps around her reached a crescendo.

"Aah!"

"Call a doctor! Quickly!"

"Someone’s dying!"

The nobles’ panicked cries rang through the hall, and the waltz came to an abrupt stop.

‘Why are they all looking at me like that?’

Through her hazy vision, Penelope glanced down at her hand. It was stained dark red.

It wasn’t the punch.

It was blood.

‘Poison... This is poison... Who...?’