I had to fight the urge to cough as the taste of expensive wine went down the wrong way.
300,000 Mana.
Fifteen Random Skill Cards.
And one "Scan LV1" blinking in gold at the corner of my vision like a cat demanding attention.
[LIVE: 58 Viewers]
[User CatEarsSupreme: "BRO IS THIS A WHALE DONATION??"]
[User DemonKingLovesDrama: "USE THE CARDS USE THE CARDS!!"]
[User YandereDragonQueen: "OMG SHE'S SO LUCKY đ"]
I took a slow breath, tilting the wine glass as if I were calmly enjoying the banquet, but inside, my hands itched.
-[System Alert: You have 15 Random Skill Cards available to open now.]
If I wanted to keep [User I'mRichASFsoYouCan'tReallyIgnoreMe] around, I needed to give them content, and fast.
"Fine," I muttered under my breath, letting the system interface slide open.
One by one, the cards began to flip in rapid succession, gold and silver light flashing across my vision.
-[Random Skill Card: "Lip Reading LV1" obtained.] -[Random Skill Card: "Silent Step LV1" obtained.] -[Random Skill Card: "Poison Detection LV1" obtained.] -[Random Skill Card: "Minor Illusion LV1" obtained.] -[Random Skill Card: "Cooking LV1" obtained.] -[Random Skill Card: "Dancing LV1" obtained.] -[Random Skill Card: "Cleanse LV1" obtained.] -[Random Skill Card: "Intimidation LV1" obtained.] -[Random Skill Card: "Quick Appraisal LV1" obtained.] -[Random Skill Card: "Music Appreciation LV1" obtained.] -[Random Skill Card: "Fast Reading LV1" obtained.] -[Random Skill Card: "Observation LV1" obtained.] -[Random Skill Card: "Mana Thread LV1" obtained.] -[Random Skill Card: "Herb Identification LV1" obtained.] -[Random Skill Card: "Charm Aura LV2" obtained.]
The chat exploded as the notifications rained down.
[User HolyKnightFan: "POISON DETECTION???"]
[User DemonKingLovesDrama: "NOW WE COOKIN"]
[User YandereDragonQueen: "CHARM AURA LV2 LETS GOOOO"]
The music of the ballroom returned as I blinked, letting the rush of system mana settle across my body. My aura shimmered briefly, almost invisible, but a few nearby nobles glanced in confusion before looking away.
I exhaled, raising a gloved hand to cover my mouth like a proper noblewoman, and activated "Scan LV1."
A faint blue overlay appeared over the crowd, names and flickering statuses floating above heads like in a game.
Prince Damon: [Slight Distrust] [Boredom] [Annoyance]
Lady Serena: [Nervous] [Hopeful]
Countess Viora: [Envy] [Hidden Malice]
Lord Harven: [Drunk] [Scheming]
Duke Lathoria: [Calm] [Alert]
My eyes narrowed, shifting to Lord Harven. A small vial icon flickered beside his name, pulsing in red.
-[Poison Detection LV1: Suspicious Substance Detected.]
I nearly dropped my wine.
[User CatEarsSupreme: "YO DID YOU SEE THAT??"]
[User DemonKingLovesDrama: "SCAN EVERYONE QUICK!!"]
[User YandereDragonQueen: "ELVIRA BE CAREFUL đ"]
I activated "Quick Appraisal LV1." Over Harven's head, text popped up:
[Concealed Item: Bitterthorn Extract â a slow-acting poison designed to mimic illness.]
So this was it.
In the original story, Serena was supposed to get poisoned during the banquet, collapsing in front of Prince Damon to win his sympathy while Elvira was accused.
Not happening.
-[Quest Alert: "Prevent the Poisoning Incident"]
[Reward: +3000 Mana, +20 Popularity, Random Skill Card x2]
"Fine," I whispered, lowering my glass, the taste of wine suddenly bitter.
[LIVE: 62 Viewers]
[User HolyKnightFan: "OH GOD IS THIS THE POISON ARC??"]
[User DemonKingLovesDrama: "SAVE SERENA OR FRAME HER??"]
[User YandereDragonQueen: "PROTECT SERENA đ"]
I scanned the crowd again, catching Lord Harven moving toward the dessert table with a casual, drunken smile, slipping something from his sleeve.
I closed the distance between myself and Lord Harven, my skirts gliding silently across the marble under the glow of crystal chandeliers.
[LIVE: 66 Viewers]
[User CatEarsSupreme: "IS SHE GOING TO STOP HIM??"]
[User DemonKingLovesDrama: "KICK HIM IN THE SHINS"]
[User YandereDragonQueen: "DON'T LET HIM POISON SERENA đ"]
Harven chuckled to himself, slipping the vial toward a goblet on the dessert table. His eyes were bloodshot, breath thick with wine.
-[Poison Detection LV1: Confirmed Bitterthorn Extract.]
-[Quest Progress: +20% "Prevent the Poisoning Incident."]
I let "Charm Aura LV2" activate fully, the air shimmering around me like soft heat, drawing curious glances from nearby nobles.
"Lord Harven," I said sweetly, my voice a blade under silk.
He jumped, nearly dropping the vial. "L-Lady Elvira⌠what a pleasureâ"
I reached forward, my gloved hand snapping around his wrist, forcing him to show the vial under the gaze of several nobles who had begun to turn curiously.
[User DemonKingLovesDrama: "OH SHE BOLD BOLD"]
[User HolyKnightFan: "EXPOSE HIM QUEEN"]
[User CatEarsSupreme: "SHE GOT HIM đ"]
"Careful, my lord," I said, leaning in close enough for only him and the system to hear, "you seem to have dropped something dangerous."
His face drained of color, the vial shaking in his hand.
"W-What are you implying?"
I tilted my head, letting "Intimidation LV1" enhance the coldness of my gaze, my system interface flickering as mana drained to sustain the skills.
"Nothing at all," I said, voice sweet. "Unless you wish to test it on yourself instead of an innocent guest?"
-[Quest Progress: +40% "Prevent the Poisoning Incident."]
-[Danger Flag: Mitigated.]
The nobles around us whispered, eyes wide.
-"What is that?"
-"Isn't that Lord Harven?"
-"What is Lady Elvira doing?"-
Harven tried to pull back, but I squeezed his wrist gently, eyes locked on his.
"Hand it over," I ordered softly.
With trembling hands, he placed the vial into my gloved palm, trying to keep a drunken smile on his lips. "It's⌠just a tonicâŚ"
[User YandereDragonQueen: "YEAH RIGHT đ"]
[User DemonKingLovesDrama: "LYING THROUGH HIS TEETH"]
I slipped the vial into my sleeve, turning away from him without another glance as he stumbled back, face pale, and quickly retreated from the table.
-[Quest Complete: "Prevent the Poisoning Incident."]
-[Reward: +3000 Mana, +20 Popularity, Random Skill Card x2]
The system notifications rolled across my vision.
[LIVE: 72 Viewers]
[User HolyKnightFan: "YOU DID IT đ"] [User CatEarsSupreme: "SHE SAVED SERENA."]
[User DemonKingLovesDrama: "THAT WAS ACTUALLY COOL."]
I exhaled softly, scanning the ballroom for Serena.
She was across the room, speaking with a group of young nobles, her smile shy but genuine. She had no idea how close she had come to a slow, humiliating collapse in the middle of the ballroom.
[User I'mRichASFsoYouCan'tReallyIgnoreMe donated 150,000 Mana: "Now use 'Scan' on the prince."]
My breath caught, the mana warmth settling in my veins.
[User CatEarsSupreme: "BROOOOO"] [User YandereDragonQueen: "LMAO THEY REALLY SAID SCAN THE PRINCE"]
[User DemonKingLovesDrama: "YESSSSS"]
"Alright," I muttered, letting "Scan LV1" activate again, focusing on Prince Damon, who was now watching me from near the orchestra, his cold blue eyes narrowed with suspicion.
Prince Damon: [Mild Suspicion] [Amusement] [Curiosity] [Hidden Concern]
Hidden concern?
[User HolyKnightFan: "WAIT HIDDEN CONCERN??"]
[User YandereDragonQueen: "HE'S WORRIED??"]
[User DemonKingLovesDrama: "OH SO HE DOES CARE LOL"]
I met his gaze, lifted my wine glass in a small toast, and turned away, letting him simmer.
[LIVE: 75 Viewers]
-[Quest Chain: "Survive the Banquet" â Completed.] -[Total Reward: +4500 Mana, +35 Popularity, Random Skill Card x3.]
The orchestra swelled, the nobles returned to chatting, and the tension in the air finally relaxed as the system's reward warmth settled through my body.
I had survived the banquet.
No death flags.
No wrongful accusations.
And I still had my viewers, my mana, and my next stream secured.
[User HolyKnightFan: "ELVIRA WINS AGAIN đ"]
[User CatEarsSupreme: "BANQUET ARC CLEARED."]
[User YandereDragonQueen: "WHAT A QUEEN đ"]
I smirked, lifting my skirts as I prepared to leave the ballroom.
"Next route, unlocked."