Poisoning

In Flora’s plan, the first step was to leave a deep impression on the Crown Prince.

The second step was what she did last night: playing hard to get, advancing by retreating.

The reason for doing this, besides not wanting to be a lover, also involved her understanding of the core principles from “The Maid’s Guide.”

Treating the target as a guest, being intimate and enthusiastic, but also maintaining a sense of detachment.

In short, it’s about obeying your orders and trying to make you happy, but I am not your true servant; I have independent dignity and personality.

So, last night, whether the Crown Prince’s approach was aggressive or conservative… even if he had truly expressed his love, Flora would have refused.

This second step is a long-term plan, requiring her to cast a long line to catch a big fish, allowing the Crown Prince’s affection for her to escalate to the point of life and death.

But at this moment, Flora needs to prepare breakfast for the Crown Prince first.

“Flora, you’ll be responsible for making three dishes today.”

After completing the preparations, Chef Cook suddenly said.

Everyone in the kitchen stopped what they were doing, looking at him in surprise.

The “dishes” Cook was referring to, without any prefix, undoubtedly meant they were for one person only.

Although they knew this day would come sooner or later, most people were shocked that in less than a week, she went from knowing nothing to being able to prepare food for the Crown Prince.

Cohen wasn’t too surprised, only his eyes showed a hint of disdain.

He probably thought that Flora had traded something in exchange for all this.

Cook thought so too, because the old butler brought another order.

“Also, you will be serving the Crown Prince in the dining room later.”

Even the other apprentices now noticed something was amiss.

They had all heard more or less about Flora’s affairs outside, but Flora’s genuine cooking skills had won them over.

But the current situation, how does it seem not purely based on cooking skills?

Cohen couldn’t help but laugh.

“I understand, I will work hard!”

But Flora’s usual energetic appearance immediately dispelled the doubts of others.

They had seen girls who sold their bodies, but none were as open and generous as Flora.

Cook was no exception, because he remembered that the Crown Prince was not one for beauty, even if Flora took the initiative, she might not succeed.

Realizing that Flora had probably passed some test again, Cook stopped dwelling on it and continued to guide Flora while discussing cooking skills with her.

The apprentices could understand what the two were saying at first, but later they simply shook their heads and buried themselves in their work.

Cohen’s gaze became increasingly gloomy.

After preparing breakfast, Flora pushed the food cart to the Crown Prince’s private dining room as before.

Seeing her, the old butler waiting there was stunned.

“Mr. Charlton, what’s wrong?”

Flora hurriedly touched her face. “Is there something dirty on my face?”

She made sure to wash her face when she left the kitchen.

After all, this was different from not changing clothes; not taking care of her appearance before seeing the Crown Prince would be disrespectful.

“Flora,” the old butler said with a heavy face, as if he had made up his mind, “Do you want to leave here?”

“Huh?”

Flora was stunned.

“A new test has begun, and I can’t even know the contents this time.”

The old butler’s expression gradually became painful.

“So my suggestion is…”

“Thank you, Mr. Charlton, but don’t worry, I will definitely pass the test!” Flora interrupted him, speaking energetically.

Although there were no hidden guards in the dining room, to be safe, Flora didn’t want the old butler to do anything else to defy the Crown Prince.

Especially for her, a liar full of falsehoods.

“You child…”

Charlton understood the blonde girl’s good intentions, but felt even more uncomfortable.

He originally planned to persuade Flora in a few days, but he didn’t expect that after only one night, the Crown Prince couldn’t help but test Flora again.

He also specifically prevented him from taking care of Flora, not even allowing him to know the general content.

With such a harsh master, Charlton was completely disheartened and decided to take action immediately… well, he was still a little hesitant at this point.

After all, on one side was the young master he had sworn allegiance to for many years, and on the other was just a suspicious girl he had known for a little over a month.

But when Charlton saw the blonde girl’s mental state, which was completely different from that in the morning, his conscience immediately took over.

Unfortunately, precisely because the blonde girl was so strong and sunny, his persuasion became meaningless, and he was instead worried and protected by her.

“Mr. Charlton, let’s start working soon, or His Highness will be here soon.”

“Alright.”

With the person involved unwilling to leave, Charlton didn’t know what to do next, so he had to do the work at hand first.

And Flora silently remembered this impromptu concern in her heart.

Before long, the Crown Prince arrived, greeted her as usual, opened the lid of the dinner plate, waited for him to finish eating, handed him the portable lunch, he accepted it, and respectfully saw him off… the breakfast period passed very peacefully.

There was no sign of what the test was about.

The evening was also very peaceful… in the blink of an eye, it was breakfast time the next day.

“Throw it away.”

After eating breakfast as usual, the Crown Prince said coldly, facing the tin box that Flora handed over.

Eh?

Flora was stunned for a moment, then immediately realized.

Is this a new test?

Flora didn’t participate in yesterday’s portable lunch, but Cook asked her to make one today, and it was immediately rejected.

But Flora noticed that the Crown Prince usually left after saying a word, but today he was specially waiting for her…

(Is he trying to appear fickle, or make me feel disgusted through differential treatment? Testing my temper?)

Considering that she often contradicted and defied the Crown Prince, Flora immediately thought of this explanation.

“Okay.”

But this kind of trivial matter was not enough to make Flora feel dissatisfied, and she immediately took the order.

“Tsk…”

The Crown Prince flicked his sleeves and left as if complaining, and the two hidden guards no longer locked onto her.

No way, is this really a test?

Flora was a little speechless, but didn’t forget to take the opportunity to see the Crown Prince off, and brush up her presence again.

The old butler also saw that Flora seemed to have passed the test, and his face was very happy when he helped clean up the tableware.

However, on the way back to the kitchen with the food cart, she sensed that the Crown Prince had not left the mansion, but had gone to the kitchen with a group of people.

(Could it be…)

Flora quickly took out the tin box, sneaked into the nearest empty room, opened it, smelled it, and then ate piece after piece.

“There’s actually poison…”

Before long, Flora was dumbfounded, a line of black blood seeped from the corner of her mouth, and she fell down just like that.