The Girl Who Unknowingly Became Harem Queen! 5 Trying To Stop A Tragedy

"Something on your mind, imoto?" Sitting up, Maria saw the one who entered the living room was none other than her brother.

"Just deciding on what dress I should wear to the Archd.u.c.h.ess's tea party tomorrow," she lied, seeing how she just couldn't confess out of the blue how the archd.u.c.h.ess's and her family's lives were in great danger if something was not done.

"Hmm, is that so." He took a seat next to her, and he pressed the top of a decorative gla.s.s vase, that displayed a blue crystal b.u.t.terfly inside. Once activated, a large holographic screen appeared, showing what looked to be some daytime drama.

'I almost forgot, Crystal b.u.t.terflies is how this world can communicate and even receive visual aids thanks to the Crystal b.u.t.terflies' clairvoyant abilities.' Watching her brother flip through the channels, Maria was reminded of her world's modern-day television.

Maria was about to ponder on other ways she could probably save the archd.u.c.h.ess when her mother suddenly barged into the room. "Marichan, now is not the time to be lazing around. We need to find you the perfect dress to wear to the tea party, and while we're at it, we need one for you to wear to Diamond Academy's Welcome Back Banquet. My Maria must look the cutest at all times," proudly stated her mother, dragging her back to her room to try on the endless pile of dresses she picked out.

'Someone save me from this woman!' cried Maria, not wanting to go through such torture.

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On the day of the archd.u.c.h.ess's tea party, Maria played her role of introducing herself to the archd.u.c.h.ess and guests. The other ladies complimented Maria's adorableness and manners before they started discussing the latest drama that was unfolding around the capital city. While the ladies talked, Maria used this chance to ask one of the serving staff for the location of the kitchen. Once at her destination, Maria crouched down by the door and began observing those working inside.

'If I can't get the antidote, then I'll stop the poison from reaching the archd.u.c.h.ess. This is the only plan I have and the only way I know how to stop her death from happening. I can't fail! Even if I have to starve!' Maria commented to herself, oblivious to all the strange stares she was receiving.

Some thought that after a few minutes the girl would leave but were proven wrong. Even after an hour had pa.s.sed, the girl refused to leave, not even when her stomach started to growl. They wanted to approach the girl but were scared off by the vicious look in her eyes that reminded everyone of a guard dog. Luckily one of the staff, who just couldn't watch the girl starve herself, set a plate of food down in front of her. Seeing this presented to her, Maria smiled and thanked the maid for her kindness.

Once the food was finally placed in her stomach, Maria was ready for the second hour of watch duty. Closely watching everyone, she had to make sure that no poison was placed in any of the refreshments or food. By the time the third hour came, Maria was beginning to feel restless, but once she thought about the tragedy that awaited this family in the future, she steeled her resolve and mentally began cheering herself on.

"Why are you guarding the kitchen door?" This sudden voice, that appeared in close proximity, scared Maria, who almost screamed out in fright.

"Richard-sama?! What are you doing here?" The boy took a seat right next to her, looking at her curiously.

"I needed somewhere to escape to."

"Escape?" Just as Maria was about to question him, they heard footsteps coming their way. Quickly, Richard reached for her hand and dragged her into the kitchen. Once inside, they both pressed their ears against the door.

"Richard-sama~!" They heard a girl called out his name, followed by another female voice.

"I'm almost positive I saw him come this way."

"Maybe he went another way. Let's go and try to catch up with him." Hearing the sounds of their footsteps fading, Maria now knew who Richard was escaping from.

"It seems you're quite popular, Richard-sama," replied Maria.

"I would be flattered if that was indeed true. It's my status that attracts them, not me as a person." These words caught Maria off guard, who hadn't expected such a response from a boy who was only one year older than her.

"T-Then...If Richard-sama does not mind, can I get to know you as a person?" sweetly asked Maria. This time it was Richard who was caught off guard by her words. Never had anyone said such words to him and be sincere about it. Even though he was quite young, Richard was aware of the greedy thoughts in the minds of those who tended to surround themselves around him and his family. He sensed their fake sincerity and their smiles, which only made him want to distance himself from such people.

Yet he could tell that Maria was unlike those other people; her words were sincere, along with her smile which he found charming. "I would like that very much." He couldn't help but smile, softly patting the little girl on the head, which only made her smile even brighter.

'Don't worry, Richard-sama, I'll make sure that you'll get the happy ending that you deserve,' vowed Maria, who was about to continue her watchdog duties when she saw an unfamiliar maid walk pa.s.sed her. The maid had dark raven hair, carrying a single cup of tea on a tray.

'Through my observations, I have become familiar with all the faces of those who work in the kitchen, yet never once have I seen her coming in or out of the kitchen until now.' Turning to the boy beside her, Maria asked, "Richard-sama, do you perhaps know that maid?"

"I know every face and name of each person who works in our manor, but that woman's face is unfamiliar to me." Richard narrowed his eyes, and at this sudden revelation, Maria took off running.

'She's the one! She's the one who is about to poison the archd.u.c.h.ess!' Maria felt afraid. She wasn't going to lie to herself, but at the same time, she couldn't let someone innocent die. She may be a coward, and a weak one at that, but she could at least do this much. Like a charging football player, Maria slammed herself into the maid's back, causing her to knock the cup of tea off the tray and onto the floor.

It was at that moment that Kuroka and s.h.i.+rone were making their way up the hall when they spotted their ojou-sama sprawled out on the floor and rushed over to her. Though as they pa.s.sed by the maid and the spilled cup of tea, their noses picked up a certain scent that humans and certain species could not detect, but they could. Sharing a look with each other, Kuroka ran over to their ojou-sama who was being a.s.sisted by the Scarlet heir, while s.h.i.+rone turned in the direction where the maid was kneeling on the ground.

"Why did my nose detect Winter Poison in the tea that the archd.u.c.h.ess personally requested?" Not too far away stood Richard, frozen, who was helping Maria off the ground when he heard what s.h.i.+rone said. In a flash, his sapphire eyes narrowed, glaring at the back of the maid, who still hadn't gotten off the ground yet.

"She doesn't work here! Never have I seen your face inside our manor. Speak up and tell us who you are working for! Who sent you here?" demanded Richard, making his way over, ready to integrate the maid, but was quickly stopped by s.h.i.+rone.

"d.a.m.n, all thanks to one little princess, my mission is ruined. The only thing I had to do was poison the archd.u.c.h.ess and later while everyone was at their weakest, still mourning over the last breath of their madam, set this entire place on fire. Once the mission was complete, I'd get my money, but the cat is out of the bag now." The woman sounded annoyed at her failure to complete her mission, s.n.a.t.c.hing off the wig placed on her hair along with the maid outfit she was wearing.

"s.h.i.+tty brat! If it weren't for you, I could've gotten my money!" She stuck up her middle finger and ranted. The s.e.xy woman wore skin-tight clothes that did little to cover her buxom body; medium length dark purple hair was combed to one side lying over her left shoulder. Though her face was beautiful, there was a nasty sneer plastered on it.

"What's going on here?" Walking up on the scene with narrowed eyes was none other than the Archd.u.c.h.ess herself as she took in the scene before her.

"Tch gotta abandon the mission now, but don't think this is over, you little b.i.t.c.h." The angered woman cursed, throwing a smoke bomb that consumed the area; though right before she jumped out of the gla.s.s window, she threw a small dagger in Maria's direction. Once the smoke was cleared, everyone got their sight back but could only scream in horror as they saw Maria's bleeding arm where the dagger had left a wound.

"Ojou-sama!" screamed Kuroka and s.h.i.+rone, holding the bleeding girl in their arms. Richard stood there petrified as the blood continued to stain the girl's arm. The pain inflicted upon her caused Maria's eyesight to blur, but yet those long scarlet tresses still managed to stand out as the archd.u.c.h.ess rushed over to her.

"Don't worry, Marichan, we'll get you help. Just hold on." The archd.u.c.h.ess was about to start yelling out orders when the little girl with her uninjured hand softly touched the woman's face.

"Y-You're alive... I managed to do it... I managed... to stop a tragedy. I'm... so happy!" Maria felt her last ounce of strength fade once those words were said, and she gently closed her eyes. Only faintly did she hear the frantic and scared cries of those who began calling out her name. While Maria was being cared for at Scarlet's manor, she was unaware of the impression she left behind on those who stood to witness her actions.