On the next day, the Emperor invited her daughters for breakfast. As expected of the female lead, Camilla always break the awkward silence.
"Dad, did you sleep well last night? I think you are not because of what happened to Estelle yesterday"
She commented something that the Emperor seemed to disliked since he slightly frowned. Estelle noticed that and she immediately reacted in order not to make him angry.
"I know you are kind but you are way too kind...are you trying to kill me, Princess Camilla?"
Estelle thought and internally crying.
"W-What are you saying, Princess? I think His Majesty was not able to sleep well because of the headache that the Western Empire is bringing to our Empire. Isn't it, Your Majesty?"
Estelle said with a forced smile but the Emperor just stared at her for seconds before replying.
"Just take care of your health from now on. How can a priestess do her job properly if you cannot take care of yourself"
"Yes, Your Maj..esty..."
Estelle realized what the Emperor just said.
"Eh? Wait... that means... I..."
She stuttered because she did not expect that her request will be granted too soon.
"Yes. I considered your request. You may go to the temple. Be a priestess and promise me that you will not bring shame--"
The emperor was not able to finish his sentence because Estelle hugged him out of excitement. She did not expect that her plans are moving faster that what she expects.
"Thank you so much!"
Estelle excitedly said. When the emperor cleared his throat, she realized that she made a grave mistake and she immediately let go of the emperor.
"I-I am truly sorry, Your Majesty! I should have not hugged you without your permission!"
She nervously said and bowed in 90 degrees position.
"Stop this act and just sit down"
The Emperor immediately responded because of the sudden change of his daughter's character. Estelle went back to her sit, smiling.
"Continue your breakfast"
"Yes, Your Majesty"
She felt so much happiness that she hummed the whole song of 'How You Like That' by BP while eating and even forgot that she is scared just a while ago.
After the breakfast, she immediately went back to her room and crossed out #1 of her Escape 101.
"Okay~ Now... let's break off my engagement!"
Estelle excitedly exclaimed.
"Oh! I need a sub-plan so Camilla and Jerome could meet earlier than the story line"
She pulled out a piece of paper and write down her plans.
After a peaceful week, she finally meet the male lead of the novel, Duke Jerome Blanchett. They meet in the largest pavillion near the royal garden just like what Estelle requested in her letter.
Estelle got entranced by the handsome look and cool aura of the Duke. He has long sleek dark blue hair, neatly tied with a white ribbon. His turqoise eyes gives a cool vibe even without doing anything. And of course, the golden ratio of his body is no joke.
"As expected of the male lead, you make my heart go boom boom!"
Estelle thought while trying to maintain her calm demeanor on the outside.
"What is it this time, Princess?"
That is the first line that Estelle heard from her betrothed but he still sounds so cool that Estelle secretly fangirling inside.
"Nothing much. I just want to spend my time with you"
She replied with a forced smile and took a sip from her cup of tea.
"I know you have a lot of time, Princess, but not in my case. So, I hope you would refrain doing this again and again"
He irritably replied with a disgusted look on his face.
"I know. I am sorry that I took your precious time but I just want to tell--"
Before Estelle could finish what she was about to say, she coughed out blood that the maids and even the Duke got in panic. Her white dress has now stains of her blood.
"Call out the royal physician this instant! Someone poisoned the Crown Princess!"
Duke Jerome shouted and the maids immediately run to call for the royal physician.
"C...all my sis...ter... I... want my e..lder sist..er, p..lease..."
Estelle said even if she is suffocating and has difficulty breathing.
Princess Camilla fortunately is strolling in the garden with the Emperor when they heard the commotion in the pavillion.
"Estelle!"
Camilla exclaimed and run towards her sister when she saw her covered with blood and is now pale as white. Estelle moved a little but she coughed another mouthful of blood.
"I did not expect that this poison is too strong! Did that merchant gave me the wrong one?"
Estelle thought. Yes, she planned out the poison incident so that Camilla and Jerome will meet earlier than the story line. In the original story, the lead characters met in a tea party organized by the villainess Estelle wherein she poisoned a Count's daughter out of jealousy because someone told her that the Count's daughter is flirting with her betrothed. Of course, the kind Camilla healed the Count's daughter and she was able to caught the attention of the cold Duke, Jerome.
Even though this time, the female lead and male lead meet in a different situation, Estelle is confident that the story will not be affected since she ensure that the important parts of the story is still present which are the poisoned tea, the person to be poisoned which is herself, the female lead, and the male lead.
"Damn!"
The duke cursed and carry Estelle. She coughed out blood again when she was moved.
"No! Put my sister down carefully. The poison is getting stronger whenever she moves"
Camilla said and the Duke carefully kneeled his one knee while still holding the cold body of his betrothed.
Camilla tried to heal her dying sister using her divine power. Estelle tried not to close her eyes as she wanted to closely see the gaze of admiration of the male lead to the female lead on their first meetings since it is one of her favorite scenes. But when she looked at him, Jerome is looking at her instead of admiring Camilla. He even grit his teeth when Estelle weakly stared at him.
"Am I imagining things because of the poison? Yes, I am... there is no way he will be worried. Same with that Emperor who just stand like a stone there"
Estelle thought and mockingly laugh at herself in her mind for imagining such thing that will never happen.