Penelope Judith: The Seductress.

11

It's been a week since the engagement and Penelope is currently staring at the still body of the Count that is currently sleeping on his bed. The reason of his rest is because the Count suffered a heart attack that the physicians barely managed to stabilize him.

The cause of his heart attack? It's because of Penelope's scheming and with a little help from Lucas as well.

Yesterday, when they were having their breakfast, they have received news that many investors were backing out from their business, causing their business to plummet down but not enough to go bankrupt. The Count was so shocked that he abandoned his breakfast and went to his study. For what? Penelope guessed that he would throw a stupid tantrum.

Rosalia was worried as well, but not because that their family will go poor, but because it was their mother's business and she's worried that the Count is not handling it well. Penelope considered the idea of telling Rosalia the truth behind their Mother's death but acted against it, for Penelope knows that it will break her lots.

"Is the grapefruit pie to your liking, Father?" Penelope asked politely, taking a single sip from her grapefruit juice.

The Count looked up from his dessert and curtly nodded as a response before going back to eating. Penelope noted that it's his third slice already. Penelope gestured Rosalia to take a sip of her freshly squeezed grapefruit juice, she seemed skeptical at first but she later took a sip and a grin broke into her face.

"This is good! We should add this to our menu, don't you think so, Penny?" Rosalia said, sparkles forming on her eyes.

Penelope smiled at her before taking a bite out of the pie that's on her plate, staring discreetly at the Count who drank the grapefruit juice after Rosalia's remark.

At that moment, Butler Hans barged in the dining room with a grave look.

"Sire! They have reopened the case regarding the Countess's death!" Butler Hans announced that made the Count stiffen, Rosalia gasped and Penelope feigned her surprise as well.

"What are you saying, Hans–!" The Count said, standing up abruptly before sitting back down with a hand on his chest, face contorting in pain.

"Father!" Rosalia exclaimed, standing up to stand behind the Count, Penelope stood up as well and acted concerned for his state.

"Butler Hans! What are you waiting for? Get my father's medicine!" Penelope instructed, voice hard. Butler Hans quickly went up to the Count's study to fetch his medicine.

Butler Hans came back holding the medicine quinine, though Penelope wonders why the Count is using medicine that is, in no way, related to heart problems.

'Well, I couldn't care less.'

Butler Hans quickly gave him his medicine and a glass of grapefruit juice for him to drink. Penelope watched as the Count got angry at the news, demanding for Butler Hans to explain.

In the middle of explaining, Penelope watched from her peripheral as the Count started feeling faint again, and Penelope flicked her fan open to hide the smirk that is forming on her lips.

'I see that the furanocoumarin in grapefruit is taking its action already, influencing the quinine's mechanism of action. I'll assume that the Count's blood pressure is dropping fast.'

Penelope closed her fan with a click and feigned horror on her face, "Father! Butler Hans, maids! Call for my Father's physicians! Hurry!"

The maids and the butlers all scurried away and called for the Count's physician, Penelope approached the Count to discreetly stabilize his condition, just enough to not kill him and to not be noticed.