Chapter 16 (2/2)

“How do you do? Sir Verita, I’m Aristia La Monique. ”

“Nice to meet you, Lady Monique. I’m Allendis de Verita. ”

“Nice to see you.. Please sit down. ”

I briefly greeted him and asked him to sit down. I now sat face-to-face with the boy.

“Lina, please bring us some tea. Rosemary tea, please. ”

“Yes, lady.”

I carefully watched him while Lina was preparing tea. His fresh green hair like spring buds and emerald eyes resembled his father’s and shined with intelligence. He was fair-skinned as if to confirm the rumor that he was a bookworm. He was handsome for a man, but he didn’t seem weak at all.

The old me brushed by him, but had never met him in person. As he was already an adult by then, this was the first time I saw him as a boy. I remember he was three years older than me, so he was probably 13 this year.

“I have tea ready, lady.”

“Come on in.”

Carefully pouring tea, Lina quietly closed the door. The unique refreshing scent of rosemary wafted through the room.

“I heard that you were a bookworm, so I’ve prepared rosemary tea that helps keep your head clear. Do you like it? ”

“I enjoy this tea. Thank you for your consideration.”

I drank tea silently. I favored rosemary because the pungent scent tickled my nose and its sillage in the mouth rather than its taste. In the past, I almost always enjoyed it because of my hypotension and chronic headaches.

How much time passed? He put down the cup silently and said, “You must be surprised by my sudden visit. I didn’t mean any disrespect, but I came here to ask you something.”

“You want to ask me something?”

“That’s right. Is it true that you proposed the newly introduced luxury tax?

Was my prediction right? What should I say?

“I now see you did.”

“…”

“Wow! That is amazing! I hear you’re only 10 years old, and you’re a real genius! ”

“Oh my god!” Verita shouted, jumping up and grabbing my hand. I was stunned by the boy’s sudden change of attitude.

“Please call me Allendis casually. I’ve never allowed anybody to call my first name, but I think you are well qualified to do so. ”

“Pardon?”

“Can I call you Aristia? I was frustrated because I couldn’t speak the same language with my peers so far, but I am happy to know we can speak the same language.”

“Well…”

“Okay, call me Allendis now. ”

I freaked out. What happened to me? I was speechless when he called me Aristia slyly, with his emerald eyes sparkling brilliantly. I nodded at him, pleasantly surprised by his sudden change of attitude.

As if he was satisfied with my smile, he picked up the teapot and filled the teacup. I restored my composure gradually when I smelled the fragrance of pine needles. Suddenly, I wanted to ask him one thing, so I opened my mouth hesitantly, “By the way…”

“Call my name and talk to me comfortably.”

“Still…”

“Never mind. Call me by my first name. Come on!”

“Okay, then. Allendis.”

“Yes, why?”

“How did you know I proposed it?”

In the past, as I was respected as the next empress, nobody had called me by my first name. I only lived with that hope in mind, so I didn’t remember calling someone’s name, either, because I didn’t have any close friends mine. Was it because of that?

I felt very awkward to call the boy in front of me by his name. When I called him with a stutter, he smiled and said, “That’s simple if you think about it a little bit.”

“What do you mean? How? “