Chapter 74 (2/2)
I urgently pulled the string and called the butler. While the butler was bringing the best tea leaves and tea set, I took a deep breath and calmed down. As far as food and tea were concerned, he is very picky, so I had to make sure he wouldn’t find fault with me.
Shortly afterwards, the butler returned, putting down all kinds of tea leaf boxes. I picked chamomile and mint, mixed them according to a given proportion, and poured water. Then, I, counting time inside as I was so nervous, carefully poured water.
I gave him a cup of tea to him anxiously, hoping I brewed it well.
After sipping tea without a word, he said, “…This tastes different.”
“Pardon, Your Majesty?”
“Oh, it’s nothing. It tastes good.”
I felt relaxed now. I smiled before I knew it. In fact, I felt like he appreciated my efforts because I practiced brewing tea over and over again in case he, who was very picky in his taste, came to my house. He was different from the old him in my memory, but his picky taste was still the same.
“I thought you were very tired after preparing for the banquet, so I prepared tea that is good for your quick recovery from fatigue.”
“Really? Thank you.”
Watching him tilting the mug silently, I placed my cup to my lips.
While I was drinking tea with him with tea aroma wafting into the reception room, I wanted to ask him some questions that I kept to myself because I was so busy.
What does he know about my mother? And what happened between him and me when I was a child?
Normally, I would not have dared to ask, but I felt I could today.
After hesitating for a long time, I got up my nerve to speak to him.
“Your Majesty.”
“Yes.”
“I heard that you were close to my mother.”
“… Yes, I was.”
“What was my mother like?”
He was silent for a long time. I became nervous as his silence became longer.
When I was more and more restless, regretting asking him such a question, he broke the silence and said with a cold voice, “She was a beautiful woman. She looked a lot like you. ”
“… ”
“Her hair glowed red in the sun and her golden eyes were like yours. I remember the time when she first entered the palace, carrying a newborn baby on her back.”
He put down the teacup and said, staring into the distant air.
“As she was in poor health, she didn’t go out often and she knew few people knew, but everyone liked her.”
“… ”
“Even the queen, who was heartless and cold-hearted, liked to keep her on her side.
Sometimes when she came to the palace with you, my father took me with him, and we spent time together at the queen’s palace.”
I wanted to ask something while he was talking, but I decided to focus on listening to him.
“Come to think of it, you’ve got one more thing that resembles your mother. Not only my father, but also my mother and your mother loved you very much. ”
“… ”
“Yes, she loved you so much.”
There was a sigh in his voice that I would never know. When I saw him, I wanted to ask something. The emperor and he seemed to know me when I was younger than ten years old, but why did the emperor treat me as if he saw me for the first time when I made the case for luxury tax? And why did he treat me like a stranger on the day he bumped into me at the Imperial Palace?
As if he was waking up from his memories, he lifted the mug again. While looking at him, I hesitated for a long time before opening my mouth, “Your Majesty.”
“Um.”
“Well, then, do you know my childhood? I heard from my family member a while ago that you visited my house often..”
“Oh, I’m done talking about it,” he said coldly, putting down the mug.
I hurriedly shut up because of his chilly reaction. I was very embarrassed by his sudden change in attitude. Did I say wrong? Why did he suddenly change his attitude?
“Your Majesty, did I make a mistake?”
“No, it is not your fault.”
“… ”
“Oh, time is up. If you are ready, let’s start. ”
Rising from his seat, he went outside without looking back. When he ordered the royal guards to get ready for heading to the palace with a cold voice, they looked at me sharply, but I could not understand his actions.