Chapter 77 - Rose Tea (2/2)

Xavier’s face paled when his worry became true.

Maristella was missing—and even more seriously, inside this vast palace compound!

Xavier couldn’t keep a curse from escaping his mouth. “Shit.”

“Your Highness.” Sir Dilton looked at Xavier with a pale face. “Shall we order the knights to look for her?”

“I suppose so. She’s in the palace, right?”

“Yes.”

The problem was that the palace compound was so huge that it could not be searched in a single day. One could be lost in its halls forever, and that was no joke.

The Yonas Imperial Palace was known for its labyrinthine complexity. The Crown Prince and Sir Dilton knew that better than anyone else, and had reason to worry for Maristella’s well-being. Additionally, Maristella only knew the way from the palace gate to Thurman Palace, and nowhere else. Nothing was worse than a first-timer getting lost in the palace. And if she was bad with directions, it would be cause for even greater concern.

Xavier stared out the window with an anxious expression.

‘Where is she? I hope there are no problems…’

Sir Dilton, seeing the worry plain on Xavier’s face, did his best to reassure him. “Don’t worry, Your Highness. If you mobilize the Thurman Palace knights, you’ll find her sooner or later.”

“Yes.” Xavier gave the command in a voice that was still tinged with nervousness. “Find her as soon as possible, Sir Dilton.”

***

“What kind of tea do you like?”

I was flustered by the first question, but I answered as calmly as I could. “I can drink anything.”

“I’m asking about your preferences. Just say it,” the man said with a relaxed smile on his lips. “There is not a tea that exists that I do not have.” The man’s tone bordered on arrogance, but revealed a confidence that didn’t seem to hide a bluff. As if he were lord of the heavens since a child.

“So you don’t need to worry about it,” the man finished.

Indeed. I was now facing Emperor Henry XIV.

“Then I’ll like a dried rose tea, Your Majesty the Emperor.”

Your Majesty the Emperor. Oh man. When did I ever expect those words to actually leave my lips?

It felt strange. I called Claude “Your Grace” and Xavier “Your Highness”, but this was the first time I said “Your Majesty.” How many of the young ladies of the Empire ever said that title?

“Dried rose tea,” Emperor Henry murmured with a curious look on his face. Oh, did he dislike that? I hastily tried to amend my request.

“If you don’t like that, I can choose another one—”

“We’ll have two cups of it,” he ordered.

“Yes, Your Majesty,” a servant said.

I clamped my mouth shut in embarrassment. I never felt such an oppressive atmosphere from Xavier. As if to make sure that everyone knew the fact that he was still Emperor, a tremendous spirit and charisma overflowed from Henry even though he was sitting still.

‘Will Xavier eventually come to resemble his father?’

One couldn’t deny their blood. I tried imagining Xavier exuding an aura of grandeur and power, but somehow I couldn’t. An involuntary burst of laughter escaped from my lips.

“Why are you laughing?” Emperor Henry asked.

Oops. I quickly wiped the grin off my face. “I’m sorry, Your Majesty. That was rude of me.”

“No, I’m curious. Why did you laugh?”

“I…” I hesitated for a moment before speaking honestly. “I was thinking about the Crown Prince.”

“…In what sense?”

“I imagined him looking like his father if he were to be crowned as the emperor in the future.”

I squirmed a little after saying this. What if the Emperor took it the wrong way?

“I don’t mean anything wrong. It was just hard to imagine—” I said quickly, panicking.

“Yes. I see,” Emperor Henry said, cutting me off, and I shyly dropped my gaze.

After a moment, the rose tea was served. It smelled so delicious that I smiled.

“You must like roses,” he observed.

“What?”

That came out of the blue, and Emperor Henry laughed when my eyes widened in surprise.

“It’s because you asked for rose tea. Usually when in the Imperial Palace, one usually asks for something more expensive,” he explained.

“I’m only an amateur when it comes to tea,” I said with an embarrassed expression. “I don’t know much about the difference between expensive and cheap tea. So I usually choose what I just like.”

“You’re not greedy.”

“Not really… I just choose what I like, Your Majesty. Something expensive doesn’t necessarily guarantee happiness.”

As I spoke, I suddenly wondered if I was overstepping my bounds. Should I be more cautious while in front of the Emperor? He looked so much like Xavier that I spoke comfortably without realizing it.