Chapter 76

The reason the planned walk was changed to tea time was because of Frida's heavily armed appearance, which was quite off-putting. Not only did she wear a long-brimmed hat that covered her eyes, nose, and mouth, but gloves in this weather?

"Among animals, there are some that are born with white skin or fur different from their kind, and most of them die from severe sunburns or skin diseases."

If he hadn't heard the report from Baron Binderman in advance, he would have thought she was insane and immediately changed his opinion to consider her a witch.

'The sun must be quite harsh.'

Leopold, who had been gazing at the clear sky outside the window, turned his eyes back to Frida, who was sitting demurely in front of him. Her unusual appearance was indeed striking... but was that the only reason her eyes were drawn to her? He became quite curious. Objectively speaking, the only thing she resembled her mother, Laura, was her gentle smile. Comparing the lively, cheerful, and tireless Laura to the frail woman in front of him made no sense. Daniel, who had no discerning eye, might not even realize that his wife resembled her mother. The thrill he felt in his heart when he first saw her had gradually dulled after a few encounters. As Sebastian had said, was it really that amusing to provoke Daniel to the point of overexertion? Indeed, it wasn't. Then again, it was just as he thought. His habit of quickly losing interest in things he found interesting hadn't changed. Suddenly, everything seemed tedious and boring. He stretched out his hand and pressed his temples, and the sound of a teacup being placed on the table echoed.

"Your Majesty, do you have a headache?"

I always have a headache. There hasn't been a day since I became emperor that my head hasn't ached. I don't even remember the last time I had a good night's sleep. Leopold pressed his temples firmly with his fingertips and then smiled politely.

"I'm fine. Minor headaches are common, so there's no need to worry."

"Your Majesty, wait a moment."

Frida raised her hand and called out to Baron Binderman, who was standing far away.

"Baron, please send someone to the kitchen to prepare some rosemary tea."

"Rosemary?"

"Yes. It's a type of herb that's effective for headaches."

Frida turned her gaze to Leopold and smiled.

"The mint tea you're drinking now is good, but rosemary will be even more helpful. It's called the 'herb of scholars' because it clears the mind."

Baron Binderman, who was speaking on behalf of the emperor, who had not responded, stepped forward. Foods and drinks, especially those that could easily be laced with poison like tea or alcohol, were thoroughly inspected before being served to the emperor.

"I'm sorry, but rosemary is a tea that has never been served to the emperor, so it's difficult."

"Sebastian, it's fine. Do as the duchess says."

Although he thought about emphasizing the procedure again, Baron Binderman, who knew the emperor better than anyone, stepped back obediently. At that moment, Frida gently stopped him.

"Um... may I ask one more favor?"

"Yes, please speak."

The suddenly blushing Duchess of Rihardt whispered to Baron Binderman.

"Please tell His Highness, the Duke of Rihardt, to have some rosemary tea as well."

She then shrank back in front of Leopold, who was still looking at her.

"Daniel has been having more headaches lately."

Frida touched her flushed cheeks and tried to cool them down. She should have brought it for him as soon as she woke up, but she had forgotten due to various tasks. Her cheeks remained flushed even after Baron Binderman left the room. Leopold, who had been staring at her with an unreadable expression, finally spoke.

"You know a lot about herbs, madam."

"Just a few that I grow. Rosemary is a herb that's becoming increasingly popular... Oh!"

Frida, holding the warm mint teacup in both hands, said with a worried look.

"Although it hasn't caused any problems when made into food or tea, if Your Majesty is concerned, I won't serve it."

"No, I was getting tired of mint anyway."

He enjoyed it because it left a refreshing feeling in his mouth and head. As long as it wasn't the red, slightly rough tea his mother enjoyed, he didn't mind. Frida's eyes sparkled as she talked about herbs.

"The tea you're drinking now is peppermint, which has a strong, sharp aroma and a strong flavor. Rosemary is much milder and will be more enjoyable."

Her pale face, which had been as cold as marble, suddenly came to life.

"Rosemary grows well in warm places. If you remove the weeds occasionally, it can grow taller than me."

Her round, purple eyes, which shone brightly through her flowing white hair, were captivating. He felt a strange dizziness, even though he hadn't drunk any alcohol. Despite his usual disinterest in herbs, he found their conversation with her not at all boring.

"In the fall, when the cold wind blows, I plan to harvest the rosemary and till the field again. This fall, I plan to plant bulbs from Turc."

"Bulbs?"

He responded without realizing it, as if under a spell.

"Yes, have you seen them? The cloth that Turc people wrap around their heads. It's wrapped like this..."

"Turban."

He found it enjoyable to understand her and respond appropriately.

"Yes, that's right. In Turc, a flower that resembles a turban is very popular."

"In Turc, that flower is called 'Lale.' It's also called 'Tulband' because it resembles a turban."

"Oh, Your Majesty knows so much."

Her innocent admiration, which was entirely focused on him, was quite a sight. Last spring? Or was it last fall? His mother's fuss about planting those flowers in the Mirabel Garden was now a welcome memory. She had two gardeners executed for failing to make the flowers bloom, despite the high cost of purchasing and planting them.

"However, I heard it's difficult to make them bloom."

"Yes, the flower must spend the winter underground as a bulb. A Turc merchant told me this secret especially for me."

Her face lit up with a childlike, excited smile. Even though he knew the merchant was likely exaggerating to sell the bulbs, it seemed to bring her so much joy. He couldn't help but smile at the thought of her blushing if it turned out to be false.

"Does that mean I know the secret now?"

"Hehe. Yes, please keep it a secret until I make a fortune from growing it, Your Majesty."

His eyes lingered on her smiling face for an unusually long time.

'Strange.'

He was sure he had become numb. He was bored and ready to give up on everything. Suddenly, his heart began to race.

'Should I have decided she was a witch after all?'

Trying not to get lost in the feeling, he reached out and knocked over a teacup. As the cold tea soaked his fingertips, Sebastian's voice rang out.

"The tea has arrived, Your Majesty."

"Bring it in."

Rosemary herb tea. She said it was milder than mint and more enjoyable. As he tried to recall more about the tea from their conversation, Sebastian's voice continued.

"Your Majesty, and His Highness, the Duke of Rihardt, has also had some."

"Oh, Daniel is here?"

Her voice, filled with affection and excitement, was the same as when her husband suddenly appeared in the storeroom. However, there was a noticeable difference in the warmth of her smile compared to a few moments ago. The similarities and differences both consistently irritated Leopold.

***

From the other end of the corridor, Chamberlain Baron walked with his cane. He had sent a message saying he would come in the afternoon, but he couldn't wait and rushed over. It would be cruel to make the old man with a bad leg walk further, so Stefan quickly approached and supported him.

"I said I would finish my urgent business and come..."

"Boyle, did you know about this?"

Before Stefan could finish, Chamberlain Baron leaned in and whispered.

"Dominic Moli, the Duke's right-hand man, is hiding a woman outside the castle."

"Really?"

Dominic and a woman? Stefan raised an eyebrow at the unfamiliar combination of a familiar name. Over the past two months, despite his playful and witty nature, Dominic had never been seen close to any woman other than the Duchess and Sir Rosivalt. After hearing the story of Dominic and his mother from the castle people, Stefan had guessed why he kept his distance from women. But Dominic hiding a woman outside the castle? Concerned that Chamberlain Baron might be losing his mind, Stefan frowned.

"Where did you hear this?"

Stefan asked indifferently, and Chamberlain Baron grabbed his arm and leaned in even closer. The old man's gray eyes, heavy with age, glinted fiercely in front of Stefan's nose.

"Can't you understand? He's hiding a woman and even has a doctor to take care of her."

A doctor?

"I can't today. I'll be out of the castle all day."

"Anton has been waiting for a long time."

While Stefan was trying to remember, Chamberlain lowered his voice and whispered.

"There's no doubt the Duke is hiding a woman. Dominic, he's taking care of the woman we've been looking for outside the castle."

A hidden woman. He had heard the same from the Empress Dowager.

"The problem is the Molis, Daniel's right-hand men. Keep a close eye on what they're doing. If Daniel has a 'hidden woman,' those two are likely taking care of her."

"Did you not know about this?"

At Chamberlain's urging, Stefan shook his head in a daze.

"No, I didn't know at all."

The Duke hiding a woman outside the castle? And Dominic taking care of her? This was absurd. Was Chamberlain Baron always this imaginative? As he stared in disbelief, the old man, who seemed to have finished speaking, turned sharply with his cane, moving surprisingly quickly for someone with bad knees.

"I need to inform the Empress Dowager immediately."

"Wait, my lord. First, we should verify the situation..."

Chamberlain grabbed Stefan's arm and waved his cane.

"We can verify later. I've already assigned someone to the doctor, so we'll have accurate information by tomorrow morning."

Chamberlain, leaning on his cane, turned to Stefan with a displeased look.

"Don't just stand there. Stir up the servants. How long have you been in the Duke's castle, and you're still like this? For my sake, who recommended you, at least be more active. Tsk tsk."

The sound of Chamberlain's cane echoed down the corridor, accompanied by a long, disapproving tut.

***

Daniel's gaze, which had been scanning the table with two teacups, moved to Frida.

"I was worried about my wife being in the sun for too long. I didn't know you were having tea. I must have worried unnecessarily."

'So affectionate.'

Leopold, suppressing a chuckle, gestured to the seat next to Frida.

"Sit down, brother. Since you're here, let's have a conversation. My sister-in-law has just recommended a good tea, and I was about to enjoy it. Sebastian."

Leopold made a slight gesture, and the table was quickly cleared. Soon, three steaming cups of fragrant rosemary tea were placed on the table. As Leopold lifted a cup to savor the aroma, he raised an eyebrow. Was Daniel deliberately revealing his intentions, or was it a warning?

'Either way, it's amusing.'

The emperor's lips twisted into a smirk as he watched the Duke and Duchess of Rihardt exchange glances.

"Ah, brother. Do you remember Petricia?"