After the palace tour ended, I found myself stuck in the apothecary’s room.
My heart was in turmoil.
“Phew….”
I took a deep breath, then exhaled slowly.
Then another, and another, and another.
Various herbal scents penetrated my nostrils, soothing my mind.
I’ve found that smelling medicinal herbs is the best thing to do when I’m feeling overwhelmed.
I don’t know how long I sat there quietly.
Thoughts, tangled like a ball of yarn, gradually unraveled.
“I should just ask him directly.”
Rather than continuing to feel this way, directly asking would be the most efficient option, no matter how I think about it.
It was likely just a casual, insignificant conversation that happened by chance.
I just need to confirm it, and then this unsettled feeling will be over.
‘But what if Julion’s reaction is different from what I expect…?’
Whether he finds it difficult to speak, hesitates, or even finds it bothersome to be asked about something trivial,
I can’t imagine Julion doing that, but my heart sinks just thinking about it.
I sat back down on the apothecary’s floor.
“…No, in this state, I can’t do anything.”
I was completely unable to focus on any other tasks.
This wasn’t like me.
Several times I jumped to my feet, ready to run to Julion at a moment’s notice, only to fall back down again.
The laughable sit-and-stand exercise was interrupted by a knock on the apothecary’s door.
“Your Highness, Prince Shutkatan of Razia, has requested an audience.”
At the mention of Razia’s name from beyond the door, I instinctively stiffened.
Given my recent thoughts about the Princess of Razia and Julion, it was somewhat expected.
When I didn’t answer, Zenid asked again.
“Your Highness, are you alright? Shall I send the Prince of Razia away?”
Though I wanted to say yes, I was curious.
Gathering my thoughts, I opened the door.
“Why does the Prince of Razia want to see me?”
“He says he has something to discuss regarding the rare medicinal herb the envoy brought as a gift.”
“…rare medicinal herb?”
Meirat, a plant characterized by its serrated red leaves.
I had gone to see that herb first but found it lacking in nutritional value.
Fortunately, the herb was sent to the palace that night, and I had already thoroughly examined and experimented with it.
“Why bring it up now? Is he waiting in the reception room?”
“No, he wishes to meet in the garden.”
It was highly suspicious.
Especially since the Prince of Razia had been in the palace all afternoon, conversing with me.
We had extensively discussed herbs then, so why call for a separate meeting now?
Especially on a dark night, outdoors.
“Perhaps it would be best to politely decline and send him away?”
Zenid seemed to share my thoughts, subtly suggesting the option of turning him away.
Normally, I would have said yes.
No matter how curious I am about rare herbs, being called out at night obviously suggests ulterior motives.
But oddly enough, it piqued my curiosity.
“No, I want to meet him.”
The image of Princess Chersoniet, who had argued with me earlier, came to mind.
Along with her persistent crimson eyes.
Perhaps Prince Shutkatan’s unexpected visit had something to do with her.
‘In that case, it would be better.’
I could find out even without directly asking Julion.
☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓 ☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓
“Thank you for coming out, Miss Rohiriel.”
The place Prince Shutkatan had summoned me to was the most exposed part of the garden—a spot where servants or guards would undoubtedly pass by.
‘Isn’t the purpose too obvious?’
It seems that Princess Chersoniet is truly determined to drive a wedge between Julion and myself.
On the other hand, Prince Shutkatan seemed inexplicably anxious.
He briefly bit his lower lip, then fidgeted with his hands on his waist.
His hands seem to be sweating.
I looked at the prince and gave him a slight smile.
“No, it’s nothing. So what is this urgent matter you wish to discuss regarding the rare herb?”
“Well, first of all.”
Shutkatan swallowed hard and bowed deeply to me, his waist bending.
Surprised by his abrupt action, I waited patiently as he opened his mouth in a somber tone.
“I apologize once again for my rudeness when we first met. As a person who practices medicine, I was too overwhelmed by admiration for you, Miss Rohiriel, and my words got ahead of me.”
“Ah…… I see.”
“Please accept my apology, Miss Rohiriel.”
As if on cue, Shutkatan pulled a blue flower from his suit.
It seemed the flowers had been nestled inside his garment for some time, as they were a bit crumpled and wilted.
“I made this thinking of you, Miss Rohiriel. They seem to match your eye color quite well…”
“Are you giving them to me?”
“Of course. Unless… you don’t wish to accept them?”
His overly forceful gesture was becoming quite amusing.
Instead of accepting the flowers, I raised my eyebrows and asked,
“But where did you get these flowers? You didn’t just pluck them from the palace gardens, did you?”
The prince was visibly flustered.
He bit his lower lip again and shook his head.
“I, I bought them outside.”
“Hmm, I see.”
“Truly, I bought them while thinking of you…”
“Okay, enough of that. How about you tell me about the rare herb? I’m more interested in that than some useless flowers.”
I replied, pushing the prince’s hand away. He blinks rapidly in confusion. Then he looked around.
Red eyes resembling Chersoniet checked the entrance to the garden and the pathways, then returned to me.
It was as if he was checking to see if anyone was watching us.
I asked again.
“Is it about the Meirat? I’m currently in the middle of an experiment, so is there anything special about it?”
“That… there is something special.”
“Yes, what is it?”
Prince Shutkatan hesitated to speak directly.
Is it to buy time, or perhaps to fabricate something to say?
Getting bored, I brought up the topic first.
“Ah, is it that mixing it with blue hyssop causes the color to turn blue?”
“What? Oh, yes, that’s right, that’s right.”
“I already knew that. It doesn’t seem special.”
“There’s another one.”
“Then, mixing it with citrinium makes it a detoxifier for pregnant women, right?”
“Ah, yes, that’s right. Hahaha, you figured it out before I did. As expected of you, Miss Rohiriel, you’re amazing.”
Watching Shutkatan laugh confidently, I narrowed my eyes.
Both of the things I just said were lies.
Anyone who truly knew about Meirat would not have affirmed such claims.
‘And here I had expected a bit more from someone who claims to practice medicine.’
This was hardly worth listening to any further.
I said bluntly.
“It’s all a lie. The prince knows nothing about Meirat.”
Shutkatan stiffened at my blunt words, and a look of dismay crossed his face.
I continued.
“Let’s be honest: Princess Chersoniet told you to summon me, didn’t she?”
“Uh, no. No, she didn’t. It’s just that I admire you, Miss Rohiriel.”
While his mouth said no, his eyes were screaming, ‘How did you know?!’
I chuckled and asked the next question.
“Seems like Princess Chersoniet has feelings for Julion, huh? If you want, I can help.”
“Really? Is that true?”
‘Indeed, it is.’
But I didn’t say I would help make it work, did I?
“Where is the princess now? Is she in her quarters? It would be good to meet and discuss together.”
Though I can’t guarantee it’ll be a calm discussion,
I asked this question, hoping to uproot the situation all at once, but the prince once again looked flustered.
“Ah, Cherry is not in her quarters right now… No, wait, she may have returned by now.”
“Where did she go?”
I stopped mid-sentence, annoyed by his hesitation.
My expression involuntarily grimaced.
‘At this hour, are they meeting again?’
Since the last incident happened a while ago, asking about it now feels strange.
But if I saw the situation with my own eyes, the story could change.
“Let’s call it a day, Prince Shutkatan.”
I spat out coldly and promptly left the garden.
I heard the prince frantically calling out and chasing after me, but I completely ignored him and headed straight to where I thought Julion would be.
‘Even if that woman is deliberately approaching him, still…’
Why does Julion keep meeting her?
Thinking about Julion conversing with that bright, pink woman made my blood boil.
A sliver of reason tried to argue that I was overreacting, but I couldn’t control my emotions properly.
“I need to make this clear now.”
I couldn’t stand pondering alone anymore.
YAS Rohiriel get yo manz