As soon as Karnov regained his power, the large World Tree in the palace bore a round, lavender-colored fruit, which promptly fell on Asha’s head.
From that day on, all the tangible spirits in the palace gathered in front of the world tree, creating quite a commotion. Even Shamal, who had left the palace with Mikhail, flew back to the palace upon hearing the news and concluded rather anticlimactically in front of the mysterious fruit.
— The World Tree is a tree, so shouldn’t it bear fruit when the time comes?
What could be said about a tree bearing fruit at the right time? After harvesting a reasonable amount of fruit, everyone involved—Asha, Karnov, Phoebe, and Kairos—gathered in Asha’s kitchen.
“Is it safe to eat?”
<It is the fruit of the World Tree, after all.>
While Phobei rolled the fruit around with its beak, Karnov held it near Phoebe’s beak.
“Is it poisonous? Phoebe, you try it first.”
<You insolent! Being close to the engagement ceremony means you’re not engaged yet. Don’t treat me badly like I’m nothing to Asha!>
<Don’t raise your voice at my child!>
In the brief moment, the two birds—one yellow, one black—were fighting vigorously. Asha shook her head, expressing resignation.
Though Karnov and Asha had clumsily exchanged proposals, they ended up holding an engagement ceremony before the wedding. It was due to the elderly’s earnest wish for their beloved grandchildren to experience all the celebrations life had to offer.
“Alright, calm down, little larks.”
Asha said this while holding the pale lavender fruit and cutting it in half. The flesh split smoothly since the fruit wasn’t too hard. Without hesitation, Asha took a bite.
“Asha!”
<Asha!>
<Peach!>
The two spirits and the man jumped to their feet. Asha dodged Karnov’s hand, trying to make her spit it out, and swallowed the chewed flesh.
“It doesn’t seem poisonous. It doesn’t have a particularly special taste either. Hmm, it feels like a big apricot? An apricot that tastes like lemon and banana together…”
“Are you really okay?”
“Of course. I thought it would be okay, so I tried it. Even if I look like this, I have a contract with the Great Spirit of Senses.”
As Asha flung her hair over her shoulder and spoke smugly, Karnov glared at her, but he sighed and sat back down without blaming her any further. Asha looked at the fruit with a bite mark left on it and said.
“It doesn’t seem to have any special effects. It’s just… …a fruit that isn’t that delicious? I can’t even sell it for money.”
<Still, it’s the fruit of the World Tree. It can’t be that useless.>
The black chick said in a solemn voice. Asha pondered as she peeled the remaining fruit.
“Since it’s not very sweet, it might be good to make tarts by simmering it with sugar and spices. A crispy crust with chilled custard cream filled to the brim. Or maybe almond cream?”
As Asha contemplated what cream to fill the tart with, Karnov cut the remaining part of the half-eaten fruit into small pieces and put them in his mouth.
As Asha mentioned, the fruit didn’t have a particularly strong flavor. Should something from the World Tree be so bland?
While the two spirits and one person each pondered, Asha rolled up her sleeves, intending to bake a pie right away.
“Karnov~! This looks like it’s going to take a long time to cook.”
Asha lifted a sack of sugar onto the countertop, and Karnov shook his head and rolled up his sleeves alongside her.
“Yes, yes. The oak barrel is coming.”
“Now it’s a brass pot.”
“…The brass pot is coming. I distinctly remember someone saying it was okay even if I didn’t regain my powers.”
“Really? Who?”
━━━✦❘༻༺❘✦━━━
On top of the crispy, golden pastry crust layered with butter, Asha spread a creamy almond filling. She then layered thinly sliced, half-moon shaped pieces of World Tree fruit, cooked with lemon juice and sugar.
“Tart…”
Asha pondered over a name for the tart, crossing her arms and looking down at it. Phoebe and Kairos sneakily peeked at it. At that moment, Karnov moved the two chicks aside with his arm and said,
“How about ‘Tart Asha’?”
“That’s a bit much. It sounds like I’m too full of myself. Since the tart is made from the World Tree fruit… Tart Noctis?”
<If you’re going to name it something bland like that, just call it Tart Asha.>
“No need to be so serious. Ah! Then it should be Tart Evan.”
“Is it Evan’s turn now? Will it ever be my turn?”
Karnov asked suddenly. It was well-known in the capital that Asha named her tarts and pastries after her beloved family and friends.
But names like ‘Tart Karnov’ or ‘Karnov Cookie’ had never appeared. Asha nodded with wide eyes, as if it were obvious.
“Of course. I’ve already set a date.”
“Date?”
“The day I’ll first bake ‘Karnov Cake.’ I’ve already decided.”
“I’m a cake, not a tart? When is this day?”
“It’s a bit odd to serve a tart at a wedding, isn’t it? The day I get married is the day Karnov Cake will be served.”
Asha said this and then carefully began to cut the tart with a serrated knife. Karnov, who was left behind, blushed and spread his arms, but then slumped his shoulders without doing anything.
“…You can’t just throw out words like that and cut the tart by yourself.”
“Karnov, shh! Don’t interrupt. And for the engagement ceremony, it’ll Asha cake. I thought I could take some pride in myself then.”
Asha meticulously cut the tart into eight equal pieces. The four tarts weighed exactly the same amount even after the crumbs were removed.
Asha put one piece on each of the four plates, two for the two birds, and shared the remaining two with Karnov. Asha left a note next to her and wrote things down while Karnov remained silent, savoring the tart.
[Flesh is firm. Needs to cook longer for better flavor…]
[Add spices? Cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, ginger, just a bit of each.]
[It’s not my cup of tea]
[Cut the skin off and make jam with flesh?]
[As a menu item in the shop?]
[Regular supply might be difficult. Sources are too far away.]
[Will the seeds sprout?]
[A forest of World Trees?]
Karnov watched Asha thoughtfully and sighed deeply.
“You really are a workaholic.”
“You knew and loved me anyway. Are you regretting it now?”
“No way? Even if I lived a thousand times, I would still choose to be with the Grand Duchess.”
Asha burst into laughter. At that moment, no one knew what effects the World Tree fruit held.
━━━✦❘༻༺❘✦━━━
Asha’s new tart, “Tart Evan,” was first shared with those close to her. On a holiday, a simple tea party featuring the tart was held deep within the palace, attended only by her closest confidants.
Everyone enjoyed eating and drinking. Grand Duchess Pesheranskaya and her two closest friends—Asha, Natasha, and Lyuda—drank tea as if it were wine and chatted.
They danced in the garden to the music of a music box, rolled on the ground, and laughed until they were out of breath, with leaves sticking to their cheeks. It was only at dusk that the three managed to stand up straight and regain their dignity as ladies, preparing to go home.
“By the way, Asha.”
Natalya, who found the thin tie around her neck under the bushes, called out Asha, removing the leaves that went between the trousers.
When Asha gestured that there were leaves in her hair too, Natalya shook her hair vigorously. She looked like a big puppy, making Asha laugh again. Lyudmila sighed and shook her head, but Natalya didn’t care about their expressions and continued speaking, pouting.
“Asha, are you really getting engaged?”
Asha tilted her head as she tied the tie around Natalya’s collar.
“With Karnov? We haven’t set a date yet… but it will probably be within this year.”
When standing expressionless, Natalya looked like a melancholic poet or a knight wielding a graceful sword, but in front of Asha, pouting, she resembled a brown-furred puppy that hadn’t been able to go for a walk.
Asha mischievously smiled.
“Why? You don’t like it, Natasha?”
Natalya nodded firmly, her face showing clear displeasure.
“Karnov Neustadter may be the best man in the capital, but…”
At this point, Natalya suddenly covered her mouth in shock. Asha and Lyudmila were equally surprised. Natalya had never spoken well of Karnov before.
As the two stared wide-eyed, Natalya hurriedly continued.
“No, even if he’s the best among the nobles…”
“Na, Natasha?”
Natalya’s lips and facial muscles twisted uncomfortably, as if the words she wanted to say didn’t match what was coming out.
Feeling she couldn’t express herself properly, Natalya decided to change the subject.
“So, he’s the most handsome, the richest, the strongest, and loves Asha the most…”
As Asha and Lyudmila exchanged astonished looks, Natalya’s face finally turned bright red. It wasn’t for any other reason but her frustration with her uncooperative mouth.
Stomping her feet and tightly holding her mouth, Natalya finally shouted Asha’s other name.
“Stasha! Stasha!”
The name they had agreed to call each other in moments of crisis.
━━━✦❘༻༺❘✦━━━
Natalya and Lyudmila quickly sent letters to their homes, informing them that they would be staying at Asha’s palace for a few days.
“Did she eat something bad?”
“We all ate the same thing today, so why only Natalya…?”
“What exactly are the symptoms?”
“Is she saying the opposite of what she means?”
At Asha’s words, Natalya, who had been keeping her mouth tightly shut, suddenly stood up and opened her mouth, but couldn’t say anything and sat back down. Lyudmila brought a warm cocoa to Natalya and gently started the conversation.
“Was the tart we ate today not tasty, Natasha?”
“It was delicious!”
Asha’s face turned slightly pale.
If she’s saying the opposite of what she means, does that mean the tart wasn’t actually tasty? Natalya’s face also turned pale.
“No, no! It was delicious! Really delicious!”
Lyudmila scrutinized Natalya’s face and then spoke.
“Prince Nothea as Asha’s husband. Good or bad?”
“Bad!”
“Viscount Yulonsia from the south as Asha’s husband.”
“Are you crazy? Bad!”
Viscount Yulonsia was said to be so wealthy that he could build a ship out of gold, but he was still unmarried at seventy, and everyone was eyeing his inheritance. Lyudmila’s gaze grew sharper.
“Karnov Neustadter as Asha’s husband.”
“Go… good…! Ugh!”
Natalya sprang up and covered her mouth, stepping back. Lyudmila observed her with a ‘hmm’ and then clapped her hands, turning to Asha with a calm expression.
“It seems that Natasha isn’t saying the opposite… she’s speaking her true feelings.”
Asha’s mouth fell open. Natalya, desperate to deny this, fidgeted with her lips and suddenly lunged at Asha.
As Asha hugged and comforted the seemingly distressed Natalya, Phoebe fluttered up from Asha’s shoulder.
<It seems all three of you are in that state now.>
“All three of us? But…”
No one else had shown any reaction besides Natalya. Phoebe clicked its beak.
<Then try telling a lie.>
Asha thought for a moment.
“Um, I… Natasha and Lyuda…”
She tried to say that she didn’t like them, but the words wouldn’t come out. Asha’s face turned pale. Now it was Lyudmila’s turn. She opened her mouth but quickly closed it.
Their eyes darted around quickly.
“Are we all in a situation where we can only speak the truth?”
Asha’s voice grew serious. Natalya, reflecting on this, turned Asha around.
“Natasha?”
“Asha, how much do you like me?”
“What?”
Lyudmila sighed with a reproachful look.
“Natasha, this isn’t the time for a truth game…”
“Lyuda, do you like me?”
“…”
“…”
The two fell silent. A sense of impending disaster loomed if they answered incorrectly. Asha swallowed dryly and licked her lips.
“Of course I like you.”
“How much?”
“As much as the sky and the earth.”
“…!”
Lyudmila looked at Asha with a betrayed expression. She couldn’t think of a great phrase immediately.
“I… I like Natasha too… really like her.”
“How much?”
“As much as the sky and the earth…”
Lyudmila, who was usually strict with Natalya, blushed deeply in embarrassment. Asha seized the opportunity to counterattack.
“And how much do you like me and Lyuda, Natasha?”
“I wouldn’t trade you for the whole world!”
As if waiting for that response, Natalya replied with enthusiasm, a triumphant look on her face. As soon as Asha heard the answer, she turned to Lyuda, her green eyes brimming with affection and mischief.
“How much do you like me, Lyuda?”
“Of course, I like Asha… more than anything in the world…”
Lyudmila’s face was now almost about to burst. Natalya found “as much as the sky and the earth” to be less impressive than “more than anything in the world,” and thus, as the two girls bickered, Phoebe, watching their conversation, urgently flew over and intervened.
<I, I love our Peach! The most!>
The chirping of the chick made the three laugh. Asha also petted Phoebe, saying, “I love our Phoebe as much as the sky and the earth.”
“But what is the problem that led to this situation? Did we eat something bad? If all three of us are like this, could it be the tea party from earlier?”
“The tea was the usual, and the pastries were made by Asha…”
Asha licked her lips thoughtfully at Lyudmila’s calm words.
“The pastries I made…”
Wasn’t there something particularly special among the pastries on the tea table today?
“Could it be the World Tree fruit…”
Though she hesitated to say “could it be,” it was the only different element. Asha buried her head in her hands, not understanding.
“But I was fine when I ate the fruit directly?”
<Now that I think about it, we wouldn’t know if no one told a lie that day.>
“Ah…”
Asha sighed.
“How long will this effect last?”
“Probably until digestion is complete…?”
Lyudmila and Natalya didn’t feel particularly alarmed by the situation. If they couldn’t lie, they could just keep quiet during a crisis, right? But then Asha’s face suddenly turned pale.
“Oh… what should we do?”
“Why, what’s wrong?”
“I sent the tart to everyone as gifts.”
“Everyone? How many… everyone?”
Natalya swallowed nervously and asked. Asha, with her head on the table, raised her arms and counted on her fingers.
“My mom, dad, grandfathers, Karnov’s grandmother, Natasha and Lyuda’s families, other friends…”
Swallowing dryly, Lyudmila urgently called for a maid to bring pens and stationery. Soon, all three were hurriedly writing letters, explaining that the tart had an unintended side effect and should not be consumed.
But by the time those letters arrived, only the most honest people remained around Asha.
━━━✦❘༻༺❘✦━━━
The next day, as soon as dawn broke, Asha headed to Dimitri’s house, the closest to the palace. There, Dimitri, who could easily knock someone down with just his expression, greeted them with a deeply furrowed face.
“You! Anastasia! You! You!”
“I’m sorry! I’m really sorry!”
Asha apologized profusely. Dimitri pointed his finger at her fiercely but could only call her name.
Asha almost laughed, remembering young Dimitri who couldn’t move with a brownie in his mouth, but she quickly composed herself as Dimitri glared at her.
“How are the others? Are they okay?”
“…”
Dimitri carefully chose his words despite his anger. He was worried that speaking rashly might reveal his true feelings.
“Father is fine… He went fishing with friends in Rokta last week, so he didn’t eat the tart. And even if he did, it wouldn’t have been a problem. He’s the same inside and out. I’m the problem!”
“Um, because you’re… two-faced?”
“You… you!”
Asha quickly apologized, looking contrite. Dimitri glared at her. Normally, he would have yelled, “Do you want to die?!” but for some reason, the words wouldn’t come out.
This was the biggest problem. The fact that his true feelings, that he didn’t want his cousin to get hurt, might slip out if he wasn’t careful!
If he accidentally revealed his true feelings, like “I might be a bit embarrassed if I make a mistake, but I’m really okay. Weren’t you surprised? But I’m glad to see you,” he would have to throw himself into the Vichegda River out of shame.
Dimitri took a deep breath and led Asha into the mansion, changing the subject.
“How did you make such a bizarre thing?”
“It’s not bizarre… I really didn’t know this would happen. When I made and ate it first, I thought there was no problem.”
Asha sighed softly.
“Not being able to lie, and no one realizing it until now… doesn’t make sense…”
Dimitri, who was about to retort, suddenly lost his strength and sank into a chair. If one didn’t have a habit of hiding their true feelings, it would be hard to detect such an abnormal situation.
And his cousin, whom he knew, was not someone who lied. She might tease people mischievously, but she didn’t lie. As he slumped his shoulders, Asha approached with a worried expression.
“Dimitri? Are you okay?”
“No… no…”
He wanted to shout, ‘No, I’m not okay! Damn it, how could I be okay?!’ He desperately wanted to shout it. He wanted to see Anastasia flustered and tearing up because she felt so sorry! Why couldn’t these words come out of his mouth? Was this not his true feeling?
“Dimitri, do you want to lie down and rest for a bit? You were really shocked. I’m really sorry.”
“I’m fine…”
Why was he saying he was fine! Dimitri wanted to cry.
“Whatever. What’s done is done. We’ll figure it out. We’ve already eaten the tart. So, how did you find out about the unknown effects?”
Asha smiled awkwardly.
“We had a tea party. With friends.”
“Ah. Your closest confidants.”
“We didn’t realize it while eating and drinking, but suddenly Natasha started praising Karnov.”
Dimitri spat out his tea. Turning his head to the side was the best he could do. It took a while to clean up before Asha could continue.
“Um, at first, I thought she was saying the opposite of what she felt. But…”
“That idiot Natalya Bagration!”
Dimitri slammed the table in betrayal. One of the leaders of the anti-Karnov faction had those true feelings?
“Why were you talking about Karnov Neustadter at a tea party with just you three? Did he come to take you from the palace garden to your bedroom again?”
Asha opened her mouth in surprise, then closed it. Right now, Dimitri couldn’t lie. So to Dimitri, Karnov was someone who tried to accompany Asha everywhere, even within the palace.
“No, of course not… it’s just that we’re about to set the date for the engagement, so Natasha… brought it up…”
“And what then? Does she think Karnov Neustadter is suitable as your husband? Is he okay?”
Asha nodded cautiously. An awkward smile played on her lips. Dimitri’s face flushed red. He seemed to have many things to say.
But Dimitri only opened and closed his mouth without saying anything, fearing he’d end up like the idiot Natalya.
‘But honestly…’
Was there anyone in the empire who could say Karnov Neustadter wasn’t suitable as a husband for the royal family?
A young duke inheriting the prestigious Sedvoyer duchy. A wealthy man owning several mines and a knight who had risen to Imperial Army Deputy Commander and Supreme Commander from a young age. Tall, with stunning looks that could turn heads, and a gentle demeanor cultivated from a young age with the royal family.
If someone recommended Karnov as someone else’s husband, Dimitri would genuinely criticize it without needing a truth serum. He’d argue that Karnov only had eyes for the royal family, so how could he be anyone else’s husband?
But as a husband for the royal family?
“Dimitri, do you think Karnov is unsuitable as my husband?”
“Why are you talking about husbands already!”
Dimitri’s loud outburst made Asha widen her eyes.
“Then what should I call…”
“You haven’t even had the engagement ceremony yet! And you… talking about a husband, did you even mention that to Karnov Neustadter?”
Dimitri didn’t realize that the arrow of his anger had shifted from Karnov to Asha.
He knew well that while Karnov Neustadter would bluntly criticize him, he was always joking or playing around with Anastasia and never demanding anything from her.
‘That heartless girl who only knows work probably never even called him a husband or fiancé.’
Suddenly, he felt a surge of emotions.
‘Always fooling around with other women!’
His closest confidants like Lyudmila and Natalya, the most famous opera singer in the capital, Zoya, the grand merchant Baroness Saratov, and the president of the brewing company Pasapo, Ksenia!
‘While treating Karnov as nothing but a human oak barrel!’
What did Karnov Neustadter even see in Anastasia to like her so much?
“You… how can you… how can a person do this?”
“What are you suddenly talking about…”
At that moment, Dimitri wanted to clearly blame Asha. Heartless Anastasia who only knew work! But those words wouldn’t come out because that wasn’t his true feeling.
This truth tormented Dimitri and made him feel lost. Simultaneously, the thoughts he had about Asha shifted back to Karnov.
‘That cold-hearted Karnov Neustadter must be so soft towards Asha because she treated him warmly.’
Even when everyone else feared him, she must have approached without hesitation and embraced him kindly. How well must she have treated him to the point where Karnov couldn’t live without her and was completely drawn to her?
“You… I’m your cousin… almost like a sibling… shouldn’t you be the best to me first…”
If you’re going to be kind to someone, shouldn’t you be the kindest to your family first? Dimitri thought his argument was valid, but he also knew it was incredibly embarrassing for a young man in his twenties to say aloud.
The moment he said it, he knew he’d be teased about it for at least 20 years. Dimitri firmly pressed his lips together. But Asha smiled brightly and asked,
“So if I’m the best to you, it’s okay for me to marry Karnov?”
“Yes!”
Dimitri, who had shouted abruptly, froze and slowly turned bright red. He quickly wanted to say that wasn’t the case, but the words wouldn’t come out.
Because it was true…
“N, no, have the engagement ceremony first! Are you listening to me? Asha? Engagement first before marriage!”
━━━✦❘༻༺❘✦━━━
“I’d be a little embarrassed if I made a slip of the tongue, but I mean it anyway. I’m really fine.”
Ilya said as he escorted Asha from the carriage, holding her hand.
“But I’m glad to see you come and see your face.”
If Dimitri had been there, he would have glared at Ilya, thinking how he could comfortably say everything he wanted.
“How’s Uncle? Is he alright?”
Asha asked, glancing at the mansion where Valery would be, who hadn’t come to greet her. Ilya smiled awkwardly.
“Well… Father is really alright. He did eat quite a bit of the pie, though.”
Asha looked astonished. Valery always acted as if he only ate what she sent out of courtesy, saying it didn’t taste particularly good…
“Has he become extremely honest…?”
“Yes, but since then, he’s only been saying things we like to hear. He’s a bit embarrassed and doesn’t want to come out, but there’s no problem. Actually, Father doesn’t have that many friends to meet with.”
Ilya smiled as he guided her to the drawing room. The servants brought tea and refreshments.
“So how did this happen? Did the World Tree fruit have such an effect?”
Asha repeated the story she told Dimitri. Ilya had the same question as Dimitri.
“Still, how… how did you realize it had that effect? In Asha’s palace, you’d never have known. Even His Majesty is always honest with Asha.”
The current Emperor Alexei was a strict ruler who demanded competency from his officials, but he was gentle and kind to his only cousin like a budding sprout in spring.
Most people thought the Emperor was coddling his sister by hiding all the bad and only showing the good, but Ilya knew this wasn’t the case.
They were much more honest with each other, hiding nothing. They didn’t want to worry each other but still shared everything.
“Well, Natasha…”
Surprised by the unexpected story, Ilya widened his eyes and then chuckled. Knowing Natalya and Lyudmila, who were always truthful to her, it made sense how they discovered the tart’s mystical effect…
“Well. Everyone was paying attention since there was talk of an engagement but no date set.”
“Really?”
“Yes. Some people might think there’s still a chance.”
“A chance? What chance?”
Asha asked, her eyes wide open. Ilya smiled awkwardly.
“Well… You’re a grand duchess, and Karnov is a duke, so His Majesty probably wouldn’t pair you two…”
Asha looked puzzled. Ilya explained again.
“There are people who think they might have a chance to marry you or the Duke of Sedvoyer…”
“…!”
Asha, who had never thought about it, looked surprised. Ilya decided he must tell Karnov about this. If he told him that Asha had never thought of marrying anyone but Karnov, he’d be delighted.
“We should hold the engagement ceremony soon… I was waiting for things to settle in Karnov’s territory. Specifically, the mining issues.”
“Duke of Sedvoyer would be very pleased to hear that.”
As Asha smiled brightly, heavy footsteps with a mischievous aura were heard approaching.
“Here you are, and you don’t even say hello?”
“Uncle!”
“Father. You’ve come out?”
It was the sharp and sensitive, pale blond Valery. He glared at Asha and Ilya, wearing a robe and looking displeased. Asha shrugged.
“Uncle didn’t come out.”
“Then you should have come to find me!”
“I would have been glad and happy if my uncle had come to get me.”
“Ugh…”
Asha blinked, and Valery flinched before changing the subject.
“You… you gave that to your uncle and now you’ve just come to see me?”
Asha quickly tilted her head with an apologetic expression.
“I’m really sorry… I didn’t know it would have such an effect.”
“N-no. There’s no need to be sorry…”
Normally, Valery would have said that a simple sorry wouldn’t suffice, but only unexpectedly gentle words came out. Asha stifled a laugh.
“I’ll look into it so this won’t happen again, but please stay home for a few days. I’m really sorry for startling you.”
“That… that can happen. It was an unfamiliar fruit after all…”
Valery seemed to think he was speaking coldly enough. Ilya turned away and laughed behind him.
“So, how’s the engagement preparation going? His Majesty isn’t one to rush such things, so tell Karnov Neustadter to take care of it.”
Asha chuckled at the fact that everyone around her was talking about her engagement. She thought being with Karnov was a given and that the engagement ceremony was just one step in that process, but apparently, she was the only one who thought that way.
‘I thought the real thing was the marriage registration…’
Isn’t the real thing the paperwork? Everything else is just secondary, right? But seeing these reactions, she was sure her thinking was wrong. And if left unchecked, other things could go terribly wrong too.
All other things. Like Karnov Neustadter’s feelings, for example.
“Then I’ll set the date and make the preparations with your blessing, Uncle.”
Asha smiled broadly.
“You’ll give me an engagement gift too, right?”
Valery’s lips twisted strangely. He wanted to say, “Do you think I’d give you even a penny?” but his true feelings were, “I’ve prepared a mountain of gifts to celebrate your engagement,” and he couldn’t get the words out. Meanwhile, Ilya slyly whispered into Asha’s ear.
“Father has filled a room with your engagement gifts…”
“Ilya! Be quiet!”
“Yes, Father.”
Ilya acted as if nothing had happened. Asha laughed heartily at the two and barely managed to get ready to leave.
Unlike when they greeted her, Valery came out with his son to see Asha off in front of the carriage. Just before she got on, Valery hesitated and grabbed her.
“My little hedgehog-like niece.”
“…!”
As Asha tried to stifle her laughter at the absurd nickname, Valery endured the humiliation for this question.
“Who all did you give the problematic tart to?”
Considering he had just called her “little hedgehog,” it was an odd question, but Asha answered readily.
“I sent it to Uncle Maxim, my parents, Karnov, Baroness Saratov, and the Aylau family…”
“And… did you send it to father? I mean, to your grandfather?”
Asha nodded. Valery cleared his throat a few times and stepped back, but he couldn’t hide the hint of joy on his face.
━━━✦❘༻༺❘✦━━━
“What’s the point of going all the way there?”
Maxim wasn’t in a particularly good mood, having been dragged back to the capital by his younger brother Valery’s relentless urging, thus cutting short his fishing trip.
“We need to ask how the preparations for Asha’s engagement are going. We are the elders here. Can we just stand by when our niece is about to go through one of the most important events in her life?”
“If you interfere…”
If Yuriev were here, he would likely say it would only make things worse, but Maxim held back and changed the topic.
“No, that’s something Yuriev should handle. It’s not our place to interfere. You’ve been forgetting lately that Asha is Yuriev’s daughter, not yours.”
“We’re not interfering. This is a marriage between the royal family and the duke’s family. We can’t even set a proper engagement date and everything’s at a standstill!”
“That’s because Asha is considerate. A new mine has been discovered in Sedvoyer territory. If the engagement is settled after that, the mine will be registered as shared property from the start instead of Duke of Sedvoyer’s personal property…”
Any assets acquired after the engagement are shared property when the couple marries and are split in half if they separate. But assets held before the engagement remain individually owned unless explicitly shared.
“So, as Asha’s relatives, isn’t it our duty to ensure the engagement happens quickly before the mine issue is resolved so that it becomes shared property with Asha?”
Valery’s eyes burned with determination. Maxim looked at Valery with a sour expression.
“Didn’t you eat the ‘Tart of Truth’?”
Among Asha’s relatives, the tart had quickly earned the nickname ‘Tart of Truth.’
“I did.”
That meant everything coming out of Valery’s mouth was the truth. But despite that, it felt like he had some ulterior motive.
“Well… fine. Yuriev… tends to overly trust his daughter. It might be better if we keep an eye on things through father.”
“Ha, now you’re making sense. Let’s go quickly.”
“What? Now? Did you send a letter to father?”
“Why would I need to send a letter to see my father?”
Has he finally gone mad? Isn’t there a case where people under too much pressure go berserk? Could Valery be experiencing that?
There was plenty of reason to believe so. Valery had grown up among strong-willed siblings, under a strict father, and in the scrutiny of nobles comparing him to his siblings. But Maxim couldn’t say any of that.
He wasn’t Yuriev…
And in the midst of thinking so, Maksim, who saw Yuriev waiting in the carriage, followed them quietly without saying any more.
━━━✦❘༻༺❘✦━━━
“Doesn’t it sound fun?”
Maxim looked at Yuriev with an exasperated expression and banged his head against the wall of the carriage.
“Are you that eager to hear what father says after eating the Tart of Truth?”
Valery, who felt his intentions had been exposed, blushed, but Yuriev remained confident.
“Aren’t you curious, brother?”
“I’m dying of curiosity! But…”
Would anyone usually think of barging into the former emperor’s residence without notice to have a conversation? He was the former emperor before being a father.
“…Did you eat that tart too?”
“I was going to eat it the next day, but I found out about its effects right away.”
“So you haven’t eaten it yet…”
Valery looked slightly resentful. Yuriev smiled brightly.
“Why? Eating it wouldn’t change anything for me.”
Maxim nodded instinctively.
“That’s true.”
“Brother!”
“I mean… this guy never held back on saying what he wanted to.”
Valery flinched at Maxim’s words, clearly recalling his childhood. Gathering courage, he clenched his fists and gave Yuriev’s shoulder a solid punch.
“Brother.”
Although Valery flinched as Yuriev glared at him, he steadfastly spoke.
“You should have been more discreet with your thoughts since you were young.”
“My thoughts?”
“You never held back your words.”
Valery tried to sound stern, but his trembling voice made it less authoritative.
The former emperor Mikhail’s residence was at the southern end of the capital, near the Pesheranskaya Forest. Initially, Mikhail had said he would live at the northernmost end of the empire after passing the throne to Alexei. It was to establish the authority of the young next emperor.
But the northernmost end of the empire, considering his age, was practically a harsh exile. No matter how much Alexei tried to persuade him, Mikhail wouldn’t budge. Even his favorite granddaughter, Anastasia, tried to convince him, but it didn’t work.
Curiously, it was none other than the Duke of Sedvoyer, Karnov Neustadter, who changed Mikhail’s mind. Whatever method he used, a single private meeting was enough to make Mikhail change his mind.
The chosen residence was near the Pesheranskaya Forest in the south of the capital. It was the only location that the entire royal family could somewhat accept.
Both the northern and southern borders were out of the question, and it couldn’t be too far from the capital according to Alexei and Anastasia’s opinions. Mikhail thought that being near the Vichegda River and further south would make it difficult for any faction loyal to the former emperor to march on the palace.
And the resulting legend tells that Anastasia sulked, saying, “Grandfather always overthinks things!” to which Mikhail retorted, “Try becoming old!”
“…But what if father isn’t home?”
“That’s why I said we should have informed him… You could have just sent word in advance.”
Valery pursed his lips in dissatisfaction at Maxim’s rebuke. No doubt his mind and words were at odds. Maxim quickly dismissed it and waved his hand. As the three got off the carriage, the butler of the mansion hurriedly came out to meet the three.
“Ah, how could you come without notice? Please, come in quickly.”
“Is father home? Is he inside?”
At Yuriev’s question, the butler nodded, looking visibly nervous. The butler, who had managed the palace for a long time and moved to the south of the capital with Mikhail, had known Yuriev since he was born.
“And he saw the carriage from afar and wondered what was going on.”
Before Yuriev could respond, Maxim quickly covered his mouth and met the butler’s gaze with a kind smile.
“We suddenly missed father so much that we rushed over without giving any notice. It’s our fault for arriving unannounced, so please don’t worry too much.”
━━━✦❘༻༺❘✦━━━
Mikhail, seated comfortably in an armchair, stared at his sons who had come without notice. Valery, who had been passionately discussing his niece’s engagement, noticed his father’s gaze and cleared his throat.
“Why… why are you looking at me like that?”
“Did you come all the way here to talk about that?”
Maxim was avoiding eye contact, and Yuriev was asking the butler about the supplier of the tea leaves currently served, wanting to share the taste with his wife, Irina.
“Yuriev, isn’t this a question you should answer?”
Yuriev, who had been tucking the paper with the tea shop’s name and location into his pocket, finally looked up.
“His Majesty Alexei… I mean, His Majesty the Emperor, is taking care of it, so what would I have to intervene for?”
“But she’s your only daughter! Pay more attention!”
Valery shouted angrily. Yuriev sipped his tea.
“I said there’s nothing to intervene in, not that I’m not paying attention.”
“So what are you doing with that attention?”
As the two bickered, Maxim, sensing the need to cut the conversation short, spoke up.
“By the way, f… Father, didn’t Asha send you a new tart recently? Did you receive it?”
Yuriev and Valery fell silent. Mikhail chuckled, resting his chin on his hand.
“I was wondering why you came rushing all of a sudden.”
He took an elegant sip of tea, set the cup down, and pointed at his three sons with his chin.
“So, did you all eat the tart and come here because of it?”
Embarrassed, Maxim cleared his throat, feeling Mikhail had seen through their intentions.
“Valery ate it, but Yuriev and I haven’t yet.”
“Really?”
Mikhail grinned and gestured to the butler. The butler hesitated momentarily, then loyally brought out the tart, cut into four pieces.
“I haven’t had it yet either, so let’s all eat it together.”
“What? F… Father?”
Maxim looked confused, as if he didn’t understand how things had come to this. And all of them, with slightly reluctant expressions, took a bite of the Tart of Truth. The taste of the tart, however, made their faces melt with delight.
Years of enjoying exquisite pastries had honed their palates. And the royal family had the experience of tasting the finest pastries in the capital for over a decade. They could appreciate the subtleties and excellence of the tart like true connoisseurs.
The buttery aroma from the still-crispy tart crust, the rich almond cream, and the texture of the cooked fruit melting in their mouths—they were all enchanted by the tart’s flavor, despite knowing its effects.
“She said they couldn’t sell this in the shop?”
“The ingredients are hard to procure…”
“Even if they sold it, there’d be problems. It’s already like trying to catch a star to get a voucher…”
“We’re a bit luckier. Asha gifts us like this…”
“Hmm. There wouldn’t be any controversy over preferential treatment, would there?”
“Surely not…”
As they mumbled things that would have made Asha burst out laughing, they finally recalled the tart’s special ability after finishing a whole tart.
“…”
“…”
“…”
At that moment, a tense silence hung between them. Only Mikhail took a leisurely sip of his tea.
“So, what did you really come all the way here to say?”
Everyone’s eyes turned to Valery, the one who had insisted on coming. But it was Yuriev who suddenly spoke up first.
“Father, what did the Duke of Sedvoyer say during your private meeting that made you change your mind and stay here?”
Mikhail, who had been swirling his tea cup leisurely, looked up at the unexpected question. Valery, who had been denied the chance to speak, glanced at Mikhail with a curious expression. Mikhail clicked his tongue.
“Years ago… after the incident with the Noctis Elves, I promised to grant him one request, but the Duke of Sedvoyer postponed it until later.”
At the time, Mikhail had inwardly chuckled. It was clear to anyone that the young duke had his eyes on his granddaughter, so Mikhail thought he would use the favor for his marriage in due time. But he hadn’t expected Karnov to bring it up just as he was about to leave the capital.
“But when I was about to leave the capital, he came to me and asked if I didn’t owe him one favor.”
Mikhail had asked if Karnov would waste such a precious opportunity on something like this, but Karnov had replied confidently.
— You are no longer the Emperor, so you are not omnipotent anymore. This may be the most difficult thing you can do now…
Mikhail had felt many of his reasons for leaving the capital melt away like sugar in tea.
For Karnov Neustadter to use such a precious opportunity in a private meeting meant that he didn’t consider it a waste. He probably thought he was getting a good deal by making two people he loved happy simultaneously.
Mikhail couldn’t tell Karnov that he loved Alexei and Anastasia the most in front of him. At that moment, the person who cherished them the most was not Mikhail but the Duke of Sedvoyer. So Mikhail could only nod at the young duke.
“Hmm. I see.”
Yuriev nodded, looking understanding. Maxim and Valery also nodded without much meaning. As an awkward silence lingered, Maxim nudged Valery with his elbow.
‘You came here because there’s something you want to hear.’
Prompted by Maxim, Valery, who had been glaring at him, clenched his fists and spoke determinedly.
“F… Father.”
“Speak.”
“Honestly… when I was studying, you didn’t pay attention to my grades, did you?”
“…”
“…”
Not only Mikhail, but also Maxim and Yuriev looked puzzled.
“Studying? When have any of us delved into academic pursuits?”
At least in this generation, none of the royal family members had become scholars. Valery’s face turned bright red at Yuriev’s bewildered expression.
“N-no, not academic pursuits… you know, that thing.”
“What thing?”
“Are you going to keep pretending to be clueless?”
“No, I’m not pretending. I really can’t recall any time when you did something that could be considered studying…”
Yuriev’s words trailed off as Maxim nudged him in the waist. It was a signal to stop grilling Valery.
Seeing his brother’s signal, Yuriev quickly understood what Valery was referring to. He looked at Valery with a shocked expression.
“That was over 20 years ago, wasn’t it?”
“When we studied with the professors, it was almost 30 years ago…”
Maxim whispered in response. While none of the royal family members became scholars, they all did study at one point—during their childhood, before reaching adulthood, just like any moderately wealthy family.
During those times, Yuriev had thought none of his siblings were interested in academics. Among them, the ones who had relatively good grades were Valery and himself. His success was due to his innate intelligence and knack, while Valery’s…
Yuriev hadn’t paid much attention to how Valery achieved his grades. But it was obvious. Valery’s face turned crimson, almost ready to burst.
“Some things, no matter how much time passes, just don’t leave your heart!”
Yuriev shrugged and didn’t say anything more. He, being someone who wasn’t easily swayed by others’ words, couldn’t fully understand his brother’s desire for their father’s approval.
But he could somewhat relate to the idea that “some things can’t be forgotten with time.” So, despite not fully understanding Valery’s feelings, Yuriev didn’t feel the urge to tease him.
‘My daughter really made an amazing tart…’
If it hadn’t been for this tart, he would never have realized that he had such a deep appreciation for Valery.
“N-no, don’t cry!”
However, Yuriev, who had been looking at Valery with a gentle heart, suddenly exclaimed in dismay. Valery, whose eyes had been glistening with resentment and shame, waved his arms frantically as his tears receded. At that moment, Mikhail suddenly spoke.
“Weren’t you something like, ‘a sensitive soul with great talent in writing’?”
“…!”
The sons fell silent. Valery widened his eyes and looked at Mikhail. Mikhail, deeply sunk in his chair, tilted his chin on the armrest and slowly rolled his gaze to the left, tapping his palate with his tongue.
” ‘Although somewhat lacking in mathematics and logical reasoning…’ Hmm, ‘has deep empathy and can keenly sense others’ emotions…’ Hm. That part was likely the professor’s flattery.”
“It just means he was very perceptive. It’s not really flattery. Quite the opposite…”
Yuriev started speaking frankly but was stopped by a smack from Maxim. Valery, however, seemed not to hear anything, blinking his wide eyes.
Mikhail, who had been reciting his sons’ childhood academic evaluations, gradually stopped as he saw his son’s face.
After a moment of awkward silence, Valery, whose eyes were now red, suddenly stood up and burst out.
“Why didn’t you tell me any of this before!”
“Isn’t it natural for the professors teaching you to report to me? Who in the palace doesn’t know that? You knew too!”
“Well, yes, but…”
“So of course I know what evaluations you received. Why were you curious about this?”
Valery bit his lip and then slumped down, wiping his eyes slightly.
I thought father didn’t care about me. I thought he would ignore whatever the person teaching me said. I thought he wouldn’t remember anything about me…
“Not remember? I threw you birthday parties every year, gave you gifts, and sent you congratulatory cards for every occasion.”
“Well… that’s true.”
Valery mumbled, his tears seemingly gone.
“Compared to you, I didn’t even get a wedding congratulations, brother.”
“That’s because you ran away to get married!”
“Anyway.”
Yuriev shrugged indifferently. Valery, feeling somewhat wronged, just mumbled and slumped his shoulders.
“I didn’t just want you to remember…”
Valery now felt a small sense of shame. As he spoke, he realized his true feelings. It wasn’t that he wanted his father to pay attention to him or to treat his siblings equally.
He wanted father to care about him more than anyone else, more than his other siblings…
Valery’s face turned bright red, and he just mumbled. Yuriev, who had been laughing, took a sip of tea and said,
“Just because father remembered all that doesn’t mean he was a good father. If father had been a really good person, I wouldn’t have run away.”
“No, you would have run away no matter who it was.”
Maxim interjected, but Yuriev pretended not to hear and asked Mikhail, in a light tone as if joking.
“Father, have you ever thought of Valery first among us?”
“Yuriev!”
Valery shouted Yuriev’s name as if in a scream, his face showing a mix of curiosity and fear.
Mikhail looked down at his teacup with a complicated expression.
In this moment when no one could lie.
Mikhail looked up at his sons and answered.
“I have.”
It was probably the first time in Valery’s life that he had genuinely tried to tackle Yuriev.
Of course, Yuriev, who had trained with his exceptional wife, wasn’t affected at all, but Valery was so shocked by his father’s unexpected answer that he fell to the floor.
Thud!
“Ouch…”
“The mansion might collapse.”
Maxim muttered and gestured towards the entrance. The butler, who had been standing by the door, hurriedly moved to fetch something for the swelling.
Mikhail sighed, rubbing his forehead as he looked at his sons, who seemed to lack any dignity or grandeur. Valery, lying on the floor, stared blankly at the ceiling before turning over and starting to cry again. Yuriev, looking down at Valery with an incredulous expression, said,
“Brother, why don’t you try writing?”
Yuriev suggested writing an essay about the conflict and reconciliation between father and son, but Maxim discouraged him, saying, “There are already too many of those; no one will read it.”
“Then how about writing any kind of novel?”
“Are you suggesting it to give him an outlet because you’re tired of dealing with his emotions, or do you think his sensitivity means he has talent for writing?”
“Half and half?”
━━━✦❘༻༺❘✦━━━
On the returning carriage, only Maxim and Yuriev were present.
“I never knew Valery was such a crybaby. He cried like that last time too…”
“He must have a lot of pent-up emotions.”
Valery, who cried his eyes out until they were swollen, wanted to leave Mikhail’s residence immediately out of shame, but Yuriev and Maxim had left him there, deciding not to miss the opportunity to resolve Valery’s long-held feelings of wanting to be his father’s only beloved son.
“Were you really unaffected?”
“About what? Wanting to be father’s special son?”
“Yes, that.”
“In that sense, I was always father’s special son. I have no regrets. What about you, brother?”
“Me?”
Suddenly being put on the spot, Maxim looked a bit taken aback but then smiled.
“…Father said he thought of Valery first. Do you think he only thought of Valery that way?”
Yuriev frowned at the implication that Mikhail might have also thought of Maxim first at times.
“Why doesn’t Valery know then?”
“Father didn’t show it much.”
“Well… that’s true. But that’s not the important thing right now.”
Maxim muttered to himself that there was never a time when Valery was the important topic for Yuriev.
“What are you planning to give Asha as an engagement gift?”
“…”
“Sigh. I should have asked father and Valery about this first, but Valery started crying suddenly…”
“Valery… he thinks Asha is his daughter, so he’ll take care of it well without much worry…”
“And you, brother?”
“I’ll also prepare as if Asha is my daughter.”
Maxim shook his head with a bitter expression as Yuriev, looking pleased like a young angel, watched him.
━━━✦❘༻༺❘✦━━━
“Ugh… Ugh.”
Asha let out a groan as she slumped in a chair at the tea table under the World Tree. It was hard to tell if she was sitting or lying down.
She had spent the past few days visiting every house she had gifted the tart to, warning them about its dangers. Finally, her task was complete.
Karnov looked down at her, gently fanning her with a handheld fan.
“This is all your fault, Karnov.”
“Suddenly?”
Asha, half-lying on the table, looked at Karnov with a pout.
“It was because you strongly wished to hear only the truth that a fruit with such an effect was produced.”
“Oh, so that’s how it happened.”
Karnov nodded, understanding.
“So this time, only a fruit with such… a special effect was produced?”
“Yes. According to Phoebe, the next fruit won’t be a ‘fruit of truth.’ It’s about what happens when the next fruit grows.”
Asha, her face reddened with frustration, suddenly stood up.
“Asha? Where are you going?”
Asha grabbed Karnov’s hand and led him quickly to her kitchen. Past the counter and oven, beyond the pantry, a silver cloche glimmered in the deep recesses of the cold storage.
“This is the last remaining… Tart Evan.”
Asha brought the cloche out and placed it on the table. With a reverent expression, she lifted the cloche to reveal a still-fresh tart. The candied fruit shone brightly, and the golden-brown crust looked delicious.
Asha took a knife and solemnly divided the tart into eight pieces. A hint of tension crossed Karnov’s face.
But Asha didn’t place a plate in front of Karnov. She set it in front of herself, gripping a fork with a combative look, and took a big bite of the tart.
“A… Asha? Are you okay?”
“Karnov, I’ve been thinking.”
“Yes?”
Asha gestured, and Karnov quickly poured her a glass of cold milk.
“Here, milk. So what have you been thinking?”
“The reason for all this…”
The World Tree had responded to Karnov’s power, growing vigorously and producing a fruit that compelled people to speak the truth because that was what he wished for.
So why had Karnov wished for such a thing?
Probably because he wasn’t sure of Asha’s feelings…
There are things about the human heart that are unknowable even when you know them. Asha had taken for granted that what she saw with her own eyes was undeniable and left no room for doubt or insecurity, so she had forgotten to provide reassurance.
Things she had assumed he would understand just by looking, by meeting eyes. Things she had been reluctant to say aloud.
Asha resolutely finished her plate of tart. She set down her fork with a clink and gulped down the milk. The cup and plate were both empty.
“A… Asha?”
Asha, seeing Karnov look more nervous than she was, let out a small laugh, then quickly cleared her throat and steadied her voice.
“You know I just ate ‘Tart Evan,’ right? I showed you just now.”
“I do…”
Everyone who had received that tart from Asha had momentarily become incapable of lying.
“And you know that I can’t lie right now, right?”
Asha pressed the remaining crumbs on her plate with her fingertip and popped them into her mouth. Karnov sighed softly.
“I get it.”
“Um… So, here’s the thing. No, wait, let me drink a glass of water.”
She thought she was ready, but as she opened her mouth to speak, she felt thirsty. Asha brewed some tea with Karnov and took a deep breath.
“Karnov, has the mining issue been resolved?”
“What?”
Karnov was a bit taken aback.
“Is that what you wanted to say?”
Was she really asking about the mining issue after eating the tart, as if to show she would only speak the truth?
“Huh? No, consider this a preparatory question. So, is the mining issue resolved? The paperwork and all that?”
“…”
Karnov licked his lips, then nodded.
“It’s all done.”
Asha smiled with the satisfaction of a manager seeing everything proceeding smoothly.
“Then how about we have the engagement ceremony in two months?”
“In two months?”
“Given our statuses, the engagement ceremony will be a state affair. It’ll probably take about a month to organize everything, right? Then, it will take about three weeks to make our outfits, and a week to prepare and make the engagement cake. So, two months.”
Asha counted on her fingers. Karnov had a vague feeling that something was off, but since an earlier engagement was a good thing, he nodded.
Anyway, Asha was speaking after eating that tart. It meant she genuinely believed they could have the engagement ceremony within two months.
“Okay. Let’s do that.”
“And now, the main topic…”
“The engagement ceremony isn’t the main topic?”
“That was just scheduling.”
“…”
Karnov decided to nod along to whatever Asha said.
“The reason I like you, Karnov, is…”
“What? Wait a minute.”
Karnov immediately retracted his decision. Asha, who had suddenly stopped, looked at him with a distressed expression.
“Why, why? Is something urgent? I really want to say this now…”
“No, no. You said you like me because of my looks, didn’t you? You already said that.”
Karnov remembered when he had thought he lost his power while soaking the potatoes during that camping trip. Asha looked a bit flustered and shook her head.
“Of course, that was half a joke…”
“Half, but still serious.”
“Well… you are handsome. Your eyes, nose, mouth, everything, Duke of Sedvoyer.”
Karnov cleared his throat and folded his arms as calmly as possible. The clean, empty plate in front of Asha kept reminding him that she could only speak the truth right now.
“So, can I continue?”
Asha gestured. Karnov quickly poured tea into his cup, took a few sips, and nodded.
“So, the reason I like you, Karnov, is…”
“…”
“…”
“The reason is?”
Karnov looked bewildered.
“It’s nerve-wracking to say it all of a sudden.”
Asha took a deep breath and continued.
“I like your gentle nature, Karnov. You’ve been a good friend to Alyosha since childhood, always protecting him even if it meant making enemies. I admire that kindness.”
Karnov was taken aback, unsure of which time Asha was referring to.
“Supporting Alexei… His Majesty, is my duty and right. He’s my friend.”
He had never explained his power, letting everyone fear him, to keep Alexei safer. Ignoring Karnov’s words, Asha went on.
“I also appreciate your sense of responsibility. You do things you don’t want to or are scared of if they need to be done, without delay.”
“If it needs to be done, it has to be done…”
“Be quiet.”
“Understood, Your Grace.”
At Asha’s stern gaze, Karnov closed his mouth and nodded.
“It’s not easy to consistently do what needs to be done. Most people delay tasks they don’t want to do.”
“Well… that’s true.”
“And I like how you get along with my other cousins. Even when Dimitri is annoying, you still treat him kindly.”
“That’s just…”
Karnov tried to interject, but Asha continued.
“I also appreciate your kindness in always helping with my pastry shop, despite your busy schedule. And your good relationship with grandmother is something I really like.”
Well, the grandmother she referred to was his own, after all. Karnov started to laugh.
“I was really thankful you helped keep my grandfather in the capital, but I never got to say it.”
“Ah…”
Karnov didn’t ask if she knew. Asha continued.
“Your ability to support others without making a fuss is something I respect.”
“Respect might be too strong a word…”
Karnov flinched at the grand word, but Asha didn’t retract her statement.
“Oh! Another thing I respect is your ability to recognize others’ strengths.”
“That’s really not my strength. I…”
As a commander, he’d grown adept at identifying people’s flaws, never thinking he was good at spotting strengths.
“Even knowing their flaws, you acknowledge and appreciate their good points.”
“Have I ever done that?”
“When Natasha was all over the place, you still bought her book.”
Well, that guidebook was really well-made, and besides, she’s your friend. Karnov thought but didn’t say anything as the atmosphere warmed.
“And you remember people you met in childhood and help them if a good opportunity arises. I like that attention to detail.”
“Did I do that?”
“You helped Sophia find a job.”
Sophia had been Yekaterina’s aide long ago. Now she worked at Asha’s Lemerotil shop and Pesheranskaya Confectionery. Karnov had arranged that.
Karnov felt like Asha was talking about events from a past life and just gaped.
“And… the day we first met in that corridor.”
She brought up their first meeting. Karnov began to wring his hands.
“You said so many things to help me that day. That’s something I like about you, worrying I’d be taken advantage of.”
“You’ve been teasing me for ten years about spraining your wrist and ankle, but you actually liked it?”
“Oh, my wrist…”
Knowing Asha was teasing, Karnov glanced at her while gently holding and massaging her delicate wrist, unsure if his hand was warm or if her wrist was cool…
Asha looked down at her hand, held by Karnov’s, and continued softly.
“I also like how you care for Evan, almost like a father, ensuring he lacks nothing.”
“Evan endures so much as your guard; it’s only right.”
“And I appreciate how you always worry that I might be doing something against my will.”
Asha paused, then withdrew her hand from Karnov’s.
“I appreciate it, but… I feel guilty. And now, I also feel a bit hurt…”
“What?”
Karnov’s eyes widened in genuine surprise.
“Is my assurance really so lacking? Maybe because I didn’t reassure you enough, you worry that I might be doing things against my will. Did I really not reassure you? It’s a whirlwind of thoughts.”
“Ah…”
“But then I think, maybe I really didn’t reassure you enough…”
Karnov and Asha had been friends since childhood, with countless memories intertwined like threads in a tapestry.
Their conversations always connected past memories with the present, building their future, often leaving many things unsaid.
All their shared happiness, joy, and even small sorrows were rooted in their shared past.
In a sense, this was an expression of their affection. The implied, unspoken words were their little secret.
But even knowing what’s inside a closed jewelry box, if you don’t open it, the beautiful gems remain silent in the dark…
Feeling a sudden urge to cry, Asha poked at the empty plate with her fork.
“There are so many good things about you, Karnov, but even if all those things disappeared, I’d still like you.”
“…”
“I may have been slow to realize my feelings, but! I’ve really liked you since long ago.”
“…”
“And stop treating me like someone who can’t say no. I can say no when I don’t want to do something.”
Karnov nodded in the silence.
“So what would you have done if I said, ‘I’ve thought about it, and I don’t want to get married’?”
Karnov blinked, then frowned as Asha pressed on.
“What would you have done if I said I didn’t want to marry you? Would you have just left and married someone else?”
“Why would it end like that? Of course not.”
“Then what would you have done?”
“I’d have given you something grand to win your favor.”
“Something grand?”
“Yes. Something shiny and beautiful. Like a diamond mine?”
Karnov said this as he deftly pulled out a document. Asha’s eyes widened. Karnov lightly tapped her nose with the end of the folded document.
“If you had said, ‘I need to reconsider,’ I would have shown you this. But since you’re marrying me right away, there’s no need to give it to you, right?”
“Ah! What?”
It was a mine Karnov had waited to claim ownership of, but seeing Asha’s mock indignation, he burst into laughter.
Asha jumped up and tried to peek at the document in Karnov’s hand. Seeing this, Karnov relented and handed it to her. Asha glared playfully at Karnov and unfolded the document.
“You know the worst thing to say? ‘I was going to give it to you…’ It’s so frustrating!”
“You didn’t really want it anyway.”
If she really wanted the diamond mine in her name, they could have had the engagement ceremony as soon as they heard about the mine’s discovery.
“It’s not about wanting it; it just makes me a bit angry.”
Asha glanced up and scanned the mine documents, her eyes widening.
“What is this?”
“What do you think? I said I was trying to win your favor.”
“This, this, what is this!”
“I told you earlier.”
“Here! This! It already has my name on it!”
Asha exclaimed, pointing at the paper.
[Owner: Anastasia Kayeruth, Grand Duchess of Pesheranskaya]
“I said I’d give it to you, so His Majesty paid the taxes.”
“Karnov, you’re joking. You said you’d do something if I rejected you. You can’t do this already!”
“Why not?”
As she gesticulated and protested that she couldn’t accept such an extravagant gift, Asha suddenly realized she was enveloped in a flood of light.
Feeling her cheeks gradually warm, she turned her head. The light was so bright that she couldn’t look at Karnov.
“If I want to give you what’s mine, is there any reason I shouldn’t? Or are you disappointed it’s not a sugar cane plantation?”
“No, no! That’s not it. Okay. I understand…”
“What do you understand?”
“That we should have found a way to go straight to the wedding instead of the engagement ceremony…”
Another burst of light emanated. Asha, feeling dizzy, closed her eyes and laughed. She then thought of the ‘fruit of truth’ preserves she had secretly made. Layered with honey and sugar, the preserves would last for years.
“I’ll definitely include this in my dowry.”
And if, someday, Karnov seemed anxious again, she’d make a tart with those preserves and confess her heart after stuffing her mouth with it.
As Asha snuggled into Karnov’s embrace, she giggled from the kisses raining on her cheeks, hair, and eyes, thinking.
Even if it’s not for such situations, can’t it be useful in emergencies?
