There was no time for Pristin.
To be precise, Tanya didn’t have much time left. She had to see her before she left for exile.
So, after receiving an answer that Pristin could come at any time, she immediately visited the Gennant mansion the next day.
“I’m here to see Princess Gennant.”
Of course, when she arrived at the manor, she was greeted with a less-than-favorable reception. It was almost as if she had stepped into enemy territory.
However, a sinner who would go into exile tomorrow could not be called to the imperial palace.
Pristin, who was guided to the reception room of the mansion, waited for Tanya with a cup of tea in front of her.
After a while, Tanya, dressed up quite spectacularly, emerged.
“Countess Rosewell is here.”
Tanya walked toward Pristin with a smile.
“You must be heavily pregnant, so what brings you all the way here?”
“I have something to tell you.”
“Something to say. To me?”
“Yes. Please have a seat.”
Tanya did so with ease.
Then, noticing that the cup of tea in front of her had barely diminished, she spoke softly.
“I see you haven’t taken a sip, Your Excellency.”
“I’m cutting back on the tea. I’m pregnant, as you know.”
“You’re not afraid it’s been poisoned, are you?”
Pristin narrowed her eyes at Tanya. Tanya giggled.
“Just kidding, I thought about doing that, but you’re too clever for that.”
As she watched Tanya take a mouthful of her own poison without batting an eye, Pristin felt her teeth chatter for a moment.
She gave her an unflinching stare, not bothering to hide her displeasure, and when Tanya took it in stride, she asked in a voice that was far from defeated,
“But what brings you here? If you’re willing to walk this far, you must have something to say to me.”
After she finished speaking, Tanya added with a smirk,
“Well, I have a vague idea.”
“You’re probably right about the reason,”
Pristin said, looking straight at Tanya with dry eyes.
“You see, the princess has been saying some useless things in front of the emperor.”
“Useless things?”
“I don’t think you’re asking because you don’t know.”
“I really don’t know.”
Tanya laughed with a grin.
Pristin looked at her quietly and soon pulled up the corners of her mouth. The reaction was unexpected, and Tanya’s smile cracked slightly.
“Well, if you don’t know, I don’t think I should tell you.”
“Really?”
“Yes. The reason I came here was not to blame the princess.”
Pristin said to Tanya with a relaxed smile,
“It was the story that the princess told His Majesty, the story that I had treated for a long time as a burden on my heart. I was going to hide it my entire life, but I always felt burdened not to tell him…”
“…”
“My, the princess took the burden off my heart.”
She knew the characteristics of someone like Tanya. The way she’d lose her temper if she thought her actions had benefited her in any way.
Pristin saw it through and continued her provocation.
“I talked deeply with His Majesty two nights ago. I think we have deepened our love thanks to the princess. So I was very happy with His Majesty last night.”
“…Is that the reason you’ve come this far, to talk about it?”
“Yes, thanks to the princess, there is no secret left between us.”
With those words, Pristin smiled brightly. Tanya’s expression, on the other hand, crumpled.
“I wanted to see you in person to thank you for that. As you know, the princess will now go into exile.”
“…”
“Of course you’ll be back in a few years, but I think I’ll be in a position where it’s hard to meet the princess then.”
“…Ha.”
Tanya said, staring coldly at Pristin with an expression of disbelief,
“The throne may change before then. You’re so confident.”
“…That’s a dangerous thing to say.”
“I was just saying that one never knows what lies ahead. I hope you don’t take it the wrong way.”
“You worry about a lot of useless things, princess.”
Pristin said in a cynical tone,
“If you would just have minded your own business, you wouldn’t be in this mess.”
“…Excuse me?”
“Well, I’ll leave you to it. I’m sure you’ll be busy today if you’re going to leave for exile tomorrow. I don’t think I should take up any more of your time.”
“Oh, you’re thinking of me to the point of tears.”
“That is because this will be the last time I see the princess.”
Pristin got up from her seat after uttering the words. As a result, looking down at Tanya naturally, Pristin really left the last word.
“Goodbye, and I wish you good health, princess; and I hope you will be more mature than you are now when I see you again.”
After raising her head in a moderately polite manner, Pristin turned back without regret and left the drawing-room.
With the sound of the door closing, Tanya’s head’s reason was also completely cut off.
“Aaaaah!”
Tanya lost her temper and threw anything she could hold. A teacup made from expensive porcelain that Pristin had not even touched and a glass dish of salt biscuits she had formally brought were shattered at Tanya’s fingertips.
Brelin, who was waiting outside, hurried into the drawing room at the loud noise. She checked the inside of the chaotic drawing room and swallowed her dry saliva, perhaps because it was difficult to accept it right away, even though she was expecting it.
“Are you all right, lady?”
“Do I look okay now?”
Tanya raised her voice more angrily at the question.
“That spoiled brat made a joke of me, that abominable wench!”
“Take it easy, lady.”
“Calm down? How can I calm down now?”
“The master told you not to worry too much.”
Brelin blurted out anything she could to calm Tanya down.
“The exile, it won’t be long. Just hold on a little bit.”
“…”
“You should be thinking about the future, not now.”
“…Yeah. You’re right.”
Fortunately, Brelin’s words worked. Tanya visibly calmed down even more.
“Just wait a little longer. Just a little longer.”
───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─────
The next day, Tanya went into exile as scheduled.
The exile was a ten-hour drive from the capital and a three-hour boat ride from the port.
Tanya hated going to exile more than dying, but she had no choice. Telling herself that now was the time to plan for the future was the only way she could make it bearable.
“Princess Gennant has just left Gennant Mansion.”
Pristin felt strangely relieved when she heard that Tanya had left completely. She had been stuck in her heart like a thorn ever since she entered the palace, making her uncomfortable. She even tried to harm her.
“You can really relax now, Sister. Just focus on prenatal education.”
“Okay. Thank you.”
“Countess.”
She was having a conversation with Christine when Aruvina came in from outside. Pristin asked her with a smile,
“What’s going on?”
“Lord Bachell is here.”
“Oh, Lord Bachell.”
It had been a long time since they had met. Pristin asked without hiding a hint of pleasure,
“What brings him here? Where is he now?”
“We have him in the drawing room. I think he brought something with him… Maybe he’s here to say hello?”
“I must go now.”
Pristin, who got up from her seat, went straight to the drawing room. Spotting her, Akkad greeted her with his trademark gentle smile.
“Countess Rosewell.”
“Lord Bachell, it’s been a long time.”
In fact, she was worried about things becoming awkward when she turned down his indirect confession last time, but fortunately, that didn’t seem to be the case.
Pristin asked Akkad, trying not to think about what happened then,
“What brings you here? You must be busy with the herbal garden.”
“I don’t think I’ve ever congratulated you properly on your pregnancy.”
Akkad picked up a box from under the table and handed it to Pristin. Pristin asked, her eyes wide open,
“Oh, what’s this?”
“It’s a gift. It’s a good herbal juice for the fetus and the mother during pregnancy.”
“Oh, my God. Did you make it yourself?”
“Yes. By myself.”
Akkad nodded with a light smile.
“It’s something I developed to supplement the lack of nutrition during pregnancy, and since there were no pregnant women in the imperial family, I’ve had no use for it… but I’m honored to present it to you, countess.”
“I am honored, thank you.”
“Please try it and let me know if there’s anything I can do to improve it.”
“You made it. Will there be a need like that?”
“I’m flattered. You trust me too much.”
“Because you’re the best in the empire in terms of your skills.”
Pristin nodded with certainty.
“Thank you. Thank you very much. By the way, are you attending the ball the day after tomorrow?”
“Oh, yes. Maybe. But why all of a sudden…”
“I’m just curious. I’ll see you again then.”
“Yes, I’ll see you again then.”
At the end of the word, Akkad slowly rose from his seat.
“Then I’ll get going.”
“You’re leaving already? It’s lunchtime soon. Let’s have lunch together.”
“I’d like to, but I have another drug under development.”
Akkad smiled and bowed, as if grateful for the offer.
“Please take good care of yourself.”
“Yes. Thank you, lord.”
After a brief conversation, Akkad left the drawing room first, and Pristin slid open the box.
The dark color of the herbal juice in the bottle seemed to have been generously added with precious herbs.
“…Thank you.”
It was part of his job, of course, but it came naturally to him.
Pristin stared into the box, then quickly picked a bottle and spilled it into her mouth.
