“Oh…!”
“Why are you so surprised, Aruvina?”
Pristin was standing right at the door. Aruvina’s heart pounded unnecessarily, even though she hadn’t done anything wrong. She smiled awkwardly and spoke.
“Ah, nothing, Your Excellency.”
“Did His Majesty wake up?”
“Oh, no.”
Having been told to answer so, Aruvina was forced to lie.
“He’s still sleeping. I just checked and came out.”
“Oh, I see.”
“But what’s that?”
“Oh, this…”
Pristin answered with a slightly embarrassed voice.
“It’s a hangover remedy. I thought he might look for one when he woke up…”
“Did you go to the herbal garden and make it yourself?”
“Yes, well.”
“He will like it.”
At Aruvina’s meaningful voice, Pristin gave an awkward smile. Then she opened the door and stepped into her room.
–Creak
At the sound of the door opening, Jerald, who had been wondering ‘How on earth should I apologize?’ quickly lay down on the bed and pretended to sleep. Pristin, who entered the room, approached Jerald’s bed without noticing. She glanced at Jerald, who still seemed to be asleep, and slowly sat down on the bed.
And she whispered while still staring at him.
“You’re sleeping well.”
Pristin stared at Jerald, who was asleep for a long time. Although his eyes were closed, Jerald felt Pristin’s gaze at him and felt strange.
He felt nervous for no reason. It was when Jerald was about to toss and turn to pretend to be up.
“…”
Unexpectedly, Jerald froze as he was lying flat. It was because he felt a gentle touch on his face. No matter what anyone said, this was a situation where Pristin was caressing his face.
Jerald was quite taken aback by the completely unexpected situation. As he was prepared to hear slander or backbiting while he was asleep, he was even more surprised.
“You don’t even like alcohol that much…”
It was a dry murmur, but when it interlocked with the gentle touch caressing his cheek, Jerald realized in an instant.
‘She doesn’t completely dislike me.’
If she was utterly put off, such behavior would have been impossible. More than anything, if she really hated him, she would have sent him back to the central palace immediately when he rashly visited yesterday. But despite this positive flow, Jerald was somewhat puzzled.
‘Then why?’
What could be the reason for pushing him away? Is it simply because of the gap in status between a fallen noblewoman and the emperor?
‘Or does she have a different reason as she said before?’
But even if there was a reason, it didn’t seem like Pristin would willingly tell him. Although it felt a bit frustrating, it didn’t matter.
Whether she knew it or not, the important thing was that there would be no change in his behavior in the future.
Especially now that he realized she doesn’t completely dislike him.
“Can you sleep in more?”
Then, Pristin murmured in consideration, and Jerald felt it was time to open his eyes. He groaned to sound like he was regaining consciousness while turning his body as naturally as possible.
“Hmm…”
Immediately, Pristin retracted her hand from him in surprise. Jerald was rather sorry about that, but it was inevitable.
He opened his eyes sluggishly. And seeing the face of his beloved first, he involuntarily felt choked up.
“…”
“…”
“Pristin.”
The husky voice called her name as if it were precious. There was no way she wouldn’t notice the feelings contained in that voice, and Pristin flinched unknowingly.
However, she soon returned to her usual indifferent demeanor to face him.
“You’re awake.”
“I’m at…”
“This is my room.”
Pristin’s voice was so cold that it was hard to believe her tender touch from earlier. Feeling the gap, Jerald found it awkward.
“Why am I…”
“You came here drunk yesterday.”
“Ah…”
Even though he already knew, hearing it directly from her made it impossible to hide his embarrassment. Jerald felt genuine embarrassment that didn’t require any acting.
He apologized, not knowing what to do.
“I’m sorry. I should’ve never…”
“…”
“I apologize. You must have been surprised.”
“…It’s okay.”
Pristin answered in a calm voice.
“But please be careful next time.”
“I will. I will.”
As Jerald nodded as if to agree, he soon noticed the green glass bottle in Pristin’s hand. Jerald quickly realized it was the medicine Pristin had made for him, but he pretended he didn’t know and asked.
“What’s that?”
“…Ah.”
As if she had forgotten, Pristin handed what she was holding to Jerald.
“It’s for you to drink. It’s a hangover remedy.”
“…Hangover remedy?”
“Yes. I made it myself.”
“Since this morning?”
He had heard she’d gone to the herbal garden. But was it really for him? Jerald’s heart began to race. Then, as if guessing his state, Pristin quickly replied.
“Don’t get me wrong. It wasn’t that hard. Besides, the central palace would have contacted the herbal garden anyway… I thought it would be better for the effectiveness of the medicine if I gave it to you sooner.”
But Jerald didn’t hear any of Pristin’s excuses. What mattered was that Pristin had ‘personally’ made the medicine for him since this morning.
Thinking that he could graciously drink anything that was in there, Jerald was grateful that she did not collude with his uncle against him. With a smile bright enough for anyone to see, he took Pristin’s medicine.
“Thank you, Pristin.”
“…It’s only natural as a palace herbalist.”
“But you made it even before receiving the instructions. For me.”
“…”
Becoming speechless, Pristin finally closed her mouth. Instead of hastening a response, Jerald met her gaze with a fleeting smile. Then, without a moment of hesitation, he drained the contents of the bottle all at once.
Since the remedy was made only from terribly bitter herbs, Pristin asked in a slightly surprised expression.
“Shall I get you some candy?”
“You see me as a child, Pristin.”
“I didn’t mean to be rude. …I just thought it might be bitter.”
“See.”
Jerald said, pulling his mouth into an even longer smile.
“You’re thinking about me now, aren’t you?”
“…That much thought I can give to anyone.”
“But not to someone you dislike. Like Princess Gennant for instance.”
“…”
Pristin lost her words again at the extreme example. Meanwhile, Jerald put down the empty bottle and slowly approached Pristin.
At the unexpected closing distance, Pristin startled, arching her body backward.
But there was clearly a limit to pulling away while sitting. Pristin, not understanding his intentions, stared at Jerald with widened eyes, blinking rapidly.
It was certainly morning, not night or evening. Pristin didn’t understand why the atmosphere was suddenly becoming strange. As she unknowingly clutched the bedsheet tightly, Jerald had somehow come very close. The distance was such that if he bent his waist a little more, their lips would touch instantly.
Pristin swallowed her dry spit and looked up at Jerald.
“Did I make…”
“…?”
“Any mistakes last night?”
Who would ask such a question while setting the mood like this? Pristin answered, feeling a bit dumbfounded.
“It seems you don’t think coming here last night was a mistake.”
“Ah.”
Jerald seemed awkward, seemingly acknowledging the reasonable response.
“True, indeed.”
“…”
“Sorry for yesterday, once again.”
“I hope this doesn’t happen next time.”
“I don’t mean to make a lame excuse, but.”
Still close together, Jerald was whispering in a low voice.
“When alcohol is involved, true feelings are revealed.”
“…”
“I must’ve been naturally drawn here. I missed you too much.”
“It sounds like you’re implying this will happen again.”
“I’ll refrain. You don’t have to worry.”
“…”
“Moreover, you seem to have gotten quite close to Lord Bachell while I was unaware.”
“There’s no need for me to report every detail of my personal relationships to you, Your Majesty.”
“Of course.”
After replying as if nothing was wrong, Jerald immediately asked.
“Are you very close?”
“…”
He seemed to have little recollection of what happened yesterday. Pristin slightly narrowed her eyes and responded.
“Don’t you remember anything from yesterday?”
“I’m afraid not.”
“…”
Unable to speak for a moment, Pristin took a short pause, sighed, and opened her mouth.
“Do I need to repeat what I told you yesterday?”
“Huh?”
“You asked the same question last night. And I answered that we’re not close at all.”
“…Really?”
“If you can’t believe me even after I’ve answered twice, there’s nothing I can do about it.”
Pristin sighed briefly once again.
“The atmosphere just happened to be… That’s what happened.”
“It seems that the atmosphere in the herbal garden isn’t all that.”
Jerald muttered with a nervous expression.
“Maybe I should change things up?”
“Your Majesty.”
“It’s a joke, just a joke.”
But since it didn’t exactly sound like a joke, Pristin didn’t relax her furrowed brows.
“I hope that my presence doesn’t affect the palace herbal garden, Your Majesty. Please.”
“Of course. Do I look like a person who can’t distinguish work-related matters?”
“…”
Pristin hoped he wasn’t, but began to wonder if at least when it comes to his affairs, he might not be able to make such distinctions.
