‘I’m secretly delighted that I’ve fallen out with Esrenche, yet I’m a hypocrite.’

It was evident from her hair ornament that she wasn’t on friendly terms with Sabina. The emperor also cast a knowing glance at the empress’s accessory.

“By the way, Empress, I don’t think I’ve seen that flower in your hair before.”

It was the rainbow rose, the very cause of Sabina’s recent dispute with the imperial scholars.

“Lady Morphe sent it to me. She called it a rainbow rose.”

“Ah, is that what I heard about?”

Recalling the scholars’ protests, the emperor’s expression hardened as he looked at Sabina.

“You know you went too far, right?”

“…Yes. I was foolish.”

“After the family gathering ends today, go and formally apologize to the scholars.”

“Yes.”

Sabina’s meek response put an end to the emperor’s scolding. He then shifted his attention back to the rainbow rose.

“Indeed, it is fascinating and beautiful. It’s no wonder Sabina was eager to learn how to make it.”

“I heard the person who created this rose is close to Lady Morphe. She promised to introduce me next time.”

“With Lady Morphe?”

“Lady Morphe is knowledgeable and considerate. It’s always a pleasure to converse with her.”

It was ironic that she praised Rosemary, considering Sabina didn’t get along with her. Unable to hold back, Sabina finally joined the conversation, her eyes glimmering like a deer’s.

“She only acts that way with Your Majesty. She’s so high-handed with me.”

“Oh my, is that so?”

“She openly mocked my name, Sabina, for being plain in public.”

“What?”

The emperor reacted sharply to Sabina’s complaint. It was then that the crown prince, who had been silent throughout the banquet, suddenly interjected.

“That’s not what I heard.”

Startled, Sabina looked up to see the crown prince fixing her with a cool gaze as he continued.

“I heard you mocked her first, saying that someone like Rosemary couldn’t possibly belong to a noble house.”

In truth, Sabina had indeed made that snide remark first. Caught in her lie, her eyes welled up with tears as she feigned innocence.

“I wasn’t mocking her! I just couldn’t imagine that was really her name.”

Whenever things were framed this way, the emperor would usually laugh it off.

“Sabina.”

That was until she was too young to be considered immature. Once again, the emperor admonished her.

“You must be careful with your words in society. Once you’re married, you’ll stand not as the emperor’s daughter, but as the lady of a household.”

“…Yes.”

“Apologize properly.”

“Of course, Your Majesty.”

It was challenging enough to hide the tension that threatened to stiffen her face. Sabina silently cursed the crown prince.

‘Why did my brother have to interfere?’

Feigning support for Sabina, the empress introduced another sensitive topic.

“Let’s stop with the serious talk, Your Majesty. By the way, Princess, I heard the Marquis of Sardena proposed recently?”

Sabina held her head high and replied.

“I declined. I have Yuri.”

“Mages are too capricious to make suitable spouses, even if he is the next owner of the magic tower.”

“The joy of a lady lies in taming such a fickle and wild man to kneel only for her.”

“Oh my, our princess is very bold. I understand why the Marquis of Sardena didn’t catch your eye.”

Though it seemed the emperor was tuning out the women’s conversation, he added his comment.

“Whether it’s Count Esrenche or his brother, don’t keep them waiting too long. Once a man’s heart strays, it’s hard to bring him back.”

“Don’t worry.”

Sabina replied with a sweet smile.

However, her expression changed completely as soon as she returned to her palace. With an irritated look, Sabina asked her head maid.

“Where’s Yujin? Is he in the office?”

“I heard he is.”

“Tell him to come immediately.”

Sensing her mistress’s tense mood, the head maid bowed her head. A short while later, she returned, bowing deeply.

“He said to tell you he’s too busy to come.”

“What?”

How dare he not come when I call? This had never happened since Sabina had known Yujin Esrenche.

Sabina stood up abruptly.

“I’ll go to him.”

“Calm down, Princess.”

“No, I’m going to see just how busy he is myself.”

“Please hold back. If you show any signs of being snubbed in front of many people, it will be truly irreparable.”

“Oh, really!”

If it became known that she had fallen out with Yujin, not only would others mock her, but the emperor would surely have something to say as well.

Sabina plopped back down on the sofa, grumbling.

“Nothing is going right for me these days.”

Previously, everything had fallen into place effortlessly, like perfectly fitting puzzle pieces. Now, it felt like everything was in chaos.

She didn’t have to think hard to recall where it all started. Folding her arms and fuming, Sabina asked her head maid sharply.

“What about that woman? Did you find any weaknesses?”

It was Titiana. The head maid bowed her head and replied.

“The person we sent to her hometown has returned.”

“Really? What did they say?”

“They mentioned that her family has no idea she’s in the capital, so they casually let slip that she’s settled and living well here.”

“Oh.”

Sabina giggled. It was the first genuine smile she had shown all day.

“Her family will cause a fuss without me needing to lift a finger. Praise the person for me and give them a generous reward.”

“Should we keep monitoring her?”

“Yes. And if it seems like her family isn’t going to visit, encourage them more.”

“Understood.”

Having casually thrown another significant challenge at Titiana, Sabina returned to her own problems.

“Why is our Yujin suddenly not listening to me?”

The maid, who had been observing her closely, had already guessed the answer. She spoke to Sabina in a cautious tone.

“Princess, I think it might be best to stop meddling with the flower shop…”

“Be quiet.”

However, that advice was quickly silenced by the gleam in Sabina’s eyes.

“I already have to apologize to Rosemary, and I’m under a lot of stress. I need to relieve some of it too.”

“……”

The maid couldn’t respond and simply lowered her head.

She had served Sabina for a long time, but she always found it hard to hide her disgust in moments like these.

***

It had been four days since Charlotte started working at the shop. Today, she burst into tears again.

“I’m such a fool…”

Of course, Charlotte was gradually improving. Her mistakes were only critical on the first day; afterward, they were minor.

However, because she had ruined her first impression, Charlotte remained timid.

‘She doesn’t seem to know much about flowers.’

I had thought she possessed a high understanding of flowers because she came up with amazing items, but that wasn’t the case. In hindsight, it was obvious.

‘Flowers are expensive.’

While wildflowers are common, the large, showy blooms sold in flower shops are quite pricey. It made sense that Charlotte, who was poor, had never handled them.

As I comforted her, I became genuinely curious and asked, “So how did you come up with the idea for blue roses and rainbow roses?”

“When I got scolded, I would go to the fields and look at flowers.”

Charlotte’s answer was quite unexpected.

“Then I noticed that the flowers near the dye factory’s waste disposal site were a different color.”

The leftover water from dyeing fabric was usually dumped into the river, and it seemed the flowers along the riverbank had changed color. I nodded in admiration at her insight.

“You have a good eye for observation.”

Even though many people passed by, Charlotte was the only one who noticed, proving her keen observational skills.

However, I couldn’t think of any tasks in the flower shop that could connect with that skill.

‘Maybe the work at our flower shop doesn’t suit her talents?’

That was a different issue altogether. I pondered and asked her.

“So it’s not that you particularly like flowers?”

“Well, I…”

It would have been easier if she could decisively say whether she liked them or not, but Charlotte hesitated and couldn’t provide a clear answer.

Indeed, understanding one’s preferences requires experiencing various things.

Without peace of mind, it’s hard to know your own likes and dislikes.

Anyway, the day ended somehow. I handed Charlotte her wages as she stopped crying and said goodbye.

“Good job today. Tomorrow is your day off, so rest well. And this is a gift.”

“A gift?”

What I handed Charlotte was a rainbow rose I had set aside. Her face turned bright red as she received it.