The next day, early in the morning, Beate met Sophia at the main building entrance, and together, they set out for a walk in the garden. Laura, Casey, and two maids accompanied them.

A refreshing breeze pleasantly swept through their hair, and the morning’s bright, gentle sunlight settled over the garden.

The rose garden was located in the southeast part of the estate. They reached it by following a path lined on both sides with silver-blue moonglow trees.  

After passing through the first rose arch tunnel, the rose garden spread out before them as if by magic.

“Wow! This is amazing.”

It was a sight she had never seen, not even at the imperial palace. Among all the rose gardens Beate had seen in her two regressions, the marquisate’s was the finest.  

The garden was divided into sections, with varieties, colors, and blooming periods harmoniously arranged. Statues and small fountains placed throughout added to its charm.

“Take your time and look around as much as you like.”

Sophia, pleased to see Beate’s genuine surprise and admiration, readily gave her permission.  

With Sophia’s approval, Beate went from rose to rose, smelling their fragrance and carefully inspecting each one.  

Sophia also strolled among the roses, closing her eyes and taking a deep breath to savor the scent mixed in the air.

‘Someone in the family must have tended this place while I wasn’t paying attention. I’m glad it’s just as it used to be.’

When she opened her eyes, Beate was standing before her, looking hesitant as if she wanted to ask for something.

“If there’s something you want to say, go ahead.”

“Um, well… It might be a rude request…”

“What is it?”

Sophia tilted her head.

“May I pick some roses and take them with me?”

At this age, girls often wanted to pick pretty flowers, so Sophia thought it was understandable and readily agreed.

“Of course. If there’s a rose you want, just let me know. Enji will bring garden shears and cut them for you.”

Sophia signaled to one of the maids who had followed them, and the maid named Enji approached and stood by.

“I’d like to pick them myself. I want to take quite a lot, actually.”

“Hm? How much?”

It was unexpected. Why would she need more than just enough for a vase? Was she a vain child, contrary to appearances? Did she not know how to value flowers?  

Sophia felt a little disappointed—at least until Beate explained.

“I’d like enough fresh, fragrant blooms to make plenty of rose syrup and rose tea. Please allow me to prepare the next tea time using roses as the ingredient. I really want to make it for you, Marchioness.”

Sophia’s eyes widened in surprise. Rose syrup? It was an answer she hadn’t expected.  

A memory of a conversation with Riley in the rose garden suddenly came to mind.

[I want to pick the best rose here and make something delicious for Mom.]

[You want to cook with roses, not just arrange them?]

[The head chef said so. Roses are a rare and tricky ingredient, but if used well, they’re especially good for ladies. He promised to teach me a secret recipe using roses when I’m older—just for me!]

[That sounds wonderful.]

Sophia struggled to hold back her emotions. She pulled Beate gently into her arms.

“I’m happy just knowing you’re thinking of me. Use as many roses as you’d like.”

Laura and the staff watching Sophia from behind grew misty-eyed at the scene, as if seeing mother and daughter together again.  

Sophia held both of Beate’s hands and said,

“Tea time would be best three days from now, when the children return. Let’s have the whole family gather and enjoy the tea you’ve prepared.”

*   *   *

With the marchioness’s permission, Beate could now freely enter the rose garden and pick as many roses as she wished. The next day, with Casey’s help, she carried baskets of freshly picked roses to the kitchen.

Casey watched with fascination as Beate extracted fragrance from the roses using various methods.

‘This isn’t the scent I want.’

Some varieties had a strong, lovely fragrance when smelled, but when used as a base for cooking and heated, the scent faded or changed, leaving her dissatisfied.  

Roses that didn’t make the cut for the perfect culinary base were used to make rose water, rose oil, rose soap, and rose ade.

“Oh my, can I really have these?”

“If you need them, please take them. I have something else I want to make.”

“These are so precious. The scent is wonderful!”

“I’ll take some too. Thank you, miss.”

The rose water, oil, and soap Beate made were a huge hit among the staff.  

The rose ade was so popular that the knights, after their training, competed to drink it. Not only did it quench thirst, it was the best for restoring energy.

“We get to enjoy such luxury thanks to the master.”

“How is it the master’s doing? It’s thanks to Miss Beate.”

“That’s what I mean—the master let Miss Beate stay at the estate, so we have him to thank.”

Everyone admired how Beate, with her small hands, skillfully created so many things.

“How can she be so cute and clever?”

“To me, she’s dignified and admirable.”

“I wish I had a daughter like her.”

“Talking about having daughters before even getting married?”

“If I could be sure I’d have a daughter like Miss Beate, I’d have married long ago.”

*   *   *

Before long, Beate became more than just a guest among the staff.  

She was so focused on creating the perfect rose base that she barely noticed the reactions of those around her.

Among the lessons Beate had received at the grand duchy in her two past lives were cooking, medicinal preparation, and the study of medicinal plants.  

Through these lessons, Beate learned to handle fine ingredients and combine them to create cosmetics and oils beneficial for beauty.

[Cooking is one of the best ways to win people’s hearts. There is no method more universally accepted than this. Make sure you have the skill to handle and prepare ingredients yourself, without relying on a chef if needed.]

Those were the words of the Dowager Grand Duchess to Beate.  

In her second life, Beate had once personally prepared and served desserts for Gis, the emperor.  

Gis sometimes suffered from heart pain, which only a select few of his closest attendants knew about and kept secret.

That day, after a checkup from Gerard, the imperial physician, Gis had skipped lunch.  

Wanting to help, Beate prepared tea and snacks for the afternoon.

It always took courage to do something the emperor hadn’t ordered, so she hesitated several times at the office door before finally knocking.

Knock, knock.

[……]

There was no answer from inside. Was her knock too soft?  

But she didn’t have the courage to knock again. She wondered if it was worth bringing such carefully made treats if she had to force herself to do it.  

She was about to turn away, thinking she’d made a mistake, when a voice came from inside.

[Come in.]

He was alone in the office, leaning back in his chair with his eyes closed.  

The curtains were drawn, so even though it was midday, the room was dim.

[I was worried you might be hungry after skipping your meal, so I brought tea and some light snacks.]

Beate set the treats she’d brought on the table and carefully opened the curtains.  

Brilliant May sunlight poured in through the gap, spotlighting the two of them like a stage.  

Beate glanced at Gis out of the corner of her eye.

His long lashes glittered in the light, his smooth jawline and sharply defined nose looked even more prominent in the contrast of light and shadow, and his lips, which usually uttered words that made others tense with fear, now seemed endlessly soft and warm, like sunlight—so much so that she felt an impulse to steal a kiss.

Sensing her gaze, Gis slowly opened his eyes. He squinted at the bright window, then, meeting Beate’s eyes, looked away.

[I made these treats myself with great care, hoping they might suit Your Majesty’s taste.]

[……]

[Roses are in full bloom right now, so I used them as the main ingredient. Rose aroma is known to heal both body and mind.]

Silence.

[……]

She waited for the emperor to respond, but was met only with silence. Beate gave up trying to continue the conversation.

[Shall I move the treats to your desk?]

[Just leave them and go.]

Gis didn’t even glance at the treats Beate had brought. The subtle scent of roses filled the air.  

Beate wanted to see him eat, to observe his reaction and expression, but he didn’t move at all. In the end, she left the office without even seeing him touch the food.

The memory of all her effort going to waste still ached in her chest.

‘In this life, I don’t need to work so hard for him. I won’t become the emperor’s maid.’

At that time, she never imagined she’d meet Gis so soon in this life—within just a few days, at that.