“Oh my, goodness! Our Miss…, our Miss!”

The nanny, perhaps thinking her Miss had evolved from a room-bound recluse to a popular figure, was almost tearful with emotion.

Feeling embarrassed at this reaction, Saena carefully read the invitation again.

No matter how many times she looked at it, it was an individual invitation. Not for a tea party or some gathering.

It asked about the progress of her burns from before and requested a visit if she was well.

“You should open this too.”

“It came with the invitation. It seems to be a royal gift¹하사품 are gifts or rewards bestowed by a higher authority.“

The letter alone would have been enough, what else could they have sent?

Saena opened the box with curiosity. As soon as she opened it, a flower fragrance burst into the air.

“Ah…”

It was an intense and dizzying fragrance.

Upon inspection, it turned out to be a potpourri pouch. Inside the delicate veil-like fabric were blue and red petals, finished with a golden ribbon. It appeared to be made from various rose varieties, including Royal Rose.

“Oh my, Royal Rose…”

The nanny exclaimed in admiration of the wonderful fragrance.

To receive the same roses yet feel so different…

Besides the potpourri pouch, there was one more item – a sealed porcelain jar. Looking at the mark on it, it seemed to be an ointment for wounds made by the Imperial Medical Center.

Both items were priceless beyond monetary value.

To prepare such thoughtful gifts for a mere noble lady…

Feeling grateful and touched, Saena seriously discussed with her nanny about what gift would be appropriate to bring to the invitation.

While writing the reply, Saena chose her words very carefully. She naturally paid much more attention to her handwriting than usual.

* * *

Saena moved to the imperial capital again just a day later.

When she wrote that she would visit when it was convenient for Her Highness the Princess, the response came right away asking ‘How about the day after tomorrow?’

These days, she seemed to spend more time at the townhouse than in Delvon. With various appointments frequently scheduled, it was often difficult to travel back and forth.

She packed the gift to bring, and got into the carriage accompanied by a knight and maid.

“Have a safe trip, Miss!”

An invitation from the Princess.

While it was honorable, it also seemed concerning. The nanny came out to the porch to see her off. The nanny would depart separately since they were heading straight to the imperial palace.

They arrived at the imperial palace before long. The invitation had already been entrusted to Rupert. He showed it at each checkpoint to pass through.

Being the imperial palace, no one except the imperial family could ride carriages into the inner palace. They had to get off beforehand and walk some distance.

The coachman went to the storage area with the carriage, and the Princess’s chief attendant who had come out beforehand guided Saena.

“Only Lady Saena may enter from here.”

The escort knight and accompanying maid went to the waiting area while only Saena entered deeper into the Princess’s palace.

Following the chief attendant’s guidance, they reached a door. She found it slightly odd that they went upstairs instead of being guided to a reception room. Then as she entered through the opened door, Saena was quite surprised.

“…This is…”

“This is a space Her Highness favors. She usually spends her afternoons here.”

It was a library.

Given the high ceiling, the slanted ceiling surface on the right seemed to connect to the roof of the Princess’s palace. Small windows were packed tightly on the slanted ceiling, and the glass appeared to have special treatment to protect the books. The color of the incoming sunlight was different.

Though she wasn’t sure, the moonlight and starlight must gently seep through the windows at night.

Overall, it gave off both a classical feeling and a dreamy atmosphere with the strange color of sunlight.

“Wow… It’s so wonderful.”

The library instantly captured Saena’s heart so much that she wanted to copy it exactly.

“Welcome, Lady Debov.”

While she was thoroughly distracted by the scenery inside the library, the Princess appeared before her. Only then did she come to her senses and greeted according to protocol.

“Your Highness, may the great protection follow the noble bloodline eternally.”

“May the blessings of the Covenant be with you.”

“I am honored that you have graciously invited me to your favorite space.”

“Welcome.”

Seeing her genuinely welcoming smile, Saena felt her tension ease slightly as she sat down following the Princess.

After sitting, she noticed a man standing behind the Princess’s chair.

Noticing the direction of Saena’s gaze, the Princess explained the man’s identity.

“He is my guard. Let me introduce you. This is Lady Saena of House Debov, and this is Sir Shapiro of House Heviathan, Deputy Commander of the Imperial Knights.”

He was a man with a huge build rivaling Duke Kramer.

His ash-gray hair and dark red eyes left an overall calm impression.

“Pleased to meet you, Deputy Commander Heviathan.”

“……”

Perhaps being of a taciturn nature, he simply made eye contact and gave a slight nod as his greeting.

“He doesn’t talk much. Please understand.”

“What is there for me to understand? He is simply being dutiful to his position.”

While her own guard knight Rupert was quite talkative in contrast, in fact Rupert’s personality was probably more rare.

Soon attendants entered and set up tea and refreshments on the table. The fragrance and color rising in wisps from the teacup seemed somehow familiar.

“I had this prepared thinking you might not have properly tasted it last time, but please feel free to request any other tea if you prefer.”

It was that Royal Rose tea that she had previously tasted (?) not with her tongue but with her dress.

“No, Your Highness. I will gratefully enjoy this.”

Though she preferred more bitter teas to flavored ones, no preference could surpass uniqueness. Royal Rose tea was literally something that could only be tasted in the imperial palace after all.

And it’s not like this flower tea tasted bad either.

The taste and fragrance of Royal Rose tea were excellent. With even the color being pretty, it was enjoyable to drink. A smile naturally spread across Saena’s lips.

“It’s wonderful.”

At Saena’s reaction, the Princess grinned and took a sip from her own cup.

“Thank you for accepting my sudden invitation.”

“Not at all. It is my honor.”

Though she did find it curious. Not only was an invitation from the Princess surprising in itself, but it was a private invitation.

“Am I… the only one invited?”

Looking at the seating arrangement and number of chairs, it seemed that way, but Saena asked since she could hardly believe having a private audience with the Princess.

“That’s right. I thought I might need to ask about your previous injury, so I requested you come alone. Is it too simple?”

“No. I just… can hardly believe the honor of having a private audience with Your Highness.”

After all, some would pay a fortune for this honor.

“Speaking of which, I was very concerned about you leaving the palace that day with redness remaining. I hope no scar was left?”

It’s surprising to see the Princess being so considerate when she wasn’t even the one who spilled the tea.

Perhaps she’s a naturally very considerate, or maybe it’s because she knows the Prince was the cause. After all, even if it wasn’t one’s own mistake, a family member’s error would naturally be concerning.

“Thank you for your concern. However, not even the slightest wound remains, so please do not worry. It’s all thanks to Your Highness’s efforts.”

“It was regrettable that an accident occurred during what should have been an enjoyable time. I heard His Highness the Prince…”

Uncharacteristically, the Princess let her words trail off.

Since it happened at another table, she probably didn’t know the details at the time but seemed to have learned about it later.

Saena inwardly swallowed a bitter smile and forced herself to smile.

“His Highness the Prince… said he would show me a more delicious way to drink Royal Rose tea.”

She didn’t mention that he then spilled the teacup. Even though it was true, she didn’t think it appropriate to say such things to the Princess who was also part of the imperial family.

“…Is that so?”

“Yes.”

Glancing at her expression, the Princess looked somewhat embarrassed, and Sir Shapiro seemed somehow displeased.

For a moment, Saena wondered ‘Did I say something wrong?’ but it didn’t seem quite like that either.

“Ah, speaking of which, is this perhaps salt?”

Saena asked upon noticing white powder placed next to the teapot on the table. The atmosphere seemed to have become slightly tense, so she tried changing the subject.

“That’s right. Her Majesty the Empress prefers it without, but I like it.”

The Princess smiled and shared her preference, seemingly taking to Saena’s intended direction. Though she unexpectedly learned the Empress’s preference as well.

Come to think of it, Saena had only tried Royal Rose tea without salt. Though she wondered how much difference a little salt could make, she was curious.

“Yes. Just stir in that much.”

When the attendant filled her cup with fresh tea, Saena scooped up the amount of salt the Princess indicated with a teaspoon and stirred it in.

Then she savored the new taste.

‘……?!’

But to her surprise, it was such a novel taste that she completely forgot her unease about the Prince who first taught her this. With just a tiny bit of salt added, it felt like drinking a completely different tea.

“Oh my. It’s like a completely different tea.”

The flower fragrance and sweetness doubled. It was amazing how adding salt made it sweeter. Watching Saena sip her teacup in wonder, the Princess simply grinned.

“I’ll have some packed for you to take.”

“Oh no, this is more than enough.”

“I want to.”

“…I will gratefully accept.”