Chapter 1 – Part 7

In the grand office of the Crown Prince’s palace.

Adrian was flipping through the Western property tax statistics when he called his aide.

“Derek.”

Adrian’s sole aide, Derek, was taken aback.

“Yes? Did I make a calculation error?”

“No. Your calculations are flawless as always.”

“Thank you, Your Highness.”

Derek was bewildered.

‘Receiving praise from the Crown Prince? What’s going on? Pigs must be flying.’

A moment of silence filled the office before Adrian called Derek again.

“Derek.”

“Yes, Your Highness?”

“…”

What could it be? It’s unusual for him to be so hesitant.

Derek felt his stomach tighten.

After a long pause, Adrian finally spoke with difficulty.

“Have you ever been in a relationship?”

That statement was far beyond anything Derek had expected.

Derek was silently shocked.

Seeing Derek’s face, Adrian continued, almost apologetically—a behavior that was also unlike him.

“It’s not about me; it’s just a situation someone I know is dealing with. They need advice.”

‘Who on earth would dare seek relationship advice from the Crown Prince?’

Derek screams internally.

‘This sounds completely like it’s about him. Is our Crown Prince finally experiencing springtime romance?’

Adrian continued, regardless of Derek’s silent turmoil.

“Is there a natural way to find out someone’s ideal type?”

Hearing this, Derek internally screamed again.

‘Your Highness, are you in love?’

Derek’s guess was correct. Crown Prince Adrian was indeed attempting to seek relationship advice from his one and only aide.

Despite the smokescreen of ‘someone I know,’ Derek saw right through it.

Adrian continued to reveal his thoughts.

“I thought we’d become closer by meeting often, but it seems to be having the opposite effect. It’s making me anxious.”

“….”

Derek, overwhelmed by the continuous shocks from his lord, stopped trying to think.

“Our conversations keep getting cut short. No matter how many topics I prepare, she doesn’t seem to like them.”

It was pitiful. The topics the Crown Prince prepared must have been debates on current issues like tax reform or unsolvable dilemmas.

If this continued, Adrian’s unrequited love was doomed.

Derek decided to be honest.

“Your Highness.”

“Hmm?”

Derek had learned that a true loyalist does not shy away from harsh truths.

“It might be better to showcase your strengths instead.”

“My strengths?”

“Yes. I believe your strengths lie more in your appearance than in your inner qualities.”

For the sake of the Crown Prince’s romantic endeavors, Derek mustered the courage to speak his mind.

“To be honest, talking to you isn’t very enjoyable. You’re so exacting that I’m always on edge, wondering what you’ll criticize next!”

Adrian retorted.

“My friend says she enjoys talking to me.”

“Who would say such a thing?”

“They even said I’m kind.”

“Isn’t that person a scammer? And besides, Your Highness doesn’t have friends.”

Derek’s brutally honest advice wounded Adrian.

“That’s not true. I have a friend. Very close friend.”

Under Adrian’s fierce gaze, Derek shrank back helplessly, like a deer trembling before a tiger.

After a long silence, Derek finally spoke up.

“Well, for men, it’s all about the looks, right?”

Adrian raised an eyebrow, urging him to continue.

Feeling the crushing pressure, Derek started babbling whatever came to mind.

“Your Highness, your face is incredibly handsome!”

“……”

“So, please keep that mouth shut and show your face more often!”

***

Afternoon tea time.

I announced my arrival in front of the Crown Prince’s office.

“Your Highness, I’m bringing your tea and snacks.”

There was no response from inside, but as always, I rolled the antique wooden tea trolley with elegant silver decorations into the office.

At this time, the young aide who usually assisted His Highness was absent.

‘Is he out on an errand?’

The Crown Prince was sitting alone at a sunny spot by the window. The early afternoon sunlight streamed through the large window, illuminating him at an angle.

His Highness’s dazzling silver hair shimmered in the sunlight.

‘Wow, it’s blinding.’

I couldn’t tell if I was here to serve tea or to admire a statue.

I placed the teacup and saucer in front of His Highness, who was gleaming in the sunlight.

While waiting for the tea to brew, I brought over the plate of sandwiches prepared by Chef Kelsey.

As soon as the hourglass emptied, I poured the tea. The clear reddish-brown liquid swirled in the cup.

A slightly smoky aroma, which made the tea more enticing, filled the office.

His Highness silently admired the color and scent of the tea for a moment, then lifted his head and met my eyes.

Then, he leaned his radiant face closer to me.

‘Up close, he really is very handsome.’

“……”

But why isn’t he saying anything?

“……”

How am I supposed to know if you don’t speak up? Do you think I’m a mind reader?

I wanted to protest the endless whims of the Crown Prince.

Being a powerless maid is tough!

Not knowing what His Highness wanted, I decided to explain the tea as I always did.

“This is the first flush tea, harvested from the tenderest leaves at the very top of the tea plants in the central part of the Western Kingdom.”

His Highness seemed to be listening, but he still looked at me as if he had more to say.

If you have something to say, just say it already.

‘Why does it feel like his face is getting closer?’

Does he want me to continue explaining the tea?

“……The tea fields are at a high altitude, and I heard they are often shrouded in cloud-like mist in the mornings. This mist enhances the tea’s flavor. The clean and slightly bitter taste pairs well with today’s snacks.”

The chicken salad sandwich prepared by Chef Kelsey has such a rich flavor and aroma that eating only it could overwhelm your palate.

If your taste buds and sense of smell get fatigued, the second sandwich won’t taste as good as the first.

So, if you cleanse your palate with this blended tea between bites of the sandwich, you can enjoy the fresh taste of both the tea and the sandwich alternately.

As I intended, His Highness ate the sandwich and drank the tea, looking satisfied.

But he still didn’t say anything.

“……”

He just kept staring at me with those blue eyes that seemed to hold the entire sky. His gaze was very burdensome.

I was sure he had something to say.

“……”

I couldn’t understand his sudden silence. Trying to cater to him was frustrating because I never knew what he wanted.

‘I’m going crazy.’

I held his gaze firmly, then collected the empty snack plate and teacup, placing them back on the trolley.

Then, matching his silent demeanor, I bowed and exited the office without a word.

“……”

***

I returned to the tea storage room and let out a deep sigh.

I couldn’t understand why the Crown Prince was acting that way, but at least the task was done.

A chamberlain had informed me earlier that there were no other audiences scheduled for today. So, I had free time until the evening tea session.

I really wanted to push thoughts of the Crown Prince out of my mind. At least during my free time, I didn’t want to think about him.

So, I picked up the book that I am currently reading.

‘Take me to the world of this book.’

I was going to escape reality.

I quickly got engrossed in the novel.

In the story, the protagonist and the terminally ill Duke, a wealthy man, finally held the most lavish contractual wedding.

Hearing this, the jealous tyrant Emperor crashed the reception hall and tried to carry the protagonist away.

‘Is there someone here objecting to this wedding?!’

But just then, the protagonist, carried on the tyrant Emperor’s back, executed a crossface chicken wing! She unleashed an unbelievable amount of strength from her slender arms, mercilessly squeezing the Emperor’s carotid artery.

‘Wait, hold on!’

And the terminally ill Duke, firmly gripping a guest chair with both hands, swung it.

‘This isn’t a romance novel anymore. It’s professional wrestling!’

The protagonist has moved on from a crossface chicken wing to a rear n*ked choke!

‘But who’s the male lead?’

Is it the wealthy Duke who is delivering chair shots at his own wedding reception?

Or is it the tyrant Emperor, who was knocked out by the bride’s joint lock and choke?

It was fascinating.

But just as I reached that part, I had to return to reality.

The chamberlain from earlier had come back.

“His Highness will be working late into the night.”

The chamberlain left after delivering the brief message.

‘So it’s going to be a night shift.’

Usually, I would serve an herbal tea to help the Crown Prince sleep every evening, but tonight had to be different.

‘I need to prepare tea to keep him awake.’

I stuffed a muslin pouch with four servings each of Assam and Ceylon tea leaves and steeped it in boiling water.

‘Squeeze every last drop from the tea bag!’

The result was a brew that looked and tasted like a bitter tonic.

After letting it cool slightly, I added milk, sugar, and thick caramel to mask the bitterness.

A sweet and rich milk tea was ready.

“I hereby name this the Empire’s Energy Drink.”

The Crown Prince would not fall asleep until he finished his night shift.

When I brought the energy drink to the dining room of the Crown Prince’s palace.

The Crown Prince was eating an almond tart for dessert. It was clearly Chef Kelsey’s almond tart. It looked delicious.

I announced my arrival out loud.

“Your Highness, I’m bringing the tea.”

As I poured the milk tea into a pristine white teacup with intricate embossed patterns on the rim, one of the Crown Prince’s eyebrows slightly raised.

He must have been surprised to see the milky tea instead of the usual herbal tea.

But just like before, the Crown Prince didn’t say anything and simply made eye contact with me.

‘Why is he acting like this? Is this some new form of harassment?’

Undeterred, I introduced the tea with a composed demeanor.

“This blend combines the youngest, most tender leaves harvested and aged from tea plants grown in the valleys of the Empire’s southeastern border and the southern regions of the Western Kingdom.”

“……”

I must endure this. I have to endure.

‘Think positive thoughts.’

A weekly wage of 1 gold and 92 silver, Chef Kelsey’s delicious snacks, and the friendships I’ve made working in the Crown Prince’s palace… well, those are mostly gone now.

‘The Crown Prince fired them!’

As my thoughts reached that point, anger surged within me.

My voice trembled slightly.

“Tea leaves from the Empire’s southeastern border have a robust flavor that forms the backbone of the tea’s taste and pairs excellently with milk. Meanwhile, tea leaves from the highlands of the Western Kingdom produce a delicate sweetness due to the mild climate year-round.”

“……”

In truth, that delicate sweetness was all but lost when I squeezed the muslin tea bag.

But the abundant sugar and caramel should make up for it.

“Drinking this will give you energy.”

The sugar high and caffeine high will hit you hard.