Chapter 4 – Part 4

“Are you the young lady of Count Marnel? His Highness the Crown Prince sent me.”

The coachwoman said, placing a step in front of the carriage door.

I stepped on the step and boarded the carriage. The seats covered with thick velvet cushions were luxurious.

‘Wow, it’s much more comfortable than our family’s carriage.’

As I settled in my seat, the carriage started moving immediately. The sound of the carriage running over the smooth stone path went clatter.

The distance from the Crown Prince’s Palace to the Empress’ Palace was not very far. It wasn’t a distance impossible to walk, but my legs would have hurt.

It was certainly His Highness’s kindness to provide a carriage so I could travel comfortably.

‘Was His Highness always a superior who took care of such things?’

I don’t think so.

Come to think of it, he protected me yesterday too. At the moment when an unknown loud noise echoed and the ceiling and walls above my head collapsed…

Recalling that moment made my fingertips grow cold.

I took a deep breath and fiddled with the tea caddy I brought from the tea storage room. The familiar touch seemed to soothe my nerves.

After a while, the sound of hoofbeats gradually slowed, and the carriage came to a stop.

The coachwoman lightly jumped down from her seat and placed the step in front of the carriage door with a clatter.

Finally, the carriage door opened.

I forgot my previous thoughts and was captivated by the sight before me.

“Wow…”

Under the blue sky, a massive glass greenhouse, larger than most mansions, glittered like a gigantic crystal.

Slender iron frameworks delicately fit between the highly transparent glass panes.

As I approached in a daze and looked up, I could see the blue sky through the curved transparent ceiling. The bright sunlight reflected sharply, scattering in all directions.

“Is the weight okay for this…?”

Upon closer inspection, it seemed that the load from above was distributed through the stone and iron framework between the glass panes.

Leaf and vine patterns embossed on the stone elegantly enveloped the structural lines that supported the weight of the structure.

As I followed the decorative patterns down, I could see the inside of the greenhouse clearly.

Inside, tea plants were neatly arranged. Tender, light green new leaves sprouted on the long, dark green leaves, looking as cute as a baby bird’s tail feathers.

“So, the secret to the tea from the Imperial Palace was the greenhouse!”

Tea plants are delicate. They thrive in high humidity and ample rainfall, and are particularly vulnerable to cold damage.

I never thought high-quality tea could be cultivated in the capital.

“So, climate issues can be overcome with money…”

How much would it cost to build such a glass greenhouse? The maintenance costs must be staggering too.

“I knew Her Majesty liked tea, but I never imagined it was to this extent…”

As I pressed my face close to the glass in fascination, it fogged up with my breath. Embarrassed, I wiped the glass clean with my sleeve.

Satisfied with the newly clear glass, I lowered my hand.

And through that glass, I met the eyes of His Highness the Crown Prince.

“Ahh!”

I nearly jumped out of my skin!

“Y-Your Highness! How long have you been there?”

I shouted to the Crown Prince inside the greenhouse, startled.

His Highness covered his ears with his hands and shook his head.

Was he indicating he couldn’t hear me?

I nodded to show I understood, and then His Highness pointed to the far side of the greenhouse.

‘Does he want me to go over there?’

Following the direction he indicated, I found the greenhouse’s entrance.

I opened the door and entered the greenhouse. The warm, humid air greeted me, much different from the outside.

Though it seemed packed with tea plants from the outside, inside there was plenty of space. True to its association with the Imperial Palace, the interior was meticulously arranged.

Near the entrance, a tea table was elegantly set.

His Highness was already seated there. He looked so relaxed that one might believe he had been sitting there all day.

His Highness was tall, so perhaps his long legs made him walk faster? When he took five steps, I probably had to take ten to keep up.

As I approached the table, His Highness pointed to a large silver teapot and said,

“This teapot contains freshly boiled water. You can use the tea leaves from that storage box or the ones you brought.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

I forced myself to focus on the table instead of the tea plants.

‘I’m working right now. I can look around later.’

I poured hot water into an extra teacup, brought it to my lips to test the temperature, and found it perfect for brewing the green tea I had brought from the Crown Prince’s palace.

After confirming there was enough hot water, I poured it into a new teapot and teacup.

Once the porcelain was warmed up, I emptied the water, added an appropriate amount of tea leaves and hot water to the teapot, and flipped the hourglass onto the table.

Now I just had to wait for the sand in the hourglass to run out.

Thinking that, I looked up.

His Highness was watching me again.

‘Can’t you look somewhere else?!’

It’s awkward being stared at so intently. There’s so much to see here; why focus on me?

Sweating slightly, I turned my attention to the tea plants around us.

Upon closer inspection, I noticed the tea plants varied slightly in shape and size. Some were still too young to harvest leaves from.

‘Those will need a few more years to produce good tea leaves.’

As I was thinking this, His Highness spoke.

“Those short ones over there are saplings from the southern region brought in last year. The ones beside them were imported from the Western Kingdom long ago.”

“I see.”

It was a global greenhouse.

“There are also plants from the Eastern Kingdom over there. That’s the section you were peering at from outside.”

‘Forget about that already!’

I had pressed my face so close to the glass that my breath fogged it up. How silly must I have looked from inside?

I clamped my mouth shut and composed my expression, feeling my cheeks warm.

Thankfully, His Highness didn’t seem to notice and continued speaking without any indication.

“Even though they are saplings from the Eastern Kingdom, the tea brewed from their leaves has a different taste compared to the tea from the Eastern Kingdom.”

While His Highness pointed out various things and explained, the hourglass’s sand finished running.

I picked up the teapot and poured tea into His Highness’s teacup. The fresh light green tea shimmered in the sunlight flooding the glass greenhouse.

Admiring the color, His Highness spoke.

“You should have a cup too.”

“…Pardon?”

Now you want me to dine with His Highness the Crown Prince?

I quickly racked my brain.

What whim could this be? A new kind of test? For now, I’ll try to politely decline.

“I’m sorry, but how could I possibly dare…”

But the Crown Prince was adamant.

“Don’t say that. Since you’ve come this far, you should at least have a cup of tea, shouldn’t you?”

Then he pushed an extra teacup towards me.

‘It wasn’t an empty gesture for me to refuse?’

As I hesitated, the Crown Prince started to rise from his seat, as if he was about to pull out my chair himself.

‘Wow, he really is impatient!’

I was startled and quickly sat down. Then I obediently took the teapot he handed me and poured tea into my cup.

The water made a cute trickling sound as it fell into the teacup.

Still unsure if this was the reason I was seated, I glanced at him, but the Crown Prince’s expression was bright.

I felt completely at ease.

As I gazed at the tea sparkling under the natural light, I felt a surge of joy. The fragrant and refreshing scent of the tea filled my lungs.

Though it was the same tea leaves I had tasted in the small kitchen of the Crown Prince’s palace, drinking it in the glass greenhouse, sparkling with sunlight, made me feel exhilarated.

The Crown Prince, who had been quietly savoring his tea across from me, asked,

“Do you like it?”

It was a vague question, but…

“Yes, I do!”

I liked everything.

The glass greenhouse with its high, transparent, and rounded ceiling was fantastic.

Having tea time surrounded by lush tea trees was special.

Even the mysterious kindness of the usually picky Crown Prince was welcomed.

I didn’t know why the Crown Prince had become so generous, but it felt good.

‘Is this the royal art of governance?’

I steadied my heart that was about to soften endlessly.

The Crown Prince’s palace would face an unprecedented manpower shortage for a while. That was evident just by looking at this morning’s kitchen.

Did he finally realize my value, coming to work energetically and doing the work of others as well? Was this his way of giving me a bonus?

Anyway, this place was heaven. Who would have thought such a place was hidden behind the imperial palace? The imperial palace was the best.

I was in high spirits.

‘Honestly, if they pushed a lifetime employment contract at me right now, I might just sign it…’

But even if the head maid had brought me here to show me the greenhouse, it would have had the same effect.

I still didn’t understand why the Crown Prince himself was personally involved in such trivial matters.

‘I’ve heard many say my tea is delicious, but is that the only reason he would go to such lengths…?’

As I was pondering this, the Crown Prince asked me,

“You said the tea leaves grown in this greenhouse have a distinct umami flavor. Now that you see it in person, do you understand why?”

“Yes, I have an idea.”