Chapter 6 – Part 7

“I wouldn’t mind spending the night with you, but…”

What?

I couldn’t believe my ears.

‘Did I just hear the Crown Prince say something completely sly?’

Was this really coming from the stiff and proper Crown Prince?

Startled, I glanced at him, but his expression remained as calm and composed as ever. There was no hint that he had just made such a suggestive comment.

It was clear he had meant it sincerely, as a way to cover up my lack of driving skills.

‘Maybe I’m the one with the dirty mind.’

I gripped the hem of the jacket the Crown Prince had given me, silently reflecting on my thoughts.

The coachman’s seat fell into a brief silence.

With the Crown Prince now handling the reins, I could finally relax.

As the person in the passenger seat, it was my duty to entertain the driver. 

I wasn’t sure if that was the case here as well, but out of habit, I began to chatter.

“Your Highness, which tea did you like the most?”

“The first one I tried was my favorite.”

“The tea leaves from the highlands of the Western Kingdom, I presume.”

“Yes, it had a smooth taste. The light smoky aroma was also quite memorable.”

“The balance is excellent. It’s neither too heavy nor too bland.”

I made a mental note to purchase two tins of the tea leaves that had pleased the Crown Prince.

“What about the second tea?”

“The green tea with floral notes? It wasn’t bad, but it didn’t compare to your blending skills.”

The Crown Prince praised me, his voice tinged with a hint of amusement.

“This is the first time you’ve asked me such a question. I’m quite pleased.”

I used to believe that silently understanding one’s superior’s preferences was a servant’s virtue. From now on, I’ll be sure to ask questions whenever I’m curious.

The Crown Prince adjusted the reins with a relaxed hand and asked,

“Which tea did you like best?”

“All the tea leaves they sell are delicious, so it’s hard to pick just one.”

I compared the teas we had today in my mind before speaking.

“I particularly liked the white tea that was imported in small quantities from the Western Kingdom. It was an exceptionally rare and excellent tea leaf. I plan to buy as much of it as I can, so it should be available for you soon.”

“I have a feeling I’ll like that white tea as well. Although, to be honest, I enjoy any tea you brew for me.”

The Crown Prince truly liked the tea I made.

Everyone seemed to enjoy the tea I brewed, with no exceptions so far.

Even the Empress and Emperor Consort were fond of it.

It was quite something to have my skills recognized by two generations of the royal family.

‘If I ever get the chance to serve tea to the retired Emperor and Empress, I’ll achieve a grand slam.’

The royals truly loved tea. They even built glasshouses just for cultivating it, which wasn’t something that could be done with mere dedication or money.

‘So, did the Crown Prince fall for me because I brew good tea?’

The more I thought about it, the more sense it made.

He sure has an unusual taste.

I glanced at the Crown Prince as he drove the carriage.

I thought royals wouldn’t do such menial tasks, but the Crown Prince handled the carriage with practiced ease.

The way he sat upright, holding the reins, was steady and composed.

Through the hood that reached down to his eyes, I could see his straight nose and well-shaped lips.

The Crown Prince cleared his throat.

“Is there something on my face?”

Yes, there is. It’s called good looks.

But I didn’t say that out loud.

“No, nothing at all.”

Praising his appearance when I had no intention of accepting his confession felt a bit too much like giving false hope. That would be too cruel.

‘I do have some morals, after all.’

I figured I could admire his face later, once his feelings naturally faded away.

I turned my gaze back to the road.

The sky was darkening into a deep crimson along the edges.

The streets were quiet, likely because people were home having dinner.

The sound of the carriage wheels echoed on the cobblestones.

The breeze was cool, so I pulled the jacket closer around me. The scent reminded me of the time I had been in the Crown Prince’s arms—it was a pleasant fragrance.

As he adjusted the reins, the Crown Prince asked,

“There’s something I’d like to tell you. Will you listen?”

“Yes, Your Highness. Please, go ahead.”

‘Is he planning to confess again, taking advantage of this quiet moment?’

But his next words were a little different from what I expected.

As always, he was serious.

“The reason I’m dressed like this and avoiding people’s attention today isn’t because I’m ashamed of my feelings for you.”

“Oh, don’t worry, I never thought that.”

There was no need to explain; I knew the Crown Prince wasn’t that kind of person.

Earlier, I saw him looking at some maps with his similarly dressed subordinates. He must be out here on business.

I had felt something bulky inside the jacket. Was it that map?

I reached inside the jacket and pulled out a neatly folded piece of parchment. Showing it to the Crown Prince, I asked,

“May I unfold this?”

The Crown Prince nodded without hesitation.

It seemed like he was about to open up more, so I deliberately unfolded the parchment with some noise.

As I had guessed, it was a map of the area near the palace.

At first glance, it wasn’t detailed enough to be a military secret. The scale was off in several places.

‘It’s a map suitable for carrying around outside.’

I looked at the map with ease.

“Does this have something to do with Your Highness’s discreet outing today?”

“Yes.”

It was getting dark, so it was hard to make out, but on closer inspection, there were several spots marked in red on the map.

I was about to ask the Crown Prince what those markings meant but then hesitated.

The day I accidentally discovered Noah’s shop and bought the lucky diary, the location of the shop was marked on the map.

A chill ran down my spine.

‘This looks like it’s a collection of Noah’s shop locations,’ I thought.

I had met Noah before when I took a vacation to explore the famous eateries at Fountain Square. That location was also marked in red on the map.

Cold sweat broke out.

‘Could they have noticed me going in and out of that shop?’

I examined the Imperial Palace on the map. The palace grounds were more vaguely outlined than other areas.

Fortunately, there were no red marks in the Imperial Palace.

‘So, they don’t know that Noah appeared near the Crown Prince’s palace.’

When I remained silent for a long time, His Highness asked, 

“Is there something you’re curious about?”

I couldn’t tell if His Highness’s tone was the same as before.

I forced a calm expression. It was fortunate that the darkening sky made it hard for His Highness to see my face clearly.

Pointing to our current location on the map with my finger, I asked, 

“A-Are we passing by here now?”

His Highness glanced at the map and replied, 

“That’s right. We’ll be arriving at the palace soon.”

A soft curve appeared on His Highness’s lips beneath the hood.

Whether it was because of the darkness or my own anxiety, I couldn’t read His Highness’s intentions.

I carefully folded the map and returned it to the inside pocket of His Highness’s jacket.

I wasn’t sure what I would have said in a normal situation. Would talking about tea feel natural?

“Shall I prepare chamomile tea for this evening as well?”

“Though I would like to see you once more, it’s late and you must be tired. So, you may take your leave for the day.”

Before I could think of my next words, the carriage arrived at the palace.

Just as when I boarded earlier, His Highness helped me down from the carriage seat, but I worried that he might find it suspicious that my body had tensed with nerves.

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