06

It was early morning. Aris, who had fallen into a deep sleep last night right after sending a letter to her patron, was startled awake by a sound of something frantically tapping on the window.

“What’s that sound…?”

With disheveled hair, she got up from bed and turned her head toward the source of the sound. A white bird was eagerly pecking at the large window connected to the terrace.

“A messenger bird?”

Now fully awake, Aris hurriedly went to open the window wide. The well-trained bird flew in and perched on her hand.

“They don’t usually use messenger birds unless it’s urgent… Who sent you?”

Aris set the bird down on a nearby table and gave it some water. Meanwhile, she unfolded the letter it had brought.

It was from none other than the imperial palace. As she carefully read the letter with tension, her mouth slowly fell open.

“What… is this?”

To summarize the letter, it stated that as a reward for her long investigation and significant achievements, Aris would be given a week’s vacation.

Aris, who had already rested well at the inn the day before returning, was now unexpectedly given another break.

But that wasn’t the important part. The next content was clearly the issue.

[…In recognition of this achievement. In the Emperor’s name, Aristena Eldeiz is hereby invited to the imperial dinner in honor of her distinguished accomplishments.]

Aris, turning pale, read that sentence again. Her hand holding the letter trembled. Though she wanted to think she had read it wrong, the content remained unchanged no matter how many times she read it.

Her legs suddenly weak, Aris collapsed into the chair next to the tea table where the bird was busily drinking water. She pressed her hand against her forehead.

‘An imperial dinner…’

As someone who had lived through her previous life, Aris knew all too well the faces of the imperial family members. Although they hadn’t openly discriminated against her as the ‘eastern wife’ when she was used as a political pawn for harmony, she still remembered their cold gazes.

How could such an invitation make sense, even with special achievements?

‘…I should go to the imperial palace.’

Aris washed her face with cold water, dressed herself neatly, and left home. She headed straight for the Crown Prince’s palace in the imperial complex.

Though it was a place she never wanted to visit again, to nullify this thunderbolt of news… or at least to voice her opinion, she had no choice but to seek him out.

‘While I’m at it, I should ask to reduce the vacation to about half. This much isn’t necessary.’

Aris entered the Crown Prince’s palace, inevitably tense. Meeting a familiar face there was truly unexpected.

“Oh my, Miss Eldeiz? How lovely to see you. What a surprise to meet you here.”

That voice that made her cringe every time she heard it. It was none other than Serena Frencia.

Although Aris wasn’t particularly pleased, she returned the greeting in kind. She didn’t want to give her any reason to criticize her for being discourteous.

“It’s been a while, Lady Frencia. Have you been well?”

“I’ve been fine, of course. I heard you were away on an investigation? I visited your laboratory some time ago and was worried when you weren’t there.”

Thinking how fortunate it was that she had been away on the investigation then, Aris smiled sweetly.

“Is that so? I was also worried when you left in such a hurry last time. I’m glad to see you looking well now. I was concerned you might have been ill then.”

The image of Serena leaving in a hurry with an ashen face, searching for water, was still vivid in her mind. It was the first time she had seen such an expression on someone who always maintained a composed and arrogant smile.

‘That day was really unpleasant yet satisfying.’

Whether it was because of that incident or not, she had also met Mishuan that day.

Aris could see Serena’s gaze turning strange. But she pulled her lips into an even deeper smile as she looked down at Aris.

“I’m sorry for leaving so suddenly then. Um… by the way, Miss Eldeiz.”

“Yes?”

“You said you still don’t have any colleagues working with you, right?”

“Yes, not yet.”

Serena cupped her left cheek with one hand and looked at Aris with a seemingly contemplative expression.

“Then I must be the only one who can tell you this…”

Serena continued with a tone of apparent concern.

“I’m telling you this with good intentions. It pains me to see you coming and going here so casually without knowing this.”

“What are you trying to say?”

Seeing how she kept dragging out the conversation while emphasizing her good intentions, Aris suspected she was about to say something strange again.

Since it was always the same approach, Aris gave her an impatient look as if to say ‘just get on with it.’

“Miss Eldeiz, are you aware that your reputation within the imperial palace isn’t very good?”

“What kind of reputation?”

“Oh my, you really didn’t know? The rumors are even worse in the Crown Prince’s palace. That’s why I wondered why you would come here of your own accord.”

“……”

“But… come to think of it, it’s strange for you not to know. Perhaps your memory isn’t very good?”

Aris slightly furrowed her brows at this blatant show of disrespect. Serena continued, still smiling brightly.

“There are unfavorable rumors circulating about how you previously rejected a marriage proposal from His Highness the Crown Prince. After insulting His Highness in such a way back then, to now shamelessly entering the imperial palace… Some wonder if you’re trying to get involved with him again because you regret what happened then.”

“What did you say?”

“I’m just repeating the rumors. Hmm, but I’m a bit curious too. Is this rumor true?”

Aris was rather dumbfounded. She had wondered what Serena was trying to say, and indeed, she hadn’t known such rumors were circulating, as Serena said, because there was no one to tell her.

Of course, while she couldn’t completely trust Serena’s words, considering the glances she received when occasionally visiting the imperial palace, it didn’t seem entirely fabricated.

From the beginning, it might have been strange if such gossip hadn’t spread among these people who loved to talk about others. People were surprisingly interested in gossip and criticism. And they didn’t care at all about the truth.

Having endured endless beatings and stonings in her previous life, she knew this well. However, even if such rumors were circulating, Aris had no reason to feel intimidated. She was confident.

Weren’t there people who believed in Aris rather than the rumors? She had met such a girl right here in the Crown Prince’s palace.

Aris sighed. Then she looked at Serena Frencia with the most contemptuous expression she could muster.

“…Lady Frencia, I’m here solely on orders from the Minister of Magic for the newly established research department by His Majesty the Emperor. It has nothing to do with my personal wishes. I didn’t expect you to question the truth of such rumors, but I suppose I must have misjudged you.”

Aris’s expression, modeled after Kalaian’s, carried not just reproach but subtle disdain. Serena, who had expected a flustered explanation from a hurt Aris, was somewhat taken aback by this unexpected response.

“I was aware of that, but with such terrible rumors going around… I just thought I should mention it. I’m sorry if I hurt your feelings.”

“The apology is nice, but before saying such things to me, perhaps you should consider how the other person might feel? I’ve noticed since last time that you tend to make quite discourteous remarks.”

“Oh my, if you found it discourteous, I’ll apologize for that too. But isn’t that because you’re being oversensitive…?”

“Well, I’m not sure about that, but I’m also giving you advice for your own good. Since it seems there’s no one around to tell you.”

“…What did you say?”

“This hasn’t been a very productive conversation. I’m rather busy now, so let’s continue this another time.”

Serena’s expression twisted. Aris gave a brief bow and walked past her. She felt like she had wasted time listening to Serena’s nonsense.

She headed toward Kalaian’s office, following her memory from last time. However, someone was waiting for Aris in the corridor around the corner. The man who had been leaning against the wall straightened up and greeted her gently.

“Good morning, Miss Aristena.”

“Your Highness? Why are you here…?”

It was not far from where Aris had confronted Serena.

“Did you… hear?”

“About those rumors, you mean?”

“Yes.”

His immediate response suggested he had heard everything. Aris looked up at Kalaian tensely.

In the past, Kalaian loved to view Aris with prejudice. Extremely negatively, that is. He would make his own assumptions without giving her a proper chance to explain… what would it be like this time?

“It was nonsensical talk.”

Aris was relieved by his immediate response. Then she was slightly surprised.

Not because of his reaction, but because she realized she had been subtly confident that he would take her side.

“I was planning to step in if necessary, but it seemed unnecessary, so I was waiting here for you. You handled it well.”

“You were waiting for me?”

“Well… I happened to be out for a walk when I saw you. Since it seemed you were looking for me…”