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96th Chapter

“We’ve arrived.”

“Okay.”

I slowly lifted my body off the carriage seat. Passing through the softly opened carriage door, I stepped onto the ground.

‘It’s been a while.’

I thought to myself as I gazed at the massive building before me. Since my first visit with Caesar and Aria to meet Diego, I had come several times. However, due to the recent scandal, I had cut back on my visits. As always, I looked at the resplendent palace and continued my walk.

‘I have to meet the Emperor at the garden terrace at 2 o’clock, and then Serenon at 4.’

Organizing my plans in my mind, I followed the palace attendants to the garden.

The palace garden, welcoming spring, was managed with such beauty that it could only be described as a paradise. As someone who inherently loved natural scenery, I momentarily forgot my situation and admired the garden.

‘Those expensive medicinal herbs look just like wild grass…

Having studied herbal medicine at a high level to cure Aria’s illness, the palace garden looked like a herb field to my eyes. I was a bit taken aback to find Prudpera, known for alleviating paralysis, blooming under a flowering tree like a common weed.

‘I had tea with Diego in the palace garden several times, but it never felt like this.’

Of course, it was beautiful then too. But it was winter then, and now it’s spring, so the atmosphere was entirely different.

I kept glancing around as I walked behind the attendants. They stopped at a greenhouse garden made of crystal in the middle of the garden.

“The Emperor is waiting inside.”

The attendant stepped back at the gate guarded by four knights. I took a moment to admire the sunlight reflecting beautifully off the crystal walls before stepping inside the greenhouse.

‘It’s truly magnificent…

The interior of the crystal greenhouse was as beautiful as the exterior. Thanks to floating gems regulating the temperature, flowers that couldn’t be seen in the current season were blooming all around. As I looked at a cluster of roses, I momentarily thought of giving red roses to Caesar and Kal, and blue roses to Aria.

As I crossed the vast greenhouse, I came to an antique tea table.

The sunlight streaming through the crystal walls made golden hair glimmer brightly. With round, pretty eyes like blue jade beads, and a face that defied his middle-aged status.

“Hey, Kashmir! You’ve come!”

Sitting before me with a bright smile was Emperor Helios.

‘Huh… Kashmir, you’ve come?’

His cheap banter that I couldn’t believe came from an emperor, along with the informal use of my first name, left me at a loss as to where to start criticizing.

‘And he’s wearing a harness…

The Emperor’s attire consisted only of a light white shirt, covered by a rather snug harness.

‘Is it acceptable for a middle-aged man to look so scandalous?’

I momentarily lost my words, staring at Helios, before finally regaining my composure and bowing slightly.

“I greet Your Majesty. I am ‘Crisis’ of Kashmir.”

“Haha! That’s right! Have a seat, ‘Kashmir’!”

He exaggeratedly pronounced ‘Crisis’, yet Helios stubbornly pronounced my name with emphasis. I sat across from him with a subtle expression.

‘Since I know the original work, I can overlook this…

But…

Helios has always been this way. He was the type to prioritize his interests and perspectives above all else in the world. I could remain calm about that, but if someone else were in this situation, they might interpret it as a provocation.

“What kind of tea is good?”

“Anything is fine.”

“Really, anything at all?”

‘…What?’

Typically, it is etiquette to drink the tea prepared by the host during tea time. So, I answered rather ordinarily, but Helios’s expression as he asked again seemed rather significant.

I glanced at Helios for a moment. His eyes shone mischievously, contrasting his age. Anyone could see that he was a person looking to tease.

‘Maybe there’s something up his sleeve with the tea.’

Even without the instincts of a sword master, it was easy to read his mood. I smiled slightly.

On the surface, Helios seemed light-hearted and playful enough that it was hard to believe he was an emperor. I couldn’t help but wonder if he ever had serious moments.

However, this was merely Helios’s smokescreen.

‘Helios Solaritne conceals venomous fangs under his lightheartedness.’

The sun is not something anyone can become. Behind his light manner lay a meticulous nature and endless schemes—a perfect ruler.

‘Of course, Helios is a man of curiosity.’

He was someone easily distracted by anything interesting. But if one were to say that his interest was the most important thing in his life, that statement would be incorrect.

What mattered most to Helios was his empire.

He was a cool-headed ruler. His top priority was the empire’s wellbeing.

‘And that man has opened the way for me to legally enter the palace. Moreover, with a not-so-light title as the prince’s tutor and the Emperor’s companion.’

Helios was not a fool who added personal feelings to public matters. Therefore, the fact that he made me a member of the royal family should never be viewed as a mere impulsive act on his part.

‘Helios is testing me.’

That was the conclusion I reached. A suddenly enrolled, ambiguous princess from the Duke’s family. Someone who survived face-to-face with a Basilisk and even witnessed the Basilisk’s corpse.

It was clear that Helios set up this meeting to explore who I truly was.

‘There was no reason not to respond to this test.’

I hoped for Helios’s interest, and I was more than willing to engage in whatever antics and trials he had prepared.

“Of course, Your Majesty. Whatever you wish is acceptable to me.”

I looked directly at Helios and smiled even broader, indicating my willingness to participate. As he looked at me, his eyes narrowed slightly, a new light flickered within those deep blue eyes. He smiled.

“……Interesting. Head attendant, bring the tea.”

At Helios’s gesture, an elderly man pushed in a trolley. The skilled attendant carefully arranged the teacups and poured tea into mine.

And with it came a rich aroma.

‘……Black?’

A thick black liquid, or rather, something ambiguous that could hardly be called a liquid, filled the antique cup adorned with rubies.

‘Huh…

I expected some kind of prank, but I had no idea it would be this direct. Slowly blinking my eyes, I looked at the contents of the cup and let out a soft laugh. It was something all too familiar to me.

‘Monster’s blood.’

The Emperor was truly insane.

The nobles of the empire lived lives far removed from monsters, so they lacked knowledge about them.

‘Most nobles think that just coming into contact with a monster’s blood would mean death.’

They looked like cowardly fools, but that was indeed the case for the majority.

In such circumstances, for the Emperor to present monster’s blood during tea time with a princess was utterly shocking.

‘Common nobles would feel that the Emperor has insulted them profoundly. Monster’s blood during tea time?’

Since nobles knew nothing about monsters, it would definitely be so. As I stared at the suspiciously bubbling substance, I deftly tapped my chin.

‘How should I respond?’

Should I feign shock as if caught off guard or respond nonchalantly? I tilted my head slowly.

I couldn’t predict what kind of reaction the Emperor was looking for. However, I was certain of the image I wanted to project to him: that I wasn’t a mere plaything for the Emperor but rather his partner.

If I showed a shocked and playful reaction, he might start seeing me as an amusing puppet. However, I shouldn’t end up just being that.

I needed to demonstrate that I was loyal, wise, and capable in Helios’s eyes.

With graceful movements, I lifted the teacup. The rising vapor was an odor all too familiar to me.

‘Well, if he’s giving me something this good, I’d be grateful.’

I inhaled the aroma as if savoring it, and smiled brightly at Helios.

“I am truly grateful for your generosity in offering such a precious thing as the blood of Madolus.”

As Helios scrutinized my reaction, his eyes widened in surprise. I met his astonished gaze, curling my eyes into a smile.

‘Normally, monster’s blood isn’t a medicine, but a poison. However, the blood of the Madolus is different. When processed, it is used as the most potent medicine.’

Processed Madolus blood enhances mana, relaxes tension, and allows for instant energy recovery. It’s circulated at quite a high price, and when I was mercenary, I used to catch Madolus just to sell their blood.

“……How did you know that?”

Helios, who had been laughing heartily, suddenly wore a look of disbelief. I replied casually with a grin.

“I’ve seen monster’s blood a few times.”

“No. What I meant was, how did you know it was ‘Madolus’s blood’?”

Helios’s eyes glinted sharply. I lowered my eyes gently.

Indeed, anyone could tell that monster’s blood was black and viscous.

‘However, distinguishing between monster’s blood and Madolus’s blood isn’t something just anyone can do.’

That’s why fake Madolus blood flooded the market. Many would buy and consume ordinary monster’s blood, thinking it was Madolus’s blood, leading to illness—a pretty serious social issue.

‘How many Madolus have I killed so far… I can identify it just by smell.’

I had encountered Madolus’s blood so much that I could tell just by the faintest whiff. However, I couldn’t say that directly to Helios. I briefly averted my gaze and pushed my teacup forward. The weak afternoon sunlight filtering in through the clear crystal wall fell on my cup.

“When exposed to light, Madolus’s blood creates a faint wave. Unlike other monster’s blood.”

That was the method experts use to differentiate. Helios, who had been staring at me, let out a small laugh.

“You perceived that wave.”

The wave produced by Madolus’s blood when it reflects light is extremely subtle. An ordinary person would not even be able to detect it. To catch the wave given off by Madolus’s blood, many specialized tools and experts are required.

“Yes. It wasn’t difficult.”

Even knowing this, I responded calmly before Helios’s sparkling blue eyes.

“Hahaha!”

Helios laughed, bursting out in a hearty cheer that sounded as if he were having the time of his life. After laughing for a while, he leaned forward and looked at me.

“You’re quite the entertaining princess, aren’t you?”

“I’ve only ever heard I’m quite dull. Thank you for the compliment.”

Helios burst into laughter again at my nonchalant response. His eyes, beaming joyfully, raised his cup filled with Madolus’s blood toward me.

“Yes! I’m glad to have an entertaining companion. Let’s have a toast!”

A toast with teacups? It was a mad idea. Yet somehow I felt cheerful too, so I silently lifted my cup to meet his.

“Then, to our friendship.”

Clink.

The luxurious teacups clinked precariously against each other. The exchange of glances over the cups was fierce.

‘Whatever you’re expecting, don’t show me anything beyond that.’

Two beautifully colored eyes, one pink and one blue, curved simultaneously, and we emptied our cups in one breath. Despite its appearance and odor, Madolus’s blood had a surprisingly refreshing taste.

 

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