Recently, a strange rumor has been circulating among the maids of the Renel Imperial Palace.

For some reason, the head maid of the Khan Kingdom was seriously injured, and it was not King Charlen or Queen Rose who saved her, but His Majesty the Emperor.

It was said that Katharine, who was unable to take a single step and was bedridden, was receiving the Emperor’s devoted protection like a princess.

But what they were really surprised about was what came next.

“Is it true that the fact that Miss Katharine is alive has not been reported to the Khan Kingdom?”

“Shh.”

The low-ranking maids in charge of cooking lowered their voices in front of the boiling pot.

“I’m not sure, as I overheard it from the senior maids talking secretly.”

“Come on, that can’t be true, right? There’s no reason not to inform them.”

“You really don’t know His Majesty.”

While everyone was still questioning, one maid spoke as she finely chopped truffles into the soup that was to be sent up to Katharine.

“His Majesty wants it.”

“What?”

“What else? Miss Katharine. It means that someday her name might be engraved on the crown of the Empress.”

The maid muttered while tapping the ladle covered with thick soup.

Others shook their heads with a sneer, as if it wasn’t even worth considering seriously.

“Hey, don’t say such nonsense. The sun will rise in the west before His Majesty takes in an Empress.”

As they were finishing their conversation with light laughter, the head maid entered the kitchen and said in an urgent tone.

“Girls. We’re short-handed. You’ll have to take the soup bowls up instead.”

“Us?”

“It’s alright. Just keep your mouths shut and bow your heads. Don’t say anything unnecessary. No matter how handsome His Majesty’s face is, absolutely do not glance at him. If you understand, move quickly!”

As the head maid commanded in a loud voice, the maids hurriedly replaced their aprons with new ones and changed into clean clothes.

Their faces were pale with tension.

It was because they rarely had the opportunity to appear before the Emperor, as they spent all day cooped up in the kitchen assisting with cooking.

The maids took the food and went to the room where Katharine was staying.

In the luxurious bedroom, too large for one person to use, Katharine was sitting quietly.

“Excuse us, Lady Katharine Roberfon. We’ve brought your meal.”

Katharine, who had been reading a thick book with her black hair curling down like silk threads, looked up and smiled slightly.

“Thank you. You can leave it there.”

“No. Give it here.”

The maids, who had been looking around the quiet room and sighing in relief, flinched at the low voice from behind them and stepped aside.

“We, we greet Your Majesty the Emperor.”

Farnese did not respond separately but took the bowl the maids were holding with his large hand, and sat down heavily next to the bed.

His eyes were as serious as if he was doing something extremely important as he stirred the soup with a spoon to cool it.

Katharine put the book she was reading aside and reached out her hands towards him.

“Your Majesty. Please give it to me. I can eat by myself.”

“Didn’t you say the same thing yesterday and end up eating just one spoonful like a sparrow?”

“But you’re busy. The time to spend on me…”

“Of course not. It’s a relief that you at least know that an Emperor who doesn’t have enough hours in a day is wasting precious time on such useless trivial matters.”

Katharine’s expression became sulky like a child who was upset.

While she muttered quietly about whether he really had to say it like that, Farnese scooped up a small amount of soup, blew on it to cool it, and brought it to her lips.

Steam rose from the soup, which had been simmered with soft cream and chewy mushrooms.

Katharine stared at it blankly with a very displeased look.

“What? Don’t you like mushrooms?”

“Do you think I’m a child? To be picky about food.”

“You dare say that when you pick out only the kidney beans from salads.”

Katharine’s shoulders rose slightly in embarrassment.

“It’s not that, but as the eldest daughter of the Roberfon viscounty, I can’t accept just sitting and being fed. Please give it to me.”

As Katharine reached for the spoon, Farnese firmly pulled his hand back.

“Will you ever have the chance to enjoy such luxury again in your life? Why don’t you just eat quietly while I’m being nice?”

“With all due respect, I don’t think being fed by Your Majesty is a luxury.”

As she said this, the eyes of the maids waiting quietly on one side widened as if they were about to pop out.

Farnese replied with an amused, crooked smile.

“If receiving help from me, the Emperor, is not a luxury, then what is it?”

“It’s shameless. Your Majesty’s hands should only be used to make the lives of your people peaceful and prosperous.”

“Seeing you, a mere maid, rejecting my kindness and even trying to preach to me, I wonder if it’s not shamelessness but rather a lack of manners.”

Katharine looked up, slightly flustered by the chilly voice.

However, Farnese’s face was filled with more cheerful energy than ever.

Katharine couldn’t understand which part of their recent conversation had made him so happy.

“You there.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“I’ll call if anything else is needed, so you may leave now. It seems this woman is shy because there are too many eyes watching.”

“Your Majesty. What do you mean by shy?”

Katharine’s face turned bright red.

Hearing Farnese’s order, the maids exchanged silent glances among themselves, then hurriedly withdrew with expressions and excited steps as if they had caught an interesting piece of gossip.

“How are you feeling? Your complexion looks much brighter.”

As always, Duke Ludwig spoke with a gentle smile faintly settled on his face.

Since they usually only exchanged light eye greetings when meeting, Katharine hadn’t thought at all that he would take the time to visit her.

Katharine nodded as she offered him a chair.

“I’m much better, thanks to you. Please forgive me for not being able to stand up and greet you properly, Duke.”

“I’m just a humble old man. Don’t worry about it. I brought a fruit basket, it’s fresh so please enjoy it.”

“It looks delicious. Thank you.”

Despite his incredibly high status as the Emperor’s chief advisor, Duke Ludwig had a habit of lowering himself to an unusual degree.

But it was only a few days ago that Katharine realized this behavior only came out in front of her.

She found it quite strange when she saw him treating other knights and servants strictly without exception.

After all, he was much higher in status than Katharine.

“I came to visit like this, but I’m worried that I might be disturbing your rest.”

“Not at all. I’m rather glad. I’ve always wanted to have a quiet conversation with you sometime, Duke.”

“I felt the same. I’m always busy, and His Majesty is always by your side, so I haven’t had the chance to speak leisurely.”

Some small talk continued for a while.

About the unpredictable weather these days, various events happening in the capital, and health.

Katharine drank some water to moisten her dry throat, and the conversation paused for a moment.

As she put down her glass, she opened up about something she had always wanted to ask if she were alone with him without Farnese.

“There are a few things I’d like to confirm about the current situation. I believe you’ll answer honestly, Duke.”

Duke Ludwig kept a meaningful silence for a moment before answering.

“Please, ask anything.”

“Why doesn’t His Majesty ask me anything about this accident? Rather, when I try to ask His Majesty about it, he just says we’ll talk later because it might bring up unpleasant memories.”

“His Majesty simply thinks you need absolute rest. It was such a big accident, after all.”

“Then, they should have informed the Khan Kingdom about my current condition, but has there been no contact or letter from them?”

“No. Not at present.”

Duke Ludwig answered immediately without hesitation.

As if preemptively stating, ‘There’s nothing for you to find strange.’

“That means the Khan Kingdom might not intend to look for me in the future either.”

Katharine muttered quietly, as if talking to herself.

In fact, she had expected this to some extent.

If Charlen were to cooperate with the Renel Empire to find her, it would be like announcing his own mistake to the world.

A man who cares so much about appearances wouldn’t admit, ‘She almost died falling because of me.’

He would probably try to bury the incident as quietly as possible.

“Do you want to return to the Khan Kingdom, miss?”

Duke Ludwig asked as if trying to gauge something.

Katharine shook her head, not noticing anything strange about his question.

“I’m not sure. What I want to do. But one thing is certain, life here isn’t bad. So I’m afraid. Afraid that I’ll get used to peaceful days like today and later not want to leave.”

“You can stay longer until your thoughts are sorted out. His Majesty will surely understand.”

Katharine nodded, breaking the heavy atmosphere with a bright smile.

“I’m sure he will. No matter what anyone says, His Majesty is a kind person.”

“That’s…”

Duke Ludwig trailed off with a strange expression, then finally stood up without finishing his sentence.

“It’s nothing. I should take my leave now. If I’m late for the meeting, the scolding will be tremendous.”

“Of course. Thank you for coming despite your busy schedule.”

Duke Ludwig responded with a smile, then turned around, straightening his robust body that didn’t match his age at all.

He stopped at the door.

“Miss. You just said His Majesty is a kind person.”

“Yes. Why do you ask?”

“What if His Majesty turns out to be a completely different person from what you think? Will you leave this place?”

Katharine tilted her head at the strange question.

She answered without much thought.

“Whether I leave or not isn’t really related to His Majesty’s personality or temperament.”

“…”

“The reason I like it here is because of the big and small considerations I’ve received from His Majesty and the small memories we’ve made. Even I don’t know myself well, so how could I know the inner thoughts of His Majesty whom I’ve only known for a short time?”

Duke Ludwig looked very surprised.

“But just now…”

“Yes, when I said His Majesty is a kind person, I meant that’s how I think of him. No matter how he thinks of me, I cherish the kindness I’ve received from His Majesty so far.”

Katharine shrugged lightly and picked up her book again.

Ludwig, who quietly left the room lost in thought, saw Farnese just disappearing around the corner in the opposite direction.

‘Why were you born in the Khan Kingdom, Miss Katharine.’

Duke Ludwig let out a light sigh as if in regret.