I kept quiet to avoid revealing my thoughts, as it was clear that it would lead to a scolding.

“In case you return to your monster form, don’t be surprised. If it happens, record the time and don’t go outside.”

“Yes, yes!”

Bill still looked bewildered as he examined his own body.

Nathaniel gathered his preparations and spoke to Mari and the children.

“We might find the answers soon, so stay calm and quiet.”

With hopeful faces, Mari and the children nodded.

I, too, felt lighter knowing that I could help them.

After quietly returning to the mansion, Nathaniel immersed himself in research in the basement.

With nothing particular to do, I decided to spend time with Theresa, sipping tea.
“Which regional tea are we having today?”

“I’m having Darjeeling from the camp region.”

As expected, it was a different type of black tea compared to what I had heard last time. Maximilian was sourcing a variety of teas in such a way that it was fascinating to wonder where and how he acquired them.

“How about this one?”

“Well, it’s good, but…”

Theresa made a peculiar expression and sighed deeply.

“Sometimes, people can’t help it.”

“Why?”

After hesitating for a moment, she blushed and spoke.

“I got upset because I didn’t know what my preferences were. So Max is helping me, but no matter how much I think about it, I still like the one I used to drink the most.”

“Oh…”

“Finding my true taste is not easy, even with effort.”

For quite some time, Theresa had been drinking only Earl Grey coming up from the magic province, mainly because Maximilian had given it to her as a gift. However, there was another reason she preferred that tea.

“Uh, wasn’t that the tea you liked from the beginning, Theresa?”

“Huh?”

Surprised by my words, Theresa blinked.

I distinctly remembered this.

It was one of the few good things my uncle did for Theresa.

“Do you remember when you were invited to the royal palace?”

Theresa smirked.

Well, she might not remember since she was very young.

“It was when you were about ten years old…”

“Ah! I remember.”

“Back then, Uncle remembered that you liked it and ordered it from the kitchen every week.”

Confusion appeared on Theresa’s face. She hesitated for a moment and absentmindedly rubbed the teacup in her hands.

“Maximilian drinks it often, so I naturally…”

She fell silent for a moment.

I couldn’t tell what she was thinking right now, but at least it didn’t seem to be heading in a bad direction for Maximilian.

“That’s right, I remember.”

Theresa, with a dreamy expression like she was dreaming, mumbled.

“I thought Maximilian liked it from the beginning.”

“Both of you have been friends since you were very young. If you look closely, your preferences are also similar.”

“We… do?”

Theresa looked at me with a truly surprised expression.

Now I was the one who seemed bewildered.

“Your tastes in food and drinks, even perfumes and flowers, seem to be quite similar.”

She looked like she genuinely didn’t know. I asked in amazement, how could two people not know each other so well?

“Why do you think your preferences are so different?”

“Well, Maximilian always likes big and flashy things… I prefer simple things.”

It was a story I had never heard before.

Maximilian’s preferences, as I knew them, were very different.

“Well, that doesn’t seem to be the case.”

Where did this gap come from?

I recalled the older brother from the original work.

“Uncle also liked small and quaint things originally. But my mother scolded him a lot, saying that such things didn’t suit the Duke’s son.”

I observed Theresa’s reaction carefully.
I didn’t bring up this topic hoping she would feel a sense of guilt.

“Anyway, don’t worry too much since Theresa likes the Earl Grey from the magic province.”

Theresa stared at her teacup for a while before speaking quietly.

“I guess I thought only I was being influenced. In reality, Max and I were influencing each other…”

Unknown emotions briefly surfaced and disappeared on Theresa’s bittersweet smiling face.

It seemed like the guilt that people who had been in love for a long time and then separated might feel.

Was it not just the emotion of love but also the fact that they had shared tastes for a long time that stimulated Theresa?

“You don’t need to feel responsible towards your uncle.”

I blurted out unexpectedly.

Perhaps if left like this, it might create an atmosphere for Theresa and Maximilian to reconcile.

But I couldn’t forgive Maximilian to that extent, especially now that I had someone I loved. I couldn’t understand him any better.

“Liking, loving, and cherishing are things you should naturally do for someone precious. I don’t know if your uncle liked and loved Theresa, but I’m sure he didn’t cherish her.”

Theresa nodded firmly at my resolute words.

“Accepting your uncle is up to you, but this kind of attention should have been given to your sister originally.”

Theresa, for once, responded with a bright smile.

“I guess it’s because we’ve been together for a very long time. Because we know everything about each other, even small changes in our usual selves bother us.”

“Even more reason to be rational.”

I said more firmly, but Theresa just found it amusing.

At that moment, I noticed Maximilian sneaking around from a distance.

Fortunately, he seemed to regret it earlier than expected and didn’t cling to Theresa too much…

‘He really doesn’t like it.’

I thought to myself while secretly keeping an eye on him.

Milia moved with tension, responding to the sudden summons of the emperor.

Since the incident with Diana, her relationship with Daliana, whom she had sponsored, had deteriorated beyond repair.

“His Majesty the Emperor, Her Majesty the Empress has arrived.”

Standing in front of the office door, the chamberlain announced her visit.

As the elaborately decorated door opened, Phillips, who still boasted her beautiful appearance, appeared.

Her soft blonde hair and azure eyes were reminiscent of the time they used to love each other.

“I greet Your Majesty.”

“Lady, please come in.”

Unlike usual, Phillips addressed her as “Lady” and kindly invited her in, making Milia furrow her brow.

It was because he always spoke to her kindly like this when he wanted an unfavorable favor.

Even after a simple snack was prepared, a long silence lingered between them.

“Uh, well. Have you been well during this time?”

Breaking the heavy silence, Phillips asked.

“Yes, thanks to Your Majesty’s concern, I have been doing very well.”
Shrugging off the chilly response, he rolled his large eyes and quietly began to speak.

“I called you because I have something I really want to say to my Empress.”

“Please go ahead.”

It was still an emotionless and dry statement. Phillips once again thought that his relationship with Milia was not the same as before.

The one who always affectionately clung to him wasn’t Milia after all!