Crot wanted to go to Verdura Castle as quickly as possible. He was curious about how much the sugar peanuts they planted together last time had grown, and he wanted to see other crops as well. He had a separate notebook prepared to record the cultivation process of sugar peanuts. Unlike the cheap notebook he brought last time, this one had a carefully crafted leather cover.

While at home, Crot had been very happy to transfer and record notes in the new notebook. Seeing him happily scribbling something with a cheerful smile, it was to the extent that his wife might suspect him of writing love letters to another woman.

On the other hand, Annette, unlike the last time, followed Crot without much worry when he didn’t show particular interest in Stella. Since he was the closest aide to the emperor, he had to stay close, and the thought of Stella becoming intimate with Crot instead of herself was a dreadful idea.
“Well, unless one is a fool, they would know without saying who is more beneficial to me.”

Crot, whose intellect bordered on genius, became responsible for the Plant Zone not because he was just from the capital. If his family background had been outstanding, he would undoubtedly have been assigned to teach in the area closest to his nature.

Crot’s mixed heritage was considered fortunate for Annette, and everything seemed meticulously prepared for her benefit.

Though somewhat frail, Crot had a surprisingly fast pace. Annette, urgently calling out to him, quickly caught up.

“Teacher, wait a moment.”

While calling Crot, Annette made an effort not to show impatience.

Crot, who was hastening his steps with the determination to reach Verdura Castle quickly, stopped abruptly when he heard Annette calling him from behind.

Though his face looked bright when he turned around, it was not a very welcoming voice.

“What’s the matter?”

While maintaining a polite attitude towards Annette, Crot’s expression, although not outright cheerful, did not show displeasure.

“What can I do for you?”

Annette smiled satisfactorily at Crot, who maintained a courteous attitude towards her. Unlike other nobles of the Empire, Crot never boasted in front of the princesses. Annette appreciated this aspect of Crot as well. If she became the empress, she vowed to keep Crot by her side regardless of what others said.
“When you have time, would you like to have tea with me?”

Annette’s voice was polite and gentle.

Crot, standing tall with a graceful smile, gazed at Annette with restrained interest.

She appeared to be an esteemed lady to anyone, and her proudly lifted head and slightly lowered gaze seemed to self-proclaim her nobility.

From head to toe, adorned with extravagant jewelry, Annette looked splendid and elegant, as if she had become an empress.

Looking at Annette’s earrings, which seemed worth an entire year’s salary, Crot, who used to rejoice in his wife’s happiness over a small pearl embedded in a ring, suddenly felt a bitter taste in his mouth.

While becoming an imperial aide had significantly improved his situation compared to before, his family still had many debts. Half of his salary was taken away by loan sharks every month.

Despite the Emperor repeatedly offering to pay off everything at once, Crot steadfastly refused. More reward always came with its corresponding price.

Crot didn’t want to be subservient to anyone, even if it was the Emperor of the Empire. However, for some reason, he felt a bit uncomfortable and wanted to be seen favorably by Princess Stella, who he had met not long ago.

“Is there something on your mind?”
Crot’s voice was filled with caution as he asked the question. Despite Crot’s voice that seemed to maintain a distance, Annette persistently maintained a soft smile.

She had learned that changing expressions based on one’s mood would undermine the authority of the royal family.

“I have something important to discuss.”

In response to Annette’s gracefully smiling words, Crot briefly showed a troubled expression before asking as if he had made up his mind. Delaying it wouldn’t make the unpleasant task disappear.

“Due to my schedule, I can’t allocate an extended amount of time. Is that acceptable?”

“Of course. I am aware that you are busier than anyone else, teacher. I won’t waste your time.”

Annette, who didn’t even dream that Crot’s mentioned schedule involved inspecting crops at the Verdura Castle, happily responded without knowing the details.

The place Annette took Crot to was the Violet Tea Room, known as the most beautiful in the Muege Castle. It was a room exclusive to the grandest castle in the Plant Zone.

As the name suggested, the interior of the tea room was entirely adorned in purple.

From the amethyst chandelier to the candlesticks, and various violet-themed decorations, including hanging paintings of violet and forget-me-not flowers, many items were originally from the Muege Castle. However, since Annette began residing here, there were even more items sent from her homeland.
It was also a space that vividly showcased the overflowing love of parents who had left their beloved daughter in another country.

Among many places in the Muege Castle, the reason Annette brought Crot specifically to the Violet Tea Room was precisely for this.

She wanted to show how firm her position was in her home country and how well-suited she was for the position of empress.

“I don’t like beating around the bush. I won’t talk at length. I hope Professor Crot will become mine.”

Annette spoke to Crot with a confident voice.