It was while Selene Adrian was taking a stroll down the hallway, momentarily pausing to gaze out the corridor window, that she heard Fritten Lenoir’s call.

“Your Highness. If it’s alright with you, may we have the tea time that was originally scheduled now?”

The fading sunset’s glow was streaming through the windows into the castle. It didn’t seem like it would take long for complete darkness to fall. This meant it wasn’t an appropriate time for tea.

The tea time was originally scheduled for around three o’clock, but due to the commotion with the ring, time had been delayed.

The inspection tour schedule was pushed back by another day, and work that should have ended at 2 o’clock was delayed until 5 o’clock now, causing the tea time to be postponed as well. As a result, Fritten’s plans were also changed to stay one more night.

The plan to have tea time with Fritten hadn’t been completely abandoned, but given the late hour, Selene intended to politely decline the suggestion.

“The day is quickly fading. I’m afraid it might be difficult today. How about we do it after breakfast tomorrow morning?”

“I was planning to return home early tomorrow morning. But I have many things left unsaid, and things I want to say, so could you spare me just a little time? Even just a few minutes would be fine.”

Perhaps 20 minutes would be enough. Selene, still gazing out the window, estimated the time left until complete darkness and gestured to her maids. The maids, ordered to prepare the tea set, quickly withdrew.

Thanks to the staff’s swift handling, in just a few minutes, a tea table for the two women was set up under the pergola in the garden.

Selene began the brief tea time, taking a sip of black tea. Following Selene’s lead, Fritten tasted the tea and offered cheerful praise with a bright smile.

“Wow. This is really delicious. It’s the best tea I’ve ever tasted.”

Selene nodded lightly, giving an appropriate response.

“I’m glad it suits your taste.”

“It seems the maids of the Grand Ducal household are all quite skilled at brewing tea. It’s not that the Lenoir house doesn’t have such talents, but sometimes there are girls who make tea that doesn’t suit my taste. That’s why I recently started learning how to brew tea myself.”

It wasn’t common for a noble lady to brew her own tea, but somehow that didn’t seem to be part of the ‘unfinished conversation’ she had mentioned. Selene took a sip of tea and smoothly changed the subject.

“Since we don’t have much time, if you have something you want to say, please feel free to do so.”

She knew it was against etiquette to demand the main point so soon after starting the conversation, but given the time constraints, there was no luxury for observing niceties. Fortunately, the indirect meaning of not wasting time with unnecessary words seemed to be well conveyed, as Fritten, who had been hesitating, broached the main topic.

“I’m late in saying this, but thank you for saving me in the banquet hall last time.”

“No thanks are necessary. Anyone else would have done the same, not just for Lady Lenoir.”

“You’re so modest. It seems Your Highness, who is beautiful in appearance, is also beautiful in heart.”

Was that all she wanted to say, a simple compliment?

Selene set her cup down on the table and gazed into Fritten’s purple eyes, which were smiling broadly. Amidst a faint crackling sound, Selene slowly parted her lips.

“I didn’t expect you to bring up that incident first.”

“I’ve been wanting to express my gratitude all this time.”

“Gratitude… It’s indeed a nice word, gratitude. But I expected something more. ‘Thank you’ and ‘I’m sorry and thank you’ are completely different statements. Was I hoping for too much?”

Fritten closed her mouth at the words that flowed without hesitation. It was quite contradictory to see her face quickly flush with shame while saying thank you.

“From your expression, it seems you understand. May I expect the next words then?”

There was no response. In that silent reaction, a firm resolve not to admit wrongdoing was evident. As this was expected, Selene took a sip of black tea with an unwavering posture.

In contrast, Fritten’s face, feeling humiliated, grew increasingly flushed. To think she would scold me when I humbly came to express gratitude first! Fritten tightly gripped her dress under the table.

Noticing this, Selene slightly lowered the corners of her eyes and covered her mouth with her hand.

“Oh my. Lady Lenoir, you don’t look well. Shall I have some chamomile tea brought to soothe your mind and body?”

“I’m, fine.”

Though irritated, it was just a petty provocation. Fritten gradually relaxed her fists that had been trembling with anger as she recalled her plan.

“Actually, I have something for Your Highness. I brought it thinking of you.”

Bring it. Fritten silently instructed Amy beside her. It was none other than a box containing tea bags.

Fritten took out a tea bag and began to fill an empty cup with it. Her skillful handling of the tea bag proved that her claim of learning to brew tea herself wasn’t entirely false.

Pushing the teacup towards Selene, Fritten said with a smile.

“I brewed it myself. Though my skills are amateur, I did my best, so please have a taste.”

Selene, who had been gazing down at the rippling surface, shook her head.

“I’ve had too much tea and my stomach is full. I’ll just accept your kind intentions.”

The sunset glow was fading as if it would disappear. Recognizing it was time to conclude the meeting, Selene shifted her knees, preparing to stand.

Fritten, keenly noticing this movement, quickly put on a sad face.

“I brought these tea bags intending to give them to Your Highness… but it would be impolite to insist again. I understand.”

Fritten rose from her seat with a bitter smile. Her slumped shoulders looked genuinely disappointed, making it difficult to discern whether it was sincere or an act.

After a moment of internal conflict, Selene decided to dispel her suspicions.

“Then would just one sip be enough?”

It was just a casual remark, but Fritten’s unexpected response caused some bewilderment.

“No, there’s no need to force yourself. However, if you ever think of this tea when you’re thirsty, please send a letter anytime. If it’s Your Highness’s request, I can brew it anytime.”

With these somewhat incoherent words, Fritten slightly bent and straightened her knees as if bidding farewell.

What the…

Her attitude seemed to have changed strangely, but there was nothing particularly worth pursuing. The garden was already dark enough to need lanterns lit. It seemed there was no choice but to accept her farewell, even if it left an uneasy feeling.

Selene nodded and gestured to the maids around her, signaling the end of the tea time.

* * *

“Hmm, hmm~.”

Fritten hummed a tune as she strolled down the corridor.

The reason for her good mood was probably seeing the Grand Duchess’s dull side. Would the Grand Duchess know, I wonder? That the tea she drank without hesitation was actually no ordinary tea.

Fritten had long detected the distrustful look directed at her when she offered to brew tea herself. The Grand Duchess made the excuse of being full, but in reality, it was likely because her attitude seemed suspicious.

However, the Grand Duchess had planted suspicion in the wrong place. Because the tea she had drunk was just ordinary tea with nothing added to it.

It was a gift prepared in anticipation of the Grand Duchess’s refusal from the start. Fritten was aware that Selene didn’t welcome her. So she never expected a response like “Oh, I’m touched, Lady Lenoir. I’ll drink it well.”

Nevertheless, the reason she served personally brewed tea was in hopes that she would let her guard down and drink at least the tea she was originally drinking.

While everyone was busy with the hastily arranged tea time preparations, Amy, who had infiltrated the kitchen with an excuse, added white powder to the teapot away from others’ eyes. And the unknowing maids poured from that teapot into the two women’s cups.

Unlike herself, who only pretended to drink, the Grand Duchess drank that tea completely. Not knowing what was in it.

Fritten cupped her cheek with her hand, mimicking the Grand Duchess’s gesture, and put on a pitiful expression.

Poor Grand Duchess. How pitiful to be so ignorant.

Just then, Johan was approaching from the opposite end of the corridor. What perfect timing. Is heaven on my side today? Fritten approached Johan with a smile on her face.

“I was just about to look for you, Johan, and we happen to meet like this.”

“Me? Do you have something to say to me?”

Johan tilted his head sideways, pointing at himself with his finger.

“I heard that Her Highness is looking for you. Didn’t you hear from another maid? She should be on the second floor right about now.”

Johan looked up briefly with a puzzled expression, then nodded.

“Well, alright. I’ll go see her now.”

“I’m going to stop by somewhere briefly and then head to the reception room in the annex. I have something to say to you too, so please come right away after you finish talking with Her Highness. Okay?”

“Sure. It seems like it might be about work, but the conversation could go on for a while, so if that’s the case, don’t wait too long and just go up to your room.”

“Alright.”

As Johan climbed the stairs to the second floor, Fritten felt even more elated.

By now, enough time should have passed for the effects to take hold.

Emerging into the central hall, Fritten imagined Selene’s appearance as she glanced beyond the second-floor railing.

The powder made from ground herbs had the effect of raising body temperature. The Grand Duchess would be facing Johan with a flushed face.

All that remained was to go to the Grand Duke now and drop a hint that the Grand Duchess was looking for him, suggesting he go up to the second floor, so that the scene would be discovered at the appropriate moment.

Fritten headed towards the Grand Duke’s office, imagining the headline that would be splashed across the newspapers the next day.

The Grand Duchess caught in a compromising situation with a man other than her husband, her face flushed. If I create this level of scandal, even ‘that person’ will be satisfied and won’t say anything.

A satisfied smile spread across her face. However, the sweet fantasy was shattered soon after.

“Fritten.”

It was because Johan’s voice was heard from behind.

“Johan?”

Surprised to see Johan, who should have been upstairs, appear before her eyes, Fritten asked in confusion.

“Why are you here? Weren’t you supposed to be upstairs?”

“Ah, someone was already with Selene, so I just came back.”

Faced with an unexpected turn of events, Fritten stupidly asked again.

“What? What do you mean…?”

“When I was about to enter, suddenly the door was locked from inside. They asked me to call the doctor, anyway, it seems like something serious happened. I’m going to ask about it later. Anyway, didn’t you say you were going to the reception room earlier? Let’s go together.”

Fritten, who wanted to freak out wondering how things could go so wrong, soon regained her composure. With many male guests in the Grand Ducal residence, there was a chance one of them had entered the room.

The more she reconsidered the possibilities, the clearer her vision became. Whatever it was, now was the right time. Fritten spoke in a calm tone.

“I have somewhere to stop by briefly, so I’ll go to the reception room after that. Please go ahead.”

“Where?”

Seeing Johan tilting his head, Fritten grinned.

“I have something to say to His Grace the Grand Duke.”

Everything was going according to plan, so heaven must still be on her side. Fritten was so certain of this as the summit of success seemed to be right before her eyes.

“You’ll be wasting your time.”

“Pardon…?”

“That person who came earlier, that unexpected guest is Boreas.”