95. Temporary Reconciliation

2024.01.03.

To Regina, whose mood had sunken to the lowest depths, the faintest ray of light came in the form of Tasha Kimfri’s clearly displeased expression.

When the gem merchant summoned by Lady Celentina entered the greenhouse where the tea party was underway, most of the girls began flocking toward him.

Regina quickly approached Tasha, who was straightening her dress with the help of a young maid.

“If you happen to meet Yuan, please be careful.”

Tasha Kimfri, startled by the attendant’s service, stared at Regina standing close by. A hint of annoyance flickered in her beautiful amber eyes. Regina didn’t back down and stepped closer.

“Yuan?”

“Her Royal Highness the Former Crown Princess, my cousin.”

“You must be quite close. Still, she’s a member of the Imperial Family—how can you speak of her so casually?”

Tasha Kimfri replied indifferently.

Regina closely followed Tasha, who was trying to join the other girls. Though her voice sounded indifferent, Regina had clearly seen Tasha’s eyes briefly sparkle.

“Close? We spent our entire childhood together in the same estate. She’s selfish and thinks only of herself. She’d easily abandon even family for her own goals. Never once satisfied with her position, she desperately clawed her way toward the Imperial Family, and even after receiving the undeserved title of Former Crown Princess, she’s clearly still discontent.”

“…….”

“It’s only natural you’d find her presence unpleasant. If you happen to meet her in the Empress’s Palace, you may tell her that Regina Pelliese, her cousin, is watching you. I can also actively ensure nothing bothers you during your service as the Empress’s handmaiden—”

“I understand.”

Regina’s narrowed eyes widened as Tasha replied without any emotional shift.

“Then, next time you enter the palace, I’ll—”

“But speaking ill of family like this… it won’t reflect well on you later, Lady Pelliese.”

The sudden icy retort dropped the temperature sharply, freezing Regina’s lips.

Facing the tense Regina, Tasha Kimfri continued.

“I’ll take Lady Pelliese’s advice to heart.”

Her voice was utterly devoid of sincerity.

As Regina opened her mouth to speak further, Tasha Kimfri abruptly changed her feigned gentle expression, her sharp gaze narrowing. Her bright amber eyes locked directly onto Regina.

“But I’ll make my own judgment.”

It was a cold, resolute voice, clearly shutting out any interference.

Tall and long-limbed, Tasha Kimfri swiftly passed by Regina and headed toward the group of girls.

Unlike the other girls with neatly tied-up hair, her slightly loose ponytail swayed provocatively from side to side, as if taunting Regina.

‘How insolent!’

A cheer erupted from the distant group of girls—apparently, the gem merchant had brought out something rare.

Regina gritted her teeth, glaring at the girls fawning over Tasha for arriving late. She decided she must soon meet Yuan Pelliese and issue a stern warning to properly fulfill their agreement.

***

A newspaper lay on the tea table, unattended.

Yuan let out a deep sigh and glanced around.

They had been in this standoff for several days now. It was likely because Yuan had been summoned almost daily by Bollonico.

Since the day Yuan ignored Noel’s pleas and went to Bollonico, Noel had refused to even look at her.

He used to read the newspaper first, then offer it to her. Now, he simply left the paper on the tea table Trin had prepared and disappeared.

Still, it was fortunate—perhaps the only fortunate thing—that he hadn’t completely cut off all concern for her.

Yuan opened a book she hadn’t yet returned to Noel.

Honestly, it was overwhelming for Yuan alone to cross-reference the seal pattern from ‘The Path of Loyalty’ with the noble families sending gifts to the Empress to extract high-level intelligence.

Yuan’s knowledge was concentrated in medicine and pharmacology.

Aside from those fields, the only thing she was decent at was bookkeeping.

While she could hastily learn and mimic court etiquette or dancing, she couldn’t possibly grasp every noble family across the vast empire like those who had engaged in social activities and inter-family exchanges since childhood.

She could at least subtly ask during conversations with Noel—but that, too, was now difficult.

So far, the families Yuan had identified were Duke Drietter of the North, Lady Celentina of the West, and Marquis Companni of the South.

She had memorized their names, family crests, and regions, but had zero access to quality information about them.

Yuan shut the book and pressed her fingertips hard against her temples.

Ever since hearing that Clade Euphris was coming to attend the investiture ceremony, Yuan hadn’t been able to sleep properly.

At first, longing overwhelmed her—her heart raced at the thought of seeing his face, even from afar. But later, fear set in—how would he treat her?

After a day passed, she grew tormented by the absurdity of being stuck here in this detached palace, having uncovered nothing meaningful.

At best, she had learned that there were signs of Emperor Marcello abusing Bollonico, and that Bollonico took out that same abuse on his attendants or in his so-called ‘Bollonico’s Paradise.’

She had obtained the Pelliese family seal, but even that was merely part of her investigation.

“This can’t continue.”

Though she now had more time alone to record and think, her efficiency had dropped without Noel.

She had to admit it—Yuan needed Noel now.

There was no one else nearby who could provide up-to-date information not found in newspapers or books.

While fumbling through the book, worrying how to mend Noel’s wounded heart, suddenly, droplets of blood pattered onto the densely written pages.

Yuan hastily covered her nose with her hand.

“Trin—! Trin!!”

She muttered, knowing full well this would happen just as she ran out of handkerchiefs.

She quickly took a handkerchief someone offered and pressed it to her nose. As expected, the nosebleed showed no sign of stopping.

She had been overworking lately.

Repeatedly absorbing and returning Bollonico’s pain had worn her body down, and now, digging through documents like this in the detached palace, her body was breaking apart.

After soaking one handkerchief with blood, Yuan decided she should rest for today and pressed another offered handkerchief to her nose.

“Thank you, Trin……?”

But it was Noel who had handed her the handkerchief. He must have seen her and rushed over—his breathing was heavily ragged.

Yuan was momentarily flustered but concealed it, silently accepting the handkerchief he offered again and tending to her nose.

All her earlier thoughts about how to persuade Noel vanished instantly, and though the atmosphere remained awkward, a sigh of relief escaped.

Startled by the sound, Noel hesitated briefly about whether to step inside the palace, then finally sat down across from Yuan.

“W-what… w-what exactly is wrong with you?”

“…….”

Yuan stared at Noel, who questioned her without even looking at her face.

“W-when I first saw you, you were coughing up b-blood. Honestly, I thought it might be a t-trick. But you’ve been here constantly—n-nosebleeds, worsening complexion. A-and you don’t seem to be c-calling a doctor.”

He had observed her closely indeed.

“P-people say doctors can’t take care of t-themselves. A-are you like that too? If you’re here in the Imperial Palace for r-recovery, wouldn’t it be better to s-see a doctor? I don’t understand.”

“That applies to you too, Your Highness. You’re staying here instead of your own perfectly fine palace. You say you want to fix your stutter, yet you refuse to call a doctor. I’m curious, but I understand. Everyone has illnesses they don’t want others to know. Just as I don’t wish to explain every detail of my situation to ease your heart.”

A sharp remark silenced Noel instantly.

Heavy silence settled between them once more.

Yuan realized why two people who could enjoy quite pleasant conversations when at peace became so awkward the moment their feelings clashed.

Neither Yuan nor Noel ever revealed their true inner thoughts.

How each truly viewed the other, what intentions brought them to this palace, and what their future plans were—all remained vague, their sincerity withheld, creating a limit to their relationship.

The problem was that, regardless of how much Yuan trusted Noel, there were things she simply couldn’t tell him.

Perhaps Noel felt the same.

Yuan let out a quiet sigh, watching Noel, who no longer smiled or scolded her.

Ultimately, it was Yuan who was at a loss.

If their relationship soured, Noel would lose a close conversational partner—but Yuan would lose the only person in this palace willing to share high-level information.

Yuan decided it was better to maintain a relationship where Noel cooperated with her at least moderately, rather than continue this meaningless battle of wills.

Clade Euphris would soon arrive at the Imperial Palace.

Before then, she had to uncover anything—anything at all—so she could warn him about who to watch out for.

Yuan reassured Noel, who sat speechless and bewildered.

“We agreed to get along while staying here together, didn’t we? I’ll also set aside any curiosity that might upset you. So please, for the duration of our stay here, try to understand me a little. Everyone has their own circumstances, after all.”

Yuan casually pointed to several spots on the newspaper, lightly touching on topics Noel usually couldn’t wait to discuss.

Confused, alternating his gaze between the paper and Yuan, Noel finally opened his mouth when Yuan brought up a subject he couldn’t resist arguing about.

“Y-you can’t think about it that way!”

“Is that so? But this graph seems to suggest otherwise.”

“T-this data is biased! It drags in data from over a decade ago and insists it still affects things today—that’s pure stubbornness!”

“I see.”

“Yes!”

After venting his frustration, Noel suddenly realized he had been drawn back into conversation with Yuan, ending their days-long cold war—and buried his head in self-loathing.

He wanted to strangle the infuriating Yuan, who sat right before him, smirking as if she had never been deathly pale and on the verge of collapse.