The dining room of Tiaze Palace.

“…So, I spent the whole day looking at documents.”

Unlike Maria Ethel, who recited the day’s activities with an excited voice, the prince, Leopold, stared down at the white plate with a rigid face.

Lady Sophron, the wife of Count Sophron, standing against the wall, even held her breath. Something didn’t seem right.

The well-shaped eyes of Leopold gradually sharpened.

“But, Leopold, why aren’t you eating today of all days?”

Maria Ethel also seemed to notice the prince’s state. With a voice mixed with charm, Lady Sophron felt a bit relieved.

Since the prince had a soft side for his lover’s adorable appearance, she thought those wrinkled brows would soon unfold.

“…It smells.”

So when unexpectedly, a chilly voice dropped, the dining room froze as if ice water had been poured.

A smell in the dish meant for the prince, who had a sensitive sense of smell.

Lady Sophron, of course, as well as everyone in the silent room, turned cold.

“What is this in His Highness’s food…!”

“I apologize, Your Highness.”

While Maria shouted loudly, Lady Sophron rushed over to apologize hastily. The sight of courtiers kneeling in rows seemed to slowly appear in Leopold’s eyes.

Leopold stared blankly at them numbly, then looked back at the dining table.

Someone had quickly taken away the plate with food. Although the smell that rose appetizingly had disappeared, the intense sweet smell still lingered.

Where is this smell coming from? Even after looking around intensely, it seemed like the sweet odor was coming from everywhere.

Leopold finally stood up from his seat.

He dryly said to the eyes that were watching him like birds of prey.

“… Perhaps I’m feeling a bit tired today. I should go in.”
Leopold looked at the eyes staring at him like sycamore trees and dryly spoke.

“… Today, for some reason, my head hurts. I’m tired. I should go in.”

“Leopold…!”

Maria was frustrated. Today was the day to announce the summer event schedule, including the engagement ceremony. She had to make her case today, even with a limited budget.

Perhaps due to her earnest plea, Leopold glanced at Maria for a moment. And Maria didn’t miss this golden opportunity.

“Well then, how about some tea? If you have it with sweet pastries, your headache might get a bit better.”

Maria suggested brightly, smiling. Leopold stared at Maria’s lovely face for a moment.

He stood up to avoid the terrible smell, but sweet pastries.

Suddenly, in Leopold’s mind, a scene from the orderly Tiaze Palace flashed by.

A graceful landscape spreading thickly like a watercolor. The slightly oppressive atmosphere in his head seemed to loosen a bit.

Leopold’s gaze at Maria lingered for a long time.

Yes, that’s right. Maria curled up the corners of her mouth. Leopold’s favorite smile subtly tugged at his sleeves.

“… If I could relieve Leopold’s fatigue, it would be even better.”

Leopold nodded.

Maria, now cheerful, looked down at the maids as if to say they understood.

His Highness the Prince gave me a nod. So, the mistress of this palace is undoubtedly the beloved Maria Ethel.

All the maids understood her intentions and bowed their heads. Thanks to that, everyone missed the empty look in Leopold’s eyes.

After the prince and Maria left the dining room, the kitchen staff, who heard the news late, rushed to the dining room in a hurry.

“Head Chef.”

Ignoring the resentful glances of the young courtiers, the head chefs quickly checked the dishes hidden on the trolley.

The kitchen staff who had been sniffing and tasting for a long time looked at each other with puzzled faces.

“I only smell something delicious?”

“Really. There’s no trace of a fishy smell or anything. The sweetness of the fruit puree is just right.”

“What smell are you talking about?”

“But somewhere, I feel a little sweetness, don’t you?”

One of the chefs who was wagging his head said. A maid quickly responded.

“Oh! It’s probably the scent of Lady Ethel’s perfume. They say she sprayed her new fragrance all over the palace.”

“That can’t be it. Surely, His Highness the Prince wouldn’t spend all day smelling the perfume of the lady he’s with.”

“Now, say aah.”

Sitting on the reception room sofa, Leopold obediently opened his mouth.

Maria, with a teasing gesture, put a sweet cream cookie into Leopold’s mouth.

The crisply breaking cream cookie suited his taste. Along with it, the subtly refreshing scent, erasing the sweetness cleanly, was also to his liking.
Leopold smiled graciously and kissed Maria on the head.

“My Maria, you did well to listen to me. I feel much better.”

“I’m glad your headache has improved.”

Maria smiled gently. Cream cookies and the tea Leopold liked were always prepared in the palace since before Maria entered.

Olivia Mandelaine, that foolish girl, would never have dreamed that Maria would make use of what she had prepared.

Intoxicated with a thrilling sense of victory, Maria suddenly pretended to be embarrassed, lowering her face.

“But the reception room was too messy. I was so embarrassed a while ago.”