Saved Him, Now I'm Obsessed - Chapter 17

It was unexpected that Shuri McCain was blunt. I was surprised to hear that someone who called his younger sister ‘little cherry’ and shed tears so freely was described as blunt, but Ileana said that’s how he usually was.

However, he was extremely devoted to his younger sister. It seemed that having lost their parents early and raising his much younger sister alone led him to develop a more affectionate feeling towards her.

She was also his only family until he married Ileana. Especially since he was a person fixated on family, there was quite a difference between his appearance outside and at home.

In fact, whenever he encountered me inside the house, he still called me sniffling, “Little cherry.”

Seeing that was mentally very uncomfortable, but the fortunate thing was that he was always busy with work. He said it would be difficult to see his face for a while because work had piled up while he was taking care of the sick Claire.

“The main house sent some precious tea as a gift. So I wanted to drink it with Claire. More importantly, how are you feeling today?”

“Couldn’t be better.”

“You know you still need to be careful, right?”

“Yes.”

“Perhaps your memory……”

She asked me cautiously. I shook my head. Since I wasn’t the real Claire, there was no way her memories would return. Seeing my expression harden, perhaps thinking it was due to worry about memories that wouldn’t return, Ileana comforted me.

“Don’t worry too much. I’ve inquired about people who’ve experienced similar things to Claire, and more people than expected have regained their memories.”

Ileana poured tea with a reddish tinge into the teacup. The tea had a faint scent similar to lilies. It was a tea I knew. It was the tea that Ian often served when I visited the imperial city to treat him.

Taimeron was originally a regional name, but since the tea only came from there, the tea was also named Taimeron.

Being in a high mountain area with excellent sunlight, it had less astringency, a light bitterness, and a vivid red color. Although the color and fragrance of the tea were good, it was treated as precious because of its low production.

I didn’t like teas that were astringent and bitter, but Taimeron tea was one I could enjoy without much difficulty. Of course, I drank it with plenty of honey added.

Ileana, not knowing that I already knew this tea, explained it to me. She often kindly taught me many things one by one for my benefit, diagnosed with memory loss.

“It’s Taimeron tea, quite precious. Most of its production is supplied to the imperial family, so even I’ve only tasted it a few times, but we’re lucky to have this chance.”

Although it was said to be precious, it was only familiar to me who had often eaten it because of Ian. Nevertheless, I expressed my gratitude to Ileana.

“It must be really precious tea. I’ll enjoy it well.”

As always, I scooped a generous amount of honey from the honey pot and stirred it into the tea.

Even as a child, I was often scolded by my grandfather for acting like an old person while having a child’s palate, and my taste hasn’t changed even now that I’m an adult. I couldn’t eat well things that were bitter, fishy, or sour, and liked sweet foods.

“Claire!”

“Yes? Yes? What is it?”

Startled by her sudden call, I asked back. She shook her head and said,

“You shouldn’t put honey in the tea.”

“Isn’t this honey pot on the table for adding to the tea?”

“It’s brought out as a courtesy for those who can’t enjoy tea due to its bitterness, but you shouldn’t actually add it to the tea. The strong scent of honey prevents you from properly experiencing the tea’s aroma. Be especially careful when drinking tea with others. They’ll criticize you as someone who doesn’t know how to properly enjoy tea.”

“Ah……”

I thought it was a bit much to criticize someone for adding honey to tea, but I nodded quietly while listening to Ileana’s explanation.

“When you receive tea, first smell its aroma, then take a sip and savor it slowly on your second try. And drink the tea slowly, just enough to moisten your throat.”

“Yes. I’ll do that.”

With so many considerations just for drinking a sip of tea, I worried whether I could adapt to noble life.

“It’s fine when you’re drinking with me, but be sure to be mindful in front of other nobles.”

“Won’t it be alright since I won’t be meeting other nobles for a while?”

To my question, Ileana tilted her head curiously and said,

“That can’t be. There’s a banquet coming up soon where you’re the main character. You’ll be extremely busy learning noble etiquette until the banquet.”

“What? Me? A banquet where I’m the main character?”

A banquet? Moreover, with me as the main character? I stared at Ileana with wide eyes at this unexpected news.

“Oh my! Did I not explain this to you?”

“This is the first I’m hearing of it.”

“To think I left out such an important explanation….. There were various discussions while you were unable to wake up.”

She explained calmly.

“You risked your life to save the second prince, right? Because of that, you’ll be granted a title and territory. Although it’s a single generation title……”

“A title? Me?”

“And it’s a count title. Father says Claire will be the first woman to receive a title.”

As far as I knew, there had never been a woman with a title in the history of the Calovanian Empire.

Even if all the men in a family died and only a woman remained, she couldn’t directly inherit the title.

To succeed the title, she had to either marry and bring in a son-in-law or adopt a son to inherit on her behalf. So I was puzzled that they said they would grant a title directly to Claire herself.

“Originally, there were talks about granting it to the family, not to Claire directly.”

“Then why……”

“The McCain family is already a count family with vast territories. Raising their rank is concerning, and giving them more territory is worrying as it might increase their influence. But simply offering verbal praise isn’t enough for saving a prince, as it’s too great an achievement. This must have been quite a headache for those involved.”

Those in politics don’t want power to be concentrated on one side. There must have been many who opposed giving more power to the already powerful McCain family.

“That’s true.”

The urgent official meeting Ian mentioned that day must have been related to this matter.

“Still, it’s surprising that they’re granting a title and territory to Claire… I mean, to me. Moreover, a count title. Whether it’s given to me or the family, it still adds power to the McCain family, doesn’t it?”

Granting such a title meant that the accompanying territory would also be vast, befitting the status of a count. Even if it’s a single-generation title, a count… It seemed excessive.

Ileana smiled as if she found it extremely amusing.

“It’s because it’s a single-generation title that can’t be inherited.”

She emphasized again that it was a single-generation title. With those words, I could understand why the territory and title were being granted to Claire.

“So they all thought I would die?”

A single-generation title can’t be inherited, so the moment she dies, the title and territory she received would be as good as gone.

I remembered the healer who cried out about a miracle and sought God when I opened my eyes.

“That’s what all the supposedly skilled healers said unanimously. So that’s why they made such a choice. If you didn’t wake up, both the title and territory would disappear like bubbles. They can claim they’ve given sufficient compensation while not actually handing anything over to the McCain family. It’s quite a thievish mentality.”

I could understand their choice. If I hadn’t miraculously opened my eyes in Claire’s body, it would have been a good plan indeed.

“Of course, there was tremendous opposition after the news that you regained consciousness. I hear even His Majesty the Emperor was so bothered that he tried to substitute the title with treasures from the imperial family.”

“Then how did I end up receiving the title?”

“Her Majesty the Empress lent a lot of support.”

“The Empress? Does Her Majesty the Empress hold such great political power?”

As the Empress’s presence had been so insignificant until now, I was curious and asked Ileana how her single word could have resulted in me receiving a title I almost didn’t get.

Ileana shook her head at my question.

“It’s not just political influence, but absolute power. In some ways, she might be even more remarkable than His Majesty the Emperor?”

Her words were mixed with so much laughter that I couldn’t tell if it was a joke or serious.

The Calovanian Empire was a country where imperial authority was much stronger than religious authority. When the current Emperor ascended to the throne, he purged many of the forces that supported his older brother, so the nobles still can’t raise their voices in front of the Emperor.

But to say the Empress’s power is greater than the Emperor’s, it must be a joke…

Although I often entered and left the imperial palace as a perfumer, I never heard that the Empress’s maternal family was particularly good. She doesn’t have the background to lend her political power.

“His Majesty the Emperor listens to whatever Her Majesty the Empress says. This matter was also decided practically with a single word from the Empress. His Majesty the Emperor isn’t interested in such trivial matters anyway.”

“The two of them must be on good terms.”

“It’s not just good, it’s extraordinary.”

This was unexpected. I had thought the relationship between the Emperor and Empress was bad. Honestly, I even wondered if there might be a secret about Ian’s birth. It’s true that there had been a lot of talk about Ian and Daniel’s births.

Why She Is Still Unmoved (Female-dominant)

One-line summary: He uses various methods to seek her affection, but she remains unmoved.

Synopsis:

Si Qingyu is a doctor who has saved countless lives and enjoys tranquility.

Luo Shaoxuan is ruthless, deeply scheming, and the top young master in the capital. He admires Si Qingyu.

Luo Shaoxuan: I want to be the only one in your eyes and heart.

Features a cold and calm female lead vs A noble and scheming male lead.

There will be both sweetness and torture towards the male after their marriage.