PLAE 09

Chapter 9

Iana brought over the tea, the sound of clinking cups accompanying her steps.

She first placed a white teacup in front of both Azelina and Ferris, then lifted the teapot with both hands and poured the tea.

“What kind of tea is this?” Azelina thought, noticing Ferris savoring it with an intrigued expression, and she gave a faint smile.

His eyes were so dark they seemed impossible to read, and his crimson hair, as if soaked in blood, was strikingly impressive.

It was a face she usually would have dismissed without much thought—but today, for some reason, she couldn’t take her eyes off it.

“Hmm? What’s the matter?”

Ferris asked, tilting his head slightly at the burdening gaze he could feel directed at him.

Azelina hadn’t done anything particularly wrong, but the fact that Ferris had noticed her staring made her a little embarrassed. She felt a large bead of sweat roll down her temple.

“Um, it’s nothing really—”

“Could it be that you just like my face?”

“….”

That was probably the reason Ferris had in mind, but hearing it come from his own mouth felt oddly strange to Azelina.

After hesitating for a long moment, she finally gave a slow nod, as if resigned. Ferris’s smile deepened when she acquiesced.

Ferris studied her for a while in silence before speaking quietly.

“I thought Your Majesty didn’t really pay attention to faces.”

He smirked slightly and observed Azelina closely.

Although it was a face he saw every day, it clearly had the air of someone who had grown up with privilege.

It was the kind of pure, untouchable impression that could only come from being nurtured on the finest things. Azelina’s uprightness was visible in her blue eyes, and seeing that innocence stirred in him a desire not to corrupt it, but to protect it.

After gazing at Azelina for a while, Ferris’s attention shifted to a handkerchief and needle lying on the floor.

“So, it seems that embroidery is your hobby, Your Majesty?”

“Oh, it’s a recent hobby,” Azelina replied.

“If possible, could you make one for me too?”

“…Hmm, I don’t know.”

Of course, she could make one. Embroidery was a required skill for noble ladies, so it was perfectly feasible.

The problem was that Azelina had only recently resumed sewing. She didn’t want to give Ferris a clumsy handkerchief made with her still-limited skills.

“I’m sorry, but I’ll make one for you after I’ve practiced a bit more.”

Ferris showed a faint hint of disappointment, but he didn’t voice it.

“Oh, by the way, Ferris. Could I see some materials regarding the recent maid’s death at the Imperial Palace?”

Azelina changed the subject, recalling what Iana had said a few days ago.

If the culprit had been caught in her previous life, she could have helped apprehend them faster. But until her death, the circumstances of the case had never been fully revealed.

Ferris, being in charge of the security division, would surely have records related to the incident.

Azelina wanted to investigate the matter in case it might be connected to her future death.

“Hmm…”

But Ferris hesitated, which was unusual for him. Perhaps it was a slightly awkward topic.

Feeling guilty for making him uncomfortable, Azelina quickly added,

“If you can’t, it’s fine. I don’t want to trouble you over something like this.”

“No… No. I know that Your Majesty wouldn’t play tricks with classified documents, so I could show you everything. The problem is… there’s simply no data on the case.”

“…None at all?”

Azelina asked in surprise, and Ferris nodded silently.

According to Iana, Rashid seemed to be investigating the case carefully, yet there was no data available.

“Doesn’t the security division usually handle information on such incidents?”

“Um, yes, but there’s hardly any evidence. We haven’t received any reports on the matter at all.”

A murder in the Imperial Palace, especially the Emperor’s palace, could easily threaten the Emperor himself. Naturally, not only the security division but also the palace knights would have been deployed to investigate. And yet, there was no data.

“Could it be… something extraordinary?”

Azelina’s anxiety grew. She wondered if this was when the accusation of her poisoning Princess Shulia II had already been set in motion.

Ellen had been unable to leave the palace for the past few nights.

A dispute had arisen with the Ophelia Kingdom, one of the nations under the Igretan Empire, over the border, causing serious trouble.

“Even if we adjust the border, it doesn’t really matter as they’re under our rule. The problem is that adjusting Ophelia’s borders will affect other nations as well,” Ellen explained.

But Rashid’s expression remained unchanged.

“If this standoff continues…”

“It will end in war,” Rashid said matter-of-factly.

Ellen was taken aback.

“Is this really the time to speak so casually?”

“I have no intention of starting a war anyway.”

“…Regardless, a delegation from the Ophelia Kingdom will arrive in a month regarding this matter. The issue is…”

Ellen faltered unusually. This diplomatic matter posed a very serious problem, perhaps even graver than the threat of war.

“The First Princess of Ophelia will accompany the delegation… Is that alright?”

Azelina, naturally jealous even of Rashid’s half-sister, Princess Shulia II, would undoubtedly feel bitter toward the First Princess.

Ellen, noticing Rashid’s demeanor, guessed that Azelina would be fiercely jealous.

“The Ophelia Kingdom has two princes and one princess. The first prince is heir, so he can’t be sent to a troublesome nation, and the second prince has poor health,” Ellen explained.

“No, just let the princess come comfortably with the delegation,” Rashid said unexpectedly.

Ellen was taken aback by Rashid’s answer. He had been surprisingly consistent lately in his approach, and official documents about Selina Palace had noticeably decreased.

But someone who knew Azelina’s temper as well as Rashid did could hardly have fully trusted her—so he naturally expected her to resist the princess’s visit. Yet he said otherwise…

Meanwhile, Rashid ignored Ellen’s hesitant nod and continued with his thoughts, which no one could have guessed.

‘Even so, you won’t stay still.’

Do whatever you want. I won’t trust you, so don’t expect anything.

Rashid diverted his thoughts:

“There’s no problem with the delegation coming with the princess. But I hear the fourth prince, who fled, is currently hiding in the Ophelia Kingdom, which is a little worrying.”

At the mention of the fourth prince, Ellen tilted his head.

The fourth prince was Rashid’s half-brother, who had rebelled against him.

“Even if he’s hiding in Ophelia, would he have any connection with the royal family there?”

“He once allied with a foreign second prince,” Rashid replied.

“That was right after the late emperor’s death. The empire was in chaos, and the Ophelia Kingdom is a vassal far from Igretan. Would the fourth prince risk moving there?”

Rashid nodded after considering Ellen’s words.

“Any remaining tasks?”

“Almost done.”

“Then let’s end here for today.”

Ellen looked at Rashid in surprise. He understood that people needed rest, and after several days of overtime, he himself desperately needed it. He didn’t stop Rashid from leaving.

Still, Ellen couldn’t hide his curiosity at Rashid’s unusual demeanor lately.

As soon as Rashid left the office, he thought of Azelina, now acting like someone else, behaving properly within Selina Palace.

This had been happening for a few days. Even the slightest calm reminded him of Azelina and irritated him.

At this rate, it had become a habit. Damn it.

“Your Majesty, shall I bring lunch even though it’s late?”

Rashid’s thoughts paused when he noticed Maria, the chief maid.

He pondered for a moment and replied,

“No need for lunch… let’s take a walk.”

He slowly walked out of the Imperial Palace, with Maria following obediently.

Today, Azelina, feeling restless being in the palace all day, went to the rear garden near Lesley Palace.

Lesley Palace had belonged to Lady Penelope, a favored concubine of the previous emperor, and had a particularly beautiful garden.

It was said that even the palace gardeners who managed the emperor’s gardens had created Lesley Palace’s gardens because of its beauty.