SMR | Chapter 96

~Chapter 96~ 

‘He seems really close to Her Majesty… Is there anything this man isn’t perfect at?’

Harriet couldn’t help but be amazed by Cedric. Everything he did seemed elegant and flawless.

While she was still admiring him, Cedric reached for the dessert plate on the table. He gently took a slice of chocolate cake and placed it on Harriet’s plate.

“If I had to choose only one dessert from the palace, this chocolate cake would win without question,” he said, his voice calm. “Our pastry chef at the Kailas estate is quite skilled too, but this one… no one can copy it.”

He smiled slightly as he spoke to her. His face was so beautiful that Harriet found herself staring without even realizing it.

Only when he gave her another little glance toward the plate did she snap back to attention.

“It really looks delicious,” she said, trying to recover gracefully. “I actually really like chocolate cake.”

Her stomach had already been growling. She hadn’t eaten breakfast because she’d been too nervous about coming to the palace.

As she reached for her fork, she noticed the Empress watching her with a gentle, almost playful expression. Harriet felt a bit of pressure from the attention, but she cut a small bite and brought it to her mouth.

“Mmm!”

The moment the smooth, slightly bitter but not-too-sweet chocolate touched her tongue, she let out an involuntary sound of delight.

She quickly covered her mouth in embarrassment, but the Empress looked delighted by her reaction.

“Some people refuse this cake because they’re afraid of gaining weight. But I’m glad you’re enjoying it. This is my favorite dessert, too.”

“I’m not just saying this out of politeness—this is honestly the best chocolate cake I’ve ever had. If your palace pastry chef worked at my house, I’d probably be rolling around from being too fat by now.”

The Empress laughed heartily. “Hohoho! That’s why I limit myself to one slice a day. But there’s another trick—I drink a lot of rooibos tea. I’ll make sure you take some home.”

Hearing that the Empress had similar concerns about gaining weight made her feel more human—less like an unreachable royal figure. It helped Harriet relax and smile more naturally.

Just as she was finishing the last few bites of cake, the Empress leaned in slightly and lowered her voice with a curious expression.

“Meeting you has made me even more curious. I’ve heard some things about you, but you seem very different from the rumors.”

“Thank you for taking the time to meet me despite those rumors,” Harriet replied politely.

“I heard that you got caught up in the Laurel House incident because you were trying to help Cedric. Why didn’t you explain that to anyone? A single woman getting a reputation like that—weren’t you worried?”

Harriet glanced quickly at Cedric. He was sipping tea calmly, not showing embarrassment or surprise, but she could sense he was listening closely.

She took a sip of tea to clear the chocolate taste from her mouth, then smiled.

“Well, the Duke had more to lose than I did. He’s my only investor. I had to protect him.”

The Empress suddenly burst into laughter.

“Ohoho! Just like Jeremiah said—loyal and clever. What a delightful young lady!”

Hearing the name of the great noblewoman made Harriet’s spine go cold. Just how many people were talking about her behind her back?

She couldn’t help but wonder what exactly Cedric had said about her to the Empress and his grandmother.

He was helping the empress by handing her the whipped cream, smiling gently as they chatted. He happened to look back toward Harriet—and their eyes met.

For just a moment, Harriet felt something strange in his gaze. It sent a chill through her stomach, as though the nerves she had finally calmed were rising again.

***

“Let’s go our separate ways from here,” Harriet suggested quietly as they walked through the palace corridor after tea with the Empress.

Cedric gave her a questioning look.

“There are too many eyes watching,” she explained. “Hardly anyone knows I’m receiving investment from you. If we’re seen walking together in the Imperial Palace, people will get the wrong idea.”

Cedric frowned slightly, displeased by the thought.

Harriet added quickly, “Honestly, it might’ve been better if you hadn’t come to escort me at all. I’m sure several people saw me getting out of your carriage. It’s only a matter of time before rumors spread. I do appreciate your kindness, though.”

Cedric sighed softly.

“My responsibility today was to ensure you returned home safely.”

“If you’re worried about my grandaunt, don’t be. She’s not the type to misunderstand this kind of situation.”

“I see…”

Even after answering, Cedric remained silent for a while, staring ahead at the corridor. Just as Harriet began to feel uneasy, he finally nodded.

“All right. Then I’ll go ahead. If you follow the direction I’m walking, you’ll find a hallway that goes around the inner courtyard. From there—”

“There’s no need for that. I’ll just leave the way we came. I’m not a child.”

“But—”

“If I get confused, I’ll ask someone. There are guards stationed throughout the palace, right?”

Cedric still looked displeased, but he respected her decision.

“I’ll see you later, then.”

“Yes. Goodbye.”

He turned and walked down the hallway with long strides.

Harriet watched his back until he disappeared around the corner. Only then did she start walking herself.

But her knees felt weak. She had to stop after just a few steps.

‘I really don’t want him to know how nervous I was.’

While sitting with the Empress, she hadn’t noticed, but the moment she stood, she realized her legs were trembling.

If she had kept holding Cedric’s arm, he would’ve noticed for sure.

‘Yeah, I’m still inexperienced. I’ve never been to the palace before, and I never imagined I’d meet the Empress. But I still have my pride!’

Harriet gritted her teeth and forced her legs to move again.

Determined not to let others see her unease, she straightened her back and walked confidently.

The path between the palace gate and the Empress’s drawing room wasn’t complicated, so she reached the corridor Cedric had mentioned in no time.

Instead of walking along the hallway that curved around the courtyard, Harriet chose to cross directly through the garden.

The weather was lovely, and the Empress’s courtyard had been beautifully maintained. It was simply too pretty not to enjoy.

‘Wow! The flowers are already blooming?’

It was still early in the season for bees and butterflies, but perhaps because the courtyard was protected and warm, small blossoms were already peeking out from the bushes.

Harriet walked slowly along the path between the flower beds, soaking in the gentle feeling of spring.

Just as she neared the exit of the courtyard, she noticed the faint sound of voices—and one of them was familiar.

“I don’t really understand why you’re bringing this up, Your Highness.”

‘Cedric?’

Harriet froze, eyes widening. She moved closer to the walls and peeked carefully through the leaves.

She saw three men standing in the shaded hallway. Strangely, there were no guards or attendants around.

‘Why is no one else here?’

Feeling uneasy, Harriet moved down so no one could see her and stayed perfectly still.

All of her focus went to listening.

“Duke Kailas, Angelique is an amazing and innovative medicine. I’m living proof, aren’t I? I used to be paralyzed by severe depression, but now I can walk around and live like a normal person. It’s all thanks to Angelique!”

There was no mistaking that voice—it belonged to the Second Prince, Michael. Everyone knew he had struggled with serious depression.

“I heard Your Highness only started taking it recently,” Cedric replied calmly. “I’m actually more concerned about possible side effects.”

“Side effects? Hah! Well, yes, my mouth gets dry, and I feel a bit of a flutter in my chest, but that’s nothing compared to other medicines I’ve tried.”

Prince Michael seemed eager to convince Cedric of Angelique’s benefits.

But Cedric’s response remained cold and rational.

“The drug has only been approved for six months. I would recommend a more cautious approach.”

At that moment, another man stepped forward.

From her hiding spot, Harriet recognized him immediately. He was the man who had searched for Cedric during the Laurel House party—his cousin, Albert Kingsley.

“Cedric,” Albert said smoothly. “Let’s not waste time. I stopped you today for a simple reason—I want to make a deal that benefits both of us.”

“That’s not for you to decide,” Cedric replied coldly.

Albert chuckled.

“Invest in Angelique. I’ll guarantee you a return of over 30%.”