Chapter 19
Seeing the satisfied look on Kaien’s face, Alicia realized her plan worked even better than she had hoped.
“Now that I’m full, I just realized… I’ve never actually looked around the Empress’s quarters.”
If there was a problem, it was that Alicia had done too well.
“Since I’m full, maybe I’ll take a walk.”
Normally, the Kaien she knew would leave right after eating.
But today, he had no intention of leaving.
Of course, Alicia couldn’t refuse him.
“Yes. There’s not much to see here in the Empress’s quarters, though…”
She tried to downplay it, but Kaien ignored her and stepped out of the dining room.
“No need for you all to follow.”
The servants bowed but stayed in place. Alicia now had to give Kaien a tour.
It was awkward, since her quarters were small and plain compared to Kaien’s palace.
“If you follow this hallway, you’ll reach the sitting room I usually use.”
Kaien nodded and gestured for her to go ahead. Alicia gave a polite nod and led him to the simple room.
“So this is your main sitting room?”
Kaien looked around at the cozy furniture and the decorations on the piano. The room felt warm and charming.
“Yes. I don’t use any others.”
“What about a receiving room?”
“I don’t have one.”
“Why not?”
Alicia blinked at the strange question. Who would she even receive here?
“Because… no one visits.”
Ah—Kaien remembered the report that said Alicia had no visitors.
“So what do you usually do all day?”
He had meant to ask this during dinner, but he’d been too focused on the food.
The head maid’s report only included sleeping and meals.
He was curious about how Alicia spent the rest of her time.
“Huh? I follow the court’s etiquette.”
“I already know that.”
What he meant was: what does she do during her free time?
“Mostly… I read in this room, take care of the garden, and go for walks.”
In short, she didn’t do much.
“In the past, I would’ve been busy exchanging letters with Lucan.”
That had been Alicia’s main task in her previous life.
“I’m sorry, but it’s too difficult for me now.”
She remembered how hard it had been to understand the Grand Sage’s complicated words and how stressful it was to reply properly.
Looking back, she had ruined her own life.
“I don’t think I’ll be able to continue with it in the future either.”
“I think that’s for the best.”
Kaien’s eyes softened for a moment—was that a smile?
“Don’t worry about Lucan. I already told them the Empress needs rest and to stop sending letters.”
“…What?”
Alicia’s eyes widened. She hadn’t expected Kaien to take her side like this.
“I know better than anyone how pushy the Grand Sage is. I figured it would be hard for you to say no, so I did it for you.”
It was the last thing she expected… Kaien is doing something to protect her?
“I know he won’t give up easily. But even if he sends more letters or messengers, you don’t have to reply.”
Since the Empress had changed after falling ill, Kaien felt this solution worked out well.
“If Lucan complains, just say it was my decision.”
Alicia’s heart fluttered, even though she understood his reasoning.
“…Yes. Okay.”
Kaien smiled slightly.
Alicia’s cheeks turned red.
“Thank you.”
“No need to thank me.”
He probably didn’t mean to, but he sounded like a husband trying to shield his wife. Alicia felt her heart skip a beat.
“Do you play piano?”
Kaien hadn’t noticed Alicia’s flustered face. He pointed to the piano in the room.
“I’m embarrassed to say this, but… I don’t play any instruments. The Ministry decorated the room before I moved in, so I just left it there.”
Even after a year of marriage, Kaien had never visited this part of the palace.
He hadn’t even entered her bedroom, so it made sense.
“Then what’s your hobby?”
A simple question—but Alicia hesitated.
“Painting? Embroidery?”
Noble ladies were usually taught music, art, and needlework from a young age.
That was standard for someone of high status.
“I’m sorry… I didn’t learn those things.”
Kaien raised an eyebrow.
“In Lucan, men and women both study the Grand Sage’s teachings. But I’ve forgotten even that… I’m ashamed that I can’t do anything.”
“It’s okay.”
Kaien said it gently.
A good meal had made him extra kind.
“I don’t like Lucan’s education anyway, and I’m not a fan of music. As for embroidery—there’s no need for you to waste time on that.”
“Yes.”
Alicia smiled, relieved. She was glad to have an excuse to avoid the embroidery nightmare she had gone through in her past life.
“If I had to say, my hobby is walking around the garden.”
Kaien nodded and turned around.
“Walking in the garden sounds like something I can do too.”
Just the thought of doing something besides eating together made Alicia nervous—but excited.
The Empress’s garden was simple, but in her past life, she had spent more time there than anywhere else.
Feeling hopeless, she had poured all her energy into growing flowers.
Right now, the garden wasn’t full of life yet. It was still neatly kept, with trimmed flowerbeds and a large tree shading a marble table and chairs.
“What’s this flower called?”
Kaien asked as he walked along the garden path and pointed at a flower swaying in the breeze.
“That’s a chrysanthemum.”
It was a common flower, but Kaien seemed to be hearing about it for the first time.
“The yellow one, too?”
“Yes, that’s also a chrysanthemum.”
“And the pink one?”
“No, that’s a cosmos.”
Each time Alicia answered shyly, Kaien nodded.
“Um… if you make tea from chrysanthemums, it helps you sleep well.”
Alicia blurted it out without thinking. Walking next to him in the garden made her feel strangely close.
“Oh, so you grow these to eat? What about the cosmos?”
“No, we don’t eat them. Only chrysanthemums are sometimes used for tea.”
“Do you drink that tea?”
“Me? Yes.”
Kaien made a thoughtful sound and nodded.
“Then go bring me a cup.”
That surprised her. Instead of ignoring her, Kaien agreed—and sat down at the marble table under the big tree.
Alicia stood frozen, not believing what she was seeing.
“Why are you just staring?”
Kaien’s figure overlapped with her old memories of sitting there alone.
It felt strange and emotional.
“Ah, I… I was just…”
Before she could make an excuse, Kaien stood up. She thought maybe he was tired of her already.
She wasn’t fun or interesting—just quiet and awkward.
But to her surprise, Kaien didn’t leave.
He took a handkerchief from his pocket and placed it on the chair across from him, then sat back down.
“I know this much at least.”
“Thank… you.”
It was a small gesture, but it shocked Alicia. He didn’t open the handkerchief for her—but he still offered it.
Aness noticed and quickly approached, bowing politely.
“Bring chrysanthemum tea. Oh, and the cookies we baked today, too.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
A cool breeze passed through during the quiet moment.
Thankfully, Aness soon returned with the tea and cookies.
Kaien looked at the tea and took a sip.
“…Strange taste.”
His frown was very different from the way he reacted to dinner.
But at least he was being honest.
“Tastes like grass.”
“Well, it’s chrysanthemum tea. But if you eat it with cookies, it tastes better.”
Kaien didn’t usually eat snacks, but he picked up a small cookie and tried it.
His eyes widened again.
“…It’s sweet.”
The cookie was something Alicia had helped make earlier.
Instead of natural syrup or fruit, it was loaded with white sugar.
So it made sense that someone used to bland battlefield rations would be shocked.
“I like my snacks sweet.”
Kaien took another sip of tea—and reached for another cookie.
“Can you send some of these to my quarters?”
“No.”
Alicia smiled playfully.
“I already packed some. I’ll have the chief attendant deliver them.”
Kaien crunched into another cookie and nodded enthusiastically.
Once again, it felt like he might have puppy ears wagging with joy.
The magic of the Empress’s quarters had begun.
