Episode 21

Episode 21. Deepening Misunderstandings

“What? The wizard accepted the offer?”

In the imperial concubine’s palace, Fay, enjoying tea with Jerome, responded to the news with surprise.

“That’s wonderful news! His Majesty’s tried many times to persuade him to join as a royal magician.”

Fay beamed, congratulating him. But Jerome’s expression didn’t reflect the celebratory mood.

“You don’t look very pleased. Did something happen?”

“…”

“Wasn’t this exactly what Your Majesty wanted?”

“…It’s strange.”

“What’s strange about it?”

Tap, tap. Jerome drummed his fingers on the table—a habit that showed up whenever he was thinking deeply.

“He’s rejected every offer I made in the past, even when I said I’d give him anything he wanted if he became a royal magician. I can’t understand why he suddenly changed his mind.”

“Didn’t Your Majesty convince him?” Fay asked, surprised.

Jerome shook his head.

“He turned down everything, saying he didn’t want to be tied down. Then not long after, he just showed up again and said he wanted the position.”

“Maybe he reconsidered and decided Your Majesty’s offer was worth accepting?”

“Hmm…”

Jerome slowly stroked his chin, his eyes glinting sharply.

“…For someone to change their mind so suddenly, there must be a reason.”

“Did the wizard make any other requests?”

“…”

“Was it something difficult?”

“No. On the contrary, what he asked for was suspiciously simple.” Jerome answered firmly.
“A small research room where he can work alone. And unrestricted access to the greenhouse.”

“They say the Guardian of Verdure loves flowers and nature… I suppose it fits.”

Nodding in understanding, Fay added another thought.

“But why a new research room? Aren’t there already ones used by the royal magicians?”

“He asked for it to be built near the empress’s quarters.” Jerome said, biting off his words.

“Near the empress’s palace?”

Fay’s eyes widened. It was hard to believe it was a coincidence that he had specified that location.

“Did the Empress and the magician know each other beforehand?”

“Not at all.”

Jerome had already ordered his secretary to look into that. So far, there was no indication they’d had any contact.

Unless they had a secret meeting…

Jerome’s gaze turned cold.

Unaware of his thoughts, Fay responded casually, as if trying to soothe him.

“It’s probably just a coincidence. The greenhouse near the empress’s palace does have the most beautiful trees and flowers. That must be why.”

Even with her explanation, Jerome’s expression remained unchanged.

Fay didn’t like the look on his face.

“By the way, I was really surprised when Sir Leonard suddenly declared he wanted to become the Empress’s consort!”

“…”

“And I heard he even volunteered to guard the empress’s palace…”

Finally, Jerome, who had been deep in thought, turned his gaze to Fay. But it wasn’t the warm look she was hoping for.

“Where did you hear that?”

His tone had a trace of interrogation. Fay lowered her eyes evasively.

“I just overheard the ladies-in-waiting talking… It was a pretty sensational event, after all.”

“…”

“I also heard that Your Majesty didn’t give him permission. Is that true?”

Jerome didn’t respond.

Seeing that, Fay’s eyes began to tremble faintly.

“Why… Why didn’t you approve it?”

“Why should I?”

“I thought it was a great idea.”

“A great idea?” Jerome raised an eyebrow.

Fay smiled brightly.

“Well, I’m always surrounded by plenty of knights, but I heard the Empress is a bit short on protection.”

“The ladies-in-waiting around you really do say all kinds of things.”

“Isn’t it true?”

“It’s not something for you to concern yourself with.”

“…Why not?”

Tears welled up in Fay’s eyes as she looked at him. She couldn’t even say why she felt so hurt. But Jerome’s hypersensitivity to anything involving Leonard and the Empress made her feel strangely uneasy.

“Is there some particular reason Sir Leonard can’t be her guard?”

“…”

Jerome stared at her blankly, then gently wiped the tear from her cheek with his fingers.

“Still as prone to tears as ever.”

“…That’s not true.”

“There’s no need to cry. It’s not what you think.”

“Then…?”

“I only refused Leonard’s request because I was concerned it might give the impression of impropriety in the imperial family. If the Empress truly wants it, I’ll approve it anytime.”

“Whew…”

At last, it was over.

After finishing tea with the noblewomen, I was finally on my way back to my chambers.

Smiling and chatting for hours wasn’t as easy as it sounded.

Just as I turned the corner while rubbing my sore shoulders…

“…Huh?”

A single flower was suddenly held out in front of me.

I blinked in surprise and looked up to see the man holding it.

“Cedric?”

At my voice, the man—his face half hidden by a white mask—smiled softly.

The flower-loving man who used to sneak into the palace just to look at the gardens.

But now, he roamed the grounds freely as an official royal magician.

The odd thing was that his research room had been set up near the empress’s palace.

I had asked him how such a coincidence could happen, but he only said he didn’t know either.

Well, I suppose things like that happen.

“You’re giving me a flower again today.”

“I just happened to see it on my way.”

“What kind of flower is this?” I asked, accepting it.

“…Begonia.”

“Begonia. What a lovely name.”

Last time, he gave me an orange rose. Today’s flower was a deep crimson, strikingly beautiful.

Its petals hung like little grapes, clustered like tiny bells—adorable and delicate.

“Thank you.” I said sincerely.

The rich fragrance felt like a balm for my tired body.

“It smells wonderful. But where did you find a flower like this?”

I didn’t remember seeing it anywhere in the palace gardens.

“It’s just a common wildflower. Not the kind of thing you’d usually find in a place as refined as the imperial gardens.”

“But it’s so beautiful… I really love it. I’ll have to ask the gardener to plant some.”

At that, Cedric looked a bit awkward.

“It’s a rare variety around here. The gardener might not even recognize it. I’ll bring you more from time to time.”

“Really? You don’t have to go out of your way—”

“I often go into the mountains for magical ingredients anyway. Picking a few flowers on the way is no trouble at all.”

“Wait, you didn’t climb a cliff just to get this flower, did you?”

“N-no, of course not.”

He shook his head so quickly it made me suspicious, but at least he said no.

“Um… could I come along with you sometime when you go into the mountains? I imagine the view must be breathtaking if flowers like this are blooming there.”

“Ah, that might be…”

“Hmm?”

Cedric looked a bit troubled, avoiding my eyes and scratching his head.

Was it a secret location or something?

“Would that be difficult?”

“Honestly… yes.”

“Oh no, I didn’t mean to make things complicated. Please don’t worry about it.”

I was a little disappointed, but I didn’t want to pressure him.

Still, Cedric looked more disheartened than I expected.

“Really, it was just a passing thought. I’m not upset about it.”

“…It’s because I’m the one who feels bad.” he said in a small voice.

“Then let’s do this instead—just introduce me to another flower sometime.”

“Another flower?”

“Would that be difficult too?”

I smiled as I asked. Cedric hesitated for a moment… then smiled back.

“Not at all. I’d be happy to.”

We continued chatting for a while after that.

“You’re alone today,” Cedric noted.

Usually, I was accompanied by at least half a dozen ladies-in-waiting. I guess he found it strange to see me without them.

“They said they had urgent business and asked for a bit of time. Since I didn’t need anything in particular, I let them go.”

“I see. No wonder the garden was so quiet. It must be something serious.”

“You think so?”

Now that he mentioned it, the number of attendants at the tea party earlier had seemed lower than usual.

“Do you have any idea what it might be?”

“Not really…” I tilted my head.

“They all looked so serious—I guess it must be something important.”

At that very moment…

The ladies-in-waiting of the Empress’s palace were gathered in a serious meeting.

Their topic was clear.

“Why did Her Majesty suddenly order us to stop everything?”

An abrupt command had come down from their superior: cease all operations.

No more spying on the emperor. No more antagonizing the imperial concubine.

Though they’d obeyed the command, the sudden change was baffling.

It was like Her Majesty had become a completely different person overnight.

The ladies-in-waiting weren’t the only ones confused.

Cooks, designers, guards—everyone wore heavy expressions.

One lady-in-waiting finally spoke.

“Has anyone heard anything else?”

No one responded right away.

But in moments like this, there’s always someone who speaks without thinking.

“Maybe she really has lost interest in the Emperor?”

“Karl!”

The elder gardener snapped at the young one.

“You don’t understand. Do you have any idea how deep Her Majesty’s love for the Emperor runs? That’s not the kind of love that fades overnight!”

Everyone nodded solemnly.

They all knew—perhaps better than anyone—how intense and relentless the Empress’s devotion had been.

After all, they had been her greatest supporters, cheering her on from the start.

At that moment, someone sighed in exasperation.

“Haven’t any of you realized what’s going on?”

It was Countess Chloe, who had been quietly observing.

“Countess Chloe? Do you know Her Majesty’s intent?”

“Of course. I’ve served her for years. It’s obvious.”

“Then what is it?”

“She’s using reverse psychology.”

Reverse psychology?!

Gasps spread around the room.

“So she still loves him, but she’s pretending not to?”

A middle-aged guard raised a brow.

This time, Mary stepped forward.

“I read something like this in a book I once gave Her Majesty—101 Ways to Win the Heart of a Nobleman.” Her tone was grave.

“It said the key to romance is push-and-pull!”

“Push and pull…?” the white-haired gardener asked.

“Think about it. If someone is too affectionate all the time, the other person will get bored eventually.”

“So?”

“But what if that same person suddenly became cold?”

“It’d feel strange. You’d start wondering why.”

“Exactly! That curiosity turns into concern, and concern becomes—”

“Love?”

“Bingo.”

Gasps!

People looked stunned. Murmurs of admiration echoed through the room.

“So… she hasn’t given up.”

“She’s actually laying out a masterful strategy!”

“To gain attention by acting indifferent… incredible.”

Just then, someone cautiously raised a hand.

“Wait… then was Sir Leonard’s sudden declaration part of her plan too…?”

“Yes.” Mary nodded solemnly. “Her Majesty must have enlisted his help to stir the Emperor’s jealousy.”

“Amazing. Even Sir Leonard…?”

Everyone was awestruck.

“This really shows Her Majesty’s brilliance.”

Mary’s voice was reverent.

“I don’t know how she swayed him, but he even sent her a letter. It must’ve been a love letter—to provoke the Emperor, of course.”

“A letter too? What did it say?”

“I’m not sure. But judging by Her Majesty’s reaction…”

“It must have been a romantic one.”

“By now, His Majesty must have heard about it and become quite upset.”

“Truly… Her Majesty is extraordinary.”

“We were blind not to recognize her greater design.”

Everyone turned their eyes to Mary.

“So… what do we do now?”

“Should we just play along like she asked?”

Mary shook her head.

“If we only do what she tells us, how can we call ourselves loyal subjects?”

“Then?”

With a determined look, Mary declared:

“We must anticipate what she wants and act before she asks. That is what true loyalty means.”

Ohhh!

Eyes sparkled with admiration. Applause broke out.

That day, in a basement near the empress’s quarters, those gathered made a solemn decision.

“For Her Majesty—”

“Let us anticipate her desires and act without hesitation!”

“For Her Majesty the Empress!”