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nWhen I saw his trembling eyes, I suddenly recalled something to say, but I didn’t have the nerve to get it out of my mouth.

nAllendis, who looked at me silently with his lips closed, sighed deeply and stood up.

n“Well, if you choose the path of a knight, I still have a chance, right?”

n“… ”

n“When the day comes when I can confidently come forward…”

nInstead of finishing his words, he smiled at me and helped me up. His smile was the same, as usual, but his bitter feelings in it broke my heart because I felt sorry and guilty.

n“Whew!…” Allendis sighed long and said, “I am sorry, Tia. I did that while asleep.”

n“Huh? Oh, that’s fine, Allen.”

nAlendis, who smiled feebly at me when I responded hesitantly, walked toward the window.

nHe stood with his back toward me and seemed to refuse any further conversation with me.

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nI was about to leave the room silently, but stopped suddenly. I was bothered by his lonely figure, with his dishevelled hair around his shoulders.

nAfter hesitating several times, I approached him. I raised my hand to release the hair strap on my head, and put it in his hand, who fixed his gaze outside the window.

n“Tia?”

n“I didn’t need it because I was just on my way back home. I know I will be uncomfortable if you keep standing here like this,” I said, glancing away from him, who looked at me blankly.

nAfter remaining silent for some time, he replied in a subdued voice, “… Thanks.”

n“…You’re welcome. Let me leave now.”

nI came out and stood with my back leaning against the door. I felt sorry and guilty, along with other mixed feelings lingering in my heart. I could not forget his wet eyes and his sad touch.

nWhile I was standing aghast like that, I suddenly heard somebody chatting loudly at the end of the hallway. Only then did I come to my senses. I forgot that this was a government building where many anti-emperor nobles were coming and going.

n‘Who knows somebody notices me standing here and spreads rumors? Let me get out of this place first. ‘

nAlthough I felt like something was pulling me back, I walked down the hallway, biting my lip without looking back.

nToday was the day when the crown prince’s birthday banquet would take place.

nWhen I caught my breath after finishing preparations, my house was turned upside down because today’s hero, the crown prince, made an abrupt visit.

nI rushed downstairs to greet him. Why did he come here? He must be very busy preparing for his birthday banquet.

n“I’m honored to see you, the Little Sun of the empire.”

n“It’s been a long time.”

n“You must be busy preparing for the banquet… ”

n“The palace affairs office is busy, not me. Are you preparing now?”

n“No, Your Majesty. I was just done, so I was taking a break.”

n“Sounds good. I’m glad to hear that.”

nAfter exchanging pleasantries, we moved to the reception room. He was silent.

nAfter pondering over something, he asked me, breaking silence, “Have you noticed anything unusual around you these days?”

n“Pardon? I don’t know what you mean…”

n“Oh, that’s fine. It’s not a big deal, so don’t worry. ”

nHe remained silent again. I looked at him with a puzzled expression, who was knocking on the chair in a pensive mood.

n‘Did he have such a habit? I don’t think so. ‘

nI was thinking about asking him what was going on, but he said, staring into the air, “Can you give me a cup of tea?”

n“Of course, Your Majesty. I will call somebody right away. ”

n“Well, I want to drink the tea you brew for me.”

n“… Pardon?”

nMy eyes popped up at his unexpected request. Just like he did last time, his repeated eccentric actions embarrassed me very much.

n“What’s wrong? Can’t you serve tea?”

n“Oh no, Your Majesty. I can.”

nI urgently pulled the string and called the butler. While the butler was bringing the best tea leaves and tea set, I took a deep breath and calmed down. As far as food and tea were concerned, he is very picky, so I had to make sure he wouldn’t find fault with me.

nShortly afterwards, the butler returned, putting down all kinds of tea leaf boxes. I picked chamomile and mint, mixed them according to a given proportion, and poured water. Then, I, counting time inside as I was so nervous, carefully poured water.

nI gave him a cup of tea to him anxiously, hoping I brewed it well.

nAfter sipping tea without a word, he said, “…This tastes different.”

n“Pardon, Your Majesty?”

n“Oh, it’s nothing. It tastes good.”

nI felt relaxed now. I smiled before I knew it. In fact, I felt like he appreciated my efforts because I practiced brewing tea over and over again in case he, who was very picky in his taste, came to my house. He was different from the old him in my memory, but his picky taste was still the same.

n“I thought you were very tired after preparing for the banquet, so I prepared tea that is good for your quick recovery from fatigue.”

n“Really? Thank you.”

nWatching him tilting the mug silently, I placed my cup to my lips.

nWhile I was drinking tea with him with tea aroma wafting into the reception room, I wanted to ask him some questions that I kept to myself because I was so busy.

nWhat does he know about my mother? And what happened between him and me when I was a child?

nNormally, I would not have dared to ask, but I felt I could today.

nAfter hesitating for a long time, I got up my nerve to speak to him.

n“Your Majesty.”

n“Yes.”

n“I heard that you were close to my mother.”

n“… Yes, I was.”

n“What was my mother like?”

nHe was silent for a long time. I became nervous as his silence became longer.

nWhen I was more and more restless, regretting asking him such a question, he broke the silence and said with a cold voice, “She was a beautiful woman. She looked a lot like you. ”

n“… ”

n“Her hair glowed red in the sun and her golden eyes were like yours. I remember the time when she first entered the palace, carrying a newborn baby on her back.”

nHe put down the teacup and said, staring into the distant air.

n“As she was in poor health, she didn’t go out often and she knew few people knew, but everyone liked her.”

n“… ”

n“Even the queen, who was heartless and cold-hearted, liked to keep her on her side.

nSometimes when she came to the palace with you, my father took me with him, and we spent time together at the queen’s palace.”

nI wanted to ask something while he was talking, but I decided to focus on listening to him.

n“Come to think of it, you’ve got one more thing that resembles your mother. Not only my father, but also my mother and your mother loved you very much. ”

n“… ”

n“Yes, she loved you so much.”

nThere was a sigh in his voice that I would never know. When I saw him, I wanted to ask something. The emperor and he seemed to know me when I was younger than ten years old, but why did the emperor treat me as if he saw me for the first time when I made the case for luxury tax? And why did he treat me like a stranger on the day he bumped into me at the Imperial Palace?

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nAs if he was waking up from his memories, he lifted the mug again. While looking at him, I hesitated for a long time before opening my mouth, “Your Majesty.”

n“Um.”

n“Well, then, do you know my childhood? I heard from my family member a while ago that you visited my house often..”

n“Oh, I’m done talking about it,” he said coldly, putting down the mug.

nI hurriedly shut up because of his chilly reaction. I was very embarrassed by his sudden change in attitude. Did I say wrong? Why did he suddenly change his attitude?

n“Your Majesty, did I make a mistake?”

n“No, it is not your fault.”

n“… ”

n“Oh, time is up. If you are ready, let’s start. ”

nRising from his seat, he went outside without looking back. When he ordered the royal guards to get ready for heading to the palace with a cold voice, they looked at me sharply, but I could not understand his actions.

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