Rosenta tried to hide his complicated thoughts as he left the office alone.
Then, he headed straight to the western palace to meet Yura.
"Please wait a moment."
The maid led him to the drawing room.
During that long wait, he thought up all kinds of scenarios where he could give Yura the potion.
“……It's hard."
No matter how much he thought about it, he couldn't come up with a particularly good idea.
The most plausible was to put the potion in her teacup when Yura looked away.
However, there was a risk of detection no matter how he chose to go about it.
While he was repeatedly contemplating what would be the safest option, the door to the drawing room opened with a knock.
"Good evening, Duke."
It was Yura dressed up in a white dress.
Unlike before, Yura gave an aristocratic and formal greeting.
"Thank you so much for coming to see me like this."
Rosenta also stood up from his seat and greeted Yura politely.
"Thank you for responding to my sudden request for a meeting."
In a way, it sounded like an intimate greeting.
But it was just a formality. As they sat down, they didn’t talk at all.
There was just a brief smile when their eyes met in the silence.
Then, while Rosenta was savoring the tea, the words he uttered without thinking were the beginning of a proper conversation.
"The tea is fragrant."
"Yes, I didn’t know if it would suit your taste."
"It's delicious."
Yura smiled happily at his answer. The look was so lovely.
Yura fiddled with the teacup and looked at him.
Then she opened her mouth carefully.
"Actually, I was very surprised when I first heard that the duke came here."
"Oh, was it unexpected that I came to see the saint?”
"Yes……. Actually, I hurt Lady Marigold, who was close to the duke, and...…. So, I thought you wouldn't like me."
It was true that Rosenta didn't like her.
He didn’t think anything of her at first, but as Theodore and Vivian got involved, his feelings changed.
But he wasn't a fool who would answer 'You’re right. I don’t like you.’
He smiled slyly.
"How could I hate you?"
It was necessary to lower Yura's boundaries.
After contemplating for a while, he remembered what he had heard from Theodore before he came here.
Then he hinted that he was sorry and worried about Yura.
"I heard that the Pope has passed away."
"Ah...…. Did you hear from His Majesty?”
"Yes, High Priest Conitel was called away, right?”
Yura's expression became somber at his question. It seems that Conitel’s departure was a very big deal for her.
"It must be hard."
"It's all right. His Majesty is here, my maids are here...…. and now, in addition, you're going to be there for me from now on, aren't you?"
It was a very cute way of speaking.
If Rosenta were an ordinary person, he might have melted at the soft way she spoke.
"Of course.”
He praised Yura appropriately.
But inside, he suspected that she was trying to lure him with that.
Of course, unlike his inner side, he had a smile that seemed to be very friendly.
"You are the gift and treasure of the Helios Empire."
He felt Yura's eyes softening as she looked at him.
He felt now was his opportunity, when her favorability towards him was high.
He picked up his teacup. Then, he put it to his mouth as if he were drinking.
Clang.
Yura's scream was heard along with a bursting sound.
"Oh my!"
The tea had cooled so Rosenta’s lap wasn’t in pain.
It just stung a bit.
But he grabbed his thighs and pretended to be in pain while bending his upper body like a shrimp.
"Ugh."
Yura screamed more loudly at his groan.
"Oh, my God! Is there no one there?! Someone please!"
At the sound of Yura’s calls, the maids entered in a hurry.
They fidgeted as they saw the sharp shards of glass and Rosenta in pain.
He slowly lifted his upper body, grinding his teeth as if he were enduring the pain.
"It hurt a little, but...… I'm fine for now."
Then he began to give orders to the maids on behalf of Yura, who was pale.
"First of all, I want you to bring medicine to heal the wound while the floor is cleaned.”
"Oh, yes!"
"In the meantime, let’s take the saint somewhere else for a while, and bring new cups."
"Yes, sir."
The maids gently took Yura outside.
He also limped into a room near the drawing room.
Then, after roughly applying the treatment, the maid had brought, he quickly headed back to the drawing room.
In the drawing room, which was already clean, there were two steaming cups of tea.
"I'll be waiting, so bring the saint after she calms down."
"Yes."
He took out the potion once the maid left the room and he was completely alone.
He boldly poured clear liquid into the opposite teacup.
This was the end of his preparations.
Soon, Yura entered the drawing room with the help of the maids, as if her shock had not yet subsided.
Then she kept asking Rosenta questions.
Even if he answered dozens of times that he was okay, she asked several times as if she was anxious.
"Are you sure you're okay?"
"It's really fine."
‘Stop worrying about me and drink the tea now.’
Yura never even thought about touching the teacup.
Rather, whenever Rosenta tried to drink tea, she flinched and slid back.
‘Did this backfire?’
"I think you're still shocked, why don't you have some tea?"
Yura hesitated at his suggestion.
The minor incident seemed to be embedded quite strongly in Yura's mind.
"Excuse me.”
At the sudden remark, Yura looked at him with her round, blinking eyes.
Rosenta just smiled softly.
He reached for Yura's teacup to check the temperature.
"It's not hot. Tea will make you feel more relaxed.”
"Ah...…. Thank you."
Yura blushed and lifted the teacup. It was a cautious gesture.
Rosenta swallowed his saliva without realizing it.
His mouth was dry with tension, so it didn't make that much noise.
He stared at Yura, holding his breath as much as possible.
Yura's lips touched the edge of the teacup and soon her throat began to move.
When he saw it, a feeling of satisfaction was reflected on his lips.
"As the Duke said, I feel a little better inside."
"I'm glad then.”
On the surface, there was no effect. A few sips may not have been enough.
He couldn’t leave until Yura emptied the teacup. He had to drag his feet by bringing up something else.
"Then you will go to the Holy Kingdom this time."
"Holy Kingdom?"
"When the Pope changes, all nobles, royalty, and imperial family members visit there during the succession ceremony.”
There was no state religion in the Helios Empire.
However, the only religion recognized worldwide was the current Holy Kingdom.
While it’s not the state religion, it’s taken for granted that the Helios Empire participates in the various events of the Holy Kingdom.
It will be the same this time too.
"I had no idea."
Yura really seemed to have no idea.
‘Well, she was learning about this place from the very basics so it’s possible she hadn’t learned that much yet.’
"Then I can meet Conitel if I go there too, right?”
"Yes."
Yura's expression got strangely bright. Then she covered her mouth and muttered the words, "I can get it.”
After muttering for a long time, she asked Rosenta something else with a twinkle in her eye.
"We'll all go together, right?"
"What? What does "Together" mean?"
"When I go to the Holy Land, I wonder if His Majesty will be going with me…"….”
‘Alas, you meant Theodore.’
He nodded and told her the answer she wanted.
"Yes."
They probably hired a wizard who could use transportation magic as soon as they heard the news.
Contrary to them, Rosenta didn’t have that kind of wealth, so he would go by carriage.
‘I have to get ready to leave for another long trip as soon as I get back.’
It gave him a headache, but he tried to put that thought behind him.
He had to focus on Yura now.
He was worried about finding another story to drag out the time.
However, no matter how much he thought about it, the only stories Yura would be interested in were those related to Theodore.
Then he had no choice but to continue talking about Theodore.
"What is it about His Majesty…….”
But before he could complete the question, the door to the drawing room burst open.
He saw Theodore, who had come unkemptly as if he had suddenly quit what he was doing.
"Rosenta!"
Theodore strode in, calling his name.
As if Yura was invisible, he only went straight to him.
He clasped his shoulder.
Theodore looked at him, turning him round and round, with a pale face.
His voice was trembling, as if he couldn’t see the eyes around him.
"It's okay, is it okay? Are you hurt? The burn could be deep, so I'll have to call a doctor first...….”
Rosenta stood up from his seat.
He couldn’t process what he was hearing, but he had to calm down Theodore, who seemed to be out of his mind.
At this rate, it was about to be rumored that His Majesty the Emperor had not been seen for a few days and then returned in an unbelievable state.
"Your Majesty, I'm fine, so please sit down first."
He grabbed Theodore by the arm and made him sit in an empty seat next to him.
Then he asked the maid, who was standing near the door, to run an errand.
"Bring another cup of tea."
The maid quickly left out.
At the same time, Rosenta felt a thick hand gripping his own.
It was Theodore's hand.
"You're sure you’re all right?'”
"Yes, it's really fine. It's just a slight burn."
Even at this answer, Theodore's crumpled expression did not improve.
Then, when Yura's voice was heard, Theodore's expression went from crumpled to hardened.
"Your Majesty, are you worried about the duke?"
"Ah...…. The saint was here.”
He really acted like he didn't even know Yura existed.
After hearing Theodore's words, Yura closed her mouth tightly. Theodore also didn't say anything.
In a moment, it turned into a space filled with silence.
Rosenta playfully spoke to Theodore to lighten the mood.
"I can't believe you didn't notice someone as beautiful as the saint. Your joke is too unbelievable, Your Majesty."
But Theodore seemed unwilling to accept his joke.
He didn't look at Yura at all. He just looked at Rosenta and spoke firmly.
"It's not a joke."
As soon as he said that, Yura picked up the teacup in front of her.
She drank it all at once, as if she were drinking cold water. It was very instantaneous.
Then she looked at Theodore as if she had made a big decision.
"Your Majesty, what have I done wrong? Someone who was so kind yesterday... Why are you suddenly...….”
Tears welled up as she spoke.
"Do you think it's because of me that the duke, who is your friend, got hurt?"
Clear tears flowed over Yura's apricot face.
It was a very sentimental scene that made Rosenta’s heart ache for no reason.
He glanced at Theodore just in case.
Also.
As expected, Theodore looked at Yura with a guilty face.
As if he'd embrace her at any moment.
Because it was right next to him, he could see Theodore's fist full of blood.
"It's not that...….”
Yura jumped up from her seat without listening to Theodore's words.
And she offered Rosenta an apology.
"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."
Then, she quickly ran outside without looking back.
At that moment Rosenta saw it.
Theodore's legs were twitching as if trying to follow her.
"Are you trying to follow her?"
Whatever the process, Yura drank tea, and Rosenta wondered if it worked.
That's why he needed to hear Theodore's feelings right now.
"Ah...….”
Theodore groaned lightly.
"Did I try to leave?”
It seemed like he didn't even know he was trying to follow.
‘Is it a failure? Or is the medicine not effective immediately?’
Something felt off.
Rosenta closed his eyes and leaned back in his chair, looking at the ceiling.
"I thought it was a curse, so I just slipped her a potion...….”
He opened his eyes again.
He looked up at Theodore's eyes looking down at him.
With a defeated smile, he said "I must have failed."
‘Did he hear me correctly?’
When Rosenta said he’d failed, the corners of Theodore’s mouth went up.
Theodore was genuinely delighted.
"A potion...…. For me...….”