CHAPTER 37………………………………

It would soon be two full weeks.

“…Ha.”

“…I’m sorry.”

When I let out an open sigh, Dietrich Carlson lowered his head like a guilty man.

For the past few days that I had been visiting the Crown Prince’s Palace for lessons, Dietrich had been the one standing in for Enrique. At this point, he was starting to look pitiful.

“…No. It’s not something Sir Dietrich needs to apologize for.”

I swallowed the irritation that was about to burst out.

Right. What fault was it of his?

From what I could tell, he was already cleaning up most of Enrique’s messes. What would I gain by venting my anger at someone in a similar position to mine?

Still, I couldn’t pretend this frustration didn’t exist.

If he was going to avoid me, he could at least have sent a letter beforehand. Why keep dodging me right before class?

Twice—I tried to understand.

But there’s a limit to how much you can lie.

Worried about his so-called illness, I had casually asked Sylvia’s second older brother—who worked in the Imperial Knights—about Enrique’s condition.

And what did I hear?

That he had been attending the training grounds without fail.

Not only that, but he had apparently wiped the floor with the knights.

The man who was supposedly ill?

What was that about?

“Whew.”

Sighing, I rummaged through my teaching bag and pulled something out.

“There’s no helping it. Then would you please deliver this to His Highness?”

It was my last resort.

Dietrich immediately waved his hands.

“Ah. His Highness said he wouldn’t accept any books from you, Teacher—”

But when he reflexively took what I handed him, his expression turned puzzled.

“…He did say that, but this is?”

His hands were so large that the already small pouch looked even smaller.

He must have expected a book.

“It’s a bit of tea leaves—and tea seeds.”

“Th-the tea leaves probably won’t be accepted either…”

Dietrich still hesitated.

Well, I knew. He had thrown away the tea I brewed twice already. What a piece of work.

Still, let’s see if he refuses this too.

“If you tell him that Crimson is delivering it on behalf of Archduke Logan Eleanor, he’ll accept it.”

He wouldn’t have a choice.

“…Really?”

I smiled faintly at the still-dubious Dietrich.

“Of course. And if there’s any problem, please make sure he comes to see me.”

Only after I emphasized it several times did Dietrich reluctantly nod.

“…Understood. Though His Highness may still refuse…”

Well. Just deliver it.

Three days after Dietrich said that—on the next lesson day—

“Hello.”

Got you.

Enrique, whom I hadn’t been able to see at all, was finally sitting in our usual lesson spot.

“Greetings, Your Highness.”

I gave a light bow and examined his complexion.

How long had it been since I’d seen his face? I was almost glad.

If he had truly been sick, it certainly didn’t show. His face was practically glowing.

Maybe it was because I hadn’t seen him in a while, but he looked even more handsome.

His cool crimson eyes slowly disappeared beneath lids carved deep beside his high nose bridge—then fixed back on me.

I asked politely,

“I heard you were very ill. But I also heard you visited the training grounds. Are you feeling better now?”

= So being sick was a lie, right?

“Ah. I overexerted myself. This unworthy student is still unwell.”

= Yeah, right.

After a brief round of light sparring, I took my seat. Enrique lowered his hand onto the table first.

Thud.

When I looked down, beneath his long, defined fingers lay a small pouch.

A familiar one.

“This is what Logan Eleanor asked to be delivered. Correct?”

It was the pouch I had sent through Dietrich.

I nodded calmly.

“Yes. The Archduke is busy with the academy, so I delivered it in his stead.”

That much was true.

A few days ago, I had gone to see Logan, hoping to find a clue as to why Enrique was avoiding me.

And Logan had said—

‘Come to think of it, when we met at the auction house… His Highness mentioned he wanted to drink the tea he had in the Kingdom of Hamel again. He asked if I could find out what kind it was.’

Apparently, the same Enrique who had insisted on sending me away first at the auction house had asked Logan that.

Then Logan made a request of me.

‘So… I’m truly sorry, but could you deliver this on my behalf? It’s been difficult to leave the academy lately.’

And so I had delivered that tea to Enrique on Logan’s behalf.

In truth, once I identified the tea variety, I was certain it would be my final card to draw him out.

See? He came, didn’t he?

He had to.

“Is there something wrong with the tea leaves or seeds?”

As expected, he frowned slightly.

“The tea leaves were fine. But if the Imperial Palace gardener can’t grow the seeds… are they rotten?”

His low voice almost sounded like a murder threat. A chill ran reflexively down my spine—but I was used to this by now.

“That’s impossible. There’s nothing wrong with the seeds.”

I carefully pulled the pouch from beneath his hand.

It slid free without resistance.

His cool red gaze silently followed my movements.

Don’t shrink back. You’ve done nothing wrong.

I tipped the pouch into my palm. Blue- and brown-tinted tea seeds spilled out.

Perfectly fine seeds.

If they couldn’t be grown, the problem wasn’t the seeds.

“However…”

I trailed off meaningfully.

“This tea requires a special method to grow properly.”

“What method?”

Leaving one seed in my hand, I swept the rest back into the pouch.

“It’s only been three days since you received them, yet you say they’ve rotted. That suggests the palace gardener used cultivation magic.”

“He probably did.”

“I see.”

As I thought.

“Since it’s a Hamel variety, perhaps he didn’t know.”

“Know what?”

“Unlike other varieties, cultivation magic is extremely toxic to these seeds.”

Enrique’s expression twitched faintly, incredulous.

“What?”

“I’ve heard that these tea leaves grow infused with the grower’s heart. Only when cultivated with utmost sincerity can one enjoy their true flavor.”

That’s why, even in the Kingdom of Hamel, it was served only to honored guests.

Difficult to preserve, it rarely circulated outside the frigid lands of Hamel.

I rolled the remaining seed between my fingers. Its shell was slightly rough and firm.

A texture reminiscent of Enrique’s temperament.

“So if you use cultivation magic to accelerate growth in a short time, it will rot.”

“That sounds made up.”

“Why would I tell a lie that anyone from Hamel could immediately expose?”

I shrugged. Enrique narrowed his eyes, his gaze falling to the seed in my palm.

“So it must be tended with all one’s heart.”

I added the words I truly wanted to say.

“Like a relationship between people.”

“A relationship?”

At his crooked question, I slowly lifted my head and met his eyes directly.

“Our relationship, Your Highness.”

That was why I had delivered the tea seeds in Logan’s stead.

I had been certain he would seek me out because of them.

And he did.

Once we sit face to face, we can talk.

Conversation is always the first step to a relationship.

A crooked smile tugged at Enrique’s lips.

“Ah. The relationship between you and me, Teacher.”

He had worn that same smile when we first met.

“That honeyed rhetoric of yours shows no sign of ending.”

“I have always been sincere.”

Stretching lazily like a predator, Enrique murmured,

“Sincere.”

Then his dark, blood-tinged gaze fell upon me.

“And yet you don’t even know what I’m thinking.”

…What are you thinking?

His low voice rasped out.

“I loathe the way you look at me as though the way I’ve lived is wrong. That overly perfect, almost artificial composure of yours grates on me.”

“……”

His heavy, dry gaze traveled slowly from my fingertips, up my wrist and shoulder, lingering at my neck.

“And above all, your pretense of understanding me is the most… unpleasant.”

“……”

Sitting across from him, I thought quietly.

How should I put it.

He’s… extremely prickly.