CHAPTER 13………………………………

If that happens, Terence will be extremely wary of me.

The reason he can act so favorably toward me is that he believes I do not know his true identity.

For Terence, my birth has always been a shackle.

Being the emperor’s illegitimate child, born even before the legitimate heir, was a very interesting topic of gossip.

No one spoke of it openly for fear of the imperial family, but in private, people always whispered.

The Marquis of Freihayden.

A noble in name only, holding a title without lands, and the son of the woman once passionately loved by the emperor.

Even though his mother passed away long ago, the emperor occasionally inquires after his son.

Would the empress and the House of Velourd tolerate that? Whispers abound.

The reason he doesn’t engage in public activities as the Marquis of Freihayden and stays hidden at home is precisely because of this.

“Just wait. Soon, Terence will make a spectacular entrance into the imperial palace.”

By the time anyone regrets speaking carelessly, it will be too late. Somehow, even though it’s not my concern, I realized the reality quickly.

Right now, I’m in deep trouble.

If he fails to notice the effects of the tea, any deal or plan is ruined.

Honestly, it wouldn’t be at all surprising if Terence suddenly decided tomorrow that he’s had enough of this and left.

Chances are, his offer to personally guard me was just a momentary whim.

I rested my chin in my hand and thought hard.

“Could it be that the proportions of the ingredients are wrong?”

I had added the herbs and holy water exactly as described in the novel.

…Did I really get it right?

My confidence was faltering, making me doubt even that.

I needed to check the novel again.

Glancing forward, Terence was dozing lightly while seated.

He had done the same yesterday, so I asked if the hotel bed was uncomfortable, to which he replied with a peculiar smile:

“I wouldn’t know if the bed is comfortable or not. I’ve never truly used one.”

I flinched.

Indeed, it seemed the accommodation was far too cheap for a noble.

I felt a bit guilty that my employer had me stay in a place like this due to a lack of funds.

But that wasn’t the important part.

Now, with Terence dozing, it was the perfect opportunity to check the novel.

I took the book from my bag and, without opening it, closed my eyes like the person in front of me.

I pictured a book in my mind.

Its cover was white, covered with piles of pink petals.

At the very center, in simple, almost crude lettering, was the title: “Returning to Walk Only the Flowered Path.”

In my imagination, I flipped through the pages.

The passage I sought was where Liena successfully brews the proper medicinal tea for the first time.

I always found exactly what I wanted without hesitation. Soon, dozens, even hundreds, of letters flooded into my mind.

“Gah.”

Feeling dizzy, I awoke from my imagination.

Though it felt like thirty minutes had passed, the old clock on the teahouse wall showed barely a minute had gone by.

I had indeed measured everything correctly.

One drop of holy water, one spoonful of powdered herbs—exactly as described in the novel I had just checked.

This was my special ability.

For convenience, I called it “Imaginative Original.”

I didn’t know how it worked, but ever since I first possessed it, I could reread “Returning to Walk Only the Flowered Path” in my mind.

No preparation was needed. Whenever I wished, I could access it.

Perhaps it was the minimum courtesy of the being that had thrown me into this world. Whether it was a god or something else, I had no way of knowing.

Personally, I suspected it was the goddess Miela.

The clue was Liena herself.

If she wished, Liena could vividly recall memories from before her regression as though they had just occurred.

Both Liena and I had greatly benefited from this ability.

Otherwise, how could I remember every enemy of Tara or the disguised identity of Shilean? I am not a genius, after all.

Despite being incredibly convenient, there was one drawback…

“I get exhausted!”

All I had done since waking was eat breakfast and drink tea, yet my body felt utterly drained.

Every time I used “Imaginative Original,” this happened.

I couldn’t think, couldn’t even want to think, and my thoughts became simple.

A few hours would restore me, but at most, I could only use it twice a day.

“…Did you go exercise while I was dozing?”

About ten minutes later, fully awake from his nap, Terence looked at me, slumped and exhausted.

I weakly waved my hand.

“No. Shall we return to the inn for today?”

“You must be very tired.”

My limbs felt like wet cotton.

“Yes, a little. Tei, if you have errands, go ahead. A walk would be fine too.”

“That won’t do. What use is a guard if he’s not with his employer?”

“Oh, it’s fine. There are other guests at the hotel. Even if my husband came, what could he do?”

“Complacency always invites trouble. It’s better to be careful…”

We exchanged such words while leaving the teahouse and heading back to the hotel.

A man loitering in front of the hotel noticed us and raised his hand.

“Ah, Your Grace…”

A sharp glare from Terence turned the man pale.

The culprit who had made the poor man tremble now smiled politely at me.

“A mercenary colleague, it seems. He must have come with a message for me.”

Mercenary, my foot. From his appearance, he looked every bit a retainer from a noble family.

Still, I decided to play along and nodded gracefully.

‘Wait.’

A thought flashed in my mind. I pretended not to notice, but that man had clearly called Terence “Marquis.”

This was the trigger—the moment I could realize Terence’s true identity!

My mind immediately fabricated a scenario:

Naïve(?) me, who had believed the guard was an ordinary mercenary, now suspects his identity after hearing the retainer.

Recalling his behavior, I realize he is a high-ranking noble. Desperate, I request his help in arranging my divorce.

The reward, naturally, is the medicinal tea recipe. Since it’s been properly brewed, Terence must be feeling its effects by now.

He is just cautious, which is why he hasn’t said anything.

“Good. If this goes as planned, I can conceal that I approached him deliberately!”

To request a deal, I had to show I knew his identity, so I was contemplating how to feign discovery.

I had other plans, but the retainer’s appearance made the excuse seem more natural.

“I’ll go inside first. Take your time speaking,” he said.

I smiled with satisfaction and tried to enter the hotel past the two men.

But before I could reach the entrance…

Clop-clop.

With the sound of strong hooves, a carriage stopped in front of the hotel.

A massive black carriage, large enough to hold ten men with room to spare, bore the emblem of two black mountain goats.

A unique crest, unlike any other noble family’s—a signature of Cassius.

The girl who stepped out, helped by the driver, gasped.

“Big sister-in-law! It’s been so long!”

It was Liena Cassius.

Hotel Lobby

We took one of the tables set aside for guests and sat down.

Liena fidgeted, clearly uncomfortable.

Understandable—there’s no way such cheap hotel furniture could be high-grade.

I refused her suggestion to go somewhere fancier and insisted on this place.

I had no energy to move and didn’t want to engage in prolonged conversation anyway.

Behind Liena, two others stood.

Tara and Mathis.

Tara blinked nervously, conscious of me. Likely apologizing for not informing her in advance that Liena would come.

Three days ago, Tara had sent a letter confirming she had followed my instructions, mentioning that Liena would probably visit me someday.

But today, Liena had approached suddenly.

‘It’s fine.’

I signaled Tara with a subtle glance to put her at ease. Luckily, Terence was a little away, speaking with his retainer.

To Liena’s eyes, he and I likely didn’t appear as a group.

Pressing my fingers to my drooping eyelids, I spoke first.

“Liena, what’s the matter?”

Mathis’s brow twitched at the icy tone.

Mathis, a genius swordsman, had been recruited along with Tara to serve Liena. For some reason, he often displayed open hostility toward me.

“This, Miss Idel Wallis, is too careless a reception for someone who came to visit,” he said.

See that? Only loyal to Liena, and he has no respect.

No longer calling me “little mistress” because I had left home.

‘Have I done something wrong without realizing it?’

The hostility made no sense otherwise.

“Mathis, don’t be rude to big sister-in-law.”

Liena spoke sternly.

“But, Miss…”

“It’s an order.”

“I understand.”

“Formally apologize for the disrespectful words you just spoke.”

Mathis scowled but bowed deeply.

“I was wrong. I ask your forgiveness, Miss Idel.”

“You should properly call me little mistress.”

As Mathis hesitated to say it, I interrupted.

“It’s fine. I’m no longer your little mistress anyway.”

“Big sister-in-law, what do you mean!”

“Liena, don’t call me big sister-in-law either.”

Liena’s face fell.

Her round eyes glistened, and her soft pink lips pressed together.

“…You’re very angry, aren’t you? I understand. I’d be the same.”

She reached across the table to hold my hands.

“I’m truly sorry about the Andara mine. I apologize on behalf of my eldest brother.”

I remained silent, willing to hear her out.

“I can’t imagine the betrayal you felt when you learned the truth.”

“……”

“But please know this: it started with the mine, but it’s not the whole story.”

“……”

“I don’t know how to explain it, but… I’m quite perceptive.”

She continued, hesitating but spea…….