CHAPTER 164………………………………..
Right after her debut, Leona thought she had gone crazy.
“How could I think of Mom when facing the enemy?!”
On top of that, her bluff had been completely exposed.
Her fists clenched in frustration at her own carelessness.
But what drove her even crazier was the strange fact that Gabriel didn’t seem like a bad person at all.
There was even a peculiar sense of familiarity.
She had completely lost her mind.
Leona spent her days in self-reproach.
So when the invitation for tea arrived, just as Gabriel had said, she steeled herself and thought, “So it has come to this.”
“I’d better not tell him.”
If he found out, he would surely forbid her from going.
Even for a Grand Duke, Lloyd seemed to follow the royal orders rather reluctantly.
If Priscilla hadn’t been behind him, Lloyd would have already been arrested for treason.
Leona used the excuse of going out to leave the mansion.
Just in case, she even hid a dagger in her leg dance.
Could she return alive? Leona entered the palace with a tension greater than returning to the wild, hoping she would never need to use this blade today.
“Welcome, Grand Duchess.”
Gabriel had come out personally to meet her at the carriage.
He made no effort to hide the fact that Leona was a guest.
Word of this would likely reach the emperor as well.
Was this hospitality—or a threat?
She had already steeled herself, but fear was inevitable.
Arriving at Gabriel’s garden, Leona tilted her head without realizing it.
It was because red roses, resembling Gabriel’s eyes, bloomed abundantly, and cats were rolling about everywhere in the garden.
Some even lay lazily in the very spots where she and Gabriel would sit, taking naps.
The maids who followed quietly like shadows made no effort to move them, as if this was perfectly normal.
Fortunately, as the two approached, the cats woke, shook their heads, and moved aside…
“Please, come in.”
“…….”
Gabriel’s tea time was a little strange.
The maids treated her as if she were an honored guest, and Gabriel was unusually warm.
But the desserts were odd.
Normally, a tea service would include cakes topped with chocolate, fruit, and nuts.
But the sweet treat before her was nothing more than an egg tart. There were no typical cakes with fruit, chocolate, or nuts on the table.
Instead, there were bread with bacon and sausage, thick ham sandwiches, and canapés topped with red salmon—snacks that could serve as a full meal.
Was this Gabriel’s taste?
Or was he simply trying to play a trick on her?
Leona noted that Gabriel seemed aware this wasn’t a normal tea party.
“I didn’t know what you’d like. Try this tea.”
“…….”
Wouldn’t it have been simpler to serve ordinary tea then?
Leona reluctantly picked up the teacup.
The steaming liquid wasn’t red tea, but a deep green.
She had never seen such tea before.
Bringing it close, the sharp smell of grass was strong.
“Could this… be it?”
Taking a small sip, it seemed correct.
But had humans really drunk this as tea?
Both the snacks and the tea suited Leona’s tastes, but they were certainly not what a typical noble lady would enjoy.
He was really trying to tease her, wasn’t he?
As if reading her thoughts, Gabriel smiled.
“How does it taste?”
“Unusual… indeed.”
“Hoho. It’s my favorite tea.”
Leona felt something strange.
She instinctively liked it, but normal people probably wouldn’t.
Seeing Gabriel sip it himself, she realized it certainly wasn’t poisoned.
Since she didn’t have to force down sweet treats or regular tea, and the scent was rare for her, Leona drank it happily.
Gabriel watched her with a satisfied expression, resting his chin on his hand, and then put down his own teacup.
“I’ve heard a lot about the Grand Duchess. They say you are one of the finest talents in Pobache. Cassius should really learn from you.”
“You flatter me. I still have much to learn compared to His Highness Cassius.”
“No need for empty words. I know Cassius’ grades and character best, being his mother. If the Grand Duchess were my daughter… the Grand Duke wouldn’t have to worry about children at all.”
“……?”
Leona doubted her own ears.
To be frank, her personality wasn’t exactly perfect either.
She was famous for punching students who even slightly acted cheeky toward her. The Grand Duke had been called to the academy countless times because of this.
There was no way Gabriel wouldn’t know.
‘Besides, I came here without telling him.’
Whether Gabriel knew and was pretending not to, or didn’t realize, he kept praising Leona.
He looked at her with the pride of a parent, expressing occasional regret over Cassius.
Leona had expected him to ask about Minerva, but the name never came up. That tea time ended without a single mention of her.
Gabriel thanked her for coming and gave her the strange tea leaves from earlier as a gift, saying generously in a kind voice that she could ask anytime if she ran out.
On the way back in the carriage, Leona was satisfied with both the tea and snacks, but she felt as if she had narrowly avoided a trap.
Why had he invited her?
Was it to make her confess that she was Minerva’s daughter?
Gabriel said he would invite her again in the future.
Next time, he might try to find out the truth properly.
‘I mustn’t let my guard down.’
Strangely, being in Gabriel’s presence made her relax completely.
Since she wasn’t sure whether Gabriel’s kindness was genuine, Leona decided to stay alert.
Should she even discard the tea? What if it was poisoned?
Yet she couldn’t bring herself to throw it away.
She leaned over the lid of the tea container and inhaled its aroma.
“Ahhh.”
A strange sound escaped her without thinking.
Her facial muscles relaxed, making her chuckle involuntarily.
After enjoying the scent, she carefully closed the lid and hugged the tea.
‘…I’ll take it and drink it all.’
Such tea couldn’t be found in the Grand Ducal Palace. It shouldn’t be poisonous, so it would be fine.
Minerva’s teachings had included that food shouldn’t be wasted. So this was acceptable.
Gabriel, either incapable of flattery or only genuine with Leona, invited her again a week later.
Contrary to Leona’s expectation that Gabriel would ask about Minerva, she remained interested solely in Leona.
“Did you finish the tea I gave you before?”
“Yes… I drank it every time…”
“You came at the right time. I’ll give you plenty more, so let me know if you run out. You can’t get this tea anywhere else, can you?”
This tea, although served again, was impossible to find commercially.
Gabriel explained that it was cultivated in the palace according to his taste.
He invited Leona every week.
Whether because he didn’t bring up Minerva or because he listened well to Leona’s stories, her defenses gradually lowered over time.
For the first time, someone was listening to her. The once suspicious tea times became days she looked forward to.
For Leona, who had no place for her heart, this was the first genuinely enjoyable place.
Of course, keeping it secret from Lloyd had limits, and eventually, the day came when it was discovered.
Leona was immediately summoned.
“Leona, why did you go to the Empress’ palace without telling me?”
