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I blinked at Alexandra, wondering if I had heard her wrong. What was that supposed to mean? When I looked at her with wide eyes, she began speaking with a serious expression.
“There’s a rumor going around among the ladies and noble daughters. That Lady Werner is His Majesty’s secret lover.”
“What? What do you mean? And how did such a rumor even spread?”
“I’m not sure exactly how it started, but it seems someone saw Count Werner’s daughter and His Majesty together on the day of the tea party.”
“Ah…”
So someone else did see the two of them together? Well, I suppose the location was more open than I realized. I was in a blind spot inside, so I didn’t notice, but someone else must’ve seen them from another angle.
“But just seeing the two of them together—would that really spark a rumor of them being lovers?”
“From what I heard, people say there was something unusual between them. Apparently, His Majesty smiled while watching Lady Werner hold his pet, Rose…”
“…That would do it.”
Of all the scenes they could’ve seen, they saw that? I wonder who it was. Rael, who’s usually expressionless and treats women like rocks, actually smiled. Not only that, he let her hold Rose and didn’t intervene. That is a big deal.
Every noble knew how much he cherished Rose. No one dared to touch her—because she was the emperor’s cat.
He hated it when anyone besides those he personally approved touched her. In fact, only a few nobles had ever been allowed to hold Rose—Lucious, Alexandra… and now me.
And yet, Angelica held her. And not only did Rael allow it, he even smiled at her while she did. From an outsider’s perspective, of course that would look suspicious.
Even from my own point of view, Rael had looked a little different that day—even if Angelica hadn’t noticed anything.
As I stayed lost in thought, Alexandra looked confused.
“But His Majesty and Lady Werner have barely interacted before, right? I mean, it’s strange enough that he’d even show interest in a woman.”
“That’s true. I’ve heard the same rumors about His Majesty too… This is surprising. Have you gone to ask him about it?”
“Not yet. The rumor is still just starting to spread… and I doubt he’d give me a straight answer anyway.”
Right. He hadn’t even told Lucious, so why would he tell Alexandra? He’d probably be even more guarded with her.
Still, what should I do about this rumor? It may have only just begun to spread, but if even Alexandra has heard of it, it’s already made some rounds. It’s only a matter of time before the entire social circle hears it.
I guess it was inevitable, since there were eyewitnesses… but it’s surprising how quickly things are being revealed between the two.
‘Maybe it’s because the original story started earlier too… since their first meeting happened sooner.’
Even if nothing had progressed between the two of them yet, now that the rumors are out, they’ll likely be entangled more and more. The timeline’s moving faster than the original plot, and while Rael and Angelica’s circumstances are different, now that the word “lover” has been mentioned, it wouldn’t be surprising if talk of marriage came next.
They’re bound to end up together anyway, so it’s not like I need to stop the rumors… but Lucious is going to be shocked when he hears.
“So I figured, since we’re invited anyway, maybe I’ll ask Lady Werner directly. See if the rumor’s true.”
“Do you think she even knows about it?”
“Hard to say. The rumor started among the neutral faction, so she might have heard.”
“I see.”
Considering Angelica’s personality, there’s a good chance she hasn’t heard it yet. I’m curious what kind of face she’ll make when she finds out.
***
“Welcome, Your Grace, Your Highness.”
In the afternoon, Alexandra and I arrived at Count Werner’s estate and were greeted warmly by the staff. A group of tense servants stood alongside what appeared to be the head butler. Then Angelica stepped forward and greeted us.
“Thank you so much for coming. It’s an honor to host the both of you.”
“Thank you for inviting us, Lady Werner.”
“I was pleasantly surprised by how quickly the invitation arrived. I’m looking forward to today—should I be?”
Angelica smiled softly at Alexandra’s playful tone and replied,
“Of course. I’ve worked hard to prepare for your visit. I hope you both have a lovely time.”
Her confident demeanor made both me and Alexandra smile as we followed her inside. The atmosphere was tidy and modest—no excessive luxury, but it felt comfortable and warm.
I’d heard they weren’t doing well financially, so I was a bit worried, but the household seemed fine. Maybe things had started turning around now that their new product launch was underway.
“This way, please.”
Angelica led us to the back of the first floor. After passing a hallway and turning a corner, we saw an entrance leading out to the garden.
Beyond a clear glass door lay a spacious garden, and at its center stood a moderately sized glass building. A waiting attendant opened the door, and as we stepped inside with Angelica, a fascinating scene unfolded.
“Oh my…”
“Wow… what a unique place…”
The entire glass room was filled with plants, like a mini conservatory—reminiscent of the café I’d once seen in Sinedeli. Countless plants of various kinds filled the space, but something else stood out.
“These pots and containers… Are they all products made by your family?”
“Yes, that’s right. Our family produced all of them.”
The planters and decorative bowls scattered throughout the space were unlike anything found on the market—rare shapes, unique designs. Definitely the work of a family in the ceramics business.
Looking closer, I noticed how meticulously everything had been arranged. Angelica smiled proudly as she watched us examine the space in awe. Just from her eyes, I could tell how much love and effort she had poured into this place.
“It’s truly fascinating. Everything’s so unique and beautiful. They’re exactly my style, but I haven’t seen many of these pieces in the stores run by your family.”
“Some are custom-made and not for sale, and others are prototypes for upcoming launches. But most of them should be available to the public soon.”
“That’s great to hear. I’d love to reserve a few, if possible.”
“For you two, of course I’ll prepare something special. Let me know if anything catches your eye.”
“Really?”
Excited by Angelica’s offer, Alexandra beamed with joy. As she wandered around admiring everything, both Angelica and I chuckled.
When our eyes met, Angelica gave me a shy smile and spoke softly.
“If there’s anything Your Highness would like, please don’t hesitate to tell me.”
“Thank you. Honestly, I love everything here. I’m amazed at how beautifully everything’s been designed.”
“You’re too kind. I think it’s thanks to the skill of our family’s artisans. They’re a little too passionate sometimes, though.”
Despite her humble words, her face showed deep pride in her artisans. I was surprised to see that she trusted them so much—her gaze toward their works said it all.
In the original story, I remembered her being rather indifferent. It was only after becoming empress and working alongside Rael that she became more lively. Early on, she came off as detached and uninterested in most things.
Maybe this is her real personality. I wonder if something happened with her family’s business before the original story began. Whatever it was, it seemed to have affected her deeply—even if it was resolved.
‘Something might still happen going forward.’
For now, everything seemed okay… but who knows what might go wrong after the new product launch. Her apathetic character had its own charm in the original, but seeing her this way now made me feel a bit sad. It’d be a shame if I never got to see those sparkling eyes again.
While I was lost in those thoughts, Alexandra came back from her tour. Just then, the maids brought out tea, and we moved to a set table.
The fragrant black tea was accompanied by beautifully arranged desserts. The tea and sweets were delicious—but the lovely teacups and plates kept drawing our attention, even as we ate.
As we continued to admire everything, Angelica seemed relieved and signaled for two large boxes to be brought in.
“Once again, thank you so much for visiting. These are gifts I prepared for you both—as a token of appreciation for what happened last time. I hope you like them.”
Excited, Alexandra and I untied the elegant ribbons and opened the boxes. Inside were sets of uniquely designed teacups, various dishes, and small trinkets.
“Oh my… These are stunning! Are they all part of the new collection?”
“Yes. After much consideration, we selected these as our newest products. I chose pieces that I felt would suit each of you.”
“Thank you so much. I absolutely love them—they’re almost too beautiful to use.”
Each item had its own color and design, all of them charming at a glance. Not only was the quality top-notch, but the designs were so unique that the more you looked at them, the more appealing they became. Seeing Alexandra’s eyes light up like that, it was clear the collection would make waves once released.
Pleased by our reaction, Angelica smiled and said,
“I hope you’ll use them often. Our ceramics are made with people in mind—so if you two enjoy using them, nothing would make us or our artisans happier.”
“Of course. I’ll make sure to use them for every tea time.”
“Thank you.”
As she smiled happily, I returned the gesture. While we continued our light conversation, Alexandra hesitated a moment before cautiously asking,
“Lady Werner… I heard a strange rumor recently. Are you aware of it?”
“What kind of rumor?”
“Well, um… that you and His Majesty… are romantically involved…”
“…Pardon?”
At those words, the smile vanished from Angelica’s face in an instant.
