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Chapter 41
“Your Majesty, have you been found?”
Kaizern watched, almost absentmindedly, as she bowed gracefully. To him, it was just the neat, standard maid uniform he saw every day…
‘She can look this beautiful in that…’
When she gave her greeting and received no reply, Roabellin tilted her head slightly in confusion. Only after their eyes met did Kaizern realize the expression on his own face and cleared his throat.
“Ah, right. Bring some black tea. I’ll drink it strong. And…”
He glanced at her briefly.
“Also, a cup of flower tea. With plenty of snacks to accompany it.”
“Yes.”
Roabellin found it a little odd that he ordered two types of tea, but it wasn’t her place to question it, so she bowed and left the study.
‘I was worried he might say something strange… but it looks like he’s just going to make me work. I guess that’s a relief….’
On her way to the kitchen, Roabellin recalled Kaizern’s appearance from just moments ago. He had changed from a bathrobe into a comfortable shirt and trousers. Even in casual clothing, his solid, toned physique was impossible to hide. Perhaps because his black hair was still slightly damp, he somehow seemed even more provocative.
‘The Emperor, and yet unnecessarily sexy? He doesn’t need to tempt anyone…’
It wasn’t really his fault, but Roabellin muttered to herself, begrudgingly blaming him.
Thinking of him, she couldn’t help but blush as her mind drifted to the night they had spent together. The walk from the study to the kitchen was a little long, but her face changed color several times as she thought of Kaizern, and before she knew it, she had arrived.
“Oh, Yuli. What brings someone so precious, serving the Emperor at his side, to the kitchen at this hour?”
At that moment, Bomira—the maid who had scolded Roabellin in the kitchen not long ago to avoid the Emperor’s notice—was there. She looked at Yuli with jealous eyes for having secured the position she had wanted so badly.
‘Her eyes and hair make her look so bright and pretty. As a commoner, just having a nice face won’t get you noticed by His Majesty. I’ve suffered in this kitchen all this time as the Baron’s daughter…’
To the palace staff, Roabellin had been presented as someone who had changed her hair and eye color with beauty elixirs. Kaizern had arranged this to minimize gossip about her altered appearance.
Despite Bomira’s sarcastic tone, Roabellin delivered her message calmly.
“Good evening. His Majesty said he is working in the study and requested that I bring plenty of black tea, flower tea, and snacks to accompany them.”
“At this hour? Hmph… very well.”
No matter how irritating Yuli might be, no one could refuse an order from the Emperor. Fortunately, the maid who usually waited in the kitchen at night was absent, so Bomira herself prepared the refreshments.
‘I want to play a little trick… but I can’t put anything in His Majesty’s tea. There must be a way to do something minor that would just cause some annoyance without being blamed…’
After a moment’s thought, she left the black tea as it was and swapped the flower tea for another variety.
‘If I simply mix up the tea name, it’ll be easy to get lightly scolded and earn a bit of dislike. After all, they’ll trust a noble like me over a clueless commoner.’
She let out a quiet, silent laugh and quickly prepared the snacks.
“Here you go.”
Bomira handed Roabellin a tray with black tea, the swapped tea, and a bowl of snacks.
The swapped tea was made from Trlain flowers, mostly found in the western continent, and could easily be mistaken for ordinary flower tea. Its main production areas were so far from Aventador that Roabellin herself had never encountered Trlain tea before.
“Thank you.”
Roabellin received the tray and calmly returned to the study.
“Your Majesty, I’ve brought the refreshments you requested.”
At her words, Kaizern, who had been quickly scanning documents, lifted his face. Perhaps because it was night and the light was dim, his chiseled nose and sharp, masculine jawline cast a mysterious, alluring aura.
Thump.
Meeting his golden eyes within those cold, piercing gazes, Roabellin felt her heart respond.
‘Is it just me, or is it because it’s night? Why is this man so ridiculously sexy on his own…’
Kaizern watched her for a moment before answering slowly.
“Place it over here.”
Roabellin carefully set the tray down where he indicated. Kaizern adjusted his posture in his chair, observing her calmly.
“Shall I pour the tea now? Which one would you like to start with?” she asked.
“Prepare both now.”
“Ah? Ah, yes.”
Though slightly surprised again, Roabellin did not question him further and began preparing the tea. She checked the water temperature and poured warm water from the kettle. The tea leaves swirled and unfurled softly in the cups.
Her movements were smooth and elegant—she had been learning to brew tea before she was ten years old.
‘It’s been so long since I brewed tea with such fine utensils…’
In many countries of the continent, brewing tea personally was considered a basic skill of the nobility.
Brewing tea at the correct temperature, timing it perfectly, and pouring it with graceful movements to savor the full flavor was considered a refined and noble hobby.
Commoner servants were never taught this, and mastering the handling of numerous tea varieties and the refined motions could not be learned in a day or two.
Thus, unless one was a butler or high-ranking servant, palace staff of noble households could not brew tea properly—they merely poured hot water over the leaves.
Because the palace maids and attendants were of noble descent, they naturally knew how to prepare the Emperor’s tea in the proper noble fashion.
Roabellin, having learned from them, unconsciously brewed the tea in the manner she was familiar with from her noble upbringing. Her movements were confident and precise. Kaizern silently watched her the entire time.
“…….”
Only after pouring the water did Roabellin realize that Kaizern had been watching her constantly. Feeling slightly awkward, she lowered her head and said something.
“Please wait a moment while the tea steeps, Your Majesty.”
“Kai.”
“Yes?”
At his sudden remark, Roabellin looked up.
“Call me Kai, not Your Majesty. Just between us.”
Kaizern spoke with an indifferent expression, but Roabellin was completely flustered.
‘What? He wants his maid to call him by his name? And not even his full name, but a nickname?’
As an imperial maid, she was expected to obey his orders, but this was not easy. Roabellin hesitated before answering.
“I… that… Your Majesty, that’s… difficult.”
Kaizern raised his golden eyes to meet hers.
“Why? You’ve called me that before.”
It was during the festival, when they had been on a date. Feeling embarrassed, she avoided his gaze.
“That… that title was when I thought you were a commoner. Now that I know you are His Majesty the Emperor, I cannot call you that. I simply can’t.”
Though his command was unreasonable, answering it defied her heart. She carefully wrapped her excuse in a polite explanation: ‘I only called you that because you lied and said you were a commoner!’
Kaizern, however, did not easily concede.
“This is the first time I’ve seen someone resist my orders, knowing I am the Emperor.”
The sudden deepness in his voice made Roabellin’s head spin. In that low tone, she felt both the Emperor’s authority and an intimidating presence.
‘Roa, why do you keep forgetting? This man is the Emperor! I’m his maid!! No matter what he says, I should just obey… Surely he isn’t going to punish me for disobedience, right?’
Her runaway thoughts stopped at Kaizern’s next words.
“This is an imperial command.”
Startled, Roabellin looked up sharply.
‘Really? He’s going to…?’
“Call me Kai. From this moment onward.”
“……Ah.”
Her mind, which had been imagining wild scenarios, finally returned to reality.
‘Ah, right. There’s no way he’d actually punish me for this. Fine… I’ll just call him that. He did say so, and surely it’s not disrespectful.’
Seeing her hesitate, Kaizern spoke again.
“If Kai feels uncomfortable, shall I revert to Kaizern?”
‘Are you crazy?! That’s even more awkward!’
Roabellin opened her mouth slightly, then quickly composed herself.
“No, it’s fine. Ka… Kai. Kai. Understood.”
“The tone too.”
“Yes?”
“When we’re alone, speak lightly. Like that day.”
‘Bringing up that day again… He’s teasing me or getting petty revenge. I can’t believe I have to put up with this. Ugh… His status is a gangster, a total gangster.’
Unable to answer immediately, Roabellin finally managed, succumbing to the pressure of his golden gaze.
“Yes, yes… Kai. Understood….”
Kaizern leaned back in his chair, finally looking slightly satisfied.
“Good. From now on, always like that.”
A faint, silent smile lifted the corner of Kaizern’s mouth.
‘If you pretend that night never happened, I’ll reset our relationship to that night and start over. As many times as needed.’
