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Chapter 21
“This is it. The color isn’t particularly special, but the fragrance is really savory.”
“Yes, it is.”
Liriope nodded as she looked at the box of tea leaves that Roze Arin had handed her.
Theo had sent word that he would be a little late due to unfinished work, so Liriope was sharing tea time with Roze Arin first.
Since she loved tea and collected it as a hobby, she was already half-dazed with delight at the new tea leaves.
“Try it, it’s really good.”
“Thank you.”
Roze Arin lifted the teacup, inhaled the aroma first, and then took a slow sip.
Liriope, curious whether she would like the buckwheat-like scent, watched her closely. When Roze Arin’s face instantly brightened, Liriope felt reassured.
“It’s really nutty!”
“Isn’t it?”
When Roze Arin exclaimed with delight, Liriope smiled in satisfaction and sipped her own tea.
“I was so surprised when you said you knew I liked tea.”
Roze Arin set down her cup and spoke cautiously.
When Liriope looked at her, Roze Arin blushed faintly and continued carefully.
“I thought you disliked me.”
“Oh my, what kind of nonsense is that? Why would I dislike Lady Roze Arin? I absolutely don’t.”
Of course, she didn’t dislike her.
After all, what kind of reader would dislike the low-key powerhouse heroine of the original story?
Roze Arin’s divine power might currently seem useless—just a noble gift from God—but once black magic began threatening the empire, she would be revered as a saint blessed by the divine.
So Liriope’s desire to become close friends with Roze Arin wasn’t only to avoid her own gruesome ending, but also because she genuinely wanted to.
Granted, considering what she had done to Roze Arin up until now, saying she never disliked her was contradictory…
Still, Liriope thought it wasn’t too late to set things right, and so she began tossing out small gestures to win Roze Arin’s favor.
“I’ll give you a few of these tea leaves to take home later.”
“Oh, really?”
As expected, Roze Arin looked overjoyed.
Her flushed cheeks and bright smile were so beautiful that they created a dazzling picture.
‘As expected of the heroine. She shines, she really shines.’
Far more beautiful than the printed words of the novel.
Standing beside Theo, no one would deny they were a perfect pair.
At that moment, a pleasant baritone voice came from behind.
“I’m a bit late.”
Roze Arin was the first to meet Theo’s eyes and quickly rose to her feet.
In that brief instant, Liriope saw the look of excitement on Roze Arin’s face.
“Greetings, Your Grace.”
Roze Arin bowed deeply to him.
It seemed that ever since the day she received Theo’s handkerchief, she had already begun to harbor feelings for him.
Feeling somewhat heavy-hearted, Liriope rose slowly and greeted Theo.
“You’re here.”
Theo naturally sat down beside her, removed his gloves, and looked at her.
“Have you been well?”
They had spoken just this morning through the communication device, yet here he was, asking if she had been well.
Liriope looked at him with an incredulous expression, and Theo responded with a dazzling smile.
‘Haah. That smile’s the problem. That damned smile that bewitches people.’
Ignoring her racing heart, Liriope lifted her teacup.
At the same time, a fresh teacup was placed before Theo.
While Gemma poured the tea, Theo looked lazily down at the cup, and Roze Arin kept stealing glances at him.
Watching her, Liriope thought that even without her interference, the two would naturally grow closer in no time.
The thought made her both relieved and strangely bitter.
Though she had hoped this tea time would help them bond, she couldn’t shake the odd feeling gnawing at her.
Wanting to rid herself of that gloomy mood, Liriope turned to Roze Arin.
“By the way, Lady Roze Arin, you majored in divine power, didn’t you?”
“Ah, yes.”
“That’s an incredible ability, isn’t it?”
“What? Oh, no. It’s just useless…”
“Useless? Don’t say that. It’s the only power in the empire that can counter forbidden magic. That’s extraordinary.”
By planting this seed now, Theo would later remember Roze Arin when the Empress tried to use a black magician.
In the original, Theo had realized too late that Roze Arin’s divine power was the sole counter to black magic, and countless people in the north had perished.
Though that wasn’t the only reason, Liriope hoped the northern losses could at least be reduced.
After all, even without enduring hardships, Roze Arin and Theo would inevitably end up together, and their love wouldn’t be diminished for lack of obstacles.
As she drank her tea, Liriope looked between Roze Arin and Theo.
Roze Arin was still glancing at him shyly, while Theo, seemingly oblivious, stared indifferently at his teacup.
The two of them matched so well, it was almost unfair.
Just like a hero and heroine should. And yet, Liriope felt melancholic.
She sniffled unconsciously, and at once Theo looked over with a worried expression.
“Do you have a cold?”
As expected of someone from the cold north, Theo was overly sensitive about colds.
Though she insisted repeatedly that she wasn’t sick, Theo kept ordering Gemma to fetch a physician.
Annoyed, she finally pleaded to let her enjoy tea time in peace, and only then did he relent.
Roze Arin, who had been silently watching his fussing, finally spoke with a meaningful tone.
“I’m really envious.”
It slipped out almost like a murmur, and she looked startled afterward, wearing an awkward expression.
Liriope forced a smile at her.
“There’s nothing to envy. Lord Theo is just such a kind man…”
“Me?”
Suddenly, Theo cut in with a baffled expression.
“I’m not particularly kind.”
“You are. Worrying about whether I caught a cold, insisting on calling a physician…”
“That’s only natural—because, Lipe, you’re my woman.”
Liriope’s eyes went wide as saucers.
‘Seriously? Right in front of Roze Arin, you’re calling me “my woman” over and over again? This thick-headed northerner!’
She sighed in exasperation at Theo’s complete lack of tact.
He twitched his brows at her.
“Sighing like that isn’t a very good habit, Lipe.”
“It’s not a habit! I sighed because the situation calls for it.”
“Are you really sure you’re not sick? If you’re tired enough to sigh, we should call the physician.”
“Ugh, enough with the physician talk. I’m not sick. I said I don’t have a cold!”
“Then that’s a relief.”
Indeed, Liriope could only sigh endlessly at this oblivious man who couldn’t even recognize the love of his life standing right before him.
“You two really look so good together.”
Roze Arin said brightly as she looked at them.
For some reason, Liriope’s heart gave a pang.
Apart from the melancholy, she worried that if Roze Arin kept misunderstanding them as a loving couple, all her efforts today would be wasted.
So she decided to leave the two of them alone for a while.
Quickly rising, she spoke to them.
“I’ll step out to the restroom for a bit. Oh, by the way, Lady Roze Arin, didn’t Lord Theo help you once?”
At her words, Roze Arin nodded with an “Ah.”
“Then you two go ahead and talk about it. I really need to go.”
With that, Liriope hurried out with Gemma in tow.
Now that she had given them an opening, Roze Arin would surely return Theo’s handkerchief, and the two would end up talking about that day—perhaps even falling for each other in the process.
“Gemma, isn’t the weather just lovely today?”
Forcing down her complicated feelings, Liriope smiled brightly at her maid.
To give them more time, Liriope didn’t immediately return to the tea table but wandered around the gardens instead.
The duke’s gardens were vast, and simply admiring the nameless flowers and plants made time fly.
“Shouldn’t you head back now?”
Finally, Gemma, who had been following her around, spoke up.
She had found it strange from the moment Liriope said she was going to the restroom, only to stroll through the garden instead of going inside the house.
Liriope just smiled in response.
‘How could you possibly understand my grand plan?’
“His Grace must be waiting. It must be awkward for him to be alone with the count’s daughter.”
‘Awkward? More like thrilled out of their minds.’
Liriope only pouted and grinned, which made Gemma look even more worried.
“That damned bastard came here?!”
Suddenly, a familiar voice rang out from behind, and Liriope’s face instantly twisted.
Turning around, she saw Kadin, dressed more dazzlingly than ever, standing a short distance away.
