Chapter 10

Chapter 10

A faint tremor ran through Rosette’s fingers as they rested in the water. She frowned, focusing her senses on her fingertips.

Small beads of sweat dotted her beautiful forehead.

Everyone present gasped quietly at her seemingly reckless actions, but then they covered their mouths and rubbed their eyes at the astonishing sight unfolding before them.

The opaque lake water gradually began to clear, starting from where Rosette’s hand touched it.

“A-A holy power!”

“My heavens, the putrid water is clearing up.”

“The Saintess has appeared!”

The miracle she performed. They couldn’t believe Rosette’s ability even as they witnessed it firsthand. Yet, it was undeniably real.

The stagnant, murky water had, by her touch, returned to its original, pristine state.

And it wasn’t long after. The clear, sunny sky began to darken little by little, and cold raindrops started to fall, one by one, onto their cheeks.

“R-Rain…!”

“The heavens have been moved!”

“Now… can we farm again?”

Rain, which hadn’t fallen for an entire year, poured down on all sides, soaking everything.

The fine drizzle gradually intensified, soon turning into a torrential downpour. The long-awaited rain lashed down as if it had been biding its time. The common folk cried tears of joy, letting the rain drench their bodies, and cheered for the Emperor, whom they had been criticizing only minutes before.

“I did it…”

Rosette savored the cold raindrops falling on her face. The rain, soaking her entire body, pierced through to her very core, cleansing her. It had rained just after she revealed her ability.

The timing of the rain was a sheer coincidence, yet in that moment, it felt like a ray of hope that her future would be smooth sailing.

Perhaps from using her Supernatural Ability after such a long time, Rosette momentarily felt her strength wane and stumbled, but then a warm hand reached out.

The hand belonged to Theodore, who had approached her without her realizing it. He scooped Rosette into his arms.

As he walked with her, the gathered crowd parted like the Miracle of Moses.

“In His Majesty’s era, a Saintess… a Saintess has appeared.”

Many onlookers devoutly watched their figures, making the sign of the cross or repeatedly bowing.

Rosette’s heart, nestled in his arms, pounded fiercely. She must have been startled by the fear of being too far from the ground. His chest was more solid and broad than she expected. Leaning on him instinctively, she felt a strange sense of stability.

The people’s fervent cheers and gasps followed him as he gracefully moved through the crowd, and amidst their shouts of “Long live the Emperor!”, a dark figure discreetly slipped away.

Back at the Imperial Palace, Rosette had already removed her wet dress and taken a shower. She usually experienced dizziness and fatigue after using her Supernatural Ability, so she planned to go to bed early tonight.

Having traveled far and exerted herself all day, a wave of weariness washed over her.

Knock, knock—

“Come in.”

Charlotte came to Rosette, who was preparing for an early night, and informed her.

“Princess, His Majesty is calling for you.”

“At this hour?”

“Yes.”

“Alright. I’ll change and then go.”

After roughly drying her wet hair and changing clothes, Rosette followed the knights to him.

Her movements were restricted within the Imperial Palace, as if her ankles were tied, so she found herself entering a corridor she had never seen before.

As she walked down the long hallway to his residence, Rosette’s palms were slick with sweat from anxiety. The thought of facing him made her constantly nervous. And at such a late hour.

She soon arrived at Theodore’s study. He, who had been dressed in a proper uniform, was now in a shirt. His unbuttoned shirt collar, worn freely, clearly revealed Theodore’s true nature, and the distinct change in atmosphere made Rosette swallow dryly.

He was holding a crystal glass, drinking vodka. Spotting Rosette, he gestured for her to sit.

“What’s the matter—”

“As a token of appreciation.”

Did he mean to have a drink with her, just the two of them? If there was a reason, it was probably Rosette earning his favor faster than expected today.

Rosette also decided to readily accept his truce, since earning his trust was her first priority, and accepted a wine glass.

Theodore, offering Rosette red wine, poured it into a wide-rimmed glass.

The red wine was a high-grade fruit wine, produced only in the southern region of the Kaysen Empire. Rosette swirled the glass several times, appreciating the aroma, then took a sip.

“Oh…”

She considered herself a connoisseur and had tasted many wines, but she had never experienced anything so fragrant and sweet. As she savored the wine again, a unique light shimmered in her silver eyes. It had the deepest flavor and smoothest finish of any wine she had ever tasted.

Theodore let out a small laugh at her unexpectedly favorable reaction.

“Glad it suits your taste.”

It was the first genuine smile he had shown.

“Yes, it’s very good. This must be a wine found only in the Empire, right?”

“Indeed. It’s so rare that only about twenty bottles are produced a year.”

The wine was even more remarkable than she thought, and Rosette clicked her tongue in regret.

“Your Majesty should try some too.”

“I don’t care much for sweet things.”

He watched her for a while, his gaze like that of an observer, as he drank his strong liquor. Rosette, feeling a surge of tension, casually looked elsewhere and sipped her wine.

It was naturally awkward for them to spend time alone like this. Moreover, the subtly different atmosphere today kept making her feel strange, so she changed the subject.

“About the lord of the Tristan Region we visited today. You should… investigate him.”

Theodore gave her a questioning look, his expression implying he wanted to know why.

“How can he alone be so well-fed in a region suffering from lack of supplies, resources, and famine? It’s as if he’s secretly hidden away food.”

“So, you’re suspicious because he’s a… bulky man?”

“That could be overlooked, but the ring he was wearing on his finger. At first glance, it looked like a common ruby, but it was a red diamond, found only in the Hersia Kingdom. And crafted with the finest techniques.”

“I see.”

“Yes, even I would find it hard to acquire several of those, so how could he possibly have one? It made me very suspicious… Plus, if it hasn’t rained for a year, donations from all over, including the Imperial Palace, should have poured in, yet so many people died. It’s too strange…”

“He’s already been arrested.”

“What?”

“There were suspicious entries in the ledger. And just as the Princess said, he looked too prosperous.”

“Pffft…!”

Rosette accidentally let out a laugh, quickly hid her expression, and then regained her composure.

“Ahem, well, that’s a relief.”

Meanwhile, Theodore’s expression subtly changed as he looked at her, noting her unusual keen eye. He gazed at Rosette’s face as if intrigued, then spoke to her again.

“As I said before, I always honor my deals and rewards. If there’s anything you want in return for today’s work, I’ll give you compensation.”

“That… is part of my promise to help His Majesty…”

“So you don’t need anything?”

“That’s not it.”

“Then? Speak.”

Compensation… compensation. Should she ask for money for her future? Or this unbelievably delicious wine… No. That might compromise her dignity. Theodore found himself unable to tear his eyes away from her as she seriously pondered.

“Then… please expand my range of movement.”

“Expand your range of movement?”

“Yes, whenever I try to go somewhere, the guards block my way… No matter how beautiful the Imperial Palace is, it feels like a prison without bars. I feel like I’ll catch some unknown illness if I live like this throughout my stay in the Empire.”

“So be it. Is that all?”

“For now, yes.”

Theodore easily lifted the restriction on her movement. This could mean he no longer blindly rejected Rosette. It was a small matter to him, but Rosette was deeply moved.

“Things will get a little busy from now on. The princess’s popularity has grown.”

What happened today in the Tristan Region would spread throughout the Empire in an instant. The Emperor’s prestige would also be elevated, as he brought a Saintess from the enemy Hersia Kingdom.

It was a smooth start. Rosette, drinking wine one after another, decided to enjoy this moment. If things continued to go so smoothly, the day she returned to her homeland would not be far off. As the pleasant atmosphere continued, a gentle tipsiness began to creep in.

She was already tired from using her Supernatural Ability, and the wine was surprisingly good, so she had unconsciously emptied half a bottle. Now, dizziness was setting in.

She had toasted with him and received appropriate compensation, so it was time to leave.

“I think I should go now.”

“Very well then.”

As Rosette stood up, she suddenly felt dizzy and swayed.

Her legs seemed to give out, and she almost fell. At the same moment, Theodore snatched her wrist, and she instantly found herself enveloped in his arms.

Their eyes met at close range. This was already their second embrace today.

Theodore’s face was so close that even his breathing felt amplified. An intoxicating, musky scent subtly wafted from his arms, where he held her.