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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 45
Chapter Title: Kish Tree Leaves and Honey
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[Chirp!]
Before long, Pipi wagged its tail feathers. A faint scent of medicinal herbs wafted from the bird as it flew over and perched on Rosette's shoulder.
“Did you find them all?”
[Chirp!]
“Good, you did well.”
Rosette placed the leaves Pipi had picked out into a small nearby bag before closing the lid of the tin case.
She put the tin case Joshua had taken out back into the display cabinet.
“Let’s go, then.”
Rosette followed Joshua back the way they came, returning to the drawing room. On the way, Joshua whispered quietly again.
“If Her Majesty asks what you saw, just say you looked at the library. There are plenty of books you’d know, so just make up a title.”
“Yes.”
“Go on in first.”
As the two entered the drawing room, Ophelia, who had been chatting warmly with Isabelle, smiled brightly.
“Rosette, did you have a fun time looking around?”
“Yes!”
“What did you see?”
“I saw the library.”
“The library?”
“Yes!”
Rosette smiled brightly as she sat down in her chair.
She had worried Ophelia might ask, ‘What did you see there?’ but thankfully, she didn’t press for details. Instead, she asked something else.
“It seems you like books.”
“Yes! I love them!”
“Then would you like to come visit often and read with me?”
“May I really?”
“Rosette.”
Isabelle called out reproachfully at Rosette’s naive question. She had even used ‘Rosette,’ not ‘Rose.’
Rosette tensed up.
‘Did I do something wrong?’
As she pressed her lips together and glanced around nervously, Isabelle spoke to Ophelia.
“I know the Empress’s library has more books than anywhere else, but we cannot take up Your Majesty’s time.”
“Take up my time? Not at all. I would be delighted if you came to spend time with me. Wouldn’t you agree, Rosette?”
“Me too!”
Rosette, who had cried out brightly without thinking, lowered her voice when she saw Isabelle’s stern expression.
“I would like to, but…”
“Then isn’t that settled?”
Just then, Joshua, who had been waiting quietly, tapped Rosette’s foot under the table. It was a signal to forget the library and hurry up with their plan.
Startled for a moment, Rosette quickly understood his meaning and mumbled.
“But, Your Majesty. I’d like to have some tea, too.”
“Tea?”
Ophelia asked with a smile.
“Rosette.”
Isabelle called her name again.
‘I know this isn’t polite, sister.’
But this was the only way to find a clue about the poisoning. Rosette mumbled, biting the bullet.
“Yes, tea.”
“This one has caffeine, but would you still like to try it?”
Rosette watched Ophelia pick up the teapot and muttered.
“I want to choose a new tea. Myself.”
Isabelle pressed a hand to her forehead, but Ophelia showed no sign of displeasure.
“Is that so? Then what kind of tea would be good?”
Joshua, who had been listening quietly, interjected.
“The Young Lady has been having trouble sleeping lately.”
*Me?* Rosette’s eyes widened.
Isabelle also asked, looking puzzled.
“Is that true, Rose?”
“No, I mean…”
Rosette saw Joshua’s expression and nodded.
“Yes.”
“It must be growing pains. That’s common at your age. As it happens, I’ve also been having trouble sleeping, so I have a few teas that are good for a deep sleep.”
Ophelia gave an order to a lady-in-waiting.
Soon, the lady-in-waiting returned with five tin cases. Among them was the problematic navy-blue tin case she and Joshua had seen earlier.
Ophelia opened the lids herself and offered them to Rosette.
“Smell them. I hope you find a scent you like.”
After exchanging a look with Joshua, Rosette chose the navy-blue tin case.
“I’ll have this one. The sweet scent makes me feel good.”
“Really? It’s a tea I’m quite fond of myself.”
Joshua interjected again.
“I’ve never seen this tea before. Was it a gift?”
“Yes. It was a gift from Gritta.”
“Gritta? Isn’t she the lady-in-waiting who arrived recently?”
“Oh, you know her. Though ‘recently’ isn’t quite right; it’s already been half a year.”
“I see.”
Joshua smiled meaningfully.
“Then I suppose this lady-in-waiting named Gritta would know how to brew it best. Why don’t we ask her?”
“Shall we?”
Ophelia rang a bell. A moment later, Gritta entered the room.
“You called for me, Your Majesty.”
As she curtsied, her eyes fell on the navy-blue tin case on the table, and she flinched.
She quickly composed her expression, but Rosette, who was watching her closely, realized.
‘That woman is the accomplice.’
It seemed Joshua had made such an absurd request of Rosette to confirm this very thing.
“Could you brew this tea for us?”
“This tea?”
“Yes. The Young Lady says she’s been having trouble sleeping, perhaps due to growing pains.”
“I… I understand.”
Gritta answered with some reluctance and began to prepare the tea. Rosette had a good idea of what was going through her mind.
‘She must be feeling uneasy about serving it to me, but relieved that I haven’t added honey.’
But Joshua’s plan didn’t end there. He gestured to Gritta with his chin.
“You sit down as well.”
“What? Me?”
“Yes. You can join us for tea and explain what kind it is.”
“How could I possibly…”
Gritta was flustered, but Ophelia welcomed Joshua’s suggestion.
“Yes, please do. It’s a good opportunity to get acquainted with the young ladies.”
Unable to refuse Ophelia’s words, Gritta brought a chair and sat between Isabelle and Rosette.
“Then, if you’ll excuse me, Your Majesty.”
Ophelia smiled and introduced Gritta to the three children.
“This is my lady-in-waiting, Gritta. Come to think of it, she’s quite young. You’re twenty this year, weren’t you?”
“That is correct, Your Majesty.”
“When the two young ladies make their debut in society, I trust you’ll take good care of them.”
“Yes. The honor would be all mine.”
Gritta conversed dutifully as she began to brew the tea. She placed the problematic tea leaves into a large teapot—enough for five people—and poured hot water over them.
“It should be steeped for about three minutes. You can let it steep longer, too. This tea doesn’t become bitter even if you steep it for a long time.”
“I see.”
Joshua, who had been listening quietly, suddenly gave an order to a servant waiting behind him.
“Bring some honey before we drink.”
Gritta reacted before the servant could.
“H-Honey? Why honey all of a sudden…?”
Rosette answered her question.
“Because I like sweet things. I want to drink it sweet.”
“In that case, how about some sugar? This is a rare sugar procured from the southern part of the empire.”
“I don’t want that. Give me honey.”
Joshua was firm.
In the short time the servant was gone to fetch the honey, Gritta couldn’t sit still.
By then, Ophelia sensed something was amiss and asked.
“Gritta, what’s wrong? Is there a problem?”
“No, Your Majesty. I’m just not feeling well.”
“Oh dear. It seems I called you for nothing. Why don’t you go and rest?”
Gritta looked at Rosette and swallowed dryly.
“No, it’s alright. I will stay here.”
Just then, the servant returned with the honey. Gritta, her face now noticeably paler, asked Rosette again.
“Um, Young Lady. Are you sure you wouldn’t prefer sugar? People usually put sugar in tea, not honey.”
“I like honey.”
“I… I see.”
When Isabelle, and even Ophelia, began to look at her strangely, Gritta had no choice but to spoon some honey into Rosette’s teacup. Then, she placed a strainer over the cup and poured the tea.
The leaves were caught by the strainer, leaving only the tea in the cup. The liquid was a soft yellow, like a full moon.
Rosette carefully stirred the tea with a teaspoon, mixing in the honey. Then she turned her head slightly to glance at Joshua.
His face was hard as he watched Gritta’s reaction.
‘I wonder how Gritta will react.’
Not everyone who consumes Kish tree leaves and honey together will die.
But Rosette was still a small child. The chances of something bad happening were high. Even if she didn’t die, there would be lasting effects.
‘I think I know why the Prince is doing this.’
He’s testing Gritta’s conscience.
Circumstantial evidence pointed to Gritta being a spy in the Empress’s Palace. Joshua wanted to see if Gritta would stop eight-year-old Rosette from drinking a tea that could potentially kill her.
‘Though I doubt someone who tried to kill the Empress would suddenly grow a conscience…’
Half-believing, half-doubting, Rosette lifted the teacup. By her ear, Pipi chirped anxiously.
[Chiiirp… Chiiirp.]
Rosette, do you really have to drink that? What if I didn’t manage to remove all the Kish tree leaves?
[Chirp…!]
Rosette, don’t drink it!
‘It’s okay, Pipi. I trust you. And besides…’
The Prince won’t let anything happen.
I’m sure of it.
Rosette mustered her courage and brought the teacup to her lips.
“Wait.”
Joshua pressed down firmly on Rosette’s hand, forcing the teacup down. It clattered harshly against the saucer.
“Before that, I’d like to hear your opinion on the taste. Why don’t you drink it first?”
Hearing his words, Gritta trembled.
“M-Me?”
“Yes. It’s the tea you gifted, after all.”
“I’m fine…”
Gritta looked around, her face pleading for help.
‘She might not die from drinking it, but she’s clearly reluctant.’
Rosette hardened her gaze and glared at Gritta.
‘She didn’t do anything, even when I was about to drink it.’
Rosette had wondered if Gritta might be in a situation similar to her own past.
She thought perhaps someone was forcing her to do this.
But to not stop a young child like her from drinking it…
In Rosette’s mind, Gritta was now branded as a wicked person.
“What are you doing? His Highness the Prince is personally making a request.”
Isabelle, having grasped the situation, crossed her arms with a frosty expression. Ophelia also seemed to sense something was wrong and said nothing.
Joshua took matters into his own hands. He carelessly poured tea into a cup without a strainer, then added a large dollop of honey and stirred it roughly.
“Drink.”
It was a full-blown command now.
“I…”
“I said, drink.”
Joshua smirked.
“Is there some reason you can’t?”
