On their way to the queen’s quarters, the lady-in-waiting explained every part of the palace. Rubica really wanted to look around with wide eyes, but she managed not to.

“And as you can see, we’ve decorated that garden with the roses you sent.”

“Oh, it’s so beautiful.”

The garden was small but lovely. Rubica was glad to see it and stopped in front of it to take a closer look, but then a group of ladies approached her.

She had been instructed in advance to step aside only when she met royals, so she just stood there, and they curtsied.

Rubica didn’t feel ignoring them would be right, so she nodded to them. It turned out that was the right signal. The lady-in-waiting introduced her to the ladies.

“This is Duchess Claymore.”

“Oh, we were thinking it might be you since only Claymores wear ribbons on the chest. Nice to meet you.”

She sounded nice, but Rubica didn’t like what she said. Today, Rubica wasn’t wearing a dress with ribbons since those types of dresses were meant for tea meetings.

She was wearing a formal dress that had a few tiny ribbons on the stomacher with gems and embroidery.

“I’m afraid Her Majesty is waiting for me… I hope we will meet again later.”

She decided that talking more wouldn’t do her any good, so she stopped there. Thankfully her opponent bought it and stepped back with a thin smile.

‘She doesn’t like me.’

Of course. Rubica had met only nice people until now, and it had been a great fortune. No one could always be liked by everyone.

However, she couldn’t help but care about the reason that the lady pointed out her ribbons to express her hatred for her. She wondered what to do about it, but then she arrived at the queen’s quarters.

“I will tell Her Majesty about your arrival. Please wait here.”

Rubica sat in an elegant room that had a huge window overlooking the garden and soon she could hear an elegant laughter.

The queen came with about four ladies-in-waiting. She looked quite reserved and kind, and it was hard to believe she was a moody woman.

However, her grey hair that had a huge diamond tiara on it indicated she did like to show off.

“Your Majesty.”

“Oh, you don’t have to stand up. I know you are not in good condition. Please, sit.”

Thankfully, the queen wasn’t frowning at all, and Rubica sat down as she wanted.

“I saw the garden of roses on my way here. It was so pretty that I lost track of time looking at it.”

“Oh, it’s all thanks to the roses you sent me.”

The queen laughed, feeling quite good.

“As you cannot walk for long, I think it would be better to talk here than to go to the inner chambers.”

“Thank you.”

In less than a minute, refreshments were on the table. They already knew about Rubica’s taste and she got tea instead of coffee. A maid poured hot water into a tea kettle.

“Oh, I see you have a visitor.”

But then, they heard an old man’s voice and everyone stood up, including the queen. Rubica also followed their example.

‘It’s… the king.’

She could immediately recognize who he was. He was short and had black circles under his eyes, which made him look like a fox. Maybe Edgar called him a sly fox not just because of his personality but also because of his appearance.

“And this lady is…?”

“Duchess Claymore.”

“Oh, at last, I can see you. I asked Edgar to introduce me to you so many times, but he just wouldn’t. My, what a coincidence.”

He stressed the word ‘coincidence’ and laughed, but this encounter couldn’t be a coincidence. Rubica remembered how Edgar had told her to run away if the king showed up like this.

However, she couldn’t run away now. She just smiled awkwardly and hoped the king would leave soon.

“My king, then you should join us in this conversation.”

“Oh, yes.”

The king agreed with the queen and sat down. The ladies-in-waiting had disappeared already. Too late, Rubica realized she had been trapped. What was the king about to say? Her palms started to get sweaty.

“Oh, I see you are nervous.”

“Of course she is, this is her first audience.”

The queen said as she poured out some well-brewed tea but, when the king saw that, he frowned.

“It’s not coffee. I know Edgar likes it, but I hate this tea.”

“Didn’t you say it tasted quite good with milk and sugar, just like how Duchess Claymore drinks it?”

“Yes, I did.”

Rubica didn’t know why they were saying that, which made her really nervous. For now, she decided to keep her mouth shut as much as possible and see where this conversation would go, just as Edgar had told her to.

“Tea meetings have become quite popular lately, now they’re even having it here at the capital.”

“It’s because anyone can easily host it only with tea and some cookies. It doesn’t require much preparation like balls. Nothing can be more pleasant than sharing drinks and treats while having a delightful conversation with good friends.”

“Can be easily hosted with just tea and some cookies’? Considering what tea costs these days… my dear Marie, I’m afraid people will be mad if you say so in public.”

The queen frowned, just like how Edgar had described. However, the king leisurely had a sip of her milk tea and complimented how she was getting better and better at making it.

“I was wondering why you came so early, as you almost never come during this time of the day, but now I see you came with a purpose.”

It looked like the trap Rubica was in now hadn’t been set by the two of them but by the king alone.

“Haha.”

“I just don’t understand why you keep trying to drag policy into meetings for ladies’ friendship. No wonder why everyone is so eager to refuse my invitation.”

The queen protested while the king winked. Rubica had this feeling that each wrinkle made by the movements of his eye muscles was the product of his many years of being a trickery king.

“I’m just so afraid of the protector next to the duchess.”

The queen just snorted and stood up.

“Rubica, could you handle that bothering old man for me?”

“I beg your pardon?”

“I should go to take a walk in the garden.”

Then she left the room, just like that. Was it because she was a moody woman, just like what people spoke of her, or because she wanted to let her husband have a conversation with Rubica in private? Rubica just couldn’t tell.

“Well, Rubica…”

Rubica could no longer follow Edgar’s advice and keep her mouth shut. She tried to hide her anxiety and said, “Yes, Your Majesty?” The king seemed even slier than most foxes.

“I am not in trouble because of you. Really, there isn’t much even the king can do when such a thing becomes popular. Of course, I can prohibit it entirely, but the person who made it so popular happens to be my favorite liege’s wife.”

“Is it… entirely about the price of tea?”

The king nodded, which relieved Rubica. It seemed like convincing him shouldn’t be too difficult.

‘He does not seem to be so stubborn.’

She took one of the gift boxes she had prepared for the queen. She had meant to present it when she got the chance, but she hadn’t been able to.

“Your Majesty, please take a look at this.”

“This is…?”

“It’s tea.”

The box was full of something that was both familiar and unfamiliar. The king was quite surprised to see green tea leaves. Rubica explained tea leaves were originally green but changed color during the long journey.

“Then, where did you get these?”

“Ios gave them to me. It appears tea only grows in dragons’ territories.”

The king’s eyes glistened dangerously. It looked even weirder with the dark circles around his eyes. Rubica could also sense that he wanted Ios’s Golden Land.

Of course, he was eager for it. He had tried to take the place by having Edgar make Stella, so Rubica feared she might not be able to convince the skilled man of politics.

“I can convince Ios to give us tea. It will stabilize the domestic price of tea, and we will be able to gain huge profits through trade with other kingdoms.”

“And, how did you meet the Golden Dragon?”

The king crossed his arms and asked.

“He came looking for me because of roses.”

“Roses?”

The king laughed when thinking that the flowers were now gaining the kingdom more than most of its new weapons. However, he still stayed defensive.