Chelsea entered my room while I was reading a book.

"Your Highness, His Majesty wants to see you."

"Father?"

What's going on this late at night? He doesn't usually call me in the evening. Did something happen?

Maybe he caught Richard.

Richard was being pursued across the country for the attempted poisoning of the crown prince and for the murder of the Marquis of Westin.

Richard did not leave trails, but he was eventually found after failing to avoid the search by the imperial knights.

The knights surrounded Richard, but he threw himself into the river just before his arrest.

And he was not found yet.

Most people guessed that Richard was dead.

It would've been hard to survive the fall when the river's current was strong so the reason they could not find Richard after that day was because he was already dead.

But I didn't think so.

Richard wasn't that easy. Besides, his body is yet to be found, the same goes for his black mages.

He must be alive somewhere.

Tenstheon and Blake thought the same thing, as they kept looking for Richard.

Because of that, the idea that he might've caught Richard soon disappeared from my mind.

Tenstheon called me to the greenhouse.

If he had found out where Richard was, he would've asked me to come to the office.

He invited me to the greenhouse in the evening. The more I thought about it, the more I wondered, but I couldn't guess the reason at all.

Well, I'll find out when I get there. I'll just go to the greenhouse for now.

A man was standing there, but it wasn't Tenstheon.

My eyes widened the moment I saw the man with long black hair, wearing a neat and elegant black coat.

"Eunhan!"

He was taller than before, but I still recognized him at once.

Although his appearance has matured, it was not that different from the past. He was exuding a graceful aura.

When I called his name, Eunhan bowed politely.

He lowered his head.

"I greet the Crown Princess, the blessing of the empire."

I shook my hand in surprise.

"You don't need to be so polite. You are now the emperor of Chang Empire."

Eunhan became the emperor of the Chang Empire.

Many princes targeted him, but they all failed and he was safely crowned as the emperor.

In the original story, the empire fell to ruin because of war and the aftermath affected even the Asteric Empire.

However, Eunhan, who was chosen by the heavenly dragon, safely ascended to the throne so their empire was now peaceful.

According to Collin, Tenstheon also helped him a lot to ascend the throne.

"I can't do that. You're my master's daughter."

Eunhan still respected Tenstheon even when he became an emperor, but that didn't mean he must treat me like this.

"It's because it feels uncomfortable. Just call me Ancia."

"Alright, I will. Ancia."

As I repeatedly asked him to do so, Eunhan did what I asked.

Eunhan spoke.

"I came to see my master and heard from him that you have returned. I should have visited and congratulated you earlier, I'm sorry."

"No, I know you're busy, but thank you for saying that."

"I'm ashamed of not being able to help you when you were having a hard time."

"Don't say that. I know you tried to find me. Thank you very much."

When I went missing, Tenstheon asked Eunhan for help, and he reportedly searched for me in the east.

He fought fiercely with his half-brothers to become the emperor, and he must've been busy after he ascended to the throne, yet he still spared time to

search for me.

"Of course, it's something I must do."

He answered politely.

"How is Baekhan doing?"

"Good, he was very pleased to hear that Ancia had returned."

"Did you tell him the news already?"

Eunhan must've heard of it today, did he already tell Baekhan in Chang?

"Yes, he was so happy to hear that you've returned."

He smiled. He's still getting along well with Baekhan.

"Thanks to Baekhan, I was able to come back safely. Please send him my gratitude."

If it weren't for the bracelet given by Baekhan, I would've already lost my life at the door of darkness. I wouldn't have been able to make it back.

"Were you in danger?"

Eunhan was worried. I shook my head in a hurry. I didn't want to worry him because it was already in the past.

"No, it's not like that, but I got help from him. That's why I really want to thank him."

"Yes, I'll make sure to tell him, and when I get the chance, I'll bring him with me the next time I visit."

Even after Eunhan ascended the throne, there were many of his half-brothers who couldn't abandon their ambitions and seek his position.

It would be dangerous for Eunhan and Baekhan to leave Chang at the same time.

"Yes, I look forward to that day."

I smiled brightly.

"And please accept this."

Eunhan gave me a black, wooden box.

"What is this?"

"It's a jewel that shines in the dark."

I opened the box. It contained a jewel that looked like the tears of light. The jewel had a mysterious and subtle glow in it.

"It's very beautiful."

"Congratulations again on your safe return."

"Thank you. I will cherish it."

I didn't refuse and accepted the present. Perhaps Eunhan went back to Chang to prepare a present after he heard I returned.

No matter how powerful they are, it will never be easy to travel a long distance from the West to the East continuously.

It was a burdensome and precious gift, but I couldn't refuse it knowing his sincerity.

"Also, this is a gift from Baekhan."

He handed me a silk packet. I opened the packet. There were two items in it.

"Look inside."

"Yes."

I looked inside as Eunhan said. They were well-dried tea leaves and seeds.

They were similar to the tea leaves I saw in Korea. When I looked at it curiously, trying to know what type they are, Eunhan spoke.

"Taekri tea."

Taekri tea. The name was very familiar. When did I hear about it?

Oh, I remember!

"Huh, it's a pity you don't know the taste of the tea. If Eunhan becomes the emperor, I will send it to you."

It was a tea that was drunk every day by the Chang Imperial Family. Baekhan promised to give it to me when Eunhan became the emperor. He kept his promise.

"Thank you. I can finally taste the tea that Baekhan talked about."

"I'm glad you like it."

"Of course, because it's a gift. Please send my thanks to Baekhan."

"Yes, I'll keep that in mind."

He smiled brightly. He had a fond expression on his face. Did thinking about Baekhan make him happy?

My heart was touched by their friendship.

Anyway, how do I drink this?

Eunhan spoke gently.

"Do you want me to teach you?"

"Really? It's an honor to learn from the Emperor of Chang."

I smiled brightly.

***

"Wife, I'm back."

Blake hugged me as soon as he entered the room.

We only got separated for a few hours, but it felt like I'm greeting my husband who just came back from working all day.

"Welcome back."

I hugged him as usual and patted his soft hair. Blake's expression suddenly hardened.

"What's wrong?"

"Did that man come?"

"Huh?"

"Eunhan, I mean."

"How did you know?"

I was frightened. How did he know that?

"There's a fishy smell."

He spat out cynically.

Eunhan always had the smell of water because he was chosen by the heavenly dragon, but it was never a fishy smell.

"Isn't that a little different?"

"Well–what's that scent coming from the packet?"

Blake changed the subject blatantly. I guess the two still haven't gotten close.

I think they can become good friends, so I don't know why Blake is being like this.

"It's the scent of Taekri tea."

"Taek...?"

Perhaps because it was an unfamiliar word, Blake was unsure of it.

"Taek. Ri. Tea. Baekhan sent it as a gift."

"A gift from Baekhan huh?"

Blake's expression eased up when he heard of Baekhan. Fortunately, unlike Eunhan, he gets along well with Baekhan.

"They drink this tea every day in Chang. Originally, it was only the imperial family and nobles who could enjoy it, but after Eunhan ascended the throne, he started distributing it to the citizens because it doesn't only have a good smell, it's also good for their health."

"Hmm, I see."

"Eunhan also taught me how to make it."

"Just earlier...?"

"Yes! Drink it. It's really good."

I poured the tea from the kettle to the cup and gave it to Blake. I boiled it in advance to give to him when he came back.

Blake glanced down at the teacup. Maybe he was skeptical because it was a foreign drink.

"It's delicious. It's quite bitter, but it has a nice flavor."

When I recommended it again, he drank the tea reluctantly.

"How is it?"

"Not bad."

His face remained stiff when he spoke. Was the tea that bad? I thought Blake would like it.

"Baekhan also gave me some seeds. I'm going to plant them in the greenhouse tomorrow. Shall we plant together?"

"Yes. Let's do that."

Blake's expression finally eased a little.

"But where did the cat go?"

"What about the cat?"

"The thought just came to mind."

I was curious when I first came back to Amoria Palace. Melissa said that after I left for the door of darkness, there was never a cat in sight.

Since it was a cat that originally had an owner, I thought that maybe it went back to its owner, but when I met Eunhan, I suddenly realized something.

"The cat looks a bit similar to Eunhan, doesn't it?"

"I don't think so. It doesn't look like him at all."

Blake denied strongly.

"Is that so?"

"The cat returned to its owner."

"Really? Did you find the owner?"

"Yes, it was a palace mage, but he took it with him when he retired. His hometown is very far from here."

"That's a relief."

I thought it would've gone back to its owner, but I was also worried that it might've gone through something bad. Now that I know that the cat is with its owner, I was relieved.

"Meow."

However, as soon as I was relieved, Blake suddenly made a cat sound.

"Blake, what are you doing?"