"Why are you looking for a cat? I'm right here."Q

"......"

"Me.ow."

He whispered playfully in my ear.

It used to be so cute before, but now, I felt hot and my body stiffened when he did it.

"Y-You said you were a fox."

"I can do whatever Ancia wants."

"You're like a fickle cat."

I purposely said that to hide my embarrassment. Blake bit my earlobe.

"Huh. Wha-what are you doing?!"

"I bit my master."

He smiled softly. His eyes were so captivating that it made my heart beat wildly.

This cat must be aware of how beautiful he is.

He was already beautiful and his beauty was even more enhanced when he got older. What am I going to do with this beautiful man?

He suddenly lowered his eyes.

"Isn't it just me that you're unsatisfied with?"

"Why do you say that?"

Blake alone makes my heart beat wildly. I couldn't even think of other men.

"Don't be nice to others."

"Are you talking about Eunhan? It's just that we finally met after a long time."

"He taught you how to make the tea."

"He taught me because I didn't know how to do it."

"But I still hate it. I'll learn next time. I can learn and teach my wife."

"Why are you thinking like that?"

I laughed in bewilderment. I can just learn it directly from Eunhan, so why should he complicate things?

"You don't want to learn from me?"

"It's not like that, there's just no reason to do that."

"Why none?"

I couldn't understand his absurd logic.

"If I told Sir Jayden that I wanted to learn ocarina, would you learn it first and let him know?"

"Can't I get rid of Jayden before that?"

"What?"

I was surprised by his cold voice and asked back. Did he really mean it?

"You're kidding, aren't you?"

"Yes, but wife, do you really want to learn ocarina?"

"It was just an example."

"Why Jayden?"

"He knows how to play the ocarina."

"Did he say that himself?"

"Huh? Yes."

Jayden is my exclusive escort, so we always went around together and talked about various things.

I nodded thoughtlessly. I hurriedly added when I noticed that Blake's eyes had a grim look in them,

"Anyway, think about it. It'll be a hassle for you to learn it first when I can just learn from them directly. Don't you think so?"

"It's better to get rid of Jayden. I'll get my wife another teacher."

"How did you come to that conclusion?"

"I'm just kidding, of course."

Blake smiled, then he suddenly hugged me tight enough for me to suffocate.

"What's wrong?"

"I need to get rid of the smell from the other man."

"What?"

He was being ridiculous again.

We only stood side by side for a short while, so his scent could not have remained.

It was rather surprising that Blake could smell his scent.

"You're bluffing right?"

"No, I can smell it, so don't go near other men."

Blake held me tightly and didn't let go.

"You're always jealous."

"Did you realize that just now?"

He kissed my cheek. I smiled back and hugged Blake's waist tightly.

***

"Your Highness, you're so beautiful."

Melissa started crying when I put on a yellow dress. Chelsea, who was next to her, handed her a handkerchief.

When we were reunited after seven years, Melissa often cried whenever she saw me. She cried no matter what I did.

Whether I was wearing a new dress, cooking, or changing my hair accessory, everything made her cry.

She reminded me of my late grandmother.

"Melissa, why are you crying again?"

"I love this moment, but I don't know whether this is a dream or not."

"It's not a dream."

I held her hand tightly.

"I'm sorry. I'm so foolish."

"What do you mean? I'm rather grateful to you, but please don't cry too much. If Melissa keeps crying, I'll feel guilty for Hans."

"He'll be fine. Your Highness is more important."

Was it all right to say that?

While I was thinking about it, the servants brought the next dress.

"Is this the last dress?"

"Yes, this is the last dress they prepared for today."

Chelsea replied.

"For today?"

The words caught my ears.

"Yes. Tomorrow, unlike the Ellen boutique, 20 dresses will arrive from the Dahlia boutique."

"What?!"

No, I was only going to choose simple clothes for a tea party, but why are there so many dresses?

After the completion of the renovation of Sephia Palace, I was scheduled to start working as the crown princess.

Everyone told me to rest more, but I had enough rest.

And it became a habit to overwork because of what I experienced as a Korean before.

I've studied everything that happened over the past seven years. Society, trends, newly designated laws, and other affairs.

Blake and Tenstheon tried to hold a big welcome party to celebrate my return, but I refused. There was no reason to throw a party again.

I decided to hold a small tea party to celebrate the reconstruction of Sephia Palace.

However, the situation seemed to be going in a different direction.

After all the servants left, I asked Chelsea.

"Chelsea, the dresses coming tomorrow are the last, right?"

"No, you still have to see a hundred more."

"What? That much?"

It was just a small tea party. This was too much. Looking at my shocked expression, Melissa spoke softly.

"It's because I wanted to do what I wasn't able to do for you before. Don't feel pressured."

"But this is too much."

The dresses I received were already piled up.

If she adds more, I wouldn't be able to wear everything even if I keep changing my clothes.

"Don't be too surprised. His Majesty seemed to have called all the famous chefs on the continent."

"What? Is that true?"

My eyes widened at Chelsea's words.

"Yes. His Highness also ordered that all the famous ocarina performers from all over the world must be called here."

"What?"

Ocarina... it's not because of what I said last night, is it?

"What's wrong with them?"

"Nothing, there's nothing wrong with them."

"Hey, Melissa, Chelsea."

"Yes, Your Highness."

The two answered at the same time.

"At the tea party, why don't we serve the Eastern cuisine?"

"Eastern cuisine?"

"Yes, it's time for the trading ship to reach Chang."

After Eunhan ascended the throne, Tenstheon declared an alliance with Chang.

A few months ago, a ship for official trade between the two empires first sailed.

Of course, before that, we already had a few trades with Chang.

However, it had to go through several empires, including the Ganua Empire, to stock goods from Chang to Asteric.

It was the first time in history that the two empires, Asteric and Chang, traded directly.

If an official sea route opens and trade begins, it will have a positive impact on both empires.

"What do you think? It's nice to celebrate the trade between the two countries, and I think it will be great timing."

In many ways, it was a good way to introduce the culture of the East to the ladies.

I thought it was a good idea, but Melissa and Chelsea looked surprisingly grim.

"What's wrong?"

"We know that you have good intentions, but I'm worried because there have been many rumors regarding Chang these days."

"Rumors?"

Is she saying that the public's opinion of Chang is bad?

I thought I already studied everything that had happened in the empire in the past seven years, but this was the first time I've heard about it.

I asked what was going on, but Melissa hesitated to answer. Seeing that Chelsea couldn't say anything either, I concluded that it was related to me or Blake.

"Chelsea, be honest."

When I spoke firmly, Chelsea hesitated for a moment and spoke.

"...Well, there are rumors that if we start trading with Chang, we will receive the goddess's wrath again and a great disaster will befall the empire."

That was absurd. Ser won't get angry just because we interacted with Chang.

Why on earth did this rumor spread?

Chang and other Eastern countries were uncharted territories to us. There was nothing known because there was little exchange between us, but they were generally favored.

Poetries praising the mysteries of the East were also very popular.

Then the public suddenly turned hostile.

"Since when?"

"It suddenly started spreading in recent months."

A lot has happened in the last few months. The worst among them was...

Many things came to my mind, but if I were to pick one, it was 'that'.

"It must be related to me."

I, whom everyone thought was dead, came back and that's when the strange rumor about the Chang Empire began.

I'm probably involved in that rumor, that's why they couldn't tell me before.

They were worried that my feelings would get hurt.

"I'm sorry."

Melissa and Chelsea lowered their heads. I guess I was right.

Someone is after me and I had a rough idea of who that person might be.