STP 09

Chapter 9

Theodora rested her chin in her hand and stared blankly out the window.

After repeatedly picking up and setting down her teacup for quite some time, she finally seemed to make up her mind and spoke.

“Gentle.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“Um, by any chance…… do you know what His Majesty the Emperor likes?”

“……Hmm. His Majesty?”

At her unexpected question, Gentle fell silent, looking somewhat troubled.

Although she had spent time near Raud when she served in the Imperial Guard, he had rarely ever shown a particular preference or dislike for anything.

“Like, what kind of animals he likes. Or what kind of food he likes…….”

“Hmm, as for animals he likes…….”

Her eyes rolled thoughtfully. As she recalled, Raud seemed to let small animals go when he went hunting.

“Small animals?”

“Small animals? Like rabbits or puppies?”

“I can’t say for certain. But I don’t think he dislikes them.”

It could simply have been a passing whim, but Gentle had also once heard that Raud had raised a squirrel when he was very young.

So perhaps he still liked them. Even if he did not, he probably would not reject one outright.

Wanting to be as helpful to Theodora as possible, Gentle tilted her head and continued.

“What about food?”

“……Hmm.”

Her questions showed no sign of stopping. She really seemed determined to give the Emperor a gift he would like.

Gentle moved her lips for a long moment before finally speaking.

“He often enjoys tea with cinnamon. And surprisingly…….”

“Surprisingly?”

“He likes sweet things.”

“Sweet things?”

Theodora’s eyes widened.

It was hard to believe that a man with such a cold-looking face actually enjoyed sweet foods.

“……It’s a secret, Your Highness. His Majesty does have his dignity to maintain.”

“What’s wrong with liking sweet things?”

Her cheeks flushed faintly. Hearing that he liked sweets made that large, intimidating man seem just a little bit cute to her.

“Um, Your Highness.”

“Yes?”

“If you’re thinking of making the gift yourself…….”

“I am. Why……?”

“Ah, you have received your allowance, haven’t you?”

Gentle was glad she had asked beforehand. She carefully explained the customs of the Rasol Empire, doing her best not to upset Theodora.

“Gifts for the Emperor’s birthday aren’t exchanged privately. They are presented publicly at the celebration. So…….”

“Oh…… I understand what you mean.”

After listening to her explanation, Theodora nodded slightly.

“You mean I need to give him something that looks good in front of other people……?”

“……Yes, exactly.”

Gentle knew it was nothing more than empty formalities, but royal banquets were simply like that, and she could not allow Theodora to become the subject of ridicule because of it.

“Mm-hm. I understand.”

“……Um, Your Highness.”

“Yes?”

“I actually think your idea is better.”

Theodora slowly turned her eyes toward Gentle.

“Making an effort to choose a gift that the birthday person would genuinely like. But unfortunately, in the Imperial Court…….”

“……Yes. Thank you, Gentle.”

She lowered her head slightly and smiled softly.

How could the people of the Rasol Empire be so kind to her?

Despite her blunt-looking exterior, Gentle took remarkably good care of her.

‘Just like His Majesty.’

Theodora unconsciously thought of Raud, then startled herself so badly that her shoulders jerked.

‘What am I thinking? I should just think about what gift to buy.’

Shaking her reddened face from side to side, she headed toward the desk.

“I put it in a pretty pouch.”

Muttering to herself, Theodora opened the drawer beside the desk.

The first gold coins she had ever held had been so beautiful that she had put them in a silk pouch she had embroidered herself.

“Hmm……?”

“Is something wrong?”

“……I’m sure I left it here.”

Her bewildered gaze wandered through the drawer.

She searched through all four drawers attached to the desk. But no matter how thoroughly she looked, the pouch was nowhere to be found.

“Do you mean something has disappeared?”

The startled Gentle approached Theodora.

“You put it inside the drawer?”

“……Mm-hm. I’m certain I put it here. I didn’t take the pouch anywhere else.”

She spoke in a deeply dejected voice.

Theodora accepted the situation almost instinctively. Even when she had lived in the tower, food and belongings she had painstakingly gathered disappearing had never been anything unusual.

But it was different for Gentle.

“……Those people.”

“Hm? What did you say?”

“Ah, nothing, Your Highness. I’ll find it and bring it back to you.”

She ground her teeth.

Theodora had received her allowance for the first time the day before the charity event where the Emperor was injured.

So someone had probably entered while everyone was distracted by the Emperor’s collapse and stolen it.

The culprit was obvious. The palace servants would hardly dare touch a consort’s belongings.

They would lose their heads if they did.

Gentle’s eyes narrowed.

“Do you know who took it?”

“I can’t say for certain, but there are some people I suspect.”

“……‘People’…….”

Theodora slowly repeated Gentle’s word.

Gentle glanced at her. It seemed that, for all her lack of education, Theodora was not incapable of thinking.

“Please don’t worry and wait. I’ll find it quickly…….”

“You won’t be able to find it quickly.”

Theodora quietly murmured while rubbing her fingertips together.

“Even if you’re Gentle, right?”

She turned her head toward Gentle.

“……Your Highness.”

Their eyes met.

Gentle stared at Theodora’s calm expression in surprise.

She was right. If one of the women in the harem had tampered with Theodora’s belongings, there was no way for a mere maid like Gentle to resolve the matter immediately.

Besides, she could not easily report it, not knowing how the ill-tempered Emperor might react.

“Is there anyone in the harem who might be having a difficult time?”

At the careful question, Gentle shook her head with a dark expression.

“……No.”

“Then they’re trying to keep me from preparing His Majesty’s birthday gift.”

Theodora’s eyelashes trembled as she gave an awkward smile.

“……You figured it out.”

“Recognizing malice…… is something that’s very easy for me.”

The excitement that had filled her face only moments before was replaced by a deep shadow.

Theodora thought back to the Kingdom of Selene, where she had lived almost like a prisoner.

Everyone she encountered along the way hated and despised her.

There were occasionally people who looked at her with pity, but even that was merely passive sympathy.

She did not resent them either. They probably could not help it. Just like her, who had been unable to say anything in the face of injustice.

“……Gentle.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“Just…… let it go.”

“Pardon? What do you mean?”

“After all, I’m royalty who can hardly even be called royalty…… It would be difficult for me to choose a wonderful gift like everyone else.”

Her dark eyelashes trembled as she spoke slowly but calmly.

“But, Your Highness.”

“Even if I really did choose a wonderful gift.”

Her sparkling blue eyes slowly turned toward Gentle.

“Would their malice toward me disappear?”

“……Your Highness.”

“If the result will be the same no matter what I do…… I want to choose the gift my way.”

With those final words, Theodora smiled radiantly.

One of Gentle’s eyebrows slowly rose as she met Theodora’s gaze.

She had been a princess of the attic who seemed nothing but frail and timid. Yet Theodora was stronger than she had expected.

It had been the same when she had stepped in front of the Emperor to protect people he was about to punish, and now, too, she was showing a determination far beyond what Gentle had anticipated.

If she had received a proper education, she might have become a remarkable princess, possessing both dignity and charm.

“How fortunate.”

“What is?”

“I’m at least somewhat good at making things with my hands…….”

Her voice trailing off, she gave a bashful little smile.

“I should do my best to prepare something.”

Theodora clenched both fists firmly.

Gentle erased every judgment she had made about Theodora based solely on appearances.

Theodora was already a woman with more than enough charm.

Her courage to step forward for the sake of others, despite appearing so delicate, was one part of it. And even the appearance that might once have been considered a flaw had now completely changed.

The grotesque burn scars that had once covered her face had disappeared, and her delicate features, now revealed by the healthy fullness returning to her face, were as lovely as flower buds just before they bloomed.

“I’ll help with anything I can.”

“Thank you, Gentle.”

For some reason, Gentle felt an urge to cheer her on. Looking at Theodora’s radiant smile, she gently lifted the corners of her own lips into a smile.