Chapter 100

Aristine slowly blinked her eyes.

Tarkan slightly lifted his head, and their eyes met.

In the brilliant morning sunlight, everything seemed to awaken, stretching and invigorating. Only the bed, hidden behind the curtains, seemed to retain the deep night's atmosphere.

This narrow bed felt like the entire world.

A world where only the two of them existed.

Aristine thought her breath was hot.

The hot breath touching her lips was making her feel parched.

But then she realized it was Tarkan's breath.

No, her breath was also hot.

Otherwise, her stomach wouldn't feel like it was on fire.

His breath, bursting from his lips, heated her lips, and her breath, escaping from her lips, heated his.

Their heat seemed to devour each other.

In that intense heat, no thoughts could form.

Tarkan lowered his head a bit more. Their noses touched.

Just as their lips were about to meet.

"Ah!"

A startled exclamation pierced their ears.

Aristine, startled as if released from a spell, looked toward the source of the sound.

At the bedroom door, the palace attendants were covering their mouths, trying to sneak away quietly.

When their eyes met, the attendants awkwardly smiled.

"Please, don't mind us and continue what you were doing."

"Hehe, it's really... in the morning..."

"Ah, I see why you were choosing ribbons last night, hehe!"

The attendants, giggling and fidgeting, straightened up when they met Tarkan's gaze.

His eyes seemed capable of murder.

The attendants, bowing their heads, slowly backed away, trying to leave the bedroom.

In fact, before entering, they had listened at the door but heard nothing, thinking both were still asleep.

They had opened the door with ease, not expecting to witness such a scene.

'Come to think of it, words aren't necessary.'

'Actions are what matter.'

While they were having this belated realization, Aristine pushed Tarkan, who was lying on top of her, and got out of bed.

She untied the ribbon around her body and called out to the attendants who were about to close the door.

"What's going on?"

Aristine and Tarkan were usually not to be disturbed when together in the bedroom.

There must be a reason for them to open the door now.

The attendants, unable to fully close or reopen the door, hesitated and replied.

"Ah, well... Lord Umiru has arrived."

"Can't Lord Umiru wait until later?"

"Lord Umiru would probably want that too."

The attendants spoke without realizing what they were saying.

Their sense of duty to not disturb the two from their morning exercise (?) had clouded their judgment.

"What do you mean?"

Aristine frowned and walked toward the attendants.

The person who had ordered Umiru to be summoned as soon as possible was Aristine herself.

It was an urgent matter, and she had also instructed that Umiru be woken if he arrived before she did.

Tarkan, left alone in the bed, frowned in dissatisfaction but soon gave up and got up.

He approached Aristine and draped a thick robe over her nightgown.

He was worried that the cool autumn breeze might make his delicate wife fall ill.

Tarkan smoothed out Aristine's hair, which had been caught inside the robe, letting it fall outside.

Each time her silver hair rustled between his fingers, her white neck would appear and disappear.

The scene seemed intimate and private, making the attendants blush and look away.

Indeed, it was a scene one might expect in a bedroom.

Aristine fastened the robe and approached the attendants.

"Where is Lord Umiru?"

"He is waiting in the Coral Room."

"Let's go there."

Aristine started to walk but turned to Tarkan.

"See you tonight. And please take care of what I asked you to do last night."

Last night, Aristine had asked Tarkan to look into Nefter's health condition and other matters.

Tarkan, who had planned to go with Aristine to see Umiru, frowned but soon nodded.

He had a lot of work to catch up on.

It was autumn, and he needed to prepare the Masu Plain before winter.

To spend the evening with Aristine, he needed to work efficiently during the day.

"Don't tolerate Umiru's advances."

Aristine laughed.

"What would Lord Umiru advance on me?"

Tarkan raised an eyebrow at her dismissive attitude but didn't say more.

'Possessiveness.'

That word floated in his mind.

'But she's so beautiful, it's hard not to be possessive.'

Tarkan didn't feel embarrassed by this thought.

To still think such thoughts after seeing her face in the morning, puffy from sleep, showed how deeply he was infatuated.

* * *

Umiru, sitting in the reception room decorated with coral, smiled at Aristine.

"Feeling good to hear that you were waiting for me this morning. You were looking for me since last night, right?"

He kissed her hand as usual.

"Sorry to bother you so early. Are you free?"

"Of course, when the Second Princess calls, I am free."

After a strong cup of tea was served, Aristine dismissed all the attendants.

Umiru's playful expression turned serious.

"Lord Umiru, I have a favor to ask. And I hope you can keep what I say confidential."

"My lips move only when I kiss the hand of a noble lady."

His words were smooth.

Aristine chuckled and then grew serious.

She began to earnestly discuss the matters she had thought about last night, which she wanted Umiru's help with.

Umiru listened without interrupting.

"...So, I would like you to recruit one of the Emperor's palace attendants."

At Aristine's request, Umiru crossed his legs and placed his clasped hands on his knee.

"Hmm, that's a bit difficult."

Aristine thought, 'As expected.'

It was a difficult request, not just for Umiru but for any doctor.

Umiru smiled.

"Most people would think it's impossible, but I am not just anyone. I am a great talent."

He placed his hand on his chest confidently.

"If anyone else had asked, I would have refused outright, but I owe a debt to the Second Princess. Not just me, but the entire medical community."

Though it seemed grand, Aristine accepted it and expressed her gratitude.

"Thank you, Lord Umiru."

"Words only?"

Umiru winked playfully.

"Of course, I will reward you."

Aristine emphasized and added,

"I have a lot of money."

Her words revealed a sense of pride in her wealth.

Umiru chuckled.

"Money is good, of course."

But he was more interested in something else.

Umiru, feigning formality, extended his hand to Aristine.

"Second Princess, would you be my partner?"

"Partner?"

"Prince Hamir has returned. A welcome party is planned."

Aristine paused.

"Prince Hamir has returned? When?"

She had heard nothing about it.

With Hamir's return, the dinner incident would likely become more tense.

"I don't know the exact date, but it's been a while. The official announcement was made with the party invitations."

Umiru shrugged.

"Since he hasn't participated in any state affairs since his return, only his close associates know the exact date. There have been many sightings of Prince Hamir in the palace, so it wasn't a secret."

Aristine was shocked by the cultural difference.

"In Ailugo, the heir to the throne... the first in line, can return from a long absence without any formal ceremony?"

In Silvanus, a formal ceremony would be held upon return.

She had expected the incident to occur within 1-2 weeks based on the weather, and the lack of news about Hamir's return had made her feel a bit relieved.

The weather could change and become warmer.

Even a 1-2 degree difference could significantly affect nature.

But Hamir was already in the palace.

It wouldn't be strange for the royal family to have a formal dinner together soon.

"Not necessarily. If it's not a significant achievement, it can be skipped. This time, if the Empress hadn't organized it, there wouldn't have been a welcome party."

Probably to show Hamir's strength and solidify his political influence.

"...When is the party?"

"In four days."

Aristine looked out the window, gauging the passage of time.

Though she felt guilty about rejecting Umiru's request, she couldn't afford to waste time before the formal dinner.

"Hmm, can we postpone it? I'll be very busy for the next two weeks."

"Hmm, if we postpone, I'd like to be compensated."

Umiru sipped his tea and leaned to one side.

"Of course."

"Then, let's add interest, and you can go on a date with me."

Aristine, surprised by the unexpected request, blinked.

"Sure. Just us girls."

Umiru, grinning mischievously, seemed playful.

Aristine looked at her silently.

"Umiru."

Aristine's fingers traced the silver rim of the teacup.

"Are we friends?"

Umiru blinked.

Then, she smiled beautifully and extended her hand to Aristine.

"It would be an infinite honor if the Second Princess considers me a friend."

"Isn't that too formal?"

"Because you are my superior."

Umiru smiled softly.

"But that doesn't mean we can't be friends."

Aristine, looking at Umiru, slowly nodded.

"You're right."

Thinking about it, the same applied to Mukali.

Even in a hierarchical relationship, they could become friends through shared experiences.

Relationships can start in unexpected ways.

Aristine felt this was a blessing.

The infinite possibilities of chance made her feel a bit overwhelmed.

Aristine would meet many people and form various relationships with them.

"And the Second Princess asked me for a favor, not an order. I am helping as a friend."

The two women, holding hands, smiled at each other.

Aristine's heart raced.

It was good to have a new friend, but more importantly, Umiru's help would ease her worries about Nefter.

But she couldn't relax yet.

'I can't be complacent. I need to take things step by step.'

At that moment, a gentle knock came at the door.

"Lord Umiru, someone is looking for you. They said if you disappeared to the bathroom, what would they do..."

The attendant, not wanting to disturb Aristine, but unable to ignore the doctor from the ward who had been crying for 30 minutes, spoke.

"At the perfect moment..."

Umiru, clicking her tongue, said to Aristine.

"I have to go now."

"Sure, you're always busy. Go quickly. Thank you for coming."

"It's my pleasure."

Umiru smiled and left.

Before the door closed, a cry of "Lord Umiru!" was heard.

'I feel a bit guilty.'

Aristine scratched her head.

Anyway, with Umiru's cooperation, she had resolved her biggest concern, and she remembered something she had put aside.

Tarkan.

Since leaving the bedroom, he hadn't left her mind.

In the past, being close to him didn't affect her, but recently, it felt strange.

Every time they touched, her body felt uncomfortable.

Thinking about the subtle feeling from the morning and the scenes she had seen in the mirror, she remembered lying on top of Tarkan, looking into his eyes.

Even though she was deeply saddened by Nefter's condition, how could she do such a thing?

When she woke up this morning, her hand was clutching his chest.

It wasn't her will; it was her hand.

Now, it felt natural and familiar.

'No, why am I always touching Tarkan! And why do I remember the feeling!'

It wasn't her mind but her hand that remembered. Aristine slapped her hand.

After a while, she shook her head.

This wasn't the time.

'First, I need to investigate what kind of poison it is.'

Aristine stood in front of the mirror, smoothing her dress.

It wasn't to remove wrinkles but to prepare herself mentally.

Aristine quickly reviewed her plan for the day in her mind.

Various scenarios and their corresponding responses, divided into detailed cases.

Though a perfect response was impossible, she would do her best.

She had even put aside her important work with the scalpel and steel business to focus on this.

* * *

"Shall we go?"

"Sure."

Aristine nodded in response to Tarkan's question.

She firmly held his outstretched arm.

Today was the day.

The day when the royal family gathered for a formal lunch.

The day, as seen through the imperial eye, when Nefter would meet his end.

Forget being a wife, I need to earn some money.