"Excuse me for a moment. It seems my attendant has something to tell me."
As Alexian rose from his seat, following the Duke of Ignis and Ria, the atmosphere in the dining room became strangely awkward.
Alexian walked away with a calm, indifferent air, as if he didn't care. He turned toward the hallway, pretending to look for his attendant. However, his true objective was Ria, who had left the table just moments before.
It didn't take long for Alexian to find Ria, who was deep in conversation with the Duke of Ignis.
After a brief exchange, the Duke turned and disappeared toward the end of the hallway, but Ria remained where she stood, lost in thought.
"Ahem, ahem!"
Alexian cleared his throat intentionally to make his presence known.
Ria looked up, startled.
"I greet the Crown Prince."
Ria curtsied, offering a formal bow.
Seeing how naturally she moved, as if the etiquette had already become second nature to her, Alexian couldn't help but smile.
"What's the matter?"
"Oh, it's nothing."
Ria bowed her head quickly as she spoke, but Alexian stepped closer, tilting his head.
"I know it's rude, but I happened to overhear."
When Ria wore a troubled expression, Alexian smiled gently.
"I told you. I want to help."
Those words of his stirred something in Ria, who had wanted to trust him.
"I was just worried because Grandfather left his meal unfinished."
"Now that you mention it, the Duke's estate has always held a grand banquet around this time of year."
Alexian gave an abrupt response to Ria's words.
A birthday banquet.
Eleanor had told her that since Ria was the Duke's gift to himself, she didn't need to prepare a separate one. But Ria still couldn't bring herself to just sit idly by.
"I should think about what would make a good gift. Ria, do you have any good ideas you could recommend to me?"
"Well. I'm not sure what would be good..."
To go from talking about the Duke's health to suddenly discussing the birthday banquet.
Ria, who had been answering with a smile, suddenly paused as if something had occurred to her.
The Duke's health, the gift to prepare for the birthday banquet...
A gift for the Duke, whose stomach was unwell?
"Your Highness, I apologize. Please excuse me."
Seeing her scurry away toward the end of the hallway as if she had realized something, a small smile appeared on Alexian's face.
It was quite some time later when Alexian’s carriage finally headed toward the Imperial Palace.
Unlike his usual routine of rushing back to the palace as soon as his schedule was finished, today he had stayed to drink tea after dinner, play a game of cards, and even take a leisurely stroll before finally turning back.
However, his expression was not particularly relaxed.
He had given her a slight hint, so he had expected Ria to return soon.
He had even thought she might come to offer her thanks.
But contrary to his expectations, not only did Ria not return to the dinner table, but he couldn't even catch a glimpse of her at all.
Finally, as the time for his departure drew near, he spoke in a casual tone.
"Has Arianna said anything since she visited the Imperial Palace last time?"
Perhaps not expecting that name to come from Alexian's lips, Leonic frowned instantly.
"What would she have to talk about regarding her visit to the Imperial Palace? It’s a miracle she didn't make a mistake in front of His Majesty."
Leonic grumbled, glaring at the cards in his hand.
Alexian watched Leonic, who made no effort to hide his hostility toward Ria, and let out a soft laugh.
"Leonic. Why do you dislike her so much? If you got to know her, you might find you get along."
"Your Highness. We don't associate with her."
"But she's cute, isn't she?"
At the laughter in Alexian's voice, Leonic made a look of utter distaste.
"Where? She's small and scrawny, and she’s always trembling like a frightened little animal. And Your Highness, shouldn't you avoid saying things like that in front of Anella?"
A flicker of fatigue appeared in Alexian's eyes before vanishing just as quickly. Anella, who had been observing his complexion, smiled softly and said:
"Your Highness, Ria likes to be alone and quiet. Perhaps it's just because she hasn't fully adjusted to the Duke's estate yet."
Before Anella could even finish her sentence, Alexian's attendant stepped forward.
"Your Highness, you must return to the palace now. It will be troublesome if you are any later."
The attendant spoke in a quiet but firm voice.
Alexian furrowed his brows slightly, but he knew as well as anyone that he could not delay any longer.
Despite Alexian's displeased expression, the attendant showed no signs of backing down.
The twins and Anella walked him to the entrance of the lobby to see him off.
"I shall see you at the palace next time."
Daniel bowed, and Alexian hesitated for a moment before nodding. The attendant stepped closer and spoke once more.
"The carriage is ready, Your Highness."
Only then did he force his reluctant feet to move and board the carriage.
As the Imperial carriage left the main gate of the Duke's estate and disappeared from view, Anella slowly turned to look at Leonic and Daniel.
"Brothers, you know that Grandfather's birthday banquet is coming up soon, right? Ria was saying she was worried about a gift for Grandfather."
Anella spoke with a slight hesitation.
As soon as Leonic heard Anella's words, he retorted in a blunt tone.
"A gift... what could she possibly have to give?"
Daniel smiled kindly and patted Anella's head.
"It seems Ria needs some help. But Anella, it's already late, so you should head to bed now."
With Anella, who looked sleepy and was yawning, between them, Leonic and Daniel exchanged a meaningful look.
++
Ria sat by the window in the library late into the night, with several herbology books spread out before her.
Taking a hint from Alexian's words, she had been scouring every herbology book in the library, but she felt completely lost as to where or how to begin.
Ria took a deep breath.
According to Anella, last year's birthday banquet had been filled with all sorts of precious gifts: a diamond that appeared in five different colors depending on the angle, rare herbs and exotic birds from the East, a legendary sword said to contain a dragon's heart, and wine made from golden grapes that could only be harvested once every hundred years.
She knew for certain that mere expensive items would not make any impression on the Duke.
Ria wanted to give a gift that only she could provide.
Just then, she sensed someone's presence.
When she looked up, Daniel was watching her.
He looked at the page Ria had spread out and gave a soft smile.
"Have you taken an interest in herbs?"
Ria nodded and showed him the book.
"There's something I'm looking for..."
"What is it?"
"This one."
Her finger flipped through the pages of the book and stopped at one.
"Fennel, is it?"
Daniel smiled at the illustration of the plant, which had long, slender stalks and feathery leaves.
"They say it's a good herb for aiding digestion and soothing the stomach."
"Ria, are you having stomach pains?"
"No, not me..."
Daniel seemed lost in thought for a moment, then wore a meaningful smile.
"Fennel is a precious herb."
Daniel pointed to the description in the book.
"Look here, it says it's only found deep in the mountains, doesn't it? The habitat of fennel is rugged terrain, so it's not easily accessible."
Ria said, lost in thought.
"It won't be easy to find."
Daniel nodded and said:
"That's right. That's why it's not a commonly used herb."
Daniel smiled briefly as he saw the disappointment in Ria's eyes.
Quick-witted as he was, he realized exactly what she was thinking the moment he saw her interest in fennel. Daniel let out a light sigh and said:
"Hmm. Fennel. Now that I think of it, there was something called 'Twilight Fennel'."
Ria tilted her head at his words.
"Twilight Fennel? What is that? Is it different from this 'fennel' in the book?"
"It's on a completely different level. Twilight Fennel is said to not only resolve digestive issues but to fundamentally heal the body's ailments."
Ria asked with wide eyes.
"If so, does that mean even sick people can become healthy if they eat it?"
Daniel shrugged.
"But if such a thing truly existed, there wouldn't be any sick people in the world. Just think of it as a story passed down through the ages. Twilight Fennel isn't just hard to find. It's impossible to find."
Ria asked, curious.
"Impossible to find?"
Daniel looked straight into her eyes and answered slowly.
"Yes. Twilight Fennel is something you create. You mix special ingredients with regular fennel."
"So that's why no one knows about it..."
Ria lowered her head and stared intently at the drawing of the fennel in the herbology book again.
"How do you make it?"
Daniel placed a hand on Ria's shoulder and said gently.
"Ria, that's just like a legend. For now, try finding some regular fennel. If it's for soothing digestive ailments, regular fennel alone will be more than enough to help."
Daniel watched Ria quietly. Ria did not notice the strange smile lingering on the corners of his lips.
"...Twilight Fennel."
Ria repeated the name in a small voice.
For some reason, her heart raced at the sound of it.
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