CH 16

Chapter - 16 || It's As If You've Already Been Rewarded

"Lady Elvira, I made you some tea."

"Thank you."

As I picked up the tea cup, I smiled at the aroma of the tea.

"Could this be..."

Countess Klassen also smiled,

"Yes, it's the Empress's favorite tea."

"That's what it was."

It was a gift from the Empress to celebrate the sprouting of the lily buds.

"It's delicious."

"Lady Elvira?"

Countess Klassen said with a worried look on her face.

"The Empress said to rest, so please take it easy."

"'Yes! Lady Elvira!"

Erma was worried about me, but that's not how it works.

I put down my tea cup and smiled,

"It's just until the lilies bloom, and then we'll be fine."

"But..."

Although I was grateful for everyone's concern, I planned to return to the greenhouse as soon as I had my tea.

Erma, with moist eyes, offered me a plate.

"Then at least try these cookies! They are very delicious."

I reached out and took one.

"Oh my."

The sweetness was more refreshing than I expected, and it seemed to soak into my tired body.

Erma proudly explained,

"The chef has created a nourishing treat for Elvira-sama! It's made with honey and fruits from the south! That's why it's so refreshingly sweet!"

Countess Klassen added,

"Erma has been in the kitchen a lot, asking for this and that."

"Countess Klassen!"

Erma exclaimed, turning red. Countess Klassen chided her, trying not to laugh.

"Erma, be quiet."

Erma blushed and looked down, like a child who had been caught in a prank.

"Well, since I can't help you with anything, I thought I'd at least give you some delicious sweets."

"Really, Erma?"

I smiled at Erma.

"So this is a joint effort between the chef and Erma. It's so delicious."

Erma's face brightened.

I shall also thank Countess Klassen.

"I'm really surrounded by good people. I owe it all to the attention of Countess Klassen."

"What a waste of words!"

"It's such a relief to me, coming from another country."

Some of you may have been reluctant to serve a duchess whose engagement was broken off in another country.

And yet, they all devoted themselves wholeheartedly to me.

"We are grateful to be in the service of Elvira-sama."

"Yes, we are! Isn't it thanks to her that the drought in the southern provinces has ended? Erma is very happy to be in the service of the saint!"

"Erma, lower your voice."

"I'm sorry."

I shook my head, smiling at the usual exchange between Erma and Countess Klassen.

I had heard directly from the Empress that the drought in the area they were visiting had been resolved.

But,

"I did not do anything. The prayers of the people must have been answered."

"Elvira-sama..."

Countess Klassen muttered quietly.

And then,

"Oh, could it be!"

Erma suddenly shouted.

"I'm sure there are prayers from the people, but could it be that this is a heavenly reward for the Emperor?"

"Reward?"

"The heavens rewarded His Majesty for welcoming Lady Elvira. That's why the miracle happened all the way to his Majesty's inspection site. 

So, in other words, it was all thanks to Elvira-sama. Erma is really glad that Elvira-sama came to the Empire."

The Countess of Klassen nodded.

"Yes, I agree with you... though you are still loud."

"Don't you agree?"

Countess Classen and Erma nodded at each other. When I was struggling with what to say, Elma looked even more shocked.

"But it's a little strange, isn't it? If that's the case, then it should be His Highness the Crown Prince who gets the most rewards, right?

Even though His Highness the Crown Prince brought Elvira-sama here."

"Oh, in that case..."

The Countess of Klassen looked at me and said with a smile,

"It's as if he's already been rewarded with the best."

"What...? Oh, yes! I think so too!"

I didn't know what to say, so I reached for my second cookie.

After tea, we went to the greenhouse as usual. Benjamin and his friends were doing their best to take care of the lilies.

"Is everything all right?"

"Yes, Lady Elvira. All the lilies are looking very lively. I can't wait for His Highness the Crown Prince to see them."

"Yes."

Now that the Emperor has returned, Rudolf-sama seemed to be even busier.

He wrote to me to let me know how he was doing, but we don't get to see each other very often.

Of course, I had reported about the lilies.

But when I thought of how surprised and pleased Rudolf-sama would be when he saw the real thing, I couldn't help but feel a strong urge to show it to him.

But,

Perhaps I was relieved, but I suddenly remembered something from the past.

"What's wrong?"

I had gone quiet, so Benjamin called out to me in a concerned voice.

This isn't good.

"It's nothing. I'm going to check the lilies on the other side, so please take this side."

"All right."

As I walked among the lilies, I was thinking back to the Kingdom of Turku.

Back then, as I was growing the Maiden Lilies, I was wondering if Alexander would smile at me for the first time since a while when they bloomed.

"It's stupid..."

I whispered softly so that no one could hear.

He was already in love with Natalia, so there was no way that Alexander could have a place for me.

The time I spent as his fiancée was not a short one.

During that time, I believed, without any reason, that we could support each other as long as we cared for each other, even though there was no burning passion.

"I shouldn't have made assumptions..."

The lilies were swaying, and their buds blooming.

I crouched down to get a better view.

"Thank you for letting them grow so well,"

I heard a cheerful voice from the entrance of the greenhouse.

"Elvira!"

"Oh my!"

Rudolf, who was supposed to be busy, was there.