The Empress Tames the Tyrant - Chapter 19

Seeing Cayenne’s satisfied expression, Alicia could tell that her plan had been more successful than expected.

“Come to think of it, I’ve never properly looked around the Empress’s Palace.”

If there was a problem, it was that Alicia had done too well.

“I’m full, so shall we take a walk?”

The Cayenne she knew would have just eaten and left, but today he seemed to have no intention of doing so. Of course, Alicia wasn’t in a position to refuse his request.

“Yes. There’s nothing particularly special to see in the Empress’s Palace, but…”

Alicia tentatively brought it up, but Cayenne ignored her and left the dining hall.

“You don’t need to follow.”

The court ladies bowed their heads in unison and didn’t take a single step. Alicia was stuck with having to guide him around the Empress’s Palace. However, there was nothing impressive to see in this palace. His own residence was much more lavish and spacious, so his suggestion to see the Empress’s Palace was absurd, but what could she do? Cayenne was the emperor above all people.

“If you follow this hallway, you’ll find the drawing room I usually use.”

Cayenne nodded and gestured for her to lead the way. Alicia gave a slight bow and headed to the drawing room, which really had nothing special about it.

“Is this the main drawing room?”

Cayenne glanced around the drawing room, which was decorated with antique furniture and ornaments on the piano, creating a generally cozy atmosphere.

“Yes, and actually, I don’t use any other drawing rooms separately.”

“What about an audience chamber?”

“There isn’t one.”

“Why?”

Alicia unconsciously made a bewildered expression. Who would come to this Empress’s Palace that would require an audience chamber?

“Because there’s no,need for one.”

Ah, belatedly, Cayenne remembered the report that Alicia had no interactions with anyone and let out a strange sound.

“What does the Empress usually do?”

He had originally intended to ask during the meal, but he had been too focused on the food and had only just remembered. The head maid had told him that the Empress’s daily routine consisted only of waking up, eating, and sleeping, so he was very curious about what she did during the rest of the time.

“Pardon? I’m living according to the court’s etiquette.”

“I know that much.”

Then what was he curious about? Alicia couldn’t understand Cayenne’s mood as he suddenly asked her about herself.

“I’m asking what you do personally outside of the scheduled routine.”

Immediately after the wedding, Cayenne had warned her not to associate with the noble ladies of society. Therefore, Alicia’s daily routine was very limited.

“I mainly read books in this drawing room, tend to the garden and take walks.”

In other words, she wasn’t doing anything properly.

“That would have been the time you spent exchanging letters with Lucan, wouldn’t it?”

That had been Alicia’s biggest task in her previous life.

“I’m sorry, but that’s too difficult for me now.”

The Great Sage’s words were always difficult to understand, and she remembered how hard it was to write replies and report to the emperor. She had been so diligently ruining her own life, it was absurd to think about it now.

“I think it will be difficult in the future as well.”

“I think that’s for the best.”

Was it her imagination? For a moment, Cayenne’s eyes softened before returning to normal.

“Don’t worry, Empress. I’ve already told Lucan to refrain from writing letters because the Empress needs to rest.”

“Pardon?”

Alicia’s eyes widened without her realizing it. Cayenne felt a strange feeling towards the woman he had married, seeing her defenseless and pure appearance.

“I know better than anyone how persistent Lucan’s Great Sage is. It would be difficult for the Empress to refuse, so I’ve blocked him off completely.”

The Empress, who had been like Lucan’s parrot, had changed after suffering from a high fever, so Cayenne had solved the problem without lifting a finger.

“If Lucan criticizes you, blame it on me.”

Even knowing his position, her heart fluttered for a moment.

“Yes? Yes.”

Seeing Cayenne with a faint smile on one side of his lips, Alicia’s cheeks flushed for no reason.

“I’m honored.”

“Well, you don’t have to be that honored.”

That couldn’t be. Seeing him now, he looked exactly like a shield for his wife, and her heart was pounding like never before.

“Do you play the piano?”

Cayenne, not noticing Alicia’s changed expression, casually asked while looking at the piano in the drawing room.

“I’m ashamed to say, I don’t know how to play any instruments. The Ministry of Internal Affairs decorated the Empress’s Palace when I entered the palace, so I just left it as it was.”

It had been a year since they got married, but Cayenne was unfamiliar with every corner of the Empress’s Palace. It was only natural, since he hadn’t even crossed the threshold of her bedchamber on their wedding night.

“Then what are the Empress’s hobbies?”

Alicia hesitated, making Cayenne’s attempt to steer the conversation to a more casual topic awkward.

“Do you paint? Embroider?”

Usually, young ladies of noble status learned etiquette as a basic, and music and art for culture, and embroidery for patience. Such education was no exaggeration to say was a woman’s life before marriage.

“I’m sorry, but I haven’t learned any of those things.”

Cayenne raised an eyebrow.

“In Lucan, everyone, regardless of gender, learns the Great Sage’s words, but I’ve even forgotten that. I’m ashamed that I can’t do anything.”

“It’s alright.”

Strangely, Cayenne said kindly. It seemed that the well-established theory that a satisfying meal leads to generosity also applied to the emperor.

“I hate Lucan’s education and I don’t really like the sound of instruments. Besides, the Empress doesn’t need to embroider.”

“Yes.”

Alicia smiled softly and replied. She was more pleased that she had an excuse not to fall into the embroidery hell she had experienced in her previous life than with his generosity.

“If I had to pick one, my hobby is walking around the garden.”

At Alicia’s words, Cayenne nodded and turned around.

“I think I can gladly do something like walking in the garden.”

Alicia felt a strange mix of tension and excitement, knowing that there was something she could do with Cayenne besides eating.

The Empress’s Palace’s garden was simple, but it was where she had spent more time than anywhere else in her previous life. Exhausted by her powerless state, Alicia devoted all her attention to tending to the silent plants.

However, the current Empress’s Palace had not yet received that attention, and only neatly arranged flower beds and a marble table and chairs placed under a large tree could be seen.

“What are these flowers called?”

Cayenne asked, walking along the path leading to the large tree and looking at the flowers swaying in the wind.

“Chrysanthemums.”

They were such common flowers, but Cayenne nodded as if he was hearing it for the first time.

“What about the yellow ones?”

“Those are also chrysanthemums.”

“And the pink ones?”

“No, those are cosmoses.”

Cayenne nodded each time Alicia answered shyly.

“Um! Chrysanthemums are good for sleep if you boil them and drink them as tea.”

Alicia spoke without realizing it. Walking along the garden path with him made her feel closer to him for some reason.

“Ah, so you grow them to eat? What do you eat cosmoses with?”

“No, they’re not for eating. I only occasionally make chrysanthemum tea.”

“Does the Empress drink it too?”

“Pardon? Yes, I do.”

Hmm, Cayenne made a nonchalant sound and nodded.

“Then have a cup brought out.”

Contrary to expectations, Cayenne spoke instead of silence. Then he sat down at the marble table under the large tree. Alicia stopped walking, looking at Cayenne. It was a garden she had seen for countless seasons, but she couldn’t believe this scene of Cayenne sitting there.

“Why are you just standing there looking?”

Seeing Cayenne’s figure overlapping with her own, who had always sat there lonely, she felt something she couldn’t explain.

“Ah, I’m.”

Before Alicia could make any excuses, Cayenne stood up. It seemed this was the limit. No matter how satisfying dinner was, he would be tired of a woman who hesitated and was uninteresting.

However, contrary to Alicia’s thoughts, Cayenne didn’t leave but took a handkerchief out of his pocket and placed it on the opposite chair before sitting down again.

“I know this much.”

“I’m honored.”

Although Alicia had to spread the handkerchief herself, she was surprised that Cayenne had personally offered it.

Anise, who had seen the amazing sight of the two sitting at the table under the tree, approached them with quick steps and bowed.

“Bring out chrysanthemum tea. Oh, and the cookies baked today too.”

“Yes.”

A clear autumn night breeze blew through the silence. Fortunately, Anise quickly brought out the tea and cookies. Cayenne glanced at the teacup and immediately took a sip.

“It’s a strange taste.”

His reaction was completely different from dinner. In other words, he was being honest about his taste.

“It tastes like grass.”

“Well, it’s chrysanthemum tea. But it’ll be harmonious if you eat it with the cookies.”

Cayenne didn’t have the habit of eating snacks, but he picked up a small cookie and put it in his mouth. And once again, his eyes shook.

“It’s sweet.”

The cookie he ate was a masterpiece that Alicia had helped create by interfering while she was making it earlier. Unlike the palace’s food, which used natural syrups or fruit preserves to add sweetness, she had sprinkled white sugar all over it.

So, it was no wonder that Cayenne’s taste buds, which had only eaten bland things on the battlefield, were shocked.

“I like my snacks sweet.”

Cayenne took another sip of chrysanthemum tea and reached for the cookie again.

“Can you send this to my residence?”

“No.”

Alicia smiled a rosy smile.

“I have some pre-packaged ones, so I’ll have the chamberlain take them.”

Cayenne nodded vigorously while crunching on the cookie. Once again, it was a sight that made her wonder if he had puppy ears on his head.

The magic of the Empress’s Palace was beginning.