Revolutionary Princess Eve

Chapter 9

The Emperor had 18 children altogether, so there was no way he could be a good father to each and every one of them.

Eve’s joy in seeing her father alive again lasted but a brief moment before a wave of resentment washed over her, memories of all the wrong decisions he had made while on the throne resurfacing from the depths of her mind.

Struggling to maintain her composure, Eve dropped her gaze.

“Ah, good. You have all come. Sit,” the Emperor commanded. He motioned toward his face as if trying push aside a few strands of hair, but he was actually rubbing his forehead like he had a headache. The gesture was so subtle that no one but Eve noticed it.

The Emperor raised his right hand and made a brief circular motion.

“Bring out the tea, Grand Chamberlain.”

“Father,” Eve said suddenly.

This was the moment she’d been waiting for. She needed to interrupt things quickly.

“I have prepared a special tea for the occasion. Will you allow me to offer it to the table?”

“You prepared tea, Eve?”

“Yes. One of my hobbies is blending teas. I love the taste and aroma of this particular blend, and would like the opportunity to share it with everyone.”

“Well, I don’t see why not.”

“Thank you, Father.”

Eve glanced at Sedella, who then took up a tray and began serving the tea. The Emperor was the first to bring the tea to his lips. After taking a sip, he looked satisfied.

“Mmm... That’s pretty nice.”

“It is a rooibos tea mixed with lemon balm. Lemon balm is known for reducing pain from headaches.”

“Oh? Headaches, you say?”

“Yes. The last time I saw you, Father, I noticed you were rubbing your forehead frequently. I worried you were suffering from headaches due to your stressful work, so I prepared a tea that I hoped would have some medicinal benefits for you—I hope everything is to your liking?”

“Well! I had no idea my seventh daughter paid so much attention to me. I actually have been plagued by painful headaches lately.”

“I took time to ensure the quality of the tea’s preparation, collecting the leaves and drying them myself over the course of last week. I’m very glad to hear you like it, Father.”

This was not true, of course. She’d quickly thrown the mix together with what ingredients were available that morning. Sedella, the only one who knew the truth, simply refilled the emperor’s cup quietly.

“Oh dear, does it really require that much preparation? I was hoping to take more with me and continue drinking it for awhile.”

“If you desire more, then the amount of effort it takes to prepare is immaterial. As you care for the empire, it is a great pleasure for me to help take care of you, Father.”

“Wonderful! Please do prepare more for me, then.”

“Yes. Dad—I mean, Father.”

She let the informal term slip out and then corrected herself, acting like it was an accident. This was a ploy she’d noticed Rosenitte use in her previous life, making a slip-up that actually served to emphasize her daughterly devotion to her father. It definitely worked—the Emperor smiled broadly, the creases around his eyes deepening.

“Hmm. This is very nice indeed. I can feel the pain receding. It’s a fine tea, Eve.”

“Thank you, Father.”

The Emperor had just heaped praise on the infamously disreputable princess. This shock sent near-visible tremors throughout the Emerald Hall. Rosenitte, the one who pretended to be nice to everyone but actually regarded Eve as her inferior and snubbed her sister whenever she could, was quite taken aback, right along with Brigitte, Rubens, and Icallis, who had never thought much of Eve.

What the hell is wrong with Eve? She’s never acted like this before!

Is this stiff-necked girl actually trying to curry favor with Father?

Is Eve trying to copy my style? I’m the one who usually does that sort of thing.

The servants of the imperial palace were just as shocked.

Is that really the seventh princess? Why is she acting just like the eighth princess?

Did something happen to the seventh princess last night?

That tact was masterly—something I’d expect from someone at least 10 years older than her!

Eve sipped her tea, pretending not to notice the astonishment spreading across the room. Because the Emperor, the ruler with absolute power, had praised Eve’s tea, it was necessary for everyone else to defer to his opinion.

Rubens cleared his throat first, attempting to give a compliment in his own fashion.

“Ahem. This is truly amazing tea, Father. I always thought Eve was the sort to stay holed up in her chambers trying to become a master in alchemy, but it appears she can actually do something useful.”

The comment wasn’t entirely a compliment, of course. Eve smiled gently, knowing to expect nothing better from Rubens.

“Rubens, brother, tea blending is actually quite similar to alchemy. It requires the careful collection and delicate preparation of quality ingredients, and then very precise mixing according to a recipe. You could say my talent in alchemy influenced my choice of hobby.”

“Tea blending is related to alchemy?”

“Yes. Actually, you could say that I’m able to make such good quality tea because of the talent in alchemy which I inherited from Father.”

Eve’s private opinion was that she actually took after her mother, but it was necessary to continue directing compliments toward her father. No parent could resist hearing how their children’s impressive skills originated from them.

The Emperor grinned in satisfaction, all traces of his headache apparently gone.

“Wonderful! You’re right, Eve. Your alchemic talents are excellent indeed. To think you’ve achieved an advanced degree in alchemy at your age! You remind me of myself when I was younger.”

Her degree was actually one level above advanced, but that wasn’t important right now. Eve was studying Brigitte’s reaction and saw her brow twitch as she quietly drank her tea. Eve quickly humbled herself.

“You praise me too highly, Father. How could I, as just the seventh princess, be compared with the most powerful man in the empire? I feel ashamed to be complimented so, and in my third sister’s presence in particular—she excels in every imaginable field, after all. Do please take back that statement, Father, or I won’t be able to hold my head up around Betty.”

“Haha, my child, you needn’t be so shy. Why, Betty seems to be paying such close attention that she might actually be afraid of you.”

The Emperor said this jokingly, but he knew it to be true. Eve repressed an urge to say, “That’s precisely it!”

It had been excellent timing to turn and praise Brigitte at that moment. If Brigitte did not respond after being mentioned so, she’d come across as a petty sister who was jealous of a younger sibling.

“Eve, I’m glad to have such a brilliant sister,” said Brigitte.

She wasn’t going to let the topic continue after this hollow compliment, however. She didn’t like the fact that Eve was the only person playing up to the Emperor, and needed to gain control of the conversation.

She spoke to her father in a gentle, affectionate tone.

“Father, it worries me greatly that you are experiencing headaches. Eve’s tea leaves are fine, I’m sure, but because this is your health at stake, we can’t rely on mere folk remedies. Why don’t we summon your doctor and have him examine you?”

“Betty, do you think I wouldn’t have spoken with my doctor already? He’s visited me several times in the past fortnight, and has prescribed me medications, but none have had any effect.

“How about changing tracks and trying a magical treatment? I happen to have a magic stone on hand with therapeutic effects. A skilled court physician has imbued it with healing properties. If you place it under your pillow at night, I’m sure your headache will—”

“Ah, magic stones... Those damned magic stones!”

The decreased production from the magic stone mines was precisely the matter that had given the Emperor headaches in the first place. The pleasant time he had been enjoying with family was suddenly ruined by the mention of this vexing state matter. Naturally, His Majesty was not pleased, but Brigitte realized her mistake too late.

“Hearing about magic stones is only making my headache come back. I don’t want to hear a word more about the stones, Betty.”

“...Yes, of course, Father.”

Brigitte’s attempt at filial devotion had failed. As a result, the discussion regarding magic stones—the thing that had caused the Emperor to be so displeased with Eve in the previous life—was cut short.

“Father,” a voice said suddenly.

It was Rosenitte’s turn now. She spoke cautiously, appearing timid and hesitant after the strict tone her father had taken with Brigitte.

The Emperor’s expression softened a bit at the sight of the fragile white rose speaking in such a concerned tone.

“What is it, Rosie? If you’d like to say something, please feel free to speak.”

“Father, I am ashamed to say that I am not as talented as my other sisters, so I cannot offer you anything to help cure your headaches...”

“That’s all right, Rosie. You do not need to be concerned about this.”

“Even so, I’d like you to know that I care for you just as deeply, if not more, than my siblings.”

“Oh, child.”

The Emperor had a soft spot for Rosenitte. This would have been the perfect time to end the conversation, but Rosenitte didn’t stop there.

“That’s why I’d like to offer you a gift to show my love.”

“Huh?”

Rosenitte’s tone had suddenly changed. Her facade of bashfulness was replaced by a bold confidence.

“I will go out to the garden later and pick a bouquet of your favorite lavender. I’m sure a basket filled with my love will make your headaches disappear. Remember what you told me last time? You said no elixir could be made that was as potent as my love.”

“...”

Eve found herself impressed at Rosenitte’s confidence—this move could be taken as a direct insult to both alchemical and medical knowledge. Rosenitte’s cute antics usually worked, but it was quite bold to claim something as silly as love would be the cure for someone who’d been tormented by headaches for two weeks. Not only that, but elixirs were legendary in the field of potion alchemy.

As if that weren’t enough, she had revealed something in front of his other children that the Emperor had clearly told her privately. She had, effectively, just humiliated her father, the emperor, and the greatest authority in the field of alchemy.