Raphine could be proud that she knew tea better than anyone else.

Because he was the one who first distributed black tea to the empire.

"I'm sorry, but I don't have time."

Raphine answered with painstakingly controlling her expression. I didn't want to waste time on the street anymore.

"Great, Young-ae!"

As she headed towards the carriage, Peryl grabbed Raphine's wrist in a hurry.

"...."

Raphine looked down at her wrist with a cold gaze, and then he took off her hand with a chaga.

"Seo, after the coming-of-age ceremony, I plan to send a proposal to Young-ae. If you want, I can buy you this brand's premium line teacup...."

"How many sets can I buy?"

"Yes?"

"For reference, I own the entire production line for this brand."

He was astonished at Raphine's words. Needless to say, this brand was prohibitively expensive for just one teacup.

No matter how wealthy the Duke of Aston may be....

In some lines of this brand, there were many things that could not be obtained no matter how much money you had.

It was because there were so many limited editions, such as making only one set.

So it was clear that Raphine was lying.

'Sheesh, ignoring people even by telling lies....'

It was clear that the social circle's reputation for good character was pure lies. She must be such a snobby and pretentious woman.

He wrinkled his brow in displeasure and muttered openly as if to listen.

"Anyway, young girls who don't know much about tea and only like teacups.... Did the Duke and Duchess of Aston teach you that? I'm cheap...."

Raphine, who was about to pass Peryl, stopped.

I was going to see this....

"Wait. By the way... Is it a lie to say you have a mug of this brand?"

When Raphine asked the first question, he jumped.

"Are you suspicious of people now?"

"Hmm, I haven't heard of any distribution of goods to that family. I'm sure I've never sold it to someone like you."

For a low-key guy like you.

Recognizing the meaning of Raphine's words, his face turned red.

tt Raphine looked at him as if the world was pathetic. It was a gaze that inflicted damage as if struck by a mace.

Sometimes, the gaze that looked like an insect did more harm than the gaze that was staring at me.

With that single glance, Feryl returned with a great dagger and pierced it.

Raphine left him and got into the carriage. As the carriage departed and looked out the window, Peril, who was still standing there, became smaller and smaller.

Will you buy me a teacup? what the. That's amazing.

'Is this brand's parent company all mine?'

His proposal was as if he was going to buy the sub-branded goods for the head of the affiliated company.

* * *

It was not long after the carriage had departed. It felt like something was stabbing me in the head.

This was Orphana's signal.

Whenever Raphine blocked the voices of the spirits with magic, Orphana and Ruby would send a signal like this.

Raphine frowned as she lifted the barrier.

'What is it, what is it?'

Orphana, who bothered me every time I tried, made my goal ache.

Then, in front of me, Pang, Orphana appeared. Orpana, who was sitting across from the carriage, made a fuss.

"You are back! You're back, Master!"

"Who! brother?"

Raphine's eyes widened to the size of a candle.

'Are you back already? Is it still summer?'

"no? Prince Antonio."

"...."

this... kill?

Raphine lost all her energy as it was and sat down on the sofa.

As she glared at Orphana with anger-filled eyes, Orphana scratched her head shyly.

"Aha. You are not very curious."

"Are you curious?"

"lol. I heard it at the top meeting. I wanted to tell the owner first."

"... Yes, thank you."

"You're welcome."

Orphana disappeared again like that.

Raphine returned home, trembling in anger.

* * *

The next day, Raphine held out the teacup set she had checked yesterday in front of the Empress.

I told the Empress that it was because she was close with the craftsman of the brand, so it was specially made available in advance.

The Empress was overjoyed and pleased.

"You are so beautiful...."

Ten years have passed, but the Empress is still young and beautiful.

The relationship with the emperor was not bad either.

'Although we fight often....'

It's probably impossible not to fight at all.

It seemed that both of them had such a fiery personality.

Still, when we got along well, it was so good that it was so unfamiliar that I frowned.

Although they were a couple that bothered people around them in many ways, Raffine was always happy to see the emperor and his wife.

"How can you be so beautiful.... Raphine Thanks to you, I can't tell you how happy I am to be able to have it before it's even released."

"Say nothing, Your Majesty."

Raphine saw the empress overjoyed and thought that she should bring a set to her father as well.

Compared to my mother, who was not very interested in teacups, my father liked the glamorous things very much.

"Are there any uncomfortable places?"

When Raphine asked, the Empress smiled kindly and stroked Raphine's cheek.

"You are always the only one who takes care of my health. Don't worry. The doctor went there yesterday as well."

Fortunately, the Empress has been very healthy so far.

As in the original, there were no signs of an incurable disease. And....

'Ruby, try a scan.'

Raphine gave an order to herself, and Ruby replied that she would.

It was necessary to check whether there was any possible threat in this space where the Empress was staying.

It was a process that Raphine had to go through whenever she visited the Imperial Castle.

Maybe someone has hidden poison or planted an assassin.

"It's clean today."

'Okay, good job.'

Raphine was relieved today and chatted with the Empress for a long time before being able to escape from the Empress Palace.

It was on the way back to the carriage.

"Stop for a moment."

Suddenly, someone stopped in front of Raphine. The courtiers who decided to take Raffine to the carriage were bewildered.

The one standing in the way was a man in a green knight uniform. He was very bulky and had a bad impression.

And over the man, I saw some knights, and someone walked out of them.

"Hey, you must have been surprised."

It was Antonio who had grown up.

Raphine was not at all surprised, but whispered softly to the courtiers who had come with her that it was okay to return.

When the courtiers returned, the knights took a few steps back.

On the other hand, Antonio took a step forward towards Raphine.

Raphine looked at Antonio with an unfamiliar feeling.

'A bit... Did you grow up?'

Before, there was not much difference in height between me and myself, but now there is a huge difference.

'but... Luca and Lois are the same age, so this guy must have already reached the age of 21.'

He still looked naive and immature, but it was only natural that he was unfamiliar as he only remembered his childhood.

"It's been a while, Raphine."

"Uh, what. Yes. I heard that you are back."

"yes? Then why didn't you come first?"

"...?"

Raphine was bewildered.

Eh? why am i looking for you

"Why am I visiting the Prince?"

When asked, blinking his eyes, Antonio clicked his tongue low. Then he said.

"remember? What I said before I left."

"...."

"It's my letter."

"ah."

With those words, Raphine remembered what had happened several years ago.

Antonio had sent a letter to Raffine before leaving for the outskirts.

It was a very embarrassing letter, but as far as I can remember, he asked me to wait until he came back.... what kind of content was that

To be honest, Raphine was very embarrassed and puzzled that Antonio was pretending to be close to him.

We used to fight each other while holding our heads, is this our job to act like friends?

"I can see my memory."

"Yeah, what."

When Raphine answered indifferently, Antonio clenched his fists.

'So what do you mean?'

Raphine grabbed the man and started to annoy Antonio, who didn't say anything.

So I stared blankly at him, which was honestly surprising.

'He grew up quite well.'

Raphine looked at Antonio with dissatisfied eyes.

Perhaps it was because of Empress Rebecca's genetic buff, which had a face that was unmatched, Antonio, who had grown up, was a very handsome man.

His red hair and purple eyes were so glamorous that he stuck out his tongue.

'It feels a little sloppy, but he's grown up well.'

The impression was that.

Seeing he didn't say anything for over a minute, he seemed to have nothing to say.

"Anyway, I will go back. His Majesty the Prince."

When Raphine bluntly drew a line and left, Antonio did not say anything and just stood there.

"Damn it...."

He looked at Raphine's back for a while, then bit his lip harshly.

The knights standing behind witnessed all of Prince Antonio's ears turning red.

* * *

"Wow...!"

Raphine took the teacup and smiled like a little boy at her favorite father.

"Honey, look at this! This golden wave!"

Despite her father's praise, her mother had a gloomy face.

"My daughter! For this father!"

The Duke of Aston was ready to go out and show off to the world.

Raphine returned to her room after watching her happy father.

Then, a question suddenly crossed my mind.

'No, wait. But isn't it strange?'

Looking back, no matter how much I thought about it, I was puzzled.

'Antonio has returned to the capital. Why isn't Empress Rebecca coming? You could have come back two years ago.'

I heard that he would be back soon, but I doubted that Antonio would not come even though he had returned.

* * *

The moment Raphine had such a question.

Empress Rebecca was returning to the capital with the saint who was spreading rumors in the temple.

Walked around the slums and praised God for blessings.