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 to push aside a few strand 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 f 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 tray and began serving the tea. The Emperor was the first to bring 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 into 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 a while."

"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 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 the 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."

The Emperor had just heaped praised 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 Ecallis, who had never thought much of Eve.