"Lara, don't you find the emperor's behavior changed?" Adelheid asked her personal maid who was combing her lustrous long hair through which the silver brush is running smoothly without any bump.
"I do, My Lady." Lara replied in her natural tone. Her hands working in swift manner, she gently moves some of Adelheid's silver hair in the front, and with the remaining, she made a bun.
Lifting her head up, Lara saw that her lady is looking pleased with the hairstyle. "My Lady, you like your hair in bun more than leaving it free, right?" Lara asked a question of which she already have an answer.
As Lara anticipating Adelheid's reply, she moved on to next thing, her skirt twirled lightly as she approached the dressing table to pick a pair of jeweled lilac earrings that bear a deep resemblance to Adelheid's lavender eyes.
"Yes, I do like this more." Adelheid said, her eyes following after Lara's hand, and she watched how her personal maid picked up the earrings.
The personal maid approached her lady, Adelheid felt a warm touch when Lara touched her ears in order to put the earrings. She unconsciously clenched her hands.
"That time..."
"What time?" Asked Lara.
Lara, putting the earrings in Adelheid's ear stopped her movements and shifted her gaze to Adelheid who seems to be hesitating in speaking.
"When we were at the library that time, we saw how His Majesty who never visits the library, searched so painstakingly for something in there." Adelheid said while in her mind she buried another thought that made her hesitate to speak.
The personal maid had served her lady for more than five years and was familiar to all her expressions and thoughts. 'Did she really mean to say this?' Despite having doubt, Lara only nodded, continuing her action.
"And also, he had said something to me at the end of our conversation however I only listened to little bit. Did you also feel something strange at that time?" Adelheid's lavender eyes narrowed in suspicion.
"I did. It felt like a voice coming from across a glass wall. I also heard a few broken sentences." Lara recalling the moment of that time, said to Adelheid.
"Choices....Regret." Adelheid murmured to herself.
"Did you say something? My Lady?" Lara questioned as she completed the work.
"Oh, it's nothing." Said Adelheid.
Following their conversation, an almost palpable silence draped the room, lingering in the wake of their words.
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*Emperor's Court*
Ruprecht, standing beside the emperor, thinking 'How will he explain this? Thier same proposal might be a coincidence but the same mistake; would make someone to question about the whole thing.'
Dew saw how the Duke Heydrich was not saying anything, so he asked again. "What is it? Why is the Duke not saying anything?"
At that Heydrich said, "Your Majesty, I don't know why I should explain anything?"
This time, Dew was taken aback by Heydrich's question, although his expression remained same.
Heydrich's question made Ruprecht furious, as he demanded in his heated voice, "What do you mean by that? Didn't you bribe the herbalist and took the vessels herb list that mistakenly write foxglove in medicinal plants? "
'Fu**, why the hell did you say that?' Dew cursing in his mind at the Ruprecht's stupidity.
Meanwhile, Heydrich nasty smile decorated his face, "So this is all about that explanation thing. Is Your Majesty doubting my proposal idea? However, as a monopolist and a servant of His Majesty, I should clear the doubt."
Dew didn't say anything, his fingers tightened around the armrest as the eyes grew cold. On the other hand, Ruprecht just realizing his mistake and its impact on the emperor, looked at Eberhardt with a disheartened face.
'What have happened to me? Why am I keep making mistakes?' Questioning himself, Ruprecht's anger on Heydrich shifted to himself.
While the Duke Heydrich call out his servant who then come with a record. He took the record from the servant and explained, "Your Majesty, I have already said earlier that what I'm making is potion that contain magical powers and the herbs on the list are that which upon mixing with a little of magical powers turned into potion."
Dew listened attentively, eager to discern the intricate web of deceit the Duke Heydrich had spun this time.
"The foxglove, a highly toxic plant can be used to create a strong magical potion. All the other plants on the list have medicinal property that can be used in making medicinal potions except foxglove." Heydrich continued his explanation.
After completing his sentence, he passed the record to Ruprecht who then gave it to the emperor.
Reading the content of the record, Dew understood the meaning behind Heydrich's words.
"So, you are going to use this method to make that strong magical potion using foxglove?" The emperor asked in his frosty voice.
"Yes, Your Majesty." Duke Heydrich replied, thinking in his mind, 'I knew, this was going to happen so I have already prepared the plan for it however I expected that Emperor would be the one to say I have bribed the herbalist. It was really unexpected from that valet, anyway it happened all within the plan.'
"It seems my royal valet misunderstand you. I hope your business of potion will make Eldoria reach new heights and fame." The emperor said, and with that he also gave his permission for Duke Heydrich to start the business.
"Certainly, Your Majesty, I will work hard to make our Eldoria best. The person of high might like Your Majesty deserve to rule the best empire." Duke Heydrich said not forgetting to add his flattering lines.
"It's true, I only deserve the best." Dew also played in Heydrich's tone.
"I should take my leave now, Your majesty." Heydrich bowed in a respectful manner and left the audience hall with his servants with his eyes gleaming with joy.