Chapter 122: Ssanghwatang (Korean Herbal Tea)

The crisp autumn breeze rustled the golden leaves as dozens of magical carriages arrived at the imperial palace gates.

Inside each carriage sat dignitaries from across the continent, all having received an imperial invitation.

The spacious imperial courtyard was packed with countless magical carriages, all waiting in line.

The vast crowd bustled about.

Among them were nobles from Arendelle, Lyonia, and Drum—the Three Northern Kingdoms—as well as aristocrats from Yuren, the Alchemist Nation, and even dark-skinned Samarians.

Occasionally, non-human figures appeared in the crowd—elves, dwarves, and beast folk could all be spotted.

The sheer number of attendees had completely blocked the roads leading into the imperial palace.

It was expected—after all, an imperial banquet was more than just a celebration; it was a diplomatic event meant to strengthen international alliances.

As dignitaries from allied nations gathered and mingled, their growing camaraderie would become a powerful bond that further solidified their alliances.

For nobles, it was an opportunity to expand their networks.

For knights, it was a chance to catch the eye of influential figures.

For servants, it simply meant they would be well-fed.

"You're from the White Tower, correct? Please follow me."

A waiting attendant greeted us and guided us inside.

Through a special corridor designated for distinguished guests, we were led toward the grand banquet hall.

"Wow, there are so many people here."

Zion gawked at the splendor of the imperial palace, clearly overwhelmed by his first visit.

"Stop staring. It's embarrassing."

Even Aria, who usually remained composed, scolded him—which said a lot.

Meanwhile, our Tower Master, Ranya, had gone completely stiff.

Her movements were rigid and mechanical, her gaze fixed straight ahead, refusing to look around.

There was a simple solution to this.

"Tower Master."

"Uh… Y-Yes?"

"Ah."

"…Ah?"

The moment Ranya mimicked me and opened her mouth, I swiftly popped a piece of Sunkist candy into it.

"!"

The sweetness of the candy immediately lit up her vacant eyes.

"A-Are we there yet?"

"Yes, we're almost at the banquet hall."

Swallowing hard, Ranya seemed to finally regain her senses.

Her expression now carried the determination of a warrior heading into battle.

"We have arrived."

At the attendant's guidance, we stopped before the grand entrance to the banquet hall.

"Fuu…"

Standing at the door, Aria took a deep breath, gathering herself.

I let her take her time.

Finally, after exhaling deeply, she turned to us, now noticeably calmer.

"Let's go."

And so, we took our first step—

"Presenting Ranya McDowell, Tower Master of the White Tower, and her disciples!"

A booming voice from the chamberlain echoed across the grand imperial banquet hall.

*

Marble floors. Towering pillars. Glistening chandeliers. Tables brimming with lavish food.

As we entered the vast hall, all eyes turned toward the now-opening doors.

Countless curious gazes fixed upon us, filled with various emotions.

"So that's the wizards of the White Tower…"

"Is that the rumored Apostle of the Goddess?"

Murmured whispers spread among the guests.

Silently, we made our way to the seating area reserved for the White Tower.

"Ranya! You're finally here!"

The first to greet us was Myrtienne, Tower Master of the Blue Tower, sporting her signature blue horns.

"It's been a while, Myrtienne."

"Indeed! Good to see you."

It had been some time since we last saw her—ever since the incident where White Bears attacked the Blue Tower for Fairy Coke.

'Seeing them together… I can finally understand why they always argue.'

Despite their apparent camaraderie, Ranya and Myrtienne were sworn rivals.

And the reason for their rivalry was, quite frankly, absurd.

"You're still so tiny, Ranya."

"W-What do you mean?! I'm taller than you!"

"Hah, and you fail to acknowledge my magnificent horns?"

In reality, their heights were nearly identical—with Ranya barely being taller.

But there was one problem— Myrtienne had horns.

And among dragonkin, horns counted toward height.

This small discrepancy in perception had fueled their petty squabbling for years.

Honestly, counting horns as height felt like pure nonsense.

"If you're so upset, why don't you grow some horns?"

"Ugh…"

For a conversation between Tower Masters, it was incredibly childish— Yet they both seemed completely serious.

'Still, at least she's relaxed now.'

When we first arrived, Ranya had been extremely tense.

But after talking to Myrtienne, she seemed to have returned to her usual self.

Myrtienne had likely deliberately provoked her to help her loosen up.

I gave Myrtienne a nod of thanks before greeting Aila, who stood beside her.

"That dress suits you well."

"Fufu, thank you! You look splendid as well, Yuri."

Now then—

"There are… a lot of people here."

Scanning the banquet hall, I clicked my tongue in disbelief.

The Twelve Tower Masters, including Red Tower Master Lucas and Blue Tower Master Myrtienne, were all present.

Other notable figures included Duke Gertz, Marquis Hughes, and various other high-ranking nobles of the Empire.

Even though I didn't recognize all the faces, it was clear that dignitaries from the Three Northern Kingdoms were also in attendance.

"A lot of big names are here."

Aria, noticing the same, seemed slightly tense.

And for good reason.

The Ssanghwatang she had crafted wasn't just for the Emperor—it was going to be served to everyone here.

It was impossible not to feel the pressure.

Especially for someone as perfectionist as Aria.

"Are you alright?"

"Not at all. My stomach feels terrible."

"Don't stress too much. It'll turn out great."

"Are you sure about that?"

"Absolutely. Who made it?"

"…I did."

"Did you mess up?"

"Not even once."

"Then it's fine."

"How can you be so confident? What if it fails?"

"Then it fails."

Aria stared at me in disbelief.

"Excuse me? That's completely different from what you said earlier."

"But you're relaxed now, aren't you?"

"…What kind of nonsense is that?"

She let out a small, exasperated laugh—but her tension had melted away.

Although I had simply meant to encourage her, I also had real confidence in her work.

In this world, tonics were synonymous with aphrodisiacs.

And a mass-produced aphrodisiac?

Who wouldn't want that?

We'd soon find out—

Because—

"Presenting the Sun of the Terrazé Empire—His Majesty, Emperor Julius II, along with his children!"

All eyes turned to the grand entrance of the banquet hall.

*

One by one, the imperial family entered the banquet hall, each name announced loudly by the chamberlain.

"Presenting Her Highness, the First Princess, Luciella!"

Luciella, dressed in a pure white gown, walked down the red-carpeted aisle, flanked by Iberkina and Lilith.

Unlike Iberkina's indifference, Lilith was positively glowing with pride.

Luciella took a seat at the table closest to the Emperor's throne.

A brief pause—

Then—

"Presenting Her Highness, the Second Princess, Christina!"

I turned my gaze to the entrance.

"...."

Golden hair, tied in an elegant low ponytail.

Sharp, blade-like features.

Slightly drowsy-looking crimson eyes.

A black swan-like dress, flowing gracefully with every step.

Unlike the First Princess, she had no escorts—Yet her commanding presence was undeniable.

For a moment—

Our eyes met.

Her crimson gaze softened into a gentle curve.

And at that moment—

My heart skipped a beat.

*

Following the Second Imperial Princess, the Third Imperial Prince entered, and soon after, the sound of trumpets blared throughout the hall.

—His Imperial Majesty, Julius II, the Sun of the Empire, makes his entrance.

Everyone in the banquet hall fell silent and bowed their heads.

The Emperor, a man of imposing presence, strode across the carpet and took his seat upon the imperial throne.

"Raise your heads."

With that, the banquet officially began.

—♪♩♬

The grand melodies of the court musicians filled the air as esteemed guests engaged in lively conversation.

Dignitaries from across the Empire lined up before the Emperor, each bearing gifts.

The first in line was Duke Gertz.

"Your Majesty, it is an honor to see you."

"It has been some time, Duke Gertz. How fares Lord Lindemann?"

"Haha. Thanks to Your Majesty's grace, he remains in good health."

"I see he has not accompanied you today."

"He wished to come, but such a long journey would be too taxing for him. Instead, he sent me in his stead and asked me to present this as a token of his regards."

The Emperor accepted the box Duke Gertz presented and, upon opening it, his eyes gleamed with interest.

"Oh, this is… a wyvern's wing."

"As expected, Your Majesty recognized it instantly."

Inside the box lay a section of a wyvern's wing, its tough skin covered in shimmering scales.

Known for its uniquely chewy membrane, wyvern wings had been excessively hunted to the point of scarcity. Yet, Duke Gertz had managed to procure one.

"We may soon succeed in breeding them in captivity."

"I look forward to it."

After exchanging greetings with the imperial family, Duke Gertz stepped aside, making way for the next guest—a young man.

"It has been a while, Your Majesty."

"The Crown Prince himself? This is unexpected."

"It is only natural for me to be here for the alliance treaty."

The young man was none other than Kyriel, Crown Prince of Arendelle and the future king of their kingdom.

After exchanging friendly pleasantries with the Emperor, Kyriel, like Duke Gertz, presented his gift and withdrew. The procession of esteemed guests continued.

Though the wyvern wing had been an impressive offering, nothing else stood out as particularly remarkable.

And then, it was our turn.

Zion stepped forward and placed the warming cabinet on the Emperor's table.

"This is the warming cabinet, also known as the 'Goddess's Box.'"

"Oh? So, this is truly the Goddess's Box?"

The Emperor rested his hand upon the warming cabinet and, as if sensing something, closed his eyes in quiet contemplation.

"…Hmm. Indeed, I can feel the warmth of the goddess."

"...."

I had only stated that people called it the Goddess's Box. I never technically lied.

It was all about perception.

Before the Emperor could speculate further, I quickly moved on to the next topic.

"For Your Majesty's health, I have also prepared a revitalizing potion."

"Oh? A revitalizing potion?"

Oddly enough, the Emperor's eyes sparkled even more at this than when he examined the warming cabinet.

I opened the cabinet and retrieved a glass bottle from within.

After removing the lid, I poured its contents into an elegant teacup I had prepared in advance.

Drip, drip.

A steaming, herbal-infused liquid filled the cup, releasing a rich, earthy aroma.

To finish, I cracked a fresh raw egg into the warm herbal tea and stirred it in.

Mixing raw egg into herbal medicine enhances the flavor—adding a nutty, smooth, and rich texture.

The eggs had been personally tested and deemed safe by Lilith.

"Hmm… An unusual fragrance."

Once again, the Emperor closed his eyes, savoring the aroma.

"What is the name of this drink?"

"It is called Ssanghwatang."

Ssanghwatang (雙和湯).

Though, this wasn't just any ordinary Ssanghwatang—

This was a special blend, infused with finely ground Mandrake root.

***

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