I Became Crown Prince's Wife
How about a cup of tea? (4)

"How does it feel?"

"Very delicious. Tastes as good as it looks.”

Collin ate the yakgwa without pause. It must match his taste.

Hostility towards the East had recently spread throughout the empire, but he did not seem to care at all.

“You should also try this. This is Taekri tea from Chang.”

Collin's expression hardened as he watched me pour tea.

"It's an honor, but I refuse."

"Try it. It's a little bit bitter, but it has a very good aroma. ”

"I'm sorry. I don't really like tea.”

He still could not drink tea like before.

He also disliked the tea that everyone in the Asteri Empire liked.

Knowing this, I stopped suggesting it and called the waiter. The waiter brought me a drink I had prepared beforehand.

“Then try this.”

When I gave her the strawberry juice, a bright smile appeared on Collin's face.

"Thank you."

Collin gulped down strawberry juice. She loves sweet fruit juices.

He looked like the type of person who would only drink black coffee, so this was an unexpected fact.

Still, this is much better than being an alcohol lover like in the original novel.

Collin's taste is very unusual.

The nobles of the Asteris Empire enjoyed eating meat and were not particularly fond of fruits and vegetables.

Men love meat especially. They also say that eating meat boosts their energy, so sweet fruits are only a favorite food among women and children.

This is also due to a lack of knowledge about food and nutrition.

During this time, many people believe that their health depends on their status.

Even some nobles who graduated from the academy proudly said such a thing.

“Sir Collin must really like fruits.”

“Yes, I was poor when I was a kid, so I can't eat fruit even if I want to. I was originally going to become a merchant after graduating from the academy. If I sell food supplies, I will be able to eat whatever I want.”

I realized that the Collin family wasn't rich, but I didn't know they were that poor.

It was a story that someone wanted to hide, but Collin talked about it without changing his expression.

He is confident and has high self-esteem.

That was why he could talk about the difficult times without hesitation.

"Then why did you choose to be my father's assistant and not a merchant?"

"Your Majesty has come to recruit me directly."

"Dad did it?"

"Yes, he asked me to be his assistant."

Tenstheon had personally offered him the position of his assistant, but he refused because he wanted to become a trader.

He spoke lightly about the matter, but he was definitely serious about becoming a merchant.

"So what are you saying?"

“I said I want to be a merchant and eat fruits endlessly.”

“You are very honest.”

He's braver than honest.

Tenstheon controlled the empire as he ascended the throne. However, the commoners dared to reject the emperor's proposal.

"Is Your Majesty angry with you?"

“He's not mad at me. Instead, he told me that I could eat whatever I wanted if I became his assistant. He said he would let me drink fruit juice anytime.”

"That's why you accepted the position of assistant?"

"Yes, there's no reason to refuse."

I-i understand. That's an unimaginable reason.

It is a relationship born of fruits.

“He said he wanted to create an empire where no one would die of hunger. When I heard that, I thought he was a good man to devote my whole life to.”

Colin spoke seriously.

Even though he was always complaining, I knew he respected and admired Tenstheon more than anyone.

"This strawberry juice is delicious."

"It's strawberries, Your Majesty rearing himself."

"He grew it with magic, didn't he?"

"Yes, he's a genius."

Blake mastered the plant-growing spell and is now learning other spells.

It was a more difficult spell, but his learning speed was much faster than when he had learned the previous spell.

“Your Majesty used to refuse to learn magic. He has changed a lot.”

"Blake refused to learn magic?"

"Yes, the chief magician once came here to become His Majesty's magic instructor, but he was rejected."

The study of the power of light has disappeared, but other styles of magic are still actively studied.

Each has different characteristics. It was possible to learn from other witches if it was just his foundation.

But Blake doesn't want to.

“Why didn't he do that? He is very talented.”

Everyone says that Blake is a genius in swordsmanship, but I think he also has a talent in magic.

"Maybe it's because it's the power he got from sacrificing His Majesty, so he's not happy?"

If that's the case, then it's stupid. He used to live in pain and now that the curse was lifted, he should try to enjoy his life.

“I don't know how she really feels. It's just a guess, so don't worry too much. ”

Collin comforted me and put another yakgwa in his mouth.

“When His Majesty is in charge, the atmosphere is not heavy. I like warm atmosphere, it removes all tension.”

“Warm tea will make you feel more comfortable.”

"I can't betray strawberries."

He answered cleverly and drank strawberry juice.

I can only smile when I see it. Whenever I was with Collin, I would feel at ease as if I were meeting an old friend.

"Sir Collin."

"Yes, Your Majesty?"

"I heard that baseless rumors are spreading around Chang lately."

Collin looked a little surprised by what I said, but his usual expression immediately returned.

"There will always be worries about new things."

"They said that I was a demon sent from Chang, that I seduced His Majesty and His Majesty while endangering the empire."

I heard all the rumours about Chang from Chelsea.

The rumors, which suddenly started a few months ago, quickly spread throughout the entire community.

But I don't know at all.

It was probably Dad and Blake. They must be afraid I'd be angry if I knew.

Collin failed to maintain his poker face this time around.

"Your Majesty, that rumor will soon disappear ..."

He tried to convince me, but I just asked him a direct question.

"What is this doing for the church?"

“Why do you think so?”

"They are the most likely causes I can assume."

There are two types of rumors.

Rumors are based on facts and rumors that someone has been made with malicious rumors with ulterior motives.

In the latter case, most of the rumors were related to their interest.

In Korea, people would hire people to spread bad rumors about their rivals.

Someone might have been frustrated with me being the crown princess, or they might have spread rumors because they didn't want their status to decline because of me.

But this time, they were after Chang and me.

It stimulated people's fear and the speed at which the rumors spread was strangely fast.

It was said that such rumors were not only in the capital but in the entire empire.

It did not spread from one person's mouth to another, but rather someone deliberately spread it.

With how quickly it reached other places, it must have been the work of many people.

Right now, the church is the only one who can spread these rumors. They also had reason to terrorize the imperial people.

The Church maintains her power through people's fear of curses, doors of darkness, and trials.

However, all three have collapsed simultaneously in recent years.

That's why they need new targets to instill fear.

Chang, a mysterious kingdom, and I, who returned at the moment the door of darkness disappeared, must have been an appetizing prey.

"As expected of His Majesty."

Collin surrendered.

“Who leads it? What was Howard Kensway, the previous high priest candidate?”

“How do you know that?”

"She received the heaviest blow so she must be anxious."

Howard Kensway was nominated as the next high priest, however, Marron was ordained as his successor.

I heard that the Kensways are no longer as influential as they once were.

“As expected, I can't hide anything from you, but don't worry too much. Your Majesty will handle it immediately. ”

“I don't care. That's a lie anyway. What I'm worried about is they might not stop at the rumors and might try to do something else.”

The Kensways were once the most influential family in the church.

However, after I recalled my memories from a thousand years ago, I slightly changed my mind.

A thousand years ago, Phillip was selfish and lonely. He doesn't trust anyone but himself.

There is only one loyal subject that Phillip believes in. His name is Logan Kensway.

The Kensway family was later revered by the people as a family of historical priests who served the goddess of light since the time of the Zelcan Empire, but it was all a lie.

Logan Kensway was an ordinary merchant and his surname was given by Phillip.

I remember when I was Laontel.

Back then, Logan Kensway was an ordinary person who had nothing to do with the church, but after I died, he suddenly became a pastor.

Why would Phillip appoint Logan Kensway and give him the power to rule the church for a thousand years?

Phillip pretends to be chosen by the goddess, but in reality, he takes Ser's powers and seals them at the door of darkness.

The curse of the goddess was also created by herself.

To hide this fact, it was natural to place his most trusted servant as high priest.

Of course, the Kensway family's strength so far may have been purely due to their abilities and had nothing to do with Phillip.

Nevertheless, I have an unpleasant feeling.

If it was just a rumor, it would disappear gradually as soon as the rumor was confirmed to be false.but what if they did something else?

My heart is pounding with anxiety.