TMLST C5

Chapter 5. A Tedious, Time-Limited Life (5)

“How is it?”

Her eyes sparkled as she asked, watching the subtle movement of his throat beyond the teacup. Aside from knowing that he was a loyal subject of Lote, she knew almost nothing about him—so she was eager to learn what he liked.

If he says he likes flower tea, I can even give him my share!

Other nobles claimed their days felt incomplete without starting and ending with flower tea, but she could never bring herself to drink it that way.

“I beg your pardon, but…”

At the hesitant preface—one that sounded as though a negative answer would follow—her heart dropped.

Was my gaze too burdensome?
Did my fangirling show on my face?
Does he not like the tea?
He doesn’t think poorly of me like I did when I first tasted it… right?
They say you have to hear Korean sentences to the end, but this isn’t Korea!

“Yes, please go ahead.”

Though her insides churned with worry, she maintained her composure, carefully steadying her tone so it wouldn’t waver. Aaron slowly set down his teacup, his lips parting slightly as if choosing his words.

“I lack knowledge about tea, so I fear I cannot offer Your Highness any meaningful impression.”

At his awkward reply, she barely managed to suppress the scream threatening to escape.

So cute!

She quickly covered her mouth, just in case the corners of her lips had lifted.

Of course! Not everyone knows much about tea! That’s perfectly fine!

She fidgeted inwardly before forcing herself to calm down under Aaron’s steady gaze.

“That’s understandable. I only know about flower teas myself. If it doesn’t suit your taste, I can have something else prepared.”

“No, it suits me well.”

Watching him hastily take a sip at her question reminded her once again that her position was far from lowly.

When a superior asks, ‘Does it not suit your taste?’, one naturally answers that it does—whether they like it or not—and finishes it regardless. Realizing she had asked an unnecessary question, she mentally scolded herself.

“You don’t have to force yourself. Flower tea isn’t really my preference either.”

She whispered, covering her mouth with her hand so the nanny standing nearby wouldn’t hear, and smiled softly.

Every time Elia struggled to drink flower tea, the nanny would scold her, saying, “You used to drink it so well—why can’t you now?” As a member of the Lierre Empire, she insisted one must not avoid flower tea, nagging her endlessly.

If she heard this now, she would surely be outraged.

Whether her attempt to ease the atmosphere had worked or simply seemed odd, Aaron let out a small chuckle. At the sight of his smile, her heart dropped heavily in her chest.

It was a smile far too dangerous for her heart.

“Are you alright?”

Before she knew it, Aaron had stepped close—too close.

Startled, she held her breath, and he seemed even more surprised, reaching out to grasp her shoulders.

“Your Highness?”

“Huh? Ah, I’m fine! I’m perfectly fine.”

The nanny rushed toward them in alarm, but Elia quickly waved her hands, regaining her senses. Despite hearing her answer, Aaron still examined her face with concern before apologizing briefly and returning to his seat.

He was likely being attentive because she was a princess, but seeing how loyal and kind he was, it seemed that Lote’s remark in the original story—that Aaron had made many women cry—hadn’t been an exaggeration.

What a sinful man.

Resting her chin on her hand, she watched him before turning her gaze toward the nanny by the door.

“Please step out for a moment. I’d like to speak comfortably.”

“…Understood.”

Though clearly reluctant, the nanny obeyed—at least acknowledging her authority as a princess. She was overly protective, always reluctant to let her out of sight.

“This is more comfortable for you as well, isn’t it, Sir Aaron?”

“If it pleases Your Highness, then I have no objections.”

Even his bluntness was appealing. As expected, everything about her favorite was perfect. If she had to choose the happiest moment since arriving here, it would undoubtedly be now. She could only face him like this because she was a princess—otherwise, she would have been content just watching him from afar.

“I imagine you were quite surprised when I requested this meeting. Thank you for coming.”

“I was merely surprised that Your Highness knew of me. It is a great honor.”

His steady gaze, as if speaking pure sincerity, made her feel as though she might melt. She met his eyes blankly before lowering her gaze, fidgeting with the handle of her teacup.

At such close proximity, her heart still raced uncontrollably.

Then, a thought struck her—this might be her last chance. She lifted her gaze again.

“I actually wanted to visit the Kingdom of Veronica, but I wasn’t granted permission. So instead, I requested to meet you, Sir Aaron.”

His eyes widened in surprise, and she smiled gently.

“That was only two days ago—I didn’t expect you to come so quickly. Thank you, even if it’s a bit late. I wanted to visit myself, but the situation didn’t allow it…”

“I heard your health is not well.”

“Ah, yes. It’s not great. But not enough for you to worry, Sir Aaron.”

He must have been busy attending to Lote, so the fact that he even knew about her condition made her grateful.

“If it is not too impertinent… what exactly is wrong?”

“Well, it’s not impertinent, but…”

She tapped her chin, lost in thought.

What exactly was wrong with this body? She knew it was frail, but even in the original story, it was never specified, and no one in the imperial palace had told her the name of the illness.

In that sense, it wasn’t so different from her previous life.

“I don’t know. What’s wrong with me… or what illness I have.”

“You do not know the diagnosis?”

“I suppose… I’m just unwell.”

She was going to die anyway—did it really matter what the illness was? The only difference from her original body was that this time, she knew when she would die.

Of course, she couldn’t simply say, ‘I’ll die within a year at most—six months at shortest.’ So she circled around the truth.

She had wanted to go somewhere for recuperation, hoping both she and the original owner of this body could find healing—but the man before her, Aaron himself, was her healing.

Either way, she was happy just to be able to see him up close—and in various ways—before she died.

“I want to visit the Kingdom of Veronica, where you were born and raised.”

Aaron’s expression did not change. Or perhaps it did, but too subtly to notice.

“If you come, I will make preparations so you may tour comfortably.”

She had thought Aaron was only kind to Lote, but unexpectedly, he was kind to Elia as well. Even knowing it was because of her status, her heart still fluttered.

Having said all he needed to say, Aaron fell silent.

Elia, faced with the lull in conversation, struggled to think of something—anything—to continue speaking.

“If you like the flower tea… how about taking me with you?”

“…Pardon?”

At Aaron’s bewildered response, only one thought echoed in her mind.

I’m doomed.

She had meant to suggest that he take some flower tea if he liked it—but instead, her true feelings had slipped out. As the air turned cold, Elia forced a laugh, scrambling to salvage the situation.

“I—I mean, since you seem to like the flower tea…”

“Ah, yes. It is not something someone like me can easily come across.”

No…

The situation only seemed to spiral further into disaster. This wasn’t what she had intended!

“I meant to say—I wanted to give you some flower tea since you came such a long way, but my words got tangled… I’m sorry. P-please also give some to Her Highness Lote.”

Just how many kinds of flower tea were piled up in this room? Reducing her own share and giving it away would be killing two birds with one stone. It was far better for Aaron and Lote to drink it than for it to sit here unused. Even the nanny wouldn’t be able to scold her—it wasn’t as though she threw it away; she had gifted it to an allied nation!

Lote usually preferred black tea, but since she liked tea in general, perhaps she would enjoy flower tea as well.

“It’s alright.”

“This is the best way I can show my gratitude. Please accept it.”

Even Aaron’s handsome voice couldn’t stop Elia, who was now brimming with anticipation at the thought of getting rid of the flower tea.