Flower Dream Chapter 15

“What is this tea?”

“It is dansam tea.”

Dan Yuha answered as he carefully set the tea table down. Kneeling before Shin Ryuwon, he anxiously stole glances at the Imperial Prince as he lifted the teacup. Seeing Ryuwon drink the tea he had brewed right before his eyes made his heart pound as if he were taking the state examination.

It must suit His Majesty’s taste…

Please. Dan Yuha unconsciously clasped his hands tightly together and prayed fervently. Though Senior Court Lady Kim, who had tasted it before it was presented to Shin Ryuwon, had widened her eyes and praised it as delicious, the unease did not go away. In the instant the Third Imperial Prince brought the teacup to his lips, every possible imagining ran through his head.

“Hm?”

Shin Ryuwon’s brow furrowed slightly as he took a sip of the tea, white steam wafting from it. Seeing that, Yuha’s heart sank. With a rigid expression, he awaited Ryuwon’s evaluation. The few seconds it took for his moistened lips to part slowly felt like an eternity.

“There’s almost no grassy taste. And the finish is quite sweet…”

Clink. Setting down the teacup, Shin Ryuwon murmured as if intrigued. Dansam tea was a tea that settled the insides and eased tension, making it good for those with severe insomnia, but it had a strong aroma and a unique taste that divided people sharply.

“Since many dislike the distinctive scent and aftertaste of dansam tea… I added citron preserves I made myself. I also added a small amount of honey and rapeseed powder.”

At the positive assessment, Dan Yuha’s face brightened somewhat. Somewhat relieved that Shin Ryuwon’s reaction seemed favorable, he plucked up the courage to explain his own brewing method.

“You neutralized the bitterness with citron preserves and honey, and captured the smell with rapeseed powder?”

“That’s correct.”

“Not bad. I’m not particularly fond of dansam tea because of its strong fragrance and sharp, biting sensation… but this goes down smoothly.”

“Heok, my apologies. I did not know Your Majesty disliked dansam tea.”

Startled by Shin Ryuwon’s subsequent words, Dan Yuha didn’t know what to do. He seemed to have fixated only on the remark about not liking dansam tea and missed the praise added on.

“It’s not that I dislike it. And I just told you. It’s easy to drink.”

Emphasizing his words to calm the flustered Dan Yuha, Shin Ryuwon drank down the remaining tea. Watching Dan Yuha’s expression change rapidly with every word he spoke was secretly amusing. Contrary to his docile appearance, his personality seemed to be on the lively side.

“Th-thank you.”

Only then regaining his composure, Dan Yuha wore a sheepish expression. There had never been a day where he felt as foolish as today. His throat dry, he gnawed needlessly at his lower lip. His cheeks, kissed by the white moonlight, were flushed pink.

“It’s good that there’s no astringent taste even though it’s cooled. I should tell them to make it like this when I return to the imperial palace.”

“Ah, besides the ingredients, well… you must keep the steeping time as short as possible. But if it’s under-brewed, you have to be careful because the efficacy drops.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes, and each dansam root has parts that are particularly bitter, so it’s best to remove all of them while drying. It’s also good to blanch it lightly in water before drying. Drying it together with fruit or flowers is also good…”

Chattering away eagerly about how to make dansam tea, Dan Yuha clamped his mouth shut the moment he met the golden eyes tinged with a faint smile.

“Why did you stop talking?”

“I think I talked too much…”

“Not at all, it was quite an interesting story. More effort goes into making a single cup of tea than I thought. Indeed, it’s only natural that such great care results in such an excellent tea.”

“I am overcome with awe.”

“I truly drank it well. As expected of skill worthy of placing first in the state examination.”

“You flatter me. You simply looked favorably upon my meager talents… I am merely honored.”

At the unexpected high praise, Dan Yuha didn’t know what to do with himself. His already reddish cheeks heated up like a ripe peach. The tips of his ears burned as well.

Press.

Dan Yuha put strength into the corners of his lips, which kept trying to curl up. Otherwise, he might have smiled impolitely. It was just a single compliment, yet his disappointment over Shin Ryuwon not recognizing him melted away like snow. Even his heart, which had been dispirited thinking he had left a bad impression on him, regained a little confidence.

To the Imperial Prince, it might be words he would forget again as soon as he turned away. Still, Yuha was glad. It felt as if he had finally taken the first step of his wish to show him that he had become a respectable aromancer.

“If you wish… I can explain the method for making dansam tea to Senior Court Lady Kim in detail.”

“Do that. First, the tea passes. I look forward to the sleep incense you will make as well.”

“…! I shall do my best.”

His eyes widening round for an instant, Dan Yuha answered with determination. He considered himself closer to an aromancer than a pharmacist. He wished to be recognized by the Imperial Prince as an aromancer as well.

So this was an opportunity. An opportunity to show Shin Ryuwon how much he had grown, how much he had strived all this time, even if he did not remember that day’s promise.

“I look forward to it. Then, I shall speak briefly with Captain Hyeok before retiring, so go to the bedchamber and prepare.”

“Yes!”

Dan Yuha answered vigorously and rose with a motivated face. His lovely eyes, like a fully bloomed peony, sparkled like stars. At that moment, Hyeok Ryeoa appeared behind him.

“You called for me, Your Majesty the Imperial Prince.”

Hyeok Ryeoa deliberately made her footsteps audible as she approached the pavilion so as not to startle Dan Yuha. In truth, she had arrived a little earlier, but she had waited quietly until the two finished their conversation. When Ryuwon, sensing Hyeok Ryeoa’s presence, wrapped up his talk with Dan Yuha, she revealed herself as if just arriving.

“Yes. Earlier, there were too many people, so I couldn’t hear what warning the Eastern Depot gave you.”

As if swapping places with Dan Yuha, Shin Ryuwon gazed intently at Hyeok Ryeoa, who sat across from him with the tea table between them. Crowds always flocked to an Imperial Prince’s procession. Among them, many had impure intentions, like spies from foreign countries or informants for hostile factions.

“It’s cooled a little, but the tea tastes quite good. The aromancer seems to have prepared one for you as well, just in case, so wet your throat.”

There were two teacups on the tea table. Dan Yuha, having likely heard word from Chief Eunuch Baek, seemed to have prepared an extra. Shin Ryuwon gestured lightly with his chin, offering the tea.

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

At Shin Ryuwon’s offer, Hyeok Ryeoa took the teacup placed before her without a word of complaint. There was not a hint of hesitation in the act. Even if Ryuwon served her poison, she was the sort of person who would drink it without wavering.

“This is… dansam tea?”

Having sipped the tea with her characteristically blunt expression, Hyeok Ryeoa’s eyes widened. Then, she asked in a voice tinged with faint admiration.

“It is.”

“It’s dansam tea, but there’s no grassy smell. And no bitter taste either.”

“Right? The aromancer’s skill is considerably good. Every time he sees me, he trembles like a puppy fallen into water, so I wasn’t expecting much… I like him.”

A satisfied smile lingered at Shin Ryuwon’s lips. As soon as Hyeok Ryeoa set down her teacup, he immediately spoke.

“Now then, shall we get to the main point… Just what did you hear to cause such a fuss earlier?”

“The Eastern Depot said that lately, a rumor has been circulating among the nobility that this time, His Majesty the Emperor will truly appoint Your Majesty as the Crown Prince.”

“Hmm? You made such a scene just because of that? Father has been saying he’ll make me the crown prince for a day or two now. How trite…”

Shin Ryuwon made a deflated expression. He thought it might be something major, but the answer was far more trivial than he’d expected. Yet, Hyeok Ryeoa’s face remained grave.

“This time, the situation is somewhat different. Her Majesty the Empress is talking about issuing a decree for the selection of the consort next year, is she not? Everyone who is anyone knows that this inspection is not a simple visit to the sacred city but effectively a matchmaking tour.”

“So?”

“It seems the feet of those backing the First Imperial Prince have been set on fire, due to a sense of crisis that Your Majesty might truly marry at this rate.”

“From eldest brother’s side?”

“Yes. Up until now, their greatest justification for opposing Your Majesty the Imperial Prince ascending to the position of Crown Prince was that you have not yet married, was it not? If that crumbles, they will have no further pretext to find fault with, so it’s only natural for them to grow anxious.”

Divine Ones generally believed that one became a true adult only after welcoming a mate, having children, and establishing a family. Over the past several years, whenever the Emperor hinted at his intention to make his youngest son his successor, the nobles who did not wish for Shin Ryuwon to become the Crown Prince took issue with the fact that he was still unmarried, even though a long time had passed since his coming-of-age ceremony.

Continuing the bloodline of the Divine Dragon was one of the imperial family’s paramount duties. Shin Ryuwon’s unique constitution, having yet to find a compatible Fragrant One, served as an excellent weapon for those who disapproved of him.

The Emperor was still considered young and was healthy without ailments, so until now, he hadn’t pushed forward with the crown prince investiture unreasonably. While he cherished his youngest son the most, the first and second were precious children to him as well, so he had decided to give them a bit more of a chance.

As this tug-of-war between the Emperor and the factions supporting other Imperial Princes repeated several times, word spread that the reason Shin Ryuwon had not been invested as Crown Prince was because he had not yet married. People began to voice speculation that he would become the crown prince as soon as he simply welcomed a mate.