4. Rosa Wants to Take Down the Lily (1)
“Rosa, are you thirsty? Before Prince Chris returns from government affairs, why don’t we prepare for tea ahead in time?”
In the early afternoon, at a detached palace, bathed in the gentle sunlight of early winter…
While surrounded by fine furnishing, a comely priest—Anton—said without an ounce of shame.
“Oh my, An—Father Anthony, I can’t possibly burden you with such a task! It’s solely on me to support His Highness Chris! Naturally, I should be the one who brews tea to quench his thirst.”
Then, the girl with angelic beauty—Rosa—also stood up gracefully, before sorting out various assortment of tea utensils and tea leaves from the upper shelf in the room.
Without the slightest hint of doubt, her white, slender hands reached for tea leaves with a mixture of rose petals—only to be stopped by Anton, who gracefully waved his hand.
“No, I can’t possibly let a delicate lady assume such a difficulty. Please give me the honor of keeping such a fine lady away from such hard work and protecting her smile.”
However, as he said that, he casually picked the lily-scented tea leaves from the bottom of the shelf.
“Come, Rosa. Let me brew the tea. There’s a tea I’d definitely like to serve.”
“What a coincidence. I do wonder what kind of tea leaves a priest would like to serve.”
They stared at each other with smiles of pure beauty.
On the outside, it seemed that the dutiful, caring, and handsome male was looking out for his female counterpart—
—but in reality…
“…Don’t say another word and drink my lily tea. For you and Prince Chris to share a cup of fragrant tea, wearing the same scent as each other—such wonderfulness! How can you not understand it!?”
“No, no, it’s you who shouldn’t say another word and drink my rose tea, Father. For Ike-Oji (handsome uncle) and His Highness Pundere to count the remaining rose petals left in the pot together—that’s true justice!”
…It was simply a showdown between fanatics in pursuit of roses and lilies.
The two squinted their charming eyes at each other, before suddenly averting their gazes.
Then, with a small click of her tongue, “Tch.” She casually took the ordinary tea leaves from the middle shelf and tossed them onto the table.
Three days had passed since Anton came to the imperial palace.
Every time the two met, they’d try to drag each other into their respective swamp, but failed.
Ugh, even though I was trying to make my uncle ingest rose materials…!
Gritting her teeth, Rosa sauntered to the decorative bookshelf and casually positioned herself so that the male protagonist’s novel stood out.
By the way, the rose tea she bought especially for today was unique.
After all, that very day, a famous male tea master grew and dedicated said tea leaves to a man who was also his childhood friend.
The tea master used to work at a famous pottery workshop called ‘Dilsen’ with his childhood friend. Apparently, to pursue the path of a tea master, he betrayed his own master and left the workshop.
In spite of that, he couldn’t stop thinking about his childhood friend. Hoping that someday, he’d drink a tea brewed by him, the tea master grew tea leaves named after his friend.
The tea leaves were fragrant in many ways.
By enjoying the height of its fragrance and talking about its origins, she’d like to introduce the beauty of roses—both in terms of preference and story—to others.
However, far from encouraging the familiarization of rose teaching, I found myself at a standstill! He’s such a formidable enemy, all I can do is prevent further lily contamination!
That was right.
The plan to neutralize Anton through Rosa’s religion ran into a halt.
The reason was because just as Rosa was trying to instill the goodness of roses into him—Anton, the other party, also tried to do the same—only with the goodness of lilies.
Before she knew it, she was deceived into tying her hair with Chris; wearing clothes of the same color; and being seated next to each other.
…Well, Rosa also incited Anton into kissing Bernardo and Chris indirectly; made him repeat after them; made them lean into each other—therefore, she’d like to believe that they were even.
Since Bell-tan is a boy, I don’t think my uncle can influence him. But Prince Chris is a different story. He’s a girl. I have to protect him so he doesn’t accidentally get contaminated with lilies. Right now, I should give priority to containing the lily instead of the cure.
Rosa secretly clenched her fists.
After fulfilling his government affairs, there was no doubt that Chris would return for tea break, and Rosa couldn’t help but remember what happened three days ago…
“Eh? You wish for Father Anthony to stay in the palace for a few days?”
Three days ago, Chris stared at the clock, waiting for Rosa and the others to return from the opera.
Upon seeing that Rosa would readily jump into the burning fire to save a book, or faint when there were sick people, Chris became quite worried about Rosa. As such, he seemed to be trying to forbid her from going out until next year—and that was by looking if she exceeded the curfew for even a minute.
When Chris was relieved to see that she’d returned before curfew, Rosa introduced Anton to him.
In addition, since the man was an arch priest under the name of “Anthony”, Rosa and the others decided to treat him as Father Anthony instead of Uncle Anton.
Aside from his glasses, he didn’t really have any other disguise. As such, they were worried if his true identity were to be revealed. Unexpectedly, the gatekeeper, the royal guards, and even Princess Chris didn’t know.
Rose’d like to think that it was due to his dramatic transformation. Although, it was likely due to the fact that he showed his crest and monastic robe, proving his status as a senior priest.
Anyway, for that reason, no one doubted Anton’s status during his sojourn in the detached palace.
—All that remained was Chris’ heart.
Since the princess loathed lies and malice, it’d be the end if his distorted nature was discovered, and Rosa became nervous. In fact, Chris was reluctant at first.
“The ID card is authentic. Many members of the royal family, including my mother, would shelter the priest in charge as an act of charity. Therefore, I have no problem if the priest were to stay in my palace. Rather, it’s customary to welcome the priest of St. Julia, but…”
Chris touched her hair, which was short like a boy, and sarcastically shrugged.
“St. Julia’s teachings are stricter than those of the Berg Orthodox Church, and require women and children to be chaste, aren’t they?”
Apparently, she was concerned whether or not she’d be judged for pretending to be a boy.
“I no longer desire to rebel against the ideal image of a ‘princess.’ Nevertheless, instead of giving in to pressure, I’d like to take my time and decide for myself. Even if it’s based on holiness, lectures such as chastity or ‘women’s happiness’ won’t work on me. I’m sorry, Father…”
In short, she didn’t want the priest to preach to her about being a woman.
Rosa was taken aback by Chris’ words, and wanted to punch herself in the cheek, having never expected such a reaction before.
Why didn’t I realize that before!?
His Highness’ words are understandable!
If anything, to force His Highness to let go of his ideal Pundere image, that’s a crime against humanity…! Humanity will suffer a massive loss, there’s no doubt about it…!
Of course, 80% of her regret had nothing to do with either, ‘Why didn’t I consider how difficult it must be for Chris?’ Or, ‘Why did I bring in an existence that can threaten his disguise?’
Certainly, she was looking forward to the budding relationship between the handsome bespectacled uncle with either Bernardo, Leon, and Ladu. But if in exchange for that, she had to let go of the Pundere Chris, she’d rather die.
As expected, even after being accused of trying to influence someone, Anton didn’t budge—
—just as Rosa had made a tragic determination, something strange happened.
Anton, who’d been silent until then, suddenly crumpled to the floor.
“—!?”
…No, while it may seem so, he was actually kneeling.
He pressed the thumb of his clenched left fist against his forehead, and his right fist against his chest. It was a gesture unique to a priest, whose forehead symbolized the divine blessings, and whose chest symbolized endless loyalty to Heaven.
What is he doing!?
Rosa rushed to kneel beside Anton.
“An—Father Anthony! What happened?”
“A tomboy… stubborn, and selfish princess… Moe…”
As he crouched, Anton muttered that—
—and no, Rosa definitely didn’t hear it wrong.
On a closer inspection, he was merely kneeling, with his left hand just rubbing the base of his nose, and his right hand squeezing his chest.
—This guy.
The corners of her mouth twitched.
While Rosa considered Chris as a rose envoy, did Anton see him as a lily envoy?
However, before she could interject, he quickly lifted his head and spoke.
“No, of course not, Your Highness. I have no intention of imposing such stereotypes unto you. I swear that in the name of Our Lady, Julia, who reigns over this chest.”
The eyes of the bespectacled man were brimming with light, as if his sincerity knew no bounds.
Rosa’s lips quivered at Anton, who cunningly disguised his fall as a vow. Regardless, he seemed to be truthful.
She had more reasons to believe that when Chris, who could see through any lies, seemed taken aback.
“You…”
“I mean it, word by word. Even if you act like a boy—no, by doing so, you’re only making a display of both your determination and quirkiness. From the bottom of my heart, I think that you’re beautiful. I’d like to help you to become who you want to be.”
Anton, who outright said that, would seem like a devout, religious man who spoke of the beauty and the ugliness of the soul without regard to outward appearance to others.
In fact, even Bernardo, who was listening to the story from the side, widened his eyes in admiration.
But Rosa knew.
…Uncle, you’re only saying that because a beautiful crossdressing girl fits as a lily character!
Since they were on the same wavelength, she was able to understand that Anton was only admiring Chris for his own selfish reasons.
“W-what? Y, you, such an obnoxious thing…”
Realizing that Anton’s words were sincere, Chris became flushed and averted her gaze.
“W-well, as long as you won’t preach to me… Besides, you’re an archpriest, so you may stay a few days? I-it isn’t because of what you said just now, or anything!”
“Kuh…!”
Perhaps, the concept of Pundere also resonated with Anton.
At Chris, who blushed while denying her feelings, Anton squeezed his chest once again.
…There it is! Just like that, His Highness has blessed me again…!!
Of course, Rosa, too, had her heart stolen by her ideal Pundere, and ended up crouching on the floor, clutching her chest, just like Anton.
With that, the kneeling priest and the angel made a complete picture.
Everyone didn’t question it, since it seemed that Rosa was bowing to thank Chris for his generosity.
Thus, the holy image secured Anton’s stay in the detached palace.
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