Episode 158. Side Story. Your Love Makes Me Happy.
Zimmer quickly plucked a red dahlia from the fountain and offered it to Tanya.
"Then will you dance with me, Lady?"
Tanya took the flower with trembling hands and carefully took his hand. The moment her palm touched his, she flinched involuntarily, but Zimmer quickly grabbed her hand.
"Now, let's go slowly. One, two, one, two..."
Tanya murmured softly in time with Zimmer's rhythm.
"One, two, one, two..."
Their steps, initially awkward, gradually became natural.
Before they knew it, they were dancing, circling the garden fountain.
There was no music. But even more beautiful sounds enveloped them, the night breeze rustling the leaves, the chirping of insects, the refreshing gushing of water from the fountain.
And Zimmer's low humming.
Tanya looked up, startled by the timbre that matched all these sounds so perfectly.
“Oh, was my singing a bit off?”
Zimmer looked embarrassed, and Tanya quickly shook her head.
“No! It was like heavenly music.”
“Oh, not quite that much. Actually, my mother was a singer. It was a song she used to sing as a lullaby when I was little.”
“Can you keep playing it? It’s so beautiful, I think I’m going to cry.”
“Tanya...”
In that moment, Tanya realized she was alone in Zimmer’s brown eyes.
Her heart pounded with happiness and excitement.
And then, instinctively, she realized,
I might kiss you... I might...
As expected, she felt Zimmer’s lips drawing closer, and she squeezed her eyes shut. Her eyelids fluttered involuntarily, but thankfully, it was dark and she couldn’t see.
But what she heard was something she hadn’t expected,
“I’m sorry, Tanya. Unfortunately, I think I have to go now.”
Tanya quickly opened her eyes, and Zimmer's gaze was over her shoulder. Several guards were approaching him.
"Let's dance later."
"Of course. Go ahead."
Embarrassed, Tanya smiled even more cheerfully and waved.
However, watching Zimmer leave with the guards, a faint sigh escaped her lips.
It was like a midsummer night's dream.
Such a wonderful dream.
Yet, so regrettable...
When Tanya returned to the banquet hall, the atmosphere was a bit chaotic.
Kaiel and his friends were talking, spitting, while everyone else listened with rapt attention.
Tanya approached them, wondering what was going on. They couldn't have been so open about being caught gossiping about her.
"What's going on, Father?"
She asked Viscount Mervin cautiously.
"Well, I hear a monster came out of our mansion's garden."
Viscount Mervin shook his head in disbelief.
“A monster? That’s impossible.”
Tanya deliberately spoke loudly, as if mocking Kaiel. Kaiel then shouted, as if aggrieved.
“No, it was definitely a monster! It suddenly emerged from the darkness, attacked, and disappeared.”
“So, where were you hurt?”
To Tanya, they all looked fine. As expected, no one answered, as if they had eaten honey.
After a while, one person spoke cautiously.
“We were all hit on the back of the head and the pit of the stomach.”
“So, you’re saying a monster appeared, targeted the back of your head and the pit of your stomach, and then left?”
Viscount Mervin asked, seemingly dumbfounded. A snickering sounded here and there.
Tanya then asked casually,
“You weren’t hit because you were rude to someone, were you?”
The men, already embarrassed by Tanya, remained silent.
Viscount Mervin summarized the situation.
"Well, I'll have the men search the garden for now. Until we find the monster that struck you, the nobles, in the back of the head and in the pit of your stomach, we should enjoy the banquet."
The people agreed and returned to the center of the banquet hall, where they began eating and dancing.
If a monster had truly appeared, it wouldn't have simply struck them in the back of the head and the pit of the stomach before disappearing.
Then it must be a human, not a monster...
Tanya felt like she knew who it was.
'Could it be the Duke of Crichton... ?'
He lied, saying there was chocolate cake on Tanya's lips. That meant he saw her eating cake alone. So he might have seen the hurt feelings from Kaiel and his friends' gossip. Could that be why he struck them in the back of the head and the pit of their stomach and disappeared?
Zimmer, who seemed incredibly gentle on the outside, was said to be a warrior on par with the Emperor. Perhaps that's why he could attack them with such uncanny skill.
Yes, this situation couldn't have been explained without Zimmer.
Tanya struggled to suppress the laughter that threatened to escape. This more than made up for the regret of not being able to kiss him.
Zimmer quickly plucked a red dahlia from the fountain and offered it to Tanya.
"Then will you dance with me, Lady?"
Tanya took the flower with trembling hands and carefully took his hand. The moment her palm touched his, she flinched involuntarily, but Zimmer quickly grabbed her hand.
"Now, let's go slowly. One, two, one, two..."
Tanya murmured softly in time with Zimmer's rhythm.
"One, two, one, two..."
Their steps, initially awkward, gradually became natural.
Before they knew it, they were dancing, circling the garden fountain.
There was no music. But even more beautiful sounds enveloped them, the night breeze rustling the leaves, the chirping of insects, the refreshing gushing of water from the fountain.
And Zimmer's low humming.
Tanya looked up, startled by the timbre that matched all these sounds so perfectly.
“Oh, was my singing a bit off?”
Zimmer looked embarrassed, and Tanya quickly shook her head.
“No! It was like heavenly music.”
“Oh, not quite that much. Actually, my mother was a singer. It was a song she used to sing as a lullaby when I was little.”
“Can you keep playing it? It’s so beautiful, I think I’m going to cry.”
“Tanya...”
In that moment, Tanya realized she was alone in Zimmer’s brown eyes.
Her heart pounded with happiness and excitement.
And then, instinctively, she realized,
I might kiss you... I might...
As expected, she felt Zimmer’s lips drawing closer, and she squeezed her eyes shut. Her eyelids fluttered involuntarily, but thankfully, it was dark and she couldn’t see.
But what she heard was something she hadn’t expected,
“I’m sorry, Tanya. Unfortunately, I think I have to go now.”
Tanya quickly opened her eyes, and Zimmer's gaze was over her shoulder. Several guards were approaching him.
"Let's dance later."
"Of course. Go ahead."
Embarrassed, Tanya smiled even more cheerfully and waved.
However, watching Zimmer leave with the guards, a faint sigh escaped her lips.
It was like a midsummer night's dream.
Such a wonderful dream.
Yet, so regrettable...
***
When Tanya returned to the banquet hall, the atmosphere was a bit chaotic.
Kaiel and his friends were talking, spitting, while everyone else listened with rapt attention.
Tanya approached them, wondering what was going on. They couldn't have been so open about being caught gossiping about her.
"What's going on, Father?"
She asked Viscount Mervin cautiously.
"Well, I hear a monster came out of our mansion's garden."
Viscount Mervin shook his head in disbelief.
“A monster? That’s impossible.”
Tanya deliberately spoke loudly, as if mocking Kaiel. Kaiel then shouted, as if aggrieved.
“No, it was definitely a monster! It suddenly emerged from the darkness, attacked, and disappeared.”
“So, where were you hurt?”
To Tanya, they all looked fine. As expected, no one answered, as if they had eaten honey.
After a while, one person spoke cautiously.
“We were all hit on the back of the head and the pit of the stomach.”
“So, you’re saying a monster appeared, targeted the back of your head and the pit of your stomach, and then left?”
Viscount Mervin asked, seemingly dumbfounded. A snickering sounded here and there.
Tanya then asked casually,
“You weren’t hit because you were rude to someone, were you?”
The men, already embarrassed by Tanya, remained silent.
Viscount Mervin summarized the situation.
"Well, I'll have the men search the garden for now. Until we find the monster that struck you, the nobles, in the back of the head and in the pit of your stomach, we should enjoy the banquet."
The people agreed and returned to the center of the banquet hall, where they began eating and dancing.
If a monster had truly appeared, it wouldn't have simply struck them in the back of the head and the pit of the stomach before disappearing.
Then it must be a human, not a monster...
Tanya felt like she knew who it was.
'Could it be the Duke of Crichton... ?'
He lied, saying there was chocolate cake on Tanya's lips. That meant he saw her eating cake alone. So he might have seen the hurt feelings from Kaiel and his friends' gossip. Could that be why he struck them in the back of the head and the pit of their stomach and disappeared?
Zimmer, who seemed incredibly gentle on the outside, was said to be a warrior on par with the Emperor. Perhaps that's why he could attack them with such uncanny skill.
Yes, this situation couldn't have been explained without Zimmer.
Tanya struggled to suppress the laughter that threatened to escape. This more than made up for the regret of not being able to kiss him.
Then Kaiel approached.
"Miss Mervin, what happened earlier was completely unintentional. I was talking to my friends, and I didn't realize it..."
"I guess you're being sincere,"
Tanya replied with a cheerful smile. She continued to laugh, delighted that Zimmer had scolded them.
But seeing Tanya's bright smile, Kaiel looked terrified.
“I’m sorry, but wouldn’t it be better for both of us if we just forget about it?”
“No. I have a good memory, so that would be difficult. So, I think it would be best if we just let this marriage thing go.”
Kaiel grabbed Tanya’s skirt as she turned away.
“Miss Mervin!”
Tanya politely shook his hand away.
“Please, marry someone with hands as soft as a bird’s feathers. Then.”
The people who had just congratulated their engagement seemed to be wondering what was going on. Whispers could be heard here and there, but Tanya decided not to pay attention. She confidently passed through the crowd and crossed the banquet hall.
If she had known she would feel this relieved, she would have declined the marriage proposal sooner.
Humming could be heard from the Empress’s drawing room since dawn.
Tanya, who had arrived early, was humming as she decorated the room with red dahlias.
“You look cheerful this morning, Tanya.”
Fortunately, Adele appeared before the red dahlias completely covered the drawing room. She looked relaxed in a green chemise dress, her hair down.
Adele, who had married the Emperor two months prior, was in the early stages of her pregnancy. Until recently, she had suffered from morning sickness and constant sleep, but now she was slowly regaining her strength.
“I’m always in a good mood, Your Majesty.”
As Adele sat down on the sofa, Tanya quickly prepared warm herbal tea and placed it on the table. Of course, a vase of red dahlias filled the table as well.
Adele sipped her tea and gazed at the flowers.
“I was worried when I heard rumors that your marriage to Count Kaiel had been called off. But this is truly surprising.”
“The Count wasn’t really my type.”
“Then who? A new man who suits your taste?”
Tanya’s expression stung for a moment, but she quickly dismissed it with a wave of her hand.
“Oh, a new man? From now on, I’ll only serve the Empress diligently.”
But Adele smiled, the corners of her lips tilting upwards. It hadn’t been just a few days since she’d seen Tanya.
“Do you know what the red dahlia means, Tanya?”
“Of course. Your love makes me happy... right?”
“Yes, that’s why. I’m so curious about the man who made you so happy?”
Adele set down her teacup, grinning, and sent a silent pressure for Tanya to speak quickly.
Tanya’s lips moved as if on the verge of speaking, then she shook her head.
“Not yet. I’ll tell you later when the time is right.”
“Well, I’m afraid I can’t help it. He's not the Duke of Crichton, is he?”
Tanya looked at her, startled, but Adele calmly continued drinking her tea. Then she spoke lightly, as if it were a passing remark.
“If you have feelings for the Duke of Crichton, you’d better hurry. I hear he’s been seeing Miss Daisy a lot lately.”
“Miss Daisy? You mean that cranky daughter of Senator Marvin?”
Marvin had previously served as the royal doctor of Kalame. Christine forgave the man who had tried to slander Adele to repay gambling debts, and he also arranged for him and his family to live together.
Thanks to this, he has contributed greatly to Bahamart, received the title of Marquis, and runs a large clinic.
“Miss Daisy may be a bit picky, but she seems to have a knack for growing flowers. The flower garden she runs is rumored to be the most beautiful in Bahamart. The Duke of Crichton, a flower lover, seems to frequent it. I don’t know if it’s for the flowers or to meet Miss Daisy.”
“Of course it’s for the flowers. You know how much the Duke of Crichton loves flowers.”
“I wish I could say so. Well, we’ll find out what the Duke’s intentions are in a few days.”
“What do you mean?”
“I heard Miss Daisy invited the Duke to the ‘Secret Garden.’ It’s a secret place that Miss Daisy doesn’t let just anyone in. Do you know? The two of you are going there that day...”
“You’re going to see the rare flowers in the Secret Garden, right? If you two like each other, why bother going all the way to the Secret Garden?”
Tanya responded nonchalantly and went back to trimming and decorating the dahlias.
However, Adele quickly noticed that her expression had darkened and she was no longer humming.
“Are you anxious, Tanya?”
“No. Why should I?”
"Miss Mervin, what happened earlier was completely unintentional. I was talking to my friends, and I didn't realize it..."
"I guess you're being sincere,"
Tanya replied with a cheerful smile. She continued to laugh, delighted that Zimmer had scolded them.
But seeing Tanya's bright smile, Kaiel looked terrified.
“I’m sorry, but wouldn’t it be better for both of us if we just forget about it?”
“No. I have a good memory, so that would be difficult. So, I think it would be best if we just let this marriage thing go.”
Kaiel grabbed Tanya’s skirt as she turned away.
“Miss Mervin!”
Tanya politely shook his hand away.
“Please, marry someone with hands as soft as a bird’s feathers. Then.”
The people who had just congratulated their engagement seemed to be wondering what was going on. Whispers could be heard here and there, but Tanya decided not to pay attention. She confidently passed through the crowd and crossed the banquet hall.
If she had known she would feel this relieved, she would have declined the marriage proposal sooner.
***
Humming could be heard from the Empress’s drawing room since dawn.
Tanya, who had arrived early, was humming as she decorated the room with red dahlias.
“You look cheerful this morning, Tanya.”
Fortunately, Adele appeared before the red dahlias completely covered the drawing room. She looked relaxed in a green chemise dress, her hair down.
Adele, who had married the Emperor two months prior, was in the early stages of her pregnancy. Until recently, she had suffered from morning sickness and constant sleep, but now she was slowly regaining her strength.
“I’m always in a good mood, Your Majesty.”
As Adele sat down on the sofa, Tanya quickly prepared warm herbal tea and placed it on the table. Of course, a vase of red dahlias filled the table as well.
Adele sipped her tea and gazed at the flowers.
“I was worried when I heard rumors that your marriage to Count Kaiel had been called off. But this is truly surprising.”
“The Count wasn’t really my type.”
“Then who? A new man who suits your taste?”
Tanya’s expression stung for a moment, but she quickly dismissed it with a wave of her hand.
“Oh, a new man? From now on, I’ll only serve the Empress diligently.”
But Adele smiled, the corners of her lips tilting upwards. It hadn’t been just a few days since she’d seen Tanya.
“Do you know what the red dahlia means, Tanya?”
“Of course. Your love makes me happy... right?”
“Yes, that’s why. I’m so curious about the man who made you so happy?”
Adele set down her teacup, grinning, and sent a silent pressure for Tanya to speak quickly.
Tanya’s lips moved as if on the verge of speaking, then she shook her head.
“Not yet. I’ll tell you later when the time is right.”
“Well, I’m afraid I can’t help it. He's not the Duke of Crichton, is he?”
Tanya looked at her, startled, but Adele calmly continued drinking her tea. Then she spoke lightly, as if it were a passing remark.
“If you have feelings for the Duke of Crichton, you’d better hurry. I hear he’s been seeing Miss Daisy a lot lately.”
“Miss Daisy? You mean that cranky daughter of Senator Marvin?”
Marvin had previously served as the royal doctor of Kalame. Christine forgave the man who had tried to slander Adele to repay gambling debts, and he also arranged for him and his family to live together.
Thanks to this, he has contributed greatly to Bahamart, received the title of Marquis, and runs a large clinic.
“Miss Daisy may be a bit picky, but she seems to have a knack for growing flowers. The flower garden she runs is rumored to be the most beautiful in Bahamart. The Duke of Crichton, a flower lover, seems to frequent it. I don’t know if it’s for the flowers or to meet Miss Daisy.”
“Of course it’s for the flowers. You know how much the Duke of Crichton loves flowers.”
“I wish I could say so. Well, we’ll find out what the Duke’s intentions are in a few days.”
“What do you mean?”
“I heard Miss Daisy invited the Duke to the ‘Secret Garden.’ It’s a secret place that Miss Daisy doesn’t let just anyone in. Do you know? The two of you are going there that day...”
“You’re going to see the rare flowers in the Secret Garden, right? If you two like each other, why bother going all the way to the Secret Garden?”
Tanya responded nonchalantly and went back to trimming and decorating the dahlias.
However, Adele quickly noticed that her expression had darkened and she was no longer humming.
“Are you anxious, Tanya?”
“No. Why should I?”
“Otherwise, that’s fine. But if there’s something you want, don’t worry about what others think, and reach out first. It’s better than losing it and regretting it.”
“Your Majesty...”
Adele smiled meaningfully and stood up.
“Thank you for the tea, Tanya. And the flower viewing.”
Tanya, who was about to leave the palace in the evening, finally headed to the Imperial Palace.
Zimmer's frequent encounters with Daisy had made her anxious.
Tanya had seen Daisy once, at a palace banquet. She was a beautiful, intelligent, and charming young lady, though a bit fussy.
She ran a large flower garden and was also the owner of the "Secret Garden." The Secret Garden was a place where rare flower varieties were grown, and not just anyone could enter. Those who were invited there would often boast about them.
So perhaps Daisy, the owner of the "Secret Garden," would be enough to capture Zimmer's heart.
Until yesterday, she had been content to be Zimmer's friend. But perhaps Adele was right. Perhaps confessing, even if rejected, would be better than losing him to Daisy and regretting it.
Embracing the momentary embarrassment would prevent a lifetime of regret.
"Good morning, Lord Henry. Where should I go to see the Duke of Crichton?"
Tanya summoned up the courage to ask Henry the moment she saw him. Adele's butler, now the Emperor's chief chamberlain. And he knew where and what everyone in the palace was doing like a ghost.
“Good morning, Miss Mervin. Duke Crichton just left the palace on an errand for His Majesty. Is this urgent?”
“No, it’s not urgent. When will he be back?”
“Well, since he just left, he won’t be back late, right? He might even go straight home to the Duke’s residence.”
“I suppose so.”
“Is there anything you would like to say?”
She hesitated for a moment, then held out a neatly folded handkerchief. She had put her own personal touch on the handkerchief Zimmer had lent her the day before.
“Then... would you please pass this on to him? Please tell him I found it useful. I won’t be able to see him tomorrow because I’m off duty.”
Henry accepted the handkerchief from Tanya and smiled.
“Understood. I’ll pass it on. Is there anything else you would like to say?”
“No. That will be sufficient. Then.”
“Your Majesty...”
Adele smiled meaningfully and stood up.
“Thank you for the tea, Tanya. And the flower viewing.”
***
Tanya, who was about to leave the palace in the evening, finally headed to the Imperial Palace.
Zimmer's frequent encounters with Daisy had made her anxious.
Tanya had seen Daisy once, at a palace banquet. She was a beautiful, intelligent, and charming young lady, though a bit fussy.
She ran a large flower garden and was also the owner of the "Secret Garden." The Secret Garden was a place where rare flower varieties were grown, and not just anyone could enter. Those who were invited there would often boast about them.
So perhaps Daisy, the owner of the "Secret Garden," would be enough to capture Zimmer's heart.
Until yesterday, she had been content to be Zimmer's friend. But perhaps Adele was right. Perhaps confessing, even if rejected, would be better than losing him to Daisy and regretting it.
Embracing the momentary embarrassment would prevent a lifetime of regret.
"Good morning, Lord Henry. Where should I go to see the Duke of Crichton?"
Tanya summoned up the courage to ask Henry the moment she saw him. Adele's butler, now the Emperor's chief chamberlain. And he knew where and what everyone in the palace was doing like a ghost.
“Good morning, Miss Mervin. Duke Crichton just left the palace on an errand for His Majesty. Is this urgent?”
“No, it’s not urgent. When will he be back?”
“Well, since he just left, he won’t be back late, right? He might even go straight home to the Duke’s residence.”
“I suppose so.”
“Is there anything you would like to say?”
She hesitated for a moment, then held out a neatly folded handkerchief. She had put her own personal touch on the handkerchief Zimmer had lent her the day before.
“Then... would you please pass this on to him? Please tell him I found it useful. I won’t be able to see him tomorrow because I’m off duty.”
Henry accepted the handkerchief from Tanya and smiled.
“Understood. I’ll pass it on. Is there anything else you would like to say?”
“No. That will be sufficient. Then.”
She bowed politely and turned, but Tanya’s legs felt weak for some reason. It took a great deal of courage just to get here. And yet, she had to return without any results.
Behind Tanya, who was weeping, Henry smiled meaningfully.
Behind Tanya, who was weeping, Henry smiled meaningfully.
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