“Yeah, that..."
Tiuran did not answer immediately. Tiuran, who had been staring at the medicine bottles on the desk with a pensive expression, put down the teapot she was holding and cautiously asked a question.
"Did something happen between you and His Excellency the Grand Duke?"
"It's not that, I just thought it wouldn't hurt to try it out at least once..."
Thalia trailed off awkwardly. It was incredibly embarrassing to ask for one to be made for her now, after having warned her that she could be branded a heretic for making and selling such medicine.
She cleared her throat softly to hide her embarrassment.
"I told you that medicine isn't harmful to the body."
"Yes. As long as you stick to the prescribed dosage, there will be absolutely no aftereffects. However..."
Tiuran paused for a moment, opened the container of tea leaves, and poured the dried herb leaves into the teapot. Then, she added in a calm tone.
"As I mentioned before, the effects of the potion are temporary. All effects will wear off in about half a day, and you will return to your original state."
Thalia clutched the towel tightly with nervous hands. Her heart pounded against her ribs with an irregular rhythm; she couldn't tell if it was from guilt or self-loathing. After remaining silent for a while with her lips tightly sealed, Thalia finally lifted her head.
"It doesn't matter, half a day is enough."
She wanted to receive his complete love, even if only for one night. Without him suppressing his desire for her or trying to keep his distance. She simply wanted him to love her passionately, like ordinary lovers. It didn't matter, even if it was all an illusion created by the power of drugs.
Suppressing the words rising to her throat, she came up with a plausible excuse.
"As I said last time, I absolutely have to have a child. But he isn't cooperating at all."
Tiuran remained silent for a while. As she poured hot water into the kettle, she replied in a slightly subdued tone.
"I do have a little bit left over from when I made it a while ago."
Thalia leaned forward without realizing it.
Tiuran placed the reddish herbal tea on the bedside shelf and walked over to the closet. Then, she opened the drawer and took out a glass bottle about the size of two finger joints.
"You just need to mix a little of this into the drink His Excellency the Grand Duke will have."
Thalia put down the towel as if tossing it and quickly caught it. Inside the bottle was a light brown liquid.
"He probably won't notice because it has almost no taste or aroma, but it would be better to mix it into a strong-flavored drink like wine or mead."
Thalia opened the lid and sniffed. Just as she said, she couldn't detect any scent. Could something like this really work?
As she peered into the medicine bottle with a suspicious look, Tiuran, who had covered the opening with her palm, warned her in a somewhat stern tone.
"This medicine must be taken only by His Excellency the Grand Duke when you are alone together. If both of you get under the influence of the potion, an accident might occur."
"Accident?"
Thalia looked back at her with a skeptical expression. Tiuran explained in a calm tone.
"Once you are under the influence of the potion, your self-control practically disappears. Becoming so excessively engrossed in the other person, you might unhesitatingly commit acts you would never normally do."
Thalia swallowed hard. Tiuran added with a rather solemn expression.
"So it would be safer if at least one of you stayed sober."
"...I understand exactly what you mean."
Thalia quickly closed the lid of the medicine bottle. A slight cold sweat beaded on her palms. A chilling shiver ran down her spine at the thought of Barcas having lost all self-control. She could not tell if it was fear or anticipation.
She pushed the medicine bottle into her bosom and stood up from her seat.
"I'll pay for the medicine separately later."
"You don't need to worry about that. It's just leftover medicine anyway."
Tiuran wrapped her arm around her shoulder and added gently.
"Besides, the rain hasn't stopped yet. Since I've already brewed some tea, please rest a little longer before you go."
Thalia looked out the window. Heavy rain was pouring down ceaselessly from the eaves. It was obvious that she would get soaked if she went out now. She sat back down in the chair and kept quiet with the herbal tea Tiuran had prepared.
A short while later, as the rain gradually subsided, she put on her coat and headed straight for the main castle. She could see pale sunlight faintly shining through the clouds that had begun to clear, as if morning had already dawned.
Thalia emerged from the rain-soaked forest path and slowly crossed the Great Hall, where servants were bustling about. Upon seeing her, several servants hurriedly bowed in respect. Among them were quite a few unfamiliar faces. Given the news that all the lords of the neighboring regions had been summoned to resolve the raider problem, they appeared to be their attendants.
Thalia lightly acknowledged their greeting with a chin gesture and slowly walked up the stairs.
By now, Barcas would be discussing countermeasures for the subjugation at the assembly hall or attending to official duties at the city assembly hall. Recalling his schedule that had continued without a moment's rest since his return, she clutched the medicine bottle in her pocket tightly.
Since the argument that day, they never once had a proper conversation. Unless she reached out, he wouldn't be the first to approach and ask for reconciliation.
After hesitating for a moment, Thalia passed her room and headed to his office.
As expected, the study was empty, as if Barcas had already left his nature. Thalia, looking around the spacious room, soon entered the bedroom connected to the office. It appeared that he had not been away for long. Barcas's distinctive cool scent lingered in the large space.
Thalia, who had been savoring the subtle scent for a while, soon flopped down onto the crisp, wrinkle-free bed sheets.
He would not return until sunset. That meant there was still half a day left.
She hugged the pillow smelling of him and turned to the side. She intended to catch up on her sleep and then get ready to welcome him.
She lowered her eyelids, which felt stiff as if covered in sand. However, perhaps due to worry about what was about to happen, she could not fall asleep.
After tossing and turning for a long time, Thalia finally got up from her seat again. She would rather start getting ready early.
It seemed like a better choice. She immediately summoned the maids and began selecting clothes for the evening. Because she had gained a little weight over the past few months, there were few new clothes that fit her well.
After much deliberation, she ordered all the clothes brought from the imperial palace to be brought out, and then tried on the clothes she had enjoyed wearing before injuring her leg, one by one. After struggling for several hours, she was finally able to pick out a dress she liked.
"You are truly beautiful, Your Highness."
Wearing a thin dress that revealed the curves of her body, she looked at herself in the mirror from various angles when she heard Brisa's flushed voice.
Usually, she wouldn't have even heard those stale, cliché compliments, but this time, she found them quite satisfying. She wanted to look more beautiful than anyone else tonight.
If she appeared alluring in Barcas's eyes, he might come to believe the passion inflated by the power of the potion was his true feelings. Clinging to such futile hope, Thalia persistently examined her appearance.
How long had we been making such a fuss? As the afternoon arrived, the rain, which had briefly subsided, began to get heavy again.
She looked at the sky, thick with dark clouds, with worried eyes.
"Has Barcas still not returned?"
"I haven't heard any news of his return yet. But with the rain pouring down like this, won't His Excellency be back soon?"
Brisa replied while looking out the window. Thalia gazed intently at the sky, where lightning occasionally flashed, then slowly nodded.
Certainly, it will be difficult to keep working outside in this weather.
"Please start preparing dinner. We're going to eat in this room tonight."
"All right."
The two girls hurriedly left the room. Their faces were beaming with smiles, as if they had realized she was determined to spend some quality time with her husband.
Thalia tried hard not to let her embarrassment show and focused on making his dull bedroom romantic.
At her instruction, the servants placed antique candlesticks throughout the room and lit them softly, then brought a vase of flowers to the window. Meanwhile, the maids spread a pure white tablecloth on the table and neatly arranged silver tableware, gold goblets, and a pitcher of wine.
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