Finally, when all preparations were finished, Thalia approached the window and looked outside.
Before she knew it, the rain was gradually subsiding. However, judging by the occasional rumble of thunder, it did not look like the weather would clear up.
She frowned. It seemed unlikely that they would be able to spend a romantic time alone together stargazing.
She let out a small sigh of regret when she heard the faint sound of horses' hooves in the distance.
Thalia turned her head back toward the castle gate and narrowed her eyes as she spotted three or four men mounted on warhorses entering the courtyard. Barcas's figure was faintly visible beyond the curtain of the drizzling rain.
"Tell them to prepare alcohol and food in the kitchen."
Thalia, having shouted urgently at Brisa, immediately sat in front of the mirror and began to fix her hair. However...
The shape she wanted just wouldn't come out. Thalia, who had been repeatedly inserting and removing the pin several times, picked up the powder puff on her dressing table. After patting her flushed cheeks with it, red dye was applied to the lips.
Then, a face eerily similar to Senevier's was reflected in the mirror. Staring intently at that familiar yet strange image, she took out a handkerchief and rubbed her lips vigorously.
No matter how much she tried to imitate her mother, she would ultimately look like nothing more than a clumsy imitation. She untied the hair she had spent hours meticulously styling and let it hang over one shoulder, then removed a few pieces of jewelry. She was afraid that he might be reminded of Senevier by her appearance.
'...I should have worn Eastern attire instead.'
She bit her lip while looking down at the imperial-style attire when she heard footsteps from the next room.
Thalia rose from her seat and peered through the gap in the door. Through the narrow opening, she saw the tall, slender figure of Barcas throwing off his wet coat.
Thalia, who had been holding her breath watching him unbutton his shirt, suddenly felt a fever rising inside her and took a deep breath. As her nausea finally subsided, she straightened her clothes one last time and pulled the doorknob.
Before anyone realized it, Barcas was sitting at the desk, leaning back against the chair. He spoke without even lifting his head.
"You’ve come at just the right time. Would you like a glass of wine?"
Then, he lightly lifted the wine glass he was holding. It seemed he had mistaken him for a servant who had come to attend to him.
She picked up the bottle of liquor on the shelf and cautiously approached him. Just then, Barcas, who had been rubbing his forehead, suddenly lifted his head.
Thalia unconsciously clutched the bottle of alcohol tightly. Her heart sank for a moment at the look in his eyes, which seemed to see right through her mind. She forced a nonchalant smile onto her lips.
"Drink only a little because you have dinner soon."
Barcas, who had been silently looking up at her in surprise, slowly stood up from his seat.
"What are you doing here?"
At the wary question, the corners of her mouth involuntarily stiffened. She pointed to the bedroom door with a feigned nonchalant expression.
"I was waiting for you to come back."
Barcas's gaze turned toward the bedroom. Thalia felt her mouth burning as she carefully observed his expression. He showed no particular reaction even at the sight of the beautifully decorated dining table.
Could it be that he sensed suspicion regarding my sudden change in attitude? Thalia, who had been nervously wetting her lips, added in an awkward voice.
"We haven't had a single meal together since you came back. So... I prepared this."
Barcas remained silent for a while. Looking back and forth between her and the table with an expressionless face, he suddenly let out a sigh as if exhausted.
"Doing this will not change my mind. Please stop the unnecessary trouble."
Thalia clutched the hem of her skirt tightly. The man seemed to think that she had come to beg for a place to sleep again.
Suppressing her shame, she stammered out excuses.
"I didn't prepare this to change your mind. It's just... I heard you'll be away from the castle for a few days..."
Barcas remained silent. She continued speaking desperately.
"I wanted to apologize before you left. I was too harsh that day. I shouldn't have kicked you out like that..."
"There is no need to apologize."
He barely opened his mouth.
"I should have clearly expressed my intentions regarding the child from the beginning. However, I..."
"That's enough about that."
Thalia hurriedly cut him off. She had absolutely no intention of arguing with him about that matter today.
"I want a child, but if you say you don't want one, I won't force you anymore. I really didn't come here today because of that. I just... I just want to have dinner with you."
Barcas's brow furrowed. It seemed that his words were not believed.
Feeling anger rising within her, she abruptly turned around.
"You can refuse if you don't feel like it. I can just eat it myself."
Then, as she took a step toward the door, Barcas grabbed her wrist.
"Please wait a moment. I will go change my clothes."
She was slightly offended by the answer that seemed to be reluctantly spat out, but the joy that the preparation she had worked hard on all day had not been in vain was greater.
Thalia hurried back to the bedroom before he changed his mind and instructed the maids to quickly prepare and bring the food.
Shortly after, the servants brought a tray full of food and wine and placed it on the table.
Finally, when all preparations were complete, she sent all the maids out, took out a vial, and dropped a few drops of the potion into the pitcher of wine. Then, after setting the pitcher aside on a shelf to distinguish it from the other drinks, she rearranged the tableware on the table.
While she was in the middle of making a fuss, she heard the sound of a door opening.
Thalia suddenly lifted her head. She saw Barcas standing by the door, looking much neater, as if he had washed and changed his clothes in the meantime.
Thalia hurriedly led him to the dining table.
"That finished faster than I expected. Come here and sit down."
Barcas, who had been looking at her with an expression that was impossible to read, slowly crossed the room and sat on a chair. Thalia quickly placed some food on his plate.
"You're hungry, aren't you? Go ahead and eat. I heard from the butler that you have been skipping meals often lately. You used to nag me so much about my eating habits, but what are you doing now?"
"Please sit down. I’ll eat as I please..."
"You used to often take care of my meals, too. I just wanted to cook for you today."
Thalia gently pushed away his hand, trying to stop her, and clumsily cut some meat, bread, and cheese, placing them on his plate. Barcas, who had been staring blankly at them with awkward eyes, finally gave in to the repeated urging and began to eat.
Thalia watched the scene with a proud look in her eyes. She felt she could understand why Barcas often fed her. The sight of him eating the food she had prepared gave her a strange sense of satisfaction.
Thalia diligently offered him food while waiting for the right time to administer the potion.
How long had we been engrossed in our meal? The food on the table gradually began to run out.
Thalia grew increasingly anxious. All she had to do was stand up and pour the wine. He wouldn't suspect anything. But why was she hesitating like this?
After hesitating for a long time, she opened her mouth.
“Aren’t you thirsty?”
Barcas, who had been mechanically continuing his meal, looked up. Thalia stood up from her seat, wearing a forced smile on her lips.
"I'll pour you some wine."
Then, without waiting for an answer, she walked over to the shelf and picked up the pitcher. Perhaps finding the sight somewhat unnatural, his eyes narrowed slightly.
Her heart sank for a moment. Thalia gripped the handle tightly so as not to let anyone see her trembling hands. Then, pretending nothing was wrong, she poured wine into Barcas's glass.
"It’s a special wine that replenishes your energy. We’ve added plenty of beneficial medicinal herbs, so it will help relieve fatigue."
A look of suspicion flickered in Barcas's eyes as he looked down at the cup. Thalia gripped the pitcher handle so tightly that her joints turned white.
She wondered if he had noticed that it wasn't an ordinary wine, and was contemplating whether she should put the glass away right then, when he slowly gulped it down.
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