I Won’t Accept Your Regrets

The Agrita Empire, which occupies the largest land on the continent. The Empire had successfully overcome the great royal birth scandal eight months ago and entering a period of stability.

No, to be more honest, it didn't enter a stable period, it was already in a stable period.

The great purge of the late Marquis Sios, who was the main culprit of the rebellion, and the associated aristocracy, and the death of the First Prince, who was the blood of the previous Crown Prince.

Despite the great storm that shook the Empire… Other countries thought that the Agrita Empire couldn’t easily take their place and were even preparing to invade their territory, but the Agrita Empire was not shaken at all.

Emperor Raymond Agrita ascended the throne looking for talented people among the margnal aristocrats to fill the vacant positions quickly.

He joined the Phoenix Organization, known as a Trade Guild owned by the Empress of Agrita, to further increase the volume of trade with other countries and who gave full support to the imperial family to prevent the death of the trading district.

Thanks to that, Agrita was working with more energy than before.

The rapid stability allowed the rest of the world to calm down, and the status of the Agrita Empire was increasing day by day on the continent.

It is the beginning of the autumn of 928.

Large greenhouse gardens have sprung up on the outskirts of the imperial capital. The place was built by the Phoenix Organization. And it was the place where the most popular product from the top of Phoenix, the Celine Perfume, was made.

A greenhouse garden where thousands of flowers and herbs grow. In the greenhouse, where the temperature was kept at the right temperature, there was a person looking at the plants.

Beautiful silver hair and sparkling purple eyes as if plucked from the starlight… Ellie Agrita, Empress of the Agrita Empire.

Ellie was looking at the state of a new herb from the Desert Kingdom.

"Rosaleen said it was a difficult plant to grow."

She frowned as she remembered Rosaleen's words, looking at a plant that couldn't flourish comfortably.

However, it was such a good herb for mental stability that she couldn't let it die like this. Ellie looked around the empty greenhouse and touched the herbs.

She used her ability to save plants and soon, the plant that received the power came to life as if it had raised its head. Ellie then quickly revived the other withered herbs back to good health.

When she smiled satisfactorily as she looked at the fresh plants, the greenhouse door opened.

“Her Majesty the Empress!”

The woman who nearly ran up to Ellie tried to be polite, but Ellie shook her hand.

"Let's just say hello, Lady Celine."

"Yes."

The woman who hurriedly greeted her was none other than Rosaleen Celine, the manager of the greenhouse and perfume business at Phoenix Organization.

Rosaleen looked embarrassed, straightening the middle of her knee.

"Sorry. There was a sudden problem with the carriage wheels on the road… and I dared to make Your Majesty wait.”

Rosaleen arrived half an hour later than the time she was supposed to meet Ellie. She dared to make the Empress of the Empire wait. Ellie didn't punish her, though she deserved it immediately.

"It's okay. I wanted to check the greenhouse before you came anyway. So I came way earlier than I was supposed to find you."

"Yes, of course.  So you've been waiting for me much longer!"

Rosaleen's eyes widened at the news that she had come earlier, but Ellie was quick to respond.

"I wasn't waiting, I was looking at the greenhouse."

"…"

"I don't want to hear any more words of apology," Ellie said in a low voice, drawing a line, and Rosaleen seemed surprised.

"Yes."

Ellie looked around the greenhouse and said.

"Lumont says, young lady, you're almost in charge of the greenhouse, aren't you tired?"

“No, I love plants. There are many beautiful flowers and herbs in the greenhouse, so I'm worried about leaving them in someone else's hands. I feel comfortable doing it."

“But don't overdo it. The perfume business will continue to grow anyway, and your workload will only become overwhelming. I told Lumont to pick out some plant experts, so take this time to raise them as your disciples. It's about time you had some disciples."

"A disciple…"

Rosaleen's eyes widened. It's like she never imagined it. But Ellie had already thought about it for months.

Rosaleen's perfume now blossomed beyond the Empire to other countries. Since Rosaleen's perfume makes a big profit on the top, it's time for Rosaleen to move up a notch.

‘I can't let her work alone forever.'

"Thanks. Your Majesty, you always take care of everything that I don't usually care about. I still have a lot to do. I'll do my best."

"You'll do fine."

Ellie smiled sincerely.

“You have already grown so many plants. Of course, it is more difficult to manage people, but it is similar. You have to wait patiently for the growth process. And the lady has a talent for handling it.”

“…I am infinitely deficient compared to Her Majesty, the Empress.”

“Yes, I have lived longer. Lady, have you tried to overtake me yet?”

"No! How could I! Definitely not! No, even if I go for the rest of my life, I will follow in the Empress' footsteps…”

Rosaleen waved her hands in amazement. When Ellie laughed, Rosaleen realized it was a joke and pursed her lips slightly.

“Your Majesty the Empress. You're making fun of me."

"Haha. I'm a bit bored these days. The Crown Prince was busy with his classes and the palace also found stability. I'm sorry if I surprised you, lady."

Rosaleen smiled as if she was disappointed.

"No, I'm glad you're completely at ease now."

The Empire's situation was stabilized from the start, but in fact, there was a bit of discomfort left in the Imperial City.

It was because of the memory of the First Prince that was left in the Imperial Palace. Carlisle also missed seeing the First Prince very much.

However, almost a year has passed since the First Prince disappeared, and most of the traces left in the palace have disappeared… It is only in people's memories.

As soon as Ellie had a strange smile, Rosaleen, who turned her gaze for a moment, said in surprise.

"Hey? How did it come to life?"

What surprised Rosaleen was none other than a plant from the Desert Kingdom. The plant that Ellie had just saved.

"I'm sure it didn't have this strength until yesterday."

Ellie pretended not to know anything.

“Oh, is that the plant that came from the desert? I heard that it is very difficult to bloom…”

"Yes, Your Majesty. Actually, it was almost dying, so I was wondering what to make of this."

"It doesn't look like it's dying at all to me."

"I see… How is this possible?"

Rosaleen blurted out the ending as if she couldn't believe it. Ellie changed the subject when she saw Rosaleen, who seemed to be digging up the roots as she looked at the plants.

"What is the problem? …As long as it'm alive. Lady, let's have some tea. I've been looking around the greenhouse for so long, and now my legs ache.”

"Oh I didn't thing of that. Let's go out of here. In fact, I baked cookies that go well with tea time today.”

"I'm looking forward to it."

Ellie walked out of the greenhouse, gently turning the corners of her mouth towards Rosaleen, who was interested in the plant.

* * *

There was a large gazebo located near the greenhouse. Under the gazebo, protected by the knights, Ellie and Rosaleen sat face to face.

“It smells like herbs. Did you add herbs?”

Ellie, who ate Rosaleen's cookies, asked and Rosaleen nodded.

“Yes, it's made with a herbal powder that relieves fatigue. Do you like it?"

“It's a perfect combination. It's delicious, lady."

At Ellie's praise, Rosaleen finally broke into a comfortable smile. And also had a mouthful of tea and biscuits. Rosaleen, who put down the teacup, carefully called out to Ellie.

“Your Majesty, the Empress.”

"Yes?"

“Actually, I have always been curious about Your Majesty.”

As Rosaleen looked at her, Ellie said, trailing off his words.

"Are you so curious? …Okay, so tell me why.”

“It's… The more I learned about Phoenix Organization after running the perfume business, the more I wondered how yoy was able to build such a good foundation in such a short time. Of course, I don't know much about business, but I know that the size of Phoenix Organization is not something that can be done in a few years. Then…"

"Do you want to know how I developed it?"

"…Yes," Rosaleen answered in a low voice.

To be honest, it was a question that could be quite rude in a way. Aside from the secret of how she grew the top business, Ellie created such organization because it was a time when she left the Empire.

Perhaps the Empress didn't want to remember that time very much.

Rosaleen swallowed dryly when she saw Ellie exhale.

As expected, she shouldn't have asked.

Ellie's lips opened as Rosaleen tried to apologize, blaming her trusting mouth these days.

"I was lucky," Ellie smiled slightly as she remembered her nostalgic past.