After doing the daily body check-up for the King, Ben left without saying anything. Then, without giving Rei any attention, the King started observing the candied fruit given by Ben like a kid who just successfully convinced their parents to give them snacks and sweets.
Uncertain of what she should do next, Rei silently sat on the chair and carefully listened to his every movement from his side. Rei has no courage to look at him directly, she never expected Ben to have such a close relationship with the King. After recalling how she told that doctor everything without any precaution, a sudden fear slowly raised inside Rei.
"Have you brought the dried flower tea?"
That sudden question from the King struck Rei like thunder. In shock, Rei's pupils dilated.
"Eh?... Ah… Yes, My Lord." said Rei as she nodded sheepishly trying her best to hide her fear and shock
Then, Rei took out that small porcelain jar she had been hiding under her sleeve. Suddenly, she remembered her conversation with Ben the night before, particularly regarding the side effect of the dried flower, she stopped her moves and stared anxiously at the King.
"Hmm? Rei? Is there anything wrong with that jar of dried flower tea? Why are you hiding it from me?" the King asked, still sounding as gentle as always.
Facing the questions he asked, Rei became even more anxious and uncertain of what she should do, as she realises how serious this matter could be. After all, she was exiled from her empire due to a plate of poisoned snacks.
Noticing the dilemma faced by the lady, the King thought for a while before realising what she might be worrying about at that moment. With a short sigh, he gently smiled at her and lightly tapped her hand, reassuring Rei that everything is alright.
"It's fine, just give it to me, you don't need it anymore, right? So, don't worry." said the King with a gentle smile.
"So… He knew it. Dr Ben told him after all. But didn't he even feel mad or offended?" Rei thought as she slowly passed that small porcelain jar to the King with a slightly shaky hand and does not even dare to directly look at his face...
***
The King took the porcelain jar from the lady's hand before staring at her with concerned eyes. That delicate lady in front of him is obviously in fear, she looks just like an innocent rabbit that got thrown into the cave of a fierce beast. He can't help but wonder just what kind of traumatic life she had gone through before he met her.
The King sighed and put down the porcelain jar. He stood up and walked towards a rack at his left side, he took out an incense burner from the rack and pour a small scoop of powder incense into it.
Then, the King lit up small bamboo with an old-fashioned lighter, after letting the bamboo stick burn on its own for a few seconds, he extinguished the fire leaving some red embers on its tip. With the ember on the tip of the bamboo stick, he carefully reached the bamboo tip onto the powdered incense inside the incense burner.
As soon as he lit up a tiny spot of the powdered incense, a wisp of delicate white fume emerged from that purplish brown powder, and a nice subtle flowery aroma slowly filled the whole room.
Inhaling that flowery aroma, Rei felt a nice warmness that slowly raised in her body and relaxed her tension and anxiousness.
"Feeling better now?" the King asked, he sounds a bit concerned.
Hearing that question from the King, Rei slowly looked up and stared blankly at that nice-looking gentleman in front of her. With the enhancement from the tranquillizing effect of the incense, the King appears to be more charming and dreamier than before, especially his black shiny gem-like eyes that look so deep yet attractive...
Uncertain if it was the effect from the incense or if there was any unknown reason, Rei had temporarily forgotten about that scary, fearsome, evil tyrant that had been triggering her anxiety all these days, the gentleman in front of her is purely that kind and warm gentleman who saved her from the snow and keep her warm in his own overcoat.
"Mmm… That's much better. Hah... Seriously, I don't know what you had been experiencing in the Qin's palace, but in my place, you don't have to be this tense and cautious all the time. If I would harm you so easily, I wouldn't have brought you back here in the first place, right?" said the King, with a concerned and sincere look.
Rei sheepishly nodded without saying anything. Seeing Rei's reaction, the King sighed and called out for a guard to escort Rei back to her own room.
After Rei left the room, the King summoned another servant to get the incense burner out of the room and started coughing in discomfort…
***
Later, Rei's room.
An Er and the younger maid are staring at their mistress with concerned looks as Rei had been sitting on her bed and dazing off since she was escorted back to the room by a palace guard.
"My Lady, are you alright? Should I get a physician for you?" An Er asked, she is rather worried about her mistress.
"Don't worry, I am alright… I just want to clear my mind a bit. And please don't call any physician or doctor… I absolutely don't want to see him for now." said Rei, without even looking at An Er.
"My Lady…"
An Er continue to stare at her lady in concern, she really wondered what happened to her earlier that lead to her current state.
"An Er…" Rei called for An Er all of a sudden.
"Yes, My Lady?"
"Care to sit by my side?" Rei asked.
Despite being a bit confused, An Er did as Rei said and sat beside her on the bed. Then, without any warning, Rei leaned her head onto An Er's shoulder.
"An Er… Did you know that? I thought I was going to lose my life just now... I guess he is not that rumoured evil tyrant after all." said Rei.
"My Lady, may I know what happened just now? Is there anything to do with Dr Ben?" An Er asked.
Rei shook her head and remained silenced.
***
The King's reading room.
The King was observing that jar of dried flowers given by Rei while doing some detailed tests on some of the flower petals. He looks a bit pale with an extra cloth over his slightly shaky body. After a short observation, he called out for Satoshi who is guarding at his side.
"Satoshi, get Ben here, I believe he is more interested in this finding than I do." said the King with a subtle expression…
***
That night, despite Rei not wanting to see that doctor anymore, Ben once again reached Rei's room with his usual working trunks and some extra jars filled with candied fruits.