"Composed by Simon?" Lady Isolde chuckled softly upon hearing this. "How much literary talent does the prince truly possess? This poem was likely written by someone else, wasn’t it?"

Gius protested. "Your Ladyship, this time you are truly mistaken. This poem was recited by His Highness himself, and Joan personally heard it."

"Is that so?" Lady Isolde remained sceptical, sighing deeply. "Whether it’s true or not, the poem is filled with longing for home. It seems Simon misses Eldora dearly."

As she spoke, Lady Isolde suddenly covered her face and began to weep softly.

Agnes glared at Gius. "Her Ladyship has been unwell these past few days, and now you’ve made her cry. You deserve a beating."

Gius shrank back, remembering what the prince had told him before he left. He spoke. "Your Ladyship, there’s no need to grieve. His Highness said that he is quite content in Brambleford. Being far from Eldora spares him the daily scheming and intrigue. However, Brambleford is too impoverished. He wishes to revitalise his domain but lacks the funds to do so."

Lady Isolde, who had been grieving over her beloved son, now remembered the main purpose of Gius’s visit. She sighed. "If only he had realised this earlier. When he was in Eldora, he never bothered to curry favour with the emperor. Now he’s scrambling for solutions. Well, I suppose this perfume is different from the usual incense. The Empress might like it. When the time is right, I’ll whisper a few words in her ear, and perhaps the emperor will remember his paternal affection."

"Your Ladyship is wise. His Highness said he deeply regrets his past actions. That’s why he specially prepared this wine, hoping you could present it to the emperor." Gius relayed the prince’s instructions.

"I understand. Agnes, find an inn in Eldora for Gius to stay for a few days. Once this matter is resolved, he can return." Lady Isolde instructed.

Agnes acknowledged the order and led Gius out of the palace to an inn, instructing him not to wander off.

Gius, mindful of the prince’s repeated warnings, obediently settled into the inn and waited.

Meanwhile, in the palace, Lady Isolde seemed to have set aside the matters of the perfume and wine, spending her days reading in her chambers.

One morning, as Lady Isolde was going about her usual routine, a lively commotion erupted outside the Golden State. Among the chatter, Lady Margret’s voice could be heard.

Agnes hurried into the chamber and spoke. "Your Ladyship, your foresight is remarkable. Lady Margaret flaunted the perfume in front of the emperor, and it’s said that the emperor was so taken with the scent that he spent two nights in her chambers. The news has spread like wildfire among the concubines, and even the Empress can no longer sit still. She’s on her way here with the other concubines."

Lady Isolde, dressed in a grand green embroidered palace gown, smiled. "Yes, I expected this to reach the Empress’s ears by now. Let’s go. This morning will be busy."

She stepped out of her chamber just as a woman in a phoenix-yellow palace robe, surrounded by attendants, entered the Golden State. With a square face, star-like eyes, and sharp eyebrows, she exuded an air of authority. This was Empress Gretchen, the reigning Empress of the Eldorian Empire.

"Greetings to Her Majesty the Empress." Lady Isolde said, hurrying forward to pay her respects.

Empress Gretchen smiled and gently stopped Lady Isolde from bowing. "No need for formalities. Today, I’ve brought the others with me. I hope we’re not intruding."

"Your Majesty, you speak too kindly. I’m delighted to have you all here. Please, come in." Lady Isolde said, ushering Empress Gretchen into the main hall.

Empress Gretchen took the seat of honour, while the other concubines seated themselves below. Lady Margaret, Lady Eleanor (mother of the Second Prince), and Lady Matilda (mother of the Third Prince) were all present.

"Lady Isolde, if it weren’t for Lady Margret, I wouldn’t have known that the prince sent you something called perfume. I heard it’s quite extraordinary, so I thought I’d come and see for myself." Empress Gretchen said with a smile.

The other concubines also looked on with curiosity. The news of Lady Margaret’s newfound favour with the emperor had spread like wildfire, and they were all eager to learn more.

Lady Margaret’s smile was strained. She had only enjoyed the emperor’s favour for two days before others began vying for his attention. She had even punished the eunuch who had leaked the news.

Seeing that the time was right, Lady Isolde no longer held back. "Your Majesty, it’s true. This perfume was crafted by the prince. He intended it as a gift for you, but I was hesitant to present it immediately, fearing it might be another of his whims. I wanted to test it for a few days first. Now that Your Majesty is here, I won’t keep it hidden any longer."

With that, she instructed Agnes to bring out the remaining perfume.

Three wooden crates were placed on the floor, and Empress Gretchen’s eyes lit up with anticipation. She had always been fond of fragrances, especially rare and exotic ones.

"Agnes." Lady Isolde called, and Agnes promptly opened the three perfume bottles, filling the room with their enchanting scents.

Empress Gretchen had first sought out Lady Margret after hearing about the perfume, but Lady Margret had claimed to have used up her supply. Now, experiencing the fragrance firsthand, Empress Gretchen knew immediately that this perfume was far superior to any incense she had encountered.

Seeing Empress Gretchen’s delight, Lady Isolde said. "Your Majesty, these are just three of the available scents. The prince mentioned that if you have a preferred fragrance, he can specially craft a perfume for you."

Empress Gretchen sampled each of the three scents and found herself enchanted by all of them. The idea of having a custom fragrance made her even more excited. "The prince is truly thoughtful."

Curious about how to use the perfume, Empress Gretchen asked. "How does one apply it?"

Lady Isolde stepped forward, took a feather, dipped it into the perfume, and lightly flicked it, causing the fragrance to mist over Empress Gretchen. "This is how it’s used. It’s very simple, and the scent lasts all day. If it fades, you can simply reapply."

"How convenient." Empress Gretchen said, inhaling the delightful aroma lingering on her robes.

The other concubines murmured among themselves. "Your Majesty, the scent is truly captivating. I can smell it even from here. No wonder the emperor followed Lady Ma around for two days."

Lady Margaret forced a smile. "I merely borrowed it from Lay Isolde to try. I didn’t expect the emperor to take notice."

The other concubines exchanged knowing glances, suppressing their laughter.

As the saying goes. "The fragrance reveals a woman’s essence." Which is why the concubines were so fond of various scents. The unique allure of the perfume had won Empress Gretchen’s heart.

She spoke. "Is the prince truly offering this perfume to me?"

"Your Majesty, of course. The prince said that if you like it, he will gladly create more fragrances for you." Lady Isolde replied.

Empress Gretchen, born into the prestigious Ravencrest Family, renowned as the foremost scholarly family in the Eldorian Empire, she was well-versed in literature and poetry. Her astuteness had maintained peace in the harem for years.

Though the prince was far away in Brambleford, his gift of perfume clearly had an ulterior motive. However, the perfume had struck a chord with Empress Gretchen, appealing to her deepest desires.