Episode 14

Episode 14. First, Take Off Your Clothes

So then—how exactly was I supposed to explain this situation if someone walked in?

“I’m so sorry.”

Lowering my gaze, I looked at the man kneeling before me.

He knelt with the moonlit window at his back. Silver hair bathed in pale light. A white mask concealing half his face. Golden eyes shining mysteriously, even in the dark.

Yes. Just moments ago, he was the intruder who’d covered my mouth.

“I’m really, truly sorry.”

With his hands clasped tightly, he kept bowing and repeating his apology.

Every time he lowered his head, the earring on his ear glinted.

I stared down from my bed, still trying to catch my breath. Though I was free of the intruder’s grasp, my heart hadn’t yet calmed.

“What in the world is this…?”

“I understand your shock. It’s late, and I barged in unannounced, covering your mouth right away. You must have been terrified.”

…What is with this guy?

His innocent eyes and polite tone drained the tension from my body. I even started to feel a bit curious.

If he meant to harm me, surely he wouldn’t be acting like this.

“So, what’s your reason for doing this?”

“Sorry?”

“You knew what you were doing was wrong, yet you still did it. Why?”

He bowed his head even lower.

“I had no choice. It was unavoidable.”

“What reason could possibly be great enough to justify sneaking into the Empress’s palace?”

“This is the Empress’s palace?!” His face drained of color.

“Wait—don’t tell me you didn’t even realize where you were?”

“The situation was urgent. I was running blindly… I didn’t have the chance to check where I ended up.”

From the look on his face, he wasn’t lying. And now that I thought about it—if he reacted that strongly just hearing “Empress’s palace”… what would happen if he found out this was the highest room in the Empress’s wing?

“By any chance, could this room…”

My suspicion quickly turned to certainty.

“…belong to someone extremely high-ranking?”

I wouldn’t be surprised if he fainted.

Clearly, he didn’t know I was the Empress.

“Don’t worry. This place is safe,” I smoothly changed the subject. If he did learn the truth and pass out, that would be its own kind of hassle.

“Oh, right. That’s… good to hear.”

He sighed in relief.

Oh, no. It’s far too early to be relieved.

This room? It’s the highest one in the Empress’s palace.

And me? I’m the Empress. Surprise.

It’s all right, though—I get it. You’re shocked.

This is just between us, but even I sometimes get startled when I look in the mirror.

“So, why did you come to the palace?”

“There was something I had to see.”

“What was so important you had to sneak into the imperial palace for it?”

“It’s something that can only be seen here… and only on a night like this one.”

His serious tone piqued my interest.

“A person? Someone you love, maybe?”

Wait—could it really be?

My eyes sparkled.

A secret romance within the palace! He, a lowly man unworthy of her… Yet his love only grows, until he can no longer bear it. And so he braves the imperial walls under cover of night…

“Flowers,” he said.

“Flowers?”

“Yes. Flowers.”

…Disappointing.

The wings of my imagination promptly snapped off and crashed to the ground.

“Are you seriously telling me you broke into the palace… for flowers?”

He didn’t answer, but his guilty expression was enough.

Well, well.

“Do you even realize how dangerous that is? This is the imperial palace.”

Just remembering a past incident sent chills down my spine—when the Captain of the Guard had cut down an intruder without hesitation. I could still see his icy glare.

Does this man even understand how close he came to dying for something as trivial as a flower?

“Please tell me you haven’t done this often.”

“I did find it odd. The guards were far more alert than usual tonight…”

Wait, what?

That means he’s done this before.

A repeat offender?

I put a hand to my forehead with a deep sigh. What I’d asked half-jokingly had landed a catch.

“I swear, I had no ill intentions. I’ve never done anything wrong. I only come quietly to look at the flowers, then leave.”

“If it was just about seeing flowers, you didn’t have to come here.“

And if he wasn’t even picking them, just looking, then even less reason to sneak into the palace.

He gave me a gentle smile.

“There are rare flowers that only bloom in this part of the palace.”

“So you risked your life, sneaking in and out, just to see them?”

“Yes.”

“How often?”

“…Roughly for the past three years.”

Three years?!

“Wow… You’ve been lucky not to get caught.”

“Until tonight, I’ve always managed without trouble. But today, for some reason, the palace guards were much stricter.”

That made sense.

A few days ago, several intruders breached the outer walls, aiming for none other than the imperial concubine’s palace. His Majesty was furious.

And tomorrow is the Emperor’s birthday banquet.

Of course the guards were on high alert.

“There was a bit of commotion recently. I’m amazed you made it this far undetected.”

“I know the palace layout well. But with so many guards, it’s getting harder to find places to hide.”

His awkward speech, his shy gestures…

Against my better judgment, I decided to believe him.

A real threat wouldn’t claim he was here to look at flowers.

“All right. So, how do you plan to leave?”

“I was going to hide somewhere quiet until the guards relax, then sneak out the way I came in.”

I gestured at his clothing.

“Wearing that?”

“Is something wrong with it?”

Plenty.

It was a sleek black outfit, from head to toe.

“If you go out like that, the guards will definitely chase you.”

“There’s no emblem on my clothes.”

“Even so, you look just like the intruders from the other day.”

“W-what?!”

“Exactly. If you try to leave dressed like that, you’ll get caught for sure. And there won’t be any ‘relaxing’ of security anytime soon. We’re celebrating His Majesty’s birthday for the next week.”

“T-then what should I do?”

He looked visibly shaken.

What should I do with him? Technically, he did break the law. Should I call the guards?

But I quickly shook my head.

From Helena’s memories, I knew the laws of this world were much harsher than my own.

If I handed him over, he’d almost certainly die.

And I didn’t want someone so naïve—who only wanted to see flowers—to meet that fate.

Was there any other way?

As I pondered this dilemma, an idea struck.

I smiled.

“I’ll help you get out safely.”

“Truly?”

“Of course. But in exchange, can you do anything I ask?”

“Anything…?”

His eyes wavered.

After a moment’s hesitation, he gave a solemn nod.

“If you help me, I’ll do whatever you ask.”

Whatever he was imagining, his face looked oddly grave.

“Then first…” My smile deepened. “Take off your clothes.”

“Excuse me?!”

“Y-Your Majesty!”

The palace guards at the front gate hurriedly bowed at the sight of me. I nodded in return.

“Thank you for your service.”

“It’s late—may we ask what brings you out here?”

“Just wanted some fresh air.”

“Ah, I see.”

“And the one behind you…?”

One guard glanced at the figure behind me.

“Oh, just one of my maids,” I stepped forward, subtly blocking their view.

I kept my expression calm, but inside I was a nervous wreck.

Please don’t get caught.

The unusually tall ‘maid’ behind me was suspicious no matter how you looked at it.

“Very well.”

Thankfully, the guards didn’t press the issue. Perhaps it was because I was the Empress.

“Do you not have a personal escort? We’d be happy to accompany you.”

“I’m only taking a short walk. I’d prefer to be alone. Would you give me a moment of privacy?”

“Understood.”

They bowed and stepped away.

Only when their presence had fully disappeared did I finally exhale.

Phew. That was nerve-wracking.

Still, mission accomplished. I couldn’t help but feel a sense of pride.

I turned around.

A very tall ‘maid’ stood behind me, wrapped in a soft blue dress that surprisingly suited him.

If anything stood out, it was the long hair that partially hid the white mask on his face.

“See? I told you they’d believe you were really a maid.”

No answer.

His expression had gone stiff.

“…Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Tell you what?”

“That you were the Empress…”

His voice trembled slightly.

“Does it matter? What’s important is that you made it out safely.”

I smiled, then added with a firm tone:

“I understand how much the flowers mean to you, but you must never do something so reckless again.”

His golden eyes shimmered faintly.

What? Is he actually debating whether to try it again?

No. I need to make sure he understands.

“Promise me.”

I held out my pinky.

He raised an eyebrow.

“What’s that?”

Ah. Guess they don’t have pinky promises here.

I took his hand.

“You hook your fingers like this. If you promise this way, you absolutely cannot break it.”

“Ah…”

He nodded slowly.

“Then it’s a promise.”

“Yes. I promise.”

“If you do this again, I won’t be able to help you next time.”

“It won’t happen again.”

He gently raised our linked hands.

“Because… I promised.”

I wonder if he returned home safely.

As I made my way back to the Empress’s palace, the thought crossed my mind.

Well, I walked him all the way to the main gate. He should be fine.

I still couldn’t believe someone would sneak into the imperial palace just to look at flowers.

In its own way, that was impressive. We’d likely never meet again.

Ugh. I need to get back and rest. Too much happened tonight.

I quickened my steps—

“Ah. Perfect timing. I was just getting frustrated.”

A low, unfamiliar voice stopped me cold.

Turning, I saw a dark silhouette beneath the wisteria tree.

A shadow stretched long across the ground.

From it emerged the figure of a man with deep red hair.

…Now who, exactly, was this?