Episode 7

Episode 7: Who Do You Think I Am?

Why on earth had this man come looking for me?

Everything felt chaotic.

“Greetings, Your Majesty the Empress.”

He entered the room and bowed politely. His black hair, parted to one side, was impeccably styled. His strikingly handsome face drew every eye, and the perfectly tailored black uniform suited him far too well. The maids around us couldn’t help but gasp in awe at the sight of him.

Mary, who had brought in the tea, glanced at me with curiosity in her gaze. She wasn’t the only one. I could sense several pairs of eyes from behind Leonard’s broad shoulders, waiting for an opportunity to get a better look.

Yes, I know exactly what you’re all thinking. You’re dying to know why he, the imperial palace’s unicorn, has come to see me, aren’t you?

Well, too bad—I don’t know either.

“We’ll take our leave.” At that moment, Countess Chloe stepped forward, announcing they would give us privacy.

I quickly looked imploringly toward the maids and beamed a message at them: No! Don’t leave me! It is late, Leonard makes me uncomfortable, and most of all, I’m more shy than I look. Please, stay! I pleaded silently with my eyes, pouring all my desperation into a single glance.

Thankfully, the maids were competent. They all nodded in unison. 

I knew I could count on you!

Relieved, I gave them a grateful look—only to see one of them flash me a thumbs-up before leaving.

Wait… what does that mean?

Clack. The door shut.

…Oh, no. They misunderstood my message entirely.

And just like that, I was alone with him.

“Did I offend you somehow?” Leonard was the first to speak, noticing my less-than-thrilled expression.

“No, I was just a little surprised by your visit,” I replied, shaking my head and gesturing for him to sit. “Is this about yesterday?” I asked, getting straight to the point.

Yesterday was the first time I’d met Leonard. Judging by the maids’ reaction, it seemed Helena had never interacted with him before I took over, either.

“Yes. It’s about that incident,” he confirmed. “First, I’d like to offer my sincerest apologies to Your Majesty.”

“…Pardon?”

Apologies?

“I regret that I showed such a disturbing scene during the subjugation of the intruder.”

“Ah.” I remembered how he had mercilessly destroyed the fountain as he neutralized the attacker, his figure drenched in blood. It had been intense, yes, but not nightmare-inducing.

“It couldn’t be helped. It’s fine,” I said cheerfully, accepting his apology. I suppose I’d grown a bit braver since becoming Helena. I’d been so tense when he walked in, but now I felt relieved.

I thought it might be something far more serious—like him suspecting me of conspiring with the intruder or coming to interrogate me.

Then he spoke again.

“Your Majesty.” Leonard stared at me. “If I may ask… is there a particular reason why you don’t have a personal guard?”

“A guard?” I blinked, surprised. 

“Yesterday, when I saw you, there were no knights at your side,” he continued. “I wondered if you had dismissed them for a reason.”

“That… you’d have to ask Countess Chloe.” I called her in to clarify.

“Her Majesty the Empress does not have a guard,” Chloe stated plainly once the question had been put to her.

“And why is that?” Leonard asked.

“Her Majesty made several requests to His Majesty the Emperor,” she explained. “But each time, His Majesty declined, saying, ‘The imperial palace is safe. Maids are sufficient for accompaniment.’”

So Jerome had denied it. No wonder I hadn’t seen a single knight or even a common soldier around the Empress’s quarters.

“That’s highly irregular,” Leonard frowned. “Accidents can happen anywhere. Even the Imperial Concubine has six personal guards, yet the Empress’s palace is left completely unprotected?”

“There are guards stationed at the entrance of the Empress’s quarters,” Chloe offered.

Leonard fell silent, deep in thought.

“Sir Leonard?”

“…Ah.” He sighed quietly, apparently just realizing I had spoken. “My apologies for visiting at such a late hour. I’ll look into the matter of your security personally.”

He rose and gave a respectful bow. “Then, until we meet again.”

“Again?” I flinched, startled. 

“…Did I say something wrong?”

“Ah! No, nothing like that,” I waved it off quickly. “It’s just… You’re a busy man. I assumed if it were a minor issue, you’d send someone else.”

“…Yes. I’ll consider that next time,” he replied. Was it my imagination, or did his expression seem… odd?

Still, without another word, he turned and left.

Once he was gone, the maids burst into the room like a flood.

“Oh my goodness, Sir Leonard came to see you personally, Your Majesty!”

“Why was he here? What did he want?”

So many curious eyes, so many eager questions.

They were supposed to be terrified of Helena… but judging by their reactions, that didn’t seem to be entirely true anymore.

“He asked about security in the Empress’s quarters.”

“Was that all? Nothing else?”

“Yes, that’s all,” I replied.

They looked disappointed.

“Were you hoping it was something else?”

“N-no, of course not, Your Majesty,” they stammered.

I chuckled inwardly. With his looks, background, and ability, it’s no wonder they’re curious. Still, I hoped they wouldn’t get too attached to him.

He’s a very dangerous man.

Today’s surprise visit had caught me off guard. The maids didn’t know what kind of person he truly was. Thankfully, it all ended without incident.

Now it was time to get back to work. I still had to meet Helena’s supporters—the ones I hadn’t gotten around to last time.

“Anyway, who am I supposed to meet today?”

“Captain!” Leonard had just returned to the knight order’s quarters when a young voice called out. It was Conrad.

“So? How did it go?” Conrad grinned.

Leonard gave him a flat look. “What are you talking about?”

“Oh, come on. We all heard you met the Empress!”

“I did.”

“Nothing… dramatic happened?”

“Dramatic?”

“You know, Her Majesty is infamous for her temper,” Conrad whispered. “They say she blows up at the smallest things, throws whatever’s in reach… She’s terrifying.”

Leonard thought back to Helena. Her eyes were sharp, but her expression wasn’t harsh. If anything, she had seemed like a wide-eyed herbivore—one that was afraid of him.

“…I see.” His gaze narrowed.

There had been something deeply off during that meeting. The Empress wasn’t just disinterested—she was afraid of him. Not with hate, but true fear.

Why?

Leonard was known for being overly proper, almost rigid, in his role as captain of the imperial knights. At least on the surface. And yet, she clearly wanted to avoid him. She’d tried not to show it, but he could tell.

And it wasn’t just about the incident yesterday…

He recalled the way her eyes widened in shock when he said he’d return.

I need to investigate this further.

Unconsciously, a faint smile touched his lips.

The maids had scattered to summon Helena’s remaining allies in her fight against the female lead. I was waiting for them to return, when—

Knock knock.

Speak of the devil…

“Come in.”

The door opened—and my eyes widened in shock. It wasn’t one of Helena’s supporters.

What? Why is he here?

Moonlight spilled through the window, casting a soft, ethereal glow on silver hair.

“Empress.”

The man who entered was none other than Jerome.

Another uninvited guest?

“I came to ask you something…” He trailed off, gaze falling toward the tea table—specifically, the two teacups still sitting there. “…So you had a visitor.”

“Yes, well… What brings you here, Your Majesty?”

He didn’t answer.

“Your Majesty?”

“Meeting someone in private, this late, without even your maids present?” he asked, eyes still fixed on the cups.

“Does that matter?”

Again, no answer.

He barged in, and now he was ignoring me?

“Why are you here?”

“The Imperial Concubine’s dress.”

Ugh. My shoulders tensed.

So he had heard about the entire fiasco.

I knew he was obsessed with Fay. It wouldn’t be surprising if he’d come to scold me for tearing her dress.

Fine. I was ready for this.

“Yes. I tore it.”

“Why?”

“Because I was jealous of her dress.”

“No.” Jerome cut me off sharply. “I’m not asking for a petty excuse like that.”

He turned his head, crimson eyes locking with mine.

“Why did you say you did something… when you didn’t?”

“…What?”

My heart skipped a beat. He knows I didn’t do it?

That didn’t make sense. The matter should’ve already been resolved with me as the culprit. He even told Fay that I tore it.

Still, I feigned ignorance.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. I tore the Imperial Concubine’s dress.”

“Don’t lie to me.”

He narrowed his eyes. Somehow, he was certain I hadn’t done it.

I sighed.

“Fine. I didn’t do it. But I wanted to. Is that not allowed?”

“You’re covering for a maid. That’s unlike you.”

“Whether I protect my maid or not is my decision.”

“You thought I’d dismiss her?”

“Didn’t you?”

He flinched slightly at my blunt answer.

Maybe I was too direct, but honestly, it seemed like the obvious outcome. In the original story, Jerome always punished those who wronged Fay.

“You never let anyone who harms the Imperial Concubine go unpunished.”

That was why I claimed responsibility. I couldn’t bear to let a young maid be ruined for a simple mistake. Helena had plenty of crimes—what was one more?

Probably the only reason I was still alive was because my title as Empress still offered some protection. But eventually, Helena’s past sins would catch up to her. And he would be the one to deliver judgment.

Not that I planned to let things get that far.

I figured that was enough of an explanation. But Jerome’s frown only deepened.

“You…” His voice was strained, as if holding something back. “Just what sort of person do you think I am?”