Chapter 4

Early in the dawn, Roabellin quietly left the villa. She feared that if she waited until morning to say goodbye, he might try to hold her back.

 

‘I don’t have the confidence to coldly push him away. I have to leave anyway… This is for the best.’

 

After checking behind her once more, she held her breath and ran down the hill. Perhaps because she had overexerted herself during the long night, her legs felt weak and shaky. Once she was far enough from the house, Roabellin cast a spell to change her face.

 

With brown hair, blue eyes, and slightly adjusted features, some of her original essence remained, but it was difficult to see her as the same person. Checking her transformed appearance in a hand mirror, Roabellin let out a small sigh.

 

‘Phew… I was happy for even just one day, so that’s enough. I have no regrets.’

 

Arriving at the inn, she packed her things and left immediately. She planned to leave the lodging Kai knew about and move to a different inn once morning came.

 

‘The festival is over now, so there should be vacant rooms.’

 

Even though she had changed her face with magic, she kept her head down, terrified that he might somehow recognize her and give chase. Despite trying not to think about him, her mind kept drifting back.

 

‘Is Kai awake yet? I wonder what kind of face he’s making now that I’m gone. Is he feeling hurt? I’m sorry for running away without even saying goodbye, Kai…’

 

 

***

 

 

The sound of rain that had lasted all night ceased, and the morning sunlight filtered in. The light gently touched his eyelids, waking him.

 

“Mm… Henna…”

 

Calling for Henna, who he assumed would be beside him, Kaisertern reached out his arm, only to realize he was touching nothing but empty space. His eyes snapped open.

 

“Henna?!”

 

He called out a bit louder, but the house was silent. He couldn’t sense anyone’s presence. A strange feeling flashed through his mind.

 

‘Where did she go? Did she go to wash up?’

 

Kaisertern got out of bed. Even though he sensed the silence, he couldn’t believe it until he saw it with his own eyes. He hurried down to the first-floor living room and looked around, only to find a single note on the sofa table.

 

[Kai, hello. It was only one night, but I was truly happy to be loved by a wonderful man like you. We won’t be able to meet again, but I will cherish the memories of this happy day for the rest of my life. Thank you.]

 

“What… what is this?”

 

The situation was so unexpected that Kaisertern was more than hollow; he was flabbergasted. Last night had been a first for him as well as Roabellin, and he had no intention of letting it end as a one-night stand.

 

Of course, according to Kaisertern’s original principles, his first woman should have been the Empress he would eventually welcome. He never wanted to be like his father, who had his first child with a concubine. He and his mother had been the primary victims of his father’s actions. This was why he had kept women at a distance until now.

 

However, after meeting Henna for just two days, he was certain that it was okay for this woman to be his first. He didn’t want to let her go, and he had wanted to hold her as soon as possible. It might have been a cowardly thought, but fearing she might leave, he wanted to claim her body first. It was the first massive deviation of his life.

 

Being a meticulous man, he had already estimated her status and planned the necessary procedures. His thoughts yesterday were as follows: ‘Since she’s likely a noble, there shouldn’t be an issue with the marriage itself. If Henna comes from a humble family and there’s heavy opposition to making her Empress immediately… I’ll bring her in as a concubine first, elevate her family’s status, and gradually raise her to Empress.’

 

Firmly believing Henna was a noble, he had even considered the possibility of her having a low title. He had planned to reveal his identity to her in the morning after their night together and take her straight to the Imperial Palace. But…

 

‘The first woman to receive the Emperor’s favor has run away. This is something that will go down in the history of the Empire.’

 

Kaisertern sighed and ran a hand roughly through his hair. As someone who rarely showed emotional agitation, he found his own reaction strange. However, the mere thought of not seeing Henna again weighed on him with a growing sense of anxiety and fear.

 

‘It’s not just that. Henna is now a woman who might be carrying the Imperial seed. Not just for my personal desire, but for the sake of the Imperial family, I must find her.’

 

Biting his lip, he stood up. Using a magic tool, he urgently contacted Hail, the Chief Chamberlain.

 

“Immediately blockade all gates leaving Vicentium. Deploy every Imperial Knight and search quietly for a woman. Platinum blonde hair, light purple eyes, a slender build—a stunning beauty who stands out anywhere. She’s 18 years old, of average height. Find her as quickly as possible and bring her to the Emperor’s Palace. No, she is a guest of honor, so escort her with the utmost care.”

 

Hail, who had struggled to cover for the Emperor’s overnight absence, was bewildered by the sudden, frantic order early in the morning. However, he was in no position to argue.

 

“Huh? Yes, yes! Understood.”

 

“Phew…”

 

After firing off the orders and disconnecting, Kaisertern sighed deeply again.

 

‘It’s strange… to not even sense her leaving the bed.’

 

As someone who was a light sleeper and exceptionally sensitive to the presence of others, it was incomprehensible. In truth, Roabellin had hidden a “sleep incense” in her robe pocket the night before to ensure he wouldn’t wake while she escaped. After their passionate time, once Kaisertern fell asleep, she held the incense under his nose. It was a non-toxic medicine that simply induced deep sleep. Kaisertern had no way of knowing.

 

‘Where could she have gone?’

 

Sinking into the sofa, he suddenly recalled what she had said the day before.

 

“I’m going to try and seduce His Majesty the Emperor.”

 

The thought was so absurd it drew a hollow laugh from him.

 

‘Ha… then… she really means she’s coming to me.’

 

Kaisertern was the Emperor of a vast empire. Naturally, not just anyone could approach him. One had to pass through numerous gates and countless people.

 

‘I have no plans to select concubines, so how does she plan to come to me?’

 

If she were a noble lady, it might mean she intended to use her family’s influence to get a word to the Emperor—just as many nobles had tried before.

 

‘Has someone been recommending Henna all this time and I just ignored it?’

 

Raking his memory, Kaisertern expanded the realm of possibility. If not that, then perhaps…

 

‘Did she mean she would enter as a maid?’

 

Because he believed “Henna” was a noble lady, Kaisertern didn’t even consider the possibility of her entering as a lowly laundry maid.

 

‘If she comes to me even in that way, it would be a relief, but realistically… if Henna had the family power to be placed as a maid in the Imperial Palace, especially the Emperor’s Palace, she would have entered long ago.’

 

Since Kaisertern was the only member of the Imperial family living in the palace, the number of maids was small. They had rarely been replaced since he became Emperor because he was indifferent to the staff’s composition.

 

‘I have no idea how she plans to come. It didn’t seem like empty talk; she sounded quite determined. If she happens to be pregnant and pushes herself too hard…!’

 

The image of her suffering in his mind made him feel even more frantic. Actually, it was highly unlikely that a woman intending to win the Emperor’s favor would have a one-night stand with a stranger without using contraception—especially someone as educated as Henna seemed. But he was in such a state of urgency that he couldn’t think rationally.

 

‘I can’t just wait leisurely. I have to find her. As quickly as possible.’

 

It wasn’t just about the possibility of her carrying his child. The mere fact that she was somewhere beyond his sight and reach made him incredibly uneasy. Then, he imagined Henna happily held in another man’s arms. It felt like his stomach was turning over.

 

Kaisertern stood up abruptly and left the villa. His knights were already searching, but he felt he had to find her even a moment sooner. While walking, he took out the magic tool again, this time contacting Count Raymond, his subordinate and friend.

 

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

 

“Evan, you must have heard from Hail. Help find that woman. Use any means necessary, find her, and bring her safely before me. I’m joining the search myself.”

 

“Understood. But who exactly is…”

 

Before Count Raymond could finish his question, the connection was cut.

 

“He’s not usually the type to hang up like that. He must be in a real hurry.”

 

Count Raymond muttered, staring at the magic tool.

 

 

***

 

 

Kaisertern first went to the inn where Henna had stayed. If she had vanished intentionally, he didn’t expect her to still be there, but he hoped to find some trace.

 

The innkeeper said a young lady with her hat pulled down low checked out at dawn. Nevertheless, Kaisertern summoned his subordinates, blocked all exits of the inn, and had every room searched thoroughly. Of course, she wasn’t there.

 

‘Since I’ve blockaded all of Vicentium, she couldn’t have left the city yet.’

 

Using his imperial authority, he had sealed the capital’s gates, but he couldn’t keep a massive city closed for days. The longer the blockade, the greater the tangible and intangible damage.

 

Kaisertern scoured every corner of the city like a madman. However, neither in the back alleys where he first met her nor on the streets they had walked together was there any sign of the radiant platinum-blonde woman.

 

‘Where did you go?’

 

As time passed, Kaisertern felt a growing sense of anxiety and despair. Never in his life had he craved something so desperately. But he didn’t even have the mental leeway to be surprised by his own behavior.

 

While Kaisertern was burning with urgency, Roabellin—having changed her face—was eating a simple breakfast at a restaurant, waiting for a room to become available at another inn. Her mind was also complicated.

 

Gazing out the window, she saw men in uniforms passing by hurriedly.

 

‘What’s going on?’

 

They weren’t just looking around the streets; they seemed to be checking the descriptions of people, focusing especially on women.

 

‘Did someone commit a crime?’

 

Watching them come and go, she suddenly thought of Kai.

 

‘Surely he didn’t mobilize people to find me for running away, right?’

 

She entertained the impossible thought for a moment but soon shook her head to dismiss it.

 

‘Why would such a perfect man bother looking for a commoner girl in a grey dress? To him… it was probably just a nobleman’s one-day fling. We were both happy for a day, so that’s enough.’

 

As she left the restaurant to find another inn, a group of men rushed past her.

 

“Check quickly! The order is to minimize the blockade time!”

 

“Dammit, why is it so hard to find one woman?”

 

Roabellin made eye contact with the men, but their gazes slid past each other. The Imperial Knights and soldiers didn’t recognize the transformed Roabellin and walked right past.

 

After moving into a room at a different inn, Roabellin set her bags down and collapsed onto the bed.

 

“Whoo…”

 

She hadn’t slept at all the night before, and the tension of her escape made her feel as if she were sinking into the mattress.

 

“Maybe I’ll just sleep for a bit… yawn.”

 

Intending to close her eyes for just a moment, Roabellin didn’t wake up until the evening sky was stained with red.

 

“My goodness, how many hours did I sleep?”

 

Rubbing her eyes while looking at the sunset, she suddenly recalled the events of last night again. Every moment was beautiful and happy, but the most beautiful and intense presence in those memories was him.

 

‘Kai…’

 

She remembered the look in his eyes, which couldn’t hide his deep regret when he asked if she was really going to go to the Emperor. Roabellin shook her head slightly.

 

‘He’ll forget soon too. Both last night and me. He’s a man I’ll never see again, so let’s stop thinking about him. Let’s just leave it as a memory of a once-in-a-lifetime happy romance and not look back.’

 

While Roabellin tried to brush away the memory, Kaisertern was clinging to it all day with a desperate heart. Kaisertern, Count Raymond, over a hundred knights and soldiers searched for Henna, but by sunset, they hadn’t found such a woman in the city.

 

Because they couldn’t keep the great city blockaded any longer, Kaisertern finally lifted the order before dark. Despair clouded his face as he gave the command.

 

“Please return to the palace, Your Majesty. You have two full days of state affairs piled up. I will have men continue searching for the woman.”

 

At Count Raymond’s earnest plea, Kaisertern finally turned his back.

 

“Fine… let’s go.”

 

Even after returning to the palace, Kaisertern couldn’t settle his mind and gave sharp orders.

 

“Deploy concentrated forces at all city gates. Inspect every person and piece of luggage leaving the city. Tell the city guards to bring any young woman with platinum blonde hair and purple eyes to the palace immediately, regardless of who she is.”

 

“Yes, Your Majesty!”

 

Kaisertern was usually calm and rarely showed emotion. Since he was displaying rare irritability, the administrative official answered with great tension.

 

 

***

 

 

During the two days remaining before she entered the palace, Roabellin gathered necessary herbs from the woods on the outskirts of the town and brewed magical potions.

 

“The shapes and sizes of the herbs are a bit different from Aventador or Aventador. But the basic medicinal effects should be the same.”

 

For two days, she diligently made various magic potions: external wound treatments, antidotes, potions to change hair and eye color, contraceptives, aphrodisiacs, hallucinogens, and dream-incense. She packed them into her bag with a sense of pride.

 

“I hope I don’t have to use these… but I feel more secure having them. Tomorrow, I finally enter the palace!!”

 

She didn’t know what awaited her, but her heart swelled with anticipation.

 

The next day.

 

Roabellin went to the palace entrance and presented “Yulli’s” ID card, the palace entry permit from the employment agency, and her palace worker acceptance certificate. She was a bit nervous, but the guard checked the documents and let her in without a word. After passing through two more gates, she finally arrived at the Laundry Department.

 

‘Wow… if it’s this hard just to get to the Laundry Department, what will it take to meet the Emperor…?’

 

Roabellin realized once again the layers upon layers of high walls standing on the path to the Emperor. In her childhood, as a Duke’s daughter, meeting the King of the Aventador Kingdom wasn’t that difficult. She was the daughter of a Marquis-turned-Duke, after all. But to others, she was now a commoner, and her target was not a King, but an Emperor.

 

‘Right. He is the Emperor, after all. If he were easy to meet, he wouldn’t be the Emperor, right? He’s the destiny heaven has given me. For now, let’s do what I can here.’

 

Steeling her resolve, Roabellin entered the Laundry Department. Although called a “department,” it actually consisted of two small buildings and a large yard, giving the impression of a small government office or school. Many palace workers in uniforms were busy moving back and forth with laundry.

 

Roabellin stood at the entrance for a moment, but no one spared her a glance. After a moment of hesitation, she greeted them as loudly as she could.

 

“Hello! I’m Yulli, starting today. I look forward to working with you!”

 

Only then did a few people look back. Confusion appeared in their eyes. The Laundry Department was a place where work was hard and there was almost no chance of catching the eye of high-ranking officials, so everyone’s appearance was very plain. If someone was even slightly pretty, they were usually sent to places where they would be more visible to the Imperial family or nobles, even for menial tasks.

 

Even though she had used magic to make herself look more ordinary, Roabellin’s appearance was still excessively striking. One of them, looking at her, asked in a lukewarm voice.

 

“Hey, miss. Are you sure you’re in the right place? The Laundry Department?”

 

Not understanding the reason for their reaction, Roabellin answered innocently.

 

“Yes, that’s right. I’ll work hard. What should I do first?”

 

Hearing her words, a middle-aged woman with a stern impression stepped forward. She looked over Roabellin’s slender frame with disapproval and spoke curtly.

 

“I’m Olga, the head of the Laundry Department. Follow me.”

 

Roabellin followed her to the second-floor dressing room. Olga pulled a uniform out of a locker and tossed it to her.

 

“Change quickly and come out.”

 

Roabellin was a bit startled by the rough treatment and took the uniform.

 

“Yes, ma’am.”

 

After quickly changing, Roabellin went downstairs to Olga. Olga once again scanned Roabellin’s feminine and slender body.

 

“We’re short on hands, so I told you to come… but I don’t know how many days a body like yours will last.”

 

“Don’t worry. I’ll do my best!”

 

Roabellin answered with a bright, energetic face.

 

 

***

 

 

‘It’s already been three days.’

 

Sitting at his desk in the office, Kaisertern let out a deep sigh and rubbed his face. For the past three days, he had been focused entirely on finding Henna, barely eating or sleeping. Though he had great physical stamina, the constant irritation and anxiety were mentally exhausting.

 

Sighing once more, he traced back his memories of Henna. It had become a new habit since she left.

 

‘There was something on the right side of Henna’s back, maybe near the shoulder blade. It wasn’t a slave brand, nor did it look like a common noble family crest. It wasn’t in a place where people usually get tattoos…’

 

Something felt like it was on the tip of his tongue but wouldn’t quite surface.

 

“Is something troubling you?”

 

Count Raymond, who had just entered, asked as he observed Kaisertern’s face lost in thought. As a subordinate and a childhood friend, he was a man with warm-looking brown hair. Despite the low-toned question, Kaisertern stared into space for a moment before finally speaking.

 

“If an incredibly beautiful woman, likely a noble, entered the palace specifically to seduce the Emperor… which palace would she go to, and how?”

 

Since Kaisertern wasn’t the type for idle fantasies, Count Raymond looked stunned for a moment. But he quickly regained his composure and answered.

 

“A noble whose goal is to become Your Majesty’s woman… would wait for a concubine selection decree and enter through the selection process. Although Your Majesty has never issued such a decree yet. That would be the principle.”

 

“…Right, I suppose.”

 

Kaisertern had learned about those procedures when he was a prince, but he had forgotten them because he had never actually used them. Even after becoming Emperor, he still had no intention of doing so.

 

“Otherwise, she would enter as a maid in the Emperor’s Palace or the Main Palace. Since there are no other Imperial family members to serve, there are almost no maids outside those two palaces.”

 

It was true. However…

 

“Those two palaces are places I visit daily, and I know most of the faces and names because the staff hasn’t changed in years.”

 

“That is true.”

 

Kaisertern fell back into deep thought. Things weren’t clicking; something felt misaligned.

 

‘Was she not a noble then? But looking at her habits, speech, and especially her hands, she clearly isn’t a commoner. She had vast knowledge and culture in various fields…’

 

However, he decided to consider all possibilities, just in case. Henna herself had said she was a commoner.

 

“Then, what if she’s a commoner?”

 

Count Raymond wondered why he was being asked such things, but he answered sincerely.

 

“Well, if a commoner aims for social climbing through a noble, let alone Your Majesty, she would be ridiculed for having no sense of reality… A noble might have a child with a commoner, but realistically, they never marry. Given that, would a commoner even dare to look at the Emperor, who isn’t even a distant relative of the Imperial family?”

 

Despite the sincere answer, Kaisertern asked again with an indifferent expression.

 

“…Realistically, yes… but what if there were a woman who intended to do so? And for reference, what if she was an peerless beauty that anyone would lose their mind over?”

 

‘What on earth happened? Did Your Majesty fall for a commoner?!’

 

Count Raymond wanted to press for details, but… he suppressed all his questions and answered calmly. Kaisertern was not only his boss but the ultimate authority in this Empire.

 

“You mean your first question? Which palace she would have entered?”

 

“Yes.”

 

Count Raymond recalled the palace department operating system and answered.

 

“Let’s see… The maids who serve Your Majesty closely are from noble families, but even in the Emperor’s Palace or Main Palace, menial labor is handled by commoners. Since you asked about commoners, those positions would be possible. However, unlike nobles, commoners enter as workers under a ‘department’ rather than a ‘palace.’ Usually, those who have worked well for a long time in a department are selected by the department head and promoted to the Emperor’s Palace or Main Palace. Even if not in those two palaces, everyone near Your Majesty has had their competence verified over a long period. In other words, it is almost impossible for a newcomer to be placed where Your Majesty’s gaze might fall.”

 

“And so?”

 

Kaisertern raised an eyebrow. Count Raymond, who had become quick-witted from serving a difficult boss, quickly continued.

 

“S-so, a newly entered commoner would have been sent to a department where they would never catch Your Majesty’s eye. Especially if she is a beauty, the hazing from existing staff would ensure she is given tasks that never cross Your Majesty’s path for the time being.”

 

Kaisertern, who had inwardly hoped for a hint to find Henna, felt his energy drain and let out a sigh. Count Raymond, sensing his mood, spoke cautiously.

 

“By the way… who on earth is saying such outrageous things? Should I search for her and punish her for speaking of Your Majesty so lightly?”

 

At those words, Kaisertern’s brow furrowed sharply.

 

“The woman I’ve been telling you to find for the past few days—that’s her. We blockaded the capital and put out a search but couldn’t catch her. That’s why I asked, wondering if she had already entered the palace.”

 

Count Raymond tensed up, seeing the Emperor’s displeasure.

 

‘Ah, a commoner said something ridiculous and His Majesty is truly angry!’

 

Misinterpreting Kaisertern’s intent, he chose his words to suit the Emperor’s mood.

 

“I will investigate the list of all women who recently entered the palace. Shall I dispose of her quietly once found? Or should I have her beheaded and her head displayed at the marketplace to serve as a warning to the people?”

 

“What?!”

 

Kaisertern was so shocked he let out a short, strangled sound.

 

“No, absolutely not! Just investigate and submit the list. I will handle the rest. Do not do anything to that woman.”

 

Flustered, he gave Count Raymond strict instructions. But the Count misinterpreted his intent once again.

 

‘Ah, does His Majesty intend to interrogate her himself…? Poor soul, whoever she is.’

 

Though mistaken, he reached his own understanding and bowed to his master.

 

“Yes, Your Majesty. Whatever Your Majesty wishes. I will report the list tomorrow.”

 

Count Raymond bowed deeply and hurried away. The next day, he brought the list of maids and female workers who had entered the palace within the last month.

 

“Your Majesty, here is the list of recent entrants. They are organized by palace, department, and entry date.”

 

Kaisertern scanned the list quickly and asked.

 

“Right. Is the name Henna there?”

 

“There was no one by that name among the recent entrants.”

 

“Then under a different name, a peerless beauty with platinum blonde hair and purple eyes?”

 

“I investigated that as well, and among them, there was one with platinum blonde hair, but none with purple eyes.”

 

“Hmm…”

 

Finding no trace of her, Kaisertern frowned.

 

‘Henna, why are you so hard to grasp? Where on earth did you go?’

 

He wanted any small clue about her.

 

“The woman with platinum blonde hair you just mentioned—what kind of person is she?”

 

The diligent Count Raymond had, of course, investigated that far.

 

“Yes, I even went to the garden of the West Palace Annex where she works to see for myself. Her eye color is brown, and she has a large frame, looking like someone who would work hard and strong. It would be difficult to call her a beauty by general standards.”

 

Kaisertern barely suppressed a sigh of disappointment.

 

“Ignoring the subjective parts, the eye color is wrong to begin with.”

 

“Yes, Your Majesty. It seems so.”

 

‘Then Henna hasn’t entered the palace? Where am I supposed to find her?’

 

Kaisertern felt at a loss. Seeing his state, Count Raymond said tentatively.

 

“Um… Your Majesty, I will instruct them to keep a close watch on any future maids or workers who fit that description.”

 

“Right, she might not have entered yet.”

 

He answered calmly, but Kaisertern’s heart was frantic.

 

 

***

 

 

Roabellin was assigned to laundry collection and delivery. It was a physically demanding job usually reserved for men, but in this territory-driven workplace, newcomers had to take whatever they were given. Although she had never used her physical strength before, Roabellin steeled her heart.

 

‘It’s okay. This is a good way to learn the layout and geography of the Imperial Palace. Let’s work hard.’

 

Partnered with another newcomer named Lily, Roabellin quickly became friends with her while collecting laundry.

 

“You must be the new girls in the laundry department. Here, take this basket.”

 

As Roabellin and Lily were returning with a basket of laundry from the Emperor’s Palace, Roabellin spotted clothes in the pile that looked like they belonged to the Emperor himself.

 

“Wow… these must be His Majesty’s clothes.”

 

Fascinated, Roabellin touched the fabric. The texture was luxurious. The Emperor, who had felt impossibly distant, suddenly felt within her reach.

 

“Yeah, only His Majesty would have such high-quality clothes coming out of the Emperor’s Palace,” Lily replied casually. Thinking about the Emperor reminded Roabellin of a question she hadn’t gotten an answer to yet. She lowered her voice.

 

“Um, by the way… is it true? Those rumors about His Majesty the Emperor being impotent?”

 

Lily stifled a laugh and lowered her voice as well. “Huh? You’ve only been here a short time; where did you hear such a rumor?”

 

“Well…”

 

Just as Roabellin was about to answer, a clear, deep baritone voice called out to them from right behind.

 

“You two. Turn around.”

 

Startled by the sudden call, they spun around. Looking up from a casual shirt at chest level, they saw a handsome face with black hair and gold eyes looking down at them—or more specifically, at Roabellin. Her eyes widened as she recognized the face.

 

‘Kai?! Why are you here?’

 

She never expected to run into the man she thought she’d never see again right here in the Imperial Palace. Kaisertern’s eyes widened just as much.

 

‘I’ve never seen this face before… so why does she remind me of Henna?’

 

Roabellin and Lily didn’t realize he was the Emperor, as he was dressed casually with a sword but no escort. However, sensing his extraordinary gaze and overwhelming aura, they assumed he was someone of high rank and bowed their heads.

 

Kaisertern quickly masked his expression and asked in a low, growling voice, “Where did you hear such nonsense rumors?”

 

Roabellin couldn’t even think of an answer and bowed her head even deeper. Despite her magically altered face, she was terrified he might recognize her. Kaisertern reached out, grabbed her chin, and lifted her face. Startled, Roabellin caught his eye for a moment before quickly looking away.

 

“I… I just heard floating rumors. I am sorry. I won’t let my mouth run wild again.”

 

Kaisertern didn’t let go of her chin. He stared intensely at her face before speaking. “That is a complete falsehood.”

 

“Ah, yes, a falsehood… Huh? His Majesty isn’t impotent? Gasp…”

 

Roabellin quickly covered her mouth, embarrassed by what she had blurted out. Kaisertern frowned slightly and released her chin.

 

“What, you don’t believe me?”

 

“No, no! I believe you!! I’ll never say such a thing again anywhere!!”

 

Realizing he was standing there explaining his virility to a mere palace worker, Kaisertern let out a sigh.

 

“Phew… You may go.”

 

“Yes, thank you!”

 

After a hurried bow, Roabellin and Lily fled the scene. Kaisertern watched them disappear with an incredulous expression, then muttered to himself with a sigh.

 

“If there are kids talking like that inside the palace, it’s no wonder those rumors reached Henna’s ears…”

 

Pronouncing Henna’s name made him miss her even more. But then, something nagged at him.

 

‘That girl just now… she felt familiar. I feel like I’ve seen her somewhere.’

 

 

***

 

 

On a evening with drizzling rain, Estina, wearing a black robe, knocked on the door of a modest mansion. A young woman’s voice came from inside.

 

“Who is it?”

 

Estina whispered softly, “I have an appointment with the Baroness.”

 

A moment later, the door opened quietly. “Welcome, Miss. It must have been a long journey in the rain.” The maid greeted her in a low voice and ushered her inside. As Estina handed her robe to the maid, a noblewoman came out to greet her. Though her expression was bright, her voice was also quiet.

 

“Estina! Come in.”

 

Estina’s face lit up as she turned to the woman. “Aunt!”

 

“I’m so glad to see you healthy. I was so happy when I got word you were coming.”

 

At the time of the family’s ruin, Estina had been classified as a collateral relative, and her mother had long since passed away. Thanks to that, her maternal family, the Hilper Barony, had been safe from the attacks that targeted the direct Hertenes line. However, not knowing how they might provoke the King, the Hilper family had been living quietly in their territory rather than being active in the capital.

 

During dinner, Estina spoke with her aunt and uncle. “How is the royal palace lately?”

 

“Same as always. The Prince has reached adulthood and married, so he’s handling more of the state affairs. The King seems to be losing his energy.”

 

“What do the nobles think of Prince Skark?”

 

“You know his personality. He hasn’t changed much since he was a child.”

 

The incident where Roabellin was nearly harmed by Skark as a child was an open secret among all Aventador nobles. No one dared to speak of it out loud.

 

“…He’s obviously like that to his subordinates, but is he violent toward the Princess Consort as well?”

 

“I think I heard rumors of that. It’s ridiculous, but considering his nature, it’s not surprising.”

 

Estina sighed. She felt relieved that Roabellin didn’t end up in that position. “Oh, is there any news of the Princess Consort’s pregnancy?”

 

At Estina’s casual question, the Baroness sighed. “Not yet. And actually… rumor has it the Prince touches every pretty maid in the palace, so he rarely even shares a bed with the Princess Consort.”

 

“How scandalous…”

 

“The Princess Consort, who was raised so gently in a prestigious family, is said to be in tears every day.”

 

It seemed nothing special was happening in the Aventador palace for now. Estina moved to the main point—the reason she came to Aventador.

 

“Aunt. The events of… that day. Circumstantially, it was clearly the royal family’s doing. But I need undeniable evidence. That’s what I’m here to find.”

 

Baron Hilper asked, “Aside from the fact that the Duke’s territory was seized as royal property and the investigation was never properly conducted, do you have any other leads?”

 

Estina nodded and replied, “The mages I saw that day might not have been mages, but priests. They only used binding magic to hinder our knights. It might be because, as priests, they couldn’t use killing magic. If that’s the case, it’s possible the Queen, who is the head of the Central Temple, was involved and mobilized the priests.”

 

“That’s a plausible theory. Using divine power to aid in murder is no different from using killing magic. If the priests really did that, it would be a great sin against Dominador.” The Baron sighed.

 

“Yes, it’s not certain yet. That’s why I want to go to the Central Temple and the archives to see if there are records of that day.”

 

“I see. How do you plan to enter the palace?”

 

Estina looked at the Baroness and said, “I’d like to enter as a maid with your letter of recommendation. Of course, I’ll use a pseudonym and a fake identity. I have one I made when I entered the magic school.”

 

The Baroness’s eyes widened. “But wouldn’t it be too dangerous for you to go alone? With my recommendation, you probably won’t even get a comfortable position…”

 

The Hilper Barony had no power now. A maid entering with their recommendation would be assigned menial labor in a lowly department. Estina, having a different purpose than most, didn’t mind at all.

 

“That’s fine. And my divine power is enough to protect myself. Don’t worry too much.”

 

“Estina…” The Baroness held Estina’s hand warmly, her face a mix of worry and pride.

 

Two days later, Estina arrived at the Aventador royal palace with a changed face. Stepping through the palace gates, her heart pounded with a mixture of excitement and fear.

 

‘Entering the palace… it’s the first time since that day when I was seven.’

 

The last time Estina had visited the palace was a few months before Roabellin was born. As the direct daughter of the Hertenes family, she had come with her parents to greet the royal family. At that time, the Queen had passed away from illness a few years prior, and the King hadn’t taken a new queen or concubine, so only the King and the Prince were in the palace. King Ierik welcomed the Duke’s family and introduced Estina to his son.

 

“Iskal, this is the daughter of the Hertenes family, who will one day be your partner. You two haven’t seen each other since you were babies, so you probably don’t remember.”

 

Iskal had heard a lot about Estina, but meeting her in person was a surprise.

 

‘The girl who was my destiny since before we were even born.’

 

She had fine platinum blonde hair, violet eyes that sparkled like jewels, and fair skin with rosy cheeks like apples. Iskal fell in love with Estina at first sight.

 

Prodded by the King, Estina and Iskal walked through the garden together. Iskal was a delicate-looking boy with light grayish-brown hair and blue eyes. For some reason, his earlobes were a bit red. Estina greeted him with a lovely smile.

 

“Nice to meet you, Prince.”

 

With slightly flushed cheeks, Iskal greeted her back. “Hi, Estina. You don’t have to call me ‘Prince,’ you can just call me ‘Kal’.”

 

Estina’s eyes widened at his casualness. “What? But I was taught I should call a prince ‘Your Highness’.”

 

Iskal, his face turning redder, chose his words carefully. “Uh… normally yes, but… we’re going to get married when we grow up. So, just… you can call me Kal. If calling me just by name is weird, you can call me Prince Kal…”

 

Even though it was a fixed future, the word ‘marriage’ was embarrassing for an eight-year-old boy to say. Iskal’s ears turned bright red as soon as the words left his mouth. Estina looked at Iskal with wide, curious eyes. Then, as if remembering something, she muttered to herself.

 

“Wait, to get married… you have to get engaged first?”

 

Unlike commoners, as a Duke’s daughter, she had been taught that engagement was a natural and mandatory procedure. Iskal answered quickly. “We’re already set to get married anyway, aren’t we?”

 

Estina’s expression turned serious. “They said you have to be engaged to be the person you marry. Otherwise, you can’t get married.”

 

Fearing she might turn away saying, ‘Then I can’t marry you!’, Iskal grew frantic. He grabbed Estina’s wrist and said, “We’re going to get married after we’re grown up. So until then, I’ll propose and we’ll get engaged! When I’m a little bigger—no, the next time you visit the palace, I’ll propose then!!”

 

Estina smiled shyly, and Iskal looked away for a long time, embarrassed by his own words. However, there was no “next time” for them.

 

Only a couple of months after they met, things changed unexpectedly and rapidly.

 

‘Euraxiz’s movements are suspicious.’

 

King Ierik knew his brother’s nature—cruel, greedy, and willing to do anything to get what he wanted. He received information that his brother was quietly winning over the nobles.

 

‘In this situation, I can’t fully trust anyone in the palace. And it’s becoming harder to hide Iskal’s mana, which has recently manifested.’

 

Iskal’s mana seemed to have been inherited from his mother’s family, which had produced a Great Mage. After deep deliberation, Ierik sent Iskal far away. Ostensibly, the excuse was that his health was poor and he needed long-term recuperation in the countryside. But the night before Iskal left for his mother’s distant territory, Ierik called him aside.

 

“Iskal, my only son. I’m sorry I couldn’t protect you in the palace and have to send you away. No matter what happens in the future, stay strong, hide your power, and survive at all costs. Grow like a king, and you must become the king.”

 

To tell the King’s only son to “become the king”—what did that mean? Iskal didn’t fully understand, but it sounded like his father’s final words, so he simply nodded. Iskal left immediately, and the King passed away suddenly less than three months later. Rumors of poisoning were rampant, but the investigation ended inconclusively.

 

Iskal didn’t even attend his father’s funeral, claiming he was too ill from the shock. He only returned to the palace a month later, after his uncle Euraxiz had already taken the throne. He knelt before his uncle on the throne in front of all the ministers.

 

“Your Majesty. I am weak in body and mind and lack wisdom. I hope Your Majesty will strengthen the throne and rule with benevolence.”

 

It was a formal renunciation of the throne by the first-in-line successor. Euraxiz, conscious of the sympathetic atmosphere surrounding Iskal, responded favorably.

 

“My dear nephew. Taking the throne was an unavoidable choice for the sake of the country. As you know, you are too young to handle state affairs. In stead, I grant you the title and territory of Grand Duke Lexton. I hope you grow into a talented person who will be a great help to Skark’s reign in the future.”

 

It sounded like a warm uncle’s advice, but it was essentially saying, ‘I’ll give you land, so live quietly there, and don’t covet the throne because the next king will be Skark.’ Iskal simply bowed politely and withdrew.

 

“I thank you for your grace, Your Majesty.”

 

Later, Estina was set to become Skark’s Princess Consort, but with Roabellin’s birth, she became a collateral relative of the Hertenes family. In the end, none of the identities given to her were by her own will. Estina then went to magic school, where she studied magic systematically and grew into a skilled mage. Meanwhile, Iskal had to grow up quietly, hiding his abilities as if he were dead.

 

The two met again on the path of their crossed destinies at the magic school, 11 years after their meeting at the palace.

 

‘That’s all in the past now. Being back here brings back old memories.’

 

Entering the Aventador palace, Estina took out a hand mirror and checked her appearance once more. The Aventador palace was the place that knew the Hertenes daughters best. Moreover, some of the palace workers might have seen her when she was a child. Therefore, Estina put a lot of effort into changing the feel of her appearance as much as possible without using too much divine power.

 

‘I mustn’t leave even the slightest room for them to associate my new face with a Hertenes daughter.’

 

One fortunate thing was that the Aventador palace was enchanted with magic that detected only external mana, not Dominador’s divine power. This was because the Hertenes daughters had traditionally become Queens, and the Central Temple was located inside the palace.

 

‘It’s a relief that using divine power won’t be automatically detected… but there’s no telling what the current Great Mage might have installed. For now, I’ll use my divine power to a minimum.’

 

Estina changed her hair to dark brown and her eyes to light brown—the most common colors people in Aventador were born with. She also made her features as ordinary as possible. She still looked pretty, but not enough to stand out in a palace full of beautiful people.

 

‘Good, this should do.’

 

After checking her appearance, Estina headed straight to the Head Maid’s office.

 

“Let’s see… your name is Maria Ratbach. From the Viscounty of Ratbach. I think I’ve heard of it…”

 

The strict-looking Head Maid was a veteran who had worked at the palace for 25 years. She might have seen Estina when she was a child. Estina felt a bit nervous.

 

“Ah, the family has only been in the southern Aklo region, so people in the capital usually don’t know it well.” Estina explained quickly to give her no time to think. This was why she had used the name of the Ratbach Viscounty, relatives of her mother, when she made her fake identity for the magic school.

 

“Hmm… You’ve come from far away. Is there a department you’d like to work in, young lady?”

 

‘I need a position that doesn’t stand out to others but allows me to move freely inside the palace.’

 

Estina, who had received training to be a Queen, knew the palace’s operational systems well.

 

“Is there a vacancy in the archive management office, by any chance?”

 

The Head Maid gave her a curious look. That was a place where there wasn’t much to learn and no chance of catching the eye of royals or high-ranking nobles, so noble daughters usually didn’t apply there.

 

“You mean the job as a librarian and data delivery person?”

 

“Yes. I like books.” Estina answered briefly, fearing she might give something away. Fortunately, after looking at her documents once more, the Head Maid assigned her to the archive management office.

 

Unlike the royal library, the archives were where meeting minutes and historical records of the palace were kept. Since Aventador was a kingdom with a thousand-year history, there were 32 rooms just for categorizing materials by era. Estina’s main task was to find materials requested by other departments—mostly academic ones—deliver them, and later bring them back to their original places.

 

‘It’s a job somewhere between a librarian and a delivery person.’

 

While busily moving between departments, Estina’s interest was always on Archive Room 32, where the latest materials—records of the current King—were kept. However, records of a living king were restricted; regulations and mana seals physically prevented anyone from opening them. Fortunately, Estina, unlike most people, had the divine power to break those seals.

 

Then one day, an opportunity finally arose. The few other archive workers were all away for their own reasons.

 

‘Finally!’

 

Estina checked her surroundings and quietly slipped into Archive Room 32. Her eyes scanned the chronologically arranged materials and stopped at one spot.

 

‘Found it. Records from eight years ago…’

 

What Estina unsealed and opened was a document recording every minor detail of the King’s daily life. Once the current King died, these records would be compiled into a book. She flipped through the records, carefully tracing her finger to find a specific point in time. Her hands trembled slightly with tension. Soon, she found what she was looking for.

 

[His Majesty has ordered that as of tomorrow morning, all land and property of the Hertenes Dukedom be transferred to royal property.]

 

Estina gasped involuntarily. It was exactly one of the things she was looking for. But as she re-read it, something felt wrong.

 

‘As of tomorrow morning?’

 

Logically, such an order is only issued after the entire family has died due to treason or plague.

 

‘But the date this order was recorded… is the day *before* the assassins came to the Duke’s castle.’

 

In other words, while the Hertenes Dukedom was still perfectly intact, the King had already issued the order. Estina felt like she had been hit in the head with a blunt object.

 

‘I knew it. The King either led the ruin of my family or at least cooperated. That’s one piece of evidence.’

 

Going back a few days before that, she found this entry:

 

[In the middle of the night, Her Majesty the Queen visited His Majesty’s office. All others were dismissed, and the two spoke in private. Afterward, His Majesty summoned Head Chamberlain Rad, and Her Majesty summoned the High Priest to her office. After the private audience with His Majesty, the Head Chamberlain left the palace alone.]

 

It was cryptic.

 

‘It seems related to the event, but also not. Since the content of private conversations with the King isn’t recorded here, the link keeps breaking.’

 

Actually, the content of private conversations was recorded, but because they were often confidential, they were kept as separate materials. And those materials had a much higher security level than these archives. They were sealed by the joint power of the Great Mage and High Priest of the time and kept in the Central Temple.

 

‘The answers must be in the private audience records… Is there any way to see them?’

 

Thinking about it there wouldn’t yield a solution, so she resealed the materials and left. Over the next few days, while pondering how to continue her investigation, Estina recalled the details she had read.

 

‘That night, after the private audience between the King and Queen, the King summoned the Head Chamberlain and the Queen summoned the High Priest. It looks like they agreed to split the tasks. Since the Head Chamberlain’s actions afterward aren’t recorded, let’s look at the records of what the High Priest did. There might be clues I can deduce from there.’

 

Records of the High Priest’s private audiences with the King or Queen were kept sealed in the archives on the second floor of the temple.

 

‘Studying to become the master of the Central Temple is finally paying off. Good, let’s sneak into the temple and find the records on the High Priest.’

 

Having achieved her first goal, Estina immediately set her next one.

 

 

***

 

 

“Hah… it’s been a long time. I missed this vitality of Vicentium and these high gates of the Imperial Palace.”

 

Radak, the second prince of Prahenfelt—or rather, the Schlett Grand Duke and the Emperor’s second older brother—passed through the main gate of the palace. After nearly two years of wandering the continent as a traveler, he had finally returned.

 

‘That crazy Heymelic said something strange recently. That a daughter of the Hertenes family visited him? I had a feeling she’s alive, but why would she go there? Is my brother finally losing it? Maybe he’s seeing hallucinations after being locked up for so long.’

 

Unlike Heymelic, who had spent a long time trying to eliminate Kaisertern both openly and covertly, Radak had maintained a decent relationship with his younger half-brother. However, the thoughts in his head were quite dangerous.

 

‘Kai once mentioned that the house of the girl who made him explode was ruined—that it was the Hertenes family of Aventador. He even said he collected and buried the bodies found on the grounds himself. That guy Kai is surprisingly soft-hearted for how he looks.’

 

At first, Radak also believed that Kaisertern’s first love was dead. But a while ago, right after Heymelic was imprisoned, Radak went to visit him and heard something.

 

“Radak, since I’ve ended up like this, I have a special piece of information to give you.”

 

“What is it?”

 

Radak’s eyes sparkled. This was exactly why he had bothered to visit his brother, a convicted traitor. He listened intently. Satisfied with the reaction, one corner of Heymelic’s mouth curled up.

 

“When I was on the throne, all sorts of important information from our country and abroad was reported to me.”

 

“Right, the Emperor is the head of the Prahenfelt intelligence agency.”

 

As if about to reveal a state secret, Heymelic brought up something unexpected.

 

“You know Kai’s first love, right?”

 

“Huh? Oh, I remember. The Hertenes girl from Aventador?”

 

“Exactly. At that time, Kai recovered the bodies from the yard and buried them in his private estate near Vicentium. I had a Great Mage investigate the physical data of those bodies.”

 

“The Great Mage from your time… not the current one, right? Was his name… Darell?”

 

“Right. Darell investigated, and there was only one child, and two bodies that matched the child’s genetic info. Those three were the only ones proven to be family. I suppose the rest were servants or knights.”

 

It was a completely unexpected story. Quick-witted, Radak chimed in.

 

“So you’re saying there were more family members originally?”

 

“Yes. That house had three children. A son, a daughter, and a son. It’s estimated that two of the three escaped without dying. And the child who was buried was a boy.”

 

“Th-then…” Radak gulped.

 

“Yes, there’s a high probability that the daughter of Hertenes is alive.”

 

“The one with the destiny to make her husband a King…? But brother, you didn’t believe in that fate, did you?”

 

“No, I’m still half-skeptical. But now that Kai has already taken the throne, what’s the harm in trying? They say the Hertenes daughters are all beauties, so there’s no loss in taking her. Try to catch her. If you can take the throne that way, it’s good for you, isn’t it? And if that happens, get me out of here.”

 

It was a staggering revelation. Even while imprisoned, the self-obsessed Heymelic was constantly plotting a way out.

 

Radak, however, had long lived a life of keeping his head down, pretending to have no interest in the throne. It was the survival position he took as the middle prince with the weakest mana. He gave an awkward laugh and waved his hand.

 

“Oh, brother. You know I have no interest in the throne. Forget it, I’m just going back to my travels. See ya~”

 

“Hey, I’m telling you this is vital information!”

 

Heymelic shouted from his cell, but Radak turned away quickly. However, unlike the face he showed his brother, his eyes were filled with excitement as he turned. One corner of his mouth rose silently.

 

‘Who would suspect the second prince who has no interest in the throne? No one knows I’m looking for a beauty with platinum blonde hair and purple eyes…’

 

He had traveled for over two years searching the continent, but he hadn’t found a beauty with both platinum blonde hair and purple eyes. Clues were too scarce. After searching all that time, he returned to hear Heymelic’s “nonsense” about her visiting him.

 

But Radak was suspicious and meticulous. He questioned the people in the village where Heymelic was imprisoned and found out that a young woman in a black robe had indeed stayed there a few days ago. And that she was on her way to Vicentium.

 

So he deployed his men to scour Vicentium for days, and he finally spotted her—with Kaisertern.

 

‘I was going to approach her as soon as she left Kai’s side. But she vanished without a trace.’

 

He had missed the Hertenes daughter just as she was within his reach, but seeing the atmosphere at the palace now, it didn’t seem like Kaisertern had brought her here either.

 

‘As long as she isn’t Kai’s woman yet, it’s fine. If she’s in someone else’s hands, I’ll just steal her. Now, where do I find her again…’

 

His eyes gleamed darkly, like a predator searching for prey.

 

 

***

 

 

In the bustling streets of Vicentium, a young man watched Roabellin from about forty or fifty paces away as she was buying fruit juice at a stall.

 

‘I haven’t heard an Aventador accent here in a long time.’

 

A man with platinum blonde hair and blue eyes, who could be described as “pretty,” stopped and looked at Roabellin’s profile.

 

‘There’s no way I know her, but she feels strangely familiar.’

 

“Terick, what are you doing?”

 

At the call of a middle-aged gentleman, the young man called Terick quickly hurried to join him. From the friendly smiles on their faces, they looked like father and son.

 

“Just… there’s so much to see.”

 

“True, it’s the capital, and it’s the Vicent Festival, so there’s plenty to look at. But with so many people, it’s easy to lose your party. Don’t get too distracted.”

 

Though he was nagging, the gentleman’s eyes were warm as he looked at Terick. Answering that he understood, Terick looked back one more time to where the woman had been. But she had already disappeared.

 

‘It’s been so long since I heard an Aventador accent. If our Roa were alive, she would be around that woman’s age…’

 

The familiar accent naturally dragged his memories back to the night of the massacre.

 

Though only sixteen, Itanistad, who possessed swordsmanship skills far beyond his age, had been fighting the invaders alongside the knights. He knew they were outnumbered, but he couldn’t back down when his family’s lives were at stake.

 

While taking a brief breath after fending off a group, a knight returned to the knight commander shielding Itanistad, reporting with a grim face. He was one of the knights sent as backup to guard the Duke and Duchess’s room.

 

“Their Graces have… already been attacked.”

 

“What?! Then what about the young lady and the youngest young master?”

 

“From a distance, I saw them dragging a body that looked like Young Master Emilique. Lady Roabellin’s room also seems to have been attacked…”

 

If Emilique was dead, there was no need to check on Roabellin. These invaders would have surely killed her first.

 

“…”

 

He had fought bravely, but Itanistad was still a boy. Shock, grief, fear, and despair washed over his face. The knight commander immediately took Itanistad into the bushes to hide.

 

“Young Duke, listen carefully. You are the only one left of Hertenes. This family only survives if you survive. Run away now. Go, and you must survive.”

 

Itanistad shook his head reflexively. “But—”

 

“Please survive. For my sake. It has been an honor to serve you.”

 

The knight commander didn’t listen to another word and ran in the opposite direction. Soon, the sound of battle began as the invaders found him. Stunned for a moment by the sudden turn of events, Itanistad soon came to his senses and began to run. His platinum blonde hair was hidden under the black robe the knight commander had draped over him.

 

Escaping the Duke’s castle through a path leading to the forest, he looked back for a moment at the burning castle. Huge flames flickered in his blue eyes, which were filled with endless tears. But there was no time to linger. He quickly wiped his tears away.

 

‘First, I’ll hide at a distant relative’s house. My uncle’s or aunt’s houses are places these invaders would expect and track, so I can’t go there.’

 

Having decided on a destination, Itanistad began to run toward the Biston Viscounty, a distant relative on his mother’s side. After running and walking for a long time, he fortunately found a horse that seemed to have lost its owner. It was a stroke of luck. He rode the horse without rest and arrived at the Viscount’s estate the next evening. Fortunately, the estate looked peaceful, as if it hadn’t been attacked.

 

Viscount Biston met the haggard Itanistad with a shocked face.

 

“Itan! What’s happened so suddenly without a word? And what’s with this state you’re in?”

 

“Please… hide me… without even the servants knowing…”

 

Itanistad, who had endured two days of extreme tension, finally lost consciousness.

 

Two days later, while recovering at the Baron’s estate, Itanistad heard the tragic news. The close relatives of the Hertenes family had been attacked just like the main house. He trembled with shock.

 

“This isn’t just an attack on Roabellin or the main house… it seems like someone’s strong will to wipe out the Hertenes line, even the branches.”

 

Even the eyes of the Viscount, who usually smiled kindly, were filled with grimness and fear.

 

“Uncle,” Itanistad said, calling Viscount Biston “uncle” for convenience, as he was a distant cousin of his mother. “Even though the Viscounty is a distant relation to our house, seeing how things are going, it seems possible this place will be attacked too. It might be better for you to flee with your family. They might target you because they know I’m alive, so I’ll leave on my own.”

 

The Viscount clicked his tongue, seeing Itanistad worrying about the Viscounty after losing his entire family.

 

“Itan, who is worrying about whom right now? And the branch families weren’t attacked because they were harboring you. If someone has decided to eliminate us, it won’t change whether you’re here or not. In that case, we should flee together.”

 

“But uncle…”

 

The Viscount cut him off with uncharacteristic firmness.

 

“The mastermind behind this is likely a noble faction aiming for the next Queen’s position. So, it would be better to go to the Imperial territory where Aventador nobles find it hard to exercise power.”

 

“The Empire… Prahenfelt?”

 

“Yes. As you know, our Frederick is currently studying in the Prahenfelt Empire. But since someone might really be following us, let’s head to Ratnen, the second city, instead of Vicentium where he is.”

 

Hearing this, Itanistad hesitated a bit more before finally looking up with tearful eyes.

 

“Thank you, uncle… I still had family left.”

 

“Silly boy.” The Viscount gave a faint smile and patted his shoulder.

 

A few days later, they packed their bags and left the Viscounty in the middle of the night. Fortunately, Itanistad, the Viscount and his wife, and the servants all arrived safely at their destination. They settled in Ratnen, disguised as commoner merchants.

 

About a year later, Viscount Biston did what wealthy commoner merchants often do—he bought a noble title. It was the title of ‘Baron Ratnen’ of Prahenfelt. He made Itanistad out to be his son and gave him the pseudonym Terick.

 

The business-savvy Viscount Biston built a clever business in Prahenfelt as well. Itanistad learned the business from him while helping as the Baron’s secretary. Time passed, Itanistad became an adult, and Viscount Biston expanded his business to the capital, Vicentium, where his son lived. As they set up a branch in Vicentium, Itanistad often came on business trips accompanying the Baron.

 

He had been momentarily dazed by the long-unheard accent of his homeland, but he quickly shook off the thoughts of the sister who must have died long ago.

 

 

***

 

 

A few nights later. A loud voice rang through the laundry department of the Imperial Palace.

 

“Maren! It’s a call from the Emperor’s Palace! You go.”

 

“What? A call at this hour?”

 

“It’s for the laundry of the clothes he’ll wear tomorrow morning. They said it’s urgent, so take it and wash it immediately.”

 

“Ugh, how are we supposed to do it if they give us clothes now that he needs tomorrow morning?”

 

“Tell me about it. But what can we do? It’s an order from the Emperor’s Palace.”

 

“So annoying. Hey, Yulli!”

 

The two workers, raising their voices in annoyance, called Roabellin, who was nearby.

 

“Yes, yes!” she answered, running to them.

 

“You heard us, right? You go get it, wash it, and dry it. It’s just one outfit, so no problem, right? We shouldn’t have to do it when we have a brand new rookie here.”

 

“Oh, yes, I understand. I’m going now!”

 

Under the pressure of her seniors, Roabellin hurried out of the laundry department.

 

 

***

 

 

It was a bright, moonlit night.

 

‘I wonder where Henna is now.’

 

It was almost time for bed, but the more he thought of her, the more awake Kaisertern’s mind became. Unable to sleep, he was out on the balcony, lost in thought while looking at the moon.

 

Just then, Kaisertern heard the quiet murmuring of two people. Looking down casually, he saw two palace workers exchanging a bundle of clothes at the entrance of the Emperor’s Palace. Because it was night and the person was silhouetted against the moonlight, the face of the worker who seemed to be from another department was hidden in shadow.

 

The worker who seemed to belong to the Emperor’s Palace handed over the clothes and immediately turned back inside, and the worker who received the bundle also turned to walk away.

 

As Kaisertern watched casually, his eyes suddenly went wide. Beneath the hood of the worker who had turned around, the long, single braid of hair was **platinum blonde**. The slim contour of her face was faintly revealed under the moonlight.

 

‘…!!!’

 

His breath hitched in shock. He jumped straight down from the balcony and ran to the entrance of the Emperor’s Palace. But the worker had already left, and there was no trace to be found. Kaisertern bit his lower lip in frustration.

 

“Huff, huff… Your Majesty. Suddenly…”

 

Kaisertern ordered Chief Chamberlain Hail, who had followed him down, startled by his sudden action.

 

“Find the person among the Emperor’s Palace servants who just met someone at this spot. Find out who that palace worker was who just took the clothes.”

 

It didn’t take long for the Chief Chamberlain to find the maid and verify.

 

“Your Majesty, she says it was a laundry department worker called for urgent laundry. Since it wasn’t the usual person who comes, she doesn’t know who it was.”

 

“The laundry department??”

 

At the unexpected news, Kaisertern raised an eyebrow. He had never considered that Henna would go to the laundry department, but at this point, he couldn’t overlook even the smallest possibility.

 

‘I have to check immediately.’

 

In his urgency, he couldn’t wait until morning or send someone else to investigate leisurely. Kaisertern immediately instructed the Chief Chamberlain.

 

“Is it the Director of the Palace Interior who oversees the management of the Emperor’s Palace? Summon him immediately. I’m going to the laundry department right now, and he’s coming with me.”

 

A moment later.

 

“Y-Your Majesty. You summoned me?”

 

The Director, who had been urgently summoned in the middle of the night, looked bewildered.

 

“Yes, I have something to check at the laundry department urgently. They won’t know who I am if I go alone, so you must accompany me to ensure a smooth investigation.”

 

“The laundry department? Ah, yes, yes. Understood.”

 

“Oh, and refer to me simply as the Chief Chamberlain. It will be uncomfortable for them if the Emperor suddenly shows up.”

 

 

***

 

 

“Emergency! Emergency!! The Chief Chamberlain is here!!”

 

The laundry department, which had been winding down for the night, was suddenly thrown into a state of total chaos.

 

“Why is the Chief Chamberlain here at this hour?!”

 

From Kaisertern’s perspective, he had used the identity of the Chief Chamberlain as a cover, hoping it would make the staff cooperative enough for his investigation. However, for the people of the laundry department—who rarely ever saw high-ranking officials—the mere title of the man who served closest to the Emperor was enough to cause a panic.

 

In an instant, most of the laundry staff gathered in the courtyard to greet the ‘Chief Chamberlain’ and the Director of the Palace Interior.

 

“W-welcome, Lord Chamberlain. What brings you all the way here?” Olga, the head of the department, stepped forward and bowed deeply. Kaisertern, impatient and urgent, skipped the pleasantries and got straight to the point.

 

“Is there a female palace worker here with platinum blonde hair?”

 

Olga tilted her head, confused by the sudden question. “I’m not sure about platinum blonde, but we have a few blondes.”

 

“Bring them all here. Now.”

 

Soon, four blonde workers were summoned in the middle of the night, looking bewildered. Of course, since Roabellin’s hair had been brown the entire time she’d been in the laundry department, no one there had ever seen her with platinum blonde hair.

 

“Hmm… is this all of them?”

 

“Yes, My Lord.”

 

None of the four summoned were platinum blonde; they were mostly yellow-blonde or dark blonde. None of them possessed the slim, elegant facial structure of a beauty, either. Kaisertern narrowed his eyes, then tried a different approach.

 

“Which of you just collected the laundry from the Emperor’s Palace?”

 

The four blonde girls just stared at each other blankly. At that moment, the worker who had passed the task off to Roabellin quickly stepped forward.

 

“Ah, I know who it is! I’ll go get her!”

 

“Fine. The rest of you may leave.”

 

Roabellin was in the middle of hand-washing the clothes from the Emperor’s Palace when she was suddenly called out. She didn’t even have time to dry her hands.

 

“What on earth is going on… Gasp!”

 

As she entered the courtyard, Roabellin spotted Kaisertern standing there, looking conspicuous even from a distance. Her heart nearly stopped.

 

‘Kai, why are you here again?! What exactly is your job?!’

 

She wanted to turn and bolt, but she knew that would only invite disaster.

 

‘I don’t know why he’s here, so feigning ignorance is the best move…’

 

Knowing it was likely a futile effort, she quickly lowered her head, staring only at the ground as she approached. ‘It’s a different face,’ she told herself. ‘He shouldn’t be able to recognize me.’

 

“Lord Chamberlain, this is the girl,” the worker announced. Kaisertern narrowed his eyes, confused by the fact that the girl standing before him with a bowed head had brown hair.

 

‘Then what was that platinum blonde I saw? It was night, but I was certain it was a shade so bright it almost glowed…’

 

Feeling conflicted, he commanded, “Lift your head.”

 

‘Ugh… no…’

 

Under his command, Roabellin reluctantly lifted her face. As Kaisertern studied her features, his expression shifted slightly.

 

‘I’ve definitely seen her before. She looks familiar… Ah!’

 

Kaisertern’s face brightened ever so slightly as he remembered. His voice took on a more relaxed tone. “It seems we’ve met before.”

 

Roabellin’s mind went blank. “P-pardon? We have?” she stammered, acting foolish.

 

“The magic tool shop. And I believe I saw you in the palace a few days ago. Don’t you remember me?”

 

With his striking beauty and intense aura, Kaisertern was not a man people forgot, even without knowing he was the Emperor. Roabellin, however, let out a silent sigh of relief. He didn’t recognize her as Henna; he recognized her as the ‘new girl.’

 

She struggled to keep her expression neutral. “Ah, y-yes. I see. We meet again. What a coincidence. Haha.”

 

But Kaisertern wasn’t about to let it go so easily. “Why were you looking for the Tower Master back then? What do you have to do with magic?”

 

Roabellin’s mind raced for an excuse. Looking for the Tower Master was no small thing. She decided to mix the truth with her lies to make it more believable.

 

“W-well, I used to have a little bit of mana. Just a tiny, tiny bit. But for some reason, I lost the ability to use it. I didn’t know why or how to fix it… I thought maybe someone like the Tower Master could help. Looking back, it was quite reckless of me.”

 

Since mana was an incredibly rare talent, it was standard for anyone with even a sliver of it to utilize it. Kaisertern found it hard to believe someone with mana would be working in the laundry department.

 

“So, you did have mana? You can’t use it at all now?”

 

Roabellin waved her hands frantically in denial. “Oh, yes, none at all now. It was barely a speck to begin with, but now it’s completely gone. That’s why it was such a problem. I stopped by the Magic Tower on my way to Vicentium just in case, but I gave up. Since the palace provides room and board, I plan to save up some money and head back to my hometown.”

 

Worried about drawing further attention, she emphasized her lack of power. Since losing mana was a rare but documented phenomenon, Kaisertern seemed to accept her explanation.

 

However, as he watched her, he realized she was strikingly beautiful—far more so than the other workers. Despite the different hair and eye color, there was something about her aura that reminded him of Henna.

 

“Were you the one who came to the Emperor’s Palace just now?”

 

“Ah? Yes, yes.”

 

“Why was it you?”

 

The question was actually: Why did I see platinum blonde hair when it was you? But Roabellin didn’t know. She didn’t know that the moment anyone stepped onto the grounds of the Emperor’s Palace, all unauthorized magic—including her illusion—was dispelled. She didn’t realize she had reverted to her true form for those few moments.

 

“Turn around.”

 

At his command, Roabellin turned around, bewildered. Her hair was in a long braid, just like the woman he had seen earlier. But it was a common style for palace workers because it was practical.

 

‘It’s definitely brown from the back too… No matter how bright the moonlight was, I couldn’t have mistaken this for platinum blonde.’

 

Kaisertern was confused, but he couldn’t let it go. “What is your name?”

 

“It… it’s Yulli.”

 

“Are you a foreigner? Where are you from?”

 

“I’m from… Aventador.”

 

At the mention of Henna’s home country, Kaisertern raised an eyebrow and leaned in to inspect her features even more closely.

 

‘I should have lied about my country when I was Henna…!’ Roabellin’s heart hammered against her ribs. She feared he was growing even more suspicious.

 

However, after staring at her for a moment longer, Kaisertern pulled back and withdrew his gaze. “I see. We shall see each other again.”

 

As soon as Kaisertern and the Director left, the tension in the laundry department snapped. Everyone let out a collective gasp of relief.

 

“What was that all about in the middle of the night?”

 

“Yulli, did you do something wrong? Why are we all suffering because of you?” The exhausted workers began to grumble and blame her.

 

“But seriously, was the Chief Chamberlain always that young and handsome?”

 

“Right? He’s way too good-looking to just be serving the Emperor.”

 

“I know! It’s like… too much beauty. It’s overflowing.”

 

“With a face like that, he should be an opera singer or something, not working here!”

 

Ignoring her coworkers’ chatter, Roabellin hurried back to the laundry room. Her hands were still trembling from the shock. She picked up the laundry and began scrubbing again, but her mind was filled with Kai.

 

‘Why… why did he come? Wait, Kai is the Chief Chamberlain?!’

 

She remembered him saying he frequented the palace for work.

 

‘Ah, so that’s why! That’s incredible. He’s the Emperor’s right-hand man!’

 

Then, reality hit her.

 

‘Wait… did I… did I really tell the Emperor’s right-hand man that I was going to seduce the Emperor? Oh my god…!’

 

She felt dizzy.

 

‘And if he’s the Chamberlain, he’ll recognize me the moment I try to get near the Emperor! I’m doomed…’

 

She clutched her head in distress before coming up with a desperate plan.

 

‘Deny everything. I don’t remember that night. I was drunk. I remember nothing!’

 

She knew it was a weak plan, but it was the only card she had.

 

“Aaaaaagh!”

 

She stayed up late into the night, kicking her blankets in embarrassment as she replayed her drunken words over and over again.

 

 

***

 

 

Back at the Emperor’s Palace, Kaisertern couldn’t stop thinking about Yulli.

 

‘It’s strange. I clearly saw platinum blonde hair, but Yulli’s hair is undeniably brown. There isn’t a single platinum blonde in the entire laundry department… Was it really just the moonlight playing tricks on me?’

 

Thinking of Yulli, he recalled her face—a face far too beautiful for a laundry maid.

 

‘She wanted to see the Tower Master to find her mana… Why did she lose it? And why is a girl like that working in the palace laundry?’

 

The more he thought about it, the more suspicious it became.

 

‘I need to keep an eye on her. Personally.’

 

The next morning, Kaisertern found himself looking toward the entrance of the palace several times, wondering if Yulli would return to deliver the laundry. However, the clean clothes were delivered by a different maid. Her seniors had nagged her, saying she’d only cause more trouble if she went back.

 

Instead, Roabellin spent the entire day moving between the other palaces, collecting laundry, stomping on heavy blankets in washbasins, and hanging wet sheets until her body felt like it was breaking.

 

 

***

 

Meanwhile, Radak, having returned to the palace, spent his time strolling through the grounds like a carefree wanderer after a brief greeting to Kaisertern. He looked idle, but his mind was busy.

 

‘The locations of some departments have changed… and the concubines’ palaces have been repurposed entirely. Is he that determined not to take a wife? If it were me, I would have filled every palace with the most beautiful women I could find. Is Kai really as disinterested in women as the rumors say?’

 

Radak, being a man who appreciated women, watched the palace maids with interest. Even with his handsome, smiling face and his status as a Grand Duke, he was a natural magnet for attention.

 

‘For an Imperial Palace, there’s a serious lack of beauty here. Even in the main palace.’

 

After touring the Emperor’s Palace and the Queen’s Palace, he began to wander toward the outer buildings as a casual stroll—a choice typical of a man with nothing but time on his hands.

 

 

***

 

After the Vicent Festival ended, the rainy season arrived, making life incredibly difficult for the laundry department, which had to keep everything bone-dry and fresh. The physical exhaustion made everyone on edge, leading some seniors to push Yulli even harder to “toughen her up.”

 

To make matters worse, a notice arrived from the Main Palace stating they were swapping out all the curtains for the new season and ordering the old ones to be washed.

 

“Yulli, everyone suffered last night because of you, so you handle this.”

 

The Main Palace had tall windows and massive curtains to match, and there were many of them. It wasn’t a job for one woman to do alone. However, Roabellin lacked the power to refuse her senior’s orders. She managed to load the curtains onto a cart and haul them back to the laundry department, but after being caught in the pouring rain, she felt a deep chill in her bones by the afternoon. Still, the department was always short-handed, and as the newest recruit, she wasn’t allowed to take time off for something like that.

 

The next morning, Roabellin woke up realizing she had a full-blown case of the flu. Her body ached as if she had been beaten, and her vision was hazy with fever.

 

‘I’m in no condition to work… I just want to rest, just for one day…’

 

But the entire department was busy during this season, and she was already in everyone’s bad graces. Roabellin couldn’t even bring herself to ask for a break and silently forced herself up.

 

 

***

 

 

“How can it rain like this all day?”

 

Radak was strolling leisurely through the outskirts of the Imperial Palace under an umbrella when he reached the vicinity of the laundry department.

 

“Heh… I lived in the palace until I was eighteen, and yet I never knew these departments were tucked away so far out. I never had a reason to come here.”

 

Then, he spotted something out of place. A palace maid was walking with a precarious, stumbling gait as if she were about to collapse. Initially indifferent, Radak’s gaze sharpened when he realized the maid was a young woman.

 

“Carrying that in this rain without an umbrella?”

 

Talking to himself, he moved a bit closer to her. It was a palace maid drenching in the rain, clutching a massive basket in her slender arms. Her staggering steps looked agonizing even from a distance. A glance into the basket revealed it was overflowing with laundry.

 

‘A laundry maid, I see. Is the laundry that heavy?’

 

The laundry was likely heavy from soaking up the rain, but her face looked far too pale for that to be the only reason. She couldn’t walk for long without stopping, repeatedly setting the basket down to catch her breath. Even as Radak watched her from afar, she was too dazed to notice his presence.

 

As Roabellin tried to lift the basket again, a sudden wave of dizziness hit her, and she lost her grip.

 

“Ah…!”

 

The laundry spilled out of the overturned basket, tumbling onto the muddy ground.

 

“Oh no… what do I do…”

 

Roabellin hurriedly tried to pick them up and shake off the dirt, but they were already stained with muddy water. Naturally, the hem of her skirt had long since turned the color of mud. With her body failing and work going wrong, tears of sorrow began to well up in her eyes.

 

“Sigh…”

 

Watching Roabellin struggle to pick up the laundry, Radak approached her with his umbrella. Startled by the sudden shade, Roabellin looked up. For a fleeting second, she hoped it was Kai, but the man standing there was a stranger.

 

“W-who are you…?”

 

He wore expensive clothes and had an air of nobility. Assuming he wasn’t a commoner, she trailed off in confusion.

 

“I am the Grand Duke of Schlett.”

 

As he answered, Radak quickly scanned Roabellin’s face.

 

‘Oh. She’s not someone who should be doing manual labor in the outskirts of the palace. Honestly, that fellow Kai is wasting such a pretty girl in a place like this. Tsk tsk… I suppose I should be the one to cherish her.’

 

Radak was always kind to women, especially beautiful ones. Of course, his kindness was never free.

 

Upon hearing “Grand Duke,” Roabellin’s mind raced.

 

‘Grand Duke of Schlett? If he’s not just a Duke but a Grand Duke…’

 

According to the information she gathered before entering the palace, there was only one Grand Duke in Prahenfelt: the Emperor’s second brother. The eldest brother had been stripped of his title and imprisoned for treason.

 

‘Then… the second prince, no, the Emperor’s brother… Ah, then does this man have mana too?’

 

Normally, a mere maid should have offered her respects immediately upon hearing his title. However, she just stared up at him blankly, her face wet with rain and tears. Radak knitted his brows slightly and spoke.

 

“Are you unwell?”

 

Dazed and still teary-eyed, Roabellin snapped back to reality at his question.

 

“A-ah, no. I am fine. Please forgive me. I have committed a rudeness to Your Grace.”

 

Roabellin hurriedly tried to stand while wiping her tears, but she stumbled from dizziness. Radak quickly supported her with his free hand. Her rain-soaked body felt incredibly hot against his arm. Realizing her condition, Radak sighed softly.

 

“You don’t look fine at all. You have a high fever.”

 

Regardless of his concern, Roabellin’s thoughts were elsewhere.

 

‘A prince with mana suddenly appeared.’

 

Wasn’t he one of the people closest to her target? If she failed to have the current Emperor’s child, she might have to target this man next. But in her current state, she had no mental capacity to try and catch his interest. Instead, a sense of wariness bloomed.

 

‘If he has mana… could he see through to my real face?’

 

Roabellin began to worry.

 

‘I should get away from this man for now.’

 

He was merely a man to consider if she failed with the Emperor; it wasn’t time to reveal herself to him yet.

 

“It’s just a cold. A little bit. I’m okay.”

 

Roabellin stood up quickly and tried to pick up the laundry basket again. Or rather, she tried to. But Radak grabbed the handle first. Roabellin, who had never done manual labor and was currently ill, had to practically hug the whole basket to lift it. But Radak, a man, lifted it with one hand. It was enough to make her feel futile for struggling so hard to carry it this far. Flustered by the sudden help, she waved her hands. Her fever was making it hard to speak properly.

 

“A-ah, no, it’s okay, I…”

 

But Radak held the wet laundry basket outside the umbrella while holding the umbrella over Roabellin’s head.

 

“Judging by the weight, it’s too much for a woman. Let’s go.”

 

As someone who liked and frequently dealt with women, his manners were smooth.

 

“T-then, I’ll hold the umbrella…”

 

Roabellin reached out, but Radak lifted it higher, avoiding her hand.

 

“It’s fine. If you hold it, it’ll be too low for my height.”

 

She had no choice. Opposing this man, who was at the peak of the empire’s power, might unnecessarily provoke him.

 

“Thank… thank you.”

 

Roabellin bowed her head and stood beside him under the umbrella. As they walked together, Radak stole glances at her profile.

 

‘She’s quite pretty. Since she’s doing this kind of work, she must be a commoner with no backing—perfect. Even if I play with her and toss her aside, what could she possibly do against me? Hehe… I’ll have to ask her to meet me outside the palace sometime.’

 

Radak liked how he could instantly calculate both his prize and the cleanup even in a situation like this. He suppressed a smirk and asked gently.

 

“What is your name?”

 

“I am called Yulli…”

 

Roabellin’s voice was barely a whisper from the tension.

 

“I see. As I mentioned, I am the Grand Duke of Schlett. The Emperor’s brother.”

 

Unlike Kaisertern, who hid his identity unless absolutely necessary, Radak actively revealed and utilized his status. It was a powerful weapon to garner attention after his looks.

 

Roabellin, whose mind had cleared up a bit, thought: ‘Exactly. If I fail with the Emperor, he’s next… I should act like I’m interested in him just in case.’

 

Having made her calculation, she forced a bright voice.

 

“Oh my, for someone of such high status to show such consideration for a commoner like me… I’m so honored I don’t know what to do with myself. To think such a noble person could be so humble… and so handsome…”

 

Roabellin squeezed out what little energy she had left to act fussy. She tried to sound like an uneducated commoner trying to get on a noble’s good side. She worried if it would work, but fortunately, Radak was pleased, thinking she had taken a liking to him.

 

“Haha. I was born and raised in the palace, but I have a great interest in the lives of commoners. Since we’ve met like this, I should come to see you again sometime.”

 

Unable to give a proper answer, Roabellin just rolled her eyes and gave a faint smile. Upon arriving at the laundry department, Radak set the basket down in front of the gate.

 

“Thank you.”

 

As she bowed politely, Radak spoke with deliberate tenderness.

 

“If you’re this sick, you should rest today. A palace worker is a paid employee, not a slave. Shall I tell your department head?”

 

To someone who didn’t know Radak’s true nature, it sounded quite caring. Sincere or not, it was the first warm word Roabellin had heard in this vast, cold palace. Of course, there was no way she could actually rest. But because she was truly grateful for the words, she replied with due politeness.

 

“No, it’s alright. But thank you so much for worrying. Please, take care.”

 

“Right. See you again.”

 

Radak turned away, looking somewhat lingering. Roabellin immediately struggled to carry the basket into the department. As soon as she entered the courtyard, a senior maid saw the state of the laundry and immediately began shouting.

 

“What is this?! You can’t even collect things properly? How are we supposed to get these mud stains out? I’ve had enough. You, get out into the courtyard and get these stains out right now.”

 

It was still raining quite a bit. Despite that, she ordered the flu-stricken, soaked Roabellin to do laundry in the rain. There was an outdoor laundry area in the corner of the courtyard, usually used for treading on blankets on sunny days. The senior maid threw the entire basket toward it and went back into the building.

 

Left in the courtyard with the discarded laundry, Roabellin felt a surge of sorrow.

 

‘It’s my fault, but… do they have to go this far?’

 

With tears in her eyes, Roabellin crouched down and picked up a mud-soaked garment. Both the laundry and her body were already drenched. Once she confirmed she was alone, she finally let the tears fall. Her sorrowful tears dropped onto the wet laundry, absorbed instantly without a trace.

 

Once the sadness hit, everything in the world felt miserable. Her pent-up emotions burst out like a dam failing. Being sick without anyone to lean on, being bullied in a foreign land while doing laundry, losing her whole family at a young age, living in hiding, and having to run away from the man she loved for the first time…

 

She crouched there in the rain, burying her face in the laundry and weeping silently for a long time. The fact that she had to cry without being caught made it even more heartbreaking.

 

Radak was watching from afar, just outside the gate. Though he didn’t know her background, he could tell she was suffering both physically and mentally.

 

‘I heard some departments were harsh with discipline, so this is what they meant.’*Not that he would ever experience such a thing himself.

 

How much time had passed? Roabellin, who had been sobbing, felt her vision start to fade. Her fever was already high, and crying in the rain only made it worse. Eventually, she collapsed right where she had been crouching.

 

“Whoa…!!”

 

Startled, Radak ran into the courtyard. He grabbed Roabellin and shook her.

 

“Hey, Yulli! Wake up!”

 

She managed to open her eyes slightly at his touch, but soon lost consciousness again.

 

‘Her body is like a ball of fire…!’

 

Radak quickly scooped her up and ran toward the Imperial Infirmary. Running through the rain without an umbrella while carrying her, Radak was soon soaked like a drowned rat. Arriving at the infirmary, he shouted for a doctor.

 

“Doctor! Get out here! There’s a patient who collapsed!”

 

A startled doctor and a few nurses rushed out.

 

“W-what…?”

 

“Take this patient first. It seems like a severe cold, and she collapsed.”

 

Flustered, they took Roabellin and laid her on a bed.

 

“B-but, may I ask who you are…?”

 

“Ah, you don’t know me? I am the Grand Duke of Schlett. The Emperor’s brother.”

 

At his casually dropped words, the doctor and nurses turned pale and prostrated themselves on the floor.

 

“Gasp, we failed to recognize Your Grace! Please forgive our great sin!!”

 

Radak waved them off impatiently. That wasn’t what was important right now.

 

“Get up. Forget the apologies and just take good care of that maid.”

 

“Y-yes, My Lord!”

 

The doctor bowed so low his head nearly hit the floor, then scrambled to the bed to attend to Roabellin.

 

After a while, the medical team—having changed her wet clothes and provided emergency treatment to lower her fever—withdrew from the room. Radak, who had been waiting outside, stood up as they emerged. The doctor bowed again immediately.

 

“Y-Your Grace, you waited. Her treatment is complete. As you said, she has a severe cold; she just needs to be kept warm and rest for a few days. She shows possible signs of pneumonia, so it’s a relief she was brought in before it progressed further. A-ah, you may go in. She has taken her medicine and is currently in a deep sleep.”

 

Roabellin’s clothes were those of a low-ranking maid, but she was a woman the Grand Duke himself had carried in. Unsure whether to use formal or casual language regarding her, the doctor’s speech was a jumbled mess.

 

“I see. Good work.”

 

Radak had waited not just because he liked her or was idle. There was a more crucial reason.

 

‘When I grabbed Yulli earlier, and when I carried her… I detected a trace of mana. Even a small amount is a rare talent; it’s suspicious for someone like that to be in the laundry department. I have to check.’

 

Suspicious and meticulous by nature, he couldn’t ignore the mana he sensed. Entering the room and closing the door tightly, he gazed at the sleeping Roabellin.

 

‘What secret are you hiding behind this pretty face?’

 

He extended his hand over her face and cast a Mana Detection spell. Just as he felt before, a small but definite amount of mana was being used.

 

‘I knew it.’

 

It was personal curiosity, but for palace security, he couldn’t let it slide. Keeping his hand over her face, he cast a Mana Dispel spell this time. As a bright light emanated from his hand, her appearance began to change.

 

“……!”

 

Her face was so beautiful that even her pale, sleeping form was breathtaking. It was incomparable to her previous face. And…

 

‘Platinum blonde?!’

 

Radak’s heart hammered against his chest.

 

‘Then… could it be…’

 

With trembling hands, he carefully lifted one of her closed eyelids. There, he saw a pupil color unlike any other. A sound like a thunderclap seemed to echo in his mind. A rare platinum blonde with even rarer purple eyes—a stunning beauty. The very woman he had seen walking through Vicentium with Kaisertern, the woman he had been searching for so desperately.

 

‘The Hertenes daughter… why is she here?!’

 

It was hard to guess the circumstances. However, after taking a moment to catch his breath, Radak calmed his excitement and tried to think rationally.

 

‘The “why” doesn’t matter right now. First, I must get this girl out of the palace as soon as she recovers. If she really is the Hertenes daughter, she shouldn’t be someone to just play with—she should be my wife. If that’s the case, I must care for her devotedly and win her heart.’

 

Radak was skilled at winning women’s hearts. He was more confident in that than anything else. Having organized his thoughts, he checked to make sure the door was still closed and no one was peeking. Then, he reached out and restored the magic he had dispelled. She returned to the appearance of “Yulli the laundry maid.”

 

A moment later, he stepped outside, where the doctor was waiting. The doctor immediately prostrated himself again.

 

“Y-Your Grace.”

 

Radak gave a natural nod.

 

“Yes. That girl is someone I cherish, so tend to her with all your heart. I will return tomorrow. Ensure no one other than the assigned medical staff enters that room.”

 

“Yes, I understand! Of course, My Lord.”

 

Normally, the fawning tone would have bothered him, but Radak didn’t care right now.

 

‘To think the Hertenes daughter I searched so hard for was waiting for me right here in the palace… What a windfall.’

 

The throne, which had felt so distant, now seemed only a step away. He left the infirmary, maintaining a calm facade.

 

The next morning, Radak visited the infirmary again. The doctor bowed as if he had been waiting.

 

“Your Grace, you’ve arrived. She woke up a short while ago.”

 

“I see.”

 

Radak went to Roabellin’s room and knocked.

 

“Yes, please come in.”

 

A thin voice answered. When Radak entered, Roabellin, who was sitting up against the headboard, widened her eyes. She must have expected a doctor or nurse.

 

“Y-Your Grace?”

 

To the startled girl, Radak offered a soft smile and a gentle greeting. It was the “kind-hearted” face he was so confident in.

 

“Yes. How are you feeling?”

 

“Thanks to your concern… I feel much better. Thank you.”

 

Roabellin had heard from the nurse that Radak had brought her to the infirmary yesterday. But she was utterly bewildered as to why he would personally bring a low-ranking maid and then visit her first thing in the morning.

 

Radak maintained his gentle smile and sat on the edge of the bed. Startled by him sitting on her bed, Roabellin flinched and briefly looked away. Despite his warm smile, Radak’s mind was busy.

 

‘I thought she was just a pretty commoner, but she’s quite clever to hide such a huge secret. She’s from a prestigious Ducal family, but since it collapsed long ago, she couldn’t have lived in luxury. She must miss the glamour of her past, so I’ll use that as bait. Status and destiny aside, that face alone makes her worth keeping.’

 

Recalling her dazzling beauty from yesterday, he stroked his chin with satisfaction. Radak, scanning Roabellin’s face for traces of her original form, spoke up.

 

“Yulli. Why are you suffering in the laundry department? With such a pretty face.”

 

It was an unexpected remark. Unsure of his intentions, she gave her usual excuse.

 

“A-ah, I heard room and board were provided at the palace… I want to save money and go back to my hometown.”

 

“But laundry work is so harsh and difficult, isn’t it?”

 

“I’m slowly getting used to it… Thank you for worrying.”

 

Since it wasn’t time to approach her second-choice target yet, Roabellin’s answer was polite but defensive. Despite her wall-like response, Radak’s eyes sparkled as he stared at her.

 

“No, in times like this, you should say it’s too hard and ask to be taken away. Have you forgotten that an unmarried member of the royal family is right in front of you?”

 

Radak said with a slight smirk. His warm gaze turned a bit more intense.

 

‘Huh…? What. Is he flirting with me? Me? Why would a Grand Duke?’

 

Realizing his intent, Roabellin was flustered.

 

“A-ah, but, I am a commoner and a foreigner, how could I possibly dare…”

 

Radak watched her reaction with his deep green eyes and smiled again. It was the seductive smile that had charmed many women.

 

“What matters more is that I fell for you at first sight. I don’t care much for status. I’m not the Emperor, after all. Yulli, how about coming to the Duchy to live with me? I’ll let you live in luxury for the rest of your life. Ah, I’m not saying this because I think lightly of you as a commoner. I’ll prepare a formal ceremony too.”

 

It was practically a proposal.

 

‘We’ve barely met, how can he say something so huge?!’

 

Roabellin was appalled by his bombshell. Then, a thought struck her like lightning.

 

‘Wait. With the Emperor having no children, this man is the first in line for the throne. And if I were to become his wife, he would take the throne. Whether by rebellion, the Emperor’s sudden death, or some other way. I have no affection for the Emperor I’ve never met… but this isn’t right. I’d rather not change another country’s history so drastically.’

 

Roabellin recalled the fate of the Hertenes family, which she hadn’t thought about lately. If Radak were already rebelling or the Emperor were terminally ill, it might be different, but she didn’t want to drop a bomb on a country being ruled peacefully. After all, her goal was “having the Emperor’s child,” not “becoming the Emperor’s wife.”

 

‘I don’t know if he knows about my family, but either way, falling into his clutches would be a disaster. Let’s just brush this off for now.’

 

After choosing her words carefully, Roabellin spoke hesitantly.

 

“Y-Your Grace. You’ve said something so shocking… I don’t know what to say… You are truly charming, but I do not wish for a life beyond my station. I just… want to save money and go back to my hometown.”

 

Used to dealing with women, Radak thought he had simply startled her by being too aggressive too soon.

 

‘Ah, I made a mistake by being too impatient. Women feel burdened when a man pushes too fast. That wasn’t like me.’

 

He decided to step back for now to put her at ease, standing up from the bed and speaking tenderly.

 

“Ah, I suppose I got ahead of myself. I’m sorry if I startled you. But my feelings are sincere. I’ll come again tomorrow, so take your time and think about it. The position of the Empire’s Grand Duchess could be yours.”

 

Contrary to her fears, Roabellin felt relieved when he didn’t keep pushing and stepped back.

 

“Yes, it’s a position far beyond my station… but I will think deeply about it. However, I prefer casual meetings over marriage. I want to meet as many men as possible while I’m young.”

 

This was a preemptive strike just in case she had to conceive Radak’s child instead of the Emperor’s and then run away. If it came to that, she wanted him to see her as an easy woman he could play with and then discard.

 

Surprised by her words, Radak looked at her with a curious expression. Having much experience with women, he quickly saw through her intention.

 

‘Trying to create an escape route, are we? But I can’t let that happen. You must become my official wife and put me on the throne.’

 

He took a step toward the bed and met Roabellin’s eyes.

 

“I see. But think carefully. It’s a chance to eat expensive food, wear glamorous clothes, have whatever you want, and live with the respect due to a Grand Duchess. It might be good to come stay at the Duchy with me while you decide. I’ll be back tomorrow. Get some rest.”

 

Radak gave a charming smile, patted Roabellin’s shoulder lightly, and turned to leave the room.

 

Roabellin didn’t believe Radak was sincere. However, it didn’t occur to her that he might have realized her identity and was targeting her for it.

 

“Phew…”

 

She leaned back against her pillow and closed her eyes.

 

‘Even after entering the palace, the Emperor is such a distant figure. Wouldn’t it be more realistic to have the child of the Grand Duke, whom I’ve actually met? If I have a child after he becomes Emperor, that might fit the oracle too. But I really don’t want to bring chaos to this peaceful empire. What on earth should I do?’

 

Her mind cluttered, Roabellin sighed and thought of Radak. He was objectively handsome, but he wasn’t really her type. Thinking of men, her thoughts naturally drifted to Kai.

 

‘What would it have been like if Kai had been the one to find me? Would he have nagged me, saying, “Why were you walking around in the rain?” but then stayed by my bed all night?’

 

Even in this stressful situation, thinking of Kai made her smile involuntarily. Then, suddenly, she missed him terribly.

 

‘I want to see you just one more time, Kai. Why on earth did you have to be the Emperor’s Chief Chamberlain…’

 

Perhaps due to the medicine she took earlier, she felt overcome with sleepiness. Deciding to worry about it tomorrow, Roabellin tucked herself under the blankets and closed her eyes.

 

‘Kai. Tonight, I want to dream of dating you, the one I like. I want to escape from the reality of plotting how to have a child with a man I don’t love. I just want to love and marry the person I like and live a normal life…’

 

Thinking of Kai, her first love whom she had to leave, she both smiled and cried. Soon, she fell into a deep sleep.

 

 

***

 

 

“It’s been raining all day—the rainy season is truly here. The laundry department must be suffering.”

 

After seeing Yulli at the laundry department, Kaisertern had developed a new habit. Now, whenever it rained, his mind would drift toward that department—a place he had never given a second thought to in his entire life. Moreover, because it was the rainy season, it rained nearly every single day.

 

Recalling her, a desire to go see her again reared its head. Since he had been too busy with state affairs for the past few days, he decided to act on that thought as soon as he found a moment to breathe. He justified this to himself as being “his meticulous nature wanting to re-verify a suspicious individual.”

 

“I have some spare time, so I should go and check on her immediately.”

 

Kaisertern promptly summoned Haill, the Chief Chamberlain.

 

“Bring the Chief of Internal Affairs for the Emperor’s Palace. Tell him he and I are going to the laundry department right now.”

 

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

 

Though puzzled by the Emperor’s sudden urge to visit the laundry department again, Haill obeyed instantly.

 

Olga, the head of the laundry department, met the “Chief Chamberlain” and the Chief of Internal Affairs with a look of utter bewilderment, as they had returned only two days after their last visit.

 

“W-welcome, Chief Chamberlain, Chief of Internal Affairs.”

 

The Chief of Internal Affairs avoided eye contact, while Kaisertern replied composedly.

 

“I came to offer encouragement, as I imagined the laundry department would be struggling during the rainy season.”

 

‘Suddenly? The Chief Chamberlain? Why?’

 

Olga’s mind raced with confusion, but she kept her thoughts hidden and bowed politely.

 

“A-ah, yes… thank you.”

 

Looking at Olga, Kaisertern spoke as if the thought had just occurred to him.

 

“By the way, where is the girl named Yulli?”

 

Olga was flustered—not because the question was sudden, but because of the answer she had to give. As the head of the department, she knew exactly where Yulli was.

 

‘Did he come because he knew she collapsed yesterday?’

 

Even though she hadn’t personally caused it, Olga felt the weight of responsibility, and her voice became a mere whisper.

 

“A-ah… please forgive me. It is my failure for not managing the staff properly…”

 

At this nonsensical answer, Kaisertern raised an eyebrow.

 

“What do you mean by that?”

 

“Ah, Yulli is currently at the Imperial Infirmary. Yesterday, the Grand Duke of Schlett saw her suffering from a cold and had her admitted.”

 

“Rada—no, the Grand Duke did?”

 

He couldn’t understand why her name was being linked to Radak, but he knew he wouldn’t get a clear answer by interrogating Olga.

 

“I see.”

 

Without another word, Kaisertern turned and headed straight for the infirmary. The Chief of Internal Affairs, terrified by how the “Emperor-disguised-as-a-Chamberlain” had almost addressed the Grand Duke by his informal name, followed behind in a cold sweat.

 

When Kaisertern and the Chief of Internal Affairs arrived at the infirmary, the doctors recognized the Emperor and immediately bowed their heads in unison.

 

“Y-Your Majesty! W-what brings you here…?”

 

Kaisertern waved his hand dismissively to skip the formalities and got straight to the point.

 

“Is a girl named Yulli admitted here?”

 

“Ah, the one the Grand Duke of Schlett brought in yesterday…”

 

Kaisertern’s mood soured at the repeated mention of Radak’s name in connection with Yulli.

 

“Yes. Take me to her.”

 

“T-this room. She is sleep—I mean, she is resting.”

 

The doctor, guessing that a woman carried in by the Grand Duke yesterday and sought by the Emperor today was no ordinary low-ranking maid, quickly corrected his tone to be more respectful.

 

Entering the room where Roabellin was sleeping, Kaisertern looked down at her quietly. She was breathing softly, her face flushed red with fever.

 

‘She looked fine only two nights ago… how did this happen…’

 

After staring at her for a moment, Kaisertern stepped back out to avoid waking her. Once he emerged, the doctor waiting outside bowed his head and reported.

 

“Y-yesterday afternoon, the Grand Duke of Schlett came here personally, carrying her in his arms. She had lost consciousness from a high fever after being caught in the rain… Ah, it’s not a serious disease, just the flu. Fortunately, it hasn’t progressed to pneumonia.”

 

Kaisertern’s displeasure only deepened at the doctor’s detailed explanation.

 

“Why was the Grand Duke carrying her?”

 

“Ah, it seems the Grand Duke witnessed her collapsing while she was working.”

 

Despite the earnest answer, Kaisertern’s irritation did not subside.

 

‘Even if he saw her collapse… Radak carried her personally? What is he thinking?’

 

He felt a distinct prickle of annoyance that someone he had his eye on was being tended to by another—especially when that person was the inscrutable Radak.

 

After a moment of thought, Kaisertern turned to the Chief of Internal Affairs behind him and gave an order.

 

“Transfer that girl, Yulli, to the Emperor’s Palace.”