While I was lost in thought, the Empress Consort’s maids approached.
“At your service.”
“Yes.”
I cast a sidelong glance at Esther, then made my way toward the Empress Consort’s garden.
Even in the garden, the Empress Consort looked uneasy. She glared at her teacup as if deep in thought, so I called her na gently.
“Your Highness the Empress Consort.”
“...Ah. Yes.”
Only then did she snap out of it and look at .
“Thank you for coming at my invitation.”
She ant for to ask why she had summoned to the palace.
“There’s the festival coming up, isn’t there? The Day of the New Moon.”
The Day of the New Moon—when the moon disappears like an eclipse, and the rite is perford. People of this world believe it’s the one day they can commune with the gods.
The Empress Consort raised her teacup and said, “Presiding over the rite is the duty of the imperial won.”
“Yes.”
“But....”
She rolled up her sleeve and offered her wrist.
“A rash has appeared, you see.”
She sighed softly.
“The Empress Dowager and I have fallen ill.”
“....”
“We draw water from the Lotechn River in the palace, right? Monsters upstream must have poisoned it.”
“....”
“If one is unwell, one cannot preside over the rite. So, I was hoping you might assist , my lady.”
First the Empress Dowager, then the Empress, and now the Crown Princess. In other words, the Empress Consort was asking once again if I would beco Prince Salvatore’s consort.
She smiled at sweetly.
“Do not overthink it. Preside over the rite and experience everything a woman of the highest rank in this empire can enjoy.”
Once I presided over the rite, she would undoubtedly cling to and insist I remain Salvatore’s consort forever...
‘But not doing it feels like a waste.’
If I presided, I could enter the imperial archives and gain access to all the state-controlled information. I do have the ability, but it is not a substitute for unlimited access.
There is much I need to know: ancient history, the Chronos Society, and so on.
‘But risking unknown information....’
Lost in thought, I noticed the Empress Consort’s brow furrow.
“Would you refuse such a generous offer, my lady?”
“Pardon? That’s... preposterous.”
“They say idle tongues wag. I am but the setting sun.”
“Please ignore the gossip of busybodies.”
“My life has been reduced to a farce. My natal family lost their power, the Empress Dowager stripped of the imperial seal, and... the Emperor keeps a foreign slave girl by his side.”
“Are you referring to the maid Esther?”
“Yes. That filthy foreign wench.”
“....”
The Empress Consort scoffed.
“You granted that immigrant slave the position of palace maid and allow her to attend His Majesty day and night.”
“....”
“When the Crown Prince inquired about her, His Majesty flew into a rage.”
“His Majesty was enraged...?”
“He forbade any man to covet his woman. Salvatore endured the humiliation of having his head struck against a goblet because of that wench.”
The Empress Consort clutched her skirts and trembled.
So that was why she loathed Esther so much.
‘It wasn’t for Esther.’
The Emperor lost his temper not because of a woman but because Salvatore had been probing around.
‘Salvatore must have noticed His Majesty’s strange condition.’
He uncovered evidence, so he could boldly ask why the Emperor kept Esther at his side.
‘Fixing a Crown Prince was essentially blackmail.’
That was why the Emperor’s fury knew no bounds.
The Empress Consort exhaled a thin sigh.
“In any case, it’s a good proposal. Do give it careful thought.”
“Yes, Your Highness. I will reply as soon as possible.”
At that mont, one of the Empress Consort’s maids approached with a pale face. She bent to whisper in the Empress Consort’s ear.
The Empress Consort’s expression hardened instantly. She glared at the maid.
“What is the aning of this?”
“I do not know the details, Your Highness....”
The maid fidgeted, and the Empress Consort slamd the ~Nоvеl𝕚ght~ table.
“I am the Empress Consort of this nation, and yet I fainted without investigation—and you released Grimie Astra’s daughter?!”
Released Dalia?
I, too, was frozen.
At the Empress Consort’s outburst, her maids hurriedly bowed. She panted and said, “I must see His Majesty at once.”
“Esther has escorted Lady Dalia to the audience chamber....”
“I said I must see him!”
The maids exchanged helpless looks. I rose from my seat.
“Your Highness, I shall take my leave now.”
“...Very well. Until we et again.”
“Yes.”
I bowed and left the garden. Han Jihyeok, who had been assisting , followed quietly behind.
“What happened? Why was Dalia released?”
“The Emperor’s illness.”
“What?”
“He fell ill. Grimie must have offered to cure His Majesty’s disease in exchange for Dalia’s freedom.”
Grimie was desperate once Dalia began her examination.
‘He said only Dalia could heal him.’
Han Jihyeok frowned.
“What kind of disease...?”
“Itapuru.”
“What is that?”
“You wouldn’t know. The first case is the Emperor himself. We must move quickly.”
“To cure Itapuru?”
“No—buy every sprig of crumatus available in the market.”
“Ah, so that’s the redy?”
“No!”
I fixed him with a serious look.
“Crumatus is the source of the contagion. It transforms the Itapuru bacillus into a transmissible plague.”
“Wha-what?!”
“Sixty percent of this continent will die.”
I understood why the origin of Itapuru in the palace had to remain hidden.
‘Because the Emperor was the one who weaponized it—!’
I gripped Han Jihyeok’s arm.
“We must act quickly. The Empress Dowager and the Empress Consort are already infected.”
“In—infected?”
A rash is the first sign of Itapuru.
Dalia’s eyes sparkled as she took in the audience chamber.
“Wow....”
Indeed, a fantasy-world palace. Blindingly beautiful.
‘Astra’s castles are magnificent, but I prefer the palace!’
The white marble floor and walls shimred like tides. Platinum filigree adorned every corner, and every pedestal held a magnificent vase overflowing with flowers. Unlike the grotesque sculptures of the power hall, these huge portraits were inlaid with jewels.
“It’s so beautiful, Your Majesty....”
“Dalia.”
When Grimie called his daughter to caution her, the Emperor waved dismissively.
“Ah, yes. I rember I lost my mory?”
“Oh, yes! Um, so the... monster attack?”
Dalia looked at Grimie for confirmation. Grimie answered for her.
“There was a monster assault.”
“I see. Then can she cure my disease?”
“Your disease...? Your Majesty, do you feel unwell?”
Dalia’s brows knitted in concern.
“I do.”
The Emperor signaled to Esther. She carefully removed his shirt. Dalia gasped at his skin.
“Oh... your skin...!”
It was a ruin of grotesque rashes and pustules, fungus-like growths sprouting everywhere. The Emperor redressed and said, “It began three years ago, I believe.”
“‘Believe’?” Grimie echoed.
“Yes. I do not know the exact date. It is a disease none have understood.”
“I see....”
“Three years ago, fatigue was extre. The next year, I developed lung problems and internal pains as if my organs were being torn. This year, my skin broke out like this, and every movent feels as if a blade is slicing .”
“....”
“Three months ago, I began losing consciousness, sotis slipping away for days.”
“I understand....”
“Imperial physicians, the healers of Pensium, the Mabro tribe who claim mastery over every herb, even priests and mages—all are at a loss.”
“You’ve suffered greatly....”
“I survived this long thanks to the rare herb crumatus that your father brought.”
“...”
“It blossoms under very specific conditions, and Esther has been secretly cultivating it in my underground greenhouse.”
“I see. Well done, Esther.”
Esther smiled awkwardly, and the Emperor sighed, pressing his palm to his brow.
He cast a displeased look at Grimie, as though he were forcing himself to play along with a child.
“How can I believe this child can cure when no one else can?”
“She possesses the Blessing of Healing.”
“Priests have that blessing too—they only heal wounds.”
“But her attunent to the Guardian Star is exceptionally high.”
“How dare you speak of taboos—!”
The royal families long ago suppressed the ancient records to prevent rebellion, teaching this lie:
[Royalty alone may wield blessings. The gods granted blessings to them to rule the people.]
Thus the true nature of the Guardian Star is now known to only a handful.
Grimie calmly replied, “Her attunent to the Guardian Star is ninety-six percent.”
“...!”
“Considering third-tier blessing bearers attune at only ten percent, it is astonishing. I dare say none in the world surpass her— not even Diamond Astra, whose blessing has reached the Transcendent Tier.”
“You’re saying Diamond Astra’s blessing is Transcendent?”
Transcendent Tier—equivalent to the ancients.
“But her attunent exceeds even Diamond Astra’s.”
“Dalia has not fully recovered. Having lost her mories, she cannot wield her blessing properly.”
“So...”
“But her re presence will greatly ease my pain.”
“...How long until complete recovery?”
“Within a month, she will heal fully and be trained to use her blessing properly.”
The Emperor considered briefly, then beckoned Esther.
“Give Dalia that pendant. I will make her my personal maid and have her assist .”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Dalia tilted her head and looked at Grimie.
“What pendant is that, Father?”
“The Twin-Dragon Crest. A token of favor. Whoever bears it need not bow to anyone but His Majesty.”
“So cool...!”
Dalia’s cheeks flushed. ‘I feel so special— like the heroine!’
She leapt to her feet, swept out her skirt, and dipped into a curtsy.
“I will do my best, Your Majesty!”
The Emperor laughed softly.
“Confident, but still quite inexperienced, aren’t you?”
“I’m practicing hard, but it’s difficult. I’ll work hard like Erilot!”
The Emperor chuckled and looked at Esther.
“She’s got a charm none of the other young ones possess.”
“She is truly lovely.”
Esther agreed with a warm laugh, and Grimie regarded Dalia with affection.
Dalia thought with reddened cheeks, ‘I really like this country. Everyone makes feel special... except for one person.’
At the thought of Erilot, Dalia’s expression soured.
The next day, I returned to the palace to check on the Empress Dowager’s condition. Walking down the corridor with Han Jihyeok, I whispered, “And the crumatus?”
“There are only about five rchant guilds dealing in it. It’s rare, so rooting them out shouldn’t take long.”
“That’s a relief.”
“What about the Empress Dowager’s health? Have you heard anything?”
“I don’t know. She hasn’t appeared in three weeks, so it’s probably more serious than the Empress Consort’s condition—”
Just then—
“Woah, the Royal Guards?”
“Could it be the Royal Guards?!”
We heard a thunk behind us. Turning, we saw knights from the Western Army. Gorgo, once a rogue of the Western Army, even dropped his book.
“Oh? Jowick, Kazin, Ku, Liam, and Gorgo too.”
“Can’t we be seen...?”
The uncalled-for knights stared at gloomily.
“You’re visible. Very visible.”
I laughed, and they ford a circle around . Taller than in the Army of the West, they pressed in as though I were pinned against a wall.
“You’ve all beco Imperial Guards? The armor suits you— Jowick and Kazin are Paladins?!”
Paladins: the Emperor’s personal elite guards.
Liam grumbled, “I’ll join the White Stallion Cavalry in the next draft.”
“I’ll root for you. But Gorgo... what happened to you?”
“I passed the administrative exam. With flying colors!”
“And no more embezzlent, I hope?”
“Ah, no more....”
“Right. But why is the Western Army all here?”
Liam cracked a grin.
“We had lunch together. Old comrades stick together... Whoa.”
He trailed off and looked past .
“The Twin-Dragon Crest. The first ti since the founder Emperor.”
“T-Twin-Dragon Crest?”
They stared at Dalia, who wore the palace maid’s uniform and proudly bore the Twin-Dragon Crest around her neck. The corridor fell silent with astonishnt.
‘The Twin-Dragon Crest? Has the Emperor really given that to soone?’
I turned—and there was Dalia’s familiar face.
“...!”
“Ah, Erilot— or rather,” Dalia puckered her lips in a pout, “nice to see you.”
“I see. You wanted a chance to apologize, didn’t you? You were really terrible, you know?”
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