Chapter 6
However, Azelina reacted in a way that was completely different from what Cleita had expected.
“Thank you for your concern, but I’m fine.”
Azelina nodded slightly, as if to show she understood Cleita’s feelings perfectly.
The people around them, surprised by Azelina’s unexpected response, glanced back and forth between her and Cleita.
Meanwhile, Mable, who had been standing like a statue behind Azelina and silently observing the situation, felt awkward at Cleita’s declaration that she would “teach her a proper lesson.”
Even if Azelina caused trouble, Rashid had never punished her properly. So all of this seemed pointless—why go to such lengths?
‘…The real problem is that His Majesty is kind enough to try to listen to every little pointless word from the young ladies,’ Mable concluded to herself and silently nodded.
‘It’s really a relief that our lord seems to have finally let go of any lingering attachment to Her Majesty.’
Today, Rashid was in a rather bad mood.
Throughout the meeting, the nobles had kept saying things that displeased him.
Yet he had no choice but to smile, say he understood, and that he would consider it, before leaving the meeting room.
“Your Majesty, I heard that recently Your Highness gave gifts to the Selina Palace maids. And the head maid… you even granted her leave.”
“…I didn’t ask about that.”
In fact, the things the nobles said today weren’t new; Rashid had heard them repeatedly over the years. He could have ignored them without issue.
But today, for some reason, he felt particularly irritable and sensitive.
Perhaps it was because of the sudden change in Her Majesty, the Empress.
News of the Empress’s shift in behavior had become the biggest topic of gossip. Even if Rashid tried to avoid hearing it, it inevitably reached him.
Rumor had it that the Empress no longer paid attention to the Emperor and quietly spent her time with her maids at Selina Palace. The news had already spread far beyond the palace, throughout the empire.
Those who heard it assumed it must be some new scheme to regain the Emperor’s attention, and predicted that her mischief wouldn’t last long before she caused trouble again.
Of course, Rashid thought the same. Yet…
He suddenly realized he hadn’t seen any recent reports concerning Azelina.
Previously, documents about every incident Azelina caused had come in a steady stream, but strangely, the past few weeks had been quiet.
At first, he had been genuinely pleased to see the Empress showing no interest in him.
It was a little disconcerting to see Azelina in a way he’d never seen before, but the fact that she disappeared from his sight on her own was actually a good thing.
So why did the current situation suddenly feel so irritating?
It was undeniable that Azelina’s existence had a significant influence on him.
Rashid realized that he had never hated anyone as much as he hated her.
Such a bitter bond… it was an exceptionally tenacious connection.
‘Pretending to be indifferent, pretending to forget, it’s all obvious to me.’
Rashid had known Azelina for ten years. Her tricks were always predictable, and it was the same now.
However, this time, her resolve seemed to last longer than usual.
Rashid was anxious. He had no idea when the Empress would finally show her true colors again.
A few days later.
Azelina enjoyed a leisurely walk with Iana, who had just returned from her vacation, and Mable.
“…Sister.”
Mable was still not used to the situation of walking alongside Azelina.
Unthinking, Iana leaned slightly toward Mable at her small voice.
“Lately, Her Majesty hasn’t been stepping foot in the palace… Is she unwell? Do you know anything, Sister?”
Mable asked in a small, almost breathless voice.
Iana hesitated. She knew little about the reason the Empress had changed, and speaking in a low voice about it while Azelina was present felt inappropriate.
But seeing how eagerly Mable awaited her answer, she couldn’t ignore her.
“Well… I’m not really sure…”
Iana hesitated, recalling the events of the past.
She had been pretending to be unconcerned while looking after Azelina, so as not to upset her. Yet Azelina seemed to have noticed Iana’s true feelings even without being told.
One day, Azelina had told Iana that she was only acting this way because she felt sorry for the maids.
But could that be trusted? No, Iana still couldn’t fully believe it.
Struggling to calm her confused emotions, Iana exhaled lightly and then spoke.
“Whatever the case, whether His Highness changes or not, we shouldn’t forget our duties or worry about such things. And if His Highness treats us kindly, that’s a good thing in itself.”
As Iana explained patiently, Mable appeared to think for a moment before nodding belatedly.
Meanwhile, Azelina, unaware of Iana and Mable’s thoughts, continued her walk, enjoying the fresh scent of the grass.
“Hmm…?”
She soon noticed a young boy up ahead, who had fallen and was crying.
‘…Why is a child alone?’
Tilting her head in curiosity, Azelina calmly approached and gently extended her hand.
“Shall we hold hands and get up? It could be dangerous being alone here.”
The boy grasped her hand and stood up, frowning and shedding tears. Azelina felt helpless, unsure how to respond.
He seemed no older than seven.
Why would such a young child be alone in the palace?
It wasn’t entirely unusual for children who weren’t royals to be in the palace, as Azelina herself had experienced in the past.
When a high-ranking noble trusted by the Emperor needed to stay in the palace for a long time, they sometimes brought their own children—or the children of their servants—along.
Since there was no caretaker nearby, this boy was likely the child of a palace servant.
Though the royal family often disliked servant children entering the palace, the kind Emperor seemed unconcerned and allowed it.
“Your Highness… what should we do?”
Iana glanced at Azelina and asked cautiously, clearly hoping Azelina would look after the child.
“Hmm… Should I keep him with me?”
Azelina wasn’t sure who the child’s parents were, or even which servant brought him. Furthermore, no one at Selina Palace was experienced in childcare, so she couldn’t leave the child alone.
After some consideration, Azelina decided to take the child to Selina Palace.
Though the boy seemed a little uncomfortable in the unfamiliar environment, it was certainly safer than leaving him alone in the palace.
Not long after the child began staying at Selina Palace, Eve, a maid who especially adored children, grinned and said,
“Shall we just raise him ourselves, Sister?”
Iana shook her head in disbelief, saying nothing.
After all, the child had parents, and they weren’t even the masters of the palace. Raising him there seemed out of the question.
Eve always wore a confident smile, and true to her expression, she was a bold, determined child herself.
However, one issue was that her bluntness and simple-mindedness often led her to say ridiculous things.
“Stop it, Eve. You’re making the child uncomfortable.”
Mable, quietly observing, spoke up to Eve. Eve’s enthusiastic handling of the child’s soft cheeks seemed a bit too rough.
Eve hesitated but eventually withdrew her hands, clicking her tongue in mild disappointment.
Eve had never seen such a small, adorable child since entering the palace.
Although the previous Emperor had many children, almost all the royal family and concubines except for the current Emperor and the two princesses had perished or disappeared during the succession process.
Moreover, the Emperor had yet to take an Empress, and the only married princess hadn’t had children yet. So it was natural that there were no tiny, cute children in the palace.
“Hoho.”
Determined to take in this cute little being while she could, Eve chuckled mischievously.
