Chapter 45
Pri stared at Jeren for a long time after he said something so unexpected.
“Anyway, I’ve already spent too much time here today. Someone might begin to suspect me.”
“Court physician… what you said earlier…”
“It was merely a joke, since Your Majesty’s face seemed so stiff from before. Please don’t take it to heart.”
With his usual gentle smile, he pulled out a small glass vial from his pocket and handed it to Pri.
“If I may offer a small piece of advice… if you ever find that the lid of this bottle is turned differently than before, you must be cautious.”
“…Pardon?”
“There are so many people in this world, after all. I worry for Your Majesty, who is kinder and more gentle than anyone. The imperial palace is a place where many things can happen.”
Pri fixed her gaze on the vial before her.
“What does it mean, the lid facing differently…?”
“The vials physicians use are somewhat special. Ordinary people wouldn’t know, but there’s a difference between the first time you open it and the second time. In case someone has tampered with the medicine, physicians long ago agreed on a system. There’s also a difference between the second and the third opening.”
“Ah…!”
“Since ancient times, physicians were always the first to be dragged into scandals whenever incidents occurred. We’ve endured every hardship, and many even died under false charges.”
Jeren slowly rotated the hexagonal vial between his fingers.
“So, this was devised. Look closely at this fine gap—see the tiny line where the lid connects with the body?”
Pri’s eyes widened as she leaned in.
“There really is one!”
“The first opening aligns with this line, the second with the line next to it, and so on. So if ever you see that it’s different, do not drink it.”
“Yes…”
“Especially someone like Your Majesty, who has so many attendants. And also, this bottle’s color—the rainbow glow, like light in the sky—that is my personal mark.”
Like a child eager to please her teacher, Pri reacted brightly to every one of his words as she lifted the vial.
It shimmered in iridescent rainbow colors whenever it caught the light.
Though it was medicine, strangely, she felt as if she’d been given a gift.
“Even the color is different?”
“Yes. Each maker has a designated vial color. People in the know can recognize it. So…”
“I’ll only take medicine from bottles of this color. I’ll be careful always.”
“Then I’ve told you everything I must, so I’ll take my leave.”
As he rose, Pri also stood to see him off.
“Then I’ll be going.”
He gave a deep bow, folding his body nearly in half, and she answered with a smile.
As though all business was done, he popped a small candy from his pocket into his mouth and left.
The moment he was gone, Seth and Casy came in, as if waiting for that very instant.
Casy, who had stormed out earlier with a look of frustration, now entered with her face full of smiles, as though she were a completely different person.
“Lady Pri.”
At the sight of her acting like someone else entirely, Pri flinched.
“Ah, Casy.”
“I heard you’ve been looking for me often!”
So that was it. Surprised by Casy’s sudden change, Pri relaxed slightly.
“Yes, Casy. How have you been?”
“The head maid purposely assigned me to clean your room only when you weren’t there, to keep me from meeting you. I missed you very much. Last time I saw you, I was so happy, you don’t even know.”
Smiling brightly like a child, she met Pri’s gaze.
“Is that so?”
Before Pri knew it, Casy was right at her side.
“Yes!”
“Casy, mind your manners. Every time you act this excessively, I regret ever allowing you in here,” Seth scolded.
Casy was very different from the other maids originally assigned to Riat Palace.
The maids of Riat Palace had been flawless, prepared to serve only a single person. Yet, just before Pri came, the Emperor had dismissed them all to other assignments, scattering them.
Only Seth, the head maid, remained.
—Perhaps clumsiness is the key to everything.
Argent had muttered those cryptic words when it happened. And so, the palace prepared for one alone was emptied of its perfect attendants, all at the Emperor’s command.
Even alone, Seth had felt confident. She believed she could care for her mistress better than anyone.
But as time passed, she realized her shortcomings. The Empress was kind and gentle, never complaining even when inconvenienced, always saying everything was fine.
She always looked lonely.
That only made Seth worry more.
‘I thought maybe it would help if she had someone to share her heart with, so I brought in Casy.’
Though a collateral relative, Casy had similarities with Pri. Like oil and water, she didn’t blend with the others.
Perhaps because her mother was foreign, Casy had unusually pale skin and pink hair unlike anyone else here.
Because of that hair, she had grown up lonely, often bullied. She was treated like an outcast in her family.
‘But Casy…’
Seth eyed her uneasily.
At family gatherings, the Casy she remembered had always been earnest and clever, longing for the wider world. She thought such a girl would get along well with Pri, and so brought her in with the rights of her position.
She only hoped her mistress could have someone to talk to, someone to make her smile.
‘I was wrong.’
At Seth’s sharp words, Casy’s face turned sullen with displeasure.
“But what Lady Pri likes is this side of me. Isn’t that right?”
Already expecting a favorable reply, she looked at Pri. With a hollow laugh, Pri answered. She had never disliked Casy’s appearance, but…
“Yes. You’ve always been like this, Casy. From the first time we met.”
“See? Her Majesty is always too kind.”
“It’s all right, Seth. Everyone has their own acceptable limits, and for Casy, this is hers.”
Ironically, Pri had once vowed never to wear a mask before Casy. Yet here she was again, putting it back on.
Not for Casy’s sake, but because she couldn’t stand being hated.
For Argent’s sake, she had tried to become the villain to prove he was a good man. But when things broke between them, she had wanted to show that neither of them were truly good.
‘But… I hate this.’
It was fine if he was a bad person. But she didn’t want to be one. She always had to be the good one, almost as if bound by obsession.
—If you’re not good, who would ever care about someone like you? The only reason you’re kept around is because you’re good. If you don’t want to be abandoned, behave. Foolish little sister.
Those words had ensnared her, and without realizing it, Pri had lived bound by the compulsion to always be good.
Just like now.
“I understand. If that is Her Majesty’s wish… But Casy, whatever else, you must at least do one thing properly. No matter how understanding she is, at the very least you must address her correctly as Her Majesty the Empress.”
“…Pardon?”
“You’ve kept calling her Lady Pri, both last time and this time.”
“Ah… yes…”
At that, Casy’s eyes flickered.
“Casy. Answer properly.”
“My apologies, Pri… no, Your Majesty the Empress. From now on I will address you correctly.”
“…Very well.”
Why did that leave such an uncomfortable knot in her chest?
Normally, the old Pri would have let it pass. She was never one to say a harsh word.
But today, she didn’t want to.
“Casy, do you dislike calling me ‘Your Majesty’?”
“…What?”
“It seemed that way. Is there some reason you can’t?”
“No, that’s not it… I’m sorry…”
“I’m not scolding you. I just want to know.”
Even at her soothing tone, Casy hesitated for a long while, as though weighing her thoughts.
“Is it that difficult to say?”
“No… it’s just… when I call you ‘Your Majesty,’ it feels too distant. And also… since you haven’t yet been formally proclaimed to the empire as Empress, I thought perhaps it might be improper…”
Mumbling and stammering, her explanation trailed into incoherence.
“That was the reason?”
Of course Pri’s face hardened. If it had been another reason, she might have understood. But this?
Too distant? Not yet proclaimed?
“Really…”
“I swear I didn’t mean anything else by it!”
Casy waved her hands frantically, but that only made it worse.
“The fact you denied it so strongly just proves that’s the truth.”
“N-no, Lady Pri—”
Pri’s face was harder than ever before. At length, she forced a small smile, but it was not her usual gentle one.
“I was joking. How could Casy mean anything else by it? After all, you’re someone Seth herself brought to me.”
So even if you did have another heart, don’t show it. Not for my sake, but for Seth’s.
She did not say it aloud, but the raw emotion was clear in her voice and eyes, piercing Casy.
At Pri’s cold expression—something she had never shown before—Casy quickly lowered her head.
“Of… of course.”
“So, if you don’t want misunderstandings, address me properly from now on.”
“Yes, Your Majesty…”
