Chapter 8
I glanced around, then slipped quickly between the pillars. Hiding behind the next one, I peeked out again to check the surroundings. The heavy darkness cloaking the palace grounds covered me, keeping me from anyone’s notice.
My movements aren’t half bad.
Even I had to admit I was handling this rather deftly, and pride swelled inside me.
Doesn’t this feel kind of like being a spy? Like I’m part of some guard unit protecting the peace of the original story.
At present, I was moving stealthily under cover of the night. With the duke summoned away by the emperor, it was the perfect chance to avoid people’s eyes. I had things to do anyway, and sitting idly on the terrace alone sounded like torture.
Just keep this up. Perfect.
I even indulged in a bit of self-congratulation, imagining that once I gained my freedom, maybe I could join an information guild and make a name for myself.
What if I became a top-tier informant, famous across the continent?
At first, I had hidden, holding my breath as nobles passed nearby, searching for me. But soon they quieted down, turning their chatter to wine and gossip, and I slipped away unnoticed.
Who knew having no family influence would actually come in handy.
As the daughter of a poor viscount house, I wasn’t well-known, and most nobles didn’t recognize me.
“Where’s the Duchess of fiar?”
“She attended the wedding, but the bride’s face was hidden under her veil, so I couldn’t see her properly.”
“She’ll return with the duke soon enough.”
With the duke absent, they didn’t realize I was passing right beside them.
“Her gown was unusually splendid and elegant, though.”
“Indeed. Much like the young lady who just walked by.”
“Don’t you think they look rather similar?”
As more and more eyes began to dart toward me, recognizing the dress, I moved quickly, fluttering my fan to shield my face.
My time is short.
The duke wouldn’t be detained by the emperor for long. Soon he’d be freed and asking after me. Before that happened, I needed to find Sophia first.
The fiar Duke and Sophia met at the fountain.
A place so romantic and cliché it screamed “romance novel.” A fateful encounter in a secluded corner of the palace, right in the middle of a ball.
Leaving the ballroom, I slipped into a quieter passage, reaching the fountain in no time. Since most of the palace maids had been drafted into service at the banquet, the corridors were deserted, letting me move unseen.
Now all that was left was to find Sophia, who would soon arrive.
“Ah—”
I had thought the place deserted, but someone was already there ahead of me. Though he sat with his back turned, his hair and attire made it clear who it was.
It wasn’t strange for him to be here, but still unexpected. As if sensing my presence, he slowly turned his head.
“And what brings the duchess here?”
Frozen in surprise, I hurriedly curtsied, a chill of sweat running down my back.
“I pay my respects to Your Majesty, the one and only sun of the Empire.”
The emperor himself sat alone, savoring solitude, instead of conversing with the duke as he ought. Sophia and the duke were supposed to be here, not him. My irritation spiked.
I’m running myself ragged to keep the original story intact, and you all keep going off-script!
Outwardly, however, I smiled sweetly.
Focus. One wrong move and I’ll be done for before the duke even thinks of rebellion. I’ve only got one life—better enjoy it to the fullest while I can.
To keep him from seeing through my unease, I raised my fan and hid my mouth behind it. The fan was proving useful in all sorts of ways tonight. As I gently waved it, the emperor spoke again.
“A duchess not even a month married—why wander alone?”
Because of you. Because you summoned the duke.
Cursed class society. His intentions were obvious—testing me, waiting to pounce on any slip.
“Forgive me, but I am from Aloha. It is my first time in the Imperial Palace. Aloha lies on the farthest edge of the Empire, and traveling to the capital is no small matter.”
I chose the safe route: blame myself. Better to be overlooked than noticed.
“No matter how beautiful and grand our ducal manor may be, it cannot compare with the palace. I wished to wander a little, raise my humble taste, and admire its splendor.”
If I played the part of a country bumpkin, he’d surely lose interest. And indeed, his face showed indifference.
“I see.”
Sensing my plan had worked, I bowed again. Now to retreat—slip away, never to meet him again.
“Then, may the Empire enjoy eternal peace and—”
“If the palace pleases you so, you may stay here as long as you like.”
The words he tossed out so lightly carried crushing weight.
“…Pardon?”
No explanation followed. My head swirled. Was this political maneuvering, a scheme to keep me as a hostage against the duke? Was I even a suitable target for that?
“Do you dislike the idea?”
Again, he ignored my questions, only turning it back on me. Every word of his was a landmine. The wrong answer meant imprisonment—or worse, execution—for lèse-majesty.
I can’t say yes, but I can’t say no either.
How was I supposed to answer? My mind raced, searching for a reply that wouldn’t hurt anyone and would get me out of this alive. The longer I hesitated, the heavier the air grew. The emperor turned fully to face me, his eyes pressing me for an answer.
My nerves frayed.
“Uh…”
Our gazes met, suspended in the dim light. His face, shaded by the glow, seemed strangely sorrowful. The emperor was far too handsome—always a problem.
“Your Majesty…”
I blurted out the title just to say something, anything. He leaned in to listen. I was ready to spout the first nonsense that came to mind when—
“Why are you here, Luenn?”
Someone burst from the bushes.
The Duke of fiar. His eyes swept over the emperor, sharp with suspicion, as though accusing him of why he was here with me. The look was so brazen it could have been deemed treasonous.
Oh no.
This was the worst possible complication. I knew the duke was possessive, but to show it openly before the emperor? I could be as careful as I liked—he was uncontrollable.
If he provokes the emperor’s temper, we’re finished. I want to live a long life, damn it.
On the verge of fainting, I stayed silent, letting the two men exchange words. Sparks practically flew between them.
“Leaving your new bride alone so soon, Duke fair? No wonder she wandered all the way here. Had I not found her, she might have been hopelessly lost.”
The emperor struck first, blaming the duke and demanding thanks for rescuing me.
But the duke replied calmly, almost lazily:
“Well, it seems His Majesty does not know my wife’s fondness for walks. I do not believe in binding those I love. Shackles only ruin relationships. Don’t you agree?”
The two clashed head-on. I know my wife best. Mind your own affairs. The emperor’s expression twisted.
Oh… wait a second.
My eyes gleamed. I realized what this was about.
This is the emperor’s first love story, isn’t it?
At fifteen, back when he was still crown prince, he had loved fiercely. But his love was too overwhelming.
“Where did you go?”
“Some noble ladies invited me to tea.”
“I told you not to! Stay by my side and go nowhere else!”
His demands were too suffocating for a young girl to bear.
“I was wrong. Please don’t leave. Give me another chance.”
“I’m sorry. Thank you for everything.”
In the end, she left. The young emperor was devastated. And while he languished in heartbreak, the duke, also fifteen, went to war and made a name for himself. People compared them mercilessly.
“Only you, Duke, would confuse neglect with affection. Calling it loving freedom, perhaps?”
The emperor pressed again. I puzzled over the meaning, noting the duke’s brief flinch. The emperor smirked and dealt another blow.
“Why else would even a dumb beast flee from you?”
Ah. That brought back a faint memory. When they were young, the emperor and duke began learning horsemanship together.
The cold, indifferent duke had cared little for his steed. Obsessed with the sword, he spent most of his time training, rarely visiting the stable. Though they each received a foal of Jane, the famed bloodline mare, the duke’s horse had ultimately rejected him. That must have been the story the emperor was hinting at now.
They’re dragging up old memories only the two of them share.
A sudden bubble of laughter welled up inside me—and I couldn’t stop it.
“Pfft.”
Both men snapped their heads toward me, startled. But I couldn’t stop laughing.
“You two really seem close.”
I said lightly, still chuckling. Both instantly bristled.
“What nonsense is that!”
“Wife, absolutely not.”
Their protests overlapped, uncannily alike—like childhood friends who had grown alike through years together.
And these are supposed to be the giants who rule the Empire?
The emperor and duke were spoken of as untouchable figures. Yet before me, they squabbled like boys, dragging up childish grievances.
“Whatever gave you that idea, duchess, this time you are mistaken.”
“It’s nothing but bad blood between us, Luenn.”
But watching them bicker like reckless youths, I found myself grinning, thoroughly amused.
