Chapter 21
After that, Kun had sent away all the officials except for Calis and my personal guard.
Left completely alone, Clöe looked around. Even though the number of people had drastically decreased, the tension in the room only thickened. One person—just one person’s gaze—could feel so oppressive. Even if she combined the attention of all the departed guards, it wouldn’t be as intense as the gaze from the man before her.
“Lift your head, Princess.”
At the emperor’s command, Clöe lifted her head. Come to think of it, it had been a long time since she had been called by this title. Since leaving the royal household, she had no longer been treated as royalty but as someone from the ducal family.
Clöe wondered about the emperor’s intent in calling her that. Surely it wasn’t to mock her. But the atmosphere didn’t allow for such questions, so she stayed silent, waiting for his next words.
“Now that I think about it, this is the first time we’ve had a proper conversation.”
“I’m honored that you would take the time for me.”
“It’s nothing. The matter is that a maid was recently found badly injured in the forest. She seems to belong to you, Princess.”
“A maid?” Clöe immediately interjected.
According to Kun’s description, only one person fit that situation: her maid, Jane, who had recently left the ducal household. But Jane couldn’t possibly have been injured in a forest this close to the empire… her home is far to the north. Why would she be found in the imperial forest when she had intended to return home?
“Has Your Majesty heard her name?”
“She hasn’t regained consciousness for several days. Her identity is still unknown.”
“Ah…”
“They also found a bag in the same forest, containing jewelry with the ducal family’s insignia. I suspected she might be your maid, Princess.”
Jewelry belonging to the ducal family? That could only refer to Jane. Unless the maid had the audacity to steal from her master—which Clöe knew Jane wouldn’t do—it was undeniable evidence. Clöe’s blood ran cold.
“…You say the maid is so badly injured she cannot regain consciousness?” Clöe muttered, unable to believe it, her eyes trembling from shock.
“Shall we go see her?” Kun offered after observing her reaction.
“…Excuse me?”
“If the Princess wishes, I can guide you there.”
It was as if he could read her thoughts. Clöe hesitated but eventually nodded.
“Then take my hand.”
“….”
“You’ve lost strength in your legs, Princess.”
As Kun descended from the throne and reached out, Clöe glanced at his hand and then at her legs. She had been kneeling neatly, but her legs had now given out, stretching outward. She couldn’t maintain her posture.
“I… I gratefully accept your kindness.”
The large hand holding hers gave her stability. With his help, she was able to rise despite her weakened legs.
Accompanying Kun, Clöe walked down the busy corridor, stopping in front of a room where Jane lay. The room was unusually lavish for someone nursing an injured person.
Clöe approached the patient’s bed and immediately checked her face.
“…Jane?”
As Kun had said, the injuries were so severe that her facial features were barely recognizable. But considering her build and general appearance, it was indeed Jane. The bracelet on her arm—damaged though it was—confirmed it. Clöe had given that bracelet to Jane herself.
Having assessed the situation, Clöe’s face contorted. Her cheerful, smiling maid had been concealing sadness behind a bright smile—but why was she now at death’s door?
“…Jane.”
Her trembling hand hovered over Jane’s face. She wanted to gently touch her cheek, but worried it might cause pain. She ultimately withdrew her hand, resting it silently on the bedside. She silently prayed that Jane would regain consciousness soon and embrace her.
“I promised I would protect you… I wanted to protect you…”
But instead, Jane lay inert, like a corpse in a coffin. Clöe, who had experience nursing battlefield knights, understood the severity. It would be a miracle if Jane simply regained consciousness. In cases of such serious injuries, patients often died within days. All Clöe could do was pray that Jane could hold on longer.
“I’m sorry, Your Majesty… for showing you such a sight.”
Clöe apologized to Kun after leaving the room.
He looked at her reddened eyes—whether from tears or emotional strain—and said nothing. The sting of tears made her eyes ache.
“You need not ask my forgiveness for an apology I do not wish. Are you alright, Princess?”
Clöe quietly nodded at his following question. Her quiet, resolute response seemed to unsettle him.
“You seem downcast, Princess.”
Even though he had said she shouldn’t, Kun instinctively stepped forward. Clöe blinked in surprise, unsure of his intent.
“What do you usually do when you feel that way?”
She had no choice but to answer.
“I… just lie down.”
“Lie down?”
She remained consistent in her answer even when he questioned her again. Clöe always lay down whenever unwanted events occurred, or when she could not bear a situation. Even when she confronted injustice, nothing would truly change. She knew that even if she won once, another trial would soon come.
“So today, you plan to simply lie in your chamber as usual?”
Clöe could not discern his intent. Having always been cautious in the ducal household, she carefully read others’ emotions—but Kun’s were far more complex. His question was laced with countless emotions: on the surface teasing, yet underneath concern for her. He seemed disinterested at first glance, yet demanded something from her.
After long thought, Clöe finally spoke sincerely.
“No. I will do what I must.”
“And what must you do, Princess—?”
“I will investigate whoever harmed my maid.”
Kun’s emotion became immediately clear.
“Then I can assist you.”
A small smile crept onto Clöe’s face. The emperor before her seemed relieved, as if a burden had been lifted.
Kun then introduced Clöe to the knight who had discovered Jane. The man, blushing furiously upon seeing her, might normally have been punished for his lack of decorum, but since he was important to her, Kun let it slide once.
While waiting for her, Kun wandered through the palace gardens. As he strolled past the remaining guards, someone bumped into him.
“Ah…”
Annoyed, Kun looked down. The person looked startled, eyes wide.
Without exchanging introductions, Kun immediately recognized her. Helena, wasn’t it? Her light brown hair and pink eyes added a feminine charm. Reports from the knight suggested she had captivated many men. But beyond the hair and eyes, there was nothing remarkable about her. Claims of beauty or stealing hearts seemed entirely false.
Why is she here? The presence of someone so inappropriate in this space irritated him. If he could, he would break her legs for standing where she shouldn’t, and gouge out her insufferable eyes.
“Ah!”
At that moment, Helena let out a short gasp, as if realizing something.
“I-I’m sorry! I’ll be careful next time!”
Kun did not wish to hear an apology; instead, he questioned her.
“What business do you have here?”
Helena seemed unaware of the deeper intent—he wanted to know why she, of all people, appeared here.
“Oh! The flowers are so pretty! In the north, it’s still cold, so flowers haven’t bloomed yet! The palace has so many lovely flowers, I’m delighted!”
She did not seem to grasp the full situation. Kun, sensing her naïveté, moved on.
“Your… Your Majesty!”
Then a cheerful voice stopped him.
“You seem to be alone as well… If it’s not an imposition, may I accompany Your Majesty?”
She had already begun blushing, her voice rising slightly. She pushed her hair behind her ear like a shy girl.
