#49. Don’t You Dare Touch My Girl
“This is the Crown Prince’s palace? Walking around the imperial palace with Sister Elizabeth — it feels like a dream.”
Susan laughed, cupping her flushed cheeks.
The sixteen-year-old was fresh and pure like a newly bloomed hydrangea. Her brown eyes shone with unchanged affection as she looked at me.
“You make me feel better too, Susan.”
“How are your wounds?”
“Thanks to your ointment, they healed quickly.”
“You must have been in a lot of pain.”
“They were only minor wounds. I’m embarrassed I made such a fuss.”
“If anyone harms your beautiful body… I’ll punch that awful man with these fists!” Susan waved her tiny fists in the air like a plush doll.
Lately she seemed to love me not just fondly but almost reverentially. She admired the “tough big-sister” idol type — the way a kid adores a strong, cool older sister.
“Scars aren’t imperfections, Susan. Nothing stays beautiful forever.”
“But Elizabeth-unnie, you’ll be beautiful for life — forever. I swear it!”
“Who blooms without wavering? Even a single small fruit contains a few typhoons and thunderclaps.” I murmured a line of poetry I’d read in high school.
Susan clasped her hands together and puckered her little lips.
“That’s such a moving poem! You have a talent for literature, Unnie!”
“I just picked it up somewhere.”
“Anyone can recite poetry? My brother suggested I try, but I just couldn’t.”
“Do what you’re good at. Isn’t being an apothecary tough?”
“Chief therapist Jeffrey is very considerate. Lately I haven’t had any seizures.”
“Don’t overdo it.”
“I’m trying. There are so many rare research materials in the palace I can’t resist. Jeffrey said he’s never seen an apothecary with my passion. Hehe.”
Proud and bashful, Susan stuck out her pink tongue for a moment.
‘There shouldn’t be any trouble for now. Susan’s healthier than ever.’ I checked with Morasincia’s sight; the green smoke had calmed.
She’s been absorbing knowledge like a sponge and improving at an astonishing pace — it seemed others were prepared to be considerate of her.
“Years from now, a genius apothecary who will go down in the empire’s history will be born! I was inspired by Susan too. Thank you for recommending her, Miss Elizabeth.” The palace chief therapist bowed repeatedly.
Susan exceeded my expectations. Could she one day develop life-saving medicines for the people? But an unknown time bomb called the green smoke was hidden in her body.
‘I wish she had some other ability besides knowing the disease name. Where is the second divine artifact? What bonus does it grant?’
White light had threatened me. If I couldn’t find Morasincia’s divine artifact, my soul would be erased. Whether I’d grown braver or just bolder, I no longer felt the same panic.
‘If my soul disappears, who will collect the artifacts? They won’t get rid of someone as useful as me so easily — especially not an omnipotent deity.’
Rushing would only spoil things. I planned to search for the artifacts with a wider perspective. It’s not just any treasure — it’s the goddess of healing’s artifact. I could protect my soul and gain new perks. I couldn’t miss such a sweet opportunity.
“Unnie. I think a guest has come.” Susan clung to my arm with a serious face.
“That lady is staring at you with a terrifying look.” A woman approached, her luxurious orange dress fluttering.
Her hair was a reddish-brown like dried chiles. She wore garish but mismatched jewelry — diamond bracelets, a ruby necklace, sapphire earrings. I didn’t need an introduction to know who she was.
Rose Brenden. The only daughter of Marquis Brenden and sister of Simon.
‘Is this finally the Empress’s entrance?’ I thought.
A maid standing behind Rose spoke in a stiff voice.
“When meeting Her Majesty the Empress, you must bow first.”
“W-worship Her Majesty the Empress.” Susan flinched and bowed her head. I gave a proper curtsey.
Rose hid her mouth behind a lace fan and scrutinized me up and down.
‘Staring at someone like that is such bad manners. Nobles…’ After being possessed, I felt it keenly: people who rant about manners often have nothing of worth. Nobles, full of empty pride, expect to be exalted while pretending to be noble. I wanted to give such people a spicy lesson.
But this one was Nikolai’s wife — the daughter of the family that would soon kneel before me.
“What brings you to the Crown Prince’s palace, Your Majesty the Empress?”
“I happened to be passing by,” Rose answered indifferently.
She was wrapped in luxurious items as if she’d aroused an animal’s fur. Then she glanced toward a distant concubine’s quarter and smiled faintly.
“If you had called, I would have come.”
“Do you think someone like you could enter my quarters?”
“Then you’ll have to pass by by chance more often.” Rose’s gaze hardened as she looked at me.
“You’ll at least have to suffer that much to meet His Majesty’s lover.”
“I’m only the Crown Prince’s tutor. Please ignore the rumors.”
“They say you’re an old crafty fox born a hundred years ago. The tavern gossip isn’t entirely false, it seems.”
Susan’s pretty face turned pale at Rose’s sneer. She knew she had no place to interject, but the anger was hard to hold back.
I needed to get rid of her quickly.
“Is that all you’ve come to say?” I asked.
“Do you want me to keep it brief?” she replied.
“The Crown Prince is waiting.”
“Riding on the prince’s favor and acting haughty. Is the palace your home?”
“If my words offended you, I apologize.” I bowed gracefully.
Rose snorted.
“You low-born wench, learning palace etiquette somewhere? Even a monkey pretending would be better than you.”
“……”
“How dare you challenge our family. Crying and regretting won’t help. My brother and father will….” Rose’s words washed over me through one ear and out the other. She could talk endlessly, and in a way she was impressive.
I’d had a sleepless night and drowsiness crept in. I held back a yawn and decided to focus on Rose’s swaying reddish hair.
‘It’s the exact color of sun-dried chili powder.’ I was daydreaming when Rose noticed and snapped.
“What are you thinking about?”
“Rose Empress’s hair is like a dried chili — no, it reminds me of a plant I love,” I hedged.
Rose’s eyes flickered with curiosity.
“What plant?”
“A rare plant from my homeland. Red, shiny, proud, and fiery.”
“Hmm. It’s called a chili?”
“It’s loved by everyone. They’re revered as essential.” I thought of how indispensable chili is to a Korean table — eaten with gochujang, loaded into kimchi.
“Ah. So it’s a flower as beautiful as me?” Rose preened, satisfied with what she took as a compliment.
“You flatter me to no avail. Simon will win. He’s the empire’s strongest.”
“I believe Sir Claudia will do his best too.”
“Answering back… but your real talent must be in bed, right?” Her smile vanished.
Today I’d tried to let things go. But there were always people who hurried their own end.
“That His Majesty favors one woman so much — your skills must be extraordinary to have captured him.”
“Elizabeth-unnie would never be like that…” Susan’s lower lip trembled. Rose glared at her.
“And who are you?” she snapped.
“I’m Susan Nettleton, the palace apothecary.”
“Nettleton? Ah… that household full of gamblers, quack healers, and lousy novelists!” Rose spat venom.
Susan swayed as if struck, shocked. But only for a moment. She answered in a firm voice.
“The Nettleton marquisate. One of the five families granted artifacts by the founding emperor.”
“Outcast for ages — still clinging to that? There are only four noble houses in the empire.”
“But—”
“Ruin or not, you still carry the noble name. Don’t you have any pride? Trailing after that low woman, calling her ‘unnie’?”
“Elizabeth-unnie is not the person you speak of.”
“How pathetic. Flattering the woman who used and discarded my brother like a dog bone.”
A single tear slid across Susan’s cheek. That was it — my patience snapped.
I wouldn’t tolerate people touching me, but I would never let anyone lay a hand on my child. I wouldn’t endure it. Not now.
“Your words are excessive, Your Majesty the Empress.” A cold voice, like ice dropping, escaped my lips.
“So your true colors show at last?” she said.
“If you truly were only passing through, then pass quietly. Don’t regret it later.”
“Arrogant wench!”
Rose lifted her hand to strike. I’d seen this before, but the situation with Countess Kensing had been different. There would be no mercy for Rose.
Smack.
Just as Rose’s right hand aimed for my left cheek, I lifted my left hand as if to cover my mouth — the sound of palms meeting was sharp. But she collapsed to the side with a flop, rolling over.
“Aagh!” she shrieked dramatically.
Susan burst into tears.
“Elizabeth-unnie! Are you alright?!”
“Su-Susan…”
“Your face is so pale! Sniff.” If I’d actually been hit, my cheek would be red. What I needed now was a bit of shamelessness and confident acting.
“I’m — I’m fine.” I leaned on Susan with a fragile, pitiful expression.
Susan sobbed as if I were on my deathbed.
“Why all the fuss when you weren’t even hit properly?” Rose scoffed.
“How could you hit someone? If something happens to Elizabeth-unnie, will you be responsible, Your Majesty the Empress?” Susan looked up at Rose with fierce eyes.
Startled by Susan’s fierce stance, Rose’s tone softened.
“Oh my, look at her. Someone would think a club was swung.”
“A club? Are you trying to kill my sister?”
“What nonsense are you shouting?”
“The wound from the kidnapping hasn’t healed. Blood seems to be seeping again, Unnie!” Susan pressed her lower belly and raised her voice.
Her voice rang through the Crown Prince’s palace, loud enough to crack a man’s eardrum.
