~Chapter 35~
Zeren rummaged through his pockets and placed a generous amount of candy on the bedside table. Judging by the packaging, they were clearly strawberry-flavored.
“Well then, I’ll be going now.”
As Pri’s eyes landed on the candy, Zeren turned and left the room.
Watching him go, Pri let out a small chuckle and unwrapped a piece of candy. The one she had earlier had already melted away in her mouth.
“What a pleasant man.”
Somehow, her mood lifted.
Everyone she had met here thanks to Argent made her feel comfortable and at ease. It was almost enough to make her wonder if she had some kind of luck with people. The warmth she felt brought a smile to her face.
Just then—
Seth, who had been quietly talking with Zeren outside, entered the room as if something urgent had happened and examined Pri closely.
“Your Majesty, are you all right?”
“Hmm? I’m fine. Why, did something happen, Seth?”
“No, nothing happened… I just felt uneasy about leaving you alone for the consultation.”
“It’s okay. Court Physician Zeren seems like a really good person.”
“Yes, he’s truly a wonderful person. Very skilled too… but.”
Seth’s expression darkened mid-sentence, and Pri unwrapped another piece of candy.
“But…?”
“I heard he had quit his practice. Due to personal reasons. He even said he would never practice medicine again… So for him to show up again like this…”
“Did something happen?”
“I believe it had something to do with his daughter, but I don’t know the details… Still, in terms of skill, he’s considered one of the best on the continent.”
Pri fiddled with the candy wrappers of the two pieces she had already eaten.
“To be treated by someone like that…”
“Your Majesty deserves it. Zeren even said it was a joy seeing you again after so long. He promised to send the medicine soon. So what kind of medicine is it?”
“He said it’s a tonic to replenish my weakened body. Very strawberry-flavored.”
“I was worried, but I’m relieved to hear that.”
Seeing Seth worry over her like a mother, Pri suddenly recalled what Zeren had said earlier.
A sleeping pill. And Gaia.
Pri called out to Seth, who was busy pondering what kind of nutrient-rich meals to feed her.
“Um, by any chance… Could I get some information about Gaia?”
“Of course. What would you like to know?”
“Well, as far as I remember, she was always a good sleeper. So I was wondering if she still sleeps well. Maybe she isn’t sleeping well since coming here… or not eating well…”
“As expected, Your Majesty is very kind.”
What Pri really wanted to know was whether her sister, who had been known as a heavy sleeper even back in the Ezan Kingdom, had truly been prescribed sleeping pills. But she couldn’t ask directly, so she circled around the topic.
Which, of course, led to a bit of a misunderstanding.
‘Feels a bit awkward, like I’m lying.’
But it wasn’t something she could explain honestly now. Especially not about that unsettling feeling regarding the sleeping pills.
“Then, I’ll bring one of the maids here.”
“Would you?”
“I’ll stop by Court Physician Zeren’s room on the way out and bring the medicine as well.”
At that, Pri gave a small sigh and smiled sweetly.
“Um… could you also ask him where I can get more of these candies? They’re quite tasty.”
“Understood. This is the first time I’ve seen you enjoy something so much.”
“And maybe ask what he likes too. I’d like to thank him with a little gift.”
“Don’t worry and just rest.”
“Okay.”
Pri considered going to the library but decided against it—it was already quite late. She settled down on a sofa near the window.
The sun had set before she realized it, and night had fallen.
The seawater, kissed by the twinkling starlight, looked even bluer than usual.
Just sitting there, listening to the gentle sound of waves, seemed to wash away the discomfort in her heart. Pri remained there, unable to pull herself away until Seth returned.
Time passed—how much, she couldn’t say. Then came a knock.
“Your Majesty, it’s Seth.”
“Come in.”
The sound of the door handle turning was followed by the door opening. A familiar-looking maid entered with Seth.
It was the maid Pri had briefly seen when she visited Gaia’s palace.
Wearing a beaming smile that she couldn’t quite hide, the maid quickly bowed before Pri.
“I greet Your Majesty the Empress. I am currently attending to the guest, but I was originally a maid of the Empress’s palace. My name is Laura.”
“Nice to meet you. So you were originally assigned to the Empress’s palace?”
“Yes!”
“She’s a smart one. Steward Cleedon personally sent her to the guest palace to ensure no discomfort would be caused,” Seth explained.
This was only the third time since arriving here that a maid had spoken directly to Pri.
The first was Seth, the second was Cassie, and the third was Laura. And from this alone, Pri could clearly tell—Cassie was the weakest of the three. Though not as experienced as Seth, Laura still gave off the air of a professional attendant.
Laura said only what she needed to and left the rest of the conversation to Seth.
Unlike when he was with Cassie, Seth’s face now looked much more at ease, as if this were how things were supposed to be.
“I see.”
“If you have any questions, you can ask her. She’s very discreet and won’t repeat anything Your Majesty says.”
“Is that so… How is my sister doing?”
“She’s doing extremely well, almost excessively so.”
“She’s still seeing the physician regularly. Is something wrong with her? Is she eating and sleeping well?”
Laura looked thoughtful for a moment, then nodded several times and exchanged glances with Seth.
“Laura, it’s okay to tell Her Majesty the full truth.”
“Yes. I am originally one of Her Majesty’s people, so I will speak openly. She’s eating well. At first, she asked for Ezan Kingdom or Behport Empire cuisine, but after trying the food here, she seemed to like it and now often requests local dishes. However, perhaps to hide that fact, she messes up the leftovers so no one can tell what she ate.”
Pri smiled wryly, recalling Gaia asking her for food from Ezan or Behport.
“She also sleeps well. Though she often complains about the bedding, the quality of the pillows, and grumbles about how primitive this place is, she usually falls asleep the moment her head hits the pillow. She rarely wakes in the middle of the night.”
Then why did she ask for sleeping pills?
Anyone would find that suspicious. Someone who sleeps well suddenly asking for sleeping medication, and throwing a fit over it, no less.
“As for the physician, she did have a few sessions early on, saying she was tired from the long carriage ride, but now she seems to call him without much reason.”
“I see.”
“She hardly leaves her room. At most, she strolls around the palace garden.”
“Thank you.”
“If there’s anything else you’d like to know, please don’t hesitate to ask. His Majesty the Emperor has ordered that at least one attendant always be with the guest, so we are well-informed about everything.”
As Laura spoke calmly about Gaia, a smile spread across her face.
To think she could see the Empress, the woman she had only heard about in rumors, up close. And to serve in this palace meant she was “the one” the Emperor had so long awaited and prepared for.
Laura had joined the palace staff at fifteen, and for her, this palace—Liat, meaning “my beloved”—was like a dream.
Everything in Liat Palace was handpicked by the Emperor. From the carpets and curtains to the flowers and trees in the gardens, nothing was without his personal touch.
He had poured his whole heart into decorating Liat Palace, waiting for the arrival of his beloved.
The Emperor, who had never kept any consort by his side, had prepared everything for her. That’s why the maids of Liat were selected from the elite, just to serve one person.
They would serve that person no matter what—even if, in the meantime, they were assigned to someone else. Because ultimately, they believed they would serve her.
Laura, along with all the other maids of Liat Palace, worked wholeheartedly in their duties, waiting for the day they would meet her.
And now, Laura could barely contain her excitement.
But not wanting to burden Pri, she kept her tone level and looked at her as if nothing had changed.
Truly, she was like sunlight—graceful, kind, and radiant even when sitting still. She was lovely. That this was their Empress…!
She was everything Laura and the other maids had hoped for.
“Thank you. It must’ve been difficult, but you told me so much.”
“Not at all. It’s what I should do.”
Though Laura spoke simply and directly, her heart was pounding like crazy.
