TLRP 12

chapter 12

 Let’s Go to the Western Palace

“Quite the talent, aren’t you.”

For once, the day had passed without incident. After dining in the Emperor’s banquet hall, Adeline returned and found Richard waiting in the corner of the drawing room.

“What are you talking about.”

“I finally figured it out—what His Majesty the Emperor really wants from you.”

Looking at that insolent face, leaning smugly against the wall, made her already unsettled stomach churn. It felt like indigestion. Her dry skin stretched tight over her ribs, and her irritable temper made her shove away the food. Still, Adeline kept a calm expression as she sat on the sofa.

“What are you picking a fight for this time, knight of Selmore?”

“Even if it was the Emperor’s command, how on earth did you reel in Baltyka’s envoy? Tell me. Is that something you’re born with? Is that why the young king of Nova, that slippery little cook, and even the Lion King—all of them are bewitched by you, staggering about as if they’ve drunk some vile drug?”

“Enough. I don’t have the mood to argue with you.”

“You think I do? Princess Vita, do you even realize you’re the princess of this country? Even a beggarly soldier like me has at least a shred of pride. But you—watching you, it seems all you can do with that pretty face is seduce men. Sure, for now you might look like you’re following His Majesty’s orders, but in the end, won’t you just hand over the entire country to the Lion King?”

That was something Richard should never have said, no matter how much he despised her. Insolent as he was, he’d never before crossed this line. So instead of snapping back immediately, Adeline studied his face closely. Was he drunk? No—upon closer look, there were fresh bloodstains.

His eyes were split, his lip torn. One side of his face was swollen. If the visible injuries were this bad, his hidden ones must be worse.

Cesare, then.

Today’s punching bag had been Richard. And now he was venting his own rage on her.

Adeline clutched her twisted insides and spoke coldly.

“If you don’t want to die, shut up.”

Her voice came out like frost.

“Why should I be patriotic to a country that abandoned me? Do I look so soft-hearted to you? Until I was seventeen, I was locked in Cesare’s palace, living like his doll. The moment I turned seventeen, I was dragged off by nobles and sold to the enemy king. That alone gave me a grudge worth passing down for generations. And when I finally returned, I was thrown into this lonely palace, forced to peddle information with my body—and to your eyes, I must look like some savior of the nation? Answer me, arrogant knight of Selmore.”

She didn’t need a mirror to know her eyes had gone red with anger. Richard floundered under her outpouring of words, unable to recover.

“Ridiculous. If all I was good for was seducing men, do you think I’d be sitting here enduring this kind of treatment with just this pretty face? Wouldn’t I rather use it to seduce kings, princes, or even enemy rulers, hoard riches and power, and trample the world? By your own words, I should have enough power right now to kill the likes of you with just a finger, shouldn’t I?”

“Your Highness…”

“Look into my eyes and answer me. I threw myself into the enemy nation to prevent war. Do I still look so pathetic to you?”

He said nothing. Or rather, he couldn’t. Richard Selmore’s once sun-darkened face had gone paler than Adeline Vita’s, who had spent her life imprisoned indoors.

“What’s wrong? Did I say something unspeakable? Did I insult your revered Crown Prince again? Tell me—what filth have I poured over your precious chivalry this time?”

She went on taunting him. Whether he liked it or not, she didn’t care.

“A fool who doesn’t even realize he’s a fool, spouting foolishness without end—there’s no cure for that. Ignorance is a disease, you know. Do you understand? Not because you’re slow or narrow-minded, but because you can’t grasp others’ circumstances. That’s ignorance. Another word for it is arrogance. Do you get it?”

Beaten bloody by the Crown Prince he revered, then beaten down in words by the princess he despised—Richard could neither resist nor flee. If he had any sense at all, the truth would be dawning on him now.

The reason Cesare had kept a low-born knight like him at his side.

“Pitiful man. Get out.”

Adeline pointed to the door. Richard would live as Cesare’s human punching bag until the day came he was discarded entirely.

What did it matter.

After unleashing it all, her chest felt lighter.

The Four Palaces

There were four great palaces within the Imperial Fortress:

• The Emperor’s Northern Palace

• The Empress’s Eastern Palace

• The Crown Prince’s Southern Palace

The Northern Palace was known for its towering spires, long corridors, and vast size, with secret passages designed like a labyrinth.

The Eastern Palace of the Empress glittered with luxury, filled with ornate chambers for the king’s great consorts—Rooms of Clocks, of Necklaces, of Paintings, of Shoes. The current empress’s favorite was the Room of Vessels.

The Southern Palace of the Crown Prince was the most open of the four, close to the fortress gates and the administrative halls.

The Western Palace, however, had stood without a master since before Emperor Hugo VI’s reign.

It was famed for its beauty: a wide pond surrounded by ash trees, white walls with blue roofs, thirty-eight pillars, stairways with flowing water, and fountains adorned with sculptures of saints and sinners. Though the smallest of the four, it was of the highest artistic value.

And now, Adeline had been gifted this palace by the Emperor.

Planning for the Western Palace

“Could it be senility?”

Nabi, summoned late at night to Adeline’s chambers, couldn’t hide her suspicion. She whispered seriously that perhaps the Emperor had gone mad.

“You crazy gypsy! Do you want to be dragged off for blasphemy?”

Ringo stepped back in alarm, hugging himself and shuddering.

“Woahhh, I didn’t say anything. Long live the Emperor.”

“Coward.”

“What? Coward? You want to say that again?”

The moment the two saw each other, they were bickering again.

While Ringo had been away dealing with Ordo’s matter, Nabi had warned Adeline three times not to trust him.

“Enough fighting.”

“Princess! She called me names first!”

“You did first—you called me a crazy gypsy.”

Caught out, Ringo shut his mouth. He glared at Nabi, who returned only the faintest smirk of disdain.

“Listen. The Western Palace is enormous. It’s the fourth largest building in the fortress—at least ten times this place.”

“That big?” Nabi asked. Adeline nodded.

“But size isn’t the point. Each of the four palaces carries symbolic weight. Only royals—those close to the Emperor or deemed worthy—are granted them. It’s a privilege.”

“Princess! May I explain the rest?”

Ringo eagerly raised his hand. Adeline let him.

“Listen, gypsy. The key thing is—Adeline can fill the palace with her people. As mistress of the Western Palace, she owns everything inside: servants, maids, guards, even the trees and flowers in the gardens. She can throw out guests she dislikes or lock the gates entirely. Within the Western Palace, she rules like a queen—because the Emperor said so!”

“Then Cesare won’t be able to act arrogantly toward Her Highness anymore?” Nabi asked.

“Of course not!” Ringo answered quickly. “Think about it—the Crown Prince rules the Southern Palace, which is why when the princess was trapped in the annex, he controlled everything. That was only possible because he was master there.”

“Princess Adeline,” Nabi asked sharply, “who do you intend to bring with you to the Western Palace?”

Ringo too looked curious. Adeline drummed her fingers on the table.

“It’ll take a few days for the Emperor’s letter to arrive. I’ll think on it until then.”

There were a few things troubling her. With a sigh, she trailed off. Nabi’s reply was firm:

“I think you should leave everyone behind.”

“So do I!” Ringo chimed in, for once agreeing.

“Keep only us. Princess, none of the others here are truly loyal to you.”

“I know.”

“Then what’s there to hesitate about?”

But Adeline’s mind flickered to Colin and Richard—both returned bloodied and bruised from Cesare’s hand.

Richard’s Past

Richard was the so-called knight of Selmore. The name wasn’t even real—ten years ago, when he passed the knight’s exam, he couldn’t answer when asked his origin. An official scribbled down “Selmore” at random.

Still, his village celebrated. From a nameless hamlet at the northern edge of Marma, he was the first child to enter the capital, Sol-Marma, as a knight.

Richard had wanted success desperately. He never wanted to return to that primitive village. So he trained madly with the sword. As a commoner, he was treated no better than a soldier, but he climbed quickly, passing promotion exams two ranks at a time. He couldn’t have noble blood, but he could surpass those who mocked him with skill.

That was when he caught Crown Prince Cesare’s eye.

If Richard had been a woman, he might have thought Cesare his destined match. The prince singled him out, commanding him to guard him on hunts.

Knights strove to impress the prince, second only to the Emperor. At first, Richard thought it whim. But every hunt, Cesare chose him.

It was a chance. Richard drove foxes and stags into Cesare’s path, pretending to keep watch. Cesare soon noticed.

“If you score highest in this year’s trials, I’ll make you my guardsman.”

Richard did it. He became the first common-born knight among the prince’s attendants. His future looked bright.

But Cesare’s true nature revealed itself.

Cesare’s Wrath

“Use your head. Why do you think I keep a low-born like you near? Because I thought your slyness useful. You should’ve kept Adeline in check—broken her legs if necessary to stop her!”

“But Your Highness… she is the Princess of this country. How could I—”

“A slave, you mean?” Cesare slammed a heavy book.

“She’s a doll. Pretty, but a doll. And you’ve given your loyalty to such a thing? So your oath to me was just as meaningless?”

“That’s not true!”

“Adeline will remain forever as decoration, prettied up in this fortress. A slave is only ever a slave.”

But Richard remembered her true face. Yes, she was beautiful, a peerless beauty. But she was no doll. She was fierce, noisy, burning with life.

Cesare sneered. “Nova’s brat must have emboldened her. Father has to treat her well for now, with so many eyes watching. But soon enough, she’ll be sold off again. If you want to stay in Marma, your best chance is to serve me quietly.”

“Your Highness!” A guardsman entered. Cesare, who had been venting his fury on Richard, immediately offered the newcomer drink and seat.

“Sit. Have a drink.”

“There’s no time. His Majesty has summoned Adeline Vita to the banquet chamber. In private. The letter has arrived—there was no way to stop it. She left for the Emperor’s palace just now—”

Crash! Cesare hurled the bottle in his hand. The guard shot Richard a glance and wisely fled.

Cesare raged, smashing bottle, cup, books, vases. At last, his target was Richard himself.

Richard hadn’t realized what was happening until blows landed. Cesare had always thrown things when angry, sometimes even struck maids, but never his knights.

Thuds, ringing in his ears. Fists cracked his head. It was pure venting. Cesare, a trained warrior, could render a man helpless with a few punches. Against someone unable to fight back, his violence was even crueler. Blood poured from Richard’s split eye and lip.

Instinctively, Richard curled up on the floor, covering his head. Cesare kicked his sides, stomped him, then seized his hair and slammed his skull against the floor.

“Spare me… please, Your Highness!”

Richard begged pitifully. He truly thought Cesare might kill him. Cesare would not blink at such a death. Blood poured from his nose and mouth. One wrong blow could kill him, blind him, cripple him. Pride meant nothing. He just wanted the beating to stop.

Finally Cesare paused, smoothing his hair.

“Who is Adeline’s closest maid right now?”

“Colin…” Richard muttered, not even realizing he had spoken the name.

“That rat. You have three days. Kill Colin.”

Blood blurred his sight. Pain wracked his body.

“Strangle him, and show Adeline the corpse. That’s an order.”

Richard’s Change

Richard Selmore was acting strangely.

Adeline noticed first. Sensitive to others’ moods, she saw how, ever since Cesare’s beating, Richard’s eyes kept following Colin. Silent, brooding, his gaze fixed on the boy.

At first she ignored it. She had no sympathy to spare for someone who’d insulted her. Whether he hurt or not, she didn’t care.

But Colin was different.