PB 03

Chapter 03

“Still, everything is so strange that it makes me anxious. I start to wonder if there’s something wrong with me, and all sorts of thoughts run through my head.”
“Wrong? What kind of wrong?”
“Like suddenly turning into a monster or something?”
“You say the darndest things. This isn’t a fairy tale.”
“Or maybe, I actually have the talent of the strongest Guardian in history?”
“That’s not the case.”
“Ah, you don’t have to deny it so strongly.”

She sat on the bed, hugging her knees, and looked at the man’s silhouette with a faint smile. She hadn’t really thought it could be possible—she was just speaking hypothetically.

The man spoke in a calm voice.
“Just stay comfortable until your body recovers. That is the Emperor’s will.”
“You’ve met His Majesty the Emperor in person?”
“You could say that.”
“I see.”

Then he must hold a position far more significant than Seren had imagined. Only very special people among the nobility could hear the Emperor’s words up close. Only they could speak of the Emperor’s will.

But she deliberately didn’t ask more. If she asked and discovered the gap between them, she would surely feel sad. When you don’t know, you can pretend to be friendly—but once you know, pretense becomes impossible.

“Curious about the Emperor?”
“Who among the citizens wouldn’t be curious? Does His Majesty really have horns on his head?”

At that, the man rocked his body slightly back and forth. He rarely showed a bright expression, but this time he seemed genuinely amused.

“You speak like a child.”
“Why? There must be tens of thousands of people sharing the same curiosity as me.”
“Even if you’re the heir of the Dragonblood, your body is still human. If your skull were deformed enough for horns to grow, you’d have already died from overload.”
“I see.”

Seren had asked jokingly, but the answer was more serious than she expected, leaving her slightly surprised. Hesitant, she trailed off, and the man asked:

“Seeing you think such pointless thoughts means you’re alive and well. Feeling frustrated?”
“Pardon?”
“I asked because it seems like you’re constantly having strange thoughts.”
“Frustrated, yes. Being cooped up like this…”
“You’re not trapped. Inside the palace, you may go wherever you like.”
“Really?”

Seren asked, her face lighting up.
“Was there somewhere you wanted to go?”
“Somewhere I might never return to—if I can see it while I’m here, nothing more could make me happier. It would be the pride of my life.”
“Somewhere you might never return to?”
“You wouldn’t know, Guardian. To even enter the palace, your family must have produced at least a third-rank Guardian within three generations. People like me don’t qualify. I could manage as palace laundry staff, maybe, but that’s all.”
“Then shall I at least show you around?”
“You, Guardian?”
“Where do you want to go most?”

Seren almost jumped out of her seat but nearly fell because of her left ankle. She couldn’t miss this opportunity.

“The Moonlight Corridor! Since it’s night…”

It wasn’t the most famous spot in the palace, but she’d heard it was the most beautiful at night. Then she suddenly noticed her pajamas.

“Wait.”

The man spoke in a low voice and stepped out briefly. Seren looked around, trying to figure out a way to cover herself. A shawl lay over the dining table.

She struggled off the bed. Only her left ankle was immobile, and it didn’t hurt to touch, so she thought she could make it there without a cane—but it wasn’t easy.

Thud!

She fell in place before taking two steps. Her right leg had no injury, but perhaps because it had been a while since she’d walked, she couldn’t support herself.

“Ugh…”

Seren groaned in pain, checking her right ankle to make sure it wasn’t sprained—no pain. She tried to rise on one leg, holding the bed, when the door suddenly swung open. The man entered, a crimson cloak draped over one arm, rushing to her side.

“Seren!”
“Ah, it’s fine. I just fell.”

She waved her hand, but the man scooped her up and seated her back on the bed. Seren blushed without realizing it.

“I’m really fine…”

The man didn’t reply, instead checking her legs. Seren wiggled her toes. It embarrassed her that someone she only recently got to know was touching her legs.

“No problem.”
“I told you, I’m fine.”

She waved her hand, cheeks red. Her clothes were another issue; given the situation, she normally wouldn’t ask for anything, but she resolved to request thicker pajamas from tomorrow onward.

The man seemed unconcerned by her awareness.
“Don’t try to get up recklessly while your body is still weak.”
“The shawl is over there…”
“Whatever the matter, it’s something that can be done by someone else.”

As he spoke, he draped the cloak over her shoulders and carefully fastened it. Seren tried to tug at the collar. “I can do it myself,” she said, but he refused. He treated her like a patient.

Compared to his tall, strong build, her fragile frame looked utterly powerless. She was still recovering and couldn’t move one leg properly.

“Kyaa!”

After finishing the knots, he lifted her again. Seren shrieked in surprise.

“Why?”
“You… uh… this?”
“You said you wanted to go to the Moonlight Corridor. You can’t walk, right?”
“If I had my cane…”

The man clicked his tongue, ignoring her suggestion entirely, and moved toward the bedroom door. Seren, unsure of what to do, cautiously held his shoulder, her heart pounding.

A palace attendant held a lantern in the dark corridor. Seren shrank back, embarrassed, but like other palace attendants, he led silently without showing expression or emotion.

“By the way… you knew my name.”
“……”
He didn’t answer, but Seren smiled slightly. It made sense that a guardian wouldn’t forget the name of the person under their protection.

“Can I ask your name?”
“……”
“If not, that’s fine.”

Pretending to sulk, she received a quiet reply.
“You can call me Is. Why the face?”
“……Hehe.”

Feeling unexpectedly happy, Seren smiled. She had been frustrated not knowing how far she could ask questions, and now that she had even one answer, she felt relieved.

Then the world grew silent. Even the sound of footsteps vanished, as if a soft carpet covered the floor. Seren said absentmindedly:
“It’s so quiet.”
“There’s no one else but you.”
“No one else?”

No reply. Seren realized a moment later that the man hadn’t counted the attendants or other Guardians as “people.” Not wrong—the staff are part of the house. Whether it is quiet or noisy is the owner’s decision. So, essentially, only the Emperor was in the palace.

‘Hmm… I have to behave like I’m not here too.’

She held her breath unnecessarily.

“You’re not troubled because of me, are you?”
“It’s fine.”

Seren tried to admire the palace under the lantern’s light—the tall corridors, the carved walls and decorations, the silver candelabras that could illuminate brilliantly when the owner wished.

Soon, a door appeared. The attendant placed the lantern at the doorway and pushed it open.

A long corridor connected two palace buildings three stories above the ground. Moonlight reflected in the crystal-embedded stone pillars, casting multiple layers of light that danced across the corridor.

“Wow! It’s so beautiful!”

Seren couldn’t help but exclaim. She had heard rumors, but it was even more beautiful than she imagined.

The man looked down at her awed face. He smiled faintly at her innocent expression, unaware that the light also danced across her face.

“I’m glad you like it.”
“Yes. Thank you for bringing me here.”
“It’s nothing special.”

And he added:
“You may go anywhere in the palace. If you tell Lady Sons, she will take care of it.”
“Yes.”

Seren looked up, wishing he could personally take her around more. Amidst all the silver light, his handsome, beautiful features glowed pale and serene.

When the wind blew, the scenery shimmered and the light moved. Seren felt a thrilling, heart-stirring impulse following it.