🔊 TTS Settings
Chapter 8
As soon as all the maids left the palace, Amenda looked at the door Margaret had exited through and spoke.
“Shan.”
“Yes, Miss.”
“Do you know who that girl is?”
“Margaret Cliff. I heard she’s the daughter of a lord from the southern region… Should I find out more details?”
“Yes, please. And also…”
“What is it, Miss?”
“…My throat hurts.”
“Well, you vomited stomach acid, so that’s expected. The royal physician left medicine. It should ease the pain.”
“Really?”
“Honestly, I’ve been by your side for 20 years, but I still can’t predict what you’ll do next. The Baron never taught you acting, so how are you this good at it?”
“That’s because it’s me.”
“Of course it is. And please, talk to me before doing something like that again. Do you know how shocked I was when you suddenly opened the door earlier?”
“Sorry. I’ll be careful.”
Amenda drank the medicine in one gulp, and Shan immediately put a sweet candy into her mouth.
As Amenda rolled the strawberry candy in her mouth, Shan spoke again.
“And please don’t push your body like that. Every time you do, my heart nearly stops.”
“But…”
“Hey! Do you think I’m saying this for myself?! I’m worried about your health—!”
“But they touched my people.”
Shan fell silent.
Amenda spat out half-eaten candy onto a plate, then took a spoonful of tomato pudding.
“Listen, Shan. I’m fine with everything. I never planned to win the Emperor’s favor. I never expected to be loved by him. I already knew I’d be treated like this.”
She calmly continued.
“You know the saying, right? To gain something, you have to lose something.”
“I gained the dream of living comfortably without worries… so I gave up being treated properly as Empress.”
She paused slightly.
“But I never gave up this — that my people should not be treated like this.”
Shan stayed quiet.
“You can insult me. You can humiliate me. You can point fingers at me. But only at me.”
“Don’t touch my people.”
“I’ve been distributing money to the people and trying not to offend any noble factions for this. I bow my head to the Emperor and the nobles too.”
She smiled lightly.
“If I don’t stand out, they won’t bother me. Living like I’m there and not there… it’s not so bad. Especially in this palace.”
Shan remained silent.
“So don’t worry too much, Shan.”
Amenda grinned playfully.
“You’re my number one person in this palace.”
“If anyone messes with you, I’ll chase them to the ends of the earth.”
Shan immediately scolded her tone.
“Watch your words! You’re the Empress!”
The Next Day
A rumor spread rapidly inside and outside the palace:
“The Empress nearly died after being shocked by the Stupid Consort’s cruelty.”
Petitions flooded the court demanding punishment.
Imperial Court
“Your Majesty, the Stupid Consort has gone too far! She humiliated the Empress, the mother of this empire!”
“This is an overreaction. She only vomited a little stomach acid.”
“The Empress just recovered recently, and yet this happened again!”
The court was filled with arguments.
Cyrus sat silently, watching.
He found it ridiculous.
Those who claimed to worry about the Empress hadn’t even visited her.
Those defending the Consort were sighing about her behind her back.
Everyone was just protecting their own interests.
His gaze moved to three men sitting quietly at the end.
They were loyal subordinates planted by his elder brother.
Unlike others, they remained neutral, observing everything.
“Silence.”
The entire court fell quiet.
Cyrus spoke coldly.
“Even if the Consort is not at fault, visiting the Empress without notice is improper.”
“The Consort will be confined for five days.”
“Your Majesty!”
“She did nothing wrong!”
Cyrus looked at the protesting noble — Duke Stupid.
With a faint smile, Cyrus said:
“Do not worry, Duke. I will visit her every day during those five days.”
The meaning was clear — he would share her bed.
The noble smiled greedily.
Meanwhile – Moonlight Palace
Suddenly, countless treasures filled the palace.
“Wow, what are these herbs?”
“So many dresses!”
The maids were amazed.
But Shan spoke firmly:
“Return all of this.”
“What?!”
“It’s the Empress’s order.”
The servants hesitated.
Shan continued coldly:
“If you make me repeat myself, I will consider it disobedience to the Empress.”
They had no choice but to load everything back.
Afterward, Shan approached them again and bowed slightly.
“I apologize for earlier.”
They were surprised.
Shan explained:
“I had to be strict so the younger maids wouldn’t interfere.”
Then she added:
“The Empress is worried about funding for the school policy.”
“She suggests using these treasures for that purpose instead.”
“But if we report that, we’ll be punished.”
“That’s why…”
Shan smiled and handed them sealed letters.
“The Empress prepared letters for your masters.”
The servants were deeply moved.
Then Shan handed them medicine pills.
“These help with wounds and bruises.”
“…Why give these to us?”
“It’s a reward for bringing life to the palace.”
“And she said… she’s sorry she couldn’t say this herself due to her condition.”
Shan even shed a tear.
The servants were completely touched.
“Please tell the Empress to recover soon.”
“We will pray for her.”
After they left, Shan wiped away her tears and returned inside.
Inside the Room
“Miss, it’s Shan.”
“Come in. You returned everything?”
“Yes. Even the smallest pearls.”
“And the visitors?”
“I said you’re too ill to meet anyone.”
“Good.”
Shan entered… and froze.
The “Empress who almost died yesterday” was happily stuffing five cherry tomatoes into her mouth at once.
“…I can’t deal with you.”
“Who brought those tomatoes?!”
“The maids.”
“I’ll deal with them immediately! How can they bring raw food to a sick person?!”
“I asked for it.”
“…What?”
“I said I was in pain and craving tomatoes. I even teared up a bit.”
Shan was speechless.
“It’s fine. Tomatoes are healthy.”
Amenda bit into one—
Crunch.
Juice and seeds burst out of her mouth.
And she looked completely satisfied.
