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Chapter 38
Why do I keep thinking about Kai?
The regretful expression on his face when he had asked if she was really going to seduce the Emperor, the hurt look in his eyes—those images rose vividly in her mind. A shadow fell over Roabellin’s eyes as she thought of him.
I’m sorry, Kai. I really did like you too. I had no choice but to reject you because of my situation… but you were my first love. Still, I hope you forget me quickly. Just as someone who briefly passed through your life….
Letting out a small sigh, she tried on the maid uniform the maid who had guided her here had left behind. It was a slightly more refined design than an ordinary servant’s dress. The buttons were in front so it was easy to put on and take off by herself, and since it was a one-piece dress, it was even more convenient.
The skirt fell below her knees, giving a modest impression. In contrast, the top fit snugly to her body, emphasizing her beautiful curves. It was the first time she had ever worn clothes that revealed her figure, even if only the upper half.
I’ve always tried to hide my body, but wearing something like this suddenly feels strange. Well, all the maids dress like this here anyway, so this might actually make me stand out less.
Deciding to think positively, Roabellin left the room. Then she heard the maid and servant who had told her about her duties earlier speaking quietly nearby.
“What’s going on? Those tasks used to be handled in shifts by the maids and servants in charge of the bedchambers. This is the first time one person has been assigned to attend personally.”
They were talking about Roabellin. She stopped and listened quietly.
“Isn’t it normal for individual duties or departments to change as time goes on? But when I saw that girl, I understood right away.”
“Ah, I was surprised when I saw her face too. I can’t believe such a beauty went unnoticed all this time. But… His Majesty never showed any interest in women before, did he?”
Lowering her voice on the last words, the maid made the servant lower his voice as well.
“Ha ha. I find it strange too.”
“But if he brought her in because she’s beautiful, shouldn’t he have made her a concubine instead of a maid?”
“Well… maybe he wants to keep her close and observe her for a while before making her a concubine… His Majesty’s intentions…”
Their voices gradually faded away. Roabellin’s mind filled with question marks.
So there wasn’t someone doing this job before? That means this position was newly created? But why are they talking about concubines? It’s not like the Emperor has even seen me.
Still, the more she thought about it, the more it didn’t quite add up. It felt as though she had fallen into a trap someone had dug.
No way. Probably someone thought well of me and recommended me. I’ll find out who it was later and thank them. For now, I should just do my job properly and make sure there’s nothing for anyone to nitpick.
Rolling up her sleeves, Roabellin began tidying the already-clean room even more. But since it had been cleaned perfectly, there wasn’t much for her to do.
This is the first time I’ve been troubled because there’s nothing to do. What should I do…?
Even though she suddenly had free time, she couldn’t just leave her assigned area on her very first day.
At least I should stay at my post… I’ll look around the place where I’ll be working from now on.
Roabellin walked through the many rooms of the bedchamber area, memorizing the layout and the locations of objects. The space was vast and complex, and as she examined it carefully, the afternoon passed in the blink of an eye. Even after evening came, however, the Emperor did not appear.
Wow… I only walked around the Emperor’s private quarters and my legs already hurt. It’s huge. And tomorrow, I should ask for some other work too. It’s embarrassing having nothing to do all day.
Thinking this, she sat down on the bed bench at the foot of the Emperor’s bed. The bed was so large that even the bench was almost the size of a small bed.
Spending all day tense while walking back and forth in such a wide space is tiring too….
While sitting on the bed bench, Roabellin dozed off and eventually fell asleep.
Kaisertern spent the entire day holed up in the main palace office. But work refused to go smoothly. Thoughts of Hena—no, Julie—would not leave his mind.
She was infuriating yet lovable. He wanted to scold her harshly, but he also wanted to seize her and keep her by his side.
I’ve arranged for her to be placed as close to me as possible… but what should I do now?
At any time, it would be incredibly easy for him to take Julie’s body. He was an Emperor with absolute authority.
But he did not want to use his power to take only the body of a woman who had no feelings for him. He wanted Julie to stay by his side not because he was the Emperor, but because she wanted Kaisertern, the man.
Some way to make Julie come into Kai’s arms of her own will… like that night.
As he thought about Julie, he suddenly felt unfamiliar with himself for wanting someone’s love.
Is this the first time since childhood, when I longed for my cold and strict father’s affection?
Memories of growing up in the cold palace after his mother died, with no one to trust, surged up. He forcibly pushed them aside.
Intentionally thinking of Julie again, he recalled the first time they met at the magic tool shop.
Right. The magic power Julie had… I should look into that.
Kaisertern summoned a servant and had him call the Archmage. Since the man happened to be in the palace on other business, he soon arrived at the Emperor’s office.
“Your Majesty, the Archmage has arrived.”
“Good. Let him in.”
Soon, the door opened and a tall young man entered. He was Iskal Rexton, the Master of the Mage Tower and the faceless Archmage of the Prahenfelt Empire.
He had become the Master of the Mage Tower before even turning twenty, and at only twenty-one, he had become the Empire’s Archmage—an unprecedented career in the history of the continent.
Yet, if one did not know his title, he would simply appear to be a handsome young man with warm sky-colored eyes.
The Mage Tower was officially a neutral organization that did not belong to any nation. Therefore, mages who belonged to it were not supposed to serve simultaneously as court mages of any kingdom.
For that reason, the fact that Iskal, the head of the Mage Tower, also held the position of Archmage of the Prahenfelt Empire was kept secret. There was no need to give other countries an excuse to interfere.
The Archmage of the imperial palace was technically the Emperor’s subordinate. However, since Iskal was royalty of the Aventador Kingdom, Kaisertern treated him more like a close friend than a subject.
Seeing Iskal enter, Kaisertern spoke with a faint smile.
“You haven’t been staying at the Mage Tower much lately.”
“I apologize for making you come for nothing. I had some business and was away for a while. But what brought you to the Mage Tower?”
Iskal answered with proper courtesy, but he too smiled warmly and familiarly at Kaisertern.
“I went there for several reasons. I had something to request… but more importantly, I called you today because I have something to ask.”
“Yes. Please ask anything.”
Without any preamble, Kaisertern asked bluntly:
“Is it possible to restore magic power to someone who once had it but lost it?”
It was an abrupt question. But Iskal replied lightly, as if it were nothing.
“That depends on the cause of the loss.”
“How so?”
“If they lost their magic due to a powerful curse cast by a top-tier mage, then there is no way. But if it was caused by some external object or environment, removing that cause will suffice. Lastly, if the reason lies within the person themselves, there is another method.”
If that’s the case, then Julie probably falls into the last category.
Kaisertern listened carefully, thinking of Julie.
“That method can only be performed by a top-tier mage,” Iskal continued. “The caster must have an abundant amount of magic power and be able to control it skillfully. On this continent, aside from me… only Your Majesty would be capable.”
At that, Kaisertern muttered unconsciously:
“Ah… so that’s why she went to the Master of the Mage Tower…”
At the strange remark, Iskal looked at him in confusion.
“Pardon?”
“It’s nothing. So if the cause is internal, how do you restore their magic?”
“You inject magic power directly into the body’s major energy points one by one, freeing the blocked channels so they can function properly again. You could say it’s opening the paths that are blocked and unusable.”
“That sounds easy.”
Iskal smiled.
“It may sound easy, but instead of simply injecting magic, you have to clear what’s blocking it from inside, so it’s trickier than it seems. Even though Your Majesty has enough magic power, you would need to learn the method from me if you were to cast it yourself.”
“Then I’ll just leave it to the Archmage.”
Kaisertern waved his hand as if it were bothersome.
“Ha ha, if that is Your Majesty’s command, I shall comply.”
After smiling good-naturedly, Iskal glanced at Kaisertern’s expression and continued speaking with a smile.
Kaisertern, who had been looking away, failed to notice the mischievous glint in Iskal’s eyes.
“There is one… rather awkward aspect to this treatment. When performing it, the caster’s hand and the target’s energy points cannot be separated by clothing. And since there are many points that need to be treated, the person receiving the treatment usually does so without wearing clothes.”
“What—what?!”
Kaisertern sprang up from his desk in shock. In an instant, the image of Julie and Iskal together flashed through his mind.
It was a side of him rarely seen, given how calm and cold he usually appeared.
Iskal’s teasing smile deepened when he saw this.
“Ha ha, is the patient a man? If so, I wouldn’t like it much either.”
Iskal grinned jokingly, but Kaisertern felt as if steam were rising from his head.
“No. No. Absolutely not. Do not treat her. Never. Even if someone asks you to, don’t do it. I will do it myself. Teach me how to do it right now.”
I just threw that out as a test, and he took the bait. So it really is a woman. Our Emperor looks cold, but he has a cute side. What kind of woman could make him like this?
Unaware that Iskal was teasing him, Kaisertern busied himself trying to erase the image of Julie and Iskal together that kept appearing in his mind.
