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Chapter 12
As the doors of Moonlight Palace opened, the maids were shocked to see Cyrus leaving.
“He’s leaving already? It hasn’t even been an hour…”
Amenda lay on the bed and quietly watched him go.
“Yes, go. And don’t ever come back.”
As she made an annoyed expression, Shan quickly pulled her up.
“Miss, please get up. Hurry.”
“Why? He’s leaving anyway.”
“How can you be so calm? It’s already disrespectful to greet His Majesty while lying down, and now you won’t even see him off?”
“I’m sick. He was the one who insisted on seeing me.”
“….”
“And today I’m very sick. Do you think I have some weak illness that lets me get up just to see off the Emperor?”
“Miss, but still…”
“I’m seriously ill. If you don’t like it, go give medicine to his guards instead.”
“Miss…”
“Ah, I’m too sick to go out. Throw salt after he leaves. The coarse kind.”
Shan hesitated, but stayed by Amenda’s side.
If her master didn’t go out, she couldn’t go either.
And honestly—she didn’t like Cyrus much anyway.
Amenda looked out the window at the departing Emperor and muttered:
“Crazy bastard. What? Take care of me? Even a passing dog would laugh.”
“Shan, how long was he here?”
“Not even five minutes.”
“He came all the way here for a five-minute talk? Is he that free?”
“And then he says not to bring family into the palace? This was their first visit!”
She scoffed.
“Hey, Gale. Now the Emperor even wants to cut off family ties.”
“What a joke.”
“I didn’t commit incest, and I’m not building power. I just wanted to talk!”
After venting for a while, Amenda looked at Gale.
“This means he’s very wary of maternal families.”
“….”
“Gale, we need to bow even lower.”
“Yes, sister.”
Gale’s expression stiffened for a moment, but he quickly smiled again.
He checked his pocket watch.
“Ah, I should get going now.”
“Already?”
“I’m a baron. I’m not that free.”
“…Are you very busy?”
“I am, but not enough to worry you. I’m just inexperienced. Father is helping a little…”
“I’ll probably return to the territory this week.”
Gale stood up, and Amenda got off the bed to help him prepare.
As he put on his jacket, he said:
“It was my first time today.”
“Hm? What?”
“Seeing His Majesty up close.”
“…Really?”
“Yes. I only saw him from afar at the wedding. But today…”
“It felt different.”
“Different how?”
Gale tapped near his eye.
“The eyes.”
“Eyes?”
“Yes. People say the Emperor resembles Regist’s eyes.”
“Right.”
“But I think he looks more like the Grand Emperor.”
“…What?”
“I’ve never met the Grand Emperor, but I’ve seen portraits.”
“They say his eyes were like deep sapphire.”
“And Regist’s were light blue, like aquamarine.”
“Yeah…”
“But the Emperor’s eyes are also like sapphire.”
Gale smiled faintly.
“Maybe it’s because I’ve never seen Regist alive… but I think the Emperor resembles the former Emperor more.”
After finishing, Gale put on his hat.
Amenda suddenly stood up, grinning mischievously, and grabbed his hand tightly.
Gale’s expression stiffened for a moment—then he smiled.
“Anyway, have another successful day, little sister.”
“And you, stay healthy, big brother.”
They both smiled at each other.
The moment Gale left—
Amenda’s face turned cold.
“Shan.”
“Yes, Miss.”
“You saw it too, right?”
“…Yes.”
Shan nodded, frowning.
When Gale wore his hat, they saw it—
Bruises.
Blue marks on his wrist and sleeve.
At first glance, it could be mistaken for ink.
But when Amenda grabbed his wrist—
He flinched.
“Find out who did that to Gale.”
“As fast as possible.”
“If I catch them… they’re dead.”
Amenda muttered coldly.
Shan bowed her head.
“I will find out immediately.”
“Ha…”
After a long time, Charles was enjoying a peaceful walk.
Instead of the heavy smell of herbs in Sky Palace—
He breathed in fresh air.
A relaxed smile appeared on his face.
But that peace didn’t last.
A maid ran toward him in panic.
“Your Majesty! Something terrible has happened!”
“What is it?”
“L-Lord Regist… again…!”
Before she could finish—
Charles rushed inside.
There, he saw Louis.
Foam at his mouth.
His body trembling violently.
“—!”
“Louis!”
Louis made choking sounds.
His face turned blue.
Charles quickly checked his breathing.
It was weak.
So weak—
Like someone about to die.
Charles froze completely.
“You don’t know the cause?”
“Y-Yes… I’m sorry, Your Majesty…”
Charles’s voice turned cold.
“Duke Adrian, maybe we should cut the salaries of these physicians.”
“A royal doctor who says ‘I don’t know’ so easily…”
“Y-Your Majesty! When someone is in a vegetative state, many unknown illnesses occur—!”
“Duke.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Throw him out.”
“He’s useless.”
“At once. Remove him.”
“Y-Your Majesty!!”
The maids dragged the physician out.
He struggled, but was easily overpowered.
Duke Adrian watched coldly.
“He must be new.”
Anyone who stayed even a year in this palace would know—
Even the maids here were trained fighters.
The Duke approached Charles.
Charles looked at Louis with deep sorrow.
But his words were practical:
“Why are you here? You usually send notice before visiting.”
“The Emperor…”
“Ah, that matter.”
“….”
“The Emperor reduced the Sky Palace funds.”
“Yes.”
“How cruel. He knows that money is used to keep his mother alive.”
Charles smiled coldly.
“He must be punished.”
He looked toward the guest palace.
“I heard Baron Raymond is still in the palace.”
“Yes.”
“Invite him and the Empress to the Consort’s birthday.”
“…Is that alright?”
“Amenda knows her limits.”
“She won’t step beyond her line.”
The Duke bit his lip.
“Whenever he smiles like that… something terrible happens.”
But he still nodded.
“Yes. Understood.”
“And about the reduced funds…”
“Don’t worry. I will cover it.”
“Can I trust you?”
“Yes.”
“It must be done perfectly.”
“I will do it legally. No one will be able to criticize it.”
Charles smiled in satisfaction.
“I trust you.”
When the Duke left—
His entire plan was already complete.
