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Chapter 31
Rumors about Joohee were already known to most nobles.
She was a woman whose identity had not been revealed, but the fact that she stayed by the Emperor’s side alone was enough to prove that she was someone he deeply cared for.
“Hello, I’m Joohee.”
“Your name sounds foreign, young lady. Nice to meet you.”
“Nice to meet you too.”
Lilia did not ask whether Joohee was a commoner after hearing her name.
It was intuition she had gained after years of dealing with people in the imperial palace.
Of course, as a commoner, calling her “young lady” might have been improper—but things were different if she was the Emperor’s woman.
“I wasn’t sure what the young lady might like, so I brought a variety of clothes. Please let me know if you like any of them.”
As soon as Lilia finished speaking, the door to the reception room opened again and clothes began to be carried in one after another.
The procession filled half of the spacious room before it finally stopped.
“There are more types, but I couldn’t bring everything. I hope something suits your taste.”
Joohee stood up with a reluctant expression.
She looked over the clothes and picked out a few simple dresses with minimal decoration.
“Do you prefer simple designs like this?”
“Yes. If it’s too fancy, it’s hard to move in.”
Lilia nodded and took out a pen from her chest, writing something in her notebook.
“Please make dresses similar to these designs.”
“Understood. Shall we take your measurements now?”
A nearby assistant quickly approached and began measuring Joohee.
After finishing, the assistant stepped back.
“Since the design isn’t complicated, it should be finished quickly.”
“Thank you.”
“It’s my job. I will send the dresses soon.”
Joohee nodded, and Lilia smiled lightly before leaving the room.
It hadn’t taken long, but for some reason, she felt exhausted.
She sat down to rest for a moment, but soon after, the door opened again.
Joohee blinked at the person who had just entered.
It was the Empress Dowager she had seen the day before.
After a brief hesitation, Joohee bowed slightly.
“Hello?”
“Tsk.”
The Empress Dowager, Ravilé, clicked her tongue at her unchanged manners.
“You should start learning etiquette.”
“Huh?”
“If you are going to live in the imperial palace, you must follow imperial etiquette. How long do you plan to hide behind my son?”
Joohee almost replied that she would leave eventually anyway, but Ravilé was not the type to listen.
“Next week, I will bring an etiquette teacher. Make sure you learn properly.”
It seemed she had acted without consulting Rowen, because soon after she left, he came to Joohee’s room.
“Joohee.”
“What brings you here?”
Joohee tilted her head while sitting up, brushing the fur of a rabbit named Lou.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t expect my mother to act so forcefully.”
“But I’ll be staying here for a while anyway, so learning etiquette isn’t a bad thing. It might even be useful.”
Joohee answered calmly.
When in Rome, do as the Romans do. Since she was in the palace, she should follow its rules.
Rowen looked a little surprised at her unexpectedly positive reaction, then nodded.
“I’m glad you don’t mind.”
“By the way, where is the temple?”
“The temple is in the square. Do you want to go?”
“Yes.”
“Then I’ll make time and go with you next time.”
Joohee nodded, and Rowen left to attend to his work.
Only after he left did she realize she had forgotten to ask about the garden’s location.
Fortunately, a maid knew, so there was no need to call Rowen again.
“Lou, I found a nice place. Want to go with me?”
At those words, Lou suddenly stood up.
He pulled at her collar, clearly wanting to go right away.
Joohee glanced at the clock.
There was still plenty of time before dinner, so it should be fine.
“Alright, let’s go.”
When she opened the door, the waiting maids stepped forward—but quickly backed away when they saw Lou following behind.
Joohee glanced at them.
“You don’t have to follow. I’m just going to the garden, not far.”
“But His Majesty ordered us not to leave your side.”
“I feel uncomfortable. I’ll explain it to Rowen, so don’t follow.”
She had no intention of walking around with a crowd behind her. It was uncomfortable.
While the maids looked at each other uncertainly, Joohee left with Lou.
Lou wagged his tail and ran ahead into a side path.
“Wait, Lou!”
The path was narrow, but it led to an open hill.
When she arrived, Lou was already running around happily.
Seeing how much he liked it, Joohee felt relieved.
Then something soft brushed her ankle.
She looked down.
“…A rabbit?”
It was a white rabbit.
Unlike what she had heard about rabbits being timid, it was pressing against her leg without fear.
“Strange.”
She gently reached out and stroked its head.
The rabbit didn’t run away. It simply enjoyed her touch.
After a while, it followed her when she moved.
Joohee ignored it and walked toward a tree.
Lou was rolling on the ground nearby, sniffing and playing.
A smile slipped out naturally.
When she reached the tree and turned around, a strange sight appeared.
There had only been one rabbit—but now many animals had gathered.
It was unclear where they had all come from.
They were strangely affectionate toward her, as if she had something on her.
She sat down carefully, and the animals quickly gathered around her.
The rabbit climbed onto her lap, and she lifted it up to sit there.
A fox lay down beside her, curling up and yawning.
She felt strangely at peace.
“…This is nice.”
The wind moved through her hair.
She gently stroked the rabbit.
Then Lou suddenly rushed over and pushed the rabbit off her lap.
The rabbit rolled off, offended, but Lou ignored it and rested his head on her lap instead.
“You’re so greedy, Lou.”
Joohee laughed and petted him.
The rabbit eventually settled beside her again.
She leaned against the tree and closed her eyes.
Sunlight filtered through the branches, but the leaves shifted to block it.
It became comfortable enough for her to fall asleep.
How much time passed?
Lou suddenly stood up, and Joohee opened her eyes.
The sun was setting.
She quickly stood up.
“I should go now. See you next time.”
The animals did not try to stop her.
She hurried back to the palace, but something felt wrong.
As if something serious was about to happen.
“Let’s go, Lou.”
On the way back, she saw Rowen in the distance.
As she got closer, she saw maids kneeling before him.
Frowning, she spoke.
“Rowen.”
“…Joohee.”
He slowly turned.
Joohee walked faster.
After sending Lou into her room first, she looked at Rowen.
“Where were you? I was worried since you didn’t come back for hours.”
“I went to the garden you mentioned yesterday. I wanted to be alone, so I told them not to follow.”
Rowen tried to speak, but Joohee stopped him.
“I’ve never had someone follow behind me like that before. It feels uncomfortable.”
“Joohee, but—”
“Thank you for worrying. But I don’t like this kind of concern.”
At her firm words, the maids held their breath.
She had rejected the Emperor’s concern.
It was extremely rude, enough that she could be executed on the spot.
But nothing happened.
“Alright. I’m sorry for making you uncomfortable. So please don’t be angry.”
“I’m not angry.”
The maids held their breath again for a different reason.
The Emperor’s unusually submissive attitude was unfamiliar.
Who was this woman, that she made the ruler of the empire act like this?
After that, rumors began spreading that Joohee was the true power behind the palace.
The rumor eventually reached Ravilé.
“What did you say? Repeat that.”
“The… unknown young lady is said to be the real power of the palace.”
“…Ha! I knew this would happen.”
Ravilé gritted her teeth.
Because of that lowly woman, the authority of the imperial family was falling apart.
She trembled and stood up.
“I am going to the Emperor’s palace right now.”
“Yes—yes, Your Highness!”
