Did This Setting Even Exist?
Having reached my conclusion, I grabbed the letter and headed straight for Empress Cecilia's room.
“Who is it?”
The moment I knocked, Empress Cecilia's voice came from behind the door.
“Chief Personal Secretary Luke Nedville, Your Majesty.”
The instant I stated my name, permission to enter followed at once. I opened the door with caution and stepped inside.
It was almost bedtime, so I suppose that was why Empress Cecilia was wearing a brand-new, snow-white nightgown.
She always wore a red dress adorned with the golden dragon emblem of the empire, a perfectly natural choice.
Because the emperor served as a living mirror of the nation itself, her appearance was only to be expected.
But seeing her like this after so many years made the nightgown feel strangely refreshing at the same time a little awkward.
Yet even in such a light outfit, her grace remained untouched.
Her lush golden hair, falling all the way to her waist, was just as elegantly arranged as during the day. The only difference was that the fierce gleam of her crimson eyes had softened a little.
Still, the light clothing made her slender figure stand out even more. The lack of curves in her chest…
“Forgive this rude intrusion at such a late hour, Your Majesty.”
Anyway, it was time to set aside all my petty thoughts for now.
“You don’t sound like yourself. Did something urgent happen?”
Empress Cecilia’s face showed clear concern.
“It isn’t anything major enough to make a village issue, but… it’s been weighing on me a lot lately.”
I stepped forward and handed her the letter bearing an unknown sender.
Empress Cecilia took the letter without a word and began reading it at once.
“Hmm…”
“What do you think, Your Majesty?”
“Luke.”
Empress Cecilia set the letter on the bed and stared at my face as if trying to see through me.
“You don’t intend to do what this person wants, do you?”
“Yes. Without knowing their true identity, how could I possibly trust them?”
“……”
Empress Cecilia let out a heavy sigh.
Why ask me something so obvious again?
“Looking at your eyes, I can tell you’ve already made up your mind.”
Ah, she was simply double-checking my resolve.
A cautious person through and through.
“If you wish, I can identify the sender through handwriting analysis. It won’t take long.”
Finding the culprit…
It really was an attractive offer.
But what would I do once I knew?
This person had only sent a letter. They hadn’t harmed me in any way. No matter who it was, I couldn’t punish them.
“Your Majesty, may I speak freely?”
“Granted.”
“Even if we identify the sender through handwriting, we can’t punish them, can we?”
“You’re right. That’s why I asked for your opinion.”
I gave a slight bow to show I understood.
“The sender is likely someone trying to seduce me. Probably one of the Aristocratic Faction.”
“I think the same. That’s why you’re trying to figure out their identity first.”
“It may not be necessary to reveal it immediately, Your Majesty.”
Empress Cecilia frowned and stroked her chin, trying to grasp the intent behind my words.
“You want to watch how the other side reacts if you don’t reveal it right away?”
“As expected of Your Majesty.”
As expected, Cecilia’s political instincts were sharp.
Well, as emperor it was only natural.
But the next words she spoke left me bewildered.
“It doesn’t please me.”
“Pardon?”
“I said it doesn’t please me.”
What?
I hadn’t said anything strange.
Empress Cecilia stared at my face for a moment. Then, still fixing her gaze on me, she slowly sat up.
“You have more political sense than I expected.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty.”
“Still, you know very little about the harshness of this place.”
“……”
That was true.
I had only been in the palace for two months.
Naturally, I knew far less than Empress Cecilia or the maids.
If I had been familiar with the original novel’s useful details, maybe, but I wasn’t.
Empress Cecilia blew a light breath and picked up the letter from the bed again.
“Showing me this letter was a wise choice. But merely watching how they react is reckless. It’s like charging into battle without a sword.”
In short, she was worried about my safety.
A strange warmth filled a corner of my chest.
……But it didn’t change my resolve to submit my resignation and leave.
“Forgive my concern, Your Majesty.”
“I was the one who picked you personally. So it is my duty to protect your safety.”
With those words, Empress Cecilia tore the letter in half right in front of my eyes and tossed it carelessly to the floor.
Then she pointed her index finger at my chest.
“Since you have entrusted me with your trust, I will return the favor.”
“What you mean is……”
“I will take certain measures to protect your personal safety.”
A faint smile appeared on Empress Cecilia’s lips.
Watching her, I thought:
As expected, coming straight to my direct superior and spilling everything was the right call.
The moment Luke left the room, Empress Cecilia sat back on the bed.
She lowered her head slightly and noticed the letter she had torn earlier.
Whoever it was, what a troublesome person.
Trying to interfere with my direct subordinate?
Annoyance surged through her. Empress Cecilia slammed her fist twice into the bare mattress in frustration.
Then she let out a long sigh.
‘Is there really no other way?’
Empress Cecilia’s worries didn’t last long.
She rose from the bed and walked to the desk. Sitting in the chair, she pulled out a small black horn from the drawer.
Empress Cecilia stood and blew lightly into the horn. No sound came out. Yet after a moment,
“You summoned me, Your Majesty.”
A woman emerged from the darkness. She wore full black stealth tights, a hood, and a mask covering most of her face.
She knelt on one knee before Empress Cecilia and bowed her head as low as possible.
“Lucia. It’s been a week.”
Lucia.
She was the captain of the secret shadow unit ‘Luna,’ secretly created by Empress Dowager Olivia, former Empress.
Luna’s sole purpose was to prevent a second repeat of the Hundert Duke’s rebellion.
All members of Luna were women, each exceptionally skilled in martial arts and magic tools.
Thanks to them, they had performed outstandingly in bodyguard and intelligence operations.
Only the former Empress and Empress Cecilia knew of Luna’s existence.
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
The horn Cecilia had just used emitted no sound to outsiders but was a magic tool that alerted Luna members.
Empress Cecilia looked down at Lucia and asked the most urgent question first.
“Have my knights arrived safely in Northlight?”
“Yes. They arrived without incident.”
“That’s good.”
“However, there was one matter that concerned me.”
Empress Cecilia’s eyebrow furrowed at Lucia’s report. She asked what had happened.
“A single unidentified spy had been tailing the knights. I tried to eliminate them, but they only managed to shake us off. I apologize.”
Lucia reported in a tone that barely conveyed height differences. Empress Cecilia’s face hardened.
Why would the opponent tail the knights?
What exactly were they trying to uncover?
‘Why do these headaches always keep piling up……’
Still, since they had been shaken off, there wouldn’t be an immediate problem. The other side still didn’t know who we were.
“Good work, Lucia.”
“It was only my duty.”
Lucia bowed her head once more.
“What about the other members?”
“They are all fulfilling their assigned tasks.”
“I see.”
Empress Cecilia sat in her chair and looked down at Lucia.
“Lucia, is there anyone available for a new assignment?”
“Yes. One person.”
“I want to entrust her with a mission for you.”
“Please give the order.”
Perfect timing.
Empress Cecilia thought so.
If she assigned palace knights as Luke’s escort, it would only stir up more gossip. This was exactly the right situation to avoid giving the impression she was favoring him.
But if one of Luna’s members protected Luke?
No one would suspect favoritism, and she could rest easier.
“I’d like you to handle the escort for my personal secretary.”
“Are you referring to Chief Personal Secretary Luke Nedville?”
“That’s right.”
“Yes. I will pass on the order to that child.”
Lucia showed no hesitation. As captain of Luna, she would simply obey the command.
“Tomorrow at this time, summon Luke here. Bring him.”
“I will remember, Your Majesty.”
Just as she had appeared, Lucia vanished instantly.
Empress Cecilia rose from the chair to lie down. Then she noticed the letter she hadn’t tidied and frowned.
I’ll have to call a maid.
Empress Cecilia tugged on the string. The waiting maid entered.
“Burn this that’s on the floor.”
The next day, I did exactly as I told Empress Cecilia and ignored the sender’s demand.
Or rather, there was no choice.
Today’s documents had piled up heavily. By the time I finished them, it was already eight o’clock.
So even if I wanted to go, the time and distance made it impossible.
After finishing work and returning to my room, I collapsed onto the bed.
“Ahhh. Another exhausting day……”
I hope the weekend comes soon.
Still, Empress Cecilia had said she would take certain measures for my safety?
Actually, I wanted to ask in the middle but couldn’t because of Flora and Mulia’s presence.
‘Well, no rush.’
It had only been an hour since I refused the offer.
So no immediate danger awaited me.
After dinner, I finally rested.
At ten o’clock that night, someone knocked on my door.
“Who is it?”
“My name is Helon, the steward. Empress Cecilia has summoned you, Secretary Nedville.”
Oh. It looks like she finally prepared that plan.
I quickly tidied my appearance and left the room. The steward politely guided me to Empress Cecilia’s chamber.
“Your Majesty. I have brought Nedville the secretary.”
The steward announced it at the door, and permission to enter was granted.
I opened the door carefully and stepped inside. Empress Cecilia, dressed exactly as the day before, stood before me.
“I came the moment I received Your Majesty’s summons.”
“You seemed eager.”
“Indeed, Your Majesty.”
I bowed low and Empress Cecilia smiled lightly.
“I suppose you expected this, but I intend to assign you an escort.”
“Your grace overwhelms me.”
“Losing a capable subordinate would create a gap in work, so it’s only natural.”
True. I was just a document-reading machine.
She had been handling everything, so I had forgotten my situation. What an idiot.
She pulled a small black horn from the desk drawer. Then she placed it in her mouth and blew. To my surprise, no sound came out.
What was this strange object used for?
While I was puzzled, two women in full black stealth tights suddenly appeared!
Wait… How did they appear?
“Your Majesty. I have brought the child as ordered.”
“What is her name?”
“Her name is Ileina, Your Majesty. I am honored to meet you.”
They spoke to each other without me.
Hey, I can’t follow this situation at all!
At that moment, Empress Cecilia introduced me to them and got to the point.
“Luke. Ileina here will protect you from now on.”
Was there really a character like this in the original novel?