Chapter 23
The information Chloe received from the knight was as follows. Jane had fallen near the river in the forest. Judging from the nature of her injuries, it was assumed she had fallen from a cliff above. At that height, it would be natural for her head to be crushed to death; surviving was a matter of sheer luck. Perhaps her bracelet got caught on a branch, delaying her fall. It was also likely that, in the famously dark forest, she misstepped while walking.
Chloe couldn’t accept this explanation. According to a witness who discovered the incident, Jane’s bag had been found at the top of the mountain where she supposedly was. Who leaves a bag full of belongings while walking on a path? Especially when it contains valuables.
They also considered the usual suspects—wild animals—but there were no bite marks, so that possibility was ruled out. The only reasonable scenario left was that of an attack by another person. But the bag hadn’t disappeared and was untouched, so it seemed unlikely that a crime had taken place.
“First, I need to find out why Jane went into that forest.”
Back at the ducal estate, Chloe planned to start by questioning the coachman who had taken Jane home. If he wasn’t there, it would reveal the involvement of an anonymous instigator.
“I have to find her myself.”
Chloe, staring at Jane, made up her mind. Jane was still very young, having just had her coming-of-age ceremony. She had insisted she wanted to go back to the village and do things she’d long dreamed of, now that she had earned some money. Yet now, she lay on her bed, only breathing.
Chloe carefully transcribed what she had heard from the knight into her notebook, making sure she would not forget it. She then hid it somewhere no one else could see. Afterwards, she lay down on the small bed beside Jane. Since they normally didn’t share a room, a separate small bed had been prepared.
“Thanks to His Majesty, we can breathe a little easier.”
It had been Kun’s plan to place the two of them in the same room. As a result, Chloe could be with Jane without having to share a room with the loathsome Calis. Even though the Emperor had no intention, circumstances had turned out favorably.
“Maybe I’ll get along with people named Kun.”
Chloe suddenly thought of another Kun—her only friend. Was it that all people named Kun were kind, or was it just that they treated her favorably? Were all these coincidences simply chance?
“No way… they can’t be the same person.”
Chloe laughed to herself, thinking that comparing the two was absurd. She wasn’t trying to insult her friend, but the story was too unrealistic. Why would the Emperor of an empire loiter in a village in a foreign kingdom all day? Besides, the Emperor knew her appearance and had no reason to pretend to be a friend.
“For now… I’ll think about my friend’s identity later. There’s too much to do.”
Chloe brought a pen and paper to the bed and quietly began writing. Since it was the same type of pen she always used, writing felt natural.
“Hello, Kun, I hope you’re doing well.”
She recalled the last letter she had received—the last one from the other side.
“If it’s a request from my friend, I’ll gladly help.”
Her friend had agreed to help her without hesitation, but after that, he had disappeared. Only when Chloe informed him that she would soon visit the imperial palace, making it hard to send letters for a while, did a reply come back:
“I will collect the letters myself. If you want to write, do so anytime. The collection method remains the same.”
It was slightly disappointing that he only responded after being busy all along, but Chloe assumed he was just conveying his willingness to continue exchanging letters. She quickly let go of her disappointment and busied herself with writing.
“I’ve entered the imperial palace today. I even had the honor of meeting the current Emperor. You probably know a lot already, so I won’t ask too much—but I’ll take this chance to ask. Kun, you know you share a name with the Emperor, right? Ah, I’m not trying to say anything in particular… just noting it. Meeting you during the day, and then again at night, has made me feel… a bit strange.”
Even though it wasn’t particularly funny, Chloe laughed while writing her letter for the first time. She felt like she was actually conversing with her friend. Previously, things had been slightly stiff.
She drew another smiling face for good measure, adding a useless note: “This is Kun’s face.”
After finishing the letter, Chloe went outside. She assumed “the usual place” Kun mentioned meant the ducal estate. She planned to leave the letter in the hallway for someone to deliver, but surprisingly, she didn’t encounter anyone.
Moreover, the corridor felt strange. No matter how much she walked, it felt like she was retracing the same path, wandering through a maze.
Chloe stopped abruptly as she tried to return to her room.
“…Where should I go?”
She tried to retrace her steps, but nothing looked familiar.
“Princess?”
A familiar voice called from behind just as she wandered in confusion. She turned and saw the Emperor standing quietly behind her, watching her. His gaze seemed to ask what she was doing.
“I… got lost…”
It was embarrassing to admit, but she said it anyway.
“That’s normal. I’ll guide you to your room, so follow me.”
The Emperor reassured her, saying it was common to get lost in this place.
Kun nodded with his head and hand, signaling her to follow.
“If you want to go out, ring the bell or find me. This place was designed to prevent intrusions, so its layout is rather messy.”
“I see… The room I stayed in before was easy to navigate, but I guess it changed quickly.”
“No, only this place is special.”
Kun’s firm answer confused Chloe. This special room was the one she and Jane had been assigned. But the reason for such a space was even more suspicious. Normally, such spaces exist…
“By the way, I’m in the room next to yours, so calling me is faster than calling a maid.”
It was designed exclusively for the Emperor. Sure enough, Chloe’s room was right next to his. The realization unsettled her. Not because of any vulgar or improper thoughts, but because the location of a ruler’s private chambers is highly secret. Even Chloe, as a princess, didn’t know the exact location of King Valont’s bedroom. All attendants had to avert their eyes or keep their heads down. And now, she—a mere guest—knew the Emperor’s private chamber.
“…You mean, you’ve assigned me a room next to His Majesty?”
“Yes. If anyone tried to target the maid, they’d likely attack again.”
The Emperor was explaining that Jane had been hidden in a safe place in case of danger. There were trusted knights stationed throughout the corridor to watch, so even if the Emperor couldn’t personally protect her, someone could intervene.
“…I don’t know how to express my gratitude. But… am I really supposed to know all this?”
“It’s not forbidden, is it?”
“…It feels like I’ve learned something very important.”
Chloe felt uneasy. Knowing the Emperor’s secrets could make her a suspect if his safety were ever threatened. Furthermore, his favor was unusually great—too great to be explained by concern for Jane alone. Could it really be… just generosity?
Suddenly, she remembered what her friend Kun had said: no one approaches without a reason.
“I see now.”
“……”
“Perhaps we need to become very close with the princess, so that our relationship itself could be used as leverage—”
His sweet, coaxing voice sounded pleasant despite the suspicious undertone. Chloe hesitated, then focused on his words.
Kun closed the door behind him. After the soft thud, she heard his footsteps approaching.
“Come in, Princess.”
“……”
“You have to give me time to create a weakness.”
Her tiny waist was held firmly in his hand.
