Chapter 38
A Real Threat
“What do you think you’re doing!”
Rasilia shoved Rescal away.
Taken aback, Rescal stumbled back with a deeply aggrieved expression.
“You were the one who hugged me first.”
“…Excuse me? What did you just say?”
“It’s true. You grabbed my arm first.”
And then, he claimed, she threw both arms around him, so he had no choice but to hug her back.
“No choice,” he emphasized—twice.
Rasilia stared at him, frowning in disbelief.
“Why did you come to my room in the first place? I told you I didn’t want to see you for a while.”
Like anyone who doesn’t have a good answer, Rescal diverted his eyes.
“Well… I heard you had fallen asleep.”
“What does that have to do with anything?”
“Technically speaking, I didn’t go against your wishes. You said we shouldn’t face each other for a while. But if I’m the only one looking, then…”
“That’s just wordplay, Your Majesty.”
“……”
Rescal’s lips twitched. He had no defense.
Rasilia pulled the blanket up and pointed to the door.
“Leave. I have a cold. I don’t want Your Majesty to catch it.”
“You don’t need to worry. I don’t get colds.”
“You don’t know that.”
“I’ve never caught one.”
“I don’t believe that. Please go.”
“You can believe me. I’ve never caught one, and even if I did, it would be fine.”
“Well, I wouldn’t be fine.”
She pointed at the door again.
“Go. I want to rest.”
“…You were the one who said you liked me first.”
“Go.”
“……”
Rescal reluctantly stood up, dragging his feet.
“May I ask one thing before I go?”
Even as he rose, he couldn’t quite let go.
“It would be better if you just left.”
And that made her uneasy. Facing the emperor after dreaming of demons was always harder.
He made her remember feelings she didn’t want to understand. Sensations she wished would go away.
“You’re still angry.”
She pretended that was the only reason. If that kept him away.
“Yes.”
“…In that case.”
Rescal turned his back, his shoulders strangely sagging. His usually immaculate attire was clearly wrinkled on one side, thanks to having curled up while lying on his side.
“I hope your anger passes soon.”
“I don’t think that will happen.”
Rasilia’s cold words made his shoulders sink even lower.
“Take care, then. I hope you recover quickly.”
She didn’t respond.
Thud.
The door clicked shut slowly, but even that soft sound unsettled her.
“You really shouldn’t be out of bed in your condition…”
The next day, her cough worsened. Her throat ached so much that she had to sip honeyed tea constantly, which left her feeling full and nauseous.
But she couldn’t delay meeting Marchioness Paschade any longer.
The truth was, the Marchioness had waited in the Empress’s audience chamber for three full hours because Rasilia couldn’t stop coughing.
And the backless chairs in the chamber were not designed for long waits.
By the time Rasilia appeared, the Marchioness was far past exhaustion and well into a foul mood.
“…Why have you summoned me, Your Majesty?”
She threw a sidelong glance, watching Rasilia’s expression carefully.
In truth, the Marchioness had never intended for things to escalate this far.
Yes, she had discovered the Empress’s secret. But that secret had long vanished.
She had seen the mark return with her own eyes the day Rasilia fell into the canal—when she helped the Empress change her clothes.
The one who made this whole thing explode was her idiotic, impulsive husband.
The moment he heard that his wife had been stripped of her title and expelled from the palace, he charged into the imperial quarters like a madman.
But the Empress never appeared to plead or explain, and the Emperor himself showed no interest in the so-called secret. Instead, he had the Marchioness’s husband thrown out by the guards for his rudeness.
Forget pride—their loss was enormous.
The couple had grown far too accustomed to the power that came with the title of First Lady-in-Waiting to the Empress. Being forced to surrender it overnight was unthinkable.
Meanwhile, the Temple moved swiftly. Though cloaked in vague words, it was clear they were interested in the Empress’s secret.
The Marchioness’s husband wasted no time and arranged to meet with the Temple the very next day.
It was already too late when the Marchioness realized the Empress’s mark had returned, meaning there was no longer any secret to leverage.
The two racked their brains for a solution.
But the only way to reclaim her position was to use the Empress’s secret to blackmail her.
So they chose to gamble. If they pretended to side with the Temple, the Empress—desperate to keep her secret—would come crawling back.
The Empress clearly had no idea her mark had returned.
So the gamble might just work.
The delay in the meeting with the Temple, caused by an accident, might even play to their advantage.
The Empress summoning her today was proof enough. She was panicking.
Flutter.
The Marchioness unfolded her feathered fan and hid her smile.
Today, she would win. But she couldn’t afford to look pleased too soon.
“I assume Your Majesty hasn’t forgotten that you dismissed me from service?”
“Cough. I haven’t forgotten. I heard you were headed to the Temple. I was curious why.”
The Marchioness crossed her ankles with satisfaction behind the fan.
She could already imagine the Empress begging her to keep the secret.
“Yes, Your Majesty. The High Priest seems to have taken quite an interest in me—once the First Lady-in-Waiting of the Empress’s household.”
“Is that so.”
“Yes, quite a lot of interest, in fact.”
“I see.”
“…?”
Snap!
The Marchioness closed her fan abruptly.
Despite her flushed cheeks and the sweat beading on her forehead, the Empress looked disturbingly composed.
If she had summoned her in such a sickly state, it was surely out of desperation—so why was she so calm?
“Shall I explain exactly what kind of interest the High Priest has?”
The Marchioness couldn’t bear the silence any longer.
“No. I’m not feeling well enough for long conversations. We can discuss your personal affairs another time.”
“…Pardon?”
It was beyond disbelief.
The Marchioness trembled, still holding her fan.
“Then why… why have you summoned me?”
“I heard you had an accident on your way to the Temple. I wanted to make sure you were unharmed.”
“Well, as you can see—I’m perfectly fine.”
“I heard birds caused the accident. Is that true?”
“Yes. That’s true. Is… that what you were curious about?”
“What kind of accident was it?”
“Flocks of birds suddenly attacked the horses, causing the carriage to swerve and hit a rock. One of the wheels broke… Are you truly saying this is what you were concerned about?”
“Yes. I’m relieved. If it had happened near a cliff instead of a flat road, it might’ve been far more serious.”
“Yes… Well… The gods must’ve been watching over me. It was a great relief, but…”
The Empress, pale, simply nodded.
The Marchioness blinked, confused.
Knock knock.
“Your Majesty, I’ve brought what you requested.”
The voice was familiar. The Marchioness frowned.
“Come in.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
A palace maid entered—empty-handed, but something sat perched on her shoulder.
“A-ah!”
Crash!
The Marchioness screamed and tumbled to the ground, chair and all.
“Ahem! Such disgraceful conduct before Her Majesty, Marchioness Paschade.”
“Wh-what…?”
The Marchioness pointed a shaking hand at Ivette’s shoulder.
With impeccable manners, the parrot named Duke Shrayden fluttered down to Rasilia’s feet and bowed.
“Greetings to Your Majesty the Empress. Ahem. It is, as always, an indescribable honor.”
It wasn’t just that the bird could speak clearly.
The Marchioness recognized that particular parrot.
She had seen it the day before—on the road to the Temple.
As a storm of birds swarmed the carriage, one had stood out.
A parrot, massive in size, with brilliant yellow and blue feathers and a blazing red beak.
“Thank you for coming. Make yourself comfortable.”
“Such honor, Your Majesty.”
With that, the parrot flapped up to the chandelier hanging from the ceiling.
Creak. Creak.
The massive chandelier swayed, its crystals jingling with every movement.
The Marchioness felt a strange chill.
For some reason, it felt like that chandelier might fall directly onto her head.
“Th-that bird… Why…?”
“I just wanted to show you.”
“To… to me?”
“As you can see, he’s quite talented. He’s kind enough to do anything I ask. Oh, you mentioned birds caused yesterday’s accident. Do you happen to remember what kind they were?”
“Th-that…”
The Marchioness turned deathly pale.
“That’s unfortunate. You’ll have to be more careful from now on. Who knows what kind of bird might cause what kind of accident?”
“Wh-what… Wh-why would you say something like that…”
“Duke.”
Rasilia didn’t explain further. She merely gestured toward the parrot.
The parrot pecked a small metal joint holding one of the chandelier’s crystals.
Thunk!
The crystal dropped to the floor with a loud crash.
The Marchioness’s leg trembled.
If the crystal had fallen just a bit to the right, it would’ve smashed her skull.
“Birds are everywhere. And this bird can command them. Isn’t that incredible?”
The Marchioness’s lips lost all color, turning bluish.
“That… Are you… threatening me?”
“It’s a warning—to be careful when traveling. What a relief you came out of yesterday’s accident unharmed.”
“……”
The Marchioness fell silent.
She had realized the Empress was threatening her.
The woman who once seemed cruel and temperamental, yet easily swayed if humored, was now entirely someone else.
“I’ve confirmed you’re safe. You may go now. Travel safely.”
Rasilia slowly stood.
“Your Majesty! You shouldn’t be walking alone.”
Ivette rushed to her side and offered her arm.
Rasilia leaned against Ivette’s shoulder and walked on.
“Thank you.”
“No need, Your Majesty. This is simply my duty. And your throat still aches…”
The two of them left the audience chamber, looking for all the world like affectionate sisters.
“Ahem! Grant me the honor of escorting you!”
The parrot flapped along behind them.
“……”
The Marchioness, now pale as a ghost, was left alone in the empty chamber.
