Chapter 24. The Path of the Duke’s Young Lady
The adoption process happened in the blink of an eye.
Duke Shuraiden made a verbal request to the Emperor of Eliaden to approve the adoption, and the Emperor in turn verbally agreed. Two documents were created to this effect, each stamped with the official seal.
Serben, Rian, and Yvette were all stunned to learn that Shuraiden I actually had an official seal. Though it was shaped like a bird’s foot, a seal was still a seal.
“Ahem. Sir Sigres, would you kindly place this with my title deed in the drawer?”
Serben took the imperial document passed to him by the parrot’s foot with an expression that said he didn’t even know where to begin.
“Y-yes… I suppose so…”
“Ahem.”
Shuraiden I fluttered back into his golden cage.
“Well, what should I do now? Should I continue working in the Empress’s palace like before, Your Majesty?”
Unfortunately, this was something Rasillia knew nothing about. Just because she had experience dealing with royalty didn’t mean she fully understood noble customs or the social hierarchy.
“Hmm. What do you want to do?”
“I’d be grateful if I could keep working. I mean, my status has changed, but that’s all, right? Unless I have to reveal I was adopted into the Duke’s family, I’d rather just keep living like this.”
Rian suddenly interjected.
“Then make her a lady-in-waiting. It would be odd for a duke’s young lady to keep doing the hard labor palace maids do.”
“A l-lady-in-waiting? Me?”
Yvette pointed to herself with a face full of disbelief.
“N-no way… I’m—”
“You’re the young lady of a duke’s house now. Adopted or not.”
“I-I-I… Is that… true, Your Majesty?”
Yvette seemed like she couldn’t breathe properly, so Rasillia gently patted her back.
“If that’s what you want, then do it. No—actually, it would be best.”
Her decision was made quickly and without hesitation.
Yvette was the only person who knew about Fifi. Since Rasillia would need to care for Fifi for the time being, no one could be more helpful than Yvette.
And as a lady-in-waiting rather than a palace maid, Yvette could stay by Rasillia’s side without dealing with other attendants, making it easier to keep Fifi a secret.
“T-thank you. I’m… deeply honored.”
Yvette was still stuttering.
“This feels like a dream… It’s overwhelming, but I’m so happy. I never imagined anything like this… I may not be a knight, but I will serve with my life, Your Majesty.”
“You don’t need to go that far. Just fulfill your role.”
Rasillia lightly grasped and released Yvette’s hand. The simple gesture carried a deeper meaning—entrusting Fifi to her with care.
“My role… Ah, yes. I’ll keep that in mind, Your Majesty.”
Now that she was the adopted daughter of Duke Shuraiden, the North Tower was Yvette’s home too.
It was decided she would officially become a lady-in-waiting starting the next day, so she remained at the North Tower.
Even on the walk back from the North Tower to the Empress’s palace, Rasillia did not let go of Lescal’s hand.
‘Strange. What’s the big deal about holding hands?’
It kept bothering her.
‘He’s probably acting this way because of the Blue Moon.’
Though the sky was still bright, the eerie blue moonlight would soon flood the night once the sun went down.
“Did you know?”
The Emperor’s voice suddenly broke through the sound of their footsteps.
“Know what?”
“That ever since I granted your request, you haven’t told me to let go of your hand—not even once.”
“Oh… that’s true.”
That’s the danger of owing someone. But it had been worth it. She knew Lescal hadn’t done her a small favor—he had taken a great risk.
The memory of him saying he’d help her no matter the danger still made her chest tighten.
‘I know it’s for the sake of physical contact, but… he’s too kind.’
Was that really necessary?
“I’m in a very good mood right now.”
“…”
Rasillia was at a loss for a reply when Lescal suddenly lowered his head.
“From now on, if you need anything, I hope you’ll always ask me.”
“That’s… understood.”
“You must. Absolutely, without fail.”
“…”
He made it sound like asking for something would be a favor to him.
‘This is all too strange.’
The relationship between the Empress and the Emperor felt off. Everything she’d ever heard about royal couples seemed like a lie now.
‘Does the Blue Moon bring not only instincts but also emotions?’
Either way, she’d only truly understand their relationship after the Blue Moon ended.
“If I ever have a request, I won’t hesitate to speak.”
Rasillia used those words to mask her confusion.
Night fell faster than expected.
“You’ll have to sleep in the same room again tonight. As you saw yesterday, resisting His Majesty is pointless.”
“I understand.”
She had prepared herself.
It was meaningless to share a space with him since she wasn’t the real partner, but she couldn’t avoid it.
The mutation was still frightening.
But she also knew that once the moonlight faded, the Emperor would return to his original form. If she could endure until dawn, everything would be fine.
She had one other reassurance, too. Perhaps because of his instincts toward his mate, even when mutated, the Emperor had never harmed her.
Last night and tonight, the demon form of the Emperor had done nothing but embrace the one he believed to be his mate.
So tonight should also be safe.
“Oh… you’re quite calm about it now?”
It was Rian, who had made her earlier statement sound forceful, who seemed surprised.
“I thought you were upset with me for not fulfilling my duty during the Blue Moon. Why the surprise?”
“Well… I guess I’m still not used to it. You’ve changed so much. It’s hard to keep up.”
“Comparing memories I don’t have won’t help me answer. Tell His Majesty I understand and escort him when the time comes.”
“Understood, Your Majesty. But… oh, one more thing.”
Rian was about to leave the Empress’s bedchamber but spun back around.
“Why did you go to the North Tower? I really don’t think you had any reason to be there.”
She had prepared an excuse in advance in case someone asked. Though she had expected it from the Emperor—not Rian.
“I’ve been exploring the palace whenever I have time. I thought it might help jog my memory. I ended up at the North Tower by chance.”
“By chance? Then how come none of the guards saw you?”
“That’s their problem, not mine.”
“Well, you’re not wrong. I should scold those guards more.”
After thinking for a moment, Rian asked again.
“Just curious—if you saw His Majesty in his transformed state during the day, would your impression of his appearance still be the same?”
“Why are you asking that?”
“I’m just honestly curious. Maybe day and night transformations feel different. You might’ve been shocked when he suddenly burst through the door.”
Questions about appearance made Rasillia uncomfortable.
As someone used to darkness and mirrorless rooms, appearances had little meaning for her. What was seen lasted only a moment—what was forgotten lasted far longer.
‘Though in his case, the impression was so strong it lingered.’
In fact, he looked better in the daylight.
Probably because the transformation hadn’t warped his bones as much, making him appear less painful.
“His mutation wasn’t as severe in the daytime. He likely suffered less, which is a relief.”
“Oh… I didn’t expect you to say that. So your feelings haven’t changed?”
“There’s no reason for them to. Just because he mutates for a while doesn’t mean he’s a different person.”
His appearance meant nothing compared to how much more tender he had become.
“It seems His Majesty’s mutation doesn’t affect Your Majesty at all. Understood.”
Rian gave a respectful bow.
“I will now go escort His Majesty.”
Click.
As Rian left and closed the door, Rasillia changed into her nightclothes without any maid’s help and opened the window. She sat in the single armchair beneath it, gazing at the blue moon.
Life in the imperial palace was dangerous in every way, but it had its perks.
Like being able to look outside whenever she wanted.
“The North Tower seems fine. So far.”
“I see.”
“Hard to believe, but the story about Duke Shuraiden is true. The archive manager confirmed it.”
“I didn’t even doubt that. Sounds exactly like something the former emperor would do.”
“Just in case, I looked into the maid’s background. Her mother died when she was young, and her father passed away later. She has two younger siblings, both minors. They’re not destitute but not well-off enough to refuse money either. And her employment at the Royal Library checks out.”
“Wow, she must’ve been a real bookworm. Makes sense that she’d think to read something like an imperial record book. Maybe she read every book in that library?”
“…”
Serben, who was assigned to guard the Empress, wasn’t allowed to leave the Empress’s quarters. Rian, meanwhile, was humming as he walked to the Emperor’s palace.
After watching Rian’s leisurely pace, Serben finally blocked his path.
“Wait, Rian.”
“What?”
“We need to talk. Aren’t you even worried?”
“Worried about what?”
“Come on. You really believe Her Majesty just happened to go to the North Tower, and just happened to be alone with that maid? Obviously something’s going on. Something she didn’t want the Emperor or us to know about.”
Rian clicked his tongue and shook his head.
“So what? Are we going to undo everything now? Like the Emperor would tolerate that.”
“Even if His Majesty is okay with it… we shouldn’t be. We should at least keep an eye on that maid. I thought you’d bring this up first.”
“Oh, you did?”
Without warning, Rian kicked Serben in the shin. Serben winced and tried not to scream.
“Ugh! Why’d you kick me? We can just talk!”
“You were being dumb. And sometimes you need a good kick to think straight.”
“What did I do?”
“Tsk tsk… That maid is now a lady-in-waiting. The Duke of Shuraiden’s young lady. Do you not get what that means?”
“Huh?”
Serben looked up, rubbing his shin.
“Didn’t you suggest making her a lady-in-waiting?”
“Right now, the head lady-in-waiting of the Empress’s palace is the Marchioness of Pashad.”
“So?”
“If a duke’s daughter suddenly appears, how do you think the Marchioness will react? The head lady-in-waiting to the Empress is essentially the second most powerful woman in high society. All requests to the Empress must go through the Pashad family.”
Serben’s expression shifted.
“Meaning?”
“If the Duke’s young lady seems suspicious in any way, we won’t even have to try. All eight of the Marchioness’s handmaids will dig up every single thing about her on their own.”
