WMEEM Ch 27

Intruder

I left Batizo's bedchamber as if I had been chased out.

Treating someone who had cared for him through the night with such coldness left me angry and humiliated. Coldness didn't even cover it. He had shouted at me to leave.

The servants waiting outside cast cautious glances toward the bedchamber. They had clearly overheard his outburst, so I hurried away.

I had not stayed by his side just to force a thank you out of him. Still, a simple word of gratitude was not too much to ask. Batizo was a completely baffling man.

Back in my room, I fumed alone as anger burned inside me for a long time.

As time passed, I slowly began to understand his perspective. Just as Batizo had said, I was a stranger in his bedchamber, a complete intruder, to be exact.

If these episodes happened every year, Batizo certainly knew how vulnerable he became in his sleep. Exposing that kind of weakness to anyone was probably the last thing he wanted.

Failing to consider his point of view was partly my own fault. Still, glaring at me with such a menacing scowl had been far too harsh. It was the same terrifying expression I had seen before. A look that promised terrible consequences if I didn't leave right away.

Although dinner yesterday had been somewhat painful, the atmosphere had still been pleasant enough. Now, an inescapable rift was opening between us.

[Terkan] "His Majesty is not a man who can fulfill your expectations."

The words Terkan had spoken to me floated back to the surface of my mind.

At the time, I had replied that I expected nothing, and I had intended to keep it that way. Yet ever since, I had wavered at every turn.

I claimed to expect nothing, yet I felt disappointed anyway, constantly longing for something from him. Even if Terkan warned me to expect nothing, perhaps small hopes were allowed.

Staying by his side whenever nightmares haunted him, becoming a familiar comfort rather than a stranger when he woke up, that alone would be enough. Reaching that small goal felt like enough.

With steady effort, even that might become possible.

So I had held onto expectations after all.

---

Word reached me that Batizo had decided to rest for the day. As a result, a morning that was usually bustling with visiting nobles passed in quiet solitude.

After my lesson, I sat on the windowsill and looked out at the garden, which was submerged in stillness.

I had been nursing a dull headache for a while, so the quiet felt welcome.

[Tarega] "The darkening sky signals an upcoming blizzard. The wind is blowing quite ominously as well."

Tarega stepped up beside me and looked up at the sky.

The weather had been bitterly cold without snow for days, but today promised the season's first snowfall.

[Celeste] "I heard the blizzards in Kellinev rival violent storms, so please stay indoors as much as possible."

[Tarega] "What business would I have outdoors?"

She chuckled as she checked the window frame to make sure it was sealed tight.

Clouds raced across the sky, and a white haze blanketed the distant mountain peaks where snow clouds had already gathered.

As I looked outside, a sharp pain throbbed in my head, making me press my fingers against my temples.

[Tarega] "A headache, Your Highness?"

[Celeste] "Yes. A mild ache that has been lingering since earlier."

[Tarega] "Shall I fetch some medicine?"

[Celeste] "No. It is not severe."

It was only a minor discomfort.

[Celeste] "I shall inform you if it grows unbearable."

As Tarega left to attend to her duties, the headache intensified as if it had been waiting for her to go. Perhaps my lack of sleep yesterday was the cause.

I checked the schedule for my next lesson and lay down on the bed to take a brief nap. Drowsiness swept over me instantly, confirming that exhaustion was the real source of the pain.

A loud noise jolted me awake.

Tarega had checked the window before I fell asleep, but she must have overlooked a gap. The window hung slightly open, and the wind howled through the crack.

While I slept, a fierce blizzard had erupted outside, exactly as Tarega had predicted.

Feeling fresh gratitude that I was not suffering in the Calyx Annex on such a freezing day, I slammed the window shut with a loud thud.

I glanced at the clock and saw that my next lesson was drawing near. Yet no tutor arrived.

A maid entered to inform me that because of the severe blizzard, the tutors had left the palace to return home. Outside, the weather was worsening rapidly. Elizaveta wouldn't be able to visit today either.

I sat down on the sofa and opened a book. Although my eyes scanned the pages, my thoughts drifted away again and again.

Is Batizo doing well? Since he took the day off, he is probably staying in bed instead of working.

When his face seemed to hover over the printed text, I closed the book and leaned back against the cushion.

A gentle knock sounded, and Tarega peeked into the room.

[Tarega] "Your Highness, shall I prepare some tea for you?"

[Celeste] "Yes. That would be lovely."

[Tarega] "Chaos reigns outside. Winter came early this year, bringing the blizzard sooner than expected, so everyone is scrambling to secure the unfortified areas."

Since I could do nothing to help with the chaos outside, relaxing comfortably indoors made me feel a wave of guilt. Still, staying quietly in my quarters was the best way I could help.

[Celeste] "Must you go outside as well, Tarega?"

[Tarega] "Yes. I came only to check if you needed anything, and to urge you to stay strictly indoors. I shall instruct another maid to serve your tea."

[Celeste] "Please take care."

Tarega hurried out.

Shortly after, a maid entered. As she set up the tea service, I realized I didn't recognize her face.

[Celeste] "I don't recognize you. Are you new here?"

[Dello] "Greetings, Your Highness. I am De... Dello. I started working here a week ago. Serving you is an honor."

[Celeste] "Where is the head maid? Why did you come alone?"

Proper protocol required the head maid to accompany and introduce any newcomer.

[Dello] "Because conditions outside are so harsh today... she instructed me to come alone. Since I am only a novice, she said I was not needed for outdoor duties."

[Celeste] "I see. I look forward to your service."

The young maid arranged the tea on the table. She was nervous, her hands trembling visibly. As she swallowed hard, her tense demeanor looked both pitiful and endearing.

[Celeste] "Take your time."

[Dello] "Thank you, Your Highness."

As she poured the tea into the cup, a rich aroma filled the room.

[Celeste] "The fragrance is lovely. What kind of tea is this?"

[Dello] "I am... unsure."

I lifted the cup and inhaled the aroma. The scent was far stronger than typical teas, hitting my nose the moment it was poured.

When I moved to take a drink, however, the overpowering smell felt unappetizing.

[Celeste] "Could you make it a bit weaker?"

The maid's lips looked pale blue, her breathing heavy and erratic. Moisture welled in her eyes.

Does she find me intimidating? Or perhaps...

[Celeste] "Are you feeling unwell?"

[Dello] "N-No, Your Highness."

Her hands trembled even more violently than before. She was clearly sick.

[Celeste] "If you are unwell, tell the head maid and go rest."

I reached out and gently touched the back of her hand.

[Dello] "No!"

The maid shrieked and jerked her hand back, sending the teapot and teacup crashing to the floor, where they shattered into pieces.

[Dello] "I am so sorry! I am so sorry!"

Bowing repeatedly with tear-filled eyes, she scrambled to collect the sharp porcelain shards.

[Dello] "I shall prepare a fresh set immediately."

Worried that my reaction had made her panic worse, I stood up to help her gather the pieces.

[Celeste] "It is fine. You don't need to serve tea. Go and rest."

[Dello] "...I am not sick. I shall prepare a weaker cup this time."

[Celeste] "Did the head maid order you to work even though you are sick?"

Although I had not known her long, the head maid was hardly ruthless enough to force a sick servant to work.

[Dello] "Everyone is busy, so I... I must do a good job..."

[Celeste] "I shall inform the head maid myself. Please go rest."

The maid gathered the broken pieces in silence. Still, determined to prepare fresh tea, she left the room.

Assuming my words had intimidated a nervous beginner who desperately wanted to do her duty, I let her go.

Before long, tea was set on the table once again. Weaker, just as I had asked, a pleasant fragrance drifted up when I leaned in close.

As I went to take a sip, an intense gaze caught my attention. The maid had been staring right at me, but she hastily looked down the moment our eyes met.

She seemed anxious to see how her tea tasted.

[Celeste] "The fragrance is exquisite."

I spoke to reassure her, but it brought little comfort. The maid remained rigid with tension, her face completely frozen.

I took a sip. To my unrefined palate, most teas tasted similar anyway, revealing no special flavor. Still, I praised her to put her at ease.

[Celeste] "Your skill is impressive for a beginner. It is quite delicious."

[Dello] "...Th-Thank you."

She looked away, then glanced back at me and spoke in a soft, trembling voice.

[Dello] "Y-Your Highness..."

[Celeste] "Yes?"

[Dello] "That tea... No, it is nothing."

Cutting her own words short, the maid stared down at the floor.

Another sip. And another.

When I had finished roughly half the cup…..

The dull headache that had subsided rushed back with fierce intensity. It was far worse than a headache. A wave of dizziness overwhelmed me. Nausea churned in my stomach, and my vision blurred into a haze.

I tried to reach toward the maid to ask for medicine, but my arm collapsed limply at my side.

[Celeste] "Tarega... T-Ta... re... ga..."

Before I could finish her name, everything went black.

---

A strange odor hung in the air. A foul stench, faintly familiar, yet utterly bizarre.

A crushing pain in my skull forced a groan from my lips.

With a violent jerk, someone yanked my head upward. I forced my heavy eyelids open with immense effort.

A dark figure hovered in front of me. Blurred at first, the silhouette slowly came into focus.

[Celeste] "Why are you..."

Standing a short distance away was Raff.

This must be a nightmare. Have I been dragged back to Calyx?

No. That is impossible.

I desperately wanted to pull away from him, but my body refused to move. Even without any ropes holding me, a heavy paralysis made it impossible to lift a single finger.

Thud. Thud.

Raff stepped closer.

[Raff] "You have gained weight."

He traced my cheek with his index finger and pressed down firmly.

[Raff] "You seem to be living quite comfortably."

[Celeste] "Where... is this..."

Forcing out even a few words was exhausting, making full sentences impossible.

[Raff] "Inside the imperial palace of Kellinev. Don't worry, I came only to see you. I shall let you go, so don't glare at me with those eyes."

Seeing Raff again like this was beyond anything I could have imagined.

How did he sneak into the imperial palace? Why will my body not obey me?

Too late, my suspicion landed on the tea served by the new maid.

Raff had planted a spy inside the palace. If he wanted to meet me, official channels existed, making this secret intrusion completely insane.

[Raff] "Are you asking yourself a lot of questions?"

[Celeste] "How..."

[Raff] "Since I had no desire to face the Emperor of Kellinev, I hired extremely expensive mages and Spacetime Mages. You get what you pay for, after all."

[Celeste] "Why come to see me..."

My voice was regaining its strength—

[Raff] "Etch this clearly into your mind!"

He grabbed a fistful of my hair and yanked my head backward.

[Celeste] "Aaargh!"

A scream burst from my throat at the sudden violence.

[Raff] "No matter where you live, you shall never escape me. Remember that well."

[Celeste] "I shall tell His Majesty! I will tell him that you snuck into his palace like a thief!"

Now that I had screamed, the words flowed without hindrance. Sneaking into the imperial palace like this was nothing short of a declaration of war.

[Raff] "With what proof? Do you think the Emperor will trust the words of a wretched thing like you? Even if he believes you, what can he do? There is no proof I was ever here."

He chuckled darkly.

[Raff] "Ah, and I heard he has been sick lately. Rumors say his mind is completely shattered. Word is he couldn't even get out of bed today. Batizo's era is coming to an end. If he dies without an heir, your situation is going to be pitiful."

Goosebumps erupted across my skin. Raff knew everything about what was happening inside the palace. The maid who served the tea proved that a traitor was working inside our walls.

He yanked my hair harder.

[Raff] "When Batizo dies, shall I take you back?"

He spoke as if Batizo's death were guaranteed.

Is he plotting an assassination?

[Raff] "I shall keep the Annex ready for your return."

[Celeste] "..."

[Raff] "The whip I saved for you is still waiting in its spot as well."

I had been holding back to avoid provoking him, but hearing him mention the whip shattered my control.

[Celeste] "Go burn in hell."

His eyes gleamed malevolently. He let go of my hair and clamped his hand tightly around my throat.

[Raff] "Shall I choke the life out of you right here?"

[Celeste] "Do as you please. I am not afraid of you."

In truth, pure terror consumed me. I was terrified he would snap my neck, and the panic nearly drove me out of my mind. Yet I knew he wouldn't actually kill me.

I sneered at him, noticing how his hands trembled around my throat.

At that moment…..

Two men who had been standing behind Raff stepped forward and spoke urgently.

[Mage] "Your Majesty! Someone is coming! We must leave immediately!"

[Raff] "Who is coming? Did you not promise me that no one could reach this place?"

[Mage] "I don't know what happened! Getting you out of here is the priority!"

Locked in indecision, Raff gritted his teeth while choking me. Then he tore my sleeve open and slashed my arm with a dagger.

The blade sliced into my skin, and a scream welled up in my throat, but I forced it down. Refusing to give Raff the satisfaction of hearing my pain.

[Raff] "Leaving completely empty-handed just feels wrong, does it not?"

His madness had not changed at all. Raff raised his hand to strike my head, then vanished in an instant. However, one of the men with him stayed behind.

Raising his hand, the remaining man moved to finish what Raff had started.

[Terkan] "Stopping right there would be wise."

Footsteps echoed in the quiet room, accompanied by a familiar voice. A figure emerged slowly from the shadows.

[Terkan] "A foul stench has been drifting through the palace since this morning. It turns out there was rotting meat hidden here."

[Celeste] "Terkan!"

[Terkan] "What brings Your Highness to a place like this?"

Terkan had clearly not known I was here before he arrived.

[Celeste] "Raff... Gasp!"

Before I could even finish saying Raff's name, the man pressed a sharp blade against my neck.

[Intruder] "Stay back! Step back, or the Princess dies!"

Prepared for this kind of emergency, the man spoke in a remarkably calm voice.

Yet Terkan's voice dropped even lower, instantly chilling the air.

[Terkan] "Release Her Highness."

[Guard] "I warned you. Step back, or I will slaughter the Princess."

[Terkan] "Whether you release Her Highness or refuse, you are going to die."

[Guard] "What?"

[Terkan] "It means your death is guaranteed either way. Your only choice is whether you want it to be quick or excruciating."

---

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