Chapter 1 — The Abandoned Empress
One lazy afternoon.
Even the birds flying in the sky sang sweetly to each other, but inside the Moonlight Palace, only a cold silence filled the air.
Everyone in the palace held their breath as they looked at two women.
One woman had chestnut-colored hair and wore a simple sky-blue dress.
The other had silver hair and wore a luxurious dark red dress covered in jewels.
The chestnut-haired woman had pale skin, clear and bright eyes like the sky, a straight nose, and soft red lips. She looked pure and gentle.
The silver-haired woman had skin as white as snow, sharp violet eyes, a high nose, and blood-red lips. She looked charming and dangerous.
The chestnut-haired woman trembled and spoke.
“Your Highness… did I hear wrong? What did you just say…?”
The silver-haired woman lifted her chin proudly and replied,
“No, you heard correctly. I said… I pity you, Your Majesty.”
The maids behind the chestnut-haired woman gasped in anger.
“How dare she…!”
“This is unacceptable…!”
But the silver-haired woman acted as if she heard nothing.
“You pity… me?”
“Yes. As a woman, you cannot even be embraced by your husband and spend your days like this… how pitiful.”
“……”
“It is truly sad. Truly unfortunate. I cannot even begin to understand your feelings.”
“……”
“Oh dear, you cannot even respond. I suppose I must be right.”
The silver-haired woman covered her lips with her fan and laughed softly.
The maids behind her also began to giggle while looking at the Empress.
The chestnut-haired woman trembled even more.
After a moment, she spoke again,
“Then… why have you come here? I do not believe you have any reason to visit this place.”
The silver-haired woman smiled.
“Ah, look at me. I almost forgot. Please, take a look at this.”
She proudly showed the necklace she was wearing.
At the center was a large opal shining with rainbow colors. Around it, small emeralds and sapphires were placed like a delicate web.
It was clearly something very expensive.
“His Majesty gave it to me.”
“……”
“They say it was a gift from the Emperor of the Magi Empire. Look at this beautiful light. Isn’t it lovely?”
“……”
“Oh my, you say nothing. It feels like I am talking to myself.”
She smiled sweetly, then added,
“Well… you have never even spoken with His Majesty or stood beside him. How could you understand his thoughts? I must have said something unnecessary. My apologies?”
Her words were loud enough for everyone to hear.
The Empress’s maids frowned deeply.
One of them stepped forward and shouted,
“Your Highness! Do you not know who this person is?! She is the Empress of this nation—!”
“Yes, I know very well. She is the Empress.”
“Then how can you—!”
“So what?”
“You should show respect—!”
“Respect? You want me to show respect? Haha!”
The concubine laughed freely without even covering her mouth.
The Empress’s face grew colder.
The concubine spoke again, her eyes still smiling.
“Respect comes from fulfilling one’s duty. No one needs to force it. If someone does their role properly, respect will follow.”
“……”
“But it has been one year since your royal marriage, and you have never shared a night with His Majesty. You have not even conceived a child.”
“……”
“But I, who have not even been here for a year, have already given birth to a prince.”
“……”
“Pleasing His Majesty is also the duty of the Empress. Yet you have not fulfilled even one of your duties.”
She looked straight at her and said,
“If you do not fulfill your duty… are you truly the Empress?”
“……”
“Well, you cannot catch stars without looking at the sky. Perhaps I have said something too difficult for you.”
One of the maids shouted angrily,
“How rude! Your Majesty, please punish them at once!”
“Go ahead and punish me. But think carefully… what His Majesty will say when he hears about it.”
The Empress finally spoke, her voice shaking like leaves in the wind.
“…That is enough.”
The concubine smiled proudly.
“Since Your Majesty says so, I will take my leave. His Majesty will be arriving soon.”
Then she added quietly,
“Though you will never see him.”
After the concubine left and disappeared from sight, the Empress’s body swayed—and she collapsed.
“Your Majesty!”
Her maids rushed to support her.
With a trembling voice, filled with tears, the Empress said,
“I am… sorry. Because of me…”
“No, Your Majesty! Please do not apologize to us!”
“That woman is the one at fault!”
“Please do not worry, Your Majesty.”
“One day, His Majesty will see her true nature and return to you.”
The Empress smiled faintly.
“Thank you… I must have saved a nation in my past life… to meet such kind people like you…”
Tears fell from her eyes like pearls.
“No, Your Majesty… we are the thankful ones…”
The maids also began to cry.
Such a kind person… such a gentle person… why does the Emperor not see it?
Their cries filled the palace.
But suddenly—
“Ahem!”
Everyone turned.
“Head maid!”
“Nanny…”
“What is happening here?”
The maids ran to her crying.
“H-Head maid…!”
“Why… why are you all crying?”
The head maid, Shan, tilted her head in confusion as she looked at Amanda—the girl she had raised for 20 years, who was now the Empress.
Amanda simply closed and opened her eyes silently.
“What… did you just say?”
“We have decided to reduce the funds for the Moonlight Palace.”
A man with short purple hair and golden eyes replied calmly.
He was the Prime Minister, Samuel Katcher.
Amanda looked at him quietly.
“Are the people… suffering?”
Samuel was surprised.
“What?”
Ignoring his reaction, Amanda removed her simple hair ornament and held it out.
“If the people are struggling, then it is right to reduce our expenses. We, the royal family, should help them.”
Samuel sighed deeply.
“…The people are not suffering.”
“Ah… of course. His Majesty would never allow that.”
She smiled gently.
“Then… where will the reduced funds go? Perhaps to the new schools being built?”
Samuel replied coldly,
“No. It will go to the stupid concubine.”
“…What?”
“The money will be given to the concubine.”
Amanda’s face froze.
“Does… His Majesty know about this?”
“It is His Majesty’s order. Reduce the Empress’s funds and give it to the concubine.”
“Ah…”
Her eyes slowly dimmed.
Samuel turned to leave.
“I have said everything. I will take my leave.”
“W-wait… please!”
But he was already gone.
Amanda stood still, staring into the empty space.
“Your Majesty…”
She forced a smile.
“Ah… you heard everything.”
“……”
“I am sorry.”
“……”
“Truly… I am sorry. I have nothing to say to you.”
“No, Your Majesty…”
“If anyone wishes to leave, you may go now. I will sell my jewelry and pay you.”
“No!”
“We will never leave you!”
“No matter what, we will stay by your side!”
Tears filled her eyes.
“Thank you… truly… I am so blessed…”
They all embraced each other and cried.
From afar, Shan watched them.
Isn’t it time… to stop now?
Isn’t it time… to reveal yourself?
At that moment, Amanda looked at her.
Amanda opened her eyes wide—and a single tear slipped out.
Shan felt chills run down her spine.
If these maids ever learn the truth… what will happen?
Shan slowly shook her head.
