Chapter 2
Acting
Unlike usual, the Moonlight Palace was very busy.
From maids cleaning the windows, to those changing the flowers in the vases because they didn’t like how they looked, to maids burning sweet fragrance inside the room—everyone was moving around.
A maid who was lighting incense looked at Amanda and said,
“Your Majesty, how is the scent? Today, we prepared more lavender fragrance than usual.”
“It smells sweet. It makes my heart feel at peace.”
“Is that so? I’m glad.”
Seeing the maid’s bright smile, Amanda gave a bitter smile. Watching the maids so excited made her feel like she was doing something wrong.
…Though she was already committing a sin.
From afar, she saw a maid carrying a dress bigger than her own height.
“Your Majesty! Your Majesty!”
“Be careful. What if you fall? If you get a scar, no matter how good the medicine is, it cannot remove it.”
“Ah, I’m sorry! But, Your Majesty! Please look at this!”
The maid happily spread out the clothes she brought.
They were clothes Amanda had never seen before. Amanda tilted her head slightly.
“These are from the Raymond Barony. The former Baron and the current Baron asked me to deliver them as a gift to Your Majesty.”
“My father and Gale?”
“Yes. And also…”
“Hmm?”
“They said… happy birthday… and… to always stay healthy…”
“……”
Silence filled the Moonlight Palace.
Amanda lowered her head.
“Your Majesty…”
The maids spoke in soft, pitiful voices.
But suddenly, Amanda lifted her head. She had a small smile.
“Why are you all making such faces?”
“Today is a good day, isn’t it? His Majesty the Emperor is coming to the Moonlight Palace today.”
“If we greet him with sadness, that would go against the duty of the Empress. Put away your sorrow and welcome him with joy.”
“And… the lavender scent is nice, but I think jasmine would be better. Jasmine calms the body and helps with sleep. His Majesty hasn’t been sleeping well lately… I hope he can rest well tonight.”
“Yes, understood.”
The maids turned away and secretly wiped their tears.
Today was Empress Amanda’s birthday.
But even on her birthday, there was no celebration. She spent the day like any other.
Still, the Emperor said he would spend the night here—like a small act of kindness.
And yet, instead of trying to win his affection, the Empress only thought about how to make him comfortable.
The maids’ eyes slowly turned red.
“What are you all doing?”
“Head maid!”
“Nanny!”
“Why are you all crying?”
The maids ran to Shan.
“Head maid… our Empress is so pitiful. What if she falls sick like this?”
Shan looked at them with tired eyes.
“How can you say such things?”
“Today is the day His Majesty comes to the Moonlight Palace. Are you planning to greet him with such faces?”
“Wash your faces and fix yourselves. If His Majesty sees you like this first, do you think he would want to stay here?”
“…No.”
“Then hurry.”
“Today is Her Majesty’s birthday. Prepare everything perfectly.”
“Yes!”
The maids quickly wiped their tears and stood proudly.
Shan sighed lightly, then looked at one maid.
Unlike the others, she was calmly doing her work. She had black hair tied tightly and sharp teal eyes.
‘Margaret… Margaret Cliff, was it?’
Shan carried tomato pudding to Amanda’s room.
Knock knock.
* * *
“What should we do? There’s still no news?”
“…What should we do, our poor Empress…”
“It’s too much! Why does His Majesty treat her like this?!”
“What do you think, Head maid?”
“We cannot predict His Majesty. Do not act rashly. Just wait.”
Midnight passed. It was already dawn.
But the Emperor had not come.
The Empress quietly waited.
A maid spoke with trembling voice,
“C-could it be…?”
“What?”
“Could it be… that today… he went to the concubine?”
“What nonsense!”
“Then why hasn’t he come yet?!”
“Our poor Empress…”
The maids began to cry.
Suddenly—
“Telegram!”
A knight entered.
The maids surrounded him immediately.
“Why hasn’t His Majesty come?”
“Our Empress has been waiting!”
“Did he… go to the concubine?!”
“Be quiet!”
“Enough.”
Shan stepped forward.
“I’m sorry. They are still young…”
“No, it’s fine.”
“What is the message?”
“The Emperor will not be coming to the Moonlight Palace tonight.”
“What?!”
“Why?!”
“The Emperor will stay at the Cloud Palace tonight.”
“……”
“Waaaah!!!”
The maids burst into tears.
The Cloud Palace—the place where the concubine lived.
“Our poor Empress…”
“Be quiet,” Shan said.
“If we cry, Her Majesty will only feel more sad. We must greet her with smiles.”
“I will inform Her Majesty.”
“You all… prepare a birthday celebration, even if it’s late.”
“Yes!”
“She likes tomato dishes. Tell the chef to prepare many.”
“Yes!”
The knight watched them in confusion.
As he turned to leave, someone grabbed his arm.
It was Shan.
“Her Majesty does not let anyone leave empty-handed.”
“I’m busy—”
“It is Her Majesty’s order.”
He stopped.
“Give me your hand.”
“…What?”
Confused, he held out his hand.
Shan placed something small in it.
“…Candy?”
“Do you want candy? I can bring—”
“No, it’s fine.”
“It’s medicine.”
“Ah… I see.”
“It helps with bruises.”
“This is a small gift from Her Majesty.”
“Why give this to me…?”
“You are someone who protects His Majesty. Even if your rank is low, your duty is important.”
“And…”
“She said you must be working hard at this late hour.”
“…Ah.”
The knight felt emotional.
No one had ever shown him such kindness.
He remembered his cold attitude earlier and felt embarrassed.
“I’m… sorry.”
“For what?”
“For being rude…”
“No. We should be thankful.”
“Thankful?”
“If not for you, Her Majesty would still be waiting for His Majesty without knowing anything.”
“…Thank you.”
“Yes. Please take care.”
Shan returned inside.
The maids kept saying,
“Our poor Empress… what should we do…”
But no one dared to enter Amanda’s room.
