RABED 04

Chapter 4

After a good rest, Sara returned and pointed her finger at Cedric, who was lingering near the maid quarters of the Empress’s Palace.

“Who’s that guy?”

“I got lost.”

“What?”

“You left the palace without me, so I went for a walk like you said and got lost.”

Ignoring Lelia’s nonsensical response, which sounded like she was reading a book, Sara asked again.

“I said, who is he?”

“Are you interested?”

“No! I’m asking who he is! Who do you think I’m talking to right now?”

Frustrated, Sara thumped her chest.

Lelia looked slightly refreshed, and Sara easily realized that Lelia had just teased her. She was about to say something, but then closed her mouth again.

That faint little smile on Lelia’s face was quite cute—she decided to let it go.

Narrowing her eyes, Sara interrogated her.

“What’s your relationship with him?”

“He’s someone who helped me find my way.”

Lelia, as if she couldn’t care less, didn’t even glance toward the window.

Sara knew well that the servants of the Imperial Palace generally avoided those belonging to the Empress’s Palace. That was why Lelia’s beauty hadn’t become a topic of gossip, even though it should have.

Moreover, due to Lelia’s family background and her origins, those drawn to her looks quickly backed away in fear once they learned the truth.

Lelia had been deeply hurt by a betrayal from the man she once loved so dearly. Sara had seen it—her gaunt face, the tears every night before falling asleep. It was in that dazed state she once opened a door and hit her head.

Now that she thought about it, she hadn’t cried over that man since then.

It must’ve been because she lost her memory.

‘It’s a good thing she forgot about him. That piece of trash. If I ever see him again…’

Sara ground her teeth. Watching her, Lelia suddenly asked,

“I lost my memory, right?”

As Lelia brought it up, Sara turned her eyes away from the window.

“Where’s all the money I earned?”

“Don’t people usually ask about their family first?”

“Where’s my home?”

“Well… I guess that’s kind of the same question.”

Sara had been wondering when she’d finally ask. A part of her had hoped she wouldn’t. But once her memory returned, she’d find out everything anyway.

Though she didn’t want to say anything, this wasn’t something a third party should interfere with.

And it wasn’t something that could be hidden forever…

“I’ll tell you on your next day off.”

“My money?”

“That too, on your next day off.”

Sara barely held back a sigh.

For some reason, Lelia’s bright, trusting eyes looking up at her made her seem even more pitiful today.

---

* * *

“Your Majesty, shall I brush your hair?”

The Empress gave a faint nod. At Sara’s signal, Lelia quietly stepped forward and gently took the Empress’s hair, brushing it with care.

The Empress had become more silent with each passing day.

Once the radiant Grand Duchess of Actilus, she was now fading. Because she had loved a man, she was slowly wasting away.

As she stared at her reflection in the mirror with vacant eyes, the Empress turned to look at Lelia. Her exceptional beauty surpassed even that of the Emperor’s mistress.

However, perhaps due to her naturally gloomy aura, that beautiful face didn’t seem so attractive. In fact, the old Lelia had grown increasingly haggard and thin.

Though she had always tried to hide it in front of the Empress, the shock she’d experienced had made it hard to conceal her pain.

Eventually, the Empress couldn’t pretend not to notice and asked Lelia what was wrong. After some hesitation, Lelia confessed through tears.

That she’d been betrayed by a man.

Seeing Lelia, who was in the same situation as herself, the Empress chose to overlook her mistakes. That was the greatest kindness the Empress could offer.

In Lelia, who mirrored herself, the Empress found a solitary sense of kinship.

But lately, something was different.

Over the past month or two, Lelia had gained some healthy weight, and the shadows under her eyes had vanished. She even seemed to shine a little.

The deathly expression she once wore had disappeared completely.

Instead, she now carried a detached attitude as if nothing in the world mattered. But that made her appear more at peace. The Empress, observing the change, felt a twinge of envy.

She was still in pain…

How had that girl let it all go?

After a moment of hesitation, the Empress finally spoke.

“Lelia, how have you been lately?”

“……”

Lelia, focused on brushing hair, didn’t hear her. Only when Sara nudged her did she reply reflexively.

“My apologies, Your Majesty.”

Usually, such a response was enough to avoid suspicion even if one hadn’t heard the question.

Most maids didn’t respond to the Empress’s inquiries with anything other than “My apologies, Your Majesty.”

But today was different. The Empress looked at Lelia with an odd expression, and Sara squeezed her eyes shut and bit her lip.

‘She finally messed up!’

But then, the Empress’s lips curled upward. She quickly covered her mouth with her palm, but then—

“Pfft.”

“…?”

“Haha!”

The Empress let out a clear, ringing laugh. Sara looked at her in shock. It was the first time she had seen the Empress laugh like that since entering the palace. Her eyes began to sting.

Such a beautiful smile…

While Sara was moved, Lelia had no idea what was going on.

‘What’s so funny? Did I mess up?’

As Lelia seriously pondered her mistake, the Empress looked at her with a lingering smile.

“Do you know what I asked you?”

“Um…”

I don’t know…

Lelia wished she could disappear into thin air.

If the Empress took offense, she might not give her a letter of recommendation…

“I asked if you’ve been happy lately.”

Ah, thank goodness. It wasn’t a difficult question.

Relieved, Lelia answered lightly,

“I’m neither happy nor unhappy.”

She could’ve said something sugarcoated a hundred times over, but she knew the Empress didn’t like such words. So she gave an honest answer.

She wasn’t happy—this wasn’t the world she came from.

But she wasn’t unhappy either. She had met a good friend like Sara, and the servants in the Empress’s Palace were all kind.

‘Just like those people, they treated me as a friend.’

But sadly, all of this belonged to Lelia.

So, she was neither happy nor unhappy.

“I see. Then how did you overcome it? You struggled so much before.”

Lelia tilted her head.

‘I guess she’s referring to the original Lelia. I’ve never really struggled that badly.’

Sara fidgeted nervously. With no memories, Lelia wouldn’t understand the Empress’s meaning.

‘What do I do?’

Before Sara could step in, Lelia spoke.

“I wouldn’t call it overcoming… I just realized that I’m precious.”

Sara’s eyes widened at the unexpectedly good answer.

“You realized you’re precious?”

“Yes. It’s a lonely world anyway, so rather than be pushed around by others, I’d rather live by my own des—mmph!”

Just as Lelia was about to go off track, Sara quickly covered her mouth. She sounded too much like she was describing the Empress’s current situation.

Sara swallowed hard and checked the Empress’s reaction.

---

* * *

As the Grand Duchess of Actilus, Empress Diana had always cherished herself.

She was proud of her position, confident beyond compare, and enjoyed life to the fullest.

There was nothing she couldn’t have with a mere gesture. Her parents loved her so deeply, it overwhelmed her at times, and her twin brother adored her more than anyone else.

After Diana became Empress, the former Duke and Duchess of Actilus stepped down and moved to the countryside.

Still deeply in love, they chose a peaceful life together away from the capital.

Up to that point, everything was wonderful. Her parents left for the countryside, and she lived as the Empress, the wife of the Emperor.

Receiving his love.

She believed they would have children together and live happily—just like her parents.

But not long after, the Emperor’s true nature was revealed. The moment he appeared with his beloved mistress, Diana’s splendid life was swept away like a storm.

At first, she resisted. She tried to win back his heart and wouldn’t tolerate the mistress daring to challenge her. Diana had always been proud.

But the man she loved sided with the mistress.

That betrayal hurt deeply. He trusted the mistress’s every word and protected her, while falsely accusing and humiliating the Empress.

Whenever Diana tried to take action, the Emperor looked at her with disappointed eyes and scolded her.

“You say you love me, but you can’t even understand this?”

Yes, because she loved him. Love meant understanding.

The mistress, his cold heart that had cooled—

As the official Empress, she had to understand everything.

She tried to hold herself together as she tried to understand him, but the more she did, the more she suffered.

Even when her pain was obvious, the Emperor ignored her without blinking.

Her twin brother, Banteon, was terrified and made sure no one outside the palace found out.

The palace staff, in return for their silence, were rewarded with wealth and honor.

But not Banteon. He was the most capable Grand Duke in history. He even had the power to overthrow the Emperor.

This empire was one where the nobility held more power than the monarchy.

As the leader of the noble faction, there was nothing Banteon couldn’t do.

While Banteon kept watch over the Emperor, the Emperor obsessed over his mistress and tormented the Empress.

Banteon was fully aware of the Emperor’s incompetence and his sister’s suffering.

He tried to help her…

“I’m fine. His Majesty—no, Mayon—is just momentarily upset with me.”

“Diana…”

“So leave it be. I can win him back.”

She didn’t know it then, but that was her arrogance.

By continuously rejecting Banteon’s help, Diana became isolated. The Emperor realized Banteon wouldn’t act without her consent.

Knowing that no matter how harsh he treated her, she would never leave, the Emperor became even more brazen.

Diana’s self-esteem hit rock bottom, and the once-proud woman who had stood up to the mistress lost her light.

But that girl.

The girl who still looked beautiful even in the mirror—Lelia.

Though she had also been betrayed by a man, she had overcome it.

“I just realized that I’m precious.”

That one sentence stirred something hidden deep within the Empress’s heart.