TCBUP 52

Chapter 52

 The Abandoned Empress’s Palace

I followed Leonardo deeper inside.

He led me up a staircase to the second floor and opened a door made of vintage wood, guiding me inside.

It looked like a bedroom once used by the mistress of the palace.

I saw a bed with four intricately carved posts draped in tattered, wispy veils.

The large balcony windows were tightly shut, hidden behind curtains, and the sofa, table, and wardrobe were all covered in white sheets.

“Oh… Did you stay here, Leonardo?”

My eyes lingered at the edge of the bedroom.

There were ragged, dirty blankets scattered on the floor, along with what looked like old toys.

Leonardo barked softly and, as if familiar with the space, settled down on the blanket.

Maybe it was because of the day’s exertion—he immediately flopped down and closed his eyes.

“Want to sleep for a bit?”

I asked softly. Leonardo blinked slowly, then shut his eyes.

I gently petted him until I could hear his steady, quiet breathing.

“But… is it really okay for a ruin like this to exist inside the imperial palace?”

This was the royal palace, after all. Leaving such an eerie place abandoned seemed strange.

My gaze suddenly landed on a portrait.

A beautiful woman with silver hair styled up and adorned with a diamond tiara.

Her deep blue eyes, her elegant posture, and the golden-decorated chair she sat on—something about her seemed familiar.

“Could this be…”

The Empress’s residence? If it was, there’s no way it would’ve been left in ruins like this.

I opened the palace map to check where I was.

Perhaps because I had stepped into the area, the previously blacked-out section of the map was now revealed.

[Empress’s Palace]

A residence traditionally used by successive Empresses.

After the former Empress died in a fire accident, it was sealed off.

Several attempts were made to restore it, but accidents kept occurring, so all efforts were halted.

There are rumors of a ghost, so proceed with caution.

“A ghost…?”

A chill ran down my neck, and goosebumps rose all over my arms.

Ghosts… A ghost, huh.

To be honest, I never believed in that sort of thing.

I always thought they were illusions you saw when you were exhausted.

But this is a game world. A place where ghosts existing isn’t strange at all.

“Leonardo. Let’s go back.”

I quickly shook Leonardo awake.

But all I got in response was the sound of him snoring softly—snrrrk. He didn’t wake.

The sun was about to set.

Ghosts aside, wandering around the palace late at night—or worse, spending the night out—was something an unmarried noblewoman should never do.

“Leonardo. I’ll come back tomorrow, so just sleep here for tonight.”

“……”

“I’m not abandoning you. I swear I’ll come back for you.”

I emphasized it once, twice, three times, and reluctantly turned to leave.

I’ll come get him as soon as the sun rises tomorrow.

Resolving myself, I headed for the entrance.

Still uneasy, I glanced up at the second floor one last time as I grabbed the door handle—

“Huh?”

It was locked.

Leonardo had nudged it open earlier with ease, but now it wouldn’t budge.

It must be a door that locks from the inside, but no matter how I twisted the latch or shook the handle, it wouldn’t open.

“Hey! Someone’s in here!”

I pounded on the door, but there was no response from outside.

Bang bang bang! I slammed it with all my strength, but it was no use.

I tried opening a window instead, hoping to climb out, but after checking every window on the first floor, not a single one would open.

The last rays of the sun were disappearing. Twilight was settling in, and the world around me was growing dim.

I circled around to the drawing room and, in defeat, watched the setting sun vanish behind the horizon.

“What do I do…”

So this is really going to be an overnight stay.

Good thing I live on my own now. If I were still at home, my father would’ve gone ballistic and shaved my head or something.

As I was indulging in such idle worries, I heard a sound—tap tap—a quiet noise, like someone tapping on a wall.

Gulp. A dry swallow escaped as I forced my stiff neck to turn.

On one side of the drawing room, blackened handprints, as if scorched into the wall, were forming a trail… moving toward me.

“Hiieek.”

Terrified, I turned my head toward the window frame—but then from the opposite wall, crackling black embers began to burn through the wallpaper in a line.

And from the front, the sound of footsteps echoed—click clack, shoes striking marble as they approached.

[There are rumors of a ghost, so proceed with caution.]

The warning on the palace map flashed through my mind.

Don’t tell me… a real ghost?

My vision went white, and my legs gave out.

Just as the handprints, the embers, and the footsteps converged right before me—

—I lost consciousness.

Darkness descended upon the Empress’s Palace, where no warmth or human presence remained.

“Uunngh…”

When I opened my eyes, the world was completely dark.

I groaned, my body creaking as I struggled upright and leaned against a wall.

Placing a hand on my chest, I could feel my heart pounding as if trying to escape.

I had nearly died. Seriously, I thought my heart was going to stop.

I clutched my chest, gasping like a goldfish thrown out of water.

“So dark…”

Ah, right. I’d received something as a reward, hadn’t I?

I quickly dug through my belongings and pulled out a lantern.

[Lantern That Never Goes Out]

A mysterious lantern that won’t go out even in wind or rain.

However, if broken, it becomes unusable.

It wasn’t bright enough to erase fear, but it was enough to see my surroundings.

Hoo. I exhaled and inspected the wall first.

Nothing.

I was sure I’d seen handprints and burning embers, but now it was spotless.

Was it just a hallucination?

I turned my body, still suspicious—and someone was standing right in front of me.

“…Hiccup.”

Turns out when you’re really scared, you can’t even scream.

I stumbled backward and collapsed on the floor, clutching the lantern handle like a lifeline and trembling.

There was no one in the beam of light.

Someone was clearly standing there, but there was nothing on the floor—not even a shadow.

『Did I go too far with my prank? It’s been so long since a living guest visited.』

No, at this rate, I might not be a living guest for much longer. From heart failure.

Floating in the air was a white chemise… and another hiccup escaped me.

“Hiccup.”

『You’re really frightened, aren’t you? I’m sorry.』

The fluttering chemise hem circled around me.

I didn’t even dare to look up. I just clamped my hands over my mouth, trying to suppress the hiccups.

Then—woof woof!—a small bark echoed, and Leonardo came running over.

His steps were light, as if he’d slept well.

“Leonardo!”

『Leonardo.』

We called his name at the same time and froze, staring at each other in shock.

Ah… that face from the portrait.

The former Empress—Elizabeth. Aiden’s biological mother.

I stared up at her, stunned, as Leonardo wagged his tail and licked my face.

『Oh my, how curious. Leonardo is fond of someone else?』

I’d been too scared to notice earlier, but I realized now—her voice wasn’t something I heard with my ears.

It echoed directly in my mind.

『Who might you be? You’re a face I haven’t seen before.』

“Nice to meet you, Mother.”

I blurted it out in a tense, formal voice.

Before I realized it, I was kneeling politely, hands folded on my lap.

“I am Sienna Hagrives, Prince Aiden’s fiancée.”

『Oh my, my Aiden got engaged?』

“Yes. I may not seem like much to you, but I promise to take care of your son… without making him lift a finger, I swear.”

『Do you love our Aiden that much?』

“Yes, I love him. A lot. So much that I’d die for him.”

Apparently, when you’re terrified beyond reason, your words bypass your brain.

That’s what happened to me just now.

Fortunately, Empress Elizabeth circled around, looking at me with gentle eyes.

She reached out and touched my hair.

『How lovely. Like a cherry blossom cloud.』

“You flatter me.”

But I didn’t feel a thing.

Her hand hovered over my hair, almost brushing it, but there was no movement in my strands.

Soon, the Empress floated back in front of me.

『How is Aiden doing now?』

“Uh, well…”

What do I say?

That after her death, he was isolated, and now he’s hiding away trying to gather his strength?

Should I tell her everything honestly?

But what if that keeps her from finding peace?

Wouldn’t that be… bad?