Episode 14
The next morning, Alicia’s decision became even stronger—though not on purpose.
“Is that… true? But why?”
“I only heard that they were accused of disloyalty, Your Majesty. Nothing more.”
Alicia’s eyelashes trembled. Anes’s face was just as pale as hers.
The news had spread through the palace like wildfire:
At dawn, Kaien himself had cut down several palace servants with his sword.
“How many?”
“Some say three, others say five… but His Majesty ordered that no one speak of it, so no one knows for sure.”
“But it’s true that he killed them himself this morning, right?”
“Yes.”
Alicia didn’t know what to feel. Should she be terrified by his cruelty? Or relieved that, just as he had warned, no one from her palace had died?
“How could he… cut them down on the spot, even if they were disloyal?”
It felt like her nightmare was continuing—but for the servants in Kaien’s quarters, that nightmare was real.
No matter what crime they had committed, for the Emperor to personally draw his sword and kill them was far beyond normal.
“No detailed reason was given?”
“No, Your Majesty. And, as I said, he forbade anyone from speaking of it. So you must not speak of it either.”
Alicia let out a long, shaky sigh.
“Even if he orders silence, you can’t stop rumors. People are already whispering and judging him.”
The news had reached her before the sun even rose. By now, it would have spread beyond the palace.
By tonight, even Lukan would hear of it.
Soon, the whole world would know.
“Still,” Anes said in a careful tone, “no one will dare openly oppose His Majesty. Please… don’t involve yourself in this.”
It was her way of warning Alicia not to attract Kaien’s anger.
“So… what happened afterward?”
“I don’t know for certain. The servants must have removed the bodies. There will be no trace left in the palace.”
“Because non‑royals can’t be buried here… their bodies must be taken outside. Anes, isn’t that handled by the Palace Ministry?”
“Yes, Your Majesty. When a servant dies naturally, their body is returned to the family… but these were traitors.”
“Yes… people will be too frightened to handle their bodies properly.”
Alicia thought for a moment, then looked at Anes.
“Find someone in the Ministry who will quietly take the bodies back to their hometowns. Give them money and drink, so they are not thrown away like garbage.”
“Your Majesty, if you involve yourself—”
“Isn’t that what an Empress should do?”
Anes couldn’t help but bow her head.
There was wisdom and strength in Alicia now—something that hadn’t been there before.
Maybe the high fever she’d had had brought some new insight.
“People will criticize His Majesty for this,” Alicia said softly. “So for the sake of his honor later, we should at least make sure their bodies are treated with dignity.”
“You are right, Your Majesty. And those servants in His Majesty’s quarters… they were not low-born.”
Indeed, anyone serving the Emperor or Empress was either a mid‑level noble or a well‑educated commoner from a wealthy family.
And Kaien had cut them down like savages from Lubeo.
“Remind everyone in the Empress’s palace: be careful in everything.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“And… have the steward find out what foods His Majesty liked recently. Prepare plenty of similar dishes here, just in case.”
If Kaien came without warning again, she couldn’t hide behind the excuse of being sick.
Last night’s luck wouldn’t last forever.
“I’ll handle it at once. Shall I tell Nancy and Maren to bring you tea?”
“Yes.”
Alicia managed a faint smile.
Anes was giving her the chance to speak directly to the young maids, so they would take her warning seriously.
Kaien did not attend the council that morning.
After what happened at dawn, none of the servants dared remind him of the nobles waiting.
“Your Majesty,” Glen spoke carefully.
“Are you here to scold me?” Kaien asked, coldly.
“No, Your Majesty.”
Only Glen stayed by his side, calm as always.
For him, Kaien’s killings were nothing new—and there was always a reason.
“If Your Majesty hadn’t done it, I would have,” Glen said.
Kaien glanced at him, his mood slightly easing.
“But those who don’t know the truth will gossip,” Glen continued. “That angers me.”
“Let them,” Kaien said.
He had been criticized and called unfit for the throne since before he became Emperor.
What were a few more deaths to add to his reputation?
“I forbade anyone from speaking of it,” Kaien said. “Even Duke Nigel won’t dare say a word.”
“He’s the one who planted those spies. He knows when to be silent.”
Kaien’s instincts were sharp from years on the battlefield.
He had woken early, unable to sleep, and gone walking silently—only to catch those spies sending secret reports to Duke Nigel.
Kaien acted instantly.
“No wonder Duke Nigel talked so much at the last luncheon,” Kaien muttered. “He knew far too much.”
“He kept informants watching Your Majesty’s every move,” Glen said, disgusted.
“Well, now he has a lesson,” Kaien replied.
He was satisfied.
Rumors said he killed for pleasure, but Kaien’s sword moved only when necessary.
He felt no guilt afterward, either.
Of course, the public wouldn’t know that.
“Those spies must have been bought long ago,” Kaien said.
“Yes, Your Majesty. They’ve been in the palace for years.”
Kaien’s eyebrows knitted with annoyance. But Glen had more news.
“Forgive me, Your Majesty… but the Empress’s palace—she made sure those servants’ bodies were taken home properly.”
Kaien’s face darkened.
“The Empress did that?”
“Yes.”
For a moment, Kaien’s expression turned sharp and dangerous.
He thought she had broken ties with Lukan and become a new person… but now she was tending to the bodies of spies? Suspicion boiled up again.
“Ridiculous. Were those servants connected to her before?”
“I checked—no, Your Majesty. But they may have been connected to their master.”
It was Glen’s duty to suspect everything, even if it meant pointing doubt at the innocent.
“Take me to the Empress’s palace,” Kaien said, standing abruptly.
“No need for a procession.”
“I will accompany you, Your Majesty,” Glen said, strapping on his sword.
Soon, the Empress’s palace—calm until now—was thrown into chaos again.
Just before lunch, Alicia was sitting in the drawing room, drinking tea, when a servant ran in, breathless.
“Your Majesty, the Emperor…!”
But before he could finish, Kaien himself entered, his face dark and cold.
Alicia forced her racing heart to calm and stood to bow.
“Your Majesty.”
Kaien did not tell her to rise.
“Everyone, leave. Only the Empress stays.”
Glen opened his mouth as if to speak, but Kaien’s icy profile stopped him.
All the others hurried out.
“Empress,” Kaien said, his voice cold and sharp like last night’s nightmare.“You ordered that the bodies of those I executed this morning be collected and sent home, didn’t you?”
Alicia’s chest tightened with fear. She hadn’t expected him to find out so quickly—let alone come here himself, furious.
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Her nightmare had taught her one lesson:
She could not fool Kaien.
So she didn’t lie.
“Bold of you.”
His voice was low and dangerous.
“You knew I forbade anyone to even speak of it. And yet, you dared to show such great mercy?”
The anger in him was clear.
The sword at his waist seemed to glow with threat.
“You haven’t forgotten Lukan after all,” Kaien said, his eyes narrowing. “Or perhaps you’ve found a new friend—Duke Nigel.”
The unexpected name made Alicia look up at him in shock.
Kaien stared straight into her wide blue eyes, watching every tiny movement.
