“I shall wait for your next decree, Your Highness,” Elias told Keiro as he updated him on what had happened after being dragged to meet the Empress.
“Ohh, the Empress must be very angry now,” Keiro said worriedly.
“Let her be.
I did not wait to see her reaction.
I left,” Elias said, not caring.
“Master, you left without permission.
This is a punishable offense,” Keiro panicked.
“Relax.
Let her punish me.
What more harm can she do to me than what we are already facing now?” Elias asked.
“She can physically punish you or your family,” Keiro said anxiously.
“Do not remind me of that.
I know.” Elias rubbed his forehead.
“I could not control myself that day.
That woman is truly confusing.
On one hand she told me not to go out, and on the other she asked why I did not meet her to ask for help.” Elias frowned.
“Your Highness!” a messenger called from outside.
Keiro hurried outside and allowed the messenger to enter.
As usual, Elias stood behind the curtain.
“State your purpose,” Elias ordered.
“We are here to deliver a decree from Her Majesty,” the messenger informed.
Elias nodded.
So she really sent another decree.
This Empress truly holds grudges.
“I noticed during Noble Consort Elyas’s recent audience with Her Majesty that he faced certain difficulties in managing his daily needs.
Therefore, it is hereby decreed that Noble Consort Elyas’s prohibition from stepping outside Moonveil Palace is lifted.
He may now move within palace grounds and access permitted areas of the Imperial Palace.
However, he remains forbidden from entering the Empress’s study, court, or bed chamber without Her Majesty’s permission.
This decree shall be followed as declared.”
Elias sighed and bowed to receive the decree.
The messenger departed once the decree had been delivered.
“Master, that was close.
You are safe now.
In fact, you can go outside now!” Keiro said excitedly.
“Huhh, safe?” Elias scoffed.
“That hypocritical Empress is simply trying to show how righteous she is.
She realized that her decree and yesterday’s questions contradicted each other, so she conveniently lifted only part of the restriction-not the entire decree.”
He frowned thoughtfully.
He still did not possess Elyas’s memories, but his instincts warned him not to trust the Empress and to keep his distance.
“Master, what do we do now?” Keiro asked, still confused.
“Nothing.
This decree changes nothing for us.” Elias shrugged.
“We will continue focusing on our household.
Let us concentrate on farming and stitching clothes.”
As he said-
In reality, nothing changed for him.
They still received less than fifty percent of the groceries and treasury allocation.
The food shortage could be managed to some extent, but money remained scarce.
Without any opportunity to earn extra income, survival remained difficult.
Empress Selene had lifted Elias’s movement restriction for one reason-
Observation.
Something about him had been different during their last meeting.
His appearance.
His posture.
The way he spoke.
Everything felt unfamiliar.
Her past experiences led her toward only one conclusion.
Maybe by behaving differently, he was trying to gain her attention.
Now that she had lifted his movement restriction, he would soon return-
To his former self.
Old habits die hard.
One month passed.
Elias never stepped outside Moonveil Palace.
He remained occupied maintaining the palace and tending to his small farm.
Moonveil Palace was no longer merely an abandoned residence or forgotten cottage.
It had quietly become a home.
He and Keiro had built it together.
For the first time-
Elias felt satisfied with his own work.
Keiro remained in awe of his master’s abilities.
He had never imagined that his master possessed so many hidden talents.
Keiro occasionally stepped outside Moonveil Palace for errands such as visiting the Royal Kitchen or storehouses.
He met people outside but never shared updates about his master with anyone.
Except for the guards who had witnessed Elias being dragged to the Empress’s chamber, no one had seen his changed appearance.
News had spread throughout the palace that Noble Consort Elyas had changed-
Yet no one made any effort to visit Moonveil Palace.
Visiting the Noble Consort meant offending someone influential within the palace.
One day, a messenger arrived at Moonveil Palace.
She carried an invitation from Princess Lynera.
Elias had been invited to attend her longevity banquet next week.
That same evening, while they were having dinner, Keiro cautiously asked:
“Master, Princess Lynera’s longevity banquet is next weekend.
Are we attending?”
“We have received an invitation from the Princess, yes.” Elias ate calmly.
“I am still deciding what to do about it.
Why are you asking?”
“You are right-we have received an invitation from the Princess.
But it clashes with Her Majesty’s decree.
She prohibited you from attending banquets.”
He hesitated.
“Princess Lynera is kind to you…
so how will we handle this?”
“Hmm.” Elias frowned.
“I did not attend any banquets until now?”
He looked genuinely surprised.
Was the original owner of this body truly so despised by the Empress?
Keiro lowered his head.
“No…
you still attended.”
“Without invitation.”
“Oh.” Elias blinked.
“I thought that happened only at the Queen Mother’s banquet.”
He sighed and waved the matter away.
“It is alright.
Do not worry.
We still have time to think.”
On the Day of Princess Lynera’s Longevity Banquet
Princess Lynera’s longevity banquet carried the same grandeur expected of royal celebrations-
But unlike the solemn dignity of the Queen Mother’s gatherings, this banquet reflected Lynera herself.
Elegant.
Vibrant.
And slightly indulgent.
The banquet hall glowed beneath silver and violet lanterns suspended from carved beams.
Silk drapes in shades of lavender and deep sapphire cascaded from the pillars, while fresh night-blooming flowers filled the air with a delicate fragrance.
Musicians played soft melodies as servants moved gracefully between banquet tables carrying wine and delicacies.
The decorations, performances, and overall atmosphere had been arranged entirely according to the Princess’s preferences.
Her consorts had made certain that she remained pleased with every detail.
Like the Empress, Princess Lynera also had consorts-
Though unlike Selene, she had personally selected hers.
Consort Kael and Consort Miren.
Consort Kael was confident, protective, and subtly possessive of the Princess.
He managed banquet arrangements personally and rarely trusted others with matters concerning Lynera.
Consort Miren, in contrast, was gentle, soft-spoken, and elegant.
Where Kael carried strength, Miren carried quiet grace.
The longevity celebration had already begun and nearly three hours had passed.
Yet beneath the celebration-
Confusion lingered.
What should they expect this time?
Behind smiles and polite conversation, many quietly wondered:
Would Noble Consort Elyas attend?
Or-
Would he avoid another banquet?
Princess Lynera, Consort Miren, Empress Selene, and Second Consort Leorin sat at the same table while Kael remained occupied overseeing arrangements.
Consort Miren sensed the subtle tension surrounding the gathering.
“Princess…” he asked softly,
“Have you invited Noble Consort Elyas?
I have not seen him.”
Princess Lynera noticed his concern and casually looked around the banquet hall.
“Yes.
Kael sent a messenger to Moonveil Palace personally,” Lynera replied.
“So he should come.”
Empress Selene silently lifted her glass and took a sip.
Almost unknowingly-
Her gaze drifted toward the banquet entrance.
“I think he will come,” Leorin said politely.
“He would not miss the opportunity to surprise us.”
Selene glanced briefly at Leorin with quiet admiration.
Then-
Without realizing it herself-
Her gaze returned once more toward the entrance.
A few moments later-
Keiro entered the banquet hall carrying a neatly wrapped package.
So did Selene.
Keiro approached cautiously and stopped before the Imperial table.
He bowed respectfully to everyone present.
“Your Highness,” he smiled politely toward Lynera,
“My master sends his best wishes on your longevity day.”
“Where is your master?” Lynera asked at once, looking beyond him as though expecting Elyas to follow.
“My apologies, Your Highness.”
Keiro lowered his head.
“My master requested me to convey his regrets for being unable to attend Your Highness’s banquet.”
“He is…
not keeping well.”
Lynera’s brows furrowed.
She accepted the package from him.
Empress Selene looked first at Keiro-
Then at the gift.
A faint frown appeared.
“Guards,” Lynera ordered immediately,
“Summon the Royal Healer.”
The Royal Healer arrived without delay.
“What happened to Noble Consort Elyas?” Lynera asked.
“His servant says he is unwell.”
The healer bowed.
“Pardon, Your Highness.
I have not been summoned by Noble Consort Elyas and therefore have not examined him.”
“What?”
Lynera looked genuinely surprised.
“Why did he not summon the Royal Healer?”
Keiro bowed again.
“Your Highness…
the reason is known only to my master.”
“This humble servant does not know.”
Then he carefully gestured toward the package.
“My master asked me to convey another message.”
He swallowed nervously.
“My master asked me to convey another message.”
He lowered his head.
“My master requests that this present is meant only for Your Highness’s eyes.”
“I humbly ask Your Highness to open it personally.”
A soft collective gasp spread through the nearby crowd.
Keiro stiffened.
Only now did he realize that many eyes had gathered around the table.
Whispers quietly stirred.
Empress Selene’s expression remained unreadable.
Cold.
Still.
But her gaze rested steadily upon the package.
“Your Highness…” Keiro hurriedly bowed.
“I must take my leave now.
My master still requires care.”
Without waiting longer, he bowed to everyone and departed quickly.
For a brief moment-
Selene’s grip around her glass tightened.
Then loosened.
Leorin sensed the growing curiosity among nearby nobles.
With practiced calm, he addressed them.
“Everyone may return to their seats and continue enjoying the banquet.”
His composed authority dispersed the gathering crowd.
Whispers remained-
But the distance returned.
Princess Lynera looked down at the silk-wrapped package resting in her hands.
An amused smile slowly appeared.
“I wonder what could possibly be inside.”
She lifted a brow toward Selene.
“Your consort never fails to surprise us.”
The hall quieted slightly.
Selene’s gaze lingered on the gift.
Then she spoke.
“Indeed.”
Her voice remained cold.
“Very surprising.”
Author’s Note : A banquet.
An absence.
And now…
a gift meant only for Princess Lynera’s eyes.
Sometimes chaos arrives loudly.
Sometimes it sends a servant instead.
What do you think Noble Consort Elyas has sent this time?
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