***
“…….”
To Sez’s surprise, Rayton was meticulous.
Unexpectedly, he even gave her homework, she had to write out the problems she couldn’t solve ten times over.
Sez thought it was a bit excessive but agreed anyway.
Runa still seemed anxious, so Sez told her that Lisette had prepared a new place for her and Rayton to study.
Her lady-in-waiting was joyous upon hearing those words.
Sez was also curious and looking forward to it.
She didn’t know if there was a place to study in her quarters, though.
‘Scratch that…’
Sez thought.
What mattered was that the homework seemed like a sign, a sign that Sez was getting closer to Rayton.
Sez tried her best to be a good girl, not only finishing her homework but also previewing what she’d learn next time.
It felt like her brain was melting after studying for such a long time, but it was still enjoyable.
She also liked how Rayton had looked at her with faint astonishment.
Life was indeed strange, the first one to recognize how hard Sez studied was none other than Rayton.
Early in the morning, Sez headed over to Lisette’s quarters after reviewing their last lesson twice and preparing for their next one more than three times.
Her nosebleed was still bothering her slightly.
It had popped again in the morning.
Maybe Runa was right, Sez’s blood vessels might have been weakened.
Anyway, Sez had to leave her room with another cotton ball in her nostrils.
‘What if I run into Lisette…?’
The thought alone bothered her as she didn’t want to show this pathetic sight to the beautiful mistress.
Sez walked into Lisette’s quarters and looked around.
She remembered a bit too late that she hadn’t been notified about the exact location.
All Rayton had told her was to come to Lisette’s quarters.
Fortunately, the guards didn’t stop her.
Maybe they were informed about the lessons.
‘But, really, where should I go?’
Sez didn’t know what to do, standing helplessly in the hallway.
“Good morning, Princess Sez.”
Sez turned around upon hearing a familiar voice.
It was Lisette.
“Oh, Mistress Lisette.”
Sez bowed politely and Lisette mirrored her movements.
‘Yeah, I jinxed myself…’
Sez palmed at her nostril, stuffed with a cotton ball, with an embarrassed expression.
Then she squinted, Lisette looked a little different.
Her light purple dress was slightly disheveled, and her face looked tired.
She looked like she hadn’t slept a wink.
“Mistress Lisette, are you not well?
Your face looks very pale…”
“It’s nothing like that, I just didn’t sleep well last night.”
“Is there anything I can help you with…?”
“It’s okay.
I’m always like this whenever I sleep in a different bed.”
Sez’s eyes widened at Lisette’s words.
Does that mean she slept somewhere else last night?
Lisette continued as if she read her mind.
“I served His Imperial Majesty all night.”
Sez’s face turned red.
Poor, innocent twelve-year-old Sez wouldn’t have got it, but her seventeen-year-old mind knew exactly what she was talking about.
It meant that Lisette suffered all night because of the emperor.
“I… I see…”
“Rayton will be here soon.
You don’t know where to go, do you?”
“Yes.
He didn’t give me the exact location, so…”
“Then please, let me guide you.”
Lisette smiled.
She nodded at Sez as if to say, ‘follow me.’ It was in the opposite direction from the place they dined together last time.
‘Were her quarters always this big?’
Sez tilted her head.
Lisette’s quarters were previously used as the emperor’s inner place back when he was the crown prince.
He was the only heir of the former emperor and was much-favored thanks to that.
So, the former emperor commissioned the new construction for his one and only son.
That’s why this building was located in the deepest part of the palace, its location was the safest and easiest to secure.
No wonder the other mistresses were jealous of Lisette living here.
‘I didn’t expect it to be this big, though.’ Sez looked a little surprised.
“It’s a little far, right?
Your Royal Highness?”
“Oh, no.
It’s all right.”
“This palace was built by the former emperor when His Imperial Highness was prince.”
“Yes…”
“You will study with Rayton in the innermost library of the building.
I’m sure you won’t be distracted by anyone there.”
Sez could only imagine how impressive the library built solely for the crown prince would be.
There’d be a lot of books, and no unwanted guests to intervene.
Sez was truly grateful for Lisette’s concern.
“We’re here.
Would you like a cup of tea before Rayton arrives?”
“Yes, that’d be great.”
While Lisette had her lady-in-waiting prepare tea, Sez was busy looking around the large library.
The west library was not small, but compared to this library, it was only a cheap warehouse.
Its wideness was one thing, but the books themselves were in a different league.
Even desks and chairs were of the highest quality.
“Take a seat, Your Royal Highness,” Lisette said, dragging a chair over.
Sez continued to look around even as she sat in the chair.
“I hope it’s to your liking.”
“Yes, I like it very much.”
“That’s a relief.”
Looking at Lisette with a bright smile, Sez tilted her head slightly.
Why would Rayton go to the west library, and not this fine place?
“Anything wrong, Your Highness?”
Lisette didn’t miss the action and asked her with a calm expression face.
“Oh, nothing special…” Sez hesitated.
“Please don’t be afraid to ask.”
“Um…
Does Rayton come to this library often, too?”
She attempted to make her question as indirect as possible.
Lisette was silent for a moment.
She blinked a few times before answering in a slightly dejected voice.
“No, Rayton doesn’t come to this library.”
“I see…
my brother seems to like books so I thought he would visit here often.”
“Rayton does like books, but he rarely comes here.”
“Uh…
does that…?”
‘Should I ask?
Can I even ask?’
A lady-in-waiting finally served them, her timing was impeccable.
She placed warm milk in front of Sez and brought black tea for Lisette.
Lisette quietly sipped on her black tea.
“Rayton doesn’t like it here since the emperor used to use it.”
“……”
“He said this place makes him sick.”
Sez bit her lip.
She knew Rayton hated the emperor, but she had no idea that Lisette would state it so blatantly.
Either way, Sez was the emperor’s daughter and Lisette was his mistress.
Besides, she’d already said that she stayed in his bed last night.
Sez didn’t know how to react and finally chose to change the subject.
“Correct me if I’m wrong, but you came from the Ijornt Empire, right?”
She’d heard about it last time, on Rayton’s birthday.
“Yes, I did.
Are you interested in the empire?”
“Oh, from what I heard… the empire was a central hub for trade.
A lot of people coming and going, and, um…
the weather is always warm, it’s a good place to live…”
“It was a nice place to live.” Lisette continued slowly.
“I didn’t come here because I wanted to.”
“Yes…?”
“I somehow reached this place after running far, far away.”
Sez was confused.
As far as she knew, Lisette was a dancer that the emperor found in Ijornt, then brought her here to be his mistress.
“But now I’m in Den Helder.
And that’s the end of that.”
Sez didn’t know how she became a mistress, but she knew one thing for sure, Lisette’s life wasn’t easy.
Maybe she was missing the days she spent back in the Ijornt Empire.
“It was burdensome at first, but not anymore.
Now…”
“…”
“I think it was meant to be this way.
The reason I came here, too.
So, it’s not all that bad.”
Lisette spoke mysteriously.
Sez didn’t know how to answer.
Just as Sez was looking for the right words, the door opened.
“Mistress Lisette.”
The lady-in-waiting who had served up cookies called Lisette’s name carefully.
Lisette looked at her as if to ask why, and then she made a small sound of realization.
“Give it to me now.
It’s fine.”
The lady-in-waiting hesitated for a moment then handed Lisette a small vial.
It was a glass bottle filled with a light purple liquid.
“Excuse me for a moment.”
Lisette emptied the vial in a single, swift motion.
“Is everything all right?
That thing you just drank, it looked like medicine…”
Lisette smiled slightly instead of answering with words.
It was different from her usual smile.
Somewhat cold and alien.
“Aren’t you afraid of Rayton, Your Royal Highness?”
“Yes?”
“I thought you wanted to get close to him?”
“Oh, uh…”
Sez hesitated for a moment over what she should say.
It would be a lie to say she wasn’t scared at all.
Moreover, Rayton was the one who would kill Sez, even if it was five years from now.
But she didn’t think of him as a monster, just like everyone else.
To be honest, she felt a little bit sorry for Rayton yesterday.
He had such nasty bruises on his body, and yet no one batted an eyelid.
Sez chose her words carefully.
“He’s a little scary, but… I still want to befriend him.”
“Oh, really?”
Lisette smiled and sipped on her tea.
“You’re different, Your Royal Highness.
Others wouldn’t even dare to look in Rayton’s eyes.”
“Oh, I…”
“Because of the legend, I believe.
I think his name also played a part.”
His name.
Sez knew what it meant.
‘Cursed one.’
The name was given to him by none other than his father.
“A name is the first gift a child receives from the world, yet he was given a name so cold and full of fear.
Maybe that’s where everything went wrong.”
Sez was embarrassed.
Lisette was acting strangely today.
That absurd story about the emperor, now bringing up this subject…
She looked indifferent as if she was talking about someone else.
“But I never thought that it did not suit him.”
“Mistress Lisette…?”
“Actually, the name suits him really well.”
Lisette let out a low giggle.
The smile on her face gave Sez goosebumps for some reason.
“…”
Suddenly Lisette’s smile distorted and she staggered about, grasping her chest.
Sez panicked and jumped out of her seat to support Lisette.
“Mistress Lisette!”
“Ugh…”
Lisette was in pain.
Her face turned pale, and her body was cold as ice.
‘I need to call for help…’ The next moment, a dark shadow fell over Sez.
It was Rayton.
“Mother.” Rayton shoved Sez away and supported Lisette himself.
“I’m fine.”
“But…”
“I need some rest.”
“I’ll take you your quarters, then.”
“I told you that I’m okay.
Marie!”
The lady-in-waiting entered the library.
She held Lisette up so naturally, it was as if this was a daily occurrence.
“I have to go now, Your Royal Highness.” Lisette leaned against Marie and looked at Sez.
“Go get some rest.”
Sez hurriedly picked up Lisette’s shawl from the chair.
Marie took it and wrapped it around Lisette’s shoulder.
She took the empty vial as well.
“See you next time, then.
Rayton, I’ll take my leave.”
“Yes.
mother.” Rayton answered shortly.
Lisette soon left with the help of Marie.
Sez’s eyes were locked on the vial in Marie’s hand.
Maybe Lisette has some kind of chronic disease…
but then shouldn’t the liquid in the vial make her better?
Sez was sure that Lisette was in pain after drinking the medicine.
Sez couldn’t shake off the funny feeling about the medicine.
“”…”
Sez looked at Rayton.
His face was blank.
He wasn’t as stiff as usual, but he didn’t look worried either.
From Lisette’s behavior to Rayton’s expression, it all felt somewhat… alien…
“Brot…”
Sez didn’t finish her sentence, looking at Rayton’s clenched fists.
Sez stared at Rayton’s veiny hands and his indescribable expression.
For some reason, it sent chills down her spine.