Chapter 12: Summoned Under the Crimson Cloak

“Can’t you move? Rosanna, you’re making things hard for Fria!”

“No!”

Here they go again.

With only one body to go around, Fria was breaking into a cold sweat as Margaret tugged from the left and Rosanna from the right. Just moments ago, when they were running around the grass making flower crowns after their snack, they had been getting along perfectly.

What on earth had set them off this time?

Thanks to his nephew Matia, Fria had thought he was quite skilled at handling children, but that assumption had been wrong. Adding just one more child had multiplied the difficulty several times over.

And on top of that, he had to occasionally soothe Judith, who was clearly sulking. Even if he had three bodies, it wouldn’t have been enough.

Still, the day passed in a blur whenever he played with them.

If only the emperor had been this young, Fria could have taken care of him like a younger brother.

What kind of upbringing had the imperial palace given its heir, that such a young man would behave with the weariness of someone who had already lived a lifetime, and with such volatility?

If anything, Margaret would suit the emperor better as a consort. Girls grew quickly, perhaps in just a few years, she would become a stunning beauty capable of capturing his heart.

Fria imagined Margaret as a grown woman, placing the emperor beside her.

The emperor approached the elegant lady she had become and said:

“Take it off.”

‘…No, not that.’

“Open your eyes.”

‘No, that’s not it either. Something gentler, say something gentle.’

“Are you defying me right now?”

He had never heard gentle words from him. Only commands, threats, and intimidation. No wonder he couldn’t imagine it properly.

‘Sorry, kids.’

With that thought, Fria’s expression dimmed. The girls tilted their heads like curious rabbits as they looked up at him.

It was a warm, sunlit afternoon.

****

“Do you think he might be unwell?”

Judith spoke as she pulled the freshly starched sheets tight. Fria, lying on the sofa flipping through a book while the maids changed the bedding, replied absentmindedly:

“Who?”

“Who else? His Majesty. He hasn’t come at all lately.”

“Maybe he’s busy. He’s the emperor.”

“No matter how busy, he used to come every single day. Without fail.”

“Hm. Maybe he got tired of me.”

Fria was about to lower his gaze back to the book, unconcerned, when Judith suddenly snatched it away, forcing him to bury his face into the sofa.

“Judith, that’s harsh.”

His muffled complaint came from the cushion.

“Aren’t you worried at all, Fria? It’s already been four days since His Majesty last came.”

“Maybe he went to another palace?”

Fria answered lightly, almost cheerfully, but his lips snapped shut at the fierce glare Judith shot him.

“What is wrong with you, Fria?! If he really went to another palace, that’s a huge problem! And if he didn’t, then something must have happened!”

Though she hadn’t told Fria, Judith had been worried ever since the emperor had jumped into the pond to retrieve the teapot. What if he had caught a cold? He had even personally told them where to fetch clean water so Fria wouldn’t drink from the dirty pond.

And yet here Fria was, completely unconcerned whether the emperor came or not, happily reading storybooks. It was enough to make her chest feel tight with frustration.

“There hasn’t been a flag raised, so it doesn’t seem like he’s gone to another palace. And when I asked the main palace maids, they said he hasn’t gone out anywhere either. He’s definitely in the palace, but apparently he hasn’t even received audiences these past few days. He must be resting because he’s unwell!”

“Serves him right.”

Fria pulled out another book from the pile on the floor and opened it with a smug tone.

“Fria!”

“Even so, the royal physician is there. What’s there to worry about?”

Ah, I’ve read this one already. Judith, when are you going to the library? I want to read the rest of this.

Since Fria couldn’t leave the palace freely as a consort, Judith was also responsible for borrowing books for him. Storybooks, of all things. Next time, she resolved, she would borrow nothing but etiquette manuals about the duties of a proper lady.

“It’s late. You should go to sleep.”

“The sun just set.”

“When the sun sets, it’s time to sleep. You may not be tired, but we’ve been working all day. We could fall asleep the moment our heads hit the pillow.”

Realizing that the maids couldn’t retire until he did, Fria reluctantly accepted the nightclothes Judith held out.

He glanced sideways at the top of her head as she fastened his buttons, her mood clearly frosty.

Despite his casual attitude, he wasn’t entirely unaffected.

It had been four days.

The first day, he was glad. The second, puzzled. By the third, he couldn’t sleep, wondering about the emperor’s intentions.

After all that talk about “proving it with his body,” tormenting him endlessly, only to suddenly stop coming?

If he was tired of him, couldn’t he at least say so? Then Fria could finally sleep in peace.

At the very least, wasn’t it basic courtesy to inform someone you had shared a bed with that you wouldn’t be coming anymore?

Or would he suddenly show up again and exhaust him all over?

The uncertainty gnawed at him.

The room fell into silence after the lights were extinguished. Fria tossed and turned, unable to sleep.

Maybe I should go for a walk.

Just as he threw off the blanket and sat up…

“Fria!”

Judith burst through the door.

“A message has come from the palace! The chamberlain has summoned you, he says you must come to the main palace immediately!”

“Now?”

At Fria’s question, Judith nodded, equally flustered.

“Yes. Right now.”

****

Judith hurriedly pulled out several outfits, holding them up against Fria one by one while muttering:

“I told you we should’ve had at least one proper summer outfit made… This one’s too plain, this one’s out of season, this one’s outdated!”

Fria, seeing little difference between them, pointed to a simple outfit hanging in the corner.

“Can’t I just wear that? I like it. It’s comfortable.”

“What are you saying? You’re going to the main palace! Honestly, if His Majesty was going to summon you, he could’ve given some notice!”

It was too late for dinner, and even if he was being summoned as a bed partner, he couldn’t just go in nightclothes. Unable to guess the emperor’s intentions, Judith struggled even more to decide.

“Ah! Fria! There’s a moth hole in the silk blouse!”

“They said to come quickly. Are we going or not?”

While Judith lamented over the damaged blouse, Fria had already changed into the simple outfit and stood by the door.

Realizing this, Judith gasped and rushed after him.

“Fria! What kind of outfit is that?! A lady invited to the palace must dress with dignity!”

“I’m not a lady.”

“You’re more than one… you’re His Majesty’s consort!”

Honestly, even a four-year-old would be easier to manage.

Grumbling, Judith caught up and pulled a red cloak over his head, covering him with its hood.

“What is this? It’s suffocating.”

“Just keep it on. Now that you’re outside, you need to cover yourself at least this much.”

“Why do I need to cover up?”

“Is that even a question? What consort walks around outside with their face exposed? What if some outsider sees you?”

“Then is he an insider?”

Fria pointed at the attendant walking ahead with a lantern.

The attendant stopped and bowed politely.

“Well… he’s an attendant, so it’s different.”

Judith nodded at him in acknowledgment and then pushed Fria forward.

“Hurry. They’re waiting.”

With his vision narrowed by the hood, Fria shook his head in discomfort.

“What is this? I’m going to trip.”

“Should I go back and get you a lace veil instead? You’d hate that even more, wouldn’t you?”

“If I’m covering up anyway, there was no need to pick clothes.”

“You only need to be seen by His Majesty.”

Judith answered firmly, loud enough for the attendants to hear, and tightened the cloak strings even more.

The ornate carriage door closed. The attendants took their places.

With a light crack of the whip, the carriage began to move.

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