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Join the ServerAfter holding the male consort like that for quite a while, Owen felt the coldness clinging to Fria’s body gradually fade as warmth slowly returned.
“…”
The consort’s lips moved slightly. What was he saying? Owen leaned closer, bringing his ear near the whispering lips.
“…Gir.”
Gir?
As Owen pondered the meaning of the unfamiliar name, Fria spoke again.
“…I miss you. I miss Gir.”
Even in sleep, the expression on his face was full of longing. As far as Owen was concerned, there should only be three things his consort could possibly miss. First, the Emperor himself. Second, the storybooks he loved so much. Third, his family in Alphenia.
“Who is Gir?”
A sleeping person would not answer, but Owen whispered into Fria’s ear anyway.
“Answer me, Fria.”
Perhaps he somehow heard the voice in his dream, because Fria’s lips moved once more.
“…is. The most… in the world.”
The most in the world…
But nothing followed.
Staring down at the deeply sleeping man, Owen’s expression hardened. Then, with the birds announcing the coming of morning, he quietly left the bedchamber.
****
“What comes after ‘the most in the world’?”
The chief attendant, who was helping the Emperor dress, looked up at the sudden question.
“‘The most in the world,’ Your Majesty?”
“Yes. Think of suitable words that could follow it.”
“The most handsome in the world, the biggest in the world, the tallest in the world, the smallest in the world, the most delicious in the world… perhaps something like that?”
After selecting the day’s cuff buttons from a box held by another attendant, Owen asked again,
“What else?”
“The most respected in the world, the most trusted in the world. Are you choosing a phrase for a letter?”
Thinking the Emperor was composing correspondence to relatives, the attendant eagerly continued.
“The most admired in the world, the most cherished in the world, the most liked in the world, the most loved-”
“Have you ever heard the name Gir?”
The attendant’s eyes widened.
“Your Majesty, did you just say Gir?”
“You know the name? Is that person in the palace?”
“He used to be, though he is no longer here. He left the palace before Your Majesty was even born. Where did you hear that name?”
“What do you mean? Is he an imperial citizen?”
“‘He’? Your Majesty, that is your great-uncle.”
Owen frowned and corrected the misunderstanding.
“I’m not talking about him. Find out whether anyone in the Grand Ducal House of Alphenia has that name.”
“Pardon? You mean Lord Fria’s family?”
“Yes. Find out whether the consort kept a dog or a pony by that name. Or whether there was a man he was especially close to.”
“If that’s the case, wouldn’t it be faster to ask Lord Fria directly…?”
The attendant swallowed the rest of his words.
Surely His Majesty wasn’t ordering an investigation into his own favorite consort?
Unable to ask outright, he carefully watched the mood of the young Emperor, who seemed unusually irritable this morning.
“Ah, come to think of it, Lord Byron once asked about Prince Gir as well.”
“Byron?”
“Yes, Your Majesty. Though he later clarified that he wasn’t looking for Prince Gir. He said he was searching for a beautiful physician from Alphenia. As far as I know, no such person has entered the palace.”
If Byron’s mysterious physician from Alphenia was Fria himself, then perhaps Gir had simply been the name he used as a convenient cover.
“Can a physician and patient become that close?”
“Your Majesty? I didn’t quite catch that. Would you mind repeating yourself?”
The attendant had failed to hear Owen’s quiet mutter.
With an irritated wave of his hand, Owen lifted both arms so the attendant could help him into his jacket.
****
“Lady Olga, could you pass me that comb?”
At Judith’s request, Olga opened a drawer and retrieved an ivory comb.
Watching Judith maintain her dignity by having Olga pass items that were within arm’s reach, Fria suppressed a laugh.
Until now, Judith’s rule had been that all attendant maids except herself were dismissed during Fria’s morning grooming routine. Yet for some reason, Olga had been invited to remain starting today.
“So you two decided to become best friends?”
Judith froze briefly before giving an awkward smile.
“Lady Olga is a good person, and I think it’s time I started considering candidates for assistant head maid.”
Other than Livron, who had resigned to marry, the only maids left were Olga and Isabel. Calling them “candidates” still made Fria want to laugh.
“I still have much to learn. It’s an honor just to assist Lady Judith.”
Fria watched Olga warmly as she spoke so humbly even to someone younger than herself.
Besides Judith, there were still two other maids under his care. Perhaps he had been too inattentive toward them.
Thinking of Olga, who had remained in the palace while the others visited home, something came to mind.
“You said you used to serve in Lady Lindgart’s palace, right?”
“Yes, Lord Fria.”
“Did children ever visit her residence?”
“Do you mean Prince Leon?”
“Yes. I heard Lady Lindgart had a child. I was wondering if you’ve ever seen him.”
“He occasionally visited with his nursemaid, though I’ve only ever seen him from afar.”
Fria had countless questions. What was Leon’s relationship with his mother like? Did he seem happy?
But from an outsider’s perspective, those were strange questions for someone who had never even met them.
“Lord Fria, now is not the time to worry about other people. His Majesty’s birthday is only nine days away. Please focus on the Emperor.”
While lecturing her overly kind master, Judith busily worked on his hair.
What had the maids of the main palace been doing? In only two weeks, his hair had become this dry.
“I think I’ll ask the chief attendant. He knows His Majesty better than anyone. He’ll know what kinds of things he likes.”
Determined not to lose to the other palaces, Judith burned with enthusiasm.
Fria, meanwhile, thought of his own sanctuary.
“Judith, if you’re going to the main palace, I’ll come too. I haven’t visited the library in a while.”
“Do you really love books that much, Lord Fria? Fine, let’s go together. But don’t stay too long. Starting tonight, we’re beginning intensive care.”
In preparation for the Emperor’s birthday, Judith planned to hold a nightly beauty regimen.
Whatever that meant, Fria already didn’t want any part of it.
****
“I picked this book first.”
Without loosening his grip on the green hardcover, Fria spoke to the woman standing opposite him.
“I reserved this book, my lady.”
The woman snorted.
“So did I. Perhaps you should remember the virtue of yielding, sir?”
“Unfortunately, I don’t have much time. I’ll read it quickly and return it.”
Of all the books in the library, both had reached for the same one: the newest romance novel by Madam S, famous for making readers cry.
The author’s previous bestseller had caused controversy when its heroine chose love over social status, leading some critics to demand it be banned.
The long-awaited new release had arrived at the library only today, and was already the subject of a tug-of-war between Fria and a young woman.
“Wouldn’t you prefer a different book?”
Using his free hand, Fria pulled another novel from the shelf and showed her the title.
“It’s new.”
“I’ve already read it. The ending lacked momentum.”
Recognizing a fellow reader of considerable experience, Fria looked at her more carefully.
“That’s true. Her early works were better. They had a unique intensity.”
“You thought so too? The male lead’s beastlike charm-”
“Completely overwhelming.”
Many people read books, but finding someone whose tastes matched your own was rare.
After staring at one another for a moment, both extended their hands simultaneously.
“Duncan.”
Unable to continue pretending to be a physician, Fria casually offered the name of his easygoing grand-nephew.
The woman studied him for a moment.
“Regina.”
Lady Regina of Axendar.
Fria already knew of her by reputation.
She was even taller than he was. Her face was as firm and expressionless as stone, with thin lips that naturally turned downward, giving her a stern appearance.
Rumor claimed that the Grand Duke of Axendar, unwilling to send his beloved younger daughter, had sent Regina to the imperial harem in her sister’s place.
“Are you perhaps Lady Regina of Magnolia Palace?”
Fria asked for confirmation.
Regina answered bluntly.
“So they call me. I hate that palace name. Naming the consorts’ residences after flowers is so predictable and old-fashioned.”
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