chapter 3.1

“Do it right! Do it properly!”

Without responding to Greden’s words, Psili cleared up Elisha’s messed up bed. Psili’s efforts to clear up the bed without a single wrinkle would be ruined after the night passed, to be exact, when the emperor visited.

“What on earth do they do at night without sleeping? Do they practice war at night or something? Ha… what’s the use of having a big bed?”

The bedroom where Elisha was initially assigned was small. Of course, it was bigger compared to the room Psili used in Ctia. However, the emperor wanted to visit Elisha’s room more often, so Shannon, the chief maid whom Elisha met on the first day, came and moved her to a new room. And just a few days ago, Elisha moved again and stayed in a room that was ten times larger than the first. In a little over a month, Elisha became a senior concubine.

A concubine is just a concubine. Living in Harem Castle, Psili knew very well that whether they became senior or still a junior, the concubines had to work hard every day to manage and dress themselves up, waiting for only one person. There was only one emperor, and in the end, only one concubine was visited by the emperor. Numerous efforts here were betrayed. Sometimes, when the emperor visits someone with an upset, annoyed face, nine out of ten die, whether it’s the owner of the room or the maid who worked in the room. It was a place full of blood scents as much as the perfume used by women, but not everyone was scared. They just dolled themselves up again in the morning. Elisha was no different from other women. At first, she was so fierce and abusive, but now she would wear her fancy clothes, put on makeup, and waited for the emperor as if it was the only purpose in life. Well, it actually was, for the concubines anyway.

Every time the emperor visited, it was Elisha’s weeping voice that Psili heard outside the room. It seemed like she was begging the emperor, but she cried every time as if the emperor didn’t listen to Elisha’s request. Although the crying sounded a little weird. Psili thought if Elisha made mistakes, she would just get killed so there was no need for the emperor to beat her and made her cry like that. Nevertheless, people, especially concubines and maids, were enthusiastic about him. Was the emperor a strange person? Were the people working under him becoming strange? Everything here was weird. To Psili, who didn’t understand all of this, it just seemed strange and even pitiful.

“Puhahahaha.” Asil burst into laughter when he heard Psili’s innermost thoughts. Psili, who had no idea why Asil was laughing, looked at him strangely and ate the bread he had given her.

“Ah ~ I’m going crazy. I think it’s been a long time since I laugh like this thanks to you.”

“Is that funny?”

“Yes. In this imperial palace, no, in this empire, you are probably the only one who thinks that way.”

“Why? Don’t you think they are weird?”

“No, because I know what they are doing.”

At Asil’s words, Psili looked at him with a surprised face.

“You know? You know what the Emperor and Elisha do every night? They closed the door and let no one inside, so how could you know?”

“I guess you are the only one who doesn’t know.”

“You know everything? How? That’s amazing.”

Asil looked at Psili, who said it was amazing as if he was looking at something even more amazing. Even at the age of 16, Psili was pure. She knew nothing about the real world other than the world she read in the books. Of course, Asil knew that Psili was a princess of a different birth from ordinary princesses, but she was like a six years old child who knew nothing about the world. Looking at her, she was like a little sister who Asil wanted to protect.

“Not knowing isn’t a bad thing. Well, it doesn’t matter if you don’t know. Here drink water as you eat.“

In Asil’s eyes, Psili was a very ordinary girl. When he looked at her closely, he could see some unique olive-colored eyes. Anyway, in the eyes of the emperor who only held beautiful women in his arms, Psili couldn’t be seen. So, Asil didn’t talk anymore because Psili didn’t need to know about the affairs between men and women.

“It’s better to stay quiet here. That’s how you can live a long life.” Asil said.

Why would anyone want to do something special to catch the emperor’s eyes? If the actions were wrong in the eyes of the twisted emperor, they would get killed. There were so many dead women and servants, but there were still many gamblers who wanted to turn their lives around in his eyes.

“But why do people like the emperor?”

“Well because they want to live.”

“Do you like the emperor, Asil?”

At Psili’s question, Asil shrugged. He didn’t want to be in the emperor’s eyes and enjoy wealth and honor, but he had every reason to like the emperor.

“Hmm, I have a debt to repay.”

“Debt?”

“I had an older sister, and she was a really beautiful woman. There was a bad person who harassed her. He killed my father and mother for fear he would be caught, and he also tried to kill me… but I ran away and I came here. I accused the person who harassed my family. And His Majesty took care of him.”

Whether it was for any political reason or not, it was a blessing that the emperor gave Asil a pleasant ending.

“Because he relieved my family’s pain, I must payback. So I’m working hard. When I get a chance I want to give more back. Um, For example, I want to learn sword fighting properly again and become a soldier.”

“Are you learning it?”

“I’m saving money to learn.”

Psili, who was listening to Asil’s words, suddenly put down the bread, unwrapped the bracelet on her wrist, and handed it over to him.

“Why would you…”

“Because I don’t need it. There is nothing I want to do. I don’t want to have anything. It’s only heavy to have more.”

“No. Still, this is because you are the princess of Ctia .. “

“It’s okay. Now I am just a maid. Take it. You have been bringing me bread.”

The bracelet was made of gold. Even the jewels embedded in the bracelet were small, but they were worth a lot of money to sell. Asil, staring at Psili’s bracelet, said as if he made an important decision.

“Psili. I will work really hard and become a soldier of the Imperial Army. I will buy you something better. And I’ll protect you forever. “

At Asil’s words, Psili just smiled. The word ‘protect’ was not very welcome to her. The soldiers who were supposed to protect her kept her from leaving the room instead, and the maids who were supposed to protect her gave themselves away when the Pantheron’s Imperial Army pushed the door. It was the most frustrating and vain word in the world. Still, for Psili, it was a good decision to give Asil the bracelet because it was something she was going to throw away anyway and now she can use it for a good cause. She bought a friend who brought her bread with a bracelet she didn’t need.

Whatever Psili thought, Asil decided. He would protect Psili no matter what.