Chapter 5

Via becoming the first prince Alek's concubine was proposed to the emperor by Empress Tora.

"Since Alek took a fancy to Via Tora and asked for my permission, I granted it using my authority as empress."

The emperor, who was Via's husband, could not bring himself to say that he wanted the daughter of his former concubine, who was also his adopted daughter, to become his concubine.

He mumbled an indecisive response and Via was easily granted permission to become Alek's concubine.

Via, who had not a drop of noble blood in her, would not have been unusual to be chosen as one of the first prince's concubines, but since she was the emperor's adopted daughter, she was given a large section of the Crystal Palace to live in, along with many maids and servants.

Of course, as a concubine, she would have certain obligations. She would be required to attend public events and make appearances at various social gatherings.

In preparation for moving to the Crystal Palace, the first thing Via asked Alek for was protection for Seltis.

When it was decided that Via would become the first prince's concubine, Seltis became a complete enemy of Lord Sezon. She could not be left in the Purple Jade Palace.

Since Seltis had just turned twelve last month, Alek decided to have her join the Antore Knights, a group under his influence.

If she could live in the knights' quarters, there would be no safer place. The buildings of the knights' quarters were like fortresses, and outsiders could not easily enter. When Seltis wanted to visit the palace, an Antore knight would accompany her as a guard.

Thus, Via spent the remaining ten days with Seltis. The Purple Jade Palace was surrounded by a heavy guard, but there was no change in their daily lives.

For the time being, a ceremonial official visited the Purple Jade Palace every day to give Via lessons on being a concubine, and in the afternoon, she stayed out of the way of Seira and Luna, who were busily preparing for the move.

One day, Alek came to the Purple Jade Palace.

"You don't have to come see me. You must be busy, right?"

At Via's first words, Alek was honestly taken aback. Alek, who was used to being welcomed, had never been told such a thing by a woman he had made time to see.

However, he did not feel annoyed because Via's words were not meant to be hurtful, and he could tell she was genuinely concerned for him.

"Since I am supposed to have taken a fancy to you, I thought I should come often in such a case."

"Well, that's true."

"You don't want to see me, do you?"

Alek laughed, calling her a cold princess, and took Via's hand naturally, kissing the back of it lightly.

Via smiled, thinking that he was skilled with women. She had heard that he was popular among noblewomen and princesses, and it was no wonder.

Via thought that although she could not tell what he was thinking, he had money and power and was undeniably handsome. He was also a good conversationalist and could be considered a top-tier man.

She could have just gone along with the surface, but for some reason, she could not bring herself to do so. Perhaps she was unusually nervous in front of the empress.

"I would have liked to see you to the extent that you wanted to see me."

When she said what she was thinking, Alek unexpectedly laughed.

"I'm not obsessed with you, but I do care."

Alek's honest comment also appealed to Via. It was much better than empty flattery.

So, she invited him.

"If you have time, would you like to have tea together?"

Alek was momentarily taken aback by the unexpected invitation.

"Only if there's no poison in it."

Via thought that if the maids saw, they would scream at such a sweet smile. She wanted to laugh at how unnecessarily handsome he was.

"I'll be your taster. Is that okay?"

In Terma, herbal and herbal teas were the main drinks, and Via had been collecting her favorite tea leaves whenever she went out incognito.

However, since there was no custom of drinking herbs in the palace of Anchease, it would be safer to serve black tea.

Via chose a black tea made with a flower called Siena. In Anchease, black tea with milk was the norm, but scented teas were also becoming available.

She took a sip as promised and handed the cup to Alek, who cautiously sniffed it and then took a sip.

"It has a sweet scent, but it's not sweet."

"Yes, it's a black tea with Siena flowers. Seltis likes it, so I often make it.

Unfortunately, she's out today."

"I know. She's been called to the Antore Knights, right?"

Amon had said he wanted to know Seltis's skills and physical strength to some extent.

While he could not give her special treatment, he had to take some precautions.

"I think she can keep up with the training since she has been properly trained in swordsmanship.

However, I'm worried about whether she can adapt to group life. She has grown up in the palace, hardly ever going out to avoid drawing attention."

"But you can't keep her with you forever."

Alek replied matter-of-factly.

"It's a good opportunity. Trust your brother and let him go."

When said so casually, Via blinked in surprise.

Was it really that simple? she wondered.

They had lived in hiding, trying not to draw attention, for so long.

If that dream had not come to her, she would probably still be in the Purple Jade Palace, keeping Seltis close.

"I never thought of joining the Antore."

Antore was the group to which the first prince Alek belonged. She believed that the first prince despised the second prince and would never allow her to join Antore.

However, she could not join the Rofman or Reiatou either.

If she did, it would be the same as declaring herself a prince. She thought that if she did, Seltis would eventually be killed.

"Even though I knew that she could not live as a royal without being knighted, there was no knight's order where I could entrust her with peace of mind.

But now, with your protection, it is time to let her go."

Via thought that if she could enter the protection of the prince by becoming his concubine, then sacrificing her body was nothing.

The most important thing was to receive as much favor as possible and stabilize Seltis's position.

"By the way, you are five years older than me, and I am the first concubine you have taken, right?"

"What's with the sudden question?"

Alek's beautiful amber eyes narrowed as if trying to read her mind.

"I am to become your concubine, so I thought I should know your preferences in women."

"Will you try to match my preferences if I tell you what I like in women?"

Alek raised one corner of his mouth in a teasing manner.

Even such a mischievous smile was incredibly charming. Via smiled a little dazzled.

"I will do my best with all sincerity."

"Is that so?"

Alek lowered his eyes as if in thought, then suddenly took Via's hand and kissed her fingertips suggestively.

"Then be a chaste lady during the day and serve me like a courtesan at night."

The innocent Via was momentarily speechless.

Alek looked down at her with a seductive smile, as if enjoying her reaction.

"I understand."

Via, the daughter of Titti, who had captivated the emperor, thought that her white skin, which seemed to cling to fingers, and her slender yet voluptuous body would be weapons as a concubine.

"I don't know any tricks to please a man, but if that is what you wish, I will do my best.

In Terma, there are those who can teach bedroom techniques. I will learn properly."

"Bedroom..."

Alek was the one who panicked.

"Wait, wait, wait."

He thought this woman might actually do it.

What man would want to be defiled by a dirty hand before plucking a pure flower?

Alek was a normal man with healthy desires and did not want to be served by a skilled hand.

"I will teach you!"

When he shouted this, Via looked at him with a puzzled expression.

"Is that so? But if it is your wish, I will..."

"It's fine! Don't learn anything!"

Why did he lose his composure so easily around this woman?

Alek sighed involuntarily.

She was a beauty that made his body shiver, yet she never acted as he expected.

"You don't really like me, do you?"

When he muttered this, tired, Via tilted her head.

"It's better for a concubine not to love her master too much."

Via replied calmly.

"Excessive desires only breed ambition and turmoil. It is the duty of a concubine to live as inconspicuously as possible without giving her heart."

Her mother had said so.

"Without giving your heart?"

Alek repeated the words, as if catching them.

The emperor had been infatuated with Titti. He never left her side, and Titti had always smiled calmly by his side.

"Why do you need to give your heart?"

Alek's heart seemed to be read as Via asked quietly.

"The emperor took everything from Titti. The only thing I was allowed was me, her daughter."

For a moment, a hint of resentment could be seen in her tone, but she quickly smiled.

"That's what a concubine is. I will serve you in the same way.

You will become the emperor and welcome a suitable empress."

"You don't love me, but you want my favor?"

Alek laughed, as if in disbelief, and Via said it as if it were nothing.

"You can admire me as you would a flower.

I will never betray you.

Not as a human, but as a pet, you can play with me when you feel like it, get a little comfort, and enjoy my body without worrying about the back.

There are too many people around you who try to get close to you for the sake of their family's rise and fall.

Isn't it convenient to have a woman like me around?"

Alek looked down at Via intently.

"You have an interesting way of thinking."

Via was right; people swarmed around the first prince, who was closest to the throne.

He was thoroughly tired of flattery and sycophants, but he could not show it to those around him.

He had to act worthy of the imperial heir, not make unnecessary enemies, but not show mercy to those who opposed him. He had long since resigned himself to this as the only way to live.

"You have everything, but you seem very lonely to me.

I had my mother and Seltis, but I don't think you can confide in the empress."

"If you do, you will disappoint her and, even if you become the emperor, you will be a puppet of the empress."

The outcome was easy to imagine.

"To the empress, I am an important piece. Without me, my mother's world is incomplete.

But that's all I am."

He had never thought of it as lonely. It was just his normal life.

The wet nurse who had been like a mother to him was expelled from the palace when he was eight for offending the empress.

The empress was trying to raise him to be a strong prince. She could not tolerate anyone who would pamper him and make him feel at ease in her arms.

"What I need to become the emperor, my mother's interest was always there.

Come to think of it, the three current aides were also sent by the empress as my playmates."

A sarcastic smile appeared on Alek's lips.

"In the end, am I always dancing on my mother's palm?"

"What's wrong with that?"

Via took a cookie from the plate, broke it in half carelessly, and put one half in her mouth.

After swallowing and showing Alek that there was nothing wrong, she offered the remaining half to Alek's mouth.

"This is an herbal cookie.

I just baked it after letting it sit overnight."

"Did you bake it?"

"Yes.

I also bake bread and make vegetable soup and stewed baby birds."

"Isn't that what a cook does?"

"I studied cooking diligently in preparation for leaving the palace someday."

Via answered cheerfully.

"Once I become a concubine, I won't have such freedom, so I'll have to put my cooking on hold for a while."

When invited, Alek put the cookie in his mouth.

"It's a rare flavor. Not very sweet, but with a unique scent."

"It has rosehips in it.

Does it not suit your taste?"

"No, it's delicious. An interesting flavor."

"Life is full of interesting things."

Another piece was broken and offered to Alek, who swallowed it without hesitation this time.

"Unexpected encounters, arranged encounters, and unavoidable encounters, there are many.

Is the empress's arranged encounter unsatisfactory to you?"

"I have no complaints about the three of them."

Alek reluctantly agreed.

"If you make a mistake, they will advise you without fear of your displeasure.

You already have what the emperor does not. I think that is very fortunate."

With a soft smile, the knot in his heart melted away.

Alek narrowed his amber eyes and smiled.

"You are indeed interesting."

It was not a compliment to a woman, but Via was pleased.

She wanted to be the prince's comrade, not his lover. She wanted to protect Seltis, and she wanted to serve the prince.

To Via, the prince seemed very lonely. He had a father, mother, and siblings, but none of them were family to him.

Those around him were either trying to gain something from the first prince or plotting to exclude him.

Via could not imagine enduring such a life.

"By the way, didn't you have some business with me?

Otherwise, you wouldn't have come here."

"Business...?"

Alek hesitated.

"I don't have a formal wife yet. So next week, I will take you to the palace-hosted banquet as my concubine.

Is that all right?"

Via looked at Alek curiously.

"Yes."

Her mother had also been a concubine and had appeared in public. It was only natural for a concubine.

Alek's hesitation was incomprehensible to her.

"In fact, it will be your debut. Everyone will be watching. In other words..."

Alek hesitated to say the next words.

"If you fail, you will be criticized."

When Via finally understood what Alek was worried about, she smiled.

"It's fine."

She had received the best education as a princess, even though she had not appeared in public.

Her mother Titti had trained her strictly in case she had to marry into a noble family.

Her mother had hated Anchease and could not bear to be ridiculed by the nobility.

"I will wear a mask properly. I learned it from my mother. She had about ten of them."

"Ten or twenty, I'll take them all."

Alek was relieved by her unflinching attitude.

If she were to be discouraged by a little bullying or harassment, she would not be a suitable concubine for him.

"There will be many who will try to trip you up.

I can protect you to a certain extent, but..."

"Please worry only about yourself."

She implied that it was a slight to be so worried.

Alek suddenly remembered that Titti had been a strong woman.

She had suddenly become a concubine from a dancer and must have endured unspeakable hardships and bitterness, but by the time Alek was old enough to understand, she was acting like a born noblewoman, exuding grace and dignity that overwhelmed everyone.

Perhaps there was