It was a coveted honor, to be chosen as the empress’ aide. Lionel would go down in history as the only member of the Baldr family to achieve this feat. When news of Lionel Baldr’s appointment as the empress’ aide spread throughout the imperial palace along with the cancellation of the supplementary budget for the empress’ palace, the entire establishment was rocked to its core. These two stories consumed people, causing them to lose track of time and their senses.

The members of the noble family were incredulous when they heard that the proud young boy had become the empress’ aide.

“Then, how will our son-in-law get married now?” they asked.

“You’re a Baldr, but you must be married,” they insisted.

“But you said you applied directly,” they protested.

“Why? What do you regret about our young master?” they interrogated.

Many blamed the older Baldr for the deductions they could not comprehend. They argued that Theseus, who drew a strict line between public works and public affairs, may not have pushed his younger brother for the benefit of the ducal family. However, the butler, who had witnessed Theseus and Lionel’s growth since childhood, maintained that this decision was solely Lionel’s personal choice.

“Why did you make this decision?”

The empress summoned the butler while he was dressing Lionel for his entrance into the palace.

“I’ve been on the defensive like this. Shouldn’t I try everything I can?” Lionel asked, determined.

“Also, it wasn’t the duke’s will. It was the boy’s will,” the butler explained.

“Is my older brother the one to give me such an order?” Lionel questioned.

The butler smiled vacantly and stepped back, but the tip of his nose grew cold for no apparent reason. Why did our young master do that? Why in the world would he take such a risk? But the butler couldn’t say anything to Lionel.

“Then let’s go,” Lionel said, ready to make his mark.

“Yes. Please be careful,” the butler replied anxiously as he watched Lionel’s back recede into the distance.

Soon, he calmed himself down. Lionel was someone who always got what he wanted, no matter what. His brother was different, even if they looked alike. If Theseus had the single-minded temperament of walking only in search of the right path, Lionel would show his wit by finding a shortcut at any moment. And most of the shortcuts Lionel found were difficult for Theseus, the owner of the house, to step on. A typical example was accepting the current aide position.

“Anyway, do well and come back, Bocchan,” the butler whispered like a prayer before turning around.

****

In the grand halls of the Empress Palace, Empress Adelaide reclined leisurely on a couch, relishing the cool autumn breeze that wafted in through the open windows. The sight of her indolently propped up body, with only her feet bobbing, was a novelty for Mrs. Giggs, who had served the late empress. Empress Adelaide was a strange figure, one that Mrs. Giggs found difficult to describe, for she was tyrannical in her mannerisms and debauched in her ways. Although Mrs. Giggs dared not speak of it, Empress

Adelaide seemed perfectly suited to this lifestyle. Most of the maids who served her hailed from Diane, and yet, they offered no discernible information to Mrs. Giggs. Their fear of the empress seemed to be instinctual, more a result of her predatory nature than any explicit act of tyranny. Even as the empress lounged lazily like a tiger, hiding her claws and teeth, one could never tell when she might suddenly strike and bite down with ferocity.

While the empress rarely spoke to her ladies-in-waiting, she would often stop and stare at them as they went about their business, her piercing yellow gaze almost too intense to bear. Observing the empress’s face, Mrs. Giggs could not help but wonder if a wild beast had truly transformed into a human. Suddenly, the empress spoke up, breaking the silence that had settled over the room.

“He’s watching us,” she remarked, causing Adele to startle.

“I think you’ll find out what to say to the princess,” Mrs. Giggs responded, her voice betraying her fear.

Adele looked sideways at the ladies-in-waiting who kept a watchful eye on her and then closed her eyes, realizing how difficult it was to maintain her composure under such scrutiny.

“Have there been fewer visitors to the Ivory Palace lately?” Empress Adelaide queried, catching Mrs. Giggs off-guard.

“No one has visited the Ivory Palace in the past week,” Mrs. Giggs replied, sensing that the empress was searching for something.

“Well, that’s hardly surprising. There’s nothing to confess, at least not until last night,” the empress said, her tone conveying her displeasure.

“Your Majesty the Empress,” Mrs. Giggs interjected. “It’s not the right time to argue with His Majesty the Emperor.”

“Do you think I should not have refused his advances on the first night?” Empress Adelaide retorted, her voice laced with bitterness.

“I’m sorry, Your Majesty. But you know that it was inevitable. Furthermore, the consequences may rebound onto you,” Mrs. Giggs responded, trying to placate the empress.

The empress fell silent, deep in thought. Mrs. Giggs left the room, not wishing to disturb the empress’s contemplation. After a while, the sound of footsteps broke the stillness, and the empress turned her gaze to the man who had just entered the hallway.

“Welcome,” she said, greeting him with a slight bow of her head. Lionel had arrived after being summoned by the empress.