Chapter 5 – [Part 2]
Saye was startled awake due to loud noises from outside. Whenever Kainer went to oversee state affairs without waking Saye early in the morning, Enin would be there whenever she opened her eyes. At dawn, he kissed Saye tenderly on the forehead as she sent him off with sleepy eyes, and he said that he’d come back quickly. He seemed to have already left the bedroom, while Saye, who was about to wake up, slept once more.
“Are you awake, Your Majesty?”
“Lord Kai—did His Majesty go?”
“Yes. He asked us to take good care of Your Majesty and left.”
Enin’s face darkened when she said that. Saye struggled to open her tired eyes, wondering what had happened to Kainer in the meantime.
“It’s noisy outside…”
“Don’t worry about anything, Your Majesty.”
It was the first time she heard Enin speak with such a hard tone. When Saye had just stood up from her place, the door swung open.
“What insolence is this!”
Enin raised her voice and hurriedly covered the gap created by the open door so that Saye wouldn’t see, but she saw it all nonetheless. There were people who were busy moving. Women in beautiful clothes, the boisterous laughter they had.
“Oh my, the master is here?”
She was a woman about the same age as Saye. Dressed in lavish clothes and dazzling jewels, she stared intently at Saye and grinned.
“Ah, it’s His Majesty’s favorite concubine.”
And then, she greeted Saye with a sarcastic bow. It was obviously an act of mockery and ridicule.
“His Majesty will not remain silent if he finds out, Cezanne!”
“Ho ho ho, I was just kidding you, Enin. Look at her wide, round eyes. Our Miss Concubine is also cute.”
She seemed to be acquainted with Enin. Cezanne approached Saye, calling her name in the same friendly way.
“Nice to meet you. I’m Cezanne, the only daughter of Minister Albert, and I joined the harem just today.”
“Saye. I’m Saye.”
When Saye sat up, the traces of love she had received from Kainer during their long night were revealed to Cezanne. She furrowed her brows for a moment, but she quickly fixed her expression before Saye could see it.
“Twenty other people came in besides me. Originally, when a new Sultan ascended the throne, it’s customary for all ministers with unmarried daughters to offer their daughters.”
“His Majesty is sure to get rid of that system at the meeting…”
“He only talked about it, but has he gotten rid of it? After that, of course, you can take us away.”
Cezanne was confident. The gazes of the women who peeked into this place from behind her were filled with jealousy and contempt directed solely at Saye. She expected to receive such gazes. Didn’t she already know that one day this place would be full again?
“The harem will be filled. When it’s full of beautiful women, the Sultan’s favor shall shift.”
There were only a few women who came in now. Cezanne left the room after she said that she would eventually enter the palace.
“When His Majesty comes, everything will be settled.”
“Ah, it’s okay, Enin.”
Enin closed the door to the bedroom, which Cezanne had left open on purpose. However, their laughter and movements could still be heard. She was fine just a while ago, but now, why did these sounds make her so uncomfortable?
“Your Majesty.”
“I need to go to the library.”
It would be nice if there was a space where she could escape from these sounds. She recalled the quietest library, and Saye would go there again after a long time, she said. After Kainer ascended to the throne, Saye never properly visited the library. It’s true that she completely forgot the existence of the library. But he allowed her to go anywhere, so she looked around the palace and now she thought of the library.
“You will?”
Enin also wondered if she thought it would be better for her to say Saye wasn’t here.
“In the morning, His Majesty already wiped Your Majesty’s body clean. I’ll prepare water only for a quick bath.”
Saye nodded her head. It’s probably good. Soon after, she washed herself clean with the water brought by the other maids. Then, after wearing a beautiful purple silk robe that Kainer had given her, Saye went outside. In an instant, her surroundings grew silent, and the countless eyes that watched her lessened.
She was able to breathe only after she left the place, feeling the gazes on her back all the way to the library.
“I’ll go into the library alone.”
“I’ve been told to follow wherever you go. Please let me follow you.”
Reluctantly, she entered the library with only Enin. The library was quiet, as Saye expected. The smell of old parchment calmed her and brought back old memories. This was a special place for Saye. This was where she first saw Kainer. Saye smiled sadly as her palm slowly swiped where he had always been sitting and reading books.
“I heard there’s a secret place here?”
It was Enin who spoke to Saye.
“Secret… place?”
“That’s what His Majesty said..? Oh, Miss Saye, he told me not to talk about it.”
Saye tilted her head. She seemed to remember something. It was the secret place that only she knew, but how did Kainer know about it?
“Hoo… His Majesty ordered me not to tell you, but seeing Your Majesty’s face, I should give you a hint.”
Seeing that she didn’t understand, Enin sighed.
“Five years ago, when His Majesty was a prince, he was seriously injured.”
5 years, 5 years ago…
“I was told that it was Your Majesty who hid His Majesty here.”
Saye covered her mouth with both her hands. Without realizing it, she almost gasped aloud.
That day five years ago was an unforgettable day for her as well.