Two days passed. Lev stayed in his room and rested without moving an inch. During that time, he received no word at all from Emperor Guien.
To Lev, that was actually a pleasant state of affairs. If they could go on as though neither quite existed then, once the contract ended, he could take the promised payment and disappear quietly. No outcome could be better.
That carefree life, however, lasted only two days. By nature, Lev was diligent and circumstances had never allowed him true leisure.
As a child he earned pocket money running small errands at the orphanage. Once in middle school, he worked part-time constantly. Even after possessing this body, he had chosen to sell juice on the beach rather than sit idle.
So doing nothing now made him itch. Perched on the window ledge, Lev watched Marco bustling about. The page was polishing the furniture to a bright shine with a dry cloth.
Lev had no refined hobbies like reading, listening to music, or painting.
All right. Cleaning, at least, he understood.
“Marco, aren’t you tired? Is there anything I can help with?”
Watching the busy servant’s back, Lev suddenly spoke. Marco turned pale and waved both hands frantically.
“No, sir! I’m fine! Please just rest.”
He shook so hard that Lev felt dizzy just looking at him. Startled by the boy’s extreme reaction, Lev could only smooth his tousled hair in silence.
“Lord Lev, would you like to take a walk in the garden?”
Perhaps detecting Lev’s boredom, Marco ventured the suggestion timidly.
“The garden?”
“Yes, if you’re feeling well enough.”
“I’m perfectly fine! Not a thing wrong!”
The moment Marco finished, Lev leapt to his feet, displaying his vigor. Marco opened his eyes wide, then smiled broadly and nodded. At once, the two left the room.
Lev had thought the corridor silent, but he found, to his surprise, several knights and attendants lined up waiting to serve the Emperor.
His gaze naturally drifted toward the office. While in the room, he had asked Marco about the locked door. Blushing, Marco had said it opened into the Emperor’s study.
“The study? Then this place is where the Emperor originally rested?”
No wonder the furnishings seemed so bare. Still, for a resting place that bed was ridiculously large.
“It was, but… the late Emperor used it for another purpose.”
“Another purpose? What do you mean?”
“Well…”
Marco blushed an even deeper red.
“It was where His Majesty’s consort stayed during the day.”
He spoke so quickly that Lev realized the meaning only a beat later.
Surely the palace held more than one spare room. Placing him here was too transparent.
A genuine consort’s treatment.
Lev tore his eyes from the study just as the captain of the guard greeted him warmly.
“How is your health?”
Having grown friendly during the journey from Touloun, Lev answered with ease.
“I’m fine now. We’re going for a stroll.”
“Ah! Enjoy yourselves.”
The captain nodded as though it were no concern. Lev thought perhaps he should report to the Emperor but apparently that was unnecessary. He walked past the office and after a moment’s hesitation, Marco hurried after him.
“Haa…”
Once outside the palace for the first time in days, Lev drew a deep breath, chest swelling. How good the open air felt after so long.
It was, after all, the Imperial garden was immaculately kept and pleasant to explore. Lush roses and multicolored blossoms filled every corner.
A winding path through cypress trees cast cool shade even at midday.
“Lord Lev, shall we rest over there a bit?”
Marco, who had walked quietly at Lev’s side, pointed to a white bench with vine-shaped arms. Lev accepted at once and sat down.
Sitting still and watching the clouds drift across the sky, he grew drowsy in the warm sun. Perhaps his fatigue was not yet gone.
Just then:
“Did you hear? His Majesty has taken a consort to the palace.”
The unexpected voice slid into Lev’s ears.
“What?! A consort?”
“Hush! Lower your voice!”
“A consort? What do you mean?”
The other man had barked in surprise. After being scolded, he repeated the question in a quieter tone.
Lev already wore an awkward smile, plucking at his lip. Even without listening he knew what would be said.
“Yes, the day before yesterday His Majesty brought him in… and it’s a man at that!”
“A male consort?”
“That’s right.”
“Ha…!”
A sigh followed, as if the speaker were utterly scandalized. Lev felt the same. Why choose here, of all places, to discuss this?
Glancing at Marco, Lev saw the boy’s lips pressed tight, clearly displeased.
No wonder. He had learned of the male consort from strangers in the garden.
If they were speaking so openly here, the rumor must already be running rife elsewhere.
“We must hold council at once and demand the consort be expelled!”
“Marquis d’Albret tried that only yesterday. His Majesty chilled him, saying, ‘You already have an heir. Are you so greedy for power that you keep raising the issue about an Empress?’ ”
“Ha!”
“And not only that… His Majesty asked if d’Albret hoped to seat his own daughter as Empress.”
“Marquis d’Albret.” The name seemed familiar, though Lev could not place him. If it didn’t come readily, he must be of little real importance.
“So the marquis withdrew quietly?”
“He had no choice. One misstep and he’d be out of favor.”
“Indeed. Only d’Albret could dare say such a thing.”
The man lowered his voice conspiratorially.
“So who is the consort, then?”
“No one knows.”
“No one? Then his origins are uncertain?”
Displeased, the listener clicked his tongue.
“Brought to the palace and immediately shut away in that room. Who could find out?”
“That room?”
“You know… the one beside the study…”
Their voices dropped further. The rest was scarcely audible.
Maybe it’s the heat, Lev thought. His face felt hot again. He rubbed his cheek and glanced sideways.
Marco had clenched his fists.
“Marco?”
“Don’t they know anything about you? It’s too much!”
The boy murmured under his breath, perhaps even cursing. Lev could only laugh softly.
“Doesn’t it anger you, Lord Lev?”
How can you smile after such words? Marco frowned down at him.
Truthfully Lev was not upset. Such talk was inevitable once he became the Emperor’s consort.
Instead, he felt grateful that Marco, after only a few days, took his side without the prejudice others showed.
“Thank you, Marco.”
“Sir?”
Marco looked puzzled as Lev expressed thanks.
“For getting angry on my behalf.”
“Ah…”
At the added words, the boy’s face flushed pink rather than red with rage. Unable to meet Lev’s eyes, he fiddled with his fingers in embarrassment. Lev released Marco’s wrist and patted the back of his hand.
Still, remaining here after hearing such talk had stolen all desire to linger. If those men returned and asked who he was, what could he answer?
Lev did not possess a bold enough face to brazen it out.
“I’d better go back.”
He rose, brushing his trousers. Marco’s eyes drooped in dismay.
“So soon? It’s still so bright.”
The boy’s gaze begged him to stay longer. Lev looked up at the sky, then turned toward the palace.
He hadn’t noticed on the first exhausted night, but the palace was truly vast. The central three-story palace stood between two two-story wings, like spread wings; most striking was the single balcony room in the very center.
Though the third-floor facade held many windows, only that one had a balcony large enough for ten people, furnished with a tea table and two chairs—and nothing else.
“What room is that?”
Lev pointed.
“Where?”
Marco squinted, then answered, “His Majesty’s study.”
“That?”
“Yes.”
Lev’s eyes shifted to the window beside it which was now closed and empty. So his own room lay there.
Gazing between the study and his quarters, he saw nothing strange from outside.
Yet from the earlier conversation he thought he understood the place well enough.
“That aside… Lord Lev, instead of returning straight away, would you like to relocate somewhere else?”
“Somewhere else?”
“Yes, I know a quiet spot where hardly anyone goes. Shall we?”
At the subtle suggestion Lev hesitated, then nodded. As Marco said, it did seem a shame to go back already.
“All right.”
Marco brightened and led the way. After walking a while, the surroundings grew noticeably deserted, until dense undergrowth blocked the path.
Though the way seemed closed, Marco pressed on, parting branches with practiced ease.
“Wow…”
Following him through the brush, Lev couldn’t help exclaiming.
Beyond the thicket lay a more splendid garden than he had imagined: a picture-perfect white pavilion, hydrangeas encircling the space like a hedge, and a pond almost overflowing with violet water lilies.
“Isn’t it lovely?”
“Yeah.”
Marco’s grin beamed with pride.
Seeing him, Lev recalled the orphanage children who had clung to him like little brothers—beaming after cleaning on his behalf, hoping for praise.
Cute kid.
Perhaps because of that affection, Lev reached out and ruffled Marco’s hair.
Startled, the boy’s eyes went wide, but Lev was already walking toward the pond and did not notice. Marco, cheeks crimson, rubbed the back of his head and hurried after him.
Beneath the purple lilies swam large koi. Though secluded, they seemed well cared for.
“I used to be assigned to clean here.”
“Here?”
Do pages do such work? Lev asked, puzzled. Marco laughed sheepishly and confessed it had been a punishment duty that lasted several weeks.
Finding it adorable, Lev again tousled the boy’s hair.
“Lord Lev, please rest here! I’ll fetch some refreshments and tea!”
Marco, smoothing the hair Lev had rumpled, spoke brightly.
“No, it’s all right…”
Lev meant to decline, but before he could, Marco sped away. Alone, Lev chuckled and strolled once around the pond.
The sun was warm, the quiet stroll easing the heaviness in his chest.
After a few steps, his eyes caught a hydrangea hedge tangled more with weeds than blooms.
“If I just pull those, it’ll flower fuller.”
Having managed a rich family’s garden for years, Lev couldn’t pass by. He approached and began stripping the weeds. He had no tools, yet, practiced, he cleared them quickly.
“Ah, much tidier.”
He admired the neat hedge, then shifted his gaze aside.
He picked up fallen twigs and leaves, snapped stray branches, and tidied around the pond until he came to the stone bridge leading to the pavilion.
Crossing it, he entered the pavilion itself. It was thick with dust from disuse.
Using a leafy branch he had broken off, he swept like a broom. Rough as it was, after several strokes the floor looked fairly clean.
Lev was admiring his handiwork when—
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