Side Story 10 – Priority
Side Story 10
Priority
“Umm… Head Attendant.”
At the careful voice calling him, Deril put down the document he was reading.
“Collin? Why are you here when you should be by His Majesty’s side…”
Habitually, Deril’s gaze drifted toward the window. The sun was still high.
The shift change should have been in the evening.
Deril looked at Collin quizzically, but Collin couldn’t bring himself to speak.
“…Is His Majesty looking for me?”
It had been six years since he became Head Attendant. Though Deril had once fumbled through mistakes when first appointed, now he could sense what was happening just by looking at the attendants’ eyes.
Sure enough, Collin hesitated and nodded.
“Yes, yes… I think you should go, Head Attendant.”
Seeing Collin hang his head like a criminal and drip with sweat, Deril narrowed his eyes.
The situation seemed worse than he thought.
“Sigh… It’s been peaceful for a while. Is Tesar currently attending to His Majesty?”
“Y-yes. But the thing is…”
Tesar, appointed as Deputy Head Attendant a year ago, was competent. In all the times he had taken his turn serving the Emperor, there had never been a major incident.
“You need to tell me what’s happening so I can deal with it. Don’t drag this out—speak up.”
Deril pressed his aching temples and stood up.
He naturally donned his Head Attendant uniform and left his quarters with Collin.
Following behind Deril with anxious steps, Collin finally blurted out a single sentence.
“H-His Majesty is furious and has imprisoned Tesar!”
“What?”
In inverse proportion to Collin’s quickly spat words, Deril’s footsteps came to an abrupt halt.
“Tesar? Why! What grave mistake did he make to be imprisoned?”
“W-well, I really don’t understand why His Majesty became angry. He was certainly in the middle of conversing with His Majesty when suddenly…”
“Conversing with His Majesty? About what?”
“The usual things. The daily conversations.”
“About Her Majesty the Empress?”
“Yes, I just agreed with His Majesty as you taught us to do, nothing more…”
Looking at the timid Collin, Deril questioned further.
“Was Her Majesty present?”
“No. She was attending to her duties in the Sun Palace.”
“She was working in the Sun Palace?”
Deril’s expression hardened. The situation seemed even worse than he had thought.
“Why… do you ask?”
“This is a situation where His Majesty might be in a bad mood. Working in the Sun Palace rather than the Ruby Palace…”
“Huh? Oh…! Y-you’re right.”
Watching Collin belatedly realize something, Deril shook his head.
Collin had been assigned to the Sun Palace as an attendant just three months ago.
It was perhaps too soon for him to fully internalize that the Emperor’s main living quarters were in the Ruby Palace, where the Empress resided.
“Let’s hurry. We must quickly appease His Majesty’s anger… Collin, where are you going?”
Deril, who had been walking briskly, asked in puzzlement as he saw Collin about to turn left at a corner.
“Well, I’m heading to where His Majesty is. Why do you ask?”
Seeing Collin tilt his head in even greater confusion, Deril finally clicked his tongue.
He must have relaxed the training recently, as the attendants’ ability to handle situations was quite lacking.
“Not that way. Shouldn’t we go to the Ruby Palace?”
Taking Collin, who was just blinking like a fool, Deril turned right.
“But, you said we need to appease His Majesty’s anger. So why…”
“Tsk, how could I alone appease His Majesty’s anger?”
“Then how… Oh!”
A sound of realization escaped Collin’s lips.
“You still have a long way to go, Collin. Now that you understand, let’s hurry.”
Pulling along the now-comprehending Collin, Deril quickened his pace.
Toward the Ruby Palace, where the Emperor’s universal cheat key would be found.
“Mion, you can’t do that.”
Robelia stretched out her small, chubby hand and grabbed an even smaller one.
“Uh, aehba…!”
The tiny being that had been curled up like a ball waved both hands, trying to free its captured hand.
But the strength of a baby who had just turned two was no match for a six-year-old life veteran.
“This will make you sick if you eat it, Mion!”
Having successfully taken the stone from Mion’s hand, Robelia placed her hands on her hips and put on a stern expression.
“Huiing…”
Though Mion whimpered pitifully in a small voice, Robelia remained firm.
Apparently, she had no memory of her own behavior a few years ago when she used to pick up and eat not only pebbles but also dirt.
“Stop! Our Mion, be good.”
Robelia’s small hand rested on Mion’s head, who looked like he might burst into tears any moment, his eyelids turning red.
As she gently stroked his head and smiled, Mion too, as if he had never whined, let out a “kyaha” and burst into laughter.
Looking at Mion lovingly, Robelia spoke to Yulia who was standing quietly behind them.
“What do you think, Yulia? Do I seem more like a big sister now?”
It had been just over a year since she’d met Mion.
At first, she had bullied the cute, wriggly little thing rolling around in front of her, making him cry quite a bit.
But look at him now.
Even when about to cry, one gesture from her made him smile brightly again.
Watching Robelia puff her chest with pride, Yulia covered her mouth and laughed quietly.
To her, it just looked like two adorable bundles tumbling around and doing cute things, but she had to give proper praise.
“Yes, that’s right. Our Princess Robelia has grown into a proper big sister!”
Pleased with Yulia’s response, Robelia’s shoulders swayed with delight.
In front of her, Mion grabbed a handful of dirt with the brightest face in the world.
The clump of dirt mixed with grass instantly disappeared into Mion’s mouth.
“Gasp! Mion!”
“Oh my goodness, spit it out! Princess Robelia, open Mion’s mouth!”
As Robelia panicked and opened Mion’s mouth, and Yulia hurried over to remove the dirt, they heard:
“Ahem, Lady-in-waiting! Oh my, Princess, you’re out here too.”
Deril rushed into the entrance of the Ruby Palace with a fake cough.
“Oh my, Head Attendant?”
Deril looked with a bewildered expression at Robelia, who was trying to flip Mion upside down, and then with an even stranger expression at Yulia, who had her hand in Mion’s mouth.
“What are you…?”
“Ah, it’s nothing. Mion ate some dirt. But your hurried arrival without His Majesty… does this mean you need Her Majesty the Empress?”
After seven years caught between Ashaella and Hadel, Yulia could now understand the situation at a glance.
Sure enough, Deril nodded with a troubled expression.
“Yes, that’s right. Did His Majesty have a disagreement with Her Majesty?”
Deril’s expression was full of anxiety as he cautiously asked.
Yulia recalled what had happened this morning.
The usual lovey-dovey couple.
If there was any difference, it was the Empress’s recent increase in mood swings.
Perhaps reaching a peak today, she had fiercely erupted at the Emperor’s light teasing.
The Emperor had tried to cheer her up a few times, but eventually sulked off to the Sun Palace.
It was obvious he would come looking for her again at lunchtime to dine together, so she hadn’t been particularly concerned.
Reading Yulia’s subtly changing expression, Deril urgently asked, like someone who had found hope:
“I knew it! That’s right!”
“Well, they did have a small argument. But it’s not that serious…”
From Yulia’s perspective, it wasn’t a big deal. But that was only from her viewpoint, not knowing the Emperor’s current mood.
“It is quite serious, Lady-in-waiting. His Majesty is conducting his duties in the Sun Palace. Moreover, he’s furious and has imprisoned Tesar.”
“What? But that’s…”
“For now, we need Her Majesty. Is she inside?”
“Ah, yes. But as you can see…”
Yulia paused briefly and looked at Mion, who was dangling upside down in Robelia’s grip.
Whatever was so exciting and fun, Mion was waving his arms and laughing “kyaruru” with abandon.
After watching Mion and Robelia for a moment, Yulia continued:
“…Lady Hasid is here.”
“Yes, I suspected as much. Is it urgent?”
Deril’s gaze also turned to Mion and Robelia.
Mion’s ash-gray hair, the spitting image of his father, shimmered softly in the sunlight.
“It should be fine. I’ll inform Her Majesty.”
“Thank you, Lady-in-waiting.”
Watching Yulia quickly enter the palace, Deril exhaled softly as if relieved.
“Um, that baby…?”
Collin, who had been quiet as a mouse beside him, cautiously asked.
“Baa!”
Mion, with his mouth wide open, dripping what might be drool or dirt, laughed brightly from one side.
“Hmm? Ah. You mean Mion? That’s right. Have you never seen him before?”
“No… I’m a bit surprised to see the Princess taking care of him herself.”
Whether it should be called “taking care of” or “playing with.”
A look of contemplation passed through Deril’s eyes, but he laughed casually and spoke:
“He’s the son of Sir Hasid. It seems his wife is visiting Her Majesty the Empress today and brought him along.”
“Sir Hasid? Gasp! T-the Imperial Knights’…?”
“Yes, last year’s martial arts tournament champion. Ah, here they come now.”
Fortunately, there seemed to be no urgency, as the Empress and Lady Hasid were quickly coming outside.
“Head Attendant.”
“I pay my respects to Her Majesty the Empress.”
Deril and Collin bowed their heads in greeting, then slightly nodded to Lady Hasid beside her.
“It’s been a while, Lady.”
A graceful woman with glossy brown hair and deep, intense eyes.
She was the woman whom Ensay Hasid—who had won the martial arts tournament, received the surname Hasid directly from the Emperor, and regained noble status—claimed to love more than his life.
She quietly returned the greeting with a nod and a gentle smile.
Who could believe that this woman of such quiet temperament was once that vicious villainess of the past?
Ashaella’s sharp voice cut through Deril’s reminiscing thoughts.
“Where is His Majesty now?”
Apparently, Her Majesty the Empress also had some grievance with His Imperial Majesty.
Deril bowed deeply, worried about being caught in the crossfire.
“He is in his office at the Sun Palace, Your Majesty.”
“Haah… First, release Tesar, and I’ll go see His Majesty.”
“Yes, I shall accompany you.”
“Roa, come with me.”
At Ashaella’s words, Roa waved goodbye to Mion and scurried over.
Her small, plump hand firmly grasping Ashaella’s white one made Collin, secretly watching, clutch his heart.
‘Gasp! T-the Princess is so adorable too…!’
The Sun Palace was quiet.
With the Emperor scowling and angry, it was beyond quiet—so silent that even the sound of a falling needle could be heard.
“Y-Your Majesty the Empress!”
As they entered, the knights and attendants guarding the office exclaimed in surprise.
Ashaella signaled them to be quiet and slowly opened the door to the office.
Normally, not even the Empress could enter the Emperor’s office without his permission.
But this was already familiar to them. There had never been a single instance where the Emperor had not granted permission when the Empress entered.
In fact, hadn’t the Emperor commanded that the Empress or Princess should always be let in without asking permission, saying it was a waste of time to seek approval each time?
“Thank you, Your Majesty!”
“I-I was so scared!”
“Phew… Now I can breathe a little easier.”
The knights and attendants all exhaled in relief as they watched Ashaella enter the office.
Peace and stability would soon return to the Sun Palace.
“Your Majesty.”
After entering and closing the door, Ashaella quietly called to Hadel.
Hadel, who had been sprawled face-down on the desk, slowly raised his head.
His disheveled hair and pink eyes tinged with fatigue.
Ashaella let out a small sigh and approached Hadel.
“You sulked off this morning, and now you’ve imprisoned an innocent attendant. What were you thinking?”
Ashaella frowned as she pressed her temples.
Lately, she had frequent headaches. Perhaps because of this, her mood had often been low.
This morning too. Her melancholy had been so deep that she had given perfunctory responses to Hadel’s words, which made him sulk.
“That’s not it. He deserved punishment for his mistake.”
Hadel still answered grumpily, avoiding Ashaella’s gaze.
“What mistake did he make?”
“You…”
“Me?”
“Said you were… bad.”
Ashaella’s brow furrowed deeper, unable to understand exactly what he meant.
“What are you saying? That the attendant spoke ill of me? That’s unlikely.”
“He did. He said, ‘Her Majesty the Empress is bad.'”
Wait a moment.
Ashaella narrowed her eyes and stared intently at Hadel’s face.
Hadel, perhaps feeling guilty, became more indignant and added:
“That’s an insult to royalty. So he must be severely punished.”
Of course, that was correct. But suddenly, out of nowhere, what attendant in this world would tell the Emperor “Her Majesty the Empress is bad” unprompted?
Ashaella spoke with a hollow laugh:
“Hadel, you complained about me first, didn’t you?”
“…”
“I knew it. After sulking and coming here this morning, you whined about the Empress, didn’t you?”
“…That…”
Hadel’s pink eyes wavered. A tacit admission.
Ashaella pressed her forehead and slumped down on the sofa.
“When the Emperor speaks, how could an attendant remain silent? You’re taking out your frustration on the wrong person for just agreeing with you?”
Hadel had no answer.
He had probably deliberately imprisoned the attendant because he wanted to see her.
If he took excessive action, Deril would surely summon Ashaella, and Ashaella would pretend reluctance but come and comfort him.
Having seen through Hadel’s intentions, Ashaella smiled slightly and gestured to Robelia.
Understanding immediately, the clever Robelia scurried to Hadel and reached out her arms.
“Daddy!”
Outside, she called him father, but Hadel loved when Robelia called him daddy.
“Daddy, I’ll specially give you this!”
In Robelia’s hand was her favorite lemon candy.
Below her silver hair, which resembled Ashaella’s, her snow-white cheeks swayed temptingly at Hadel.
“Our Roa, is that for Daddy?”
Just as Hadel finally couldn’t contain his twitching lips and smiled broadly while lifting Robelia—
“…Urgh!”
The lemon candy Robelia held out dangled awkwardly in the air, and silence fell.
“Ugh…! J-just… a moment.”
Hadel quickly covered his mouth and put Robelia back down.
As he dashed to the bathroom, both Ashaella and Robelia stared with stiff expressions, blinking their eyes.
“Da…ddy?”
Robelia seemed shocked. Perhaps she thought he had rejected her candy, or maybe she thought her daddy had contracted a fatal disease.
Ashaella too was startled at first, but she soon regained her composure and pulled the bell cord.
Hadel’s health was unmatched. Indigestion? Impossible. Stomach issues? Equally impossible.
But these symptoms—Ashaella knew she had experienced them once before.
“You called, Your Majesty the Empress.”
To Deril, who entered with a calm expression, Ashaella exclaimed:
“Call the imperial physician.”
“What? A-are you unwell?”
“No, not exactly…”
Ashaella’s voice trailed off as she placed a hand on her lower abdomen.
Robelia climbed onto Ashaella’s lap with a tearful expression.
“Mother…”
“It’s alright, Roa.”
The increased sleep lately. And the sensitive emotions.
Her appetite remained the same. But… counting back, it had been two months.
She had been so preoccupied with Robelia that she hadn’t properly kept track of dates.
“Is father very ill?”
Robelia asked with moisture brimming in her eyes.
Ashaella stroked Robelia’s hair and smiled brightly.
“No. It seems, our Roa might be getting a sibling.”
* * *
Exactly eight months later, the Sieria Empire gained one more national holiday.
It was “Family Day,” established by Emperor Lahadelt to celebrate the birth of the Crown Prince.
The purpose was to spend the day with family and strengthen bonds of love, or something like that.
