Chapter 1. Prologue
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Sponsored by Kuroneko đ (4/4)
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The servants and the Kingsguard, who had been quietly standing nearby, hurriedly averted their gaze. Karzen stared down at Rahaâs neck.
The white neck was full of red marks. No one opened their mouths in that state. Karzen’s gaze was fixed on her speckled as it nailed shut.
âRaha.”
âYes.”
âI think you like that slave.â
âYes.â
It was a gentle answer. There was no change in Karzen’s expression. If the collar that wrapped Rahaâs slender neck was made of a more flexible material, Karzen would have gladly looked down Rahaâs chest.Â
âIâm jealous, Raha.â
âWhy?”
âBecause you seem to like that slave more than me.â
âThat’s not possible, Karzen.â
âYour words and actions are very different.â
Karzen behaved this way every time, so the chamberlain, who was loyal to him, tried to bring Raha to the emperor’s bed. They want the twins to have s*x? Just like her and Shed?
Disgusting was no longer a word.
Karzen looked disappointed.
âIf that slave dies, you’re going to be terribly sad, and I’m already worried about you.â
Such sweet concern. Raha said without changing her expression.
âIt can’t be helped if the slave dies.”
âYes. Toys don’t live long to begin with. I just don’t understand why you are so interested in that slave. Is it because it has a pretty face?â
Karzen tilted his chin lightly.
âThat slave was obedient, though, the way he followed without a word of rebellion when he was asked to drag the body of the chief chamberlain. It wasn’t fun because he was obedient. Is it different now?â
âYouâre not trying to destroy my slave again. Karzen.â
“It’s fun, Raha.”
Karzen’s voice softened, as if inviting a child with candy.
âI’m told that in ancient times there were kingdoms that enjoyed throwing slaves bareback in front of hungry lions. Wouldn’t you be curious?”
âKarzen.”
Raha said, taking Karzenâs hand.
âDo you remember when we were young?â
âYes?”Â
âMother Empress used to rip the belly of the doll when I peeked at it every day.â
The doll was ripped to shreds and taken away from Raha, and she didn’t know where it had gone. She still doesnât know.
“I really……. I spent the whole day looking for the doll. You remember that?â
âOh. “
Karzen tugged forcefully between Rahaâs fingers. With his thumb, he slowly stroked the back of her silky hand.
âOf course I remember.â
âRight?”
âOkay.â
Of course he remembered. He was 12 or 11 years old. Raha, who had the eyes of the heir went to see Karzen, was truly a living cursed doll. The Empress could not overcome the anger that filled her up every time she saw Raha.
In just a few months, her daughter, who was even more than just a little bit fragile, had become more and more like a crazy person. The young Raha was so absorbed in a single doll. Not wanting to even see that, the Empress ordered her maid to ruin the doll.
Despite being repeatedly slapped in the cheek, Raha walked around looking for the doll that had been taken away from her. The same was true on rainy days.
How long did it take Raha to come to her senses?
It was only then that Karzen took his attention away from Rahaâs slave.
He had no choice but to look away from the marks that covered her neck.
It was nothing short of a skit that the supreme emperor should have to fight for the favor with the lowly slave.
Lunatic.
Raha smiled gently.
* * *
â……………….. God’s Grace. May you supplement the noble lineage of Del Harsa who has been blessed.â
This was the first time in history that a high priest directly supervised the ceremonies of the chamberlain, so of course, attention was drawn among the nobles.
Raha set the stage with joy.
Accordingly, there was a splendid banquet at the court. Banquets were often held, but the number of victory banquets, which had been held by Karzen like crazy, was the same.
As one would expect …
The new chamberlain was obviously more favorable to Raha. To be precise, he behaved politely toward Raha. It was a great development when Raha thought of the creepy-eyed chamberlain who had been so cocky before, watching to see when he could bring Raha to Karzenâs bed.
âRaha.â
Karzen came to Raha, who was dressed in green and holding a glass of champagne. If there was anything different than usual, it was that there was a woman standing by Karzenâs side.
Jamela – the daughter of Duke Winston.
She was even presented with a silver bird and was officially engaged to the emperor.
Thanks to her, Raha only had to dance half of the dances she usually danced with Karzen. If she could, Raha wanted to give Jamela a gift of guilt.
Â
“You two can talk comfortably.” (Jamela)
But Jamela certainly was. ……… she was a lady with a keen intuition. Was it because sheâs the daughter of a great noble family?
It was a shame to see her disappear so naturally. Raha really didnât want to be alone with Karzen.
âRaha. You brought your slave.â
âYes.”
âIsnât it too much?â
âHow many aristocrats bring their own concubines and mistresses with them?”
Of course …… they couldnât bring them to an imperial banquet like this because of their dignity.
âDoesn’t matter. My slave was a gift from the supreme emperor, and I am a legitimate princess of the empire.â
Raha’s immature and arrogant words must have made Karzen very happy. He erupted into a satisfied laugh.
âYouâre right. Weâre different from them. I donât blame you.â
âYes.â
âIt’s also a good idea for the cheeky holy priests to see their prized weapons reduced to bedroom slaves.â
âYes.â
Karzen took Rahaâs hands and held them. He kissed the back of her hand, but his eyes scanned every inch of Raha’s face.
Raha just smiled, pretended not knowing of that blatant stare. Please, she hoped that the priest would end their good conversation with Shed soon.
* * *
High Priest Amar looked at Shed and nearly burst into tears.
âYou look well.â
In the Sacred, the High Priest who poked at the heavens was using his time to see the slave. People might think it was funny, but it didn’t matter. He had already prepared his excuses.
Since he used his status as a priest who worships God to experiment with the slaves, so he respected the weak as if he was treating the weak with deep guilt.
Since the other day, when everything was exposed to Raha and he received a great shock, High Priest Amar had not let his guard down in the slightest. He had prepared all the measures he could.
âI am glad that the Princess has been so kind to you…..”
Slurring his words, High Priest Amar took Shedâs hands in his. To the eyes of others, it must have looked like he held both hands because he couldn’t win the emotions that were welling up.
The captain of the Kingsguard, Karzenâs watchdog, who has been keeping watch, thought so, too.
“Please always be healthy. I’m always grateful to the Princess.”
The word “grateful” sounded a little odd. Shed, who had been staring intently at Amar, slowly opened his mouth.
âI will.â
“Yes……………. is fine then.”
Releasing Shed’s hand, Amar smiled sadly.
âI would like to thank the Princess separately.â
âI will take you to her, High Priest.â
The captain of the Kingsguard immediately ushered High Priest Amar in. Shed followed closely behind him and looked down at his ungloved hand. His gaze, which had stayed there for a while, quickly returned to normal.
It was strange.
High Priest Amar had just infused Shed with divine power without anyone’s knowledge. It wasn’t until a while later that Shed began to understand what it meant.
* * *
The Imperial Palace, which had been disturbed by the sudden death of the chief chamberlain, was restored to stability with the official appointment of a new chief chamberlain.
Not long after winter, the New Year’s party was just around the corner.
The New Year’s party was the most important event in the imperial family of the Delo Empire, along with the national holidays.
However, there was no high royal family at all who could preside over such things in the imperial household. As a result, Raha had to take charge of these events, whether she hated it or not. It was scheduled to continue for at least a week, a forced march that would make it difficult to even enter the inner palace.
But, today…….
â’Mmm. Princess.â
âDuke Winston.â
âHow have you been during the past few days?â
âAnything you want to say?â
â…… Ah.”
When Raha asked too straightforwardly, Duke Winston cleared his voice.
âHow would you like to prepare the New Year’s banquet with my daughter?â
“……?”
Raha blinked.
âWeâre going to be a family soon, and my daughter lacks in many aspects. It would be nice if the Princess could teach her⌅……don’t you think?â
Duke Winston was not just optimistic about Rahaâs personality. The Princess has been protected by the Emperor, but in any case, she was a legitimate Princess who inherited the eyes of the heir. Moreover, she was not a submissive character, just not extremely emotional.
The emperor knew this and would do his best to keep her in check. At the same time, the Princess who could not completely abandon her affection and love for her twin brother and eventually received such deep love and hatred.
SoâŚ.
He thought it could be unpleasant. He had secretly demanded that the imperial princess give over the job of empress that she was undertaking.
However, it was also a procedure that was always necessary for his trip. At least that was what Duke Winston thought.
âFine.” (Raha)
âHuh?”Â
Raha got up from her seat.
This place, where she was preparing for the New Year’s banquet, was no place for Raha. The reason was that when preparing for major events within the imperial household, the huge office set up next to the emperor’s main palace was more efficient.
Originally, this was where the Empress, the hostess of the palace, had worked for generations, and it was also the place where Karzen semi-forced Raha to work.
Raha organized the documents she was reading and placed them neatly on the desk.
“Tell Lady Jamela Winston to work here.”
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*Raha is more than happy to hand over the job to the soon-to-be Empress Jamela. But someone is not going to be happyâŚ..