The Emperor's Concubine

Chapter Twenty-Two

Sitting in the tranquil library, steam rises off my teacup as I watch the snow melt from the warm shining sun.

My chest tight, my fingers can't help but grip the edges of the book as I rest it on my lap.
The feeling of peace over me, yet the bitterness of my last moments with the emperor linger in the back of my mind.

"Lady Luna?" Magnolia quietly calls out, her voice bringing back from my daze.

I turn my head to see her cautiously approach, holding a letter in her hand.

"What have you brought?" I ask.

I pause for a moment after catching a glimpse of her face—her left cheek slightly swollen, along with the side of her bottom lip.
She holds her face at an angle to hide it from my sight.

Stepping close, she holds out the envelope to me. My eyes focusing on the faint colour of redness on her lip.

"Maggie, will you turn your head please?" I ask.

A look of worry crosses her face as she slightly shakes her head.

"I-I'm afraid I can not." She replies.
"And why is that? Are you hiding something?"

She shakes her head again.
I sigh as I look to her eyes—even as she avoids eye contact.

"Magnolia... If anything's happened, will you tell me? I won't force you to show me, but I'm worried about you."

Magnolia pauses as she shuts her eyes tightly. A look of fear and embarrassment shows in her expression until she slowly turns her face.

My eyes widen as shock and anger overcome my body.
A dark red bruise on her cheekbone, and a cut on the far left side of her eyebrow.

"W-Who did this to you?" My voice comes out almost deeply, as I speak from the bottom of my chest.

My heart races, my body growing cold. The appearance of her injuries and fearful expression, resembling how I looked whenever I stared in the mirror at the injuries father and mother caused.

Magnolia avoids looking at me again, turning her face.

"I-It was the emperor..." She shuts her teary eyes tightly.
"The emperor did this?" I stand up surprised, my body seeming to grow cold as she speaks, "W-Why... He did this?"

Magnolia looks away, biting her lip hard as she silently shakes her head.

"My lady... I-It's nothing serious. I urge you to read the letter, it's from his majesty..." She speaks guiltily.

I quickly open the envelope and read the invitation.
A scoff escapes my lips, amazed by his cruel boldness to invite me as I look back at Magnolia's face.

"Are you able to ask another maid for some ointment and an ice pack?" I quickly toss the letter on the table, setting my attention on her injuries.

My hands gently touch her jaw as I analyze the cuts closely.

"A-Are you hurt anywhere my lady?" She asks, her eyes worried.
"No, not at all. It's for you." I calmly whisper.
"M-My lady, I cannot use medicine meant for a princess!" Maggie hesitates, backing away from me.
"Magnolia... Please, I can't leave you like this, but I don't know where any medicine is kept. Please let me help you, it'll only hurt more without treatment." I smile sadly as I look at her.

Tearing up, she thinks for a moment. Nodding hesitantly.

Sitting in front of me, my finger carefully spreads ointment on Magnolia's cuts. Gently placing bandages on them after, I rest the ice pack against the bruise.
She sits still, her eyes zone out as she focuses on the wall.

"Did the emperor really do this to you?" I cautiously ask, not wanting to believe he could be this cruel.
"Yes my lady... Please forgive me." She whispers, her eyes downcast as she stares at her lap.
"Forgive you? You haven't done anything wrong." I exclaim, my heart aching as I notice her disappointment.
"I... I made you not want to see him, haven't I?" She quietly asks.

I shake my head, taken aback by her sorrowful expression.

"I will not tolerate him treating you as such. His actions are not your fault, do you understand?" I reassure her, flashing a small kind smile.

She gives a smile in return, but quickly turns saddened.

Time goes by as Magnolia sleeps after I've forced her to nap. I quietly write a letter as confused thoughts take over my mind. His majesty's invitation before me, anger and fear swells inside me—writing a brief reply that insists he never invites me again for what he's done.

With my finished letter in hand, I walk to the emperor's palace—arriving at the entry gates. A knight assists me inside, until I'm met with a butler.

"Lady Luna, please follow me. His imperial majesty has made preparations for afternoon tea." He speaks calmly, bowing his head.
"Unfortunately, I'm unavailable to meet with him. Please give him this letter on my behalf."

The butler freezes, unsure of what to do.
Handing him the envelope, I take my leave—returning to the golden palace's library.

Quietly sitting back in my chair, I glance over at Magnolia sleeping soundly.

"I thought you were different from the rumours... I thought you were someone different than them." I whisper, my parents coming to mind as my gaze stays stuck on the redness that lingers on Magnolia's cheek.

The memories of the king and queen's crazed smiles come back to haunt my mind.
The sensation of being hit, how each injury ached to the point of disrupting my sleep at nights, and the sounds of each moment plays in my mind.

I sigh, resting my hand on my chest as a bitter disappointment grows in my heart.

"Maybe I was the fool for not realizing..." I whisper, thinking back to the insults his majesty hurled at me.

My eyes welling with tears as I imagine the pain Magnolia surely feels, I bite my lip as to not let my sobs wake her.