The Emperor's Concubine

Chapter Sixty-Two

Opening my eyes, I wake up from a deep sleep. Unable to remember if I even had a dream, my body feels a bit heavy as I groggily look around.
Stretching as I sit up, I sleepily look outside. The sky grim as it rain pours down.
I reluctantly slide out of bed, feeling rather lethargic as I slowly make my way to the bathroom to wash up.

Reading a book by the window, I lift the teacup Magnolia has just placed to take a sip.
Startled by the thunder roaring outside, I jump slightly.
The hot tea burning my fingertips, I hastily set the cup back down as Magnolia hurriedly wipes my fingers.

"Goodness, I wonder if the weather will be like this all week." Magnolia looks out the window.
"With the way it's coming down now, it's possible. Hopefully the empire's prepared..." I think to myself, staring at the heavy rain.
"Prepared?"
"Yes, if it has systems to drain the districts from the water. It'll be troublesome if the water doesn't drain or the pipes are blocked." I shrug, sipping my tea.
"Now that you mention it, while working for Captain Arron, whenever I'd go to the middle district during monsoon season the streets were quite flooded."
"Flooded?"
"Yes. There was always a sour smell too, it's probably from the garbage and rain."
"I see... Would you mind going to the library and bringing me books of the regulations in the empire?" I hand Magnolia my library pass.
She nods, taking the card.
"Hm. A consultant huh?" I lean against the table, admiring the sound of the rain hitting against the window.

I finish reading through the large books Magnolia brings.
Unable to ignore the theory I have in mind, I sigh before beginning to write a letter.

"My lady, who is this for?" Magnolia asks.
"It's for the duke."
"The duke?" Magnolia's jaw drops, stunned.
"What's the matter?"
"There's rumours I've heard of him..."
"Such as?"
"Well, people have said his grace is someone who'll viciously obtain what he wants. There was an incident involving multiple noble ladies who fell for him."
"What happened?"
"Apparently, he made them fall in love with him. They gave up information about their families, and once he got what he wanted, he ruined their families and gave no mercy for the ladies who revealed their families secrets." Magnolia whispers, cautiously.

Stunned, I can't help but think about if that was the emperor's goal too.
Wearing a concerned stare, Magnolia looks back at the letter cautiously.

"Do you really want to trust that man?" Magnolia questions.
Taking a moment to think, I give a nod.
"Yes... There's always going to be stories of high ranking nobles... Even his highness didn't turn out to be as scary as the rumours, right?"
"I suppose you're right... But these rumours seem plausible... Are you sure you want to be involved with his grace?"
"I'm certain. I may not know his grace well, but he hasn't resembled the rumours at all. I want to give everyone the benefit of doubt that they're better than what others describe them as."
Magnolia gives me a look, resembling a pouting puppy—her eyes telling me to change my decision.

I can't help but giggle, before patting her head.
"I promise I'll be cautious around him, but I'm not someone he'll gain anything from. I'm his highness' concubine, and my family's already fallen. There's nothing he could gain from me."
"I suppose, my lady..."
"Please don't worry so much, I only need his help for an errand, that's the only reason I'm writing to him." I smile, giggling as Magnolia looks back at me with large worried eyes.
She gives a small nod.
"All right, my lady."
"So, how was bringing flowers to Jax?" I ask, continuing to write.
"He's stable, the doctors and healers are unsure of why he's not waking up though."
"I see... Have you seen Cethin or Petunia lately?"
"No, my lady... I've heard they're confined in their rooms until Jax wakes up."
I stamp the envelope with a plain wax seal.
"I see... Continue your duties, I'll be back later tonight." I stand, grabbing a cloak.
"My lady, where will you be?"
"Out." I smile, petting her head.
I leave my room, the envelope tucked in my cloak.

Looking around the hallways, I take a deep breath before walking confidently even as I notice maids quickly stealing glances my way.
In the distance by the training field, stands the housing for knights. Walking closer with the rain blocked by my umbrella, I try to look around for knights training outside.
Ensuring no one's around, I press my ear against the entry door, listening to loud chattering inside.

"I suppose I can't go in more elegantly." I shrug, walking around the building.

I peek into an empty room on the first floor, opening the window.
Sneaking in, I take my shoes off to not make a sound. I crack the door open to see the knights playing in the common area.
The hallway is empty and quiet as all the knights hang out in the common room. Sneaking out of the room, gently closing the door behind me, I tiptoe down the hall.
I look at the doors, the names of guards on each doorframe.
Searching through each floor, I look for a name I recognize.

"You're ridiculous, you can't do that!"

A guard laughs down the hallway.
I jump, running into the nearest room.

"Hm? Is Kiria back?"

The voices approach closer to the door of the room I'm hiding in.
I quickly open the window, closing it after I exit through it.

"Oh, guess she's not here."
I hear their mumbled voices.

The room door closes soon after.
Hanging off a small iron bar balcony above the room window.
I look down to see the ground far under my feet. My cloak getting drenched from the rain, my fingers begin slipping.
Reality hits me that if anyone were to see a noble lady hanging from a balcony, they'd think I was crazy.

"Ah!" I scream as my hand begins slipping, "What am I doing?"
I exclaim, attempting to get a better grip.

"Yeah, what the hell are you doing?" A voice shouts.

I look up to see Cethin, sticking his head over a railing above the room balcony I'm hanging off of.

"C-Cethin!" I shout, relieved.
"Are you crazy? What are you doing!" He exclaims.
"Please just help me first!" I cry out.
"Hm... Only if you compliment me." He grins.
"W-What?"
"Yeah, say 'Cethin, you're so handsome and cool' and then I'll save you." Cethin mimics a high pitched girly voice.
"Cethin! Just help me!"
"Nope, not till you say it." Cethin shrugs, grinning.
"Cethin you're so amazing, and extraordinarily handsome and gifted." I sarcastically say.
"Say it more genuinely."
"Cethin!-"
My hands slip.

I begin falling, shutting my eyes as my fingers no longer feel the bars.
Instantly, Cethin wraps his arm around my waist, holding onto the railing.

"Did you really think I'd let you fall?" He laughs, smiling ear to ear.
"A-A little bit!" I shout, rolling my eyes.
He pushes me up onto his balcony.
Climbing through his window as he jumps in after me, I huff as I feel my heart beating out of my chest.
"You're so mean!" I scoff, hitting his arm.
"You could say thanks, I saved you, didn't I?" Cethin shrugs, laughing.
"Well, I wasn't sure if you would!" I hit his arm again.
"Yeah, but you're standing here fine, aren't you?"
"Okay enough, I need to ask you for a favour."
"Depends."
"Well, I need you to find Xal and tell him to put this letter in the duke's office." I hand Cethin the letter, "It's heavily guarded on that wing, so tell him to sneak in through the window instead."
"Is this all you need?"
"No, you and I need to go to town."
"The town? Chicky, I'm not even allowed to leave this room." Cethin throws the letter on the desk, messing with his wet hair to style it.
"Has that really stopped you?" I raise an eyebrow.
Cethin grins and scoffs.
"You noticed?" He looks at me.
"Yes, of course. I know you were watching the knights grabbing Lady Dulcie, which I'm upset that you didn't save her first."
"Dang, I thought I was pretty hidden. Listen Chicky, I'm not hired to protect guests. I would have saved her, but you did it first anyways."
"That being said, I know you don't care about listening to the rules, so why say no to coming with me?"

Cethin walks up to me, bopping my nose.
"I don't want to be charged for kidnapping." He playfully speaks.
"It's not kidnapping. Even if they realize I'm gone, no one will know you're gone. Even if they suspect anything, I'll come back tonight."
"Oh."
"What is it?"
"I thought you were running away, you're coming back?"
"Yes, of course! Where would I run away to?"
"Then why visit the town?" Cethin looks at me dubiously.
"Because I have some business to attend to." I smile, shrugging as I dry my cheeks with a towel.