The Emperor's Concubine

Chapter Sixty-Nine

"Escape the palace?" Duke Oslo asks.

His gloved hand tightens into a fist, growing pained staring upon her tears.
Luna nods, her expression pained yet numbed as she quickly wipes her eyes with a napkin.

"Yes... I don't only want to stay a concubine. I wish to be a consultant—I want to achieve something only I can do myself... But I have no clue on how to achieve that."
"Luna... You could be hung for even thinking about betraying his highness."
"But I've been careful about how to meet you, and no one else knows. I promise no one will find out, but I have no one else to ask." Luna pleads, lowering her head as she tries to hold back her sobs.
"Luna... To become a consultant is difficult as a concubine."
"Why?"
"Well..." Duke Oslo sighs, "The marquess and marchioness haven't explained it properly, but you're his highness' concubine... You have no rights except the ones his highness gives you. Are you sure you don't want to become queen?-"
"I don't want to marry him." Luna quickly cuts him off.
She stares at him with eyes of certainty.
"This may all be said through anger..." Duke Oslo sighs.
"I promise it isn't."
"How are you so certain?"
"Because... I'm not strong enough to watch him marry another lady."
"But you could gain freedom that way-"
"He'll never grant me freedom if I become queen. He made it clear that I must support the future empress."
Thinking for a moment, Duke Oslo taps the table with his finger.

"Lady Luna, to become a consultant while being a concubine is impossible. It's disheartening, but given that you're a concubine because your kingdom was overtaken, it causes more issues compared to if you were sent here as a gift. You only live for his highness now." Duke Oslo sternly speaks, his eyes empathetic as he looks back at her.
"Is there nothing to be done to gain freedom?" Luna questions with a small voice.
"Why now? Is there a reason you're this desperate?"

Taking a moment, Luna forces a smile.
"Princesses are arriving for the spring ball, and I know it's because he has to choose a candidate... I've been trying to trick myself into believing that I only have affection for him, but it wouldn't be this unbearable to watch him choose a candidate if that were the case."
Duke Oslo thinks to himself, before giving a reluctant sigh.
"I'll help you. I can't promise anything will work, but I'll think of a plan... In the meantime, take a few days to think of your decision."
"Thank you, your grace." Luna bows her head, a look of relief in her eyes as she meets his gaze.
"I'll have my butler get a message from you in a few days. He'll bring it back to me through another maid."
Luna nods, listening as the duke creates a plan to get in touch with her.

Duke Oslo bows to the marchioness and Luna as he leaves.

"I agreed before I could fully think about it... Am I a fool?" Duke Oslo whispers, leaning back in his carriage.
The image of Luna numbly crying in pain, plays in his mind.
Furrowing his brows, he holds his head as his eyes coldly gaze out his carriage window.
"How can I restrain myself, when you come to me so vulnerably?" He mumbles, his expression disappointed in himself yet pleased.

Returning to the palace, Luna sighs as she gets off the carriage.
Lance stands outside waiting for her with an umbrella, quickly moving to protect her from getting drenched.

"My lady, his highness is having a banquet dinner with the guests that arrived. Would you like to join them?"
Luna scoffs, turning to Lance.
"Did his highness specifically invite me?"
"N-No, my lady..."
"Then I refuse. There's no need for me to interrupt his dinner. I ask you to refrain from checking up on me now."
"But, my lady-"
"I don't wish to have my every move being needlessly watched. I'll live on his terms, just as he wants so he has nothing to worry about."
Taken aback by her harsh words, Lance hesitantly speaks.
"My lady... May I speak with you privately?" Lance looks back at her pained, "Will you spare some of your time for me?"
Taking a moment to look back at Lance's desperate expression, Luna reluctantly agrees.