Running Away Before the Runaway Empress

Chapter 3

“We don’t need to clean. The chambermaids will take care of it.”

Sara tried to look stern as she tugged on Lelia’s ear, unsure if she was even listening.

“Are you listening?”

“Yes.”

“What did I say?”

“You said we don’t need to clean. I know that.”

Lelia had learned this fact after following Sara around for a month.

But Sara, following the head maid’s orders, explained from the beginning again. Letting go of Lelia’s ear, she continued, “I’ve been handling this alone because you’ve been odd lately, but now you must join me in reporting the empress’s schedule to the emperor at the end of each week.”

“Report the empress’s schedule to the emperor directly?”

“Yes, directly.”

Sara added that this was to keep tabs on Lord Arctylus who backed the empress.

“We work three days a week, so we have four days off. You can visit home, enjoy teatime, but don’t just hole up and sleep.”

“You never said we could go anywhere.”

Ignoring Lelia’s grumbling, Sara continued, “Where else can you find such a good job? They pay a lot.”

Except for the part about being a hostage, which is a huge bummer, Lelia inwardly retorted to Sara’s muttering.

“I just thought of something amazing, Sara.”

“You’re not thinking of getting married and then divorced, are you?”

“Are you a mind reader?”

“Are you crazy?” Sara shouted, smacking Lelia on the back. Despite never having hit anyone before, Sara was surprisingly strong. Tears sprung in Lelia’s eyes from the pain.

“Ow, that hurts.”

“How can you think that? Once you’re married, you can’t get divorced!”

Lowering her voice, Sara scolded Lelia, looking around nervously.

“Why can’t the empress divorce the emperor? Because it’s legally impossible!”

“Oh, right.”

“‘Oh, right’?”

Facing Sara’s terrifying glare, Lelia shut her mouth. In her desperation to escape, she had asked something she already knew, causing Sara to confirm that Lelia was indeed a halfwit.

That didn’t matter, but her back hurt terribly, as if it was on fire.

“Is something trickling down my back?”

“You’re fine.”

But it hurts too much.

Then, realizing something, Lelia blocked Sara’s path with wide eyes.

“What?”

“How can you tell if something’s trickling down my back when I’m wearing clothes? How do you know I’m fine?”

Feeling a twinge of guilt, Sara gently stroked Lelia’s back.

“Does it hurt a lot?”

“It burns.”

“It’ll get better soon. Sorry, I lost my temper because you were being so absurd.”

“So you’re blaming the victim?”

“It seems like you’ve forgotten the way, so let me explain again.”

Sara deftly changed the subject. Lelia rubbed her burning back a couple of times, though it didn’t help.

***

Lelia had a terrible sense of direction. Sara tried to help her learn the passageways in the empress’s palace but eventually gave up.

“Just stick with me.”

Despite Sara’s advice, Lelia got lost while taking a walk on her day off. Sara had returned to her own estate on her day off, leaving Lelia to wander alone.

“I should have listened to Sara.”

It was too late for regret now. The empress’s palace was enormous, and Lelia getting lost in this place was almost inevitable.

Staying put and waiting for someone to find her would have been the best option, but Lelia decided to move around in hopes of finding someone to ask for directions.

“I should have asked Sara for more details about who I am.”

Though it would mean being treated like a madwoman again, Lelia didn’t care. She had to understand this body she was inhabiting. Finding a way back would be ideal, but for now, she needed information.

“I’ll ask when she comes.”

Sara would return in two days.

“I’m such an idiot, idiot...”

As Lelia wandered around, she found a man muttering to himself, hunched over against a tree. She could tell by his attire that he was a knight. Though he seemed to need some privacy, Lelia didn’t care; she just wanted to get back to her room. She approached the knight.

“Sir Knight.”

“I’m a fool...”

“You’re not a fool, Sir Knight.”

When he didn’t respond, she tapped his shoulder lightly. The knight jumped up at Lelia’s gentle tap, startled.

“Uh, uh...”

“Sir Knight.”

Without a second thought, she called him again. The knight looked up, staring at Lelia in a daze. His long platinum hair blew gently in the wind. The breeze carried a fresh scent to his nose. When their eyes met, he found himself mesmerized by her deep purple eyes.

“Are you hot?”

The knight’s face turned bright red. In that moment, she seemed as enchanting to his eyes as a fairy. Unaware of his thoughts, Lelia decided to leave since he wasn’t responding. Just as she turned to go, the knight blocked her path.

“Ah, hello! I’m Cedric!”

“Lelia.”

It seemed he could see her at last.

“I—”

Just as Lelia was about to ask for directions, Cedric interrupted her.

“Are you busy?”

Lelia was annoyed. He wasn’t answering her questions but asking pointless ones. Feeling the negative energy radiating from her, Cedric flinched. Only then did he recall her repeated calls.

“Oh, I’m sorry. I was lost in thought... Were you about to say something?”

“I can’t find the empress’s palace.”

“Oh, you’re a maid from the empress’s palace.”

He finally noticed her maid uniform, red and black, indicating her affiliation with the empress’s palace. The blue brooch near her chest signified that she served the empress closely.

“Did you get lost while working?”

“No, it’s my day off today.”

“Then why are you in your maid uniform…?”

Usually, servants wore their own clothes on their days off. But Lelia was in her maid uniform.

“It’s the most comfortable outfit I have.”

“Ah, so you got lost while taking a walk.”

Cedric, having forgotten about his earlier self-loathing, offered, “May I escort you back to the empress’s palace?”

Finally hearing what she wanted, Lelia’s face relaxed slightly. Though her expression didn’t change much, Cedric sighed in relief as he felt her soften up.

“Please do.”

“Allow me.”

Lelia followed behind him, eager to return to her quarters. Cedric glanced back at her occasionally.

The empress’s palace, shunned by the emperor, was the most avoided place in the imperial palace grounds. Few people wanted to work there, so the palace was run by a small number of servants. The empress kept few attendants close, and the palace operated with minimal staff.

The empress’s connection to Archduke Arctylus protected her from worse treatment. Without that, the empress’s palace might have been even more desolate than an uninhabited one. Sara hadn’t explained this to Lelia, fearing what unpredictable actions she might take if she knew the full extent of the situation.

In any case, due to this, Cedric had no idea such a beautiful woman was working in the empress’s palace. He couldn’t take his eyes off her, forgetting about manners, as he continued to stare at Lelia. She scratched her cheek, feeling awkward.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“Oh! Um… I… ”

Deciding to ignore his odd response, Lelia hoped he would hurry and lead her back. Evening was approaching, and the palace chef, Ewad, was divine. He was sent over to the palace by Archduke Arctylus to ensure the empress did not starve herself. There had been some resistance from the emperor initially, but whatever conversation took place between them, it quickly died down.

The food was outstanding, and those working in the palace, though few, were close-knit and content, unbothered by their isolation.

“Ewad is a great cook.”

“Pardon?”

“It means hurry. If you do, I’ll give you a treat as a thank you.”

For me?! Cedric’s heart pounded. He quickened his pace, and Lelia followed eagerly. Soon, they arrived at the empress’s palace. Lelia rushed back to her room, grabbed a cupcake she had saved, and brought it out to Cedric.

“Thank you for bringing me back. Take care.”

“But I—”

Before Cedric could say anything, Lelia slipped inside the maid’s quarters.