Moreover, there was one thing she believed. Whether it was the instinct towards his companion or something else, the emperor did not harm his appearance even during transformation.

It had been the same yesterday and today. The emperor, transformed into a demon, merely embraced the one he believed to be his companion.

So tonight would also be safe.

“Oh, um… You accept it quite easily?”

The one flustered was Liyan, who had deliberately spoken assertively.

“Isn’t the reproach that I didn’t fulfill my role in Blue Moon? Why be surprised?”

“That’s true… It’s time to get used to it, but I keep getting surprised. You’re so different from before.”

“I can’t answer a comparison to something I don’t remember. Relay my answer to His Majesty, and bring him to the empress’ palace when the time comes.”

“Understood, Your Majesty the Empress. Then…, … Ah, one more thing.”

As he was turning to leave the bedroom of the Empress Palace, Liyan twisted his body around again.

“Why did you go to the northern tower? No matter how I think about it, you don’t seem to have any business there.”

In case someone asked, she had prepared an answer beforehand.

It was a bit surprising that it was Liyan and not the emperor.

“I’ve been looking around the palace when I have time. In case it helps to restore my memory. The northern tower was just a coincidence.”

“How come so many guards never saw Your Majesty, even once?”

“That’s their business, not something I have to explain.”

“Well, you’re not wrong. I’ll have to crack down on the guards, huh.”

After appearing to think for a moment, Liyan asked again.

“I’m asking just in case, but even if you see His Majesty’s appearance during the day, your admiration for his appearance is the same?”

“What’s the reason for asking that?”

“Just purely curious. Night and day might be different. You might have been quite surprised when His Majesty broke through the door.”

The constant questions about someone’s appearance were not comfortable.

The silence and darkness of a room without mirrors were familiar to Rasilia, for whom people’s appearance had little meaning. The moments of visibility were short, and there was much time to forget.

‘But in his case, the memory lasts longer because it’s so intense.’

Besides, today’s daytime appearance was better than last night’s.

There were no protruding bones, so it looked less painful.

“It was not much of a transformation during the day. He must have suffered less pain, which is fortunate.”

“Ah… I didn’t expect you to say that. So you haven’t changed your thoughts?”

“There’s no reason to change. His Majesty hasn’t changed just because he underwent a temporary transformation.”

A change in appearance was nothing compared to him becoming increasingly affectionate.

“It seems His Majesty’s transformation has no effect on Your Majesty the Empress. I understand.”

Liyan gave a slight bow.

“Then I’ll bring His Majesty to you.”

Thump.

Liyan closed the door and left. Rasilia, who had changed into her nightclothes without the help of the maids, opened the window and sat down on the single sofa below it, staring at the blue moon.

Time spent in the imperial palace was fraught with danger, but there were good points.

She could look out the window at any time.

That was it.

“The northern tower is fine. For now.”

“Ah, that’s good.”

“It’s hard to believe, but the story about Duke Shuraiden is true. The library administrator confirmed it for me.”
“You didn’t even doubt it. That’s just what the line would do.”

“I also investigated the palace maid’s personal background, just in case. Her mother died when she was young, and her father died of illness afterwards. She has two siblings, both of whom are still minors. They are not extremely poor, but they are not in a position to refuse money either. It was also confirmed that she worked at the Imperial Library.”

“Ah, she must have been a bookworm. So she must have thought of reading something like the royal records. She must have read all the books in the library, right?”

“…….”

Serben, who was in charge of the Empress’s escort, could not leave the Empress’s palace. And now, Rian was lightly humming a tune on his way to the Emperor’s palace.

Without any intention to stop, Rian walked, and Serben eventually blocked his path.

“Wait, Rian.”

“Ah, why?”

“We have something to talk about. Aren’t you worried?”

“What’s there to worry about?”

“What do you mean? Does it make sense that the Empress happened to be at the northern tower, and happened to be alone with the palace maid? There must be something going on. Something that she has to do behind the Empress and our eyes.”

Rian clicked his tongue and shook his head.

“So what? What’s now? To overturn something that has already ended? Her Majesty will look at that well.”

“No, even if Her Majesty does that… we shouldn’t do that. We must at least keep an eye on that palace maid. I thought you would bring it up first.”

“Ah, did you?”

Then Rian, without any sign, kicked Serben’s shin. Serben grabbed his shin and barely held back a scream about to burst.

“Ugh! Why, kick, like that. You can… talk about it.”

Serben barely spat out, grimacing in pain.

“You’re acting too stupid today. You wake up when you get hit at times like this.”

“What did I, do?”

“Click, click… That palace maid has now become a ladyinwaiting. As the Duke of Shruden’s daughter. You don’t know what that means?”

“Hmm?”

Serben released his shin and stared at Rian.

“Didn’t you say to take her as a ladyinwaiting for no reason?”

“The current head of the ladiesinwaiting in the Empress’s palace is Lady Pashad, the wife of Duke.”

“Then, what?”

“If the Duke’s daughter suddenly appears, what will the Duchess look like? Being the Empress’s head of ladiesinwaiting means being second in the social world. All the requests to the Empress naturally go through the Duke Pashad’s house.”

Serben’s expression changed.

“So?”

“If there is anything suspicious about the Duke of Shruden’s daughter, we don’t have to try, the eight or so ladiesinwaiting will naturally dig it out for us.”