It Turned Out She Wasn't a Favored Concubine - Episode 1

I stared at the innocent teacup with an awkward smile.

But unlike my turbulent heart, the pretty vermilion tea remained perfectly still, without a ripple. I wasn’t the only one hoping this long, drawn-out teatime would end soon. This unwanted moment showed no signs of ending.

Yes, even the golden-haired prince sitting across from me with a beautiful smile surely didn’t want to be here either.

“Arne?”

Startled, I looked up to find the golden-haired prince staring intently at me. I instinctively flinched and leaned back.

Ha, I was truly shocked the first time I saw that face!

Sitting right in front of me was Erich Griesmann Zen Martania, a man who embodied the cliché of a “golden-haired prince” to perfection.

Sunlit golden hair, strikingly handsome features, eyes that danced between the clear sky and the deep sea, and the status of a prince.

No—he deserved a step higher.

He was the emperor.

“Arne, are you still feeling unwell?”

Erich set down his teacup with a deeply concerned expression. His slightly lowered long lashes, moist eyes, and gentle, cautious voice all hinted at how much he cherished the woman before him.

That woman, receiving the full affection of a man, was none other than me.

But instead of blushing like any other woman, I shook my head firmly.

“No, not at all. I’m feeling much better. You really don’t need to worry, Your Majesty.”

I’d already caused three palace physicians to be replaced—there was no way I could joke about feeling dizzy just from looking at his face.

“You suffered from a fever for months. Of course I worry. I waited so long for you to recover enough to share tea with me again. But hearing you call me ‘Your Majesty’ still feels strange. I’d prefer if you called me by my name, like before…”

I pressed my lips tightly together. Why bring up something we’d already settled?

“No, I couldn’t possibly call Your Majesty by name. I was ignorant of palace etiquette before and acted rudely, but I won’t make that mistake again.”

“How could it be rude for a wife to call her husband by name? You’re my consort, Arne.”

Technically, he was right. I was the emperor’s consort.

To be precise, one of his concubines. One of four, in fact.

There was no empress yet, but I was the third to enter among the four concubines.

“No, as palace etiquette dictates, even a consort must observe proper decorum with His Majesty. The other concubines don’t call you by name, so how could I alone do so? Unless they all did…”

Ha, how’s that? If I cite palace rules, dozens of elders would rise in protest.

And surely you wouldn’t want your name casually spoken by four women you married for political reasons, without love?

“…If that’s truly your wish.”

Erich’s eyes darkened to the deep blue of the ocean. It was as if even sunlight changed its hue to match his mood.

He still smiled kindly and beautifully, but the moment his gaze deepened, a chill from the abyss seeped in.

The attending maids probably didn’t notice, but I, who knew Erich’s true intentions, felt it clearly.

Still, it was fine for now. For the next few years, there would be no danger between Erich and me.

To be exact, Erich wouldn’t harm me—yet.

“Now that you’ve recovered, shall we celebrate with a palace banquet? There hasn’t been one in the capital for over three months, so it’ll be a grand affair. I’d love to see you beautifully dressed as the star of the evening.”

Of course, he wouldn’t harm me, but he could certainly make things inconvenient. I searched for an excuse to decline, lips curled in a polite smile.

Ha ha, a palace banquet? A grand one, no less? And me, the star?

I hated crowds and had only learned five dance steps for a middle school performance. I’d never danced since.

If I were the star, all eyes would be on me—I couldn’t handle that.

“Well, thanks to the palace physician’s dedicated care, I’ve improved a lot, but I’m not quite well enough for a banquet. Still, since I’ve recovered this much, perhaps you could lift the capital’s banquet ban that was issued due to my illness?”

I emphasized “dedicated care” clearly to avoid another physician being dismissed overnight.

And I subtly added a request to lift the ban that had made my name a source of resentment in society for the past three months.

“Ha, an unexplained fever… I never expected the palace physicians to be so irresponsible. Thankfully you’ve recovered, but if not—ugh, I don’t even want to imagine.”

Erich dramatically placed a hand on his forehead.

“Still, seeing your complexion improve, I’m glad this physician is doing his job. But I can’t lift the banquet ban just yet.”

As expected, my plea to shield myself from the capital’s growing resentment was firmly rejected.

I knew it—he was rambling for a reason.

“You’re not well enough to attend a banquet, so I don’t want others laughing and chatting under false pretenses. This concerns the honor of the imperial family. The ban will remain until you’re ready to attend.”

He invoked imperial honor—what more could I say?

I sipped my tea, imagining the growing resentment toward me. The tea tasted unusually bitter.

Three months—or perhaps even longer. The capital-wide banquet ban was absurd.

Historically, such bans were only issued for a few weeks after major tragedies, like the death of a royal.

But for a mere concubine to fall ill and trigger a ban? That had never happened.

I could understand the noble lady who bitterly muttered that she’d rather I died if it meant lifting the ban.

For noblewomen, attending banquets was both duty and pleasure. Being deprived of that for months was like losing their radiant daily lives—and they blamed me.

Even though it was Erich who issued the decree.

If only it were a romantic gesture—Erich stubbornly banning banquets out of love—it might’ve been endearing.

But this stubbornness wasn’t born of affection.

If only I were like everyone else, blissfully unaware and lost in misunderstanding. But I had noticed the truth…

I fixed my gaze on the teacup.

The smile I’d been forcing for Erich’s sake was starting to hurt.

Enough time had passed. I just needed a reason to end this long teatime.

Usually, a servant would whisper to the emperor about urgent matters, freeing me. But today, no such servant appeared.

I had to act.

Any excuse would do.

Thankfully, a chilly breeze swept across the table. I seized the moment.

“Oh my, the wind’s a bit cold. Shall we get up now? We wouldn’t want Your Majesty catching a cold.”

I fussed over finding a cloak for Erich, pretending to be concerned.

A servant brought the cloak, but Erich draped it over my shoulders instead.

“I should’ve cared for you more. I was too focused on myself. I didn’t expect the jealous wind to still blow while flowers bloom. I’ll have the physician prepare a tonic for your health.”

“Oh no, that’s not necessary…”

“It is. If you catch a cold now, it’d be terrible. You’ve only just recovered. I’ll visit again tomorrow.”

“Your Majesty is so busy how could I be so selfish? You needn’t come every day. Please focus on your duties.”

Erich’s expression subtly shifted. It was a complex look I couldn’t quite read.

But I pretended not to notice and urged the servants to escort him, adding an extra word for good measure.

Getting Erich back to the Berna Palace was my top priority.

I was at my limit. If I spent even a moment longer with him, my nerves might burn out completely.

Support It Turned Out She Wasn’t a Favored Concubine