It Turned Out She Wasn't a Favored Concubine - Episode 20

Her expression was calm, but her heart pounded. It was a once-in-a-lifetime moment. Would Perlo accept the request, or not?

Perlo spun around in place, his red hair wildly tousled. Then he stopped abruptly and looked at me.

“If I agree to this request or whatever it is, you’ll keep quiet about the barrier tampering?”

“Of course.”

Perlo pressed his lips together, then met my gaze.

“What’s the request?”

Ever since Perlo mentioned inter-world travel at the auction, I’d been waiting for the moment it might resurface.

“A Motus that allows travel to another world.”

I looked at Perlo steadily and continued.

“That’s what I want.”

Perlo raised his eyebrows. His crimson eyes shimmered strangely.

“You… Are you really a royal concubine? Not a foreign Motus artisan?”

“My portrait hangs in the palace. You can check it later.”

“Hah. I never thought I’d hear someone who isn’t even a Motus artisan talk about traveling between worlds. Even most artisans aren’t interested in that.”

I tilted my head.

“What do you mean?”

“What else? Once people are making a decent living, they stop researching. No progress.”

Perlo shook his head.

“There are still many secrets about Motus that haven’t been uncovered. If you’re born with the ability to sense Motus, it’s only natural to explore its mysteries. But most just use traditional techniques to make money. Inter-world travel is one of those unexplored secrets.”

I felt uneasy and asked in a trembling voice.

“Then what was that declaration at the auction? You said you could craft a Motus for inter-world travel.”

“Well, it was more of a warning to those money-hungry artisans. I didn’t expect someone like you to react.”

“So… you don’t actually know if it’s possible to travel between worlds using Motus?”

My voice and fingers trembled. The fear of losing that one sliver of hope was overwhelming.

“That’s not true.”

His firm denial eased the storm slightly.

“Why do you think I brought up inter-world travel? I’ve recently found a hint. I can’t say it’s possible right now, but…”

“What hint?”

I asked urgently. Maybe too urgently—Perlo gave me a curious look.

“I’m wondering why someone who isn’t even an artisan is so interested.”

I composed my expression and replied bluntly.

“Isn’t keeping quiet about the barrier tampering worth it? I don’t need to explain my reasons.”

“Fair enough. But it’s not a typical interest for a royal concubine. Especially one who can’t sense Motus.”

“…Can you tell just by looking?”

Only those born with the ability to sense Motus’s unique energy could become artisans. It wasn’t something that could be learned. You needed both the innate trait and precise craftsmanship.

During a feverish period, I’d imagined—like a protagonist in a novel—that maybe I had the soul of someone from another world and could manipulate Motus freely. Traveling between worlds at will. But after learning how Motus worked, I let go of that fantasy.

And if my body wasn’t suited for it, I’d never become an artisan.

“Yeah, I can tell. It’s like a scent. Not like perfume you can smell with your nose, but still detectable.”

“What? I didn’t wear perfume.”

“…Then maybe it’s your natural scent? Anyway, just like Motus has a scent, people who can sense it do too. But you don’t have it. You smell different.”

Despite saying something sensitive to a woman, Perlo was completely unfazed. I sniffed myself discreetly but didn’t notice anything. Maybe I picked up a smell from rolling on the carpet?

“That’s how we identify potential artisans—by scent. Though we need direct contact to be sure, some artisans have exceptional noses.”

“R-Really?”

“Of course. I’m one of those with a great nose. It’s a measure of an artisan’s skill.”

Perlo lifted his nose proudly, answering a question I hadn’t asked.

“Anyway, let’s confirm you’re really a royal concubine. You said there’s a portrait?”

Having finished bragging, Perlo changed the subject. I wanted to ask about the hint he mentioned, but showing urgency might backfire. I answered calmly.

“Yes. In the Tiena Palace, connected to the main gate, there’s a gallery of royal portraits. The basement has portraits of past royals, and the first floor has the current emperor and concubines. You’ll find my face there.”

“Alright. I’ll go.”

Perlo removed his robe and put on a noble’s cloak. I watched absentmindedly, then suddenly shouted.

“Wait! How are you going to leave from the palace library? The basement is just a dense archive. If someone sees you coming up from there, it’ll look suspicious.”

Perlo shrugged.

“I’ve been invited to the palace before. I have a pass. And who said I’d use the library to leave?”

“What?”

“You think I only placed Motus shards in the library after tampering with the barrier?”

He opened a side door. Inside were countless red Motus shards, each labeled with a location. There were more than just a few palace spots.

“You’ve got guts.”

“One or many—it’s all the same.”

Perlo raised one hand and touched a Motus shard with the other. In a flash of red light, he vanished.

I frowned at the label I assumed marked the main gate. Could Perlo even read his own handwriting?

Come to think of it, the research book with the red Motus in the archive was probably his too. The messy scrawl that made my head spin—maybe handwriting really does reflect personality.

I waited, timing his return. The gate and Tiena Palace were close. If he moved quickly, he could be back in half an hour.

Still, I was anxious. We’d spent a lot of time arguing. What if someone entered the archive while I was gone?

If someone found it empty, they’d realize I was missing. Chaos would ensue.

I’d been so focused on my unexpected encounter with Perlo and the rare opportunity that I’d forgotten all about it… I needed to return before things got out of hand.

How much time had passed? One Motus shard glowed. Perlo reappeared, panting, as if he’d just thrown off an invisible cloak.

“This is bad!”

He shouted without warning, leaving me confused.

“The whole palace is on alert. All gates are shut. Guards are everywhere—I almost got caught. Word is, even the emperor is searching for you.”

“What are you talking about?”

“They say you’ve gone missing, and the palace is being searched!”

My worst fear, as always, came true. Someone must’ve entered the archive and noticed I was gone.

Was it Lean? The librarian? Louis? Whoever it was, they probably meant well. Maybe they came to check on me since I was alone without a maid.

But the emperor himself getting involved?

Ugh, he’s probably putting on another dramatic show.

“There’s no way to sneak you back now. If the emperor’s involved, they’ll figure out you used spatial travel. Then they’ll know I tampered with the barrier. This is a disaster.”

“You do care, huh?”

“Ah, I’d rather flee to another kingdom than go to prison. The emperor’s tough, but I’ve got options.”

His casual muttering made me react instinctively.

“No!”

“Why are you yelling again?”

“You haven’t fulfilled my request yet. Don’t run off. I’ll fix this.”

“How?”

I paused. Not for dramatic effect—I genuinely needed to think. But I couldn’t let him see that. What if Perlo fled to another kingdom? Or disappeared entirely? With Motus, it wasn’t impossible.

“At least you know I’m Arne, the royal concubine. No need to doubt my identity, right?”

Perlo looked uneasy but nodded.

“I thought only stunningly beautiful women became concubines. Guess not.”

I ignored the muttered insult and raised a finger.

“Just take me somewhere secluded in the palace. I’ll try to clean up your mess.”

“Alright. No other choice. I’ll do as you say.”

“Good. If things go well, let’s meet again in three days at the archive in the palace library.”

“Deal.”

Perlo held out his hand. I gripped it tightly. He touched the Motus shard.

A flash of red light—and I was suddenly beneath a quiet, shadowy wall.

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