It Turned Out She Wasn't a Favored Concubine - Episode 22

I headed to Arlin Palace, accompanied by dozens of knights from Berna Palace.

They were assigned by Erich.

I had barely persuaded Erich that there was no need to search for the cat, and I was too exhausted to refuse the escort. Accepting the knights was easier than engaging in another pointless argument with him.

In the distance, Arlin Palace came into view. Perhaps due to the aftermath of my disappearance, every palace had its lights on.

Arlin Palace was especially bright, casting my shadow long and dark behind me.

I felt ashamed to face the palace staff.

Just like the imperial guards, the servants of Arlin Palace must have been unable to rest properly due to the sudden disappearance of their mistress.

I felt particularly sorry for Louie. I had insisted on going down to the basement alone, and then vanished.

Even the emperor had gotten involved, turning the palace upside down. Guards ran around in clanking armor…

What would they think of me when they heard I had run off to chase a cat?

“Your Highness, you must have suffered greatly. Please, come in.”

As I walked between the two lines of knights, maids came out to greet me in the lobby. They bowed in perfect formation, showing no signs of fatigue, which only made me feel more embarrassed. But their faces were unfamiliar.

“I don’t recognize any of you.”

“Yes, Your Highness. I am Seril, newly assigned to Arlin Palace as of today. His Majesty was concerned that the palace lacked sufficient maids and feared Your Highness might be inconvenienced, so he sent us.”

…Suddenly?

Arlin Palace, being the residence of a favored concubine, had plenty of staff.

The issue was Arne’s tyranny and extravagance, not a shortage of servants.

Yet over ten new maids were assigned here in the middle of the night?

“Uh, can you call Louie for me?”

I needed to ask Louie about the situation. But strangely, no one responded.

Even Seril, who seemed to be the leader of the new maids, remained silent with her head bowed.

“Is she still out looking for me? Then inform her I’ve returned and bring me the maid who accompanied me to the library.”

Still, no one answered. Only an eerie silence settled in.

Something was off.

Even if Louie wasn’t here, the other maids shouldn’t all be absent.

I asked again, lowering my voice and hardening my expression.

“Where is Louie?”

The maids flinched at my displeasure.

Seril cautiously replied, “Your Highness, you must be tired. Please, rest in your chambers first.”

I repeated my question with a blank expression, but they continued to evade it.

It was blatant avoidance. My patience wore thin, and a sense of dread crept in.

I even considered emulating the ill-tempered Arne.

What would Arne do in this situation?

I imagined grabbing the neatly tied light brown hair of the maid before me and yanking it out.

Arne would rip out dozens of strands with her merciless fingers, stomp on the maids, and shout in fury…

Could I really do that?

I shook my head inwardly.

That brown-haired maid likely didn’t volunteer for this. I couldn’t inflict such pain.

So I skipped the violence and acted out the rest.

“How dare you!”

A good start. A classic line from a greedy, detestable concubine—perfect contrast to a kind empress.

“You ignore my questions! Are you trying to insult me? Tell me where Louie is! Surely you don’t expect Arne von Edelheit to search the entire palace herself?”

I raised my voice and stomped my foot.

I couldn’t trample the maid, so I opted for dramatic effect. The metal-studded heel of my shoe struck the marble floor with a harsh sound.

Better than expected.

“Your Highness, please calm yourself!”

“Protect your health! We were wrong!”

Not only the maids but even the knights knelt before me.

Why are they all kneeling?

Just tell me where Louie is. Is there some reason they can’t?

“Enough. Where is Louie?”

Seril hesitated, then finally spoke.

“Louie is not in Arlin Palace.”

“She’s still out searching for me? Send someone to find her.”

“That’s not it. Louie is…”

Frustration mounted.

I stomped again.

Seril finally continued.

“Louie is currently imprisoned in the underground dungeon. The other maids as well.”

“…Dungeon?”

I tried to recall what kind of place that was.

It made no sense in this context.

Louie, imprisoned? In the imperial dungeon?

Louie had always been by my side. I vividly remembered her placing a cold towel on my fevered forehead, tears in her eyes.

What could have happened to land her in prison?

“Why is Louie in the dungeon? Did she do something wrong?”

No one answered. I didn’t press further.

I simply turned around.

“I’ll go myself.”

I declared and moved to leave.

But the maids didn’t let me pass. Still kneeling, Seril pressed her forehead to the floor and cried out.

“Your Highness, how could you step into such a filthy place? It’s not fitting for someone of your stature.”

“Then tell me why Louie is there.”

“Tomorrow… we’ll explain tomorrow. Please return to your chambers tonight.”

The maids kneeling on the cold floor were pitiful, but I couldn’t let this go.

Why wouldn’t anyone answer?

If Louie had done something wrong, they could just tell me.

But I couldn’t imagine Louie committing a crime. Their silence meant something was wrong.

Something bad for Louie.

This was about Louie. The person who had helped me more than anyone in this world.

I hid my expression and spoke quietly.

“If you can’t bring Louie to me, I’ll go to her. Say no again, and you’ll be the ones imprisoned.”

My threat worked.

No one wanted to go to the dungeon. The maids sobbed but didn’t stop me.

I even threatened the intimidating dungeon guards.

It took effort to maintain a cold, fearless expression, but it worked.

When I demanded to see the palace servants, the guards glanced nervously at Seril, then opened the iron bars.

The dungeon reeked from the stairs down. The stench was nauseating.

Louie and the other maids were trapped in this place. I couldn’t bear it.

As my silk shoes echoed down the stairs, Seril, pale-faced, pleaded one last time.

“Your Highness! Please, don’t go further. This is not a place for your eyes.”

“Then can you bring the Arlin Palace maids up here?”

“Th-that’s…”

Of course not. Maids couldn’t release prisoners.

I had to go myself. I had to see for myself what had happened.

With only a torch to guide me, the deeper I went, the worse the dampness and stench became. Something was rotting.

Then came the moans.

Desperate, painful groans filled the air.

Imagining Louie making those sounds made my hands tremble.

Iron bars lined both sides of the corridor, stretching endlessly into the darkness. The guard stopped at one cell, and I pushed past him to peer inside.

“Louie?”

Dozens of moans pierced my ears. In the dim light, I saw familiar faces twisted in pain. Among them was Louie.

“Louie? Louie! Wake up!”

Her cheek twitched faintly, but her eyes didn’t open.

“Open the door! Hurry!”

I urged the guard, who hesitated but unlocked the cell. I rushed in and checked on Louie. The guard followed with the torch.

In the red glow, I saw her clothes stained deep crimson.

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