It Turned Out She Wasn't a Favored Concubine - Episode 35

Inside Perlo’s research book was a four-stage Motus that instantly transported the reader to Perlo’s lab upon contact. I awkwardly responded as I carried the book back to the shelf.

“Ah… it’s just some material I pulled out. But the handwriting is so messy I couldn’t read a word. Lady Marian, you really don’t need to look at this. It’ll just hurt your eyes.”

“Haha, even the title is so illegible I can’t make out what it says.”

“Exactly.”

Fortunately, Marian showed no particular interest in Perlo’s research book and turned her attention to other books.

“Um, but if you went through the trouble of getting permission to enter the restricted archives, does that mean you’ll be coming back often?”

“I got the permission to meet Lord Arne. I’m interested in Motus-related materials, of course, but the distance from Maron Palace to the library is quite far, so I’m hesitant.”

“Then how about borrowing a few books now? I heard even the restricted archive materials can be checked out.”

“Really? Then I should pick out a few while I’m here.”

“Feel free to take as many as you like. I heard there’s no limit on the number of books for those with permission.”

I kept an eye on Marian to make sure she didn’t approach Perlo’s research book and recommended thick volumes.

Just as I hoped, Marian decided to borrow eighteen hefty research books.

As Marian and I struggled up the stairs with the books, librarians waiting on the first floor rushed out to take them.

Marian proudly watched the maids from Maron Palace carry the books.

“It’s been a while since I studied properly. It’ll probably take me three months to read all these.”

That was a relief. At least for the next three months, Marian wouldn’t be visiting the restricted archives of the imperial library. If she happened to open Perlo’s research book there, it would be disastrous. There was no guarantee she wouldn’t experience what I had.

I’d need to coordinate with Perlo to relocate the Motus embedded in the research book. Since Marian wouldn’t be returning for a few months, I could hide it somewhere else in the meantime.

It had already been three weeks since I began interacting more closely with Marian. We wandered through our respective palaces and various parts of the imperial palace together.

Since I had only entered Arne’s body a few months ago and Marian had lived solely in Maron Palace, our knowledge of the imperial palace was similar, making it fun to explore together.

But when Marian returned to her palace and I was left alone in the dark room, the anxiety and guilt I’d been suppressing surged all at once.

True to his word, Perlo focused solely on his research and hadn’t contacted me at all. The red Motus shard he gave me remained dormant in my jewelry box.

And there was one more person who hadn’t reached out. More than Perlo, I desperately needed to hear from him.

Since the banquet, he hadn’t sent a single message. Even when he was farther away on the battlefield, he used to send letters regularly.

What was Leann’s condition now? Was the physician mentioned at the banquet treating him properly? What diagnosis had he given? I had so many questions, but no answers. At the victory celebration, he promised to contact me when Leann regained consciousness.

Did he mean that literally?

Did he know when Leann would wake up?

Marian visited my palace for the first time the day after the victory banquet, so it had been three weeks since Giscal took Leann to the Edelheit estate.

It had been about a month since Leann lost consciousness, bloodied in the prison.

I remembered the imperial physician muttering that once a month passes, years go by quickly.

“Ah…”

The bitter, metallic taste snapped me out of my thoughts—I was biting my lip again.

I instinctively reached to wipe it with my sleeve but stopped. If Louis saw the bloodstain, he’d worry again.

“Your Highness, may I come in?”

Speak of the devil—Louis’s voice rang out. I quickly wiped my lips with a handkerchief and hid it under the bed.

Once I gave permission, Louis rushed into the room. His flushed face was accompanied by a familiar envelope.

“Your Highness, a letter has arrived from the Edelheit estate.”

“What?”

I sprang up from the bed. Since returning to the capital, Giscal hadn’t bothered with letters. And he had promised to contact me when Leann woke up.

Had Leann really regained consciousness? Even if not, surely the letter would contain news about him.

My hands trembled as I pulled out the letter, nearly dropping it. I hastily read the first line.

That one line was enough. I read it over and over, then shouted:

“Louis! Leann has regained consciousness!”

Louis smiled brightly.

“Congratulations. It’s wonderful that Archivist Leann has awakened.”

“Yes, it’s such a relief…”

Had Giscal sensed my anguish?

From the very beginning of the letter, he informed me that Leann had regained consciousness. He woke late last night and even ate a bowl of porridge this morning, showing clear signs of recovery. I nearly cried.

“Please try to relax now. Seeing how much you’ve suffered has been painful for me. This was never your fault.”

“No, it is my fault. If not for me, Leann wouldn’t have suffered like that. The thought that he might never wake up because of me was horrifying. And it’s not just Leann—I feel terrible for everyone who was hurt. Louis, your leg still hasn’t fully recovered.”

Louis closed his eyes and shook his head.

“No, I don’t think it was your fault. It was just a series of unfortunate events. Please don’t blame yourself anymore.”

“You truly care about me, Louis. But others won’t see it that way. I believe I must take responsibility.”

“The maid who stayed in the room next to mine was Rose.”

“Huh?”

Louis suddenly mentioned Rose, who had quit her job at the palace last week and returned to her hometown.

“Rose suffered with me in prison. She received compensation and went home. She said the money was enough to open a small shop and support her family—so it was a good deal, in her words.”

“…Louis, if you talk like that, I might get angry.”

I stiffened my cheeks, but Louis smiled gently.

“And Rose also said this: if anyone in her hometown speaks ill of Your Highness, she’ll sit them down and correct them point by point.”

“What?”

“The beatings in prison were painful, but Your Highness called the imperial physician, visited personally, and bowed in apology. That softened much of her pain and resentment. Rose wouldn’t want you to keep blaming yourself. Not every maid is like Rose, of course, but at least she felt that way.”

“…”

I lowered my head in silence. Louis sat me on the bed and straightened my disheveled skirt.

“There were two letters, weren’t there?”

I pushed the paper aside with my fingers and found another sheet.

My hand hesitated. The writing on the second page wasn’t Giscal’s neat script.

It was slightly larger and rounder—clearly Leann’s. His polite self-introduction confirmed it, but I still hesitated.

I had wished for Leann to wake up soon, but I also feared he might blame and resent me. If this page was filled with raw, negative emotions…

Still, I was the one who had to face it.

I braced myself and slowly lowered my gaze. As I read line by line, my pace slowed.

Not because I was devastated by accusations, but because tears blurred my vision.

“Leann… Leann says he wants to see me. He wants to thank me. He says he’s grateful I didn’t give up and helped him wake up. H-he says thank you… But I’m the one who should be thanking him. I’m the one who should apologize. I should be the one saying sorry, but Leann says thank you…”

The hardened lump of guilt slowly melted with my tears.

“Your Highness…”

Louis gently embraced me. I cried in his warm arms for a long time.

I finished reading both letters only after cooling my swollen eyes with a cold handkerchief. That’s when I noticed Giscal’s neat handwriting continued after Leann’s.

“Leann’s parents are arriving at the estate tomorrow. They plan to take him home for recovery. Giscal suggests I visit the Edelheit estate formally before that.”

Louis responded immediately.

“Of course you should go. Even if you’ve heard he’s recovering, seeing him in person will bring peace of mind.”

“Yes, and I need to apologize in person.”

“Your Highness, it wasn’t your fault. Archivist Leann must feel the same—that’s why he sent the letter.”

“Still, I must apologize.”

Louis shook his head with a resigned look.

“Please go get His Majesty’s permission. I want to see Leann as soon as possible.”

“Yes, I’ll go now.”

Louis left the palace with unusually quick steps. There was no reason to deny a visit to one’s family estate.

I waited, thinking about how best to apologize to Leann.

But Berna Palace sent back a disappointing reply: my visit to the Edelheit estate was denied.

At the same time, I received news that Giscal had come to Arlin Palace.

“Giscal?”

He turned at my call, pacing near the drawing room table. He wore a simpler black uniform than at the banquet, but still exuded authority.

“Why did you come all of a sudden?”

“I stopped by the palace for post-war matters and heard His Majesty denied your visit to the Edelheit estate.

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