It Turned Out She Wasn't a Favored Concubine - Episode 81

I arrived at Maron Palace at sunset, ten days after the fall of Marquis Parmati, having accepted Marian’s invitation. Though Marian couldn’t leave the palace, she was allowed to invite others. The punishment she received had loopholes—clearly not something she cared much about.

She had granted me a ten-day reprieve. And during those ten days, a second wave of bloodshed swept through the imperial palace.

If the first was a prelude, the second was the real storm. Dozens of heads rolled in a single day—far more than in the first wave. Among them were Marquis Parmati and Rosadel.

There were attempts to prevent executions, but Erich was swift and resolute. He didn’t even attend the executions of those two—as if they weren’t worth seeing.

With the faint scent of blood lingering, I buried myself under the covers for ten days. Only Erich came to see me. He treated me more tenderly than ever—like a lover truly in love.

I began to wonder: did Erich truly love Arne? Was it not just an act of favoritism, but genuine affection?

At first, I dismissed the thought as absurd. But the more I considered it, the less impossible it seemed.

If Arne’s wish was the downfall of the Edelheit family… then everything Erich did—no matter how disruptive—was ultimately for Arne.

Especially when considering Arne’s arrogant personality in the past.

Erich had banned banquets during Arne’s illness, gifted her the luxurious Motus, ignored other concubines, and showed her special care. Arne, in turn, enjoyed everything he gave her without restraint. Even if criticism and resentment toward her harmed the Giscal and Edelheit families, Arne didn’t care.

Why would someone who wished for her family’s ruin care about such things?

I buried myself deeper in the blankets, cursing my own foolishness. Louis was worried, but I didn’t show even a strand of hair outside the covers.

Louis had lied to me. And he knew I wouldn’t notice. That terrified me. I was afraid of learning why he lied.

So when I went to Maron Palace, I deliberately left Louis behind. Marian was surprised that Louis, who always stayed by my side, hadn’t come. I simply shook my head.

“I just brought a different maid.”

“Huh. I thought she’d come for sure. That’s a shame.”

“Pardon?”

“Never mind. Come in. Perlo’s waiting too.”

Perlo Shanaire was at Maron Palace?

I quickly followed Marian inside. She dismissed the maids and led me not to the drawing room, but to a small room at the end of the inner corridor. There, with disheveled red hair, Perlo Shanaire stood with eyes closed and hands raised in joy.

“Still doing that?”

“Of course. Let me savor this happiness a bit longer.”

“Oh? Really? Arne’s here now, so snap out of it.”

Perlo’s eyes flew open. He waved his hands excitedly, clearly delighted. I was stunned by the casual, almost intimate conversation between Marian and Perlo. You don’t talk like that with someone you’ve only met a few times.

“Why are you here?”

“Oh, I’m researching Motus with Marian. We’ve finally uncovered the secret we’ve been chasing.”

“What?”

“You remember that book I mentioned? The one from the Kingdom of Jaren? I’ve finished translating it.”

My eyes widened to their limit.

“You said it would take a long time… but now it’s suddenly done?”

“Didn’t Marian tell you? She knows the forgotten script. Actually, she doesn’t just know it—she’s fluent.”

I turned sharply to Marian. She tilted her head and shrugged.

“I was forced to learn it by some scary people when I was young.”

“Scary people?”

“Hmm… the monsters I mentioned before.”

Just as I was about to ask about the monsters, Marian waved her hand and brought out three chairs.

“Before we hear your secret, let me explain the current situation. Is it okay if Perlo joins us?”

The three of us sat closely in the small room. Marian explained how she came to work with Perlo on Motus.

It all came down to Motus. Before her false confession at Berna Palace, Marian had secretly thrown a Motus into Perlo’s prison cell to share information.

“I heard you two saved me. I never imagined that cunning emperor would sentence someone as valuable as me to death… Honestly, I didn’t believe the execution news at first.”

“Stopping the execution was the priority. Sorry for dragging you into palace affairs.”

Perlo waved his hand.

“It’s fine. Palace stuff is annoying, but I can deal. I’m actually glad I got to meet Marian through this. Who knew the princess of Jaren was such a skilled Motus artisan?”

Marian gave him a look. Perlo cleared his throat and corrected himself.

“Ahem, slightly more skilled than me.”

Marian nodded with satisfaction.

“When I said I could translate that troublesome book, Perlo was released and teleported to Maron Palace using the Motus I gave him. We recognized each other’s skills and agreed to collaborate. Though I mostly teach him.”

“No way. Now that the book’s translated, I won’t just follow you around.”

Perlo shouted to defend his pride as the continent’s top Motus artisan, but Marian ignored him.

“It’s like a master-apprentice relationship.”

I listened quietly, then asked slowly:

“So Marian gave Perlo the answer to the secret he was seeking?”

Marian smiled calmly. Perlo crossed his arms and smirked. They both extended their hands, revealing a transparent Motus shard. I picked it up with trembling fingers. It was as clear as glass.

“This is…”

“Yes. I didn’t explain last time because I was still unsure about you. Now I’ll tell you the truth. This is the perfectly crafted Motus—no stage divisions, no limits on teleportation.”

My heart pounded. I realized I hadn’t asked the most important question. If the book was fully translated, the answer should be clear.

My one wish, my hope, my desire.

“Can I… return to my original world?”

Marian and Perlo exchanged glances. Marian smiled and spoke. The brief moment felt agonizingly long.

“To give you the short answer: yes, you can.”

“Ah!”

A gasp escaped me. The time I had waited for that answer, the days I had endured, flashed through my mind.

I can go back! I can return to my original world! The world I longed for!

I clenched my fists. It hurt, but I was happy. My heartbeat echoed through my body. I was overwhelmed with excitement.

“I… I really, truly…”

Nonsensical words spilled out. I couldn’t control myself. Marian and Perlo faded from my awareness as I was swept up in a storm of emotion.

“Have you calmed down now?”

Marian waited until I could breathe evenly again before asking. I nodded silently.

“I gave you the answer, but now you must share your secret. Then I’ll help you as much as I can.”

“Alright.”

Now that I knew I could return, there was no reason to hesitate. But Perlo raised a question.

“What are you talking about? What original world? What secret?”

“The soul inside Arne’s body came from another world. We just told her she can return to that world.”

Marian explained to the confused Perlo, who looked utterly stunned.

“W-wait, what…”

He flailed his hands, then clapped them together.

“So that’s why you were asking about inter-world travel?”

“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you earlier. I had no choice.”

“Wow…”

Perlo muttered in awe, running his hands through his hair, making it even messier. Marian pointed at him.

“Put your questions aside for now. I want my curiosity satisfied first. So, how did you come to this world? Please tell us everything—including the people involved.”

Marian gripped the armrest of my chair and locked eyes with me. Her golden eyes gleamed brightly.

In those golden eyes, I remembered the very first moment I arrived in this world—waking up in a strange body in a strange land.

And so, I began to slowly reveal the secret I had kept alone for so long.

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