Toxin

Naro chuckled, clearly relieved. A son… I couldn’t help but feel bewildered by the idea, though something about it also felt strangely familiar. It wasn’t long ago that I was deeply suspicious of Raonhiljo, but somewhere along the line, I found myself drawn to him—my heart raced at the thought of something I could never have. I longed for the warmth of the light he stood in and admired his forest-like eyes. That was why I had pushed him away, afraid that the stench of filth clinging to me might taint him. Now, thinking about Raonhiljo only filled me with a dull ache in my chest, much like the pain that spread whenever I thought of my mother. Family… Yes, Raonhiljo has become like a great mountain to me, a family.

Suddenly, Naro scratched his cheek and muttered, “So, if someone else later decides to give you a name, will the other eye get one too?”

“That won’t happen. I have enough with one name.”

I responded firmly, yet a flicker of curiosity sparked within me. When a pure Imae Tribe member undergoes the naming ceremony, both eyes are marked with their name. But in my case, only one eye bore a name. It must be because of my mixed blood. Even if I ever had the chance to get another name, I didn’t need it. I am Roha. I will live as Roha, with the name given to me by a man who sent me away with all his heart, wishing for my happiness. Just like the weight of that name, I must carry the burden of it for the rest of my life.

Naro, sensing my expression, frowned slightly. “You finally have the name you’ve wanted for so long, but why do you look so unhappy? Do you regret it? Or do you not like the name Roha?”

“There’s no way I would regret it. I don’t regret anything, but I’m worried that My Lord might. I just hope that he can find peace now.”

“Do you think he would have given you a name so lightly when it binds your souls together? He must have given it a lot of thought, so don’t worry too much. Even now, I’m sure he’s wishing for your happiness, just like the name suggests. You know what they say—people who curse others receive just as much curse in return, but those who wish for someone else’s happiness will be even happier themselves!”

I smiled faintly at Naro’s words. “Yes, I hope so too.”

More than anything, I wished for his happiness. If there were any happiness meant for me, I would give it all to him… A cool breeze blew, easing the warmth on my forehead.

Please, let this wind carry my wish to him…

***

On my way back, I must have been lost in thought because I ended up losing my way. Although the place was vast, I had walked these paths often enough. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t remember the way back. In the end, I had to ask a guard for directions to return to Central Hall. When I arrived, the Black Martial Emperor was out, likely attending to his duties. I immediately went to the side room and took my time observing it, something I hadn’t had the chance to do earlier. The meticulous attention to detail in the room left me in awe. This is how he traps me, I thought with a wry smile.

I absentmindedly touched the brushes carefully arranged in the porcelain holder, flipped through the fine paper, and took in the masterpieces of former kings and landscapes hanging on the walls. I even studied the artist’s seals stamped below. They say that the soul of a craftsman can be felt in their work, and seeing these renowned paintings in person, I was overwhelmed by their energy. Could I ever create art like this? Something that would stir someone’s heart…?

As if drawn by an invisible force, I unfolded a sheet of paper and picked up a piece of charcoal. Though I held the charcoal with great enthusiasm, the overwhelming desire made my hands hesitate. After exhaling deeply to calm the fire within me, my hand moved, sketching a few abstract curves on the paper. I lost myself in the process, looking up occasionally to engrave the images of the paintings into my memory, which rekindled that fire in my chest. Ah… I really don’t want to leave this room.

I was so absorbed that by the time beads of sweat formed on my forehead, the joints in my body began to protest from sitting hunched over for so long. As I stretched, rubbing my aching back, I suddenly noticed the Black Martial Emperor standing by the door, and I flinched in surprise. He straightened his posture and walked toward me.

“I was about to drag you out if you stayed any longer.”

Wiping the sweat from my brow, I pushed the unfinished sketch aside. “Have you finished your duties?”

“Everything but the troublesome matters.”

Am I one of those troublesome matters? The gazes of the officials I’d passed on the way here lingered in my mind. Their wary eyes had made the back of my head feel raw.

“Doesn’t it get tiresome to deal with things like national affairs, wars, or designing weapons day in and day out?”

“I enjoy the clear results of the effort. Unlike this.”

His gaze briefly rested on the papers next to me. I nodded slightly, remembering the offer Naro had made earlier.

“Starting tomorrow, I’ll be helping Painter Naro. He mentioned starting an important project and said he’s short on help. I also plan to learn more about painting from him.”

“You seem to have forgotten the physician’s warning.”

“He told me not to overdo it, not to sit idle without moving a finger. I already told the painter about my situation, and he agreed to let me help at a reasonable pace.”

Since it was more of a notice than a request, I didn’t press the issue further. Though he didn’t seem pleased, he didn’t oppose it either. As I fidgeted with the charcoal, I spoke up.

“I’ve been thinking. Should I even be here? Should I be in the same space as Your Majesty…? No matter how many times I think about it, it feels wrong.”

His face grew visibly cold.

“It seems like Your Majesty wants me to stay here in this room, but I don’t think I should be. You won’t bend your will, and neither will I. So, to satisfy both of us, I’ve come to a conclusion…”

I met his gaze and said firmly, “Your Majesty should leave this room.”

He narrowed his eyes as if he hadn’t heard me correctly.

“I’ve thought it over, and that seems like the simplest solution. Also…”

I trailed off, glancing around the room and the side chamber before dropping my gaze back to him.

“I like this room so much that I might as well make it my own.”

The sight of his deeply furrowed brow was amusing, and I couldn’t help but silently laugh. The sudden quiet made me reflect on the joke I’d just cracked, and I wiped the smile off my face. Then I realized that I had spoken earlier… My eyes awkwardly drifted to the base of the Black Martial Emperor’s neck.

“I really like it here. It makes me want to stay in here forever.”

When I looked up, I realized he was much closer than I expected. His face was expressionless, his gaze locked on mine. Maybe “I like it” is too dismissive for something he prepared so meticulously. Is it too harsh to just leave it at that? But I didn’t have wealth or power like him, enough to smother someone with riches as a gift. And the thought of flattering him like the Grand Chamberlain made me feel sick. I found myself staring at the emperor’s lips. Without thinking, I gazed at the sensuous curve of his mouth. His tightly sealed lips slowly parted.

“Where did you learn a trick like this?”

What…? I asked with my eyes.

“Cold enough to make me sigh, but melting me all at once with this technique.”

“…”

It wasn’t something I would call a technique, yet thankfully, it seemed his mood had improved. His earlier words kept bothering me, and I had been wracking my brain over it. I thought about his now-lifeless fingers and struggled with my anger, only to shudder at the memory of his heinous actions. I recalled Black Martial Emperor’s promise and this room… And after all that thinking, my conclusion was simple: just let things flow naturally. That was all.

This wasn’t a technique. It was more like a tender bud sprouting in spring—something that grows naturally, just as a weaned child takes its first steps. Not something learned from someone. Honestly, I didn’t know either. It just felt right. We were both raw, unrefined, and terribly clumsy.

The faint scent of rain drifted in from somewhere. I noticed that his hair and shoulders were slightly damp. I lifted my hand to wipe away the raindrops clinging to his cheek. His gaze followed my fingers, and a soft tremor spread through my heart. After pulling my hand back, I brought the paper and charcoal closer to me.

“If you sit quietly until I finish the sketch, I’ll play with you afterward. Just wait…”

Before I could finish speaking, his lips swallowed my words. His tongue quickly invaded, wrapping around mine, while he nibbled and sucked on my lower lip, sending intense sensations through me. When he pulled my hips toward him, his erection pressed against me, radiating heat. His body temperature rose sharply. If I let my guard down for even a second, I would always end up being attacked like this. I pushed him away and wiped the spit from my lips with the back of my hand, glaring at him fiercely.

“I told you—I don’t want this.”

His sharp gaze cut through the dim air.

“What kind of torture is this? Teasing me with that scent but refusing to let me touch you?”

I tried to stand, but his strong grip forced me to sit back down. As soon as my hips touched the floor, I slapped his hand away.

“Do you really not understand? Or are you just pretending? Do you have any idea how much…!!”

I was furious. I wanted to scream at him for not coming to his senses. I bit my lip and cast my eyes down.

“Do you have any idea how anxious I am? Afraid that you might end up like that again…”

That you might cough up blood, that your heart might stop…

I clenched the fabric of his robe tightly in my hand, glaring at him with fierce eyes.

“Do you have any idea how terrified I am? So anxious that I feel like I’m going mad? Why do you keep acting so recklessly…?!”

Black Martial Emperor’s pupils wavered as he stared at me.

“Oh dear.”

He let out a short, almost sensual sigh, like a moan at the peak of pleasure.

“I didn’t even finish inside, and yet… this is impressive.”

He raised his gaze to meet mine, the fury in his dark eyes fading.

“So, the reason you’ve been rejecting me all this time… was it because of the Imae poison?”

I couldn’t understand why such a cunning man wasn’t connecting it to the Imae poison. I glared at him stubbornly, panting heavily, while he coldly spoke again.

“Thanks to the white horn you fed me, I’ll be fine until the day I die. How about that?”

I gasped, an involuntary sound escaping me. My voice slipped out before I could control it.

“Is that… really true?”

“Yes.”

He answered without hesitation. So… my horns made him immune? Is that even possible? He was on the brink of death, and even had lingering side effects… His hand, now inside my collar, brushed against my collarbone and teased the hardened nub of flesh. As my nipple stood at attention under his touch, a fire lit up in his eyes. When his tongue reached for my nipple, a lingering anxiety washed over me. I pushed his face away and spoke coldly.

“How can you know for sure? You might just be making it up… How can I trust you? After all, you’ve always deceived me…”

“Do you need me to summon a witness and have them testify?”

My wet lips trembled.

“…Is there even one?”

“If not, I’ll find someone to bring, even if I have to make them up.”

He pulled my robe open and leaned down, aiming to lick my lips. Just before his tongue reached me, I flinched again and pushed his head away. I also removed his hand from my clothes. His brow furrowed deeply in frustration.

“What now?”

“I’ve never heard of anything like that before. No one’s ever said that someone who’s already poisoned can develop immunity just by taking an antidote.”

His black eyes gleamed sharply with unease.

“I could drag in a royal physician to confirm it.”

“Are you really serious…? Did the physician really say you were fine?”

“Yes…”

“Then I will confirm it myself.”

“Yes…”

Black Martial Emperor answered my question multiple times. With each clear response, my vision blurred and my throat burned. He traced my lower lip with his finger, and his intense gaze seemed to cast a spell.

“Whether there’s resistance or a witness doesn’t matter.”

Eventually, tears streamed down my cheeks. That phrase—”doesn’t matter”—was what scared me the most.

***

The erotic sound of friction soaked the room, bathed in twilight. The world felt damp with heavy breaths. He abandoned all control, unleashing his primal desires. He had already climaxed inside me three times, yet showed no signs of fatigue. This was the first time in over two months we had been intimate.

From behind, Black Martial Emperor pulled my arm high, licking and biting the bones protruding under my armpit. He quickly moved down, assaulting my moist nipple. The hardened tip was utterly ravaged by his hot tongue. My face, neck, and body were drenched in saliva. My hair, sticky with sweat, tangled into his mouth, and he chewed it without care.

As my jacket slipped off my arm, I was left completely naked. He remained buried deep inside me, only tossing aside his royal robe. Once the robe hit the floor, he coiled around me from behind like a vine, lifting one of my legs to its limit. His firm abs slapped against my hips.

“Aah… ah! Hngh… haah… uhn…”

“Ha… haa… hnngh…”

His huge, burning mass thrust in and out with dizzying speed. As he gripped and released my shaft in rhythm with his powerful movements, my mind began to fade. Was it really alright? Could I trust that he wasn’t deceiving me again, now that his eyes were crazed with lust? I didn’t know anymore. Thinking was no longer possible. Trying to escape the swamp of pleasure, I licked the palm of his hand that covered my face. His heavy breathing deepened, and his assault intensified. Suddenly, he bit my shoulder, spilling his release inside me once more.

“Gasp… haah… ha…”

“Hngh… ah… uhn…”

He didn’t stop, continuing to drive into me with violent thrusts, releasing his pent-up desire in full. The purple twilight that had settled on the window fluttered away, and darkness filled the space. His aggressive movements tore the paper underneath us, spilling pigment across the floor. Five colors of ink, mixed with intense stimulation, painted my skin. Our wet, naked bodies, entangled in obscene passion on the paper screen, resembled a scene from an erotic painting.

“Uhn… stop… please… nngh…”

“Haa… just once more… this will be the last.”

His voice, thick with lust, tried to comfort me. As he roughly thrust into my core, reaching deep, Black Martial Emperor caught me as I nearly collapsed forward, pulling me back into his arms. My head was forced back, and my lips were swallowed. Through my hazy vision, I could see him, completely consumed by excitement. The small remnants of control in his eyes would occasionally flare, as he struggled to rein in his overwhelming desire.

Suddenly, the thing filling me withdrew, and my hips were lifted high. In an instant, his soft flesh slid deep into my pleasure-filled passage.

“Ugh…! Please… stop…!”

I scratched at the floor as my hips jerked upward. Not long after, I slid back down. He gripped my thighs tightly, spread my buttocks wide, and shoved his tongue back inside me. The soft caress as it moved in and out of me sent shivers through my entrance. I gasped, burying my face into my hands.

“Aah… hngh…!”

After what felt like an eternity, he finally pulled his tongue out, moving lower to take my balls into his mouth. His stiffened tongue massaged them, then he sucked them up, devouring them like a starving man. Once finished, he licked up from my inner thighs, tracing my spine and reaching my neck. My body flipped over again. He covered my swollen lips with his own, and once more, his enormous member thrust deep into me.

With a burning gaze, Black Martial Emperor continued to pound into me. The ceiling seemed to shake as though it would collapse, and the floor quaked like an earthquake. Suddenly, his tongue snaked out and pushed into my eyes. The slimy sensation penetrated my eyelids, wetting my lashes.

‘You know what? I feel filthy, as though I’m sharing you with that bastard.’

I think that’s what he said. Then, his lips covered my eyes, and I instinctively shut them tight. His sharp tongue forced its way between my closed eyelids, and he began to suck my eyes. The pressure felt as though my eyeballs were about to be pulled out, sending chills down my spine. Any harder, and they really would be ripped from my sockets.

“Ugh…! St-stop…! Please… don’t…!”

Black Martial Emperor continued to torment my eyes, licking and sucking at my lashes before pulling away. His voice dripped with curses, swearing vengeance, as if he would shred someone to pieces and cast them into the abyss. No… please, no… If he did something like that, I wouldn’t forgive him. I would never let him touch me again. He interlocked our fingers, pinning my hands in place, and rotated his hips, pressing into that sensitive spot that made my whole body tremble.

The overwhelming sensation left me breathless, unable to even moan. As I tightened around him, I once again reached the height of pleasure. I pressed my face into his neck, desperately sucking on his damp skin as I struggled to endure the overwhelming ecstasy. Below, my quivering entrance clenched onto his member, as though trying to devour it. His curses spilled out in response as he shuddered, letting out a moan of his own.

“Haa… hnngh…!”

“Hnngh… haah… aah…!”

He lost all control, driving me to the edge of ecstasy. The overwhelming sensation caused me to twist my hips as sweat dripped from his furrowed brow. The moment his balls swelled, he released inside me, thick spurts of seed filling me completely. With each sharp thrust, his essence splattered onto the paper beneath us. Even after reaching the peak, my body still couldn’t escape the lingering pleasure, and I gasped for air, my chest heaving as if it would burst. As his breathing began to calm, he looked down at our still-joined bodies, then brushed his tongue along my jaw.

“I said we shouldn’t overdo it, and look at us now.”

Black Martial Emperor’s voice was rough and hoarse. Our lower bodies, pressed together, were slick with saliva and sweat, making it difficult to maintain contact. My vision was still blurred, and my mind felt clouded, as though it were drenched in his seed. As my body continued to alternately tighten and relax, the powerful muscles within me clamped down on him again. Black Martial Emperor exhaled a heated breath, straightened his torso, and wrapped his arms around my waist.

“Enough, enough… I feel like I’m going to die. I’m going to break.” I couldn’t even speak anymore and used all my strength to push him away. His dark eyes gleamed with a ravenous hunger. The Black Martial Emperor removed my hands, licking from my forearm to my palm before draping them over his shoulder. My wet cheek was bitten, rubbed by his tongue, and his thick voice scattered in my ear.

“Hold onto my neck. This is really the last time.”

This time, he moved his lower body with an impossibly gentle rhythm.

It was my first day working with Naro today. Even though I had already started the work, I should have been more prepared. However, due to the torment from the Black Martial Emperor the previous night, I had been bedridden for days. After a belated confirmation, the physician who visited my quarters assured me that what the Black Martial Emperor had said was true. After asking several times and repeatedly confirming it, I was finally able to relax, though I was painfully regretful about my reckless actions. It was because of that encounter that the Black Martial Emperor had shamelessly cast aside his self-control. While he would watch my condition and ease up when things went too far, that was all he did.

During my recovery, I had planned to resume the Black Martial Emperor’s art therapy, albeit in brief moments of free time. I was worried he wouldn’t cooperate again, but this time, true to his word, he followed along obediently. Art therapy wasn’t anything grand—just letting him draw without sticking to any specific form—but to be honest, I had only heard about it in passing, so I had no idea where to begin. I had previously asked Naro for help with one of the Black Martial Emperor’s paintings, and this time I intended to ask him properly. After pulling myself together, I hurried over to Byeolwon. Upon arrival, I saw Naro pacing by the front gate.

“Why are you outside, Painter?”

“Of course, I was waiting for you! I thought my neck was going to stretch out! Let’s get inside! Let’s do well from today! I’m so glad to work with you!”

“Yes.”

Seeing Naro more eager than me made me chuckle.

“By the way, Roha, are you alright? You seem unusually pale today. Is it perhaps because of the aftereffects? If it’s too hard for you, we could postpone until next time…”

“No, it’s just nerves since it’s the first day.”

I handed over what I brought, avoiding his worried gaze. Naro stared at it in confusion.

“This, this is…”

It was the very “brush worth as much as a horse” the Black Martial Emperor had given me. Naro recognized the brush, but it seemed he hadn’t yet grasped its meaning. He alternated between looking at the brush and me.

“Go ahead, take it.”

“What? You mean you’re giving this to me? No, no! I already have plenty of brushes. As I mentioned before, anything bestowed by His Majesty should never be…”

Last time, he had adamantly refused, so I had no choice but to let it go. However, after hearing the news that the Painter had been annihilated, I was reminded of Naro, who had once coveted this brush, and it pained me. This time, I wasn’t going to back down.

“It’s fine. Please take it.”

Along with it, I handed over the book and a pouch of pigments I had prepared. Naro’s eyes widened in disbelief.

“This… this is a book you can only get in Sumil Kingdom! How did you…?! No, wait! This is… powdered stone pigments?! These rare minerals extracted to make this paint… it’s called gemstone painting for a reason…! Everything here is priceless! Are you really giving all this to me? Then what about you?”

“I have plenty to use.”

“Still…”

Naro’s eyes, glued to the brush and the book, sparkled like they were sprinkled with stardust. Seeing that made me smile naturally. No wonder I kept wanting to give him things. As I turned to walk away, I wondered what else I had overflowing in my room that I could give him. Naro, clutching the gifts tightly, quickly followed after me.

“By the way, you didn’t buy all this yourself, did you? You didn’t steal it from somewhere, right?!”

“They were gifts.”

“Well, stealing something like this would be even harder. Who gave you such valuable things? Aren’t you worried they’ll feel hurt when they find out you gave them away?”

“They’ll understand.”

Probably.

“Are you sure it’s really alright to accept all this? I’ve never received anything like this before… I don’t even know what to do…”

If someone were to ask who my first true friend was, I wouldn’t hesitate to say it was Naro. If there ever comes a day when I find myself feeling goodwill toward humans, it will undoubtedly be because of Raonhiljo and Naro.

“This is also the first time I’ve given someone a gift. As long as you put it to good use, Painter, that’s enough for me.”

Naro mumbled in a voice that was barely audible.

“Ro… Roha… we’ll be lifelong friends, right? We’ll never change, will we?”

I nodded and answered his slightly embarrassing question.

***

Starting today, we were tasked with renovating the decorative ceramics in the office where the emperor and his officials held their formal meetings. Apart from us, a dozen or so painters were engrossed in their own work on the Byeolwon veranda. Naro was carefully handling a ceramic piece, engrossed in his battle with the Ten Longevity symbols.

“Roha, could you pass me the red color?”

“Yes.”

“Ah, can you make the color of autumn leaves? Not the fresh green of spring, but the deep, rich colors of fall. I showed you earlier, didn’t I?”

“I’ll give it a try.”

I answered confidently, but my hands hesitated. For some reason, I couldn’t recall the method of mixing the colors. I had just learned it a moment ago, but my memory felt fuzzy, so I looked at the notes I had taken beforehand. It was strange. Lately, I’d been forgetting things more often than usual. I glanced at the notes and carefully mixed the powdered pigments with glue on a plate, adding water in the right proportions. Feeling anxious about whether it was done properly, I handed the finished pigment plate to Naro.

“I’m not sure if this will do.”

Naro stared at the pigment plate for a while, then looked at me intensely before nodding his head vigorously.

“Wow… You pick things up quickly. It’s rewarding to teach you. Just proves that not everyone can become a spy, huh? By the way, you’re not upset that you’re doing these trivial tasks, even though you once painted royal portraits, are you?”

“I’m only grateful that you’re letting a criminal like me work.”

Naro grinned and suddenly remembered something.

“Oh, right! Have you finished the royal portrait of His Majesty?”

“Not yet.”

I thought of the half-finished portrait of the

gathering dust in his chambers. I had been coloring his face when the fact that I had smuggled out

was discovered, forcing me to stop. I hadn’t touched it since, not even once.

“This time, make it look like the skin of someone fresh and tender, like a bride on her wedding night, not like someone who hasn’t eaten for days!”

“…Alright.”

From now on, my role was to assist with preparing pigments or running small errands. I had learned to paint by studying the few works my father left behind, but now Naro was my teacher.

“I didn’t realize painters did so much work.”

“Don’t even get me started. Do you know how much we actually do? We paint portraits of the royal family, officials’ ceremonial robes, designs for porcelain, doors, wagons, and even records for official events…”

Naro lowered his voice conspiratorially as he continued.

“Sometimes, we even get called by officials with weird hobbies to paint questionable things. The workload is huge, and when a project comes in, we often have to work day and night. To be honest, I never expected to be doing all this either. I thought becoming a royal painter meant dressing elegantly and only painting grand pictures…”

“Who’s making all that noise? How are we supposed to concentrate?!”

The irritated voice came from a painter working in the building across from us. All the other painters scattered around the porch turned their eyes toward us. They all looked like people who hadn’t seen a ray of sunlight, with greasy, shining faces. At that moment, a thin painter approached Naro and threw a cloth at him.

“You got pigment on this. Go wash it.”

“Yes…”

As Naro stood up with the cloth, I got up as well. When I reached for the cloth, Naro blinked at me in confusion.

“Give it to me. I’ll wash it.”

“Let him do it. What is he, your apprentice now? And he’s only a half-breed monster too…”

My eyes narrowed instinctively. I’d heard that most of the new painters were from prestigious families. It was no wonder that Naro, who came from an ordinary background, felt out of place. He had only been here for two weeks, but the saying “the rolling stone dislodges the fixed stone” seemed to apply. Wherever two or more people gather, there’s always someone trying to assert dominance, even when they’re unfit to lead. It’s a shame they don’t realize how pathetic they look when they try to trample over others. My attention was focused on them, though my gaze remained on Naro.

“You’re busy right now. I’ll take care of it.”

As I headed out the door, Naro quickly caught up to me, throwing an arm over my shoulder like a squirrel.

“Let’s go together, Roha. Pigments don’t wash out easily, you know. There’s a trick to it.”

He muttered in a barely audible voice.

“Those stuck-up brats, acting like they’re something special just because they’re from noble families… they’ve got no real talent. Do they think I’m their servant?”

Since the task couldn’t be completed in one day, we wrapped things up and decided to continue tomorrow. Naro walked me out, and together we strolled across the vast palace courtyard, letting out deep sighs as we went. Something felt off again. It wasn’t just now, but on my way here as well—I had this strange feeling that the palace was empty, like something was missing. Then, we crossed paths with a group of officials who were visibly shocked to see me. Even on my way to Byeolwon, I endured their cold stares, and some didn’t bother hiding their disdain. I suppose they couldn’t understand why a criminal who had attempted to poison the Emperor was walking freely in the palace. Though I was used to enduring such criticism, I couldn’t shake the worry that perhaps the Black Martial Emperor was facing all this opposition alone, especially after what the Grand Chamberlain had said.

Maybe bringing me back here wasn’t just a personal matter for the Emperor but also tied to the state. If that were the case, there must have been a lot of resistance from the officials. Could it be that the

was facing them alone? These kinds of concerns constantly haunted me, no matter where I went. Rubbing my aching head, I quickened my pace. Naro, smiling, offered me some encouragement.

“Don’t let it bother you. Those officials are dealing with their own frustrations right now.”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, it’s like this: among the consorts recently dismissed from the palace, a lot of them were daughters of high-ranking officials from Oga. You’ve seen Oga, right? He’s the one who follows His Majesty around everywhere… Anyway, the officials were all hoping to make their daughters Empress, but suddenly, they were dismissed. It must’ve felt like a bolt out of the blue. And now, to top it all off, they have to watch a criminal like you walking around the palace—no wonder they’re fuming.”