Chapter 45. Isn’t This Treatment a Little Too Unfair?
That day had come again.
The day I had to eat with Jerome.
For a while, thanks to the Imperial Consort’s poor health, I had been able to dine alone.
Unfortunately, the happy days of eating alone were short-lived.
As soon as Fay recovered, Jerome returned to the breakfast table.
‘Maybe I should try fasting again?’
Starving might be better than enduring these uncomfortable meals.
I was internally lamenting my fate while taking a spoonful of soup when it happened.
“Seems you’ve been practicing horseback riding lately.”
Breaking the silence, Jerome spoke.
“Yes?”
How did he know?
Well, it’s not like I was hiding it. In fact, it would be strange if he didn’t know.
I sneaked a glance at him.
Maybe it was the fatigue from tending to Fay, but he looked more gaunt than before.
Still, the sharpness unique to him seemed even stronger.
“There are a lot of events coming up where I’ll have to ride. The hunting festival is soon too. I thought it was a good time to properly learn.”
“You talk as if you’ve never ridden before. Then what about all those times you rode with me last year?”
Ah! So Helena could ride.
No wonder, even though it felt like my first time, there was a strange sense of familiarity.
Perhaps the body remembered it.
But the soul inside this body is new.
I have to get used to it from scratch.
“After fasting, my body hasn’t been the same. Maybe that’s why my memory of riding is foggy.”
“You forgot how to ride just because you fasted a little? That’s the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard.”
His indifferent words stung for no reason.
Hey, male lead.
“A little,” you say?
I survived more than two weeks on water alone!
When the heroine Fay fasted, you were so concerned.
Even if you don’t love me, I’m still your official wife. Isn’t this blatant discrimination?
Jerome chuckled coldly.
“Maybe you’re just making excuses to spend time with Sir Leonard.”
“What?”
“I believe I’ve repeatedly warned you not to tarnish the dignity of the Imperial Family.”
“Of course, I remember.”
“Then?”
Jerome pressed on with sharp eyes.
“You remember everything, and yet you use ‘forgetting how to ride’ as an excuse to associate with the Knight Commander?”
“I don’t know what you mean by ‘associate,’ but I have never done anything that would harm the dignity of the Imperial Family.”
“I hope your words are true.”
Jerome stood up.
Looking down at me with cold eyes, he added.
“Make sure there are no future incidents that could disgrace the Imperial Family.”
***
Despite Jerome’s warning, I did not give up horseback riding.
It’s not like I was meeting Leonard with any improper intentions, as he implied.
I had nothing to be guilty about — so why should I avoid it?
As always, I spent most of my day practicing horseback riding.
Nearly a month had passed since I first started.
At least now, I could match the horse’s movements somewhat.
Today, too, after finishing training with Leonard, I returned to my room.
I collapsed onto the bed.
‘Tired.’
It felt like every muscle fiber in my body was cramping.
I was so exhausted, it was hard to even stand.
I lifted my hands, which had started to form calluses without me realizing.
When I clenched and unclenched my fists, they felt numb, swollen from overuse.
Riding a horse wasn’t like riding a carriage.
You had to match the horse’s breathing and movements — it was almost as tiring as running yourself.
At this point, knights seemed amazing.
‘Those people… how do they ride for days on end during wars?’
When I read about it in books, I had thought little of it.
Now I realized just how incredible they were.
Lately, whenever I encountered knights in the hallway, I found myself looking at them with newfound respect.
Still, there was a positive side.
My muscles felt a bit firmer than when I started.
I guess I was getting used to it.
“You’ve worked hard, Your Majesty the Empress.”
“You seem very tired.”
“Are you not pushing yourself too hard lately? You go to the riding grounds at the crack of dawn and practice every day…”
I could hear the maids speaking worriedly.
I just wanted to fall asleep like this…
No, I couldn’t sleep yet.
I remembered there was something I had to do.
I sat up abruptly.
Well, I tried to.
But muscle soreness slowed my movements to a crawl.
Seeing me struggle, the maids asked,
“Your Majesty, shall we prepare a bath for you?”
“Or perhaps help you prepare for bed?”
I shook my head and said,
“Before that, there’s somewhere I need to go.”
“Then we’ll prepare for your outing.”
Their thoughtfulness was appreciated, but I firmly declined.
“No, it’s fine. I can go alone, so you all can return.”
***
Leaving the Empress’ Palace alone, I headed straight toward the rear garden.
Amidst the luxurious scenery of the garden, there stood a small cottage surrounded by rose vines.
I quietly opened the door, revealing a spiral staircase leading underground.
Step by step, I slowly descended the stairs.
Small candles were lit along the spiral staircase, so it wasn’t too dark.
I wasn’t sure how long I had been descending.
When I finally reached the very bottom floor underground,
I stopped in front of a tightly closed door.
On the door, a large “No Entry” sign was posted.
‘But I’m an exception.’
He had given me permission before.
He said I could come in anytime.
I confidently pulled the handle.
I had worried a little that it might be locked.
But surprisingly, the door opened easily.
As I entered, a breathtaking sight unfolded before me.
Countless books filled the tall bookshelves without a gap.
Glass bottles filled with colorful liquids teetered precariously on the desks.
It was a bizarre, mysterious sight, like the laboratory of a mad scientist dreaming of world domination.
I was overwhelmed by the sheer number of books packed on the shelves.
‘Did he really read all these books?’
Maybe he just placed them there to look impressive?
I had been curious last time and asked him directly.
Did you really read all of these books?
At my question, he had given me a puzzled look.
— “Of course, I memorized them all.”
I had asked if he had read them, but he answered that he memorized them.
This must be why people say magicians are born geniuses.
Of course, he wasn’t bluffing.
The books on the shelves all showed clear signs of being heavily read.
‘But where is he?’
Through the white smoke rising from the bubbling flasks, I spotted familiar silver hair.
There he is.
Carefully weaving around the precarious equipment, I approached him.
He was engrossed in reading a book and didn’t react even to my presence.
“Cedric.”
Even calling his name didn’t get a reaction.
How focused must he be not to notice someone calling him?
I didn’t want to disturb him, but I didn’t have the luxury of waiting today.
Last time, I ended up waiting six whole hours.
I moved closer to his side and lightly knocked on the desk.
“Cedric?”
Startled, Cedric finally turned his head.
His eyes widened like a startled rabbit as he exclaimed,
“Your Majesty the Empress?”
“Must be an interesting book.”
“Yes. I happened to find a long-lost book, and it’s full of fascinating insights.”
“Fascinating?”
I peeked at the book he was holding.
‘Oh.’
I couldn’t understand a thing.
After reading just the first two lines, my fleeting curiosity vanished completely.
Complicated mathematical formulas and diagrams swirled before my eyes.
And that’s what he finds fascinating?
I looked at Cedric with mixed feelings.
“Ah! I was so absorbed, I forgot to offer you something.”
He hurriedly rummaged through his clutter.
He was trying to prepare flower tea.
The flower tea he served before had been truly sweet and delightful.
A mysterious fragrance and flavor I could never experience anywhere else.
But if I wanted tea, I would have to wait at least an hour.
He needed time to dig through that mountain of clutter.
“It’s alright, Cedric. I’m here to ask about the progress of our project.”
“The project? Ah! It’s almost complete.”
“How many days will it take?”
“At most, three days.”
“Three days? That’s much faster than planned.”
“Yes. But there is something I’m worried about.”
“Worried?”
At my question, Cedric’s expression darkened.
“Honestly, I still doubt whether it’s safe to use this.”
“I already explained the situation. We don’t have a choice, Cedric.”
“It could be dangerous.”
“That’s why you’re coming with me.”
I smiled brightly as I spoke.
At that, Cedric reluctantly nodded.
“It’s my first time crafting this type of magical item, so I can’t be completely certain. But… if it’s to end the drought, then so be it.”
“It’s your masterpiece, Cedric. Of course it’ll work.”
I kept reassuring him.
Cedric was an incredible magician — known even as the Sage of the Forest.
If he couldn’t do it, no one in this world could.
Ah, speaking of which, there was something else I needed to ask.
I almost forgot.
“By the way… you can ride a horse, right?”
“Ride a horse…?”
His face turned ashen.
I immediately understood.
‘He can’t.’
Oops.
I hadn’t expected Cedric to not know how to ride.
If I had known, I would have made him learn horseback riding together with me from the start.
‘Looks like I’ll need to tell Leonard that we’ll have one more participant.’
—
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