Chapter 20

I never knew I would have this thought. Last time I said that if I were to visit the emperor on my own feet, the countdown for my life will probably start, but nothing even matters now. It was like getting rid of a dam to prevent a drought.

I glanced at Seo Yeon, who was tidying up my bedding. She moved hurriedly while wrapping the heated stone in a cloth, then turned around and looked at me. Seo Yeon was the leader of my court ladies. It meant that she was trusted quite a lot by the emperor. I could also feel that she was quite strong when I hugged her earlier, and that could probably apply to the other court ladies too.

The reason why Seo Yeon's body was all solid was probably because her whole body was made of muscles. Nobles usually wouldn't do this type of work, but illegitimate children who were abandoned might.

"Miss, do you have a question?"

Seo Yeon asked politely. I swallowed my saliva and cleared my throat.

"… Can you sleep with me?"

I got goosebumps after hearing my voice. Oh. I really just am a young kid, although I have to act shy. I would definitely feel safer if Seo Yeon were here with me, plus, it's already dark. This might happen many times in the future, so should I do this every time?

While I was thinking deeply, Seo Yeon hesitated with a troubled face. I put my puppy-eye face on and said.

"It's unfamiliar to me that I moved to a new palace, and I often have nightmares when I sleep alone."

I decided to ignore the voice I just used because I feel so ashamed.

"But Miss, when you sleep with someone lower…"

She said in an embarrassing voice. I clicked my tongue inwardly. Looks like I'm not cute enough to persuade her. It won't be helpful if she makes a big deal out of this. I dropped my head instead of urging her more.

One, two, three.

She still said nothing.

"… Is it really not possible?"

I looked up with a pitiful face, and my voice was even more sad. Seo Yeon shivered at my expression. She pressed her lips together as if she were really worried.

"Ah…"

"…"

"…Yes."

Good.

***

"…"

"…"

"… Hey, come on-"

"It's late at night. You have to sleep."

Seo Yeon's quiet voice cut me off. I bit my lips without realizing it. I thought she would use the same bed or bring a blanket, but she brought a chair instead and sat near my bed. I blinked because I could feel my determination to stay up all night.

"Aren't you tired?"

"I'm fine. Don't worry."

But I still couldn't hide my anxious eyes. I'm worried that she might be tired of staying up all night, but more than that, I'm worried that if I close my eyes, I'll end up falling asleep. It's probably around 10 o'clock now.

Of course, no one will come at 9 or 10 o'clock, since that's still early hours of night. They would probably come at least from 2 in the morning, and by that time, we'll be asleep. Should I bite my tongue and stay awake?

"…If you can't sleep, I'll tell you a story."

Seo Yeon whispered softly. I'm not asking for her to talk all night long like those long-going podcast episodes. But I quickly changed my mind.

"… No, no. It's okay. You don't have to."

"…"

"…It's not that I can't sleep. I'm just afraid Seo Yeon will go away if I do…"

I want to throw up. Who even am I right now? I held back my distorted face and stared at her.

"…Don't worry. I'll be here."

"Really?"

"Yes, Miss."

"Why don't you lie down…"

"I wouldn't dare sleep with a noble."

I feel relieved after hearing her answer. The reason you won't lie down isn't because you will leave, but because of etiquette.

"Okay…"

The tension eased, and I didn't bother to stop my eyes from closing. As my vision dimed, I fell into deep slumber.

***

(3rd person pov)

Seo Yeon looked down at Sanya where she quickly fell asleep. The child's miserable face rested peacefully, the same was for her breathing sounds. It reminded her of the news she heard a few days ago.

'Sanya Yeoran is not a spy.'

The voice of the emperor's aide, who spoke those words, mingled in her mind. The child was lovely but too quiet. Seo Yeon has never taken care of a child before, but she could still tell that Sanya was different from ordinary kids.

When Sanya received gorgeous gifts, she was reluctant to think that it was not her own, and muttered that she couldn't use it properly. But the difference between Sanya and her status was clear, so Seo Yeon could never sleep in the same room as her. However, Sanya's eyes looked so sad that she made an exception for tonight.

Originally, Seo Yeon was only supposed to stay by Sanya's side for a month, and so were all the court ladies by her side. It might be better to have people who were more experienced in taking care of children by her side instead. At least, maybe court ladies who can't break someone's neck with their bare hands.

The room was quiet and peaceful. While Seo Yeon sat there, the door of the bedroom opened quietly.

"You are still here?"

The court lady who came in looked surprised to see Seo Yeon. She nodded and while the other girl smiled and and quietly approached her.

"Go get some rest. I can stay here."

"But…"

"Didn't you overdo it today?"

Seo Yeon swallowed at her words. The other girl was right. When Sanya's palace moved, there was a lot of work for her to do.

"I'm not going anywhere tomorrow morning. Come on."

Having said that, there was no reason for Seo Yeon to refuse anymore. She eventually got up from her seat.

"Thank you, Yeonsu."

At her words, a court lady called Yeonsu smiled.

Seo Yeon closed the door quietly so that Sanya wouldn't wake up while Yeonsu sat down in the chair. Sanya's sleeping face was immediately visible. While looking at her, Yeonsu's eyes strangely sank.

A bird cried out a couple of times outside the window, and at that moment, droplets of water permeated the window frame. If it were ordinary water, the cloth or the wood would be wet immediately, but the shape of the water droplets stayed while slowly turning towards Sanya.

Although it might look strange to anyone, Yeonsu stood up from her seat expressionlessly as if she had not seen it. She walked straight to the door and opened it carefully like what Seo Yeon did earlier. Before going outside, she paused for a moment, but then left the room with no hesitation.

***

(Back to Sanya's pov)

I felt a burning pain in my throat and nose, and at that moment, I woke up with a surprise. My body reacted naturally to the water that had flowed into my mouth and nose, and coughed. As a result, more water flowed into my mouth.

'…!'

I have to shut up. My body kept spitting out water while I coughed. I looked around while covering my mouth tightly with my hands. It was like seeing everything with a blue filter over it. I feel like I could barely move.

Someone filled my room with water. Anyhow, it can't be me since I didn't decide to play with water overnight.

Ahhh. The ominous feeling I had was right. Is it because of this palace I received?

One thing's for sure, someone is trying to kill me tonight