Epilogue (1)

Ash-gray clouds thickly covered the sky, and a somber gloom gently painted the world in monochrome. Mullaba couldn’t enter the Changwei (Information Bureau), so she had to stand in front of the gate for a solid two hours.

Moist snowflakes fell on her face and the back of her hands. Her lips turned blue, and she trembled, but the old court lady stood there, anxiously waiting for the gate to open. By the time the snow and clouds subsided and the clear blue sky showed its face, she had become a snowman.

The hinges creaked, and the gate of the Changwei (Information Bureau) twitched. The old woman craned her neck and peeked inside. As a familiar figure struggled to move the gate and walked out, she ran and hugged her tightly. Mirabilis was surprised because she didn’t expect someone to rush at her as soon as she opened the gate. But Mullaba simply embraced her mistress, her shoulders shaking as she endlessly shed hot tears.

Mirabilis also hugged the old court lady and waited patiently until she calmed down. The old woman, who had been by her side since she was young, was as thin and frail as a stick, fitting snugly into the Princess’s slender arms. The hem of the young lady’s clothes became damp. The sorrowful sobbing that had continued for a while gradually subsided in Mirabilis’s warmth.

“Mullaba, you followed me?”

“Your Highness, you looked so precarious today that I couldn’t just wait quietly in the palace.”

The old court lady wiped tears from her red, bloodshot eyes while still holding the Princess, but her voice still had a sob in it.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry, this won’t happen again.”

Mirabilis patted her back. And when she smiled, forehead to forehead, Mullaba finally let out a sigh of relief and relaxed her body. Suddenly, Mirabilis thought she looked smaller than before. The young Princess finally realized that the court lady had aged, weighed down by the years of navigating the hardships of life.

“Your Highness, even if you’re wearing plain clothes and haven’t dressed up, your current appearance is not at all dignified. If your attire is simple, it should at least be clean. What on earth happened with Serina inside there?”

As soon as she felt relieved, Mullaba stepped away from Mirabilis and began to nag, scanning her up and down. It was only natural to ask, as there were clear tear stains and blood and dust all over her plain clothes and face. The Princess smiled faintly, thinking that the habits ingrained in her as a court lady were still the same.

“I fought with Serina inside.”

“You fought with a maid who suffered hardships in the Changwei (Information Bureau)? What on earth…”

Mullaba cast a dark shadow over her face and asked back in a low, serious tone. It was absurd that the Princess had personally entered the Changwei (Information Bureau) and fought with a suspect who had been tortured. It was hard to imagine unless Serina was desperately trying to die or Mirabilis had gone mad.

But Mirabilis shook her head.

“Don’t worry, Mullaba, it’s not as serious as you think. It was just a minor emotional fight between us that finally erupted… We reconciled and became better friends, so I think I did well to come here today.”

“…Is that so? Then that’s a relief.”

Even the old court lady could see that the Princess’s face was much lighter than when she had left the palace. The precarious impression that had been unsettling her had also disappeared, so she didn’t bother to pry. Mirabilis returned to the Rose Palace (장미궁) with Mullaba, then stopped and looked back.

Under the clear blue sky, pure white snow piled up softly, turning the palace into a dazzling silver-white snowfield. As the falling snowflakes reflected the winter sunlight, emitting a dazzling white light, even the heavy mass of the Changwei (Information Bureau), which had felt so ominous, looked a little cozier.

Serina was finally released from the Changwei (Information Bureau) after a full week. There were signs that the Emperor might order her acquittal, so they didn’t torture her further, but they deliberately neglected her in that cold prison without giving her proper meals. So when she was released, she was unconscious and taken straight to the Rose Palace (장미궁)’s treatment room on a stretcher.

Metchio, who had been lingering in the Rose Palace (장미궁)’s treatment room, saw the patient being carried in and sighed deeply, saying, “Is it this young lady again?” He tried to treat Serina to the best of his ability, but her body was weakened by torture and had been left in the cold for too long, so instead of regaining consciousness, her condition worsened. The frostbite was so severe that her fingers and toes had turned black and showed signs of necrosis.

Even after receiving a report on Serina’s condition, Mirabilis’s reaction was surprisingly calm, which greatly surprised those around her. The Princess came down to the treatment room herself and sat on a chair next to his bed. Mirabilis quietly stroked the knife wounds that ran from Serina’s chest to her neck several times with her fingers, then asked the doctor.

“Can she be saved?”

Metchio bit his lower lip and lowered his head, hesitating because he didn’t know how to answer.

“Metchio, I do not blame your skill. How can a mortal save everyone who is destined to die? Do not be afraid, and speak freely as a doctor.”

Mirabilis’s tone was gentle and warm. He raised his head. He had already made his judgment as a doctor. He was only worried about how the Princess would accept it.

“I am afraid to say, but it will be difficult to save her. Even if she survives, she will lose several fingers and be unable to use her arms and legs properly.”

Hearing those words, the Princess nodded and made a decision.

“I will use Lella Wellananda.”

“You had that?”

Metchio was very surprised. He had heard about ‘Lella Wellananda’ in documents, but he had never actually seen it, nor had he met anyone who had. It was truly the greatest treasure for someone in the medical profession.

“Royal Mother (모후) had previously bestowed it upon Serina. Even Royal Mother (모후) did not know that she would use that treasure so quickly… If not now, when would I use it?”

Metchio recalled the scene of the Empress (황후) bestowing a cheap-looking wooden box upon Serina in the treatment room and nodded. He understood why Mirabilis had been so strangely calm, thinking, ‘She must have been planning to use that if necessary.’

When Mullaba brought the Lella Wellananda, which had been stored in a corner of the Rose Palace (장미궁)’s Main Chamber (주), Mirabilis personally placed it on Serina’s chest, who was lying on the bed. The roughly sewn cloth doll, which looked like something a poor child would play with, gradually turned black in the same areas where Serina was injured.

It spread slowly, like black ink dropped in water, matching the areas that had been branded with a hot iron, the areas that had been beaten, and the areas where the skin was damaged or necrotic from frostbite. When the entire doll turned black, it suddenly burst into flames.

The people watching from the side were startled. But the fire did not spread anywhere else, only burning the doll to ashes and extinguishing itself. The remains of what had been a doll fell to the floor under the bed. After examining it, all sorts of wounds and lesions on Serina’s body had indeed disappeared without leaving even a scar. Seeing this sight, Metchio could not help but exclaim, “Truly a treasure, a treasure indeed.”

Although her injured body had been restored with Lella Wellananda, Serina’s stamina was greatly weakened, so she needed to recover. Metchio busily went around contacting the Royal Clinic and seeking advice from other doctors who had experience treating people with Lella Wellananda.

Baron Mirten, who had been active in the Changwei (Information Bureau) for many years and had been in critical condition for over a decade, was severely reprimanded by the Emperor and resigned. Although he had become a fallen power, he was still not someone to be easily ignored, thanks to the connections and wealth he had gained while serving as the head of the Changwei (Information Bureau).

However, the shock and disappointment he received from falling after enjoying the height of power for so long were even greater, so he retired to his hometown. The Emperor had no intention of abolishing the Changwei (Information Bureau), but he seemed to think that it was necessary to tighten the reins on them occasionally, so he slightly reduced the organization. Minister of Justice (형부상서) Achilles clapped his hands and felt delighted upon hearing the news.

Rumors that a low-ranking magician working in the Naemawon (Royal Magic Institute) had suddenly resigned reached even the Rose Palace (장미궁). Originally, the resignation of a low-ranking magician would not have caused such a stir, but the rumors spread because it was said that his departure was somehow related to the former Director Mirten.

After leaving the palace, nothing more was heard of the magician. Afterward, the magician in charge of casting cooling magic on the Rose Palace (장미궁) every summer was replaced by someone else.

Ivbrenos of the Library accepted the person who would become the next Librarian (사서). Serina guessed that he had not informed the Changwei (Information Bureau) about the fact that she had asked him about the magician. If he had, the Changwei (Information Bureau) would have certainly investigated the matter. So she gave him a portion of the wealth she had received from Mirabilis as a reward.

She didn’t know the reason why he had become the Rose Palace (장미궁)’s Librarian (사서), but she hoped that it would be of great help to his retirement life. Perhaps because he thought that there was someone who knew and remembered him, the loneliness on the old Librarian (사서)’s face faded.

Mullaba felt that her stamina had weakened considerably after waiting in front of the Changwei (Information Bureau) on the winter solstice, so she gradually began to consider retirement. After serving in the palace for so long, she could expect to live leisurely outside the palace in her later years. Therefore, she carefully looked for a court lady who would become the next head court lady, but it was not easy to find someone with a strong enough personality not to be overshadowed by Serina, who was close to Mirabilis.

Moreover, there were many maids who had left after being tormented for a long time before Mirabilis’s personality softened, so there were few candidates to be considered for the next head court lady. It seemed that she would have to continue working for a while. Now that it was possible to hire more maids and court ladies, she was thinking of holding out for a few more years, but whoever was chosen, the next head court lady of the Rose Palace (장미궁) would likely have a hard time because of her short experience in palace life.

Making Serina the head court lady was really postponed as a last resort. If Serina, who was already overly close to Mirabilis, became the head court lady, she was worried that she would truly become an absolute power, at least in the Rose Palace (장미궁). Mullaba’s retirement plan was thus delayed.

Serina became known externally as Mirabilis’s favored maid and right-hand woman. Anyone who wanted to connect with Mirabilis would contact Serina first. Serina’s parents were greatly pleased that Serina had become the Princess’s right-hand woman. Taking the relationship with Mirabilis as a connection through their daughter, the Rantallum family’s circumstances greatly improved, to the point where they could slowly shed the label of ‘impoverished nobility’.

On the winter solstice of the 305th year of the founding of the country, the two did not talk about the events of that day, when their relationship was newly established, for a long time. It was as if that one day had disappeared from their lives, and they didn’t even show any sign of it. Mirabilis brought up that time only after a full year had passed.

It was when the two were sitting side by side on the bed. The sun was rushing towards the western sky, its feet on the horizon, and the Rose Palace (장미궁)’s Main Chamber (주) was bathed in a reddish light, as if it were on fire. After taking off the formal attire she wore as a Princess, as the day was ending, she wore a robe that matched Serina’s, as Serina had said before.

She had dismissed the other court ladies from the Main Chamber (주) except for Serina, and they were relaxing alone. The red light of the sunset was tingeing Mirabilis’s white, delicate skin with a reddish hue. Serina also sat next to her, soaking in the sunset.

“If at that time… if Older Sister (언니) had tried to completely take me in the end, what would have happened?”

Although she only said ‘that time’, Serina immediately understood what she was talking about.

“I wonder.”

Serina really didn’t want to bring up that day. She didn’t want to relive the filth of the desire she had expressed rawly in front of Mirabilis, so she deliberately shoved it deep into the warehouse of her memory and didn’t think about it.

But since her ‘younger sister’ had asked directly, she had to respond without turning away. Serina felt the weight of Mirabilis, who was sitting next to her and resting her head on her shoulder, and answered quietly.

“I don’t know either. But… I probably wouldn’t have been completely happy. Wouldn’t I have been heartbroken for a long time?”

“Do you regret that decision?”

Serina shook her head firmly from side to side. She could answer this question firmly without any doubt now. She clasped her fingers together with the slender, white fingers of the Princess, who had become her younger sister, just like she had done back then, and held them tightly.

“No, I was excessively greedy, but you responded in the best way. I’m always grateful that you accepted me. As you said…”

Serina trailed off. Mirabilis lifted her head, which had been resting on her shoulder, and looked at the maid who had become her Older Sister (언니) with an anxious expression.

“Ego esom tua, tu es mea, semper.”

(Forever, I am yours, you are mine.)

Serina looked straight at her younger sister’s face and answered. Her voice was calm, soft, but firm. Mirabilis’s long eyelashes and clear eyes blinked slowly, and finally closed completely.

“That’s a relief…”

Mirabilis suddenly chuckled quietly, then stood up from her seat and stood in front of Serina. Then she slowly knelt down, placed her hands on her chest, and smiled.

“I swear trust, respect, and loyalty to Serina-nim, my Older Sister (언니) and master.”

Then she carefully lowered her head. The true relationship between the two had become a bizarre ‘sister and master’ relationship since that day. Mirabilis acknowledged Serina as her Older Sister (언니) and master, and treated her that way when they were alone.

There was no longer any need to divide her personality into two and switch between them with a Keyword (열쇳말). Mirabilis distinguished between when she was alone with Serina and when she was with other people, and acted appropriately.

But this relationship was not one-sided.

Mirabilis stood up, then forcibly laid Serina down on the bed and pounced on top of her. After holding down Serina’s arms tightly so she couldn’t move, the Princess made a very mischievous expression while looking at her face. It was a rare face that Serina had not seen much since she first met Mirabilis. He stared blankly at the Princess’s face, enraptured.

Mirabilis poked Serina’s chest with her fingers and asked mischievously.

“Whose are Older Sister (언니)’s body and soul?”

The Princess tried to pretend to be innocent, but her voice was thick with a strange anticipation, and her tone was slightly nasal, fluttering like Korean paper trembling in the wind. Her sparkling eyes contained a vivid emerald-like deep green light and sparkled.

Mirabilis claimed that Serina was her possession. Just as he had wanted everything from Mirabilis, the Princess said that his body and soul were entirely hers. Even as Serina wondered how she had ended up in this relationship, her mouth moved on its own.

“Mirabilis, the possession of Mirabilis, my Princess, friend, and younger sister.”

The young lady of the Rose Palace (장미궁) smiled brightly, soaked in pleasure, and hugged Serina tightly as she was. It was a very natural and affectionate gesture, as they had already hugged several times. After hugging like that, she rubbed against her as if she couldn’t stand it, then whispered in her ear.

“Please come to me tonight. Older, Sis, ter.”

Mirabilis treated Serina sometimes like a younger sister, sometimes like a friend, depending on her mood. But in the end, she was always the same human being, ‘Mirabilis’. Serina seemed to be even more captivated by that side of her. Although it wasn’t the way Serina had wanted when she cast the hypnosis magic, her desire was fulfilled in a different form.

A younger sister who endlessly loves her Older Sister (언니). When she was embraced by her Older Sister (언니) in a place where they were alone, she couldn’t bear the deep affection that made her want to do anything for him, and she trembled as she hugged Serina, calling her name and being filled with joy.

Even if they were real blood-related sisters, or childhood friends who had known each other since childhood, they could not have become like this. It was the result of a bizarre relationship caused by the extraordinary time spent under hypnosis magic.

Could that magician, who had called himself Bingalsa and struggled in inferiority, have predicted that his magic would lead to such a result? Serina was really curious about what kind of person he was, but she didn’t bother to investigate and wanted to bury it in the darkness as it was.

Serina felt the weight of Mirabilis’s pure affection, which was directed at her in a straight line and was almost overwhelming, and reaffirmed her sense of responsibility. She wanted Mirabilis to become a ‘popular Princess’, to be happy, and also to keep their relationship a secret from the other people in the palace.

Mirabilis wanted to hear Serina’s opinion on everything. Because of her dignity as a Princess, she didn’t ask Serina everything in front of others, but when they were alone, she would ask and listen to her ‘Older Sister (언니)’s thoughts as much as possible, if not always. They were extremely close, both privately and publicly, able to express their thoughts freely without any unpleasant feelings towards each other.

Since that day when their relationship changed dramatically, Mirabilis’s reputation had gradually and steadily improved. As her personality softened and became more generous, she became an attractive Princess who, thanks to her status and beauty, naturally attracted people over time. Although the Princess had no real power, the intangible power she could wield as a Princess lay in these connections. Serina realized that this was why Padrentia had been wary of Mirabilis.

Regina recta.

The word recta literally means ‘controlled’ or ‘governed’, but here it is more often used to mean ‘correct’, ‘straight’, or ‘formal’. The reason was that in order to live correctly or to be formal, someone (or something) had to be in control. Even when a person tries to draw a line, they have to carefully control their hand to make it straight.

Therefore, the ancient phrase Regina recta can be interpreted as ‘controlled/governed Princess’, but more popularly it is interpreted as ‘formal Princess’ or ‘correct Princess’. And Mirabilis could be said to be ‘Regina recta’ in either sense.

Serina wanted to keep the promise she had made to Mirabilis. Just as Mirabilis wanted to do everything she could for him, Serina also wanted to do everything she could for him.

She never wanted to let go of the deep connection with Mirabilis that she had miraculously grasped in the midst of the intense whirlwind of desire that had swept through like a storm. While she wondered what the result would have been if she had wanted to possess Mirabilis to the end, Serina thought that this was the best path now, and calmly thought about the future.