The Emperor’s Invitation

Inside the returning carriage, Serina leaned against the window, looking utterly drained.

After dozing off for a bit and barely regaining her senses, Ares started to nag.

“Tch, so weak. Catching a cold from a little chill?”

Roderick, sitting beside them, glared and chimed in.

“Still, did you see her take down that Krios guy or whatever? Even if we had fought him, I don’t think we could have taken him down that quickly.”

“What are you talking about? One swing of my sword would have been enough.”

Ares scoffed.

“Says the guy who was just watching from behind.”

Roderick retorted, and Ares replied with a nonchalant laugh.

“No, I just thought her backside looked pretty good.”

“Ares!”

Lily, her face flushed, jumped up.

“Serina Unni has a headache! Please be quiet!”

The two men cleared their throats and quieted down.

Daisy sat silently, gazing out the window.

Serina quietly opened the book that Krios had dropped.

The book began with praise for Pleasure, and its main content consisted of explicit instructions, accompanied by illustrations, on topics such as ‘How to Use Your Mouth and Vagina Well,’ ‘How to Ejaculate Semen with Your Breasts,’ ‘Anal Sex,’ and ‘Uterine Sex.’

After flipping through a few pages, she curled her lip in disbelief and muttered.

“This is supposed to be a Grimoire?”

“What are you looking at so intently?”

Ares, who had somehow moved closer, leaned in.

Serina, startled, quickly slammed the book shut and clutched it to her chest.

“It’s nothing.”

She trailed off, avoiding his gaze, and Ares raised an eyebrow.

“Is that so?”

He stared at her with a suspicious look for a moment, but soon lost interest and shrugged, turning away.

Meanwhile, the carriage had arrived in front of Highgrant Castle.

As the magnificent sight of the castle unfolded before them, Lily sighed in relief.

Before entering the castle, Ares stopped the carriage briefly and got out first.

“I’ll head straight to the Imperial Palace.”

Lily said with a hint of disappointment.

“Why don’t you rest for a few days before you go?”

“Oh, Lily, are you going to miss me? In that case, can I touch your breasts once?”

“Eh?! W-well… if it’s just a little….”

Roderick pushed Lily away and brushed his hands off.

“Lily is very polite, goodbye. Shoo, shoo.”

Then, Ares grinned and winked at Serina.

“See you next time.”

Leaving those words behind, he turned lightly and strode towards the Imperial capital.

Serina, who had been watching his retreating figure, turned her head away with a scowl.

“Ugh, that’s disgusting.”

Unfazed by Serina’s grumbling, the carriage soon passed through the castle gates and entered the castle grounds.

The group that had returned to Highgrant Castle immediately headed to their respective quarters.

Daisy was isolated in a solitary room, and guards were heavily stationed in front of her room.

As soon as Serina entered her room, she threw herself onto the bed.

The moment her body sank into the soft blankets, the tension drained away and a sense of relief washed over her.

The long and dangerous journey was over, and a peaceful rest had finally arrived.

Serina took a long, deep breath.

‘…The leader was only that much.’

Thinking of Krios made her feel absurd.

The fact that she had almost been reduced to slavery in the hands of such an insignificant human felt ridiculous.

“I’m just going to sleep.”

One day, while they were spending their time peacefully, a messenger arrived at Highgrant Castle.

The messenger delivered a letter sealed with the Emperor’s seal and, after a brief greeting, immediately returned.

The contents of the letter were simple.

It was an invitation to visit the Imperial Palace, saying that they had performed their duties well.

“Oh, this is going to be a pain.”

Roderick read the letter and sighed deeply.

Serina, seeing this, tilted her head in confusion.

“Why? What’s so annoying about being summoned by the Emperor? In our family, that’s the greatest honor.”

To Serina, who came from the Artiel Count family, the Emperor’s letter was a source of pride for her family.

Roderick glanced at Serina and smiled.

“Oh? Are you finally admitting your background?”

Serina was momentarily flustered, but quickly hid her expression and turned her head away.

Roderick shrugged and folded the letter.

“Well, it is an honor. But we’re probably not the only ones who were summoned. He has to show the world how generously the Emperor bestows rewards.”

Roderick took a long breath and continued.

“The Emperor gets to save face, we become heroes who have made contributions and receive envy… but inevitably, jealousy and resentment will follow. It sounds glamorous, but when you actually go, it’s full of tiring things.”

Roderick rubbed his forehead as if he already had a headache.

At that moment, Lily and Amelia’s voices were heard from the side.

“Are you really going to the Imperial Palace? Really?”

Lily asked, her eyes sparkling.

“Oh my! The Imperial Palace! It’s like a dream, Roderick!”

Amelia also couldn’t hide her excitement.

“A palace….”

“Maybe there will be a lot of handsome nobles there too?”

“Probably? Maybe there will be a Prince Charming on a white horse?”

Kyaa-!

The two laughed and chatted like old friends.

Serina shrugged as she watched them.

“So what? It’s not like we can just not go.”

“Just thinking about it is giving me a headache.”

Roderick then called Ella.

“We’ll be departing for the Imperial capital in a few days, so please make preparations. Especially take care of Serina’s attire.”

“Yes, Marquess. I understand.”

As Ella bowed and retreated, Roderick turned his gaze back to Serina.

“Just in case, Serina. You know that black spandex suit you wear often… you know you can’t wear that, right?”

Serina flinched and glared.

“Why not? What’s wrong with that outfit? It’s so comfortable!”

Roderick clicked his tongue and shook his head.

He left as if it wasn’t even worth arguing about.

“Geez, what did the clothes ever do wrong….”

Serina grumbled as she watched Roderick’s retreating figure.

At that moment, Lily and Amelia approached.

Lily said cautiously.

“Serina, can Amelia and I go out?”

Serina nodded.

“Do as you please. But when did you two become so close?”

Amelia smiled shyly.

“Would you like to come with us?”

Serina waved her hand.

“No, you two go get some fresh air. I need to rest.”

Lily and Amelia smiled brightly and headed out of the castle.

Enjoying the fresh air after a long time, the two strolled around the outskirts of the castle, chatting.

“Lily, have you had your coming-of-age ceremony?”

“Yes, I had it a while ago. What about you, Miss?”

“I had mine around this time last year?”

“Really? Then I’m a year older than you.”

“Really? Then I’ll call you Lily Unni from now on. Lily, you can speak casually to me too.”

Lily hesitated and said cautiously.

“I’m… not a noble, so that’s a bit….”

“What does status matter? Lily Unni!”

Amelia smiled and linked arms with her, and Lily smiled too.

“What’s your favorite food? I love raspberry cake the most!”

“I… don’t like food, but I like cacao beans. I like the bitter taste.”

“Wow, that’s rare. You have expensive tastes?”

The two laughed and chatted for a while.

Then, Amelia suddenly spoke with a serious look.

“But you know… Roderick and Serina. Don’t you think there’s something between them? I felt a greasy vibe.”

“Pfft, a greasy vibe…. I don’t know for sure, but it’s certain that Roderick is weak to Serina.”

The two constantly asked each other questions and got to know each other.

They talked like that for a while, then the conversation stopped for a moment.

After a short silence, a serious expression suddenly appeared on Lily’s face.

She remembered that Amelia had been at the Black market’s headquarters.

“Um… Amelia, are you… okay?”

Lily asked cautiously.

Amelia immediately understood what Lily’s question meant.

Amelia paused for a moment, then forced a smile.

“I’m just… trying to think of it as a nightmare.”

Amelia said quietly, looking at the distant sky.

Her gaze was empty.

“But… even though I’m trying to think that way in my head… it seems like my body can’t forget.”

Lily made a bitter expression at Amelia’s confession.

“You were… Conditioning.”

Amelia sighed deeply and closed her eyes.

And she recalled the memories of that day.

“Hey, Roderick! I’m going out!”

Amelia left a word in the direction of the office and headed out, humming a tune.

“Where should I go today?”

Having grown up only inside the castle, she had recently developed a taste for outings.

As she was walking, she was about to pass the outskirts of the castle when she heard a strange voice.

“Are you not Princess Amelia?”

When she turned her head, a man with a Black Mask covering his face was standing there.

She was momentarily nervous, but the bright sunlight of the day quickly put her at ease.

“You recognize me? But covering your face like that… it’s a bit impolite, don’t you think?”

The man with the Black Mask smiled and nodded.

“I have a terrible disease. I’m a merchant who sells incense around here.”

The man took out several small bottles from his pocket and showed them.

“It has been said that smelling good scents clears the mind and improves the mood.”

Amelia seemed interested and took a step closer.

“This is… a combination of rose and jasmine, and this is a combination of lavender and peony. It makes you feel good.”

Amelia’s guard began to drop at the familiar names of the flowers.

“Then, do you happen to have freesia scent?”

“Of course. I think it would be a scent that suits the Princess very well.”

The man carefully handed her a small bottle.

Amelia received the bottle and carefully opened the lid.

“Hmm, the scent is really good. Really… uh… reallll…”

Clang-

The glass bottle that had fallen from her hand shattered on the floor.

Her vision blurred and her body swayed.

“Hehehe… you stupid bitch.”