I often heard rumors about the second empress, even when I was a commoner. That she’s kind. And that she’s the type of person who puts an effort to rescue the poor and destitute.

That’s why there was some hope remaining, just in case.

In this large imperial palace, wouldn’t it be possible for at least one person to welcome us?

But as Hannah carefully took the sword out from the scabbard, unlike Kahtia’s expectations, the truth was confirmed once more; God hates Kathia down to her bones.

The scabbard exposed a chipped blade and a dark, caked-on stain. There were also a few thin strands of thread wrapped around the blade haphazardly.

No, upon closer inspection, that wasn’t thread.

It was hair.

Silky and light pink in color.

The wide-eyed Hannah rushed to sheathe the blade. Then the abhorrent sword transformed back to its own beautiful and extravagant form.

Yes. This sword would forever shine with prestige if we didn’t do anything.

Stay still just like this then…

Hannah looked calmly down at the warning for a long time, which was far clearer than words. Like in dense fog, she was composed and quiet.

The hand that Kathia was holding, thinking things will turn out for the better, turned quite frigid, like ice.

As a result, Kathia and her mother had to spend their long days in an enclosed palace farthest away from the imperial palace.

They limited going out as much as possible as well as not attending official banquets and imperial dinner parties at all.

They didn’t even accept the rare requests of aristocrats who wished to visit the Emperor’s most beloved concubine.

Although the confined living was at her own will, it wasn’t too bothersome nor difficult. Unlike what others expected, there were many days of laughter and they were living happily together.

In any case, it was the wealth that was unwanted from the beginning, nor was it fitting for them.

Wherever it was, Kathia and Hannah, as usual, and always, depended on each other to find the meaning of life.

It was ok. For real, it was alright.

However, they could no longer be as happy as in the past.

* * *

“…Mom?”

During the dead of night, while everyone was asleep, as soon as she heard the heavy footsteps, Kathia automatically woke up from her sleep.

Suddenly, the side of the big bed was empty.

Facing the cold wind, there was a sight of a trailing white nightgown slowly escaping through the wide-open door.

Kathia, while rubbing her heavy eyes, followed her promptly. She didn’t even forget to bring along the thick blanket draped over the sofa.

Often, the night offered to show more than the day.

For example, a woman’s wandering through the dark hallway. Or the light exposing her back decorated with the dangerous movement of her red hair…

Today as well, following two steps behind her, Kathia carefully stared at Hannah’s bare feet.

Attempting to put shoes on her feet failed every time.

As a temporary measure, Kathia kept requesting for the maids to clean the floor; Kathia was worried that Hannah would step on something sharp when the floor wasn’t cleaned.

It didn’t seem important to Kathia that she herself was also barefooted.

Where they ended up with their careful, thief-like footsteps was the pond located in the back garden.

It was the kind of pond that was dyed black like the mouth of a demon submerged in darkness.

Hannah, while not awakened from her sleep every night, stared at this large and deep pond water for a very long time.

Kathia’s role was to tiptoe around and wrap a blanket over her and protect Hannah, hoping that she wouldn’t get too cold.

Initially, Kathia thought Hannah was joking around.

As much as Kathia called and held her, Hannah wouldn’t turn around, so she thought her mom was kidding around in the middle of the night to scare her off.

But as the day came and Kathia chided her, Hannah appeared innocent, claiming she never did such a thing.

But even after that night, and the night after, Hannah continued with her peculiar night walks.