It took quite a bit of struggling with Syria before I was finally able to enter the imperial palace.
I was utterly exhausted.
For the first time, I felt drained just from having a conversation.
To be honest, Syria was more exhausting than the Demon King.
With the Demon King, I died because I let my guard down.
But Syria? She was on another level entirely.
Who would’ve thought she could trap me with telekinesis magic?
***
“The Taesa will partake.”
“EHA?”
The maid said something peculiar.
“Taesa is a position held by the emperor’s mentor in the ancient eastern empire.”
Taesa. Oh, that Taesa.
‘But why would they call me that?’ I’ve never seen that term in the empire’s history.
‘Besides, wasn’t it usually a position held by men?’
‘Does this title even suit Olivia, a woman?’
No, more importantly, I already have a job.
“Wait a moment. I came here as a magic instructor, with the qualification of a mage, no less. At the very least, even as a saintess.”
“Saintess is a neutral title. Under imperial law, it cannot be used in the palace. Thus, you will take on the role of Taesa instead.”
“But that position existed only in some ancient empire centuries ago! Why me?”
Fine. I could let the titles of Swordmaster, High Priest, and Divine Archer slide as ties to the past.
‘But this?’
‘Saintess and Taesa?’ This is ridiculous.
Honestly, joining the Magic Tower would’ve been better.
“And you must wear the official uniform.”
The maids handed me the attire.
It was a dress.
‘Seriously?’
‘I admit, some private tutors among nobles do wear dresses, but this?’
“Why do I need a custom-made outfit? The saintess robe is already awful enough. And how am I even supposed to wear this?”
‘A dress? And one covered in lace at that?’
‘It’s like the emperor wants me to suffer.’
“Women’s uniforms are traditionally designed like this.”
“Can’t I wear a suit instead?”
‘There are women’s suits, aren’t there?’
“His Majesty dislikes overly serious attire. Moreover—”
“Moreover what?”
“The outfit was prepared by Lady Ashtar.”
My mother’s affection is overwhelming.
In any case, I can’t wear this.
“No matter what, this is too much! Even the saintess or academy robes are pushing it.”
“How about this, then?”
This time, they showed me a uniform that could be worn by both men and women.
It clung tightly, revealing every curve of my body, from my sides to the distinctly feminine shape of my hips.
“This is too much! Don’t you have something looser?”
‘It’s too form-fitting. How do noble ladies wear such things comfortably?’
The material was excellent, but I missed my old attire more and more.
“This is the standard women’s fit.”
“What about the men’s version?”
There are women who wear men’s suits, right?
“Lady Ashtar wouldn’t allow it.”
“Fine. I’ll wear it. But I’m asking Syria for a Magic Tower robe later.”
This isn’t about vanity.
Clothes are just a shell, after all.
In battle, I don’t care what I’m wearing, even if it’s a dress.
But now that Syria is involved, I have to be careful.
If she found out, who knows how much she’d mock me.
I can’t stand the thought.
It’s annoying enough as it is.
After much back-and-forth with the maid, I finally settled on the form-fitting uniform instead of the dress.
***
When I went to meet the emperor, my mind froze.
‘Why are you wearing a maid outfit?’
And such a revealing one at that.
For a second, I thought you were a courtesan pretending to be the emperor.
“Ah, Taesa, you’re here.”
“Your Majesty, please revoke the position of Taesa. I’m here as a companion, nothing more.”
At my age, being called Taesa feels absurd.
In the ancient eastern empire, it was one of the highest honors, a title even senior officials rarely obtained.
Even as an honorary position, it’s one that commands respect.
It might even be immortalized in imperial history simply because it’s associated with the royal family.
“Such trivial matters aside, that outfit suits you well.”
“Does it? Your Majesty, isn’t there anything simpler I could wear?”
This was my last chance.
“How about what I’m wearing? I was just considering playing a game of emperor and maid. I haven’t decided who’ll play the emperor yet.”
“Let’s just not play.”
“How disappointing. My personal attire shows off my legs quite well, don’t you think?”
“Do you not realize how undignified this is?” You’re in your mid-to-late thirties!
I wanted to argue, but this is the emperor.
“People pity me. If it weren’t for the stares of others, I’d just walk around naked.”
“Excuse me?”
“Why not? The palace is so suffocating. Even when I sleep, I’m nearly naked. Commoners strip when it’s hot and bundle up when it’s cold, right?”
“Well, yes, that’s true…”
Sure, it’s true.
When it’s hot, people strip.
Even at home, unless they’re nobles adhering to etiquette, that’s what they do.
Back in the Wastelands, I often walked around shirtless during summer.
It was so hot that going without a shirt was common.
“I’m the same way.”
‘But how can you compare yourself, an emperor, to ordinary people?’
“Even so, this is a bit much. Your Majesty, forgive me, but you’re almost completely exposed.”
The maid outfit was practically falling off her.
No matter how comfortable the palace is, ‘what would you do if nobles visited?’
“Why does it matter? We’re both women. Besides, if nobles come, I change immediately. The ones who died recently? I invited them on purpose.”
“You’d already decided to eliminate them, hadn’t you?”
“Of course.”
‘Who would have thought I’d ever say something like this?’
“A cursed mage once asked me if there was a magic that could keep me cool all the time. Do you know what he said when I asked?”
“Pardon?”
“He said, ‘Why don’t you just walk around naked? In the Wastelands, everyone does that.’ So, since he told me to strip, I did.”
That mage. Instead of wasting time on useless magic, he should have developed a spell to keep me cool during summer.
But no, he had to spout nonsense about walking around naked in the Wastelands.
I sarcastically replied with nonsense of my own, and now here I am, living out that ridiculous suggestion.
I didn’t like the emperor, ‘but what on earth was she even doing?’
“So this is essentially a protest against that mage?”
“Exactly. That fool, Noah, had the audacity to insult me. This was my way of getting back at him. He hasn’t dared to show his face at the palace since.”
“Well, when the emperor bares so much, who would dare come and risk being accused of disrespect for merely looking?”
Noah wasn’t even from the empire, so back then, travel was a much greater hassle.
“What do you think?”
Excuse me?
“Do you think there’s no magic that can keep one cool?”
“Of course, there was.”
“I didn’t feel obligated to cater to her whims, but… seeing her like this, maybe magic was the lesser evil.”
“It’s not impossible. But please, just wear something.”
“Then let’s see it.”
***
Wind Field.
I cast a basic wind spell.
It was originally designed for elemental battles, but with a bit of tweaking, it could generate a gentle breeze to cool the body.
I probably should have done this sooner.
“Oh? This is refreshing.”
“It is, isn’t it?”
“Still, since we’re both women, casual attire seems fine.”
“Seriously? Then why even ask me to do it in the first place?”
“But, Your Majesty, I’m fully dressed. For the sake of your dignity—”
“Disobeying the emperor also tarnishes my dignity, does it not?”
If she weren’t the emperor, I would’ve hit her as hard as I could.
“Then why don’t you walk around naked too?”
“I am a lady of the Ashtar family. That would be inappropriate. Besides, I don’t want to.”
“That’s an imperial decree.”
“Even if you ordered it, I’d bite my tongue before complying.”
I’d rather die.
Or… should I actually do it? Maybe refusing is exactly what she wants.
“You’re quite something. Are you perhaps… a lesbian? Hmm, if that’s the case, it explains a lot. Though my son might find this disappointing.”
“Your jokes go too far. Fine, then. I’ll undress.”
“What?”
Her shocked expression was priceless.
‘Wasn’t this what she wanted all along?’
“Your Majesty commanded me to strip, so I will. It wouldn’t be disrespectful, would it? Watch as a lady of the Ashtar family disrobes before you.”
“Enough! Enough! I’ll put something on. No need to threaten me. I’ll stay dressed, at least here.”
‘So that’s her limit, huh?’
Fine. As long as she behaved in front of the nobles, I could live with it.
Not that I’d feel anything for a woman in her mid-thirties, no matter how polished her appearance might be.
“Understood.”
“So, you prefer men?”
“Why is that even a topic right now?”
“Isn’t this the sort of candid conversation friends can have?”
“Friends? Seriously? You’re decades older than me. Just because you look young doesn’t mean you can say things like that.”
“Then again, technically, I am here as a companion and a teacher.”
“I suppose you’re right.”
“By the way, I hear you’ve accomplished something remarkable again.”
“Pardon?”
“That’s why I appointed you as Taesa.”
‘Ah, it must be because of Zerato.’
‘Did Adran report me to the emperor?’
Most people would thank someone for honestly reporting their achievements, but in this case, it felt more like he tattled on me.
And now I was stuck with this cursed position.
I sighed deeply.
“This is about Zerato, isn’t it?”
“You’re not wrong. Who would’ve thought that guy was a descendant of the royal family of Kart?”
The emperor shrugged, clearly exasperated.
I could understand.
“Who would’ve guessed that relics from the past were still alive and well?”
“Yes, I was surprised too.”
“Impressive. You truly are a saintess.”
Hearing it yet again was starting to get tiresome.
The succubus incident had turned the church into little more than my personal training ground.
“I’m a mage. That’s why I came here as a magic instructor, isn’t it?”
“Still, you caught a traitor. A descendant of Kart serving the Demon King’s army? That’s a story the entire empire will laugh about.”
Emperor Belia chuckled bitterly.
I couldn’t blame her.
At the start of the empire, the Kart tribes were slaughtered and intermarried to improve the populace.
In the end, Kart’s blood was more prominent, making the people resemble them.
And Zerato, ironically, turned against his own people with dark magic.
“Fifteen hundred years is no short time.”
The empire has lasted surprisingly long for a dynasty that began with usurpation.
“Do you think my family is nothing but a line of prostitutes?”
What kind of response was she expecting?
“I wouldn’t know. But if nothing else, the Armen family avoided unnecessary bloodshed through strategic marriages. Kart, on the other hand, was rife with corruption.”
Belia seemed satisfied, smiling as if to say I’d answered well.
“Still, the Armen blood runs deeper.”
“That’s not necessarily a bad thing. Doesn’t that make Armenia the ultimate victor?”
It was all just wordplay, really.
Discussing events from 1,500 years ago felt absurd.
“You’d do well as a flatterer anywhere.”
“Who would dare speak recklessly in your presence?”
This was the emperor, after all.
Speaking too freely could cost me my head.
Fortunately, Belia enjoyed such boldness.
Maybe that’s why I could get away with this nonsense.
But it was still a gamble.
I wondered how she’d react next.