The empress, who had been sitting with a somewhat despondent expression, nodded and composed her expression.
“I am a bit tired from traveling as quickly as possible from a distant place to here. If there is a decent lodging nearby, could you help me rent one?”
“……There is no need to worry, Your Majesty. We are not so impoverished that we lack a room to offer. Still, I am relieved that you have concealed your identity. Compared to the grand procession of a nation’s sovereign visiting another country, your current entourage is small enough to stay together.”
“That is true.”
If she had been a mere princess or prince, it might have been different, but a reigning king or emperor rarely visits another country personally. Even if they do, they would usually lead an army. Of course, if it were an “unilateral visit,” the scale would be even larger.
“Then I shall gratefully stay here for a few days.”
“……There is one thing I would like to ask.”
“Go ahead.”
“Did Your Majesty truly come here with the sole intent of seeing a ‘friend’?”
“How would I know who is here before coming? Besides you and my friend, I had no basis for any other assumptions.”
The empress glanced once at the shadow and the witch, who had yet to leave the room.
“On the other hand, did you not already know I would be coming? Leaving aside these people, who seem to have much they want to discuss with me.”
Though she did not yet know their identities, the empress seemed to have sensed that conversing with them would yield something valuable. Her eyes gleamed with interest.
The shadow and the witch. The only things they had to offer were items the empress would surely find fascinating. The conversation would likely proceed smoothly.
However.
“But my greatest interest remains in my friend. So I must ask— the person beside you, is that truly my ‘friend’? They seem to be… a bit too undressed.”
“Yes.”
Ayla did not seem to think that the empress had failed to recognize me at first glance.
Rather, she seemed to interpret it as a joke or a slight tease.
Ayla’s eyes shone blue.
I wasn’t sure what she was thinking, but she looked as if she wanted to hear something specific from the empress.
Or perhaps she wanted to obtain something?
“As I have said repeatedly, this person is my maid. She serves me with utmost dedication.”
The empress, the witch, and the shadow all turned their gazes to me. Their stares were piercing.
It didn’t help that the outfit I was wearing at the moment was… this.
No, more than that, Ayla’s words were far too easy to misunderstand. Of course, the ideal role of a maid is to serve their master with utmost dedication, but still…
It sounded like something straight out of the romance novels Sayla often read. Especially since I was dressed like this.
“She follows any order I give.”
“Any order?”
The empress looked up at me again, scrutinizing my face.
“So if you were to command this maid to serve me, she would comply?”
“No.”
I firmly refused.
“But I heard she follows any order.”
“If it is for Lady Ayla, then yes. But if it were an order to serve someone else, then no.”
The empress gave me a look that suggested she had a lot to say but eventually let out a deep sigh.
“Well, I must admit I came with some expectations. But honestly, I have no idea what to make of this.”
“Is that so.”
“Yes. How should I put it? It’s just… different from the impression I had. I mean, even if you’re in disguise…”
The empress muttered while looking at me again.
My heart pounded.
If the empress said something strange here, Ayla might discover my true identity.
Originally, I had planned to rush over and negotiate as soon as I heard the empress had arrived near here.
I had never imagined I would end up standing beside Ayla, dressed like this, having such an embarrassing conversation.
“Well, don’t worry. Even if I have been called bold many times, I have no intention of making a maid serve me.”
Then she frowned, as if realizing she had phrased that oddly.
“No, I mean, the word ‘serve’ wasn’t meant in that way.”
“Is that so? Do not worry. I did not interpret it in that way either.”
“Is that so? Truly?”
“Truly so, Your Majesty.”
“Does someone who truly believes that dress their maid in such attire?”
Once again, all eyes were on me.
I tried my best to concentrate and regulate my heartbeat.
In the past, I might have attempted various breathing techniques or other methods, but unfortunately, while this body could endure a week without sleep, it could not properly utilize most of the advanced techniques I had mastered before.
The outfit was definitely bothering me.
I could be naked in front of Ayla.
Perhaps even in front of the shadow, the witch, or the empress, I wouldn’t feel any shame.
After all, aside from Ayla, I never really considered anyone else as a woman.
If I still had my original male body, I could stand more confidently.
But being dressed like this, of course, I felt embarrassed.
The skirt was short—so short that the lace of the apron barely covered it.
If I bent forward slightly, the lace would completely obscure the skirt, making it appear as if I weren’t wearing one at all.
The top was no better.
Although there was fabric on my shoulders, the area behind the apron was cut so deeply that, from the front, it looked like I was only wearing an apron with nothing underneath.
From behind, it would at least appear like I was clothed, but the deep cut on the back made it just as indecent.
Wouldn’t this seem a bit inappropriate, even from a woman’s perspective?
Men likely wouldn’t feel comfortable seeing another man wear an outfit that exaggerated his masculinity to this extent either.
“No, that’s not the case.”
Ayla, who had been staring blankly at me as if realizing what she had done, quickly turned to the empress and responded.
But the empress had already misunderstood something quite severely.
Let me clarify— the empress was a definite heterosexual.
If she had truly considered me a potential husband in the past, then now that she thought of me as a woman, she would never place me in that category.
Not that it mattered, since the other nobles would never approve of such a marriage anyway.
“Well… I won’t question your tastes. Nobles often have refined preferences, after all.”
“No, that’s not what I meant!”
Ayla’s tone shifted.
But eventually, unable to endure my gaze upon her, she fell silent.
That’s right.
Wasn’t Ayla the one who had been playing with my skirt just a moment ago?
Trying to lift it by pinching the hem with her fingers?
Logically speaking, her actions likely weren’t because she was attracted to women.
Although I had never witnessed it myself, I knew that among noble ladies, there were those who bullied and humiliated others.
And such bullying often involved acts meant to induce sexual shame— tearing clothing, untying something to expose the body in front of others.
If she viewed it in that context, I could understand her actions.
But—
In truth, I wished Ayla had felt at least a little excitement while doing it.
If she had, then maybe… I might have had a chance.
Even I knew it was a ridiculous thought.
“So… is that what this is about? Binding someone powerful in some way and keeping them under your control?”
Although Ayla had vehemently denied any sexual implications, she did not completely deny the empress’s follow-up remark.
“……I will not forcibly take away my old friend.
Besides, what I originally intended to request is already meaningless now.
However, I would appreciate the chance to speak with that friend for a moment.
Judging by your expression, if you do not allow it, I doubt they will agree to meet with me alone.”
The empress’s insight had not dulled with time.
“……Yes, I can permit that much. Right, Luna?”
“Luna?”
Hearing my name, the empress tilted her head in curiosity.
But soon, she nodded to herself with an expression of understanding.
She must have assumed that since I was in “disguise,” the name she originally knew me by must have been false as well.
“Yes. I also have some things I would like to say.”
“Ah, and one more thing.”
Just as I finished speaking, Ayla looked up at me.
Her face was slightly flushed.
It seemed she couldn’t completely hide the embarrassment brought on by her conversation with the empress.
“That outfit… you should change out of it.”
“Thank you, Lady Ayla.”
“Why? It suits you.”
“Your Majesty.”
I barely managed to say that as I looked at the empress.
She simply smirked and shrugged her shoulders slightly.