Chapter 16 -- After the Banquet (2)

"Would a silver tray work, or a flowerpot?"

Lilian turned to face Ces, a confused look on her face. The maid should have been cleaning the railing, but she appeared to be deep in thought.

"A mop or broomstick might be good too."

"What are you talking about?"

There was something angry about the way she was wiping away at the railing with her eyes gazing off into nothing. Scowling, Ces answered, "I heard a great shock can be effective. I was wondering if I could hit His Majesty's head once or twice..."

"Ces, you want to be locked up for treason, huh?"

If someone had heard the maid, she would have been imprisoned in an underground cell for daring to mock the emperor. However, Lilian only sighed and continued organizing the flowers in their vases. She understood how Ces felt. The younger maid was not usually someone to speak rashly.

"At this rate, we don't know when His Majesty's condition will improve."

As she thought about the events that had transpired a few days ago, Lily bit her lip. She was more than relieved when Princess Athanasia returned safely from the birthday banquet. But that didn't mean she could forget what she had seen that day.

How?! How could they have dragged our princess that way?! It might have been difficult to imagine, but the elegant and warm-natured Lilian ground her teeth at the image of Princess Athanasia's figure being dragged away by the knights. She and the palace servants, powerless, could only pray for her safe return. Lilian had been happy when the girl came back unharmed, but when she heard what happened in the banquet hall...it felt as though the sky was falling.

The maid felt even worse when she remembered how the princess had returned. She held her head high, acting calmly despite the puffiness of her eyes. Then, she proceeded to comfort the palace servants. Ah. What was she thinking, back then? The fact that she'd lost her one and only family must have been a shock.

It had to be the reason for the princess' thinning face. Despite stubbornly denying that anything was wrong, the girl was not sleeping well at night.

With red and teary eyes, Ces had told them what she had seen. Hannah cried the moment she heard it and Lilian, like the princess, had been unable to sleep.

"Can't Sir Black Tower's Magician heal His Majesty?"

"His Majesty will not admit that anything is wrong."

Surely the Black Tower Magician who had appeared not long ago would know of a way to improve the emperor's condition. But the royal himself had no desire to be helped, so there was nothing more to be done.

"I'm worried."

"Me too. Poor Princess Athanasia. Really, what are we going to do about this?"

Lilian was also worried about Emperor Claude. The recent events had irrevocably hurt princess Athanasia. When his memories returned, the emperor would also be hurt. She didn't want either of them to get hurt. Maybe the fact that His Majesty has not called for the Princess ever since the birthday banquet is a good thing. I was sure His Majesty would punish her after what happened.

"Today, we should make the chocolate cake that the Princess likes."

"I will help too."

Lily sighed. Lately, their lives had been full of trouble.