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Deji walked quickly into a room, he looked at a woman who was currently waiting for him.

"What's the news today?" said the woman in an impatient tone.

"Kim Aera asked her old servant to come back."

"What!! Isn't that not allowed? Has she forgotten the rules of this palace? How dare you!!"

The woman looked furious, she was only in the harem, how could she ask for something that would violate palace rules!! A servant or perhaps a soldier was not allowed to return to the palace for whatever reason. Not to mention Kim Aera's old servant left the palace because of accusations of wanting to harm Kim Aera. But now …

"Now it will be even more difficult for me to eliminate Empress Kim Aera," Deji said.

"Tch!! She's just a harem, how dare you call her empress right in front of me, Deji!! Do you want me to punish her again ha!!"

Of course not!! Deji doesn't want that to happen again. It's just that when Song Hanna returns it will make it difficult for Deji to kill Kim Aera. She can't take it anymore, and Deji wants to be free from this.

But the woman asked Deji to hold on a little longer. It won't be easy for Deji to end this quickly, there will be a lot of people who will find out about Deji's evil intentions. But it doesn't matter, if all these crimes are revealed it is not the woman who is at fault but Deji. Yes, Deji will receive severe punishment, including the death penalty. At least her crime would be covered up by Deji, and the woman wouldn't have to worry about this.

The woman asked Deji to leave before many people saw them and became suspicious. Of course, Deji immediately lowered his head, got up from his seat, and left the room. At least no one else saw what he did.

Deji returned to Kim Aera's pavilion, there she didn't see anyone. There was not a single person there, the soldiers and Song Hanna were not there either. Deji feels relieved by all this, it doesn't matter no one else matters what she does no one knows. But something touched Deji's shoulder, making the woman's body buy instantly.

"Deji, what are you doing here!!" said the person.

Knowing whose voice it was, Deji felt relieved. She turned around quickly and immediately bowed respectfully, "Ah, Empress Kim Aera, I've been looking for you for a long time."

"I'm looking for you too, where are you?"

"I'm in the Empress's palace kitchen. I'm making something for you."

"What?"

"I'll get you a moment."

Kim Aera just nodded, while looking at Deji's back which had moved away from her. The woman entered her pavilion confused, even though Kim Aera had passed the palace kitchen and did not see Deji there. But why did the servant say it was from the palace kitchen? Did Kim Aera see wrong earlier?

Not wanting to think about that, Kim Aera looked at Song Hanna who was even busier cleaning her bed. To be honest, Kim Aera can't sleep on a cot, or a thin bed with a thick blanket but on the floor. Apart from catching a cold, Kim Aera can also feel her body aching when she wakes up. But it can't be helped, she can't come back if her job here isn't finished. Kim Aera misses her old life.

Not long after, Deji returned, Kim Aera looked at the tray Deji was carrying with narrowed eyes. Moreover, Song Hanna immediately approached Deji and Kim Aera. His heart wanted to help, but Deji immediately forbade him. Deji can do it himself without Song Hanna's help.

"It's better to work together so that your work can be finished quickly," said Kim Aera.

"I know, Empress. But this is only a small tray, and I can carry it myself," explained Deji in a low tone.

Kim Aera just kept quiet. She looked at the food Deji was serving with a raised eyebrow. Before eating, Kim Aera asked Deji to make a glass of guava juice first. She would like to have guava juice, as did Song Hanna, who had the task of cutting peaches. Today Kim Aera wants to eat a lot and everything must be neatly arranged in front of her. If one of the foods that Kim Aera wants doesn't exist, then Kim Aera won't want to eat for a day.

One by one the court ladies left in fear, especially since Kim Aera was pregnant, it made them think twice. The pavilion became quiet, Kim Aera took a small circle and also dipped a white cloth in black sauce, and then stored it neatly. It's not that he doesn't believe Deji, unfortunately, what this woman has given Kim Aera so far has made him wary of Deji doing the same thing.

***

"How?"

Kim Aera looked at Kim Minseo with a curious face. This time Kim Aera disguised herself as an ordinary village woman. She is a commoner this time, sitting in the teahouse together with Kim Minseo. Not only that, it turns out that no one knows who Kim Aera is.

"What do you mean by that?"

Kim Aera's eyes widened perfectly, and her hand reflexively flicked Kim Minseo's head in annoyance, "I'm not even this good when dealing with people. Maybe I'll cut off that person's head if the answer isn't what I want."

"I'm just joking casually. Your life is too serious, you'll get old quickly Aera." Kim Minseo laughed a little, he immediately changed his sitting position, "Hmm, I haven't met my uncle yet. And I just gave you the cake this morning. Maybe this afternoon or evening I will come to your pavilion."

"You often sneak into Aera's pavilion, huh? Do you have more feelings for that girl?"

Kim Minseo just smiled a little, shaking his head. They have been friends since childhood, so Kim Minseo may have feelings for Kim Aera. Not to mention that the woman is also the concubine of a King, of course, what can Kim Minseo who is only a noble's daughter do? His throne trumps everything, making Kim Minseo remember who he is.

Kim Aera laughed, "Just tell me, what's the problem? Anyway, there's no harm in it. Who knows, if he comes back, he knows how you feel."

"If she comes back? If not?"

"That means... do you like Kim Aera?"

Kim Minseo just kept quiet when he heard this, liking someone is not Minseo's right. But if I'm honest, until now Kim Minseo has always rejected many women who arranged marriages with him and Kim Minseo rejected them.

"Let's not discuss that, we'd better go to my uncle's house to find out if the food is dangerous or not," said Kim Minseo finally and made Kim Aera nod obediently.

Unlucky!! Things like this make Kim Aera look like a fool!!

To be continued