Ch#82
If anyone else had been there, they would have widened their eyes in shock at what he had just said.
Calling the emperor by his name.
Once one becomes emperor, the people permitted to address him by name disappear. Who would dare call the empire's emperor by his given name?
Thus, being allowed to call him by name was a privilege granted to only a tiny few.
Clois had granted that privilege only to his close friend Duke Kailun and the Marquis of Ragselbv up until now.
But even they had received permission yet never actually called him by name.
Such a privilege was what he was granting to Ibi.
“Then…… Clois-nim?”
Uncertain if that was the right way to address him, Ibi cautiously checked his expression.
Clois smiled and patted her head.
“Do that. At least it sounds much better than 'Your Majesty.'”
Ibi also preferred calling him that way over 'Your Majesty.'
When she called him 'Your Majesty,' it felt like Professor Sian, who had been so kind to her, had completely vanished.
“The imperial physician will soon bring the medicine you need to take. I'd like you to rest here longer if possible…… but it seems you won't feel comfortable here.”
At his words, Ibi carefully nodded.
Even from the outside, the Main Palace had been incredibly magnificent and grand.
Not only had she entered it, but she had been led to an opulent room deep inside, making her head spin.
So when she first arrived here, she had hesitated to approach, asking, 'Is it really okay for me to lie on this bed?'
In response to Ibi's question, the imperial physician and his assistants said it was a room anyone who was ill could use, so she should rest comfortably without worry.
Lying down, the ceiling only made Ibi more tense.
If it was a place anyone who was sick could use, why was such a delicate, ornate, and magnificent painting on the ceiling?
Moreover, the bed was far larger and softer than those at Yeongjae Academy.
As it was the most luxurious place she had ever seen in her life, Ibi couldn't relax easily.
“Yeongjae Academy has contacted us. For now, Izriella and the other five who used violence against you have been moved to another Yeongjae Academy building.”
Seraphina had reported the matters she had handled first.
Izriella and her friends had been sent to another dormitory scheduled to open next year.
“So you won't see them in the dormitory anymore. Besides, since they're all under confinement there, you won't encounter them elsewhere either.”
There were procedures even for disciplinary actions. Thus, movement for exams during the academic schedule was permitted, but only with Yeongjae Academy staff, and they had to return to their rooms immediately after the exams ended.
It was a form of confinement.
But knowing before whom they had committed their misdeeds, they were all too frightened to resist and quietly followed the discipline.
Clois didn't care what happened to those students.
He was only worried that Ibi might run into them.
Ibi was the victim. How could a victim feel at ease encountering the perpetrators?
Just then, a knock sounded, and the imperial physician entered.
On the tray he carried was a cup filled with a dark liquid that gave off a strange smell.
“Drink it all at once. That way, the swelling will go down quickly.”
Ibi grimaced at the medicine that looked unappetizing to anyone.
Then, as if resolving herself, she gripped the cup with both hands and downed it in one go.
Gulp, gulp.
The liquid in the cup vanished quickly. Moments later, Ibi set the cup back on the tray with a teary face.
“It's a bit bitter, isn't it? Will you have this?”
As if expecting it, the imperial physician offered her a candy he had brought along.
The problem was that the candy was packaged very tightly.
With gauze on her face and her mind foggy from the bitter medicine, Ibi struggled to unwrap it.
Then Clois took it from her, swiftly peeled off the wrapper, and popped it into her mouth.
“Here.”
Ibi naturally accepted it.
Watching the scene, the imperial physician couldn't help but smile unwittingly.
The sight of the emperor and Ibi resembled a very close father and daughter.
Of course, he wasn't foolish enough to voice such a thought.
He knew better than anyone how sensitive a topic daughters were for the emperor.
Clois patted her head as if to say she did well, then rose from his seat.
Ibi followed suit, standing up.
'I should head back.'
The Main Palace felt burdensome, and she needed to see Airin too.
If Airin hadn't rushed over while she was being beaten by Izriella, she would have been hurt much worse.
'Besides, I have to study.'
Ibi's exams were clustered next week.
So she needed to return and resume her exam preparations.
“Ah.”
Then she remembered that her first exam was foreign languages.
“What's wrong?”
Startled by Ibi's sigh, Clois, who had been walking ahead, turned around.
“Are you hurting somewhere else by any chance?”
“No, it's not that……”
Ibi replied in a listless voice, her shoulders drooping.
“I have to study for exams. And it's foreign languages……”
“Ah.”
Hearing Ibi, Clois let out a similar sound.
He had been about to lead her out but hesitated, then spoke to her.
“There are the same books here as the ones I was teaching you from…… If you'd like, would you study a bit before going? I can cover what I couldn't explain last time too.”
Mid-sentence, Clois realized what nonsense he was saying and rubbed his face with his hand.
Suggesting to an injured child that she study before leaving. He must be going mad.
As he tried to apologize for his ridiculous words, Ibi answered.
“Yes! I want to study here before I go!”
Contrary to his expectation that she'd find it burdensome, Ibi ran over and grabbed him.
Clois looked at Ibi, then turned to the imperial physician.
“Is Ibi's condition okay for studying?”
“Since it's just sitting and doing it, there shouldn't be a problem……”
His eyes were full of doubt about studying in such a state.
Honestly, both Ibi and Clois knew it was overdoing it.
But it was something that had to be done. Ibi wanted to learn from Clois as much as possible, and Clois wanted to teach the child even a little more.
“Can you manage?”
“Yes!”
Ibi answered as if she had been waiting.
The Main Palace wasn't a relaxing place, but being with Clois made it okay.
And hadn't he said he'd only help with foreign languages until the end of the semester?
Then there wouldn't be many more chances to learn. This might even be the last.
In that case, she didn't want to miss this opportunity.
'Today, he's still Professor Sian.'
At Ibi's response, Clois smiled brightly and extended his hand to her, just as he had at the festival.
Ibi naturally took his hand and left the room.
Watching from behind, the imperial physician blinked before snapping back to reality.
“His Majesty…… smiled?”
Just a few months ago, he had cautiously told the Prime Minister that the emperor's depression was worsening.
Yet recently, the emperor had visibly brightened in a way anyone could see.
He had wondered what the reason was…….
'It was that child.'
The imperial physician gazed at the door through which they had left.
For now, it was a joyous occasion. However…….
'Things will be tough from here on.'
From what he had heard, the emperor had revealed his identity himself for the sake of that child.
Thus, everyone would soon know there was a child at Yeongjae Academy whom the emperor particularly cherished.
'Her life will change a lot.'
From the child's perspective, it was a good thing.
Just hours ago, she had been an ordinary commoner child good at studies, but now she had become a child the emperor cherished especially.
She had risen to almost the same position as Arcel or Ruska.
But she had no family.
Thus, how many would approach her to fill that void and share in the emperor's favor?
'Still…….'
The imperial physician recalled the two walking hand in hand.
The emperor, who smiled only a handful of times a year, wore such a carefree smile, unable to hide his joy.
The child, though surely tired and startled from the recent events, showed no sign of it as she hurried after the emperor with quick steps.
The emperor and Ibi looked thoroughly delighted in this moment.
