"Ah, thank goodness."


    She feels good today. Laying in bed and sleeping is the best for an unemployed life, but it still reeks of a passive amount of money. The power of royals is no joke. Ett feels full of life even.


    Just a while ago, when she barely woke up and saw the sun waving at her in the sky, she immediately sat up, nearly screaming, "I''m going to be late!" Habits are genuinely terrifying.


    "Should this body have another action film escapade outside, I might wake up a decade later."


    If she can even wake up, that is.


    Ett was sitting on the balcony holding her umbrella, not wishing for any servant to assist her as twelve stood further back, good enough to not hear her mutter by herself. She was just staring at the maze-like garden full of pitch-black roses.


    For hours, she stayed there silently gazing at the endless black roses. Her mind was blank, and she was dazed, thinking of nothing. Her mind was floating elsewhere, something that she didn''t know where it had gone; it was limitless and without boundaries, along with her void heart. This kind of feeling continued for another hour. Aiyo, was this even considered a feeling?


    "It''s always like this."


    Just like when she was back on earth. Sometimes, her heart also felt an indescribable stuffy feeling. Although it''s not entirely a stuffy feeling, it makes her think to rip her chest out for it to disappear. It makes her go mad, yet mixed with a void.


    Something inexplicable to describe. In layman''s terms, it''s a bothersome feeling.


    She must be like this; she needs to think every day and plan in advance her scheme as if she''s doing a Calendar Management for every month. Yet, here she is.


    "Ah, I''m going mad."


    She ushered one of the maids to come near her.


    "Lead me to the river."


    "Empress Dowager, that''s…"


    The maid became extremely frightened. Is the Empress Dowager wishing to drown herself again?


    "I value my life." Not.


    "Oh."


    Ett wants to feel something cold or cool lest her mind, which she cannot inexplicably describe, gradually seems to make her think eerily stuffed in her heart even though she feels bereft. Odd.


    "See if the Adviser is busy; if not, call him for me."


    "Yes, Empress Dowager."


    "And prepare me a robe."


    "Yes?"


    The maids were confused.


    "The thickest."


    "???"


    "Still standing?"


    Are they thinking I would wrap myself with the thickest robe and drown myself, unable to return to the surface? Well, that''s a good idea as well.


    The thing is, it won''t guarantee her to be able to wake up to reality or something.


    "We''ll prepare it right now, Empress Dowager."


    "Mmm."


    Soon, they arrived at the river. Fearing she''s still ill but needs a refreshing scenery, they put her in a sedan chair, with one maid holding an umbrella above her.


    This is it, a touch of breeze. Natural river with no signs of contamination. Look how blue the river is.


    Ett slightly jumped down, her hair bounced, looking like a cheery little rabbit for the first time.


    "Please be careful, Empress Dowager."


    The maids were anxious. If she falls down again… they shivered in fright.


    "Fret not."


    She won''t repeat what was written in the novel.


    Ett slowly kneeled, taking off her shoes and socks.


    "Ugh." Why is even taking shoes so complicated and hard?


    These laces just have to go up to her knees intricately. Even tying the final end of the ribbon, you just have to add some styles of different knots.


    "D-Dowager, what are you doing? W-We can do it for you."


    If you ask us to jump, then we will do it! You are His Majesty''s mother; the lesser beneficial subjects should do it instead of you, Your Majesty!


    The maids wanted to scream.


    "I want to dip my feet in the water."


    "…"


    Before she could even finish pulling the sock left on her right foot, she heard Akan''s voice; he stopped running a few feet away from Ett in a huff.


    "Your Ladyship, what are you playing?"


    Akan was filled with piles of duties on his table, and as soon as he came back with important information from Cashim and noticed the lingering maid for a short moment, he wondered why the maid sneaked to look at him and didn''t even say anything and left.


    Then, he thought of the Empress Dowager feeling extremely strange. Good thing one of her maids in the Dowager''s Wing informed him of where Her Ladyship is, rushing into this area as fast as he can.


    "I thought you were busy."


    "Even if I was busy, Your Ladyship, I will always accompany you first."


    "I''m not doing something dangerous."


    Ett said bluntly, removing her last sock.


    "Then sit beside me."


    "Your Ladyship, you can''t be exposed to the air outside for too long."


    Yet Akan didn''t refuse her offer and removed his shoes and socks, rolling the edge of his pants to his knees.


    He sighed as if he aged a decade, glancing at the bare porcelain feet of Her Ladyship. Women shouldn''t show their feet or any parts above that. The shoulder is possible, but not as much as below.


    It should only be seen by the maids caring for her and her husband. Sigh, why does the Dowager want to drift away from the norm?


    However, Ett wasn''t bothered by such a norm; she ignored Akan and dipped her feet in the cold crystal water. Immediately, she felt refreshed and cooled.


    A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.


    "Felt like I''m having a brain freeze."


    Akan: "Brain freeze?"


    "Nothing."


    Her empty mind felt like it had been filled with water and became frozen, and her stuffy heart loosened.


    For a moment, she felt those imaginary microbes weren''t crawling all over her head.


    "I''ve heard the ball was rescinded because of me."


    "No, Your Ladyship. The Emperor was too bored to continu the ball."


    "Same."


    The Emperor knows that I was the one who prepared it, and without me as an observer who wants to watch it, then it will all be for nought.


    "It''s just for a month. The nobles would deem it one of His Majesty''s odd notions."


    "Hmm."


    Indeed, if you have money and power, people would gossip and think it''s just the antics of those with powers. Unless the nobles want to argue and make a big fuss about it, it is then off with their heads.


    "And the aristocrats?"


    "As they always had badly made a gossip as information for money."


    "Gossip news should have more taxes. It is valuable even if its accuracy is not proven."


    Ett joked.


    "That''s a wonderful idea, Your Ladyship. It''ll do well to benefit our empire."


    Akan chuckled. There was a moment to consider if it should be implemented since the Her Ladyship doesn''t joke.


    The only gossip she knows about Ett that was known and where it ended was she was ill and couldn''t get out, she died along the way, and the Emperor''s father was killed after the Emperor was born.


    Such things did happen in the Adiand royalty where just giving a child is enough, then the victim would disappear without a trace.


    There was one most accurate fact that was true, though, in a gossip. Guren''a father is of an actual, noble girth. Just as the families wouldn''t detect who in their family was a victim, the right-hand man would take care of it.


    In Ett''s case, it was the Emperor himself, and that''s why no one had ever found it out.


    Only the reader has a hint about who Guren''s father is.


    Thinking about where there''s still a near future ahead of her is not good. Still, for now, her heart is much less stuffy, but…


    "It''s not enough."


    Her mind wants her to look deep in the river. She just wants to dive down despite not being good at swimming.


    "What do you mean, Your Ladyship?"


    "Akan."


    Akan: "Yes?"


    The Dowager''s enigmatic ways are much out of hand this time.


    "Can you swim?"


    "I can, Your Ladyship."


    "Then you can pull me whenever I want to dive down."


    "Dowager!"


    The maids and Akan were stumped, shocked. Crazy! Is she going to take them down with her?


    Akan, who was in a daze for a moment, blinked. He momentarily observed Ett before he chuckled. Whatever, if it''s what the Ladyship wants, as long as she doesn''t escape, then that''s fine.


    "Alright, I''ll do it for you, Your Ladyship."


    The servants quickly shut their mouths. Alright, as long as they can keep their lives.


    "Thirteen seconds lift me up three times."


    "Seconds?"


    "…"


    Here, Ett thought they knew. Akan vehemently disagreed after she had taught him how it had become 1 minute.


    "That''s a no, Your Ladyship."


    It''s too long for the body of a child.


    "Ten seconds, four times."


    "Ten seconds for you to fall; I''ll pull you up for three or two seconds. That will take twelve or thirteen seconds for you to control your breath. No."


    "Nine, three times."


    "Three times? No, one time, Your Ladyship."


    "Eight seconds, two times."


    "No."


    "Ten, once."


    "Your Ladyship, why should you be calculative even with this? Four seconds, I''ll lift you two times.


    This guy.


    "Adviser."


    "But you are still recuperating."


    He complained, ignoring her order.


    "It seems I have been too lenient to you lately."


    "…"


    "Fine."


    "Then please prepare the robe for Her L--- Your Ladyship!"


    Splash!


    The maids gasped, startled with Ett''s move.


    Akan exclaimed, "Goodness, Your Ladyship should have given me a forewarning count."


    Ett haven''t heard Akan''s complaint. She fell into the river, opening her eyes and gazing downward. Small fishes avoided her fall, the sun hitting the river as she could see a bit of what the river could show her.


    The river is deep, clear from above, yet darker as she falls deeper. The coldness seeps into her dress as if hugging her, her heart deathly calm without any stir. Even this place seems more peaceful; Ett can''t think of anything but the depth of the river, the temperature surrounding her and how she feels she''s flying even though she''s falling. It''s as if the darkness is beckoning her.


    Come, come deeper.


    Close your eyes.


    Fall deeper and surrender.


    Ett pursed her lips, and this weak body seemed to nearly reach its limit. It''s pretty nice. This coldness feels so blissful at this moment. Falling deeper isn''t frightening at all.


    Ett puffed a breath as bubbles came out of her mouth.


    Just then, strong arms envelop Ett''s body, waking her up from her escapade thoughts.


    Ah. It''s finished...


    Just.


    Like.


    That.


    "You''re Ladyship, let''s return to the palace. Do you feel like you''re about to sneeze? Cough?"


    Ett shook her head, wrapped in a thick robe. "It''s not bad."


    "Your Ladyship, that ought to be the last time."


    Ett shivered, feeling like she had been smashed by boulders of iceblocks.


    "C-Could b-b-be."


    "Your Ladyship."


    Ett lightly shrugged, ignoring Akan''s stern voice.


    Cough.


    Kgh. Ett bit her inner cheek, swallowing the lump of blood, ready to burst out.


    "Oh no!"


    "Pyschian! I''ll call a Physician immediately."


    "D-Don''t w-worry."


    Ett uttered, hovering a bit from the cold.


    "I worry!"


    "I f-f-f-f-feel b-b-bett--cough."


    "No, you don''t. Let''s hurry."


    Sheesh.


    "I. Feel. Better."


    She really felt good.


    Thud.


    Mentally good.


    "Your Highness!"


    The maids hurriedly held her, but Akan stopped her.


    "Really, what a stubborn person I serve."