Zarah's body ached as she lay exhausted in her bed.
When she had woken earlier that morning, the Empress had already left — which was expected, since she had been told that was how things worked.
She had slowly gotten up, returned to her own chambers, changed into fresh clothes, and then collapsed back into her bed.
The way her body ached, she was quite certain Ines was unfamiliar with the concept of being gentle.
Zarah had fully intended to spend the entire day resting, but her peaceful attempt at sleep was interrupted when she suddenly heard Iris's voice above her head.
Zarah groaned as she opened her eyes and looked up to find Iris staring at her with a huge grin.
She knew exactly what that meant. But she was in no condition to argue with Iris or explain the pond incident, so she pretended not to notice the expression on her friend's face before the teasing could begin.
"When did you enter?" Zarah asked, her voice slightly hoarse.
Iris moved to the side and plopped down beside Zarah's head.
"I knocked three times, but I guess you were too busy replaying last night to answer," she teased.
Zarah rolled her eyes.
"I was busy trying to feel my limbs," she whined, turning in bed to face Iris.
"The Empress really is as rough as the seniors say?" Iris asked.
Zarah sighed.
"Those are understatements."
Iris patted Zarah's head.
"There, there, Zar. Don't worry. I heard the Empress only beds the Flower Maiden during the ritual and has never called one to her chambers afterward," she said, trying to comfort her.
Zarah nodded as she listened.
She already knew that. In the webcomic, Ines only bedded the Flower Maidens during the ritual and never afterward.
Iris furrowed her brows.
"You knew that, didn't you?" she accused.
"Well, part of the webcomic did say that," Zarah replied.
Iris rolled her eyes.
"Yeah, yeah. Tomorrow you'll say the webcomic stated that I have three breasts," she joked.
Zarah burst into loud laughter.
"I mean, there was no mention of that," she said between laughs.
Iris smirked.
"Well, what can I say? I'm just that creative."
"What if you say that to someone and they actually believe you?" Zarah asked, trying to sit up but wincing slightly at the movement.
Iris leaned forward to help her and placed a pillow behind her back so she could sit comfortably.
"Then I'll tell them I also have eleven toes," she shrugged.
At that, both girls laughed even louder.
"But seriously though," Iris said once the laughter faded. "What happened yesterday? You looked like you had seen a ghost before the selection."
"Uh… that," Zarah sighed before answering. "I accidentally ended up near the Empress's hidden bathing pond–"
Before she could finish, Iris looked scandalized.
"WHAT?"
"No—NO—Iris, stop that expression! It's not what you think!" Zarah said, throwing a pillow at her before finally explaining what had happened the previous day.
After hearing the story, Iris snorted and burst into laughter again.
"Oh my gosh! A peacock? Seriously, Zar?"
"It was a very majestic peacock," Zarah muttered defensively.
Iris replied with muffled laughter, "Right-"
Zarah rolled her eyes and hit Iris with the pillow again.
"Ouch—" Iris said, though she was still grinning. "To think the mission was to save the Empress, but you— you—" She couldn't help herself and doubled over laughing.
"Yeah, yeah, it's funny now that Her Majesty believed me and let me off," Zarah pouted. "But if she hadn't believed me, do you realize how severely I could have been punished?"
Iris's expression softened slightly, and she cooed apologetically.
"I'm sorry, Zar. I know it's serious. But now that it's over, hearing about it just makes it impossible not to laugh."
Zarah huffed and turned her head away.
"No, no. Go on, keep laughing at my misery," she said.
Iris poked her shoulder.
"I will," she said with a grin, "but after breakfast. I asked the maid to bring our food here."
The mention of food seemed to lighten Zarah's mood.
"What did you order?" Zarah asked.
Iris smirked. "Enough to heal your tragic night."
Zarah rolled her eyes in fake irritation as Iris chuckled.
The two of them sat together on the bed, chatting idly as they waited for breakfast to arrive.
Melody sat in her room, tapping a pen against an open notebook.
Her hazel eyes lingered on the empty page as she sighed.
"I thought she wouldn't be much trouble... After all, for three years she never interfered with any of my plans. But now not only did she ruin the love potion, the Empress also selected her."
She drew a circle on the page and crossed it out immediately.
The paper tore slightly under the pressure of the pen.
"So troublesome..."
She set the pen down and stared out the window.
"Zarah, whether you ruined my plan by accident or on purpose, I don't know…"
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
"But from now on, you are definitely under my observation."
Ines sat in her private study, signing ledgers before handing them to the servant standing beside her.
The servant took the ledgers and bowed respectfully.
"Blessings and glory to Your Imperial Majesty," he said before taking his leave.
Ines tapped her wooden desk for a few moments, thinking.
The Flower Maiden from yesterday… Zarah.
A peacock.
Ines's lips unconsciously curved upward.
"So foolish," she mused.
In her chamber, Zarah sneezed.
Strange. Was somebody thinking of her?
The servant who remained standing to her left to collect the remaining ledgers froze.
Were his eyes betraying him?
The Empress was… smiling?
No, that simply couldn't be.
She was probably planning to annihilate someone.
After all, she said foolish. She must be planning someone's demise.
Ines flicked her hand and the servant immediately stepped forward.
But instead of asking for the next ledger, the Empress said something that shocked him even more.
"The Flower Maiden I chose yesterday—her name was Zarah. Inform her to come to my chambers tonight."
Her tone remained completely neutral.
The servant blinked.
What?
"Your chamber… tonight, Your Majesty?" he asked hesitantly.
"Yes. Do you have hearing issues, Simon?" Ines's gaze darkened.
"No, no, Your Majesty! I will inform Lady Zarah immediately!" Simon said, shaking his head frantically.
Ines dismissed him with a flick of her wrist and he rushed out.
He still couldn't believe his ears.
The Empress was calling someone to her chamber for a second night.
Was the world ending?