So it ended up like this.

Is this actually fortunate? Calix must never be allowed to meet the Emperor alone. Perhaps it would be better to keep him tied to my side and follow him around.

Of course, if that happened, the rumors about me being Calix’s mistress would never fade, but what use are such baseless rumors when our lives are in such danger?

I sighed and stroked the head of Calix, who was sleeping beside me.

‘I need to come up with some plan…’

I’m not sure if it’s right to rely completely on the diary.

My mind became complicated. Unfortunately, I now have things I need to protect.

I hate seeing the people I love get hurt. That was true when I was Lee Chaerin, and it’s true now.

But I couldn’t think of any solution to this situation.

The diary said that the Emperor must be killed for Morisias to disappear, but I couldn’t find the courage to tell Calix that fact.

No matter how indifferent the Emperor was to him, how could I tell him he needs to kill his father?

I didn’t have the confidence to kill the Emperor without Calix knowing either.

Even in his predetermined fate, Calix killed his siblings and gradually went mad with guilt.

‘But how could I kill the Emperor? I can’t do it.’

I buried my face in my hands, clenched my teeth, and racked my brain.

Adults used to say that to avoid being treated unfairly, one must build up power.

I thought of the current head of the Estanya family, though I didn’t like it.

I needed to build up my own power, too.

I wanted to become a reliable support that this person could depend on.

For that, I needed my own forces.

Forces independent of Calix.

Strangely, Calix began meeting with the Tower Master more frequently.

Just the two of them.

Since the Tower Master and Ms. Hyesung always moved together, I also ended up having many private meetings with her.

“They don’t tell me what they’re talking about. Have you heard anything?”

“It seemed like they were discussing the Pope’s whereabouts and how to deal with magical beasts.”

Ms. Hyesung sighed deeply at my words.

“Well, let’s assume that’s the case for now, but look at this first.”

Ms. Hyesung pulled out a stack of papers and handed them to me.

“I’ve organized the current situation based on the information Chaerin gave and my own information.”

She pointed to the words Morisias and Kamesis that she had written in large letters.

“While you were struggling in the palace, I was also rolling around outside gathering information.”

She picked up a pen and wrote something down.

Trappist-Id

This was a word the system had mentioned once.

I had ignored it at the time.

“I’ve seen it in an article before. It’s the name of one of the planets that resembles Earth. I’m certain.”

Ms. Hyesung sighed deeply.

“But as far as I know, it was definitely described as a planet unsuitable for life… I don’t know why this planet specifically, but anyway.”

She wrote ‘Divine Power = Energy’ underneath and continued.

“There are three forces that we don’t understand. Forces that don’t exist on Earth. Divine power, magical power, and elemental power. To be precise, they are types of energy provided by or connected to the Absolute Ones. So it seems the living beings here are born with the ability to use that energy directly or indirectly, unlike us.”

Talking like that made me feel like I was trapped in an alien’s body. I unconsciously touched my own body.

It felt quite unsettling.

“The humans here have the same physical structure as Earth humans, but their properties and operating methods seem slightly different. Their heartbeats are a bit faster, I should say…?”

I was shocked and my mouth fell open. Wait, isn’t it strange that she knows this?

“How do you know such things?”

“That’s my field of study, so…”

Ms. Hyesung avoided my gaze, visibly embarrassed, and I was impressed inside.

She’s a science major.

I shuddered in surprise as I recalled the priest of the Temple of Fate I had seen then.

So the aliens in movies looking like squids wasn’t just made up. It was based on reality!

“Hahaha… So the conclusion is that this is some kind of alien planet?”

“That’s about right.”

Ms. Hyesung shuddered too, apparently finding it creepy.

“Anyway, if what the mysterious system said is true, I think the diary absorbed Morisias’s energy. And most of that energy seems to be hiding inside the Emperor.”

“……”

“An ordinary human wouldn’t be able to handle such a large divine power. It’s like a time bomb that could explode at any moment. That’s why Morisias is after Calix Posman’s body.”

I bit my lip. Then why is Morisias inside the Emperor?

As if sensing my question, Ms. Hyesung added.

“He probably hasn’t completely taken over the body, just hiding. Keil, I mean the Tower Master, said so.”

Why did he have to hide in the Emperor’s body specifically? I could guess without much thought.

‘Obviously because it would be dangerous for him if he came in contact with me.’

The answer was clear. If he were to face me now, he would lose his power due to the diary and his plans would be ruined. So he needed a safe place to hide.

Besides, I’m just a maid, so it’s very difficult for me to have an audience with the Emperor.

Instead, Calix is the crown prince of the empire, so he can meet the Emperor often. That means it’s easier to take over his body.

“How did you meet the Tower Master?”

“I went to find him myself. Until then, I thought this was inside a novel. I needed that level of power to confront the crown prince, and the Tower Master fit the conditions perfectly.”

I was genuinely impressed. To look for a way to survive immediately after falling into a strange place.

Indeed, Ms. Hyesung seemed extraordinary.

I should have recognized it when she said she extorted money from the Duke and ran away.

***

“Your Highness. Can’t you tell me what your purpose is?”

“No. And don’t go.”

I smiled brightly and gently took Calix’s hand, which was holding my wrist and not letting go.

“Let go. Your Highness.”

“No.”

Really, this guy.

“Don’t be angry. I have my reasons.”

“Those reasons you can’t tell me?”

Calix nodded vigorously at my words.

It was my fault for not taking it seriously when Calix was acting strangely.

“No, I’m just going to meet Mila. She said she has an urgent request.”

“I’ll resolve it for you. What is it?”

“Your Highness. I appreciate your confidence, but this isn’t something I can ask of you.”

Calix frowned at my words. Then he looked at me with a pitiful face, shaking his head.

I was taken aback. Is that aegyo or what?

“…Don’t make that face.”

“I understand, so please let go of this and just call Mila for me.”

“Why?”

Really, I didn’t want to do this, but I had no choice but to glare at Calix.

“…I’m trying to recruit people! People! I really didn’t want to say this, but no matter how special, capable, and amazing I am, I need subordinates too! That’s what I’m trying to look into now!”

When I finally couldn’t hold back and shouted, Calix closed his mouth tightly and withdrew his arms meekly.

“But wouldn’t it be strange if Your Highness provided them for me? Don’t you think?”

“…I’ll have the head maid called.”

I crossed my arms and looked at the sulking Calix.

Then I sighed deeply and said.

“Your Highness. You know, right now I’m doing everything you tell me to without asking any questions. Right?”

Calix nodded with an anxious expression at my words.

“Can’t you also grant me one request without asking anything?”

“Request?”

“Please open that storage room for me.”

I just smiled at him without hesitation.

I had heard from Aaron.

That there was a storage room in Calix’s room where he kept rare items.

“You have more Elgan sap there, right?”

“……”

“I’ve developed a bit of human distrust, like Your Highness…”

Calix rubbed his forehead.

“Your Highness, if you keep frowning, when you get old—”

“I know! Wrinkles, I get it! But how did you know about the secret storage in my room?”

I realized my mistake.

‘Damn, that was something Aaron told me.’

Calix’s expression hardened. It was the first time he had made such an expression toward me since our first meeting.

“Rose.”

“Ah, hahaha, Your Highness, well, was it Lord Ruel…?”

“Who is it?”

This is bad. How can I say Aaron told me?

“Don’t avoid my gaze.”

Calix approached closely and gritted his teeth.

He looked like he had something to say but was holding back.

“Well, do you remember the Third Prince’s invitation?”

“Damn, that time…”

Calix, who had been staring at me with burning eyes, quickly turned his gaze aside.

He seemed to know how he had behaved toward me back then.

“I got that invitation from an information broker. The broker also told me about Your Highness’s storage.”

Calix bit his lip at my words. Then, as if nothing had happened, he asked kindly with a casual face.

“Really? You want to feed the Elgan sap to the people you’re going to recruit?”

“…Yes.”

Calix is strange. He was strange. Why did he suddenly become kind? He’s not like that.

‘He must be hiding something.’

I felt dizzy. What could he be hiding from me?