The Place Where I Was Sold as a Slave Was the Imperial Palace

author’s words

Forgive me for being late.

I’m trying to set 24 o’clock as the serial time, but now I’m starting to think that it would be better to just set it to dawn. Once time comes this way, it’s hard to go back.

have a good day.

＜ Reincarnation of Prince Enrico ＞

* * *

It was several days after the conversation with the chamberlain that Buradov officially visited the residence of concubine Nadiagra.

This time, I was accompanied by a concubine escort.

An attendant could not enter the residence of the emperor’s concubine alone.

After properly requesting an escort for the concubine in writing, she received a visit date from Nadiagra’s concubine.

Since there are no maids in that place, you need to pay more attention.

If done wrong, the empress could create and spread strange rumors. In fact, something like this has happened before.

In addition to the attendant, there was also a maid who would make Rudy’s clothes.

The chief of staff said that there was no need to provide anything to Nadia Grabi, but Rudy’s case is a little different.

Although Rudy entered the service of a concubine, he is a slave to the emperor. The clothes to wear when attending banquets had to be provided here.

In the imperial palace, there is a merchant who supplies servants’ clothes and accessories.

Normally, Rudy’s clothes should be made there, but regular deliveries were ahead, so he couldn’t afford a new job.

Rather, I hear people complaining that they want to borrow at least a cat’s hand from that person. It was because the clothes of the servants had changed a little recently.

In the end, he decided to entrust the task to her by asking for a skillful person among the lower-class maids who did chores in the imperial palace.

On this visit, the maid is also taken for measurements.

Buradov stopped a small carriage in front of Nadia Gravi’s mansion.

Rudy was standing in front of the mansion, waiting for me to appear on time.

‘A clever fellow.’

It makes me feel bad to see her staring at me quietly, as if she’s being watched for some reason.

However, when he got off the wagon and approached, that atmosphere vanished. It was to the point where he felt like the child he had just seen was an illusion of himself.

“Mr. Buradov, welcome back.”

The bright smile on the face is spotless. He looked like a bright child with no back.

that’s even more creepy I felt strange every time I watched it because I thought about how something like that was possible at the age of four and what I was like when I was that age.

How many faces are there behind me? Is that a real human child?

A thousand thoughts arose.

“Okay, how are you?”

Buradov grinned.

Rudy smiled and replied that he was fine, then opened his eyes wide as if he was surprised. The child was watching the maid following behind him.

‘I’ve been watching since I was already riding in the carriage, so it’s sly.’

I thought so, but Buradov smiled softly and opened his mouth.

“He is the one who will make your clothes. Since you also decided to participate as His Majesty’s boots, you should dress appropriately.”

“Ah, thank you.”

The child smiles and makes short tongue sounds.

The sun’s rays shone brightly.

If it looked like the expression of a witch disguised as a rabbit when she found her prey, would Buradov be overthinking it?

The chief chamberlain could not explain this strange feeling. But yes, definitely this kid is weird.

Buradov took a step inside the mansion, avoiding his gaze.

My body touched Rudy lightly, as if brushing against it.

At that moment, I felt a slight numbness in my body, whether it was because I was about to catch a cold or because I was worried about my child.

But it was fleeting.

huh? The moment I did that, the numbness disappeared.

By the time I stepped on the other foot, I couldn’t feel anything.

‘···.’

Thinking that something was wrong, Buradov suddenly looked back.

Rudy was staring at him with a slightly dazed expression.

“Why are you like that?”

“No, nothing.”

Buradov tilted his head inwardly and turned around.

‘Looks like I’m coming down with a cold.’

yes. No matter how reluctant the child is, there is no way it will affect the body.

‘It must be because the day suddenly got colder.’

It is already the beginning of winter. You have to be careful at this time of year, if you do it wrong, your body will suffer.

Buradov shrugged, thinking that he would go to bed early today.

*

Concubine Nadiagra stood in front of a large chair in the center of the mansion.

Buradov took off his hat and gracefully stretched his right foot out to the side. Step your left foot forward and bend your body while pulling the hat forward.

Buradov paused for a moment in that position.

A lower person should not open their mouth until someone with a higher status speaks to them. The servants and servants had a slightly different case, but usually followed such a rule.

As Buradov waited, Nadia Gravi’s thin voice came from the front.

“Long time no see, Buradov. Raise your head.”

“thank you. mama. Seeing your beauty, it seems that the light is dimmed in my heart. How are you so far?”

“is it so.”

Nadiagra was very skinny, but still beautiful. Even though she has two children, she doesn’t look like that at all.

she asked, fidgeting with her fingers.

“When is your Majesty coming?”

“…”

I couldn’t answer for a while.

The nanny standing behind her whispered to Nadiagra in bewilderment.

“Mama, Your Majesty is not coming today.”

“Nanny, but… Buradov is here. It always has been. When Buradov comes, His Majesty comes…”

“This time I came to discuss something about the banquet. Your Majesty is not coming, Mama.”

“no. He will definitely come today.”

“mama!”

Nadiagra looks at Buradov as if leaning forward. Tears welled up in his eyes.

“Buradov, when will your Majesty…”

Nadiagra couldn’t finish her words and burst into tears.

“Isn’t His Majesty coming? Why do you not seek my place for so long? Has His Majesty got a new concubine? Buradov, Your Majesty will no longer love Nadia…”

“…”

While Buradov was at a loss for words to answer, the nanny took Nadiagra inside.

In the meantime, Nadiagra continues crying and looking for His Majesty. Little by little she became agitated, and eventually it seemed that the nanny was drugging her.

‘As expected, Bhimama’s condition hasn’t improved completely.’

Even if it has stabilized for a while, it seems to go back to the past if there is still a small chance.

‘It seems impossible to attend the banquet.’

I’m kind of anxious.

Buradov frowned, but a baby came out of a partition placed on the wall some distance away.

It was a baby girl with golden hair and green eyes.

‘Is it Princess Lilitha?’

However, the clothes you are wearing are a little strange. He was wearing a knee-length top and what appeared to be lengthened men’s trousers.

“princess!”

Rudy ran quickly and took the baby’s hand.

Princess Lilitha, who was looking at Buradov with her eyes wide open, smiles broadly when she sees Rudy who is approaching.

The princess spread her arms wide and hugged Rudy as if she was falling face down.

Perhaps it was familiar, Rudy quickly embraced the princess without panicking.

“They say you’ll fall if you do this.”

“…Ooh!”

When Rudi scolded her, Princess Lilitha laughed loudly.

“No, quiet! Bhimama listen.”

Rudy sighs lightly as he hugs the flowing body of the princess.

‘Huh, this.’

Their hair and eyes are very similar.

Since he came to find a child who resembles Nadiagra’s concubine, it is not strange that Rudy resembles a princess.

However, with their faces next to each other, they looked like siblings.

‘This looks like Enrico-sama and Princess Lilitha are together.’

I wonder if people I don’t know will think that way.

‘Couldn’t it be that Prince Enrico really returned alive?’

For some reason, I felt strange.

If you think about it that way, it’s understandable how bad you feel about Rudy. If Prince Enrico returned from the kingdom of God, he might have received some strange ability from God.

It’s creepy.

Buradov trembled and clenched his fists so that no one else could see them.

I suddenly thought of it and turned my gaze towards the entrance, and the escort who came with me was looking at Rudy and Princess Lilitha as if possessed.

Howie seemed to have similar thoughts to Buradov.

‘It’s a banquet time, so I’m anxious. If even strange rumors circulate among people…’

Rumors began to arise that the crown prince was incompetent because he could not properly handle the aftermath of the war.

What would the empress think if rumors circulated that Enrico, who had strong magical powers, had returned alive?

‘I was simply trying to stabilize Nadiagra Vi’s mind, but things might turn out strangely.’

My back hurt.

Buradov frowned, but the nanny returned.

Nanny’s eyes were bright red as if she had cried while putting Bhimama to sleep.

“I’m sorry, Mr. Buradov.”

“it’s okay. I thought Mama’s condition improved, but as expected…”

“Be like that sometimes. I’m not in a state where I can go to the banquet…”

“sorry. This is Hwangmyeong.”

The nanny bit her lip. Mouth trembles.

Buradov quickly opened his mouth before the lamentations about his situation could escape from the woman’s mouth.

“You know that Bhimama has a budget allocated to her. That’s what I came to today.”

“Yes, I have already discussed it with Mama about that.”

Nadiagra must have said only one word, leaving it to the nanny.

Nadiagra, who had married too young, left almost everything with her nanny.

Buradov did not touch the matter, and said that part of the budget would be provided, and that if there was anything he wanted, he would ask for it.

“Anything is fine. There was a word from the chief chamberlain to apply as much as possible because there would not be enough time to prepare for the banquet.”

At Buradov’s words, the nanny put her hands on her chest and said, thrilled.

“also!”

Buradov smiled bitterly. This nanny always reacts exaggeratedly when the maid of honor shows even a small convenience.

The nanny nodded vigorously. Suddenly, her tears were completely dry.

“All right. Yes, I understand.”

The nanny looked at Buradov and said something strange.

“Then, call the slave dealer.”

“···yes?”

The nanny glanced at Rudy. I saw Rudy holding the princess and nodding slightly.

“I heard there was a slave dealer who sold this child. I want you to call the slave dealer.”

“Are you a slave trader, not a trader? but···.”

“I heard that there are many slaves these days. I don’t have time to make Mama’s dress new, so I’m going to buy some women who are good at sewing from the slave trader.”

Buradov opened his mouth slightly embarrassed.

“There are several people in the imperial palace who are good at sewing, so I will introduce them.”

“…”

The nanny glanced at Rudy with a troubled expression.

Rudy said in a small murmur.

“…but the empress is so scared… all of the ladies-in-waiting who come here are scared. They stare at me with a very scary face… and sometimes spill the soup on purpose…”

“…”

Even Buradov could not dispute that.

Rudy looked up at Buradov with tears in his eyes.

“Is the slave trader who sold me a good man? It could be sold in a strange place, but it’s sold in a good place like this… Isn’t Mr. Buradov a believer too?”

“…”

When Buradov was silent, the nanny nodded briskly and said:

“If you’re a woman, you can come into the concubine, and if you work here for a while, I can rest, so please.”

Just as Nadiagra follows the nanny’s words, the nanny seems to do what Rudy tells her to do.

‘Really this child…’

The nurse thought that the only ally in this vast imperial palace was the chief chamberlain.

But I don’t know how they cooked this old woman in that short amount of time.

‘Couldn’t it be that Prince Enrico didn’t really come back alive?’

Feeling a bit uneasy, Buradov reluctantly nodded.

Aside from that, Nanny asked for a few things that seemed obvious to Rudy.

Among them, Bhimama was asked to pay part of the budget allocated to him in gold, silver and coins.

Usually, money is not handed directly to Bibin. When a concubine bought something from a merchant or hired someone to do the work, the concubine’s cashier made the payment to the merchant within the budget limit.

As it is, it is a matter that Buradov cannot decide alone.

However, he had already received permission from the chamberlain to grant all possible demands.

Buradov agreed and asked why he had to ask for money.

Rudy answered.

“I thought it would be bad if someone saw Bhimama buying slaves. It’s a big deal if anyone knows. Nanny will say that you didn’t do such a thing.”

Buradov glanced at the nanny’s face.

Nanny blinked her eyes open, then quickly nodded. I don’t think I’ve ever said anything like that.

Buradov nodded lightly at Rudy, who was lying blatantly.

“I get it. Bring it right away.”

Buradov talked about the banquet schedule and a few other things.

After the maid took orders and measured Rudi’s body, Buradov turned to leave.

Suddenly, I felt that the inside of the mansion was exceptionally warm.

I glanced up to see firewood burning in the fireplace.

‘Even considering that, this building seems exceptionally warm.’

When winter comes, almost all buildings become cold. When it got colder in earnest, it became almost impossible to block the cold with a fireplace.

So, in the winter, the blankets placed on the bed became multi-layered, and people’s clothes became thick enough to make it difficult to move.

‘Come to think of it, the princess’s clothes are too thin.’

It was a little odd, but Buradov went outside without thinking it through.

As the days got colder, they may have brought firewood to a space other than the fireplace and burned it.

‘Then if I do something wrong, I’ll be in big trouble.’

Buradov sighed.

I wonder if life would be easier if the number of people increased, even temporarily, in this mansion with only women and children.

‘But what are you going to do later?’

Even if a slave is temporarily summoned to the concubine, it cannot be kept in the imperial palace.

Eventually, the purchased slaves would have to be disposed of somehow.

The idea of calling a slave dealer might be a good idea, since you will have no choice but to buy it and then sell it again.

‘It’s so strange that it all came out of the head of a four-year-old.’

Looking at the mansion’s walls, Buradov sighed.

At the entrance to the mansion again, I suddenly felt a slight numbness in my body.

“…”

Strangely, I looked everywhere, but there was nothing. There was only soil and grass at the entrance to the mansion.

‘I really think I’ll catch a cold.’

Buradov trembled.

＜ Reincarnation of Prince Enrico ＞ End