Chapter 9 What now?
I am led to the courtyard where I first arrived in this strange world. It looks as if no one's lived there in years. Yet, the inside is still comfortable and just as luxurious as my old quarters.
Servants I don't recognize remove my veil and dress me in simpler clothes.
They wipe my makeup off and for the first time since I've been here, I touch up my makeup to be as natural as possible.
The less I stand out, the better. I remove all the hairpins, the bracelets, the earrings, eliminating any sign of finery.
The attendant who had guided me to the study reappears.
"He's in a bad mood," he whispers. "Tread lightly.
Guards silently follow us as we silently make our way to the study. Snow flurries all around and for the first time, this world feels dangerous. I take a deep breath as I step over the threshold into the study.
"My poor daughter," Lady Sora's father rushes over to me to make sure I haven't been hurt.
He guides me to sit next to him and gives me a pitiful look.
I notice he isn't alone. Sitting in a chair across him is the Legendary General, with Bao bao sitting at his feet. I dip my head in acknowledgement.
Before he can respond, another attendant rushes in.
"Word from our informants in the North have notified us that Prince Jin has wed Lady Jia and Lady Ning," the attendant reveals. "Ying has not yet returned. We are trying to locate where she is."
The color drains from my face. My hands tremble. I fold them into my lap trying to force myself to not imagine where Ying could be.
"How dare they!" Lady Sora's father pounds his fist on the table. "We have never once offended any other of the noble families." All signs point to a scheme against me. But why me? Is someone merely after the title of Empress?
"Perhaps someone covets the position of Empress," the attendant continues. "Both families have much to gain from that position."
Father nods. He dismisses all servants from the room. I can tell he's struggling to hold his anger back in front of the Legendary General. Absent-mindedly, I put my hand on his shoulder and offer him a small smile. When he begins to calm down, his fingers tap on the table as he thinks.
"I want to personally thank you for bringing Lady Sora home," he says to the Legendary General. He bows humbly. "I apologize for any impropriety. I've already lost her Mother... I would hate to lose her too."
The Legendary General follows his gaze to the portrait of my Mother and back at me. There's something unreadable in his expression as he observes Lady Sora's Father. He gestures for him to stop bowing.
"Drop the formalities," the Legendary General answers. "All fathers should care for their children as you do."
"It is clear someone is after her," Father continues. "No one has threatened me, but if they suspect she is here... I don't know what will become of me."
My heart drops into my stomach. Even though I haven't known Lady Sora's father for more than a week, I can see how much he cherishes her.
And whether I like them or not, he still has a responsibility to keep his family safe.
There must be a way to keep all of us safe before I can get the pendant to go home.
A chilling thought crosses my mind. If I go home, then will the real Lady Sora wake up to her life in shambles?
That doesn't seem fair. But why should I feel sorry for her?
She's clearly just a fictional character living in an imaginary world.
Still I feel guilty as if every misfortune that's fallen upon her is somehow my fault.
The sound of faint bells returns. Everything freezes... Except for Bao bao. He tilts his head at the sound of the voice.
"Spoiler," the voice chimes in. "Unless you can convince the Legendary General to bring you home with him to the Celestial Realm, you are heading towards the ending where Lady Sora's entire family and their loyal servants get executed."
"What?" I gasp. "I haven't even done anything!"
"We're still in the beginning of the Webtoon," the voice reminds me. "How about I throw you three lives? That way you'll actually try to do something."
"What happens when I run out of lives?" I ask.
"You don't want to know," the voice answers. "Good luck."
The scene unfreezes and Bao bao whines. I notice the way the Legendary General traces Bao bao's gaze back to me. A shiver runs through me.
"Father," I say as I muster up all the courage I have. "I dare not stay here. If someone is truly out to get me and they find I am here, you will be implicated. You have always been upright and just."
I lower into a bow and kneel on the ground. He attempts to help me back up, but I lower my head in response. Tears threaten to spill from my eyes again. I don't dare to cry.
"Please allow me to seek refuge elsewhere," I plead. "I will bear whatever consequences that might be on my own."
"I'm sure someone will know you are already here," he tries to bargain with me. "It is already too late."
"No," I continue. "Simply bring in a new concubine that resembles Mother. Everyone knows how much you doted on her. If anyone comes to check, you will be cleared because you have never once had a scandal before."
His fingers tap on the table and I can tell he's considering my words. Silence drags on between us. He needs to accept.
"If that is what you want, then I will oblige," he gives in. I allow him to help me up. He seats me next to him and sighs.
"I hate to ask this of you," he says as he turns to the Legendary General. "But it feels like you're the only one I can trust in the world. Please help me to hide her where no one else will find her."
The Legendary General nods. He gives me a long look before turning his attention to his Father. The two of them dismiss me.
"We will leave in the night," I overhear him say as I step out of the study.