Ghost in the palace

The palace had never felt so restless.

For several days, the gates had remained heavily guarded, ministers had filled the imperial court with accusations, and rumors had spread through the capital faster than anyone could contain them.

The Empress remained confined to her courtyard.

She was not permitted to leave.

Not because the Emperor had stopped caring for her—

But because the entire kingdom was demanding answers.

Outside the palace walls, villagers had gathered.

Inside the court, ministers were demanding punishment.

And everywhere—

People were whispering the same words.

The Empress must pay.

---

Morning had barely broken when the first group of ministers entered the imperial court.

The Emperor sat upon the dragon throne.

His expression was cold.

Exhausted.

But controlled.

One minister stepped forward and bowed deeply.

"Your Majesty, the people are becoming increasingly restless."

"I know."

"The rumors are spreading throughout the capital."

"I know."

The minister hesitated.

Then gathered his courage.

"They demand justice."

The Emperor’s eyes lifted.

"What kind of justice?"

The minister lowered his head.

"The people believe Her Majesty the Empress is responsible for what happened."

A long silence followed.

Another minister stepped forward.

"The accusations are no longer limited to the capital. Villagers from surrounding regions are also demanding that the imperial household respond."

The Emperor’s fingers slowly tightened around the armrest.

"And what exactly are they demanding?"

The minister swallowed.

"They want the Empress punished."

The Emperor’s eyes became colder.

"How?"

No one wanted to say it.

But eventually—

The senior minister spoke.

"They are calling for the ultimate punishment."

The court became silent.

The Emperor stared at them.

For several heartbeats, nobody moved.

Then he said quietly,

"Leave."

The ministers exchanged uncertain glances.

"Your Majesty—"

"I said leave."

His voice was not loud.

It did not need to be.

Every minister immediately bowed.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

One by one, they retreated.

The great doors closed.

The Emperor remained alone.

---

Except—

He wasn’t.

A shadow guard stood quietly near the side of the chamber.

The Emperor looked toward him.

"Tell me everything."

The guard bowed.

"Your Majesty."

"Who is organizing the villagers?"

"We have not confirmed a single organizer."

The Emperor’s gaze sharpened.

"Not confirmed?"

"There are several groups. Some genuinely believe the Empress is guilty. Others appear to be deliberately encouraging the anger."

The Emperor leaned back.

That was exactly what troubled him.

The people had been frightened.

Then angry.

Then suddenly—

United.

Too quickly.

Someone was feeding the fire.

"Has anyone investigated who is spreading the rumors?"

"Yes."

"And?"

The guard hesitated.

"We found several messengers carrying similar statements."

"What statements?"

"That the Empress deliberately attempted to harm the imperial family."

The Emperor’s expression changed.

"That is a lie."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"Continue."

"The strange thing is that none of the messengers knew who had originally written the messages."

The Emperor stared ahead.

Again—

A hidden hand.

A hidden enemy.

The same pattern.

Something happened.

Rumors appeared.

Fear followed.

Then blame.

And finally—

Someone demanded that the Empress be removed.

It was too convenient.

---

Meanwhile, inside the Empress’s courtyard—

The atmosphere was completely different.

The Empress sat beneath the pavilion, holding a cup of tea.

She had been confined there for days.

At first, the confinement had frightened her.

Then it had annoyed her.

Now—

She had almost become accustomed to it.

Almost.

She looked toward the courtyard gate.

Several palace guards stood there.

They had strict orders.

No one entered without permission.

No one left without permission.

She sighed.

"I’m beginning to feel like a prisoner."

From behind her came an immediate response.

"You are."

The Empress turned.

One of her ghost companions was floating upside down from the pavilion roof.

She stared at him.

"You are supposed to comfort me."

"I am being honest."

"You’re terrible at comforting people."

The ghost grinned.

Another ghost sat on the stone railing.

"Don’t worry. If anyone tries to harm you, we’ll scare them."

The Empress gave him a suspicious look.

"You already scare everyone."

"That is our talent."

She couldn’t help smiling.

But the smile faded quickly.

Because beyond the courtyard walls—

She could hear distant voices.

Shouting.

People calling her name.

People demanding punishment.

Her expression became serious.

"They are still angry."

The female ghost beside her looked toward the gate.

"Yes."

The Empress lowered her eyes.

"I never wanted anyone harmed."

"We know."

"I don’t even understand why they think I did this."

The ghosts fell silent.

They knew the truth.

Something had happened to her.

Something had controlled her body.

Something had tried to make her appear guilty.

But proving it—

Was another matter.

---

Outside the palace—

The crowd grew larger.

Villagers stood beneath the imperial gates.

Some carried banners.

Others shouted.

"Justice!"

"Investigate the Empress!"

"Punish the guilty!"

"The people deserve an answer!"

The guards remained in formation.

They did not attack.

They did not respond.

They simply held their positions.

A palace official came forward.

"Everyone, remain calm!"

But the crowd shouted louder.

"We want justice!"

"We want the Emperor to answer!"

"Why is the Empress still alive?"

That last sentence reached the palace.

And it reached the Emperor.

He stood at the window of his study.

His face was expressionless.

But inside—

His heart was burning.

He remembered the Empress lying motionless.

He remembered believing she was dead.

He remembered holding her hand.

He remembered promising her that if she opened her eyes—

He would make amends.

And now—

The same world that had nearly lost her was demanding that he take her life.

His jaw tightened.

"No."

The word escaped quietly.

But firmly.

---

A short while later, another minister was admitted.

He entered carefully.

"Your Majesty."

"What?"

"The villagers are becoming more aggressive."

The Emperor turned.

"Have they attacked the palace?"

"No."

"Then do not provoke them."

The minister hesitated.

"Your Majesty, there is another matter."

"Speak."

"The ministers believe the situation cannot continue indefinitely."

The Emperor stared at him.

"They want a decision."

"Yes."

The minister lowered his head.

"They want Your Majesty to announce that the Empress will be punished."

The Emperor was silent.

The minister continued carefully.

"They believe this will calm the people."

The Emperor’s eyes became unreadable.

Then—

He said,

"Very well."

The minister looked up.

"Your Majesty?"

"Tell them..."

The Emperor paused.

His voice remained perfectly calm.

"...that I will give them justice."

The minister’s face brightened with relief.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

But then the Emperor continued.

"However, justice will come after the truth."

The minister froze.

"Your Majesty..."

"I will not condemn someone merely because the crowd is angry."

His voice hardened.

"Investigate everything."

"Yes."

"Every witness."

"Every servant."

"Every physician."

"Every message."

"Every person who knew about the Empress’s movements."

The minister bowed.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"And find out who started these rumors."

The minister hesitated.

"If we cannot find them?"

The Emperor looked directly at him.

"Then search harder."

---

Later that afternoon—

The announcement was made.

The palace official stood before the crowd.

"His Majesty has heard the people’s demands."

The shouting gradually quieted.

"The Emperor has promised that justice will be served."

The villagers murmured.

Some looked satisfied.

But the official continued.

"No judgment will be passed until the investigation is complete."

Immediately—

Anger returned.

"How long?"

"Why protect her?"

"She is the Empress!"

"She must answer!"

The official raised his voice.

"His Majesty has spoken!"

The guards stepped forward.

The crowd gradually retreated.

But the anger did not disappear.

It merely changed into whispers.

---

Inside the palace—

The Emperor returned to his study.

He dismissed everyone.

Then locked the door.

For several moments, he simply stood there.

His mind returned to one person.

The Empress.

He walked toward the courtyard that had become her confinement.

He stopped outside.

The guards immediately bowed.

"Your Majesty."

"Open the gate."

The guard hesitated.

"Your Majesty, the order states—"

"I gave that order."

The guard immediately opened it.

The Emperor entered.

---

The Empress was sitting beneath the pavilion.

When she saw him—

She stood.

"You came."

"Yes."

She looked toward the gate.

"You heard the people?"

"Yes."

Her expression became slightly sad.

"They really hate me."

The Emperor walked closer.

"They don’t know the truth."

"Do you?"

He stopped.

The question struck him.

"I know you didn’t do what they accuse you of."

Her eyes softened.

"You believe me?"

"Yes."

Without hesitation.

The Empress stared at him.

The answer seemed to surprise her.

The Emperor continued,

"I promised you something."

She remembered.

"If you woke up..."

He looked at her.

"...I would amend what I did to you."

She lowered her eyes.

"You don’t have to do everything at once."

"I know."

"Then why are you doing this?"

He was quiet.

Because he couldn’t bear the thought of losing her again.

Because the moment he had thought she was dead, something inside him had broken.

Because he finally understood what she meant to him.

But he wasn’t ready to say all of it.

Instead, he answered,

"Because you’re my Empress."

She looked at him.

"That isn’t the whole reason."

The Emperor was silent.

The Empress smiled faintly.

"You’re becoming terrible at hiding things."

For the first time that day—

The Emperor almost smiled.

---

Then her expression became serious.

"What will happen?"

"The investigation will continue."

"And if they demand my punishment?"

The Emperor looked directly into her eyes.

"They can demand whatever they want."

His voice was firm.

"The law will decide."

"And if the law says I’m guilty?"

"It won’t."

"You sound very certain."

"I am."

She stared at him for a long moment.

Then quietly said,

"Thank you."

The Emperor stepped closer.

"You don’t need to thank me."

"I do."

He shook his head.

"Just trust me."

She hesitated.

Trust.

That word was difficult for her.

He knew it.

So he didn’t push.

Instead—

He stepped back.

"I will wait."

The Empress looked at him.

She remembered the night at her family’s residence.

His promise.

His forehead kiss.

His words.

When you trust me, I will take the next step.

And now—

He was doing exactly what he promised.

Waiting.

---

Outside the pavilion—

One of the ghosts watched them.

Another whispered,

"He really changed."

The female ghost nodded.

"Yes."

The scholar ghost sighed.

"Too late, perhaps."

The general ghost folded his arms.

"Better late than never."

The female ghost glanced at him.

"You’re becoming sentimental."

"I am not."

"You are."

"I am a general."

"You’re a lovesick general."

He glared.

The Empress suddenly looked toward them.

"Stop arguing."

The three ghosts froze.

She smiled faintly.

"I can hear you."

They immediately became innocent.

"We weren’t arguing."

"Yes, you were."

"No."

"Yes."

The Emperor looked at the empty space.

"Who are you speaking to?"

The Empress paused.

Then smiled.

"My friends."

He didn’t question her.

He had long since learned that the Empress’s world contained many things he didn’t understand.

---

As evening arrived—

The palace grew quieter.

But the capital remained restless.

The people had not forgotten.

The ministers had not forgotten.

And the person hiding behind the rumors certainly had not forgotten.

The Emperor returned to his study.

A secret report waited for him.

He opened it.

His eyes moved across the page.

Then stopped.

One name had appeared repeatedly among the messengers spreading rumors.

But the name was not enough.

There was no proof.

Only a thread.

A thread leading toward the palace.

The Emperor’s expression hardened.

"So..."

He whispered.

"You really are inside."

He folded the report.

"Then I will find you."

Outside, the palace bells rang.

Deep.

Slow.

Ominous.

And while the kingdom demanded the Empress’s punishment—

The Emperor silently made another decision.

He would give the people justice.

But he would not give them an innocent woman.

Not again.

Not after almost losing her once.

And not while an unseen enemy was still moving through the shadows.

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