The Toy in the Summer Palace - Chapter 31

“Ah!”

Senita couldn’t help but let out a small exclamation of relief when Iskandar mentioned that he enjoyed teaching her. Knowing that he had enjoyed their time together made her heart feel lighter.

Iskandar’s eyes seemed to take on a special glow in her sight, as if he were illuminated by the torch in the chapel. Memories of Iskandar, his kindness, and the times they shared seemed sacred to her.

Despite the warmth of the day, she found herself thirsty. She wanted to reach for her teacup, but then the servant approached and informed the emperor about a message from Las Rosard. Senita realized their conversation was coming to an end and set down her cup.

The time she had with Iskandar was always brief, but it seemed even shorter this time. She couldn’t help but feel a sense of regret that she had anticipated their meeting, only to see it pass so quickly.

As she let her regrets wash over her, Senita chastised herself for her human desires. She had wished to see him from afar, then wanted him to return to the summer palace, and finally, she hoped he would remember her. Now, she had to accept that this was probably the last time.

But Iskandar called her name, bringing her back to the present. She quickly got to her feet, her heart heavy with the thought that it might indeed be their final encounter.

How should I say goodbye? 

She wanted to say something memorable that would endure, but time was running out. Senita decided to hold her tongue for now; it was better to say nothing than to fumble with her words.

“See you again tomorrow.”

Iskandar promised to see her again tomorrow. Senita’s lips parted as if to respond, but no words came out. She didn’t need to force out any last farewell. The emperor had given her another chance, and his expression was filled with a kind of unspoken mercy.

Senita bowed her head, hiding her joy-filled face, and slowly backed away. There was no need for a response; it was natural for a servant to follow the emperor’s orders.

When he commanded, she obeyed.

Senita accepted her role as a servant with gratitude. It was her duty to fulfill her desires, and she was content to do so.

Back with her fellow maids, they immediately bombarded her with questions about her encounter with the emperor. They were eager to know if he remembered her and what they talked about. Senita shared that he had asked about her well-being and that she had been happy with their meeting. Her words, however, couldn’t fully satisfy their curiosity, as they gazed at her with a mixture of longing, envy, and jealousy.

When the conversation started to escalate, Gaspar intervened. His skinny frame and stern demeanor effectively dispersed the crowd of maids.

“What are you doing? Can’t you get back to work? You idlers!”

Gaspar’s rebuke was harsh, but it quelled the bustling scene. He was thin and fierce, and his anger was a common sight, just as it had been when Senita was younger. Now, he waved them away like swatting a group of bothersome bees.

Senita felt a surge of gratitude for his intervention. Gaspar’s stern voice silenced the gossip and gave her a moment of peace.

She later talked to Gaspar in private. He was still skinny and filled with the wisdom of age.

“Senita! Did the Emperor truly call for you?”

“Does he remember you?”

“What did you talk about?”

Upon Senita’s return from her meeting with the emperor, her fellow maids eagerly surrounded her with questions. She could sense their curiosity and excitement.

“He offered me tea and inquired about my well-being. That’s all,” she replied.

But it was clear that her answers didn’t fully satisfy their curiosity. They looked at her with expressions of longing, envy, and jealousy.

“Is he really as handsome as they say?”

Senita chose her words carefully to avoid provoking their emotions. She didn’t want to upset them by describing the emperor in a way that would fuel their fantasies.

“He is indeed quite handsome, although I only saw him briefly.”

To keep the peace, Senita answered tactfully. Nonetheless, their curiosity appeared insatiable.

“Did you hear that? The other day…”

“What are you all doing? Don’t you have work to do? Stop wasting your time,” Gaspar interrupted the conversation. He was as skinny as ever, and his strict tone cut through the commotion, bringing a hush to the room.

“Did you serve him well? Did you make any mistakes?”

After the others left, Senita found herself alone with Gaspar. He scrutinized her with his piercing eyes. Despite knowing that he was generally a kind person, Senita couldn’t help but feel uncomfortable in moments like these.

“Take good care of yourself,” he said.

Senita assured him she would, as she had done countless times before. Her dedication was nothing new to Gaspar.

After Gaspar left, Nora approached, sharing similar concerns and questions. Senita assured her that there was no need to worry, but Nora sighed at the thought that the emperor might call Senita back.

Iskandar, however, kept his promise and called for Senita the next day. She made some preparations, brushing her hair meticulously, cleaning her face, and adding a touch of color to her lips. She knew the emperor might be uncomfortable if she appeared disheveled.

“Hello, Senita.”

Iskandar greeted her as she waited in the drawing room, just as he had the previous day. He looked comfortable in an unbuttoned white shirt and navy blue pants, dressed informally.

“Good morning, Your Majesty.”

Senita bowed respectfully, careful not to overdo it. The summer sun graced the room, and the atmosphere was light.

She worked the previous evening as requested yesterday, which was well within her usual routine. After getting some sleep, she went about her day as usual. There was nothing particularly unusual about it, so it was accurate to say that she had a good rest.

“What did you do this morning?”

“What? Oh, I was in charge of cleaning the hall and the stairs this morning.”

“You must have been busy.”

“It’s all part of my responsibilities, Your Majesty. Thank you for your understanding.”

Senita attempted to express herself. Nervousness may have caused her eyes to blink more frequently. With each spoken word, her heart raced.

“You’re speaking quite well today.”

When Iskandar pointed this out, Senita felt a bit embarrassed.

“Thank you, Your Majesty! I usually speak this way, but I was very nervous yesterday!”

Her response was filled with vigor, but the reply was light and seemed to dismiss the matter. At some point, Senita had worried that she might appear foolish, but she was overjoyed and fortunate to witness the gentle smile gracing Iskandar’s lips.

The intensity of joy when one’s deepest desires come to fruition is immeasurable. A day or two ago, she was unable to contain her overwhelming emotions, but now her mind was as if she had obtained everything in the world.

For Iskandar, those cherished old memories were undoubtedly a source of happiness. This was evident in how he recognized her, initiated contact, and engaged in conversation.

Drawing from these factual observations, Senita found the courage to express something she had been holding onto for a long time. It was as if she was adding a final punctuation mark to a lengthy letter.

“Well, Your Majesty.”

“Go ahead.”

Permission was granted without hesitation, emboldening Senita.

“I actually responded to the letter you gave me before.”

“A letter?”

“Yes, the letter you gave me before your departure. I brought it with me, and if you’d like, I can…”

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