Ms. Butler defended me, raising her voice, "Yuna is just speaking the truth. You should be grateful to the Consort for not having your hands chopped off for this."
"Why don't you take a whiff of your own trash?"
The gossipers fell silent, too afraid to respond.
Ms. Butler stood tall and announced our purpose, "The Consort is very fond of Yuna's new creation, the Folded Rose Fragrance, and wants her to come receive her reward."
"Yuna, let's go."
"Okay."
I followed closely behind Ms. Butler when a thought struck me, and I asked, "Ms. Butler, have you seen Mark?"
Mark was the eunuch who had escorted me home that night. He had been the one to come and collect the fragrances.
But I hadn't heard his voice in days.
"Him?"
Ms. Butler paused for a moment, then said casually, "Half a month ago, the Consort ordered him to be beaten to death and fed to the dogs."
"Oh."
It felt like the wind had stopped.
I gripped my cane tightly, a heavy stone settling in my heart.
Mark.
He was only twelve years old.
It was already a tragedy for someone so young to be sent to the palace, and now, there was nothing left of him.
The Imperial Consort truly acted as she pleased.