She had aged. That was Kaella’s first impression when she saw the Emperor after several months. The wrinkles that made his expression harsh due to worry and ill temper had deepened, and his eyes had grown dim. Time had suddenly settled on his entire face, which had been praised for being so handsome.

The Emperor had just entered his 50s, but now his hair was turning gray.

Of course, Kaella’s father Adeo, who was the Emperor’s younger brother, had also aged, but not to that extent. Moreover, there were rumors that the Emperor even had magical tools to maintain his youth, so what was going on?

Despite having enjoyed everything he could and being the most powerful and wealthy person in the empire, he looked ugly with his face flushed red with excitement.

Having returned, Kaella was able to completely discard her respect for the Emperor. That man was a human butcher, a beast who couldn’t become human.

“What is this? I’ve never seen anything like this before.”

When he opened the gift box, there was another box inside, but the Emperor was extremely pleased even with just that box.

That was because the box made of gold was crafted with branch-shaped decorations, and the round branches met with the purple spinel embedded in the center of the box. The spinel shone like berries embedded in it.

“Some gemstones were found in the newly discovered mine. There are diamonds too, but since the most precious purple spinel was found, I thought I should present it to Your Majesty. The size isn’t large, though.”

“No, this is enormous.”

Kaella, who had been quietly listening, chimed in.

“It resembles the color of Her Majesty the Empress’s eyes, Your Majesty.”

At those words, the Emperor’s eyes reddened to the point of tears.

“That’s right. It resembles the Empress’s eyes. It’s been too long since I’ve seen those eyes. Thank you. It’s truly as beautiful as the Empress’s eyes.”

The path Peiron was currently walking appeared to be that of a perfect politician on the surface.

The Empress’s illegitimate child had gained the Emperor’s trust. The Emperor was dissatisfied with his heir and needed reliable young children to depend on, as the Empress had fallen into a coma.

His nephew and his wife were accomplishing that, so Peiron’s position, who had been mistreated and abused until now for not knowing how to act like the tongue in one’s mouth, was gradually becoming more solid. The son of the dragon was approaching deep into Kraine.

“This is a cigarette case, but you can use it to keep precious items as well.”

The Emperor opened the lid of the cigarette case. Inside the considerably large box was a jeweled flower made of colored gemstones like amethyst, surrounding a small empty frame. The Emperor sighed in admiration.

“I should put the Empress’s portrait in here. Thank you.”

The Emperor, whose mood had improved tremendously, bestowed upon Kaella medicinal herbs said to be good for health, and even gifted her a separate carriage and horse to always ride in. Peiron would probably gain a place in the glorious Imperial Knights this time. However, that was beyond Peiron’s interest.

The couple who had made the capricious Emperor smile from ear to ear rose from their seats, using Kaella’s health as an excuse. The Emperor sent them off with all sorts of concerns, telling them to go quickly.

Kaella couldn’t breathe comfortably even after the audience chamber door closed behind her.

Witnessing a non-human husband manipulating an absolute ruler who could change his mood at any moment was a new experience, but in any case, she still had to remain extremely tense in the imperial palace.

Moreover, her non-human husband was someone who could act unpredictably at any time.

“Shall we go back now, rain?”

“No, we should still grasp how the situation is unfolding and prepare…”

Peiron stopped walking at her words.

“Prepare? In that condition?”

Kaella hurriedly looked around due to Peiron’s suddenly changed atmosphere. This is the corridor of the audience chamber in Solei Palace.

There are many eyes and ears here, and all the servants and guards nearby are the Emperor’s limbs who will report everything the couple says to the Emperor.

“No one can hear.”

The passing servants clearly should have been within earshot of what Peiron was saying, but as if they hadn’t heard, they simply bowed politely and passed by.

“Coming from someone who shows absolutely no motivation, you say you need to prepare and work, Kaella.”

“We’ve been entrusted with it anyway. The engagement ceremony is large-scale, so there’s a lot to do.”

“Not today.”

Peiron cut her off gently but firmly.

“I’ve already presented an excessive gift to the Emperor asking him to look after our wife well, and reduced the number of times you enter the palace to once every four days.”

He changed it from every other day to once every four days, even presenting jeweled gifts.

“Four days later, it will be much worse than today.”

Kaella mumbled, slightly lowering her head and avoiding his gaze.

“The incompetent Marchioness Schroeder isn’t worth you wearing yourself out to clean up after her when you’re on the verge of collapse.”

I know. But once the Emperor assigned a task, it had to be done well. If not, she would incur the Emperor’s hatred again and fall into the tiresome cycle of even her life being in danger. Kaella slumped her shoulders.

“You didn’t want to do anything. You weren’t interested in our wedding, so do you think the Crown Prince’s engagement ceremony will be fun?”

Of course not.

“Then?”

“If the engagement ceremony fails, I’ll have to take responsibility.”

“No one thinks that way.”

Kaella finally spoke honestly, dropping her shoulders.

“You know what happens when you displease His Majesty the Emperor.”

Peiron should have known that tiresome story without her having to say it explicitly. He should have known, having experienced it himself and even returned.

“You should also know how miserable I was.”

Emotion filled Kaella’s voice, which had almost abandoned even the concept of emotion. Her eyes looking up at him gained strength, and a certain light flickered in them.

“And how my father passed away.”

What name should be given to that light? Accusation, anger, resentment… Yes, resentment would be right. But it was a resentment so faint that it disappeared immediately. But it clearly existed in those blue eyes that had lost their light.

“You shouldn’t tell me to ignore that, if nothing else.”

Her voice trembled slightly, very slightly. It was a trembling so faint that only the speaker would know, but Peiron noticed it.

“No matter how foolish, dense, and stupid I am, I’m not completely thoughtless.”

That gun was brought by your husband.

She’s not thoughtless, nor is her memory poor. After saying just that much, Kaella shut her mouth tightly and walked away, leaving Peiron behind.

Poor Kaella. You marry the man who killed your father, receive no love, and die unjustly?

Beatrice’s mockery just before her death rang in her ears. Your father was killed by the gun that man brought. Kaella still remembered. She instantly sank into that memory, into pitch-black darkness.

*

Kaella de Chasser’s life was, in a word, a repetition of stupid and tedious things. That’s why she didn’t dream about what she wanted to be if there was a next life.

That was the privilege of those who had the luxury to wish “I want to be something.” For example, outstanding people like Peiron or Beatrice. People overflowing with the will to do something.

If they were the main characters, Kaella wasn’t even a supporting role. She was a thief-spectator, stealing glances from the darkness at their lives shining brilliantly on stage and heroically sacrificing themselves. Then, looking down at her own life wrapped in darkness and barely visible, she would think: This is all I amount to.

“Kaella.”

She had longed for their lives and tried to imitate them convincingly until her body broke. But she ended up more tightly bound in this darkness, unable to even approach the stage.

She was too incompetent to seek revenge, too weak to be angry. It was a cowardly and shabby life.

Sometimes she hated herself for finding no answer but death. She couldn’t forgive anything, yet couldn’t do this or that. If you’re incompetent and cowardly on top of it, you should die. Isn’t that right?

“Kaella?”

So, I wish you wouldn’t call. Everything was bothersome. While saying it’s bothersome, she still submissively bows to power. She was sick of it. If only she had died earlier, she wouldn’t have needed to be servile once more, and she wouldn’t have had to worry like this, it would have been so much easier,

“Look at me, Kaella!”

Her eyes, which had been unfocused the entire time despite being called and various attempts made to get her attention on the way back from the palace and until she was seated at the townhouse dining table, finally turned towards Peiron. He was satisfied that she had responded, even though her focus was still off.

“Eat. If you don’t eat, your maids will never be able to return to Ostein, you know.”

Her focus properly returned and she glared at him. Peiron was even more satisfied.

“Why do you talk like that?”

“It’s my choice.”

“So you’ve been wanting to send the maids back.”

“How thoroughly do you think I’ve repeatedly considered the situation before you drank the poison?”

He, who had pondered for many nights while she couldn’t wake up about why on earth that woman had died, very gently placed a fork in her hand.

“You, who never asked for anything, said the maids were homesick. I wondered why you said such a thing, and then I found out you even gave them separate money pouches. Like a legacy.”

Peiron pointed to the table set before his wife, who was doubtful if she even remembered the series of events of returning to the townhouse, changing clothes, washing hands, and sitting down.

“So eat. It’s already well past mealtime.”

“…I don’t really want to eat. I’ll eat later.”

“I clearly said I wouldn’t send the maids back to Ostein if you don’t eat.”

At that moment, Kaella forgot her manners, dignity, and etiquette and threw the fork. It happened in an instant. The precious young lady of Ostein had never violently lashed out before. The fork scratched Peiron’s face, who didn’t even try to avoid it.

A bright red scratch appeared on his beautiful face, which resembled the beautiful Empress and was flawless. Kaella’s eyes widened belatedly. She was shocked by her own violent act, and furthermore, was terrified.

Peiron will be angry. What should I do? What should I do? What should I do? What should I do? What should I do? I’m scared. I should have just died. I should have died quickly. Why couldn’t I die? Why won’t you leave me alone?

“Yes, Your Highness. Did you call?”

When she heard the voice of a servant working in the townhouse, Kaella’s heart sank.

If the servants see that the Grand Duchess has scratched the Grand Duke’s face, they won’t leave her alone, just like in Lucenford. The social circles and the Emperor will see that scar too, what should I do?

“The cutlery fell on the floor.”

“Ah, I’ll bring new ones right away.”

The servant immediately brought new cutlery. He quickly placed the cutlery on the table, bowed his head, and left. It seemed the servant found the Grand Ducal couple quite intimidating.

“Eat quickly.”

There was no anger in Peiron’s voice. No, he was now skilled at feigning his expressions and voice.

Didn’t he most smoothly flatter the Emperor while holding back his nausea? He acted appropriately humble and like a faithful servant and son soothing his grumpy stepfather, without making the kind of flattery that would displease the Emperor.

So she couldn’t be reassured just because there was no anger in that voice.

“You did well, so don’t think about anything else and eat well. You need to eat well to have the strength to throw again next time.”

He was gentle and caring as usual. It’s strange that he’s gentle and caring when he should be angry. So it was extremely strange. Strange, therefore ominous.

“It’s your first time throwing something at a person.”

The ominous man even chuckled now.

“Why are you being cautious after throwing it? Just eat. You should act like you don’t know anything after doing such things.”

But there was a red scratch on his cheek. Kaella, who had been warily watching that scratch, said in a small voice.

“You’re not bothered by the wound at all, are you?”

“Not at all.”

“Then why are you leaving it be?”

Even though eyes were gouged out, ears were cut off, and even the heart was torn out, he was fine, so a mere scratch like this should heal immediately.

“Because you’re concerned about it.”

He’s crazy. Kaella chose to charge at the food with her fork instead. Peiron leisurely drank from his wine glass.

“Eat slowly. We have plenty of time.”

Kaella, who was eating from the light appetizers, was only looking at soft mashed potatoes and well-boiled vegetables, so she didn’t notice, but Peiron was smiling slightly.

There probably isn’t another husband who would be happy that his wife got angry and threw a fork. Kaella’s assessment was accurate. He was already insane. Because he was insane, he was happy that his wife, who had kept her mouth shut tight and never let a word of resentment slip through her clenched teeth until now, finally spoke up, got angry, and even threw a fork.

Wanting to harm someone is a violent impulse. His wife, whom he knew as the most well-mannered lady among well-mannered ladies, would never behave like that under normal circumstances.

Even though she had lived through harsh times and even died, she had only endured, but it seems she finally couldn’t endure her husband nagging her from the side. Even the well-mannered lady exploded.

“Aren’t you busy?”

“Even if you tell me to get lost, I won’t.”

Whether she was dissatisfied with that answer, Kaella pouted with the fork in her mouth, lost in thought. Peiron made a clicking sound with his mouth and pulled out the fork.

“Why don’t you finish your meal, rain?”

“…What are we going to do after I finish?”

Peiron remembered and endured the unwritten rule that even dogs shouldn’t be disturbed while eating. He had to endure. He couldn’t sit his wife on his lap while she was eating and kiss her until he was satisfied, could he? But she was just too adorable. Especially the way she glanced at him cautiously and hesitated before asking a question was the most adorable.

“Conversation.”

An ordinary but essential conversation between spouses.

“We, no, you haven’t spoken enough, Kaella.”

It was time to do so now.