This emperor has a lingering grudge, persistent and unable to let things go. He lost something on the terrace that day.

Patricia was curious but didn’t show it, asking casually:

“What did you lose?”

“My innocence.”

“Pardon?”

Harchen pressed his interlocked hands tightly. Leaning his upper body, he spoke into her ear.

“My lips, tongue, heart. It was my first kiss.”

Isn’t that not true? After being lovers with Lady Leak for so long.

“Your Majesty, everyone is waiting.”

The attendant opened the office door. In the office, the Minister’s assistant, the Nobility Council’s assistant, the administrator and assistant, the chief attendant, Sir Calip, and the scribe were gathered around a round table.

As they took their seats, the administrator briefly introduced himself and the officials to Patricia. He explained the reason for the Foreign Minister’s assistant’s attendance due to the urgency of the imperial marriage, then got to the main point.

“Please review the contents of these documents and sign them.”

Dozens of pages of documents and a quill pen were placed in front of the Emperor and Patricia. They signed various documents including the imperial marriage confirmation pledge, duty and rights confirmation documents, and even the Empress’s private household staff and exclusive carriage usage confirmation.

“The imperial marriage will take place in two days, on July 27, 989 of the Karsik Imperial Calendar, at 2 PM, in the Helios Hall of Karsik Palace, officiated by Chief Minister Andrei. Confirmed state guests include Emperor Kazan of Tane and his Empress, Crown Prince, Second Prince, the King and Queen of Heya Kingdom, Crown Prince, Grand Duke of Orleans… a total of 35 people.”

Patricia was surprised that Emperor Harchen, Empress Pamila, and Second Prince Chris would attend.

“After the banquet and evening dinner, the consummation will take place at 9 PM in Aster Palace, with the Chief Minister, priests, and 7 representatives of the Nobility Council entering…”

“Wait. Who’s entering where?”

“Your Majesty, the consummation observation is a long-standing tradition, outside the bedroom… Also, legally, if the first night is not consummated or the right of refusal is exercised…”

“Enough. We’re not animals.”

Patricia wondered about Pamila’s intentions in attending the imperial marriage. As she pondered how to treat her when they met, she was startled by Harchen’s harsh words. Recalling what the administrator had just said, she blushed.

The Emperor spoke to the administrator in a low, stern voice.

“Abolish bad laws and customs. Get rid of this barbaric system altogether.”

Turning to Calip, he ordered:

“Calip! Guard Aster Palace.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

The assistant took out a handkerchief to wipe the sweat from his forehead, then turned the page.

“Two days after the imperial marriage, the honeymoon is scheduled for a 3-day stay in the Kingdom of Torun, is that alright?”

The assistant asked Patricia. She was surprised that the honeymoon was set for the Kingdom of Torun.

The seaside kingdom, the beach cemetery. It always ached deep in her heart. She wanted to meet the King of Torun too. She wanted to seek advice about Patrick’s succession to the throne.

“Yes! That’s fine, thank you.”

“The annual budget for White Palace will be set by the administration, but for management, you can either do it yourself, Your Majesty, or submit documents and sign for the administration to manage. Which would you prefer?”

Patricia thought to herself. We’re going to divorce in a year anyway.

“Please have the administration manage it.”

At Patricia’s answer, the Emperor and everyone from the administrator down looked at her with surprised expressions.

Although there was the inconvenience of having to get approval from the administration for funds for each event, it was customary to set a large annual budget and increase the Empress’s coffers by as much as was left over.

The assistant read out the internal and external duties of the Empress. Afterwards, he gave her documents detailing monthly events with the Empress Dowager and princesses, audiences with noble ladies, and mandatory annual tea parties.

“These are the details. Please read them slowly and sign here.”

Patricia and Harchen signed documents confirming the fireworks for the eve of the ceremony, the parade on the day of the imperial marriage, and even the list of items for the reception. When all the signatures were done, Calip announced the end of the meeting.

“Your Majesty the Empress, please keep these documents. If you have any questions, please contact us through the head maid.”

The Emperor dismissed the guests.

“Your Majesty, for the rest of today’s schedule…”

“Calip, that’s enough. Leave.”

“Yes.”

Patricia stood up from her chair, watching Calip walk towards the door.

“Then I’ll also…”

“You’re just going to leave?”

Harchen sat on the round table right in front of her. He stretched out his long legs and leaned back, supporting himself with his hands on the table.

“Let’s talk about what’s left unsaid.”

“What do you mean?”

“Why is the princess acting like this? At the academy graduation party.”

This man! His lingering grudge is intense.

“Were you Patrick’s partner?”

“Yes.”

She blinked her bright blue eyes slowly and answered.

Harchen, stop. If you say more, you’ll reveal that you stole the masked ball attendee list. Yes, I should endure, he thought to himself, but the words came out immediately.

“Wasn’t Patterson’s lady Patrick’s partner?”

Damn it, I’ve lost my patience.

“That’s right. Since I’m a non-entity in Tane, Patrick suggested we go as part of Eden’s family.”

“Is that all?”

“What else should there be?”

Harchen felt deflated to the point his legs weakened, realizing his torturous imagination until now was groundless.

Patricia was curious how the Emperor knew this fact, but she was in a hurry to acknowledge it and go to Notos Palace.

“Have you attended academy lectures on Patrick’s behalf before?”

“Yes.”

“So you already knew of my existence?”

You had feelings for me, but when you came to your senses after fainting, you saw me being handed over through the mouth of Tane Atrazan and couldn’t suppress your emotions, so you were drawn to me like a magnet and kissed me? Is this too much of a stretch?

“Yes, that’s right.”

“So you had feelings for me.”

“Yes.”

Ha, this is frustrating.

“Why are you answering so half-heartedly? Since earlier.”

“Half-heartedly? What do you mean?”

“If I remember correctly, you said it was like a passing breeze.”

“That was to avoid the situation at Pana Castle.”

“It seems like that now too?”

This was the part that angered Harchen. This princess answered that she had feelings for him with such an indifferent expression. That nonchalance provoked him more.

“By any chance. Now that Patrick has safely arrived here, are you planning to go through with the imperial marriage perfunctorily and then escape to Tane together?”

Huh, this man’s ability to see through things is extraordinary. It was similar. But was it that obvious? Patricia smiled brightly, pretending to be calm.

“How could that be? The imperial marriage is no joke.”

“Remember this. I have no thoughts of divorce whatsoever. So, princess, have a sword match with me. If you win, I’ll send you to Patrick, and if I win, you have dinner with me. How about it?”

“Patrick and I are twins. He arrived today and we have a lot to discuss and decide. Please understand.”

“I absolutely won’t ask to come along.”

“I didn’t expect the Empress to attend the wedding. I need to discuss something with Patrick.”

“I don’t want to let you go. Then…”

Harchen tilted his sculptured face close to hers and gently closed his eyes.

Let’s do this quickly and go. Patricia, who had been fidgeting with her intertwined fingers, lifted her head and pressed her lips to his. When something hot touched his parted lips, she hastily pulled her lips away.

“Is that enough?”

“How is that enough?”

He pulled her waist as she was rising from the chair and crashed his lips onto hers. He trapped her between his long legs and narrowed the gap between them.

She pushed him away. Pretending to be pushed back, he immediately grabbed her wrist. He traced the protruding blue vein on the inside of her wrist, pressing his lips firmly along it.

“You don’t like this, do you?”

It’s not that, but I’m busy right now.

“Sorry, I quite like it.”

He tapped the large flower petal hanging from Patricia’s neck, which he had been staring at throughout the meeting.

“I’m looking forward to seeing how well you’ve been educated about the wedding night the day after tomorrow.”

Patricia pulled her body out from between his thighs, bracing herself against them.

“I’m a quick learner, you know.”

Patricia turned sharply and left the office. Harchen tilted his head back to look at the ceiling.

What did she say? This is driving me crazy. A quick learner? What is she planning to do, haa.

When he lowered his head, the documents she should have taken were left on the round table.

She was in such a hurry to escape, she left them behind. That’s good. I should take them to her.

He picked up the documents and went to Notos Palace with a sly smile.

Patricia got out of the carriage alone as it stopped in front of Notos Palace.

After telling the maid who followed and Annie to return to White Palace first, she entered the palace with swift steps, passing through the shrubbery and small garden.

As she turned a corner in the corridor, she found Eden leaning against the wall.

“Sir. Where’s Patrick?”

“He’s tired and sleeping. He asked to be woken up in two hours.”

“That’s perfect. Sir Eden, let’s decide when it’s just the two of us, the Empress… I’ll do it.”

“I’ll do it.”

“There’s time until dinner. Let’s have a match.”

“Did you bring a sword?”

“No, it would be a waste of time to go all the way to White Palace. I’ll use your spare sword.”

“I’ll give you my sword.”

A moment later, Patricia walked side by side with Eden, who came out with two swords, and untied the ribbon from her hair.

In the garden, she folded up the hem of her flowing dress as neatly as possible. She tightly tied the folded dress with the red ribbon.

“As you know, I’ll win by any means necessary. So the Empress’s job…”

“Haha, you’re still the same. Now that you’re going to be someone else’s woman, I won’t go easy on you.”

“When was I ever your woman?”

Patricia’s question meant, ‘When did you ever treat me like a woman?’ Eden, focusing more on the possessive ‘your’, suddenly blushed.

Clang clang clang.

Patricia started the attack brightly.

Eden exaggeratedly pulled his body back and whistled.

“Your sword has become faster and sharper in the meantime.”

“Hmm. I’ve been crossing swords with Sir Bern.”

“I’m jealous.”

“Why?”

The beautiful appearance of my lord, I should be the only one to see it.

“Princess, you should only cross swords with me, and here you should be doing embroidery or picking flowers in the garden, shouldn’t you?”

“What are you saying?”

Is it too greedy to live like this, spending time practicing swordsmanship with Sir Eden while Patrick takes a nap, with Eva and Annie cooking delicious meals?

Clang.

“Focus, Sir.”

Clang clang clang.

Harchen heard the sound of swords clashing from the inner garden of Notos Palace as he passed through the shrubbery hedge.

“What sword fighting in Notos Palace…!”

Harchen’s eyes widened as he entered the garden path around the hedge. In the yard, Patricia and Eden were fiercely exchanging sword blows.

That bastard.

Harchen stopped in his tracks, his eyes blazing as if on fire. His blood surged.