Katharine’s life had always been a repetition of studying and self-management.

Not wanting to waste even a single day, she made plans by the hour and lived a regimented life without any waste from the moment she opened her eyes until she closed them.

It was unfamiliar to be lying down until the sun was high in the sky like now.

Katharine looked at the birds busily flapping their wings outside the window and was angered by the fact that she had wasted precious time sleeping when she would have normally finished reading a book.

But when her battered ankle came into view, she realized that such thoughts were a luxury.

“If only I could go outside soon.”

“Where would you go?”

Farnese approached without making a sound and spoke.

He checked the meal tray as soon as he entered, and clicked his tongue when he saw that more than half of the contents remained.

“How can that leg heal when you eat like a bird?”

“Your Majesty. What brings you here? Aren’t you busy?”

“I am busy.”

Katharine stared blankly at Farnese, who was settling down in a seat despite claiming to be busy.

His eyes, which exuded a chilly coldness despite their soft honey color, rolled slightly towards her.

“You look like you have something to say.”

“It’s nothing.”

“Such a timid one…”

He muttered as if disappointed, then lightly rang a bell once.

He spoke to the maids who entered the room.

“Change this child’s clothes. Be especially careful as she is still unwell.”

“Yes, Your Majesty. Lady Katharine Roberfon, please excuse us for a moment.”

As Katharine was helped out of bed by the maids, she said to him.

“Why the sudden change of clothes?”

“Didn’t you say you wanted to go out?”

“That was just talking to myself.”

Farnese brushed back his fallen bangs as if annoyed and replied.

“I don’t like seeing you sighing heavily while staring out the window like a fool.”

“So, you mean you specially thought of me because you were worried I’d be bored?”

When Katharine smiled brightly, Farnese avoided her gaze and mumbled, “They say delusions are free…”

Katharine changed her clothes in the attached dressing room, supported by the maids.

Farnese gazed intently at her as she emerged wearing a comfortable walking dress and a wide-brimmed hat to block the sun, leaning his head askew against the window.

“Your Majesty. Shall we prepare a wheelchair?”

Farnese raised one hand to stop the attendant’s suggestion.

“No. That’s enough.”

“But for Lady Katharine to go outside…”

“There are many stairs. What use is a wheelchair? It will only add to her discomfort.”

“Then what should we do?”

Without answering, Farnese approached Katharine and lightly lifted her with one arm.

Suddenly finding herself in Farnese’s arms, Katharine could not hide her bewilderment.

“Your Majesty?”

“Stay still. It’s better to sacrifice one of my arms than to have you get into another accident tumbling down the stairs in a wheelchair.”

“But this…”

Farnese firmly readjusted his hold on the surprised and struggling Katharine, pressing her head close to his shoulder.

The unique, seductive scent emanating from his neck seemed to cloud her mind.

The maids and knights around them could not hide their surprised expressions at the sight of the two so closely embraced.

And Katharine felt the same way.

It was unimaginable to be carried so casually by the emperor, who was considered as untouchable as the heavens, not even by one’s own parents.

“Where do you want to go? Tell me.”

Meanwhile, Farnese spoke calmly without changing his expression as he walked outside.

The summer sunlight and the lush greenery greeted Katharine after a long time, but she didn’t even notice such things.

“I’m sorry, but this really isn’t right, is it?”

“What are you complaining about now?”

“If I were a ten-year-old child, I could understand this. But I’m a grown adult, you know.”

“And?”

Katharine glanced sideways at her surroundings.

She could feel the passing servants and even the soldiers guarding the gate staring at them with surprised eyes like startled rabbits.

There were even maids passing by with pleased smiles on their faces.

She could tolerate everything else, but those stares were unbearably embarrassing.

“Strange rumors will spread.”

“Strange rumors?”

“You know… what I mean. Surely you wouldn’t like such rumors spreading either, Your Majesty.”

Farnese gazed intently at Katharine’s cheeks, which had turned as red as ripe apples, as if they were precious jewels.

Then he suddenly spoke to Duke Ludwig, who was following a few steps behind.

“Ludwig. From now on, leave only minimal guards around the Third Palace and don’t let anyone else approach.”

“Yes, understood.”

Katharine watched with surprised eyes as the knights scattered busily at the emperor’s words, and people in the garden discreetly left after hearing their instructions.

Why was he going to such lengths?

To you, I must be just an insignificant maid among countless women in the world.

Is it simply out of pity?

Or is it really as Charlen said before…

“Emperor Farnese is only temporarily interested in you, Katharine.”

No, the more I think like this, the more I’m just falling for Charlen’s delusional nonsense.

Katharine shook her head firmly, stopping the chain of thoughts.

Meanwhile, Farnese stopped by the lakeside where a warm breeze was blowing.

“This is my favorite place.”

The deep blue lake sparkled with silvery ripples, as if the sun had been shattered and scattered across its surface.

His fine hair, fluttering in the breeze, tickled her cheek as if shyly brushing against it.

Katharine looked at his perfect profile up close, unable to find any flaws, and asked.

“Why do you like this place the most?”

“Because I used to come here often with my father when I was young.”

He murmured, seemingly lost in memories, as they slowly walked along the vast shoreline of the lake.

‘Come to think of it, there were many rumors about the sudden death of the previous emperor of the Renel Empire. They spread even to the Khan Kingdom.’

She wanted to ask what kind of person the previous emperor was, but somehow the atmosphere didn’t seem right for casually bringing it up.

Katharine deliberately made a light joke.

“So Your Majesty also had such an innocent time. I wonder why that boy now…”

“Are you done talking?”

Farnese narrowed his eyes and glanced sideways at her with furrowed brows.

Katharine giggled softly.

“Are there any fish here?”

“How would I know?”

“Put me down. I want to see.”

“You have quite a lot of demands.”

Farnese said that, but he very carefully set Katharine down on a low rock.

Freshwater fish with mottled patterns of crimson and yellow were swimming in schools.

As she closely observed their tails swishing and causing small ripples, Farnese, who had been standing quietly behind her, let out a small, inexplicable laugh.

“What’s so interesting about those mere fish?”

“They’re cute, aren’t they?”

Farnese glared at the water as if he couldn’t understand which part was supposed to be cute, then slowly shifted his gaze to Katharine’s face.

Seeing the renewed vitality in her face, which had been sickly pale before, the corners of Farnese’s mouth curved into a faint smile.

“…I suppose they are cute. Just a little bit.”

“Right?”

“Do you like my palace?”

Katharine looked up at the sudden question.

Farnese’s face was as cold as ever, like it had been carved from ice, making it impossible to know what was inside.

Like how one could never know what lies at the bottom of this seemingly peaceful lake.

“Yes. It’s a wonderful place.”

“Then try answering this.”

Farnese sat down to match Katharine’s eye level and gently cupped her chin.

Katharine’s eyes wandered, lost for where to look.

“If I were to order you to stay here, would you do so?”

At that time, in the Khan Kingdom.

“Is His Highness Charlen still like that?”

Rose said as she lightly touched her curled hair in front of a full-length mirror.

Baroness Aster, who had officially become her lady-in-waiting and completed the palace entry procedures, nodded slightly.

“Yes. He still seemed to believe that Lady Katharine Roberfon was alive.”

“No, that’s not it.”

Rose, perfectly adorned from head to toe with luxurious ornaments, smiled at her reflection in the mirror.

She looked rather calm for someone who had lost her elder sister overnight.

“His Highness actually knows. That Katharine elder sister will never return. But he’s clinging to a vain hope to shake off the guilt of having caused elder sister’s death.”

“I see. As expected, you have great insight, Your Majesty the Queen.”

“At times like this, I, as his wife, should stay by his side.”

Rose was about to enter the king’s office when she paused, staring at the wall and recalling Katharine’s living image for a moment.

That elegant and noble bearing that seemed to proclaim with her entire body what a pure-blooded noble lady should be.

Rose put her hands together modestly and straightened her back.

And like Katharine often did, she wore a characteristic gentle smile on her lips.

Just by changing her posture and expression a little, she felt as if a great dignity was flowing from her.

“Your Majesty. It’s Rose. May I come in?”

“Enter.”

Charlen was flipping through documents with a noticeably gaunt face, devoid of energy.

It had already been a month since he continued the meaningless search operation, insisting on finding someone who was certainly already dead.

“I’m sorry, Queen. I promised I would definitely find Katharine.”

“It’s alright. I’m more worried about you, Your Majesty.”

Rose approached Charlen with the most benevolent expression she could muster and held his hand tightly.

Charlen stared blankly at Rose’s face like a weary traveler who had encountered a ray of light.

“Katharine elder sister was a merciful person. She surely forgave Your Majesty as she went to heaven. You’ve done your best, even to the point of harming your health.”

“Queen.”

“I, too, will always be on Your Majesty’s side.”

“You seem to have become a bit more mature. It’s like seeing Katharine. Perhaps because you’re sisters…”

Rose smiled generously and slowly embraced Charlen.

Charlen closed his eyes tightly with his face buried in Rose’s chest, as if imagining someone else.

“Rest comfortably in this Rose’s embrace, Your Majesty.”

Of course, Rose was also shocked for a while when she heard the news of her elder sister’s death.

But knowing that spilled water cannot be gathered again, and that the living must continue to live, she was able to overcome it quickly.

Though she felt truly sorry for her elder sister, Charlen would completely forget that a woman named Katharine ever existed after just a little time passed.

‘He will lead a peaceful married life with me, who stayed by his side unchangingly during difficult times.’

Rose had no doubt that there would be no more obstacles to her future court life.

Until less than a year in the future.

When Katharine would appear alive and well at her own funeral.