“I apologize, Your Highness!”
Had he come to his senses belatedly?
It was the day after Mercedes had vacated the room for Patricia and Gregory. Sir Gregory came to see Mercedes at an appropriate and polite time after lunch, bowing deeply and apologizing.
For Mercedes, who had been left with quite a casual impression of him, it felt somewhat unfamiliar to see Sir Gregory dressed as a knight and greeting her with such formality.
“I recklessly barged into Your Highness the Empress’s room, causing you to give up your quarters. As a knight serving the royal family, it was improper behavior. I will accept any punishment gladly.”
Gregory had such a gloomy expression that it seemed like an overreaction.
Patricia was watching Gregory with a deeply worried look in her eyes. She seemed to be feeling a bit embarrassed.
“I’ve been close with Pat− ah, no, Patricia since childhood, so I was extremely worried.”
When Mercedes returned from her walk with Rhonda and encountered Patricia, there was a strange vitality on her face. She wanted to grab her and ask, but then thought it was better to leave her alone to enjoy that emotion more.
That way she could think about Gregory and herself.
‘That’s what love is like.’
But since Sir Gregory had come and was even apologizing, Mercedes couldn’t help but ask what the two of them had done in this room.
It was a natural question as a superior.
“Well. It’s really fine. I wanted to go for a walk with Rhonda anyway… But did you have a good talk?”
“Yes! Thanks to Your Highness’s grace, we cleared up the misunderstandings that had built up. We confirmed what was worrying us, and above all, our hearts− oof.”
As Gregory’s words continued, Patricia, standing next to him, turned bright red and gently stepped on his foot. Gregory was startled and closed his mouth.
“Ouch, Pat…”
“Be quiet.”
When Patricia spoke through gritted teeth, Gregory nodded.
Patricia’s red face, Gregory’s sparkling eyes as he looked at her.
Mercedes could understand it all. After all, she was in such a love herself.
“Since you think you’ve been disrespectful to me, I’ll accept your apology. No punishment is necessary. It just happened that I wanted to go for a walk.”
At her words, Gregory looked surprised for a moment, then bowed his head again. It was like a knight swearing allegiance for life.
“Thank you, I will never forget the leniency Your Highness has shown me.”
It didn’t seem like something to apologize for so seriously. But it was the right behavior as the Emperor’s knight. So she didn’t add anything more.
She just smiled softly and glanced at Rhonda once. Rhonda was also smiling contentedly. Only Patricia seemed embarrassed, not knowing what to do.
“Oh, but about the punishment. I just thought of one.”
“Yes! Please say anything. Actually, not receiving punishment makes me feel more apologetic and concerned.”
“Patricia seems to be feeling a bit unwell today. I’d like to let her leave work early, could you escort her back to her quarters?”
Patricia’s eyes widened.
“M-Me?”
Mercedes gave Patricia a look as if to tell her to be quiet when she seemed about to protest.
Being quick-witted, she lowered her head without questioning the confusing nature of the punishment further.
“What? Pat is sick again today? Damn those bastards… Of course! I’ll take Pat− I’m sorry, I keep making mistakes. I’ll escort Patricia back.”
“Patricia tends to overwork herself, so please stay by her side as much as possible. All day today.”
“Yes! I can− wait, Your Highness. Is that the punishment you’re giving me?”
“Yes.”
Mercedes nodded with a bright smile. Gregory, who had only been observing the atmosphere until now, also chuckled.
This woman who would likely become the mother of the empire seemed similar to Carlos in some ways. She was observant of her surroundings, of course, but also had a playful side and was kind. And she was overflowing with talent and intelligence.
He had been quite worried about Carlos, that man who felt more comfortable being called “Captain” than “Your Majesty”, not meeting a woman… It seems he had been waiting to meet a woman like this.
“Your Highness the Empress will soon be my lord as well.”
“Since you’re the captain of the knights, I suppose so.”
“I just wanted to say that I’m honored to serve Your Highness as my lord.”
At Gregory’s words, this time Mercedes’s eyes widened. Had she done anything to deserve such words? But there was trust in Gregory’s eyes.
The camaraderie of comrades who had gone through the same battlefield was even visible.
Somehow that sense of belonging felt good, and Mercedes was surprised for a moment before bursting into laughter.
“Then please carry out my punishment well.”
And after seeing them off one last time, she sat down comfortably in a chair across from Rhonda.
“Rhonda.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“Life is more peaceful, warm, and lovable than I thought.”
“…Yes, Your Highness. Of course.”
Rhonda pretended to rub her nose to hide the fact that it was getting stuffy, and turned her eyes away.
It was a peaceful and beautiful life.
* * *
How many months had passed? The news of the Emperor and Empress who had saved the country had already swept through the empire once.
The opinion that the Empress should become the Empress Consort had already risen to become the accepted theory.
After Mercedes accepted the proposal, Carlos paid meticulous attention to every detail of the wedding. He even insisted on personally choosing the fabric for the tablecloths, causing Franz to smile and say, “Please do it in moderation, Your Majesty.”
It was a phrase that had never before come from the mouth of the faithful chamberlain.
Anyway, as the people in charge of the wedding and the Empress Consort’s inauguration ceremony were carefully selected, the preparations dragged on.
It was the wedding of the Imperial Emperor who had brought about a golden age. Moreover, the Empress was also a hero who had played a big role in thwarting the conspiracy. So the wedding could not be taken lightly.
In the meantime, Mercedes had been busy sending her nanny home after giving her strength, finding a playwright and theater for Bruno, learning horseback riding, and so on.
In between, she also learned swordsmanship to build up her physical strength and learned the basics of the duties of an Empress Consort.
When receiving education as an Empress Consort, she had to meet Leopold. Leopold even knew about the affairs of the inner court. He said he had handled them when the Empress Dowager was absent, or something like that.
He was a very suitable teacher.
She also learned from Lady Fisher about how to handle imperial banquets.
And yet, she didn’t forget to have dinner with Carlos every day and fall asleep together.
That was her daily routine.
Today it was her turn to discuss the practical management of the inner court with Leopold.
“This part is the property of the inner court. Your calculations are incorrect.”
“It’s more of a headache than I thought. Leo, you’re amazing.”
“…Your Highness is learning well too.”
The strange feeling of being praised by the always grumpy aide.
When she was surprised, Leopold bowed his head as if embarrassed.
“I didn’t know anything. Now that I know everything, I have no reason to dislike Your Highness. No, in fact, it was a mistake for me to hate Your Highness as a subordinate in the first place.”
Leopold’s ears turned bright red. He stood up from his seat and slowly knelt on one knee before her.
Thinking that people kept kneeling before her these days, Mercedes tried to stop Leopold.
“You had no choice in that situation. Don’t do this, Leo.”
“I wanted to… properly apologize.”
Leopold bowed his head.
“I’m sorry for judging Your Highness the Empress with arrogant eyes. It was pride. I’m also grateful that Your Highness provided a room for me.”
“…Leo.”
Somehow her chest felt tight. Mercedes stood up from her seat and held out her hand to Leopold. Leopold hesitated before grasping it.
She raised him up and smiled at him.
“Then from now on, could you treat me a bit more comfortably? I want to become friends with the aides too, so please tell me how to do that too. You’ll be coming and going here as you handle inner court affairs, right?”
Mercedes asked in a more lively voice than usual.
Leopold looked at her like that and smiled faintly.
“…Understood.”
Leopold, Gregory, the other aides, the servants of the imperial palace.
Everyone had witnessed her achievements. And everyone here came to openly show their respect and affection for her throughout their daily lives.
Mercedes was thus expected to become a beloved Empress Consort.
* * *
How many months had passed? The news of the Emperor and Empress who had saved the country had already swept through the empire once.
Mercedes, who hadn’t felt excitement at any of Lady Fisher’s suggestions, finally lit up when Carlos asked if she wanted to go on an incognito outing to the streets of the capital.
After all, it would be her first time seeing people of the commoner class up close.
After repeating a few night outings and daytime walks in disguise like that, she decided.
Rather than having a formal wedding laughing haha, hoho while inviting nobles, she wanted to get married while looking at the people she would have to take care of from now on.
She wanted to start her life as an Empress Consort by creating special memories in people’s daily lives.
When she firmly told Carlos, he nodded. With a face that looked like he would grant any of her requests.
Thanks to that, a wedding road was laid out on the central street of the capital, and a platform for the vow ceremony was installed at the central fountain in the square.
Since both the bride and groom had lost their parents, the two decided to move together.
While moving with the road controlled up to where the wedding road began, Mercedes held Carlos’s hand tightly.
“Are you ready?”
“More than ever, perfectly.”
“I’m nervous, but you seem braver than me. What should I do? Will you take the imperial throne?”
“Oh my. The imperial throne is burdensome… I might try pillow talk litigation.”
“If it’s your words, I’ll listen unconditionally… This is serious. If it’s your pillow talk litigation, the country will prosper even more.”
The two made silly jokes.
But in fact, it was the opposite. Mercedes was trembling and Carlos was relaxed.
Although lines were drawn near the wedding road for security and guards were standing, there was no end to the people’s enthusiasm.
Flower petals and paper confetti fluttered everywhere, and cheers erupted from all around.
It was impossible not to be nervous in front of so many people. But these people were the very ones that Carlos and Mercedes would have to protect from now on. Mercedes thought her decision was right and steeled her resolve.
Soon the carriage stopped, and Carlos got out first before reaching out his hand to her.
The pure white bride was lifted brightly by the pitch-black groom’s hand as she got out of the carriage. People cheered even more and whistled.
The two held hands.
A vow made standing at the end of a long road.
That was their eternity, and what they would be responsible for from now on.
Just before starting, Mercedes and Carlos whispered in each other’s ears.
“I love you.”
“I love you.”
The two, having spoken as if encouraging each other, stepped onto the wedding road.
That day was the largest yet most modest wedding in the history of the Loom Empire. After all, the only decorations were the wedding road and the platform for the vow ceremony.
But it was more splendid than anything else and overflowing with blessings.
Love descended upon this land in abundance.
At last, Mercedes was able to fully embrace that love.
– The End
Male lead reborn without memories — but he still falls for her.
The person he finds displeasing in this life turns out to be his cherished wife-master in previous life…
Xie Zhi and Fang Xianxing who had known each other for less than three days through a blind date sat in the same car in front of the civil affairs bureau. They had a disagreement and failed to get married.
Xie Zhi immediately took out his phone, slid through his contacts, and randomly selected the next marriage candidate.
The woman snatched his phone and hung up. Looking at his phone wallpaper, she awkwardly changed the subject: “An ancient painting, eh? It looks pretty good, it’s just that the person in the painting looks a bit like me.”
When he heard this, he sarcastically mocked her for being so delusional, completely unaware that, the person in front of him was the reincarnation of Wen Ru, the famous prime minister of Yuan Shun whom he most admired…
The female CEO who doesn’t want to get married with a divorce agreement in hand × The male archaeological researcher who will only get married if he’s sure he can get divorced