Mercedes, returning from Richard’s room, couldn’t even make it to the bed before collapsing.

Her legs gave out and a terrible headache came on. Though she could maintain an expressionless face by suppressing her emotions, it was impossible not to feel anything.

How could abuse be not frightening just because it was familiar? Richard’s cruelty was also familiar, but that didn’t make it any less humiliating. She lived in fear and anxiety every day.

Mercedes tried to stand up, swallowing a sigh.

“Your Highness! Are you alright? What happened?”

Just then, her nanny Gertrude entered the room with perfect timing. She was the only one who had stayed by Mercedes’ side since she came to the Count’s household as a child.

How many times had she even shielded Mercedes, stepping in front to protect her when she was about to be hit?

Gertrude was the only person Mercedes trusted.

“Nanny, just for a moment like this…”

“You seem to be in a lot of pain. Should I call the court physician-”

“No, I’m fine. My body just feels weak.”

“But… Alright. Then stay like this for a moment and get up slowly. Sudden movements aren’t good for your body.”

“Okay.”

Mercedes rested for a moment, leaning on her nanny’s arm. After a while, her strength returned and she was able to stand up.

After getting ready and lying in bed, she thought about the words Richard had repeatedly said.

Like a corpse. Stiff.

Mercedes smiled bitterly. Maybe he was right. Being treated like an invisible person was the norm, and everyone hated her.

If no one in life wanted her, wasn’t she no different from a corpse? No, even worse than a corpse. Because when she dies someday, there won’t be a single person to mourn or miss her.

‘Why am I still alive?’

It was a question that came to her every dawn. Mercedes swallowed the familiar doubt into her chest and burrowed deep into the bed. Still, sleep did not come.

* * *

The rumors about Mercedes temporarily died down.

This was because the entire kingdom was in an uproar over the news that the Emperor of the Lum Empire would be visiting the kingdom.

“Hurry, hurry!”

“We need more decorations here!”

The entire palace was in chaos, preparing for the welcoming ceremony according to the message sent by the Emperor.

Unlike the small island nation of Shaim Kingdom, the Lum Empire was a powerful country that ruled the entire continent across the sea.

Moreover, this generation’s Emperor was said to be a belligerent figure who had been roaming battlefields since his days as a prince, easily absorbing small countries that previous emperors had left unconquered.

After clearing up all the remaining small countries on the continent, he was now making courtesy visits to nearby island nations to form alliances. Though they called it an alliance, it was more like going around demanding “Pay tribute and we won’t invade you.”

These were the Emperor’s accomplishments in just 2 years since his ascension to the throne.

In any case, given the situation, the Shaim Kingdom, which was not far from the empire, also needed to make a good impression on the Lum Empire.

So this commotion was not strange.

“Tsk, how noisy.”

Richard, of course, was not pleased with the commotion.

There were many rumors attached to the Emperor of the Empire. A genius swordsman, a war maniac, but also the best possible ruler for the people of the Empire.

And they said he was the most handsome man in the world.

Upon hearing these rumors, Richard scoffed.

When nobodies rise to high positions, it’s natural for all sorts of grand stories to circulate.

Especially seeing all the praise for his appearance, the Emperor of Lum was clearly going to be a short dwarf of an unattractive man.

How pitiful that such a fool was born into a good bloodline and became the master of the continent. The people of the Empire were to be pitied.

In fact, Richard would surely be much better suited for that position.

‘Even absorbing small countries due to being bellicose is probably just a desperate attempt to leave behind some achievement due to a severe inferiority complex.’

With the Empire’s military power, even if an incompetent person took the throne, they could absorb a few countries, so expanding the Empire’s territory didn’t even feel like an achievement.

And so, Richard continued to mentally crush and belittle the Emperor of the Lum Empire whom he had never even met.

It was a habit formed from growing up being compared to his dead older brother. A warped self-esteem and needlessly inflated self-confidence.

And so the day of the welcoming ceremony arrived.

“His Majesty Carlos Rivera, Emperor of the Lum Empire, is entering!”

With the announcement from outside, the doors opened and the Emperor appeared.

Dressed in a jet-black formal uniform from head to toe, with a red cloak trimmed with thick fur, the Emperor’s appearance as he strode in was truly overwhelming.

Black hair and black eyes. Tanned skin and tall stature exuded a beast-like aura. Tall height, broad shoulders, and a dignified yet heavy gait. He was someone who naturally drew gazes.

And above all else…

“How beautiful…”

It was a beauty that seemed not of this world.

Looking at the Emperor, Richard was reminded of his dead brother, Elmond. Elmond had also exuded such an extraordinary aura. But this Emperor… was even more so.

Richard clenched his fist. Just having the Emperor in front of him was so irritating he felt he might go mad.

The banquet hall filled with small commotions.

The Emperor walked up and faced the King.

“It’s a pleasure. Blessings to the Kingdom of Shaim.”

His low, resonant voice was filled with charisma that seemed impossible to defy.

The King, shorter than the Emperor, looked flustered as if overwhelmed by the aura, but tried his best to speak calmly.

“Welcome. Glory to the Lum Empire.”

The two shook hands, and the Emperor swept his gaze around the banquet hall once.

“The banquet is modest and beautiful. It seems you’ve worked hard to prepare, I express my gratitude.”

“It’s nothing. I hope the ruler of the continent will be able to enjoy the banquet.”

Modest?

Richard gritted his teeth. He had never seen such a lavish banquet while growing up in the kingdom. Yet that man was looking down on the kingdom.

Whether aware of Richard’s mood or not, the Emperor’s gaze, which had been scanning every corner of the banquet hall, suddenly stopped at one spot.

Where his gaze landed, Richard and Mercedes were standing. And the Emperor’s gaze blatantly…

“…It’s a pleasure. Crown Prince, Crown Princess.”

…turned towards Mercedes.

Mercedes’ green eyes, which met the Emperor’s, shook greatly.

It was true that she was drawn to the Emperor’s aura. He was the type of person she had never seen before in her life.

But even so, he was someone who had nothing to do with her. So she had been watching the Emperor and King’s greetings with her usual expressionless face.

There was no reason to be surprised even when the Emperor greeted her.

Nevertheless, the reason her eyes shook was because his face seemed familiar somehow.

There was no way she could have seen him before. Though she lived in the capital of the Lum Empire with her mother during her childhood, it was a life on the streets. The kind of life where she would have no chance to encounter someone of high status. And after that, she was confined to Count Cromwell’s estate.

There was no way she could have had the opportunity to meet someone who was an emperor. That’s why she was confused.

‘Why… does this feel familiar?’

And Richard would not miss that brief moment when Mercedes’ eyes shook.

The emotion that appeared on her face was for an extremely short instant. Really, a very short… time.

Richard’s eyes grew sharp.

The Emperor was looking at the Crown Princess, the Crown Princess was bowing her head with an expressionless face, and the Crown Prince was looking at the Crown Princess with disbelieving eyes.

The misaligned gazes lasted only a moment before the Emperor turned his head towards the Crown Prince. Feeling his gaze, Richard immediately put on a smiling face.

“You must be tired from your long journey, Your Majesty. I hope you will be able to have an enjoyable time in the Kingdom of Shaim.”

Though arrogant on the inside, royalty was royalty.

Having been taught, Richard naturally put on a mask and showed a polite attitude.

“I’m glad the Crown Prince welcomes me. Thank you.”

The Emperor’s low voice in response seemed devoid of any emotion.

That was all.

The welcoming ceremony continued for a moderate length, neither too long nor too short. After the grand ceremony ended, the Emperor headed to the grand conference room for a meeting with the King.

“The schedule is over.”

After seeing off the Emperor, Mercedes spoke in her usual flat voice. Richard let out a hollow laugh as he looked at his wife who had returned to her normal state.

He wanted to get angry right away, but there were many eyes watching.

“…Yes. The schedule is over, so let’s go back.”

Richard forced a smile, greeted those around him, and left the venue. As soon as he entered the area accessible only to royalty, he grabbed Mercedes’ arm and pushed her against the wall of the corridor.

“Ugh…!”

Mercedes let out a groan at the sudden pain. But her expression remained empty.

“I thought our lady was excessively chaste, but it turns out she has quite loose morals.”

“…”

“And here I thought you had no desires.”

“…If there is a problem, please reprimand me. I will correct it.”

Richard ground his teeth at her calm response.

“Fine, alright. Let’s see each other tonight. I’m curious if you can remain so calm during our consummation.”

Mercedes was a little surprised.

At night… Richard had often barged in suddenly with humiliating words and drunken rants. But it was the first time in 2 years that Richard had brought up ‘consummation’.

“…I understand.”

The reason Richard didn’t consummate was simple.

He didn’t want to give Mercedes the honor of carrying his child.

It had been 2 years like that, and he would be satisfied whenever Mercedes was reprimanded regarding an heir.

In any case, Mercedes didn’t know that reason.

Consummation so suddenly…

Mercedes quietly looked at Richard and then lowered her eyes.

“…I understand.”

It was disconcerting, but duty was duty.

She bowed her head out of habit and resignation.

“Ah, I was thinking of doing something special today. I’m curious if you can maintain that corpse-like expressionless face even when humiliated in front of people.”

“People…?”

“How about consummating in the audience chamber? Hm?”

Richard sneered. Mercedes’ eyes finally shook greatly.

“…What?”