“Why. Try saying you knew this too, hm? How about inviting the Emperor as well? It would make for good entertainment.”

“Your… Your Highness. That’s…”

Mercedes’ voice trembled violently.

She’s showing agitation. Richard felt a twisted satisfaction even as his stomach churned.

“What, are you flustered?”

He grabbed Mercedes’ arm tighter, pressing his body close as he whispered threateningly.

“Smile, Mercedes. Hm? You should try to flatter me, or I might gently undress you in front of everyone. So you won’t be embarrassed in front of people.”

Mercedes felt her fingertips trembling and clenched her fists.

“It’s the Crown Prince and Crown Princess.”

And suddenly, a low voice interjected between them.

Richard’s head whipped around.

“…Your Majesty.”

For a moment, irritation flashed across Richard’s face. But he quickly put on a friendly expression and released Mercedes.

With her body now free, Mercedes tried to remain calm as she smoothed her clothes. Another headache was coming on, but she hid it and slowly turned her head.

A man dressed entirely in black from head to toe was walking towards them from the end of the corridor. His almost colorless appearance stood out in stark contrast to the bright weather.

The Crown Prince bowed his head slightly, and Mercedes gracefully curtsied, holding the edge of her skirt.

As the Emperor approached them, Richard pulled Mercedes close by the waist with one hand. To appear like an affectionate couple.

“What were you doing?”

“Just having an intimate conversation between husband and wife. Nothing Your Majesty needs to know about. By the way, weren’t you in the middle of a meeting?”

Richard avoided answering and asked glibly.

The Emperor, Carlos, scrutinized Mercedes.

He did not take his eyes off her, as if trying to take in every detail of her disheveled state. Yet he opened his mouth to address the Crown Prince.

“I wanted a brief rest before the meeting and was being escorted. An intimate conversation… Here in the corridor, in such an unsightly state?”

“Some discord between family members is unavoidable.”

Though Richard found it extremely unpleasant that the Emperor’s gaze was fixed on Mercedes, he hid his emotions and pulled her even closer.

Mercedes kept her eyes lowered, simply accepting Richard’s touch.

“…Crown Prince.”

In that moment, Richard became frightened.

Even though he hadn’t said much, the killing intent emanating from the Emperor felt like it could strangle him to death.

“Don’t push the Crown Princess too hard.”

Though the tone was clearly gentle, the voice carried a warning.

“It’s not pleasant to see as a guest.”

The Emperor’s large hand with bulging veins came to rest on Richard’s shoulder. He gripped the shoulder tightly, then let go and patted it a couple of times. As if treating Richard like a subordinate.

“Thank you… for the advice.”

Richard struggled to compose his expression as he replied.

“And to my eyes, the Crown Princess doesn’t look well. It seems Shaim’s attendants are slow in their duties?”

He then gave a meaningful look to the attendants. The attendants were startled and looked at Richard.

“I was just about to have her rest. Take her away.”

Richard forced a smile and handed Mercedes over to the attendants.

It must have been coincidence that Mercedes’ eyes met the Emperor’s just before she left.

She momentarily couldn’t look away, feeling as if his eyes were viscously pulling her in, but that too must have been nothing unusual.

“Well then, good work.”

As Mercedes departed, the Emperor bid farewell as if his business was done. Richard kept his head bowed until the Emperor’s figure completely disappeared.

To hide his utterly crumpled expression.

* * *

Mercedes did have to prepare for the night with Richard. The maids who had witnessed everything earlier in the day urged her grumpily, leaving her no choice.

After bathing meticulously and applying perfume, she put on a flowy slip and a lace robe that were said to be Richard’s taste.

The robe was like an angel’s wings, but its length made it keep getting caught under her feet, which was uncomfortable.

Fortunately or unfortunately, Richard did not call for her until late.

‘Right, he has his pride…’

She had been a bit anxious about what if she was really summoned to the audience chamber. Could she resign herself to even that? Her mind was somewhat eased now.

“…I can’t sleep.”

Was it because she had been too tense?

Or…

‘That man.’

Was it because of the Emperor?

It was strange how unfamiliar he didn’t seem. And earlier, he had clearly helped her, hadn’t he?

Why would the Emperor go so far as to interfere in a married couple’s relationship to help the Crown Princess of a small country?

‘What a strange person.’

In any case, that Emperor had clearly unsettled Mercedes.

“…Perhaps I’ll go for a walk.”

Insomnia always came, but tonight was especially bad. Outside the window, a full moon was pouring down clear light.

Very occasionally, when her insomnia became too severe, Mercedes would walk through the sleeping palace. She liked that there were no eyes following her every move.

Mercedes put on an outer garment and slipped on lambskin slippers. The robe kept getting caught at her feet, but she didn’t want to wake her nanny to change clothes. Waking a maid was even more frightening.

She slowly moved her feet, gathering up the robe whenever it got caught.

The moon was bright.

The only silence she could label as “likeable” accompanied her. The dark corridors with no one around, moonlight flowing in between.

She kept walking. Before she knew it, she had reached the inner courtyard of the palace.

The courtyard, decorated with a fountain and pretty flowers, was where the other royals often had tea time, excluding her.

A place she could never sit during the day.

She approached the courtyard and was about to sit in an iron chair when…

“You… were here.”

She was startled. So unlike her usual composure, her voice came out muffled.

His black clothing and hair blended with the darkness, making him momentarily invisible.

The Emperor was already sitting in the opposite chair.

“If it isn’t the Crown Princess.”

The Emperor smiled faintly. It was a perfect smile, as if practiced, which made her feel strange and wary.

“I have disturbed Your Majesty’s time. I apologize. I will take my leave.”

And if anyone were to witness this, it would be a disaster. Mercedes tried to quickly withdraw.

“Crown Princess.”

But the Emperor called to her. Simply leaving now would be defying the command of the Continental Hegemon. If the Emperor’s mood were to sour, it could lead not only to diplomatic issues but even to war.

This Emperor was such an existence in Shaim right now.

“…Yes, Your Majesty.”

Mercedes had no choice but to stop her retreat and bow her head.

The Emperor addressed her, looking at her with pitch-black eyes.

“Truly, isn’t it a beautiful moonlit night?”

“…Ah.”

“There’s nothing better than viewing the moon alone. And moon-viewing with a conversation partner is even better.”

The Emperor said, looking at her. It was an invitation to view the moon together.

She should refuse and go back.

Cold sweat formed on Mercedes’ hands.

No matter that the other party was the Emperor, it was not a good sight for a married woman to be alone with a strange man.

Moreover, if Richard were to see this scene or somehow hear of it, it would be a disaster.

Hadn’t he expressed great anger after encountering the Emperor earlier?

“I’m sorry, but I… I shouldn’t be alone with Your Majesty. It goes against the propriety of a woman.”

Looking at her, the Emperor smiled seductively.

“Well… It’s dawn, isn’t it? No one will see you and me.”

What came back to her was an unsettling answer.

Mercedes stared blankly at the Emperor.

An emperor can do anything.

Even taking a married woman is permitted for an emperor. The emperor need not care how the woman is treated afterwards.

Is that why he could say such things? Because he’s free at the highest position?

‘But I’m not.’

However, Mercedes cannot do so.

Her life has long been decided by others, and she has been trapped within it.

Even her occasional mood refresher was limited to walking around in slippers that made no sound when everyone was asleep.

“…I’m sorry.”

Anxiety began to well up. She couldn’t understand why this man was doing this. Did he see her as just a one-night companion?

Whatever the Emperor’s intentions, Mercedes’ heart began to beat faster.

The pre-dawn palace, which she would have thought peaceful normally, looked different.

‘This scene must absolutely not be discovered.’

“If Your Majesty permits, may I return now? I hope you are not offended. My nature is timid and lowly, so I dare not think I could be a suitable conversation partner for Your Majesty.”

Mercedes chose her words carefully to avoid it developing into diplomatic or war issues. She lowered herself and elevated the Emperor while looking for an escape.

“…You don’t need to lower yourself so much. There won’t be any war or such.”

The Emperor replied slowly. His voice sounded regretful, but there was also a sense of composure that contrasted with her clenched fists and anxiety to leave immediately.

For a moment, something welled up in her chest. She envied his composure.

‘Envy? Me? Daring to envy the Emperor?’

She had realized in childhood that envy was a luxury she couldn’t afford. Watching the Count and Countess severely discipline her while doting excessively on her half-siblings.

Affection, love, freedom. Things she never had and never would have in her lifetime.

“I seem to have made you uncomfortable. Regrettable, but you may go.”

“Ah, no. I’m sorry for daring to leave first. Then I’ll be going now.”

Mercedes wanted to hide her increasingly complex inner feelings. She disliked being flustered. So she quickly stood up.

At that moment, the flowy, long robe inside her outer garment got caught under Mercedes’ foot.

It was Richard’s taste – needlessly pretty and terribly inconvenient.

“Ah…!”

“Oh my.”

How fast was he? They say he’s a genius swordsman who always leads the vanguard in war, and in the moment she was about to trip on her own clothes, Carlos immediately rose and caught her.

Thus, under the moonlight, Mercedes ended up in Carlos’ arms as if in a dance pose.