“Ah, I’m, I’m so sor…”

“Shh. Hold on.”

“Your Majesty, this, this is…”

“Stay calm for now. If you move hastily, you might fall again.”

It wasn’t wrong. Her flowy gown was tangled around her feet. Carlos held Mercedes close without saying a word.

In that brief moment when his expression couldn’t be seen.

Mercedes felt like she would go mad with anxiety. To even be embraced. Now something truly terrible might happen.

“Your Majesty. I’m calm now. Please let me go.”

“…Alright.”

Carlos answered in a subdued voice, then slowly released her and.

“Your, Your Majesty…!”

He knelt down on one knee. Then he untangled the gown that had wrapped around her leg when she stepped on it.

His hot body heat brushed against Mercedes’ cold skin. Mercedes felt a strange shiver and tried to step back.

But Carlos firmly gripped her ankle with one hand and wouldn’t let go.

“I can do it myself, Your Majesty! I’m so sorry. Please, you must get up-”

Mercedes pleaded with him. Her voice trembled. But Carlos calmly continued speaking.

“Is this the kind of thing you like? The dress is pretty, but not very practical.”

Carlos muttered as he fixed her gown, then stood up again. Face to face, he really was tall. His build seemed twice her size.

It was overwhelming. But strangely, not threatening.

“Thank you. But for Your Majesty to kneel for someone like me-”

“It’s good to be cautious. But your caution seems to have a reason. Am I right?”

Suddenly a piercing question. Mercedes’ eyes widened, then she turned her head away.

“…I’d like to go back. Please allow me.”

Now she just wanted to escape this anxiety.

“I already gave permission earlier, so by all means.”

“Thank you. I hope you have a peaceful night.”

Mercedes quickly bowed and turned to leave the courtyard.

Afterwards, she ran while clumsily clutching her gown so it wouldn’t trip her feet, showing her bare legs.

She ran and ran.

Out of fear that someone might have seen.

It was strange that the goosebumps from when his hand touched her still hadn’t subsided.

* * *

Carlos Rivera.

The Emperor of the Room Empire was on a journey touring neighboring small countries, and was scheduled to stay in Sheim for only one day.

But something odd happened.

The next day, the Emperor did not leave.

As a result, the servants of Sheim Palace, who had not even recovered from the fatigue of preparing for the banquet since before the Emperor’s arrival, had to go back and forth in the palace. Looking like they might collapse at any moment.

Reportedly, the Emperor praised Sheim’s beauty and requested the King to allow him to stay a little longer.

As soon as Mercedes heard this news, she did not leave her room. She was afraid of encountering the Emperor.

Since it was a regular occurrence for her to seclude herself, no one paid any attention to her. Just one day, what of it.

And that night.

Richard summoned her.

* * *

Recently, Richard had brought up consummation. And he called for her at night.

For those two reasons alone, the maids dressed her up. Just in case, saying they would be scolded if she wasn’t beautiful.

The adorned Mercedes was radiant and beautiful from head to toe, and strangely alluring, despite her lifeless eyes.

‘It can’t be consummation.’

Wasn’t the talk of consummation brought up in the first place just to insult her?

Forget consummation, it would be fortunate if he didn’t throw a wine bottle at her.

‘After marriage, the violence from the Count’s family disappeared, which was good…’

She might return to that kind of life again. Her stomach churned and a headache came on.

And sure enough, as soon as she entered the room, Mercedes realized that consummation was out of the question.

Richard was drinking strong liquor in a dim room lit by only one candle. Moreover, the tobacco he was inhaling was so strong. She immediately started coughing.

“You called for, cough, cough… me, Your Highness.”

Still, she greeted him with the most proper posture she could manage. But she was certain today would be different from before.

Because Richard’s gaze as he drank while looking at her was incomparably more intense than usual.

Like someone gone mad with rage.

“Mercedes, Mercedes. My wife.”

“…Yes, Your Highness.”

“Come closer.”

“Yes.”

Suppressing her fear, Mercedes approached and stood before him.

“Mercedes. Your rumors may be quiet now… but they’ll get worse again once the Emperor leaves. Do you know?”

“…Yes.”

The continent’s ruler had not left yet. While attention was focused on him, everyone was hushing up the Crown Princess’s unfavorable news to avoid damaging Sheim’s reputation.

The Emperor was staying longer on a whim, but once he left, the scandals would resurface and pressure would be put on Mercedes again.

All the pressure towards her was Richard’s doing. If he didn’t give up, she would be suffocated until the end.

“I think… the Emperor seems to be staying for your sake. He suddenly decided to remain, didn’t he? Haha… Am I wrong in my guess, wife?”

Richard gritted his teeth. There was a grinding sound.

“…Pardon? What do you mean by that?”

Mercedes lowered her eyes while wondering at the unexpected question. Outwardly, she showed no agitation.

“It’s exactly as I said. The Emperor must know about your rumors. He has countless capable informants after all.”

“Your Highness. Are you saying that the Emperor of the Room Empire is staying longer in Sheim to suppress my rumors?”

“As expected of my wife. You understand so quickly. Hm? You’re so clever. Always so outstanding, you are.”

Richard staggered, seemingly quite drunk on the strong liquor.

“That can’t be. The Emperor wouldn’t go that far to look after-”

“Mercedes.”

Richard gave a sardonic smile.

“Do you think I wouldn’t know?”

“Pardon?”

“My filthy wife who lost her virginity to another man. What an absurd story, right?”

“What are you…”

She hadn’t spent the wedding night with Richard.

Suddenly talking about virginity?

“Yesterday at dawn. You think I didn’t see? Your tryst with the Emperor in the courtyard.”

As soon as she heard Richard’s words, Mercedes’ heart sank. Her whole body seemed to freeze.

Richard had seen her and the Emperor that dawn.

“No wonder the Emperor was meddling excessively in others’ marital affairs… Since when have you two been so close? How long has it been since the Emperor arrived? Hm?”

“Ah, no. Your Highness. I would never-”

“How would I know when you’re holed up in your room? A woman who doesn’t even come to her husband… Well, the maids do say you stay in your room.”

Richard drank straight from the bottle.

“But dawn is a different time, isn’t it? You two looked so close in the courtyard, you must have met with the Emperor separately before?”

“N-no. That dawn we happened to run into each other and His Majesty helped me when I was about to fall. Your Highness. You’re misunderstand-”

“You’re always right, aren’t you? And I’m always wrong. There’s a limit to tolerating a wife who ignores her husband’s words, especially the future ruler of this kingdom. You know?”

Richard’s voice grew louder.

Mercedes had no idea where to start clearing up this misunderstanding or how to get through this.

But in fact, there was no misunderstanding. Richard actually knew of her innocence.

Richard always had people watching Mercedes. She was his possession after all.

Yesterday he had been rolling around with dancers until dawn when he got bored. That’s when the watchers informed him that Mercedes had left her room, so he moved. He arrived at the courtyard guided by them.

Just as he was wondering, he was able to witness the two of them.

Yes. Mercedes had truly met the Emperor by chance that day, and the Emperor had merely caught her as she was about to fall.

Mercedes kept pushing the Emperor away, saying she would leave. The Emperor told her to do as she wished.

It was an insignificant situation.

Nevertheless, he could not quell his anger.

Starting with Mercedes’ voice trembling in slight bewilderment, the image of the two of them standing side by side like a well-matched pair vividly came to mind and lingered before his eyes.

The Emperor even seemed to suit Mercedes better than his own brother.

And that night, the Emperor had definitely stolen Mercedes’ gaze.

Richard hadn’t slept a wink since that dawn. He kept drinking and thinking, over and over. Meanwhile, the Emperor wasn’t leaving the kingdom.

“Really, really, you’re misunderstanding. I’ve only been in my room since the welcoming ceremony-”

“On top of the rumors, now you’re even cozying up to another man. Mercedes. Should I forgive you?”

“Your Highness! You truly misunderstand.”

“Enough, Mercedes. I’ve made up my mind.”

“Your Highness… Please, just listen to me once.”

“Now you’re finally acting a bit more human.”

Richard snickered.

“Yes, I’ve found a way to resolve all these mistakes.”

Then he threw something onto the table between them. There was a clinking sound.

“It seems it will all be solved if only you disappear. So why don’t you take care of it yourself?”

What was thrown was a dagger.

Mercedes stared blankly at the dagger.

“What… does this dagger… mean…”

“Has your brain broken down too?”

Seeing Mercedes seemingly not understanding the question, Richard gave her a look of disdain.

“What else would you have to do yourself with a dagger? You don’t think I’d order you to kill someone, do you? What could you do with those twig-like arms of yours?”

“…Ah.”

As if belatedly understanding, Mercedes’ blank eyes suddenly wavered. At the same time, her clasped hands tensed, her nails digging into her skin.

“Are you… ordering me to take my own life now?”

Mercedes asked, trying her best to stay calm.

But her voice trembled uncontrollably.

Richard looked at her and laughed. As if thoroughly enjoying himself.