Mercedes was granted access to all areas of the Imperial Palace. This included the beautiful gardens that were clearly visible from the palace.

If Carlos had been able to maintain a cool rationality towards Mercedes, he would have felt a sense of unease.

The unease of her purposely sitting close to another man in a visible location. Doesn’t it look like she’s deliberately trying to make him see it?

But that garden was the most prideful one in the Imperial Palace, perfectly suited for hosting formal reading gatherings with guests, and they seemed to be enjoying themselves. Plus, they even had the chaperone, Lady Fisher, present.

So Carlos, who would have normally noticed this setup, failed to do so.

Rather, it felt like his insides were churning and boiling hot water was bubbling up from the back of his neck.

At that moment, Scairah chuckled softly.

“Her Imperial Highness must be showing her face too.”

Face…

“But she looks quite different from Your Majesty, doesn’t she?”

Scairah was just playfully teasing, but this was something Carlos had been conscious of for a while. The fact that she seemed to like men with gentle features.

Carlos stood there, glaring at the reading group.

I shouldn’t go out there now. I know my feelings are strange, and if I go out now… then… The distance I’ve worked so hard to create will be ruined.

He made up his mind.

But why?

When he came to his senses, he had already arrived at the garden where the reading was being held. He didn’t even notice Scairah following him with a slightly serious face.

He regretted it. But now that he had run all the way here, he couldn’t just turn back.

So he lingered at the entrance of the garden for a moment. What should I do about this?

Is it right to go in? Even she was keeping her distance from me because she couldn’t control herself right now. All of a sudden?

But what if her heart is drawn to that man? What if my face is really different from her preference?

‘I have to kill her.’

He quickly rationalized his jealousy. He had to win Mercedes’ heart.

“Your Majesty. Can you hear me? Running over here so suddenly…”

Scairah, who had been smirking and teasing until now, was looking at Carlos with a startled face, worrying about him.

She knew he was falling for her. That’s why she had deliberately teased him to make him lighten up.

Seeing Carlos suddenly walking at a crazy fast pace towards this place as soon as he saw the reading group, she thought this was really serious.

He had been so fast that if Scairah wasn’t tall, she wouldn’t have been able to catch up with him.

‘This is big trouble.’

What if Carlos was really head over heels for the descendant of the Elave tribe?

‘You said you would survive.’

The reason the two became friends from a young age was because when Scairah encountered Carlos visiting the magic tower, she accidentally discovered the curse he possessed.

Carlos, who had been thoroughly taught by his mother to keep his curse a secret, piqued Scairah’s interest and she relentlessly chased after him.

As a result, by analyzing his curse, she became the only person who could prevent his body from stiffening.

And later, as comrades-in-arms, as long-time close friends by each other’s side, they began to help each other’s goals. Because they needed each other.

Carlos needed to stop the progression of the curse.

Scairah wanted a wise emperor for her own sense of patriotism.

Carlos said he wouldn’t die in vain like his mother, and that he would drive out all the children of the former emperor who had made him miserable from the Imperial Palace. He had succeeded in that so far.

But the biggest goal.

I won’t let this damn curse dictate my life. I won’t let my life fall apart because of some curse.

He hadn’t achieved that.

To achieve it, he had to seduce this woman and kill her… As Carlos walked here, not seeming to hear her calling out to him, his anxious gait worried her greatly.

‘…What should I do?’

Scairah looked at Carlos with a serious face.

Meanwhile, Carlos, who had rationalized his jealousy by thinking he needed to get closer to her to achieve his goal, muttered softly. So it wouldn’t be heard inside the garden.

“Sometimes you have to do things you don’t like to achieve your goal, right Scairah? I need to win her heart now. Isn’t it ridiculous not to step in here?”

“…Your Majesty. This… is different. At another time, in another place, you can seduce her as much as you want. This seems like jealou-”

Scairah also whispered to him quietly, advising him in case they could be heard inside. But Carlos shook his head.

“I’m just pretending to be jealous, Scairah. Jealousy works really well.”

“…”

Scairah didn’t respond. It’s not an act, it’s your true feelings, isn’t it? To the point where you can’t hear anything and come all the way here.

It didn’t seem like Carlos would listen even if she said that now. Her worries grew immensely.

The curse had the condition that he must ‘kill her directly’.

Right now, Carlos didn’t look like he could kill Mercedes.

While Scairah watched him worriedly, Carlos, who had finished contemplating, entered the garden.

“It’s a nice day, and it seems there’s a joyful gathering being held today.”

“Oh my, Your Majesty! We are graced by the sun of the empire.”

“Yes, it’s an honor!”

At the sudden appearance of the emperor, everyone at the reading rose to their feet.

Carlos gestured for them to sit.

“No need to stand since I’m the one interrupting. Lady Fisher, it seems like a very interesting gathering. What book are you reading?”

“Ah. We’re reading .”

“Oh. A classic. I’m quite fond of it too. Isn’t it a masterpiece that delicately portrays a story of passionate love as well as a story that changes the world?”

“Your Majesty likes it too?”

At that moment, Mercedes spoke to him.

He was finally able to naturally shift his gaze towards her, which he hadn’t been able to due to the commotion caused by the others.

Just as he thought.

The man was sitting too close to Mercedes. Looking closely, it seemed they were pointing at a passage in the book. Then it made sense for them to be close.

“May I join as well?”

But he couldn’t help the boiling feeling inside.

“Of course. We would appreciate it if you share your valuable insights.”

Lady Fisher gently guided him. And she deliberately had a seat prepared next to Mercedes.

It seemed Carlos was much more self-conscious about Mercedes than Lady Fisher had thought. He had shown some composure during his impromptu appearance at the play, but now…

‘He has no composure at all.’

Now, even behind Carlos’ painted smile, his emotions were visible. Well, that was something only Lady Fisher had noticed through her years and experience, so no one else present would know.

Meanwhile, Mercedes had been looking at Carlos with worried eyes as he followed her, and then sighed as she watched Scairah politely step back.

With his shaggy black hair neatly tied back, dressed in a shirt and pants, Scairah seemed much neater and more attractive than before.

‘That person… is worried about His Majesty.’

The way Scairah’s eyes focused solely on Carlos deeply impressed her.

Afterward, Carlos, who had been unusually affectionate at the reading, escorted Mercedes to her room after the gathering ended.

There was no conversation between them on the way.

* * *

As the empress, there was only one thing she had to do right away. Selecting new maids.

Since the Imperial Palace was large, the empress had to do some work. But she had to wait until the Queen Mother, who held full authority over the Inner Palace, summoned her and gave orders.

So she had nothing to do. And probably wouldn’t in the future either. The Queen Mother clearly wouldn’t give her any work. An empress’s duties meant power in the Imperial Palace, and the Queen Mother wouldn’t want to give her even a shred of power.

The new maids were selected quickly.

She chose Reina from the Marquis Lawrence household, who had approached and helped her at the Count Marshall’s banquet, as she had a better standing in high society than expected.

And one more from Reina’s group, and then a young lady from a politically neutral noble family recommended by Lady Fisher.

Mercedes deliberately gave Rhonda and Patricia the position of head maids. Usually it was only given to one person, but…

She was worried that Rhonda and Patricia, who were practically low-ranking nobles, would be looked down upon by the new maids, and she couldn’t easily trust new people.

“Now then…”

So in her spare time, she studied, read Bruno’s letters, and also wrote secret letters to be sent to Shaim. She was just contemplating whether or not to start mentioning Richard’s illegitimate child.

Seeing Bruno’s letter, it seemed the territory war was really just around the corner now. And there was also mention that Count Cromwell’s confinement had been lifted, and he was boasting about the luxury goods she had sent him as well as further inflating his private army.

‘Not yet… Let’s not reveal the illegitimate child yet.’

Revealing the illegitimate child should be done when pressuring the king to somehow ruin the count. When the count’s position is at its worst due to the territory war.

[I’ll look forward to the day of the territory war. I’ve prepared a ship and horses for you, so escape as carefully as possible.]

Thinking of when the territory war would end, Mercedes smiled.

But that smile quickly disappeared.

It was because Carlos came to mind, who had sat next to her and treated her affectionately at the reading yesterday, but became quiet when walking down the corridor.

“What do you even want?”

Was it just her feeling?

At the reading, Carlos seemed strangely lacking in composure. As if he loved her and was jealous of the man being by her side. It seemed the tactics Lady Fisher had mentioned were working.

But why. Ever since the first night, why?

“Your Highness. Dinner is ready. His Majesty is waiting for you.”

“I see.”

He had skipped out twice before. But yesterday and today, he didn’t miss the dinner.

“…Let’s go.”

Mercedes put on the comfortable dress that she had started wearing at Carlos’ suggestion but had now gotten used to, and started walking.

As the door opened, she saw Carlos and her seat prepared right next to him.

“Mercedes, you’re here. I was looking forward to your arrival.”

“…Yes, Your Majesty.”

He still had that painted smile on his face.

If it was before, she would have thought he was a kind man, but Mercedes, who had exchanged jokes and emotions with him, knew there was something hidden underneath.

The two sat side by side in a strange silence, an atmosphere even more awkward than four months ago. The clinking sound of tableware rang out and only the story about Count Cromwell was discussed a bit actively.

And… the meal was over. She had no idea what she ate or what happened. Her mind was completely absent.

All her attention was focused on Carlos’ every action, but at the same time, she wanted to turn away from him. Carlos felt the same way.

That’s when Carlos opened his mouth.

“…I’m thinking of creating a shared bedchamber for us.”

“What?”

“I thought it would be uncomfortable for you to keep coming to my room to sleep. We’re husband and wife now.”

He spoke with a stiff face. It was clearly a sweet suggestion, one that reminded her of their first night.

But why did he look so troubled while saying those words?

Mercedes couldn’t understand him at all.