Having finished the letter, it was now nearing dinner time.

In the dining room where she arrived with the maid, a single set of tableware was laid out.

“His Majesty said he has a lot of work to finish and does not have time, so he will dine separately in his office.”

In the Emperor’s own dining room, and she was to sit alone.

Couldn’t she go to the dining room used by guests and enjoy her meal there?

‘…Is this considerate?’

Chloe responded with a puzzled look.

Shortly after, the dinner courses came out one by one.

As she leisurely enjoyed her meal up to the final dessert, the head servant waiting behind her spoke.

“And His Majesty wishes to see you for a moment after dinner.”

“Is he too busy to dine properly?”

“He added that there’s something to discuss today.”

The head servant grinned amiably.

If he emphasized ‘today,’ he must be referring to what Chloe had shared with the physician earlier.

“Understood. Where should we meet?”

“He didn’t specify… I’ll go check right now.”

“No, it’s fine.”

Chloe halted him, laying down her fork as if ready to leave at any moment.

If the Emperor didn’t specify the location, it would certainly be his quarters. Chloe’s room and his were so close they were almost touching.

Mature men and women, moreover, spouses, meeting at such an hour in private quarters. Did the Emperor truly not realize how scandalous that was?

“Please tell His Majesty I have confirmed.”

But if the Emperor wanted it, what else could she do?

Chloe, who had complied with the Emperor’s request, hesitated outside the promised meeting room.

Finally gathering her courage, her hand reached for the opulently gilded door. A series of soft knocks followed.

Strangely, there was no response.

As was the custom of the nobility, one knocked up to three times.

Chloe knocked again, putting more force into her hand. Then the door opened on its own. It seemed to have been ajar to begin with.

‘…Is this a signal to enter on my own?’

There was no way he could ignore her presence after setting up a meeting.

Chloe cautiously entered, staring at the open door.

And not long after, she came face to face with him.

“……Your Majesty?”

The man she’d always known with a mask had removed it.

The single proof that separated a close friend from an Emperor.

Moonlight filtering through the window. The ethereal light softly illuminated his face.

Skin glowing even under the harsh sun, deeply set double eyelids, a tall nose, and a sharp jawline.

Chloe was drawn towards that captivating face as if bewitched.

The closer she got to him, the more her heart raced.

And as the sound grew louder, the truth also became increasingly clear. Doubt turned into certainty.

Now only a table stood between them.

Chloe whispered softly as she stopped in front of the table.

“……Kun.”

A name she shouldn’t dare to say, yet one that was incredibly familiar to her.

In front of the ruler of the world, she audaciously uttered his name.

‘Is the Emperor and Kun the same person?’

The chilling and cruel Emperor who had once threatened to consume a kingdom.

The atmosphere she initially sensed from the Emperor was still vivid.

The leader of the empire, who made everyone in front of him seem insignificant.

His cold, red eyes could make one beg for forgiveness for sins not even committed.

His authority could turn the non-existent into existence, and the existent into non-existence.

‘Lately, he’s been kind.’

That such an Emperor bestowed infinite kindness on her was also true.

Though she never doubted or questioned it, she had thought she couldn’t hold him in the same regard as her friend Kun.

Until she saw the man deeply asleep.
The man exuding a gentle aura reminded Chloe of a close friend.

Chloe alternated her gaze between the mask placed on the desk and Koon’s face, looking shocked.

She picked up the mask and brought it close to the man’s face as if it was the last thing she’d do.

“……!”

Though their skin didn’t touch, they were close enough.

She had merely put a mask on her once close friend, and suddenly saw the figure of the emperor.

A profound silence ensued, as if she had lost her hearing. If not for the emperor’s faint moan, Chloe would have stood there, stunned.

After a while, Chloe, who had exhaled, moved.

She set down the mask, killed her presence, and left the room.

Chloe leaned against the closed door. The tension that had been supporting her legs vanished, leaving her drained.

‘Koon… the one who became my friend that day, and who continued to exchange letters with me, was the emperor?’

At that moment, suspicious things she had pushed aside because she didn’t want to doubt her friend came to mind.

Letters disappearing daily and immediate replies. Using expensive parchment for mere letter exchanges. Always being there when Chloe needed.

Voices of delusion echoed in her confused ears. It was the voice of her affectionate friend.

“I’ll gladly serve you. So, be happy.”

First meeting. After asking if she was happy, he declared he would help her.