Sometimes, I wanted to be yours. I wanted to give you everything and have all of you. But like not being able to possess the sky, the sun, the stars and the moon, the spring breeze, and the flowing time, you were never mine.

“I can’t confine you.”

Loneliness that started with Nikolai pushed towards me.

I couldn’t help but ask.

“Do you want to confine me? Like a canary singing in a golden cage whenever His Majesty desires?”

“…”

“I’ll tell you again; I can’t do that. No, I won’t. If you want a canary, find another woman.”

A bitter smile forced its way in.

He already had countless women.

So why did Nikolai seem wounded, as if I, knowing only him, were the one?
“He seems confused and anxious. It’s as if he has never formed a relationship in any way other than possession or domination…”

He was an emperor surrounded by flowers.

The concubines eagerly awaited his gestures in the harem.

Nikolai, not satisfied with merely confining the ladies, hoped to possess me.

Bitter, spicy, and a hint of bitterness lingered in my mouth.

“Couldn’t you have waited for me?”

“I couldn’t bear it any longer, so I came out to meet you.”

“You might become a wanted criminal if you keep receiving me twice.”

“Let’s go back together, Elizabeth.”

Nikolai reached out to me.

An impulse to grasp his hand struck my chest.

However…

“The same thing will happen again.”

“Claudia must have imprisoned Viscount Brenden.”

So Claudia accepted the position of the commander of the knights.

Did she genuinely accept my feelings?

Or is she preparing for a revolution she has already planned?

The day I reunite with Claudia was both fearful and eagerly anticipated.

“If it’s Claudia, she will perfectly handle everything.”

“Did you anticipate that she would become the commander of the palace knights?”

“I’ve considered a few possibilities.”

Sending a letter to Claudia was a measure of surrender.

There was no intention of boasting about it.

If only I could change Claudia’s mind.

If I could avoid becoming enemies with her.

But it seemed that Nikolai sensed my plan.

“For a while, public attention will be focused on Claudia.”

“Are you leaving your position to let her spread her wings freely?”

“Am I not always an emperor wandering outside?”

“Rather than His Majesty personally intervening, this seems like a better strategy.”

“Nobles will think that Claudia has been granted full authority. Young knights are already gathering around Claudia.”

“If their strength is combined, reform will gain more momentum.”

As Nikolai and I were deep in conversation, he leaned against the wall.

He leaned back, splashed water on his face, as if trying to calm down his boiling emotions.

“I didn’t expect to have this kind of conversation with you, the one who abandoned me.”

What kind of nonsense is this?

“I abandoned you?”

“If it’s not abandonment, then what is it?”

Nikolai questioned with a touch of resentful anger in his voice.

“I said I would go back.”

“But…”

“Were you quietly waiting for me after leaving just one letter? I’m not Douglas.”

“Why is Douglas coming out again here?”

Whether I found it strange or not, Nikolai muttered stubbornly.

“If you want to receive attention like Douglas, you might have to behave like him.”

“Your Majesty!”

“Maybe today you’ll get your protection just like Douglas.”

“Are you jealous right now?”

Nikolai stared at me intently.

“Is that not allowed?”

If his bewitching turquoise eyes weren’t captivating.

If he didn’t nibble on his sensual lips thoughtfully.

I wouldn’t have said such words either.

“I missed you.”
Nikolai’s eyes twisted.

A trembling breath fluttered between his lips.

I could no longer hide my feelings.

“I thought of Your Majesty every day.”

“…….”

“Why don’t you appear in my dreams when I miss you so much? It would be nice to see you even in dreams. I used to think that as I fell asleep.”

Unable to overcome the longing, I escaped into dreams.

Even in dreams, I wanted to see you.

I couldn’t even shed tears.

If I cried, I would miss you more, and I would return to your embrace that used to comfort me.

“You, very cowardly.”

Nikolai spoke in a low, hoarse voice.

“Are you playing with me? Leaving so heartlessly and now saying you missed me?”

“…….”

“You’ll leave my side again.”

“If that’s what I have to do.”

Nikolai let out a sigh.

Then he came close to my face.

“If you can’t stop or confine me, what am I supposed to do?”

An intoxicating scent filled the air.

The deep wrinkles on Nikolai’s forehead were incredibly charming.

A strange yet familiar warmth surged through my stomach.

It was only now that I truly felt he was by my side.

“Shall we go together?”

I blurted it out impulsively.

Nikolai’s pupils widened.

My heart also trembled.

So, provocatively, I covered Nikolai’s cheek with my hand.

“Since you’ve come to greet me, you might as well sneakily come with me, right.”

I mixed exaggeration as if it were a joke that would soon be picked up.

I thought he would naturally refuse.

Nikolai’s lip curled at a strange angle.

His hand unfolded over mine.

That alone made me lose my senses.

“It’s a good idea. But I also have a condition.”

“A condition?”

“If you accept it, I will go with you. I will be a more faithful servant than Douglas.”