Nikolai did not reply.

I was the first to break the heavy silence.

“One of them must be Duke Pipe or Earl Blackfold. It could be both.”

“Duke Rimen is a cautious man.”

“Duke Brendon is eagerly waiting for a bet. Without those two, it’s just Pipe and Blackfold left.”

“I’m sorry. I should have handled it sooner.”

Seeming ashamed, Nikolai lowered his head.

He bit his lips with his pure white teeth.

His bright red lips looked absurdly sensual, seemingly without his own realization.

At that moment, even I was captivated by his lips.

“Why are you sorry, Your Majesty? The scoundrels who use dirty tricks will surely show their true colors.”

“If I had ruled the empire perfectly, none of this would have happened.”

“If it were that simple, Your Majesty would have solved it all.”

“?”

“Do you think you’re the only emperor who gets headaches from the nobles? Are you some kind of god?”

“Elizabeth…”

“In a feudal state like this empire, a lord’s influence is inevitably strong.”

Reading novels, one learns a thing or two about power struggles.

Besides, I’m an avid reader who fully understands the original world.

It may seem like the Emperor wields absolute power, but that’s not the case.

The original heroine, Claudia, had also fallen into crises several times because of the heads of the four major families.

They pretended to support the revolution but were actually using Claudia.

The moment Claudia executed the original Elizabeth and Nikolai, their true colors came out.

Their greed led to their ultimate destruction.

“If Claudia could do it, so can I!”

My confidence soared on solid ground.

When I first possessed this body, everything seemed daunting.

I didn’t think I could compete with Claudia, my favorite and most powerful female knight.

It seemed impossible to beat the original work or avoid the execution block.

But the fear returned as nightmares every night.

“But it’s different now. I’m not alone.”

Thanks to the kidnapping incident, Owen had completely turned to my side.

Persuading Boritz was just a matter of time.

Douglas and Susan would stand by me no matter what happened.

Although young, Crown Prince Franz and Interior Minister Cales were not to be overlooked.

Not to mention…

Nikolai, the world’s most handsome and powerful man, was by my side.

He’s not my friend, not my lover, and certainly not my husband.

But I couldn’t deny that he cherished me.

“No matter how strong the opponent, I won’t give up. Because perseverance is the basic condition for victory.”

Staying strong didn’t guarantee victory.

Even with relentless endurance, if luck doesn’t favor you, you’re likely to fail.

Sometimes luck is more important than effort.

But giving up eliminates even the tiny chance of catching a break.

“I won’t succumb to Elizabeth’s fate. The original can’t do anything to me. My life is my own.”

I wanted to live more desperately than ever.

Because now I had someone to protect.

“I never knew you studied politics.”

Impressed, Nikolai spoke.

I shrugged and pouted my lips.

“I picked it up here and there.”

“You have outstanding qualities and talents. Even if we combine all the nobles, they can’t reach your toes.”

“You flatter me.”

“I’ve met various beauties and talents. Some were as affluent and elegant as you. But none had your boldness, wisdom, and honesty.”

It was the highest praise, but it stung like swallowing a blade heated over fire.

A shadow that I could never forget gnawed at a corner of my heart.

Nikolai had many women around him.

There must have been flowers in the harem waiting for the emperor’s touch.

‘The one who kidnapped me was probably the father of that empress. As Nikolai cherishes me, more and more dangers will arise.’

I had no intention of avoiding them.

At least until I stopped Claudia, I had to stay by his side.

But what about after that?

Could I continue to stay beside Nikolai?
“What do you really see me as? A target to seduce? A substitute for your first love? If not that, then what……”

I couldn’t bring myself to ask.

I wasn’t confident in handling any response.

Right now, I wanted to cling to his warm gaze and touch.

I wanted to enjoy these comforting moments, just the two of us.

As if we were the only two people in the world, forever.

“What qualities do you think I have?”

“Well… umm…”

“You don’t mean to make me the Empress, do you?”

I asked playfully.

Nikolai tightly sealed his lips.

His wideopen green eyes trembled like willow leaves on a stormy day.

Even the air around him had turned stiff.

‘Is Nikolai’s cheek a bit flushed? Did I add too much firewood?’

I glanced at the fireplace on the right wall.

A soft flame added warmth to the room.

If it’s not because of the heat, then why is Nikolai behaving like this?

Was he uncomfortable because I jokingly brought up the topic of becoming the Empress?

“Pretend you didn’t hear that. Ah, being an Empress. Just the thought is horrifying.”

With exaggerated movements, I shivered.

Nikolai’s face that had turned red now became pale.