The bed shook due to his weight.

He was a man with extraordinary physical attributes to begin with.

Looking up from below, it was even more apparent.

Broad, wide shoulders.

Long, slender arms and legs.

Thick chest muscles.

Everything about him set my heart ablaze.

Just being in the same bed as Nikolai made heat spread throughout my body.

Reason had fled far away.

I wanted to admire him gazing down at me until tonight’s moon set and tomorrow’s sun rose.

“Elizabeth. Do you enjoy driving me crazy?”

His voice came out restrained at first, then poured out.

An unfamiliar thirst burned in his eyes.

Breathing in and out was not easy.

Should I just stop altogether?

Would that make this moment stop too?

Forcing away the vain imagination, I curled up the corners of my mouth.

“I hope Your Majesty becomes a wise ruler, not a madman.”

“Why?”

“So I can live well under a wise ruler.”

That was enough of a lie.

I reached out both hands towards Nikolai.

His cheeks were warm and smooth.

He flinched for a moment, but didn’t avoid my touch.

Sometimes I couldn’t believe he was within reach of my hands.

It all felt like a dream – that I could casually touch the emperor, that Nikolai would make a languid expression like a sleepy cat when feeling my touch.

‘I want to see you called a wise ruler. I want to stand beside you. I want to be your only person. Even though it’s eternally impossible…’

Pain that tore at my heart and empty futility rushed in from all sides.

The bridge of my nose stung.

My vision blurred hazily.

Nikolai’s skin felt soft as ever under my fingertips.

Yes, let’s enjoy this moment for just a bit.

Because it will disappear someday.

Nikolai, who had been silent for a while, narrowed his eyes.

“Does that mean you’ll never marry?”

“Why would it mean that?”

“Have you forgotten? Women who aren’t empress can’t live in the palace.”

“That’s why I became the Crown Prince’s tutor.”

Nikolai abruptly sat up.

The bed felt empty, left alone.

I reached out towards his back, then quickly withdrew my hand.

‘Possessiveness isn’t yours alone. The same goes for monopoly. I can’t forgive you holding another woman while leaving me behind.’

I swallowed the words I couldn’t bring myself to say.

A bitter sense of futility lingered on my tongue.

‘I hate myself for having my heart stolen by a man I can’t be with for life. So we must continue this game of seduction. Because it’s the only way we can stay by each other’s side.’

Only then could I manage to make something resembling a smile with my stiffly frozen facial muscles.

“If you want to marry me, admit defeat first. Hm? Be cool about it.”

My true feelings were different.

I felt anxious in case Nikolai declared defeat.

I hoped this game of seduction would never end.

Because seducing each other, becoming special existences, and freely engaging in skinship was only possible within the game.

“It seems you’re the one who’s fallen for me?”

“You’re mistaken.”

“Do you casually touch men you haven’t fallen for?”

“It’s a kind of strategy.”

“It was very effective.”

“I thought it would be.”

“So is that why you winked at Simon?”

Nikolai asked bluntly.

How did he see that?

Does he have eyes everywhere?

“My eyelid just twitched a bit.”

“What about the hand kiss?”

“I thought something was on his hand.”

“Simon’s attitude changed completely after that.”

“You know Simon is a fickle, capricious man.”

This time my excuses didn’t work either.

The look in Nikolai’s eyes as he gazed at me was not good.

“Careth acted similarly.”

“…!”

“He’s overly kind and polite to you. He doesn’t hesitate to make exceptions and do you favors. It’s not normal for him to be interested in anyone but me.”

“I didn’t know you two were so close.”

“Careth has changed. Because of you.”

“Your Majesty. Aren’t you tired? It’s very late. Yawn…”

I yawned, trying to give him a hint.

But Nikolai didn’t budge an inch.

“Elizabeth. What magic are you working exactly?”

“…”

“What are you hiding from me?”

I couldn’t answer his continued questioning.

A faint sense of guilt washed over me.

I couldn’t reveal where I came from, what situation I was in, what abilities I had.

Even the name Elizabeth wasn’t really mine.

I couldn’t confess the reason I approached him, or why I wanted to make him a wise ruler.

Probably I’ll never be able to tell him in the future either.

Yet despite this, my feelings only grew deeper.

Who would believe that you alone are my true heart?

When even I am confused about myself.

“Your Majesty doesn’t reveal everything either. I’m the same.”

“Elizabeth.”

“Our relationship needs appropriate distance.”

“Are you saying we’ve just joined hands for our own interests?”

“That’s what contracts are, after all.”

Nikolai didn’t reply.

We knew the answer.

That though we waver with desire for a moment, get drunk on affection, and pine with longing, a deep cold river flows between us.

That we cannot easily cross that river.

“That’s right. You and I are just in a contractual relationship.”

Nikolai muttered to himself.

A sharp pain wrapped around my heart.

But it had to stop there.

“I’m sorry for disturbing you.”

“Sleep well.”

“I don’t know what you’re planning, but I’ll pray for your victory.”

Empress Rose Brandon held a tea party in the lilac garden.

Of course, she didn’t invite the empresses of lowly birth.

Only empresses from the four great noble families could drink tea served by maids in the lilac garden.

Rose showed off her diamond bracelet, flipping her auburn hair back.

But no one bothered to acknowledge her new bracelet.

Empress Cynthia Blackford was sitting upright, peering at a book.

Empress Freya Liman was blankly admiring the garden scenery, while Empress Emma Piper was busy hunching her shoulders and watching her surroundings nervously.

‘Bookworm, blank doll, timid fool… I’m clearly the only one fit to be empress!’

Rose chewed a butter cookie with a satisfied smile.

“Thank you for coming despite being busy.”

“Thank you for inviting us, Rose. The snacks are delicious today too.”

Emma was the only one being polite.

She was a small woman like a frightened squirrel, but better than Cynthia pretending to be smart or Freya lost in her own imagination.

“Emma’s chef was excellent too. The lavender jam cake was baked very well.”

Rose salivated.

She had gained weight lately, making it uncomfortable to tighten her corset.

But she couldn’t give up sweet snacks.

It was the only joy in her prison-like life as a consort.

“If we’re just going to talk about food again today, I’m leaving. I have a discussion meeting scheduled.”

Cynthia closed her book with a snap.

She stood up, fluttering her straight dark brown hair with the book tucked under her arm.

Emma spoke up instead of Rose, who was biting her lip.

“The host put in effort to invite us. Please stay, Cynthia.”

“Emma. There’s no need to try so hard to please Rose. Especially if you know the fate of House Brandon.”

Rose bristled at Cynthia’s words.

“Isn’t that a bit harsh, Cynthia?”

“I hear your brother is dueling that woman? Rumors are rampant not just in high society, but even in the marketplace.”

Tension filled the air at the words “that woman”.

Elizabeth’s name was practically taboo in the consorts’ quarters.

It was a disgrace to the consorts that the emperor’s favor was focused on her.

Even more so for the four empresses aiming to become empress.

“It’s fortunate the rumors are spreading. Our family will become the wealthiest in the empire!”

“The well-fed do not agonize, so the old saying is true.”

Cynthia frowned.

Rose was particularly irritated today by Cynthia’s skinny frame and collarbones protruding from her dress.

She wanted to slap her face right then, but had to show dignity as the future empress.

“Cynthia. It’s useless to pretend to be smart. Once that woman is driven out, Hartmann’s heart will be mine.”

“According to the law, a criminal’s daughter cannot become empress.”

“What?!”

“That woman was kidnapped, wasn’t she? Sadly, she returned alive. Who do you think the culprit is?”

“Are you implying our family is behind it?!”

“If you calculate who benefits from kidnapping that woman, the answer is obvious.”

“That’s absurd!”

“The criminals have been caught, so it’s only a matter of time before the truth comes out. I’ll pray that Rose isn’t imprisoned for guilt by association. Though I’m not sure my prayers will work.”

Cynthia left with those cold words.

Rose stamped her foot, unable to contain her anger.

“When I become empress, I’ll drive out Cynthia first!”

Emma tried to comfort her.

“Don’t worry, Rose. His Majesty wouldn’t persecute House Brandon without evidence.”

“Why would I worry? We’re innocent!”

“That’s not what I meant…”

“It must be that woman’s ploy. She’s desperately trying to get His Majesty’s attention with her lowly body.”

“She’s already monopolizing His Majesty’s attention, so why would she need to?”

Rose’s eyes bulged at Emma’s words.

“Whose side are you on, Emma! Did you forget we need to join forces to get rid of that woman?”

“Calm down, Rose. You could raise unnecessary suspicion.”

“What suspicion?”

“W-well…”

Emma just stuttered, unable to answer.

Freya, who had been twirling a blade of grass, tossed out a comment.

“The suspicion that Marquis Brandon is behind the kidnapping, what else?”

“Freya!”

“Don’t shout. That’s what public opinion says. I don’t know who created that opinion though.”

“You really have no manners at all.”

“So what? There’s no one here to be mindful of.”

Freya fiddled with her flowing golden hair.

Despite her rude behavior, her beauty shone like sunlight.

The other empresses were beauties in their own right, but Freya flaunted an unrivaled beauty like a living doll.

Beautiful Freya.

Wise Cynthia.

Elegant Emma.

Passionate Rose.

Rose couldn’t agree at all with the other empresses’ nicknames.

She didn’t like her own nickname either.

Because red hair had now become Elizabeth’s symbol rather than Rose’s.

‘That woman has taken everything from me. Father told me to stay quiet, but I can’t just ignore it!’

Just then, a maid whispered in her ear.

She said Elizabeth was walking in the Crown Prince’s palace garden with some girl.

“I’m sorry, but we’ll have to end the tea party now. I have an urgent matter to attend to.”

Rose announced without a hint of apology.

She was determined to trample on Elizabeth’s arrogant pride today.

Not imagining what was about to happen to herself from now on.