“Elizabeth has changed since a month ago?”

The Emperor’s office.

Nikolai tapped the armrest of the antique chair.

In front of him stood a man with a sturdy build and cold eyes.

It was Minister of Internal Affairs Careth.

“It was a severe fever that even healers gave up on treating. They say she completely changed after recovering. She quit parties, drinking, dating, everything.”

“Any possibility of the netherworld flower?”

“There were no symptoms of the netherworld flower – no red rashes shaped like petals, no strange fragrance, no coughing, no blood in the sputum.”

Nikolai knew better than anyone that Elizabeth had nothing to do with the netherworld flower.

Still, he wanted confirmation from others.

Though he wasn’t sure why he felt that way.

“No news from the temple? I heard there was a priest researching the netherworld flower.”

“You mean Cardinal Arkansas? Should I summon him?”

“No need. Rather, hurry with the Empress’s enthronement.”

“What if Miss Elizabeth refuses to the end?”

“Has anyone ever survived defying my orders?”

Even as he threatened death for disobedience, Nikolai looked bored.

His confidant Careth didn’t flinch either.

Such was the position of Emperor.

“Elizabeth’s chambers should be as close to my bedroom as possible. The concubines’ quarters are too far.”

For a moment, Careth’s eyes changed.

There had been countless Empresses, but it was the first time Nikolai had given such an order.

“You mean to bring her into the main palace?”

“Is there a problem?”

“A storm will blow in. There may even be bloodshed.”

“The Casanova Emperor is merely collecting beauties. Just like he’s always done.”

An inscrutable smile played on Nikolai’s lips.

He knew too.

That the seemingly peaceful imperial palace would be shaken.

And that Elizabeth would be at the center of that storm.

‘Some will survive, some will disappear without a trace. Some may even rise to noble positions.’

As if the mere thought gave him a headache, Careth rubbed his temples.

“The Noble Assembly will clamor to rush the Empress’s enthronement.”

“Too many rats coveting the position.”

“We can’t leave it vacant forever.”

“I decide who owns the Heart of Hartmann.”

The ruby tiara that only the Empress could wear.

Made of heart-shaped rubies and hundreds of diamonds, the tiara was called the “Heart of Hartmann.”

The Emperor used it to control the noble families.

Even knowing this, the nobles outwardly bowed their heads.

If one of the Empresses from the four great families became Empress, the precarious balance of power would crumble instantly.

Those blinded by power can’t stand others having more power than themselves.

‘To rule the country while wearing the mask of a playboy requires skill. Carrots for the flatterers, whips for the brigands.’

What would it take to possess Elizabeth?

To obtain that red, captivating silk mouse.

After Careth withdrew, a servant brought in chocolate cake.

Nikolai cut off a corner with his fork and brought it to his mouth.

The overly sweet chocolate cake was the only food he could taste.

“It’s sticky and heavy. Was it always like this?”

Nikolai licked his lips with his bright red tongue.

He was unaware that the sight was seductive enough to melt the hearts of many women.

He had tried to erase it many times, but Elizabeth’s lovely face kept invading his thoughts.

The mere memory brought the scent of cherry blossoms to his nose.

The flowing scarlet hair, hands white as carved jade, unfathomable black eyes kept swirling in his mind.

‘It wasn’t a kiss, it was an accident. Maybe it was that woman’s scheme.’

If it was a scheme, it was a great success.

Just remembering that kiss made his senses, hardened like charcoal, stir.

The sweetness that pierced his tongue, the freshness that cleared his blocked chest, the fragrance that blinded his eyes and deafened his ears.

How could he forget that ecstasy?

He wanted to possess her as soon as possible.

He wanted to ride to the Emster mansion and bring Elizabeth back, even if it meant being called a tyrant.

That was extremely displeasing to him.

“I’ve completely lost my self-control. Has the goddess’s wolf gone mad? Or have I?”

The veins on Nikolai’s hand bulged.

He couldn’t accept that someone could shake him like this.

It was all utterly unpleasant – that it was a woman, that this woman was refusing to be by his side.

Even the expectation that she might be his first and last hope for salvation was no comfort.

Nikolai glared at the contract bearing Elizabeth’s handprint with burning eyes.

But only for a moment. After hesitating, he pressed his lips to the small handprint.

He inhaled deeply.

It was impossible, but he seemed to smell strawberries and cherry blossom jam.

The brief night he spent with Elizabeth once again tangled his reason.

“Your Majesty will never understand my heart. Because you gladly accepted death. In fact, you were waiting for it, weren’t you? For someone to kill you.”

Tears formed in those pitch-black eyes and dripped onto Nikolai’s chest.

It soaked through instantly, chillingly cold.

How had Elizabeth seen through him so clearly?

The true feelings he had never spoken to anyone.

Nikolai bit his lip.

“Send a messenger to the Emster mansion. Tell her if she doesn’t enter the palace tomorrow, I’ll consider the contract void.”

Nikolai commanded sternly.

Forgetting he was preciously holding the contract with the small handprint.

***

“Another special privilege?”

Unable to bear the shock, I fell on my backside.

There was no time to feel the pain.

Everything around was filled with white light.

It seemed as if time and even the flow of air had stopped.

“Through the eyes of Morasinsia, goddess of healing, you can detect illness. When you wear the divine object, Morasinsia’s eyes will activate.”

I looked around. Nothing was visible.

It was a world without Bluetooth speakers or CCTV.

The unknown being that had given Elizabeth this life had appeared again.

“You, what are you? Why are you doing this to me?”

I asked, holding my spinning head.

The white light was gentle and soft, but it spoke only what it needed to say.

“Will you accept? Or refuse?”

Could I handle the divine object? What would happen if I refused?

My head felt like it would burst from the sudden, bewildering choice.

“I ask for the last time. Will you accept? Or refuse?”

The white light urged.

I squeezed my eyes shut.

“I’ll take it! Koreans never back down!”

Throb. A sharp pain was felt inside my chest.

I spoke boldly, but I couldn’t ignore the voice inside.

‘You’re shamelessly accepting another privilege? Do you deserve to be called a righteous deceased? You who can’t even survive on your own!’

My harshest critic was always myself.

But now was not the time to wallow in self-loathing.

The choice was already made.

“The righteous deceased has accepted the first divine object. If you fail to find the second divine object, all privileges will disappear.”

The white light declared.

Smacking me firmly on the back of the head.

“S-second divine object?”

“If the privileges disappear, the soul of the righteous deceased will be returned to the previous world.”

“You should have said that from the start! What happens when you send back a dead soul?”

“It returns to nothingness.”

My heartbeat pounded in my eardrums.

The air seemed to thin, and all the blood vessels in my body felt constricted.

“Main characters get all sorts of buffs when they return, so why am I like this? If this was going to happen, why did you save me? When do I have to find the second divine object?!”

I shouted until my throat was raw, but the white light had already disappeared.

I collapsed onto the dust-covered floor.

I stared at Morasinsia’s eyes. No, at another curse threatening my life.

I couldn’t even avoid the guillotine ending, and now a soul annihilation flag!

Dizziness and nausea hit me simultaneously.

“Elizabeth! Are you alright?”

Douglas supported me.

His complexion was paler than mine, who had been scammed by that damn being.

“There’s a legend that carelessly touching divine objects is harmful. It’s my fault Elizabeth collapsed…!”

“The choice was mine.”

“Pardon?”

“Douglas. Did you hear that voice?”

“Voice? There’s only you and me here.”

Even though he was right next to me, Douglas hadn’t noticed anything.

A glimmer of hope peeked out.

‘Maybe it was an auditory hallucination. My body’s weakened from insomnia and stress.’

With trembling hands, I picked up the monocle that had fallen to the floor.

I put the monocle on my ear and clasped my hands together with desperate hope.

My eyelashes fluttered from the tension.

“Elizabeth?”

Douglas called worriedly.

“Shh! I need to check something.”

I covered Douglas’s mouth and carefully opened my eyes.

Nothing had changed.

I cheered without realizing.

“Thank goodness! This is just a box, and that’s just a window!”

The familiar sights of this world I’d grown accustomed to were lovely.

Yes. It was all hallucination and auditory hallucination.

Tonight I’ll replenish my energy with boiled duck and fried chicken!

“Just a dead bug, just a mouse skull! See, there’s no such thing as divine objects in this world!”

There was no way I’d look normal to Douglas, being happy about bug carcasses and mouse bones.

“You must have hit your head when you fell.”

“I’m healthier and more normal than ever…!”

I couldn’t finish my sentence.

The white light I thought had disappeared was illuminating the area below Douglas’s chest.

“No way. It can’t be!”

The white light gradually became transparent, faintly illuminating Douglas’s skeleton and internal organs.

In my panic, I tried to tear off the monocle.

But it wouldn’t budge, as if stuck to my face.

Closing my eyes was no use.

Beneath my black eyelids, Douglas’s internal organs became increasingly clear.

While still alive and moving!

‘What’s that dark red spot on his stomach? It seems ominous.’

Staring at the spot I couldn’t ignore, I asked.

“Douglas. Do you have any stomach problems?”

“You must have heard from Susan. There’s no need to worry. It’s much better now.”

“Better? It’s gotten worse.”

“!”

“You must have felt stabbing pains at night. Your stomach always churning, food not going down well.”

“No, how did you know?”

Douglas asked as if possessed.

How could I explain? Would he even believe me if I did?

Morasinsia’s eyes showed in detail where the illness was, what symptoms there were, how it would progress.

I didn’t want to believe it either. I just wanted to cry.

It was no coincidence that the image of a delicately handsome man, as if painted stroke by stroke, came to mind.

“If you want to cry, cry your heart out. I’m not going anywhere.”

How long would those words hold true?

I wanted to ask Nikolai.

Though I didn’t expect to reunite with him so soon.

***

“What kind of outrageous act is this, Your Majesty?”

I glared at Nikolai sitting on the luxurious imperial throne, filled with contempt.

I didn’t care one bit about the crime of insulting the Emperor.

Nikolai didn’t even blink at the sight of me tied up with ropes.

What’s with that pleased-looking smirk on his face?

“Was your journey here uncomfortable?”

“You see me like this and that’s what you ask?”

“There seems to be a small misunderstanding.”

“You kidnap an innocent person and call it a misunderstanding?”

“Is a husband missing his wife a crime?”