The Stand-In Empress's Wedding Night (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 12
“Huh?!”
I was so startled that my body, which had been lying on the bed, bounced into the air and then dropped back down.
The bed shook violently from the motion, jostling even Emperor Rinel.
He raised one eyebrow and teased, “Exactly. Just like my body is shaking now, it felt that way back then too.”
“…….”
“It felt like a wave engulfed by heat was surging deep inside me. I distinctly sensed that warmth… Could that really have been an illusion?”
Had I been too forward during our wedding night?
But no—I’d just lain there like a corpse, completely still.
Ah, now that I think about it, the moment his body touched mine, the fire burning within me cooled instantly. So maybe, just for a brief moment, I had been a little eager.
Emperor Rinel’s eyes, brimming with yearning, remained fixed on my face.
What should I do now?
Should I casually slip out of my nightgown and suggest checking again whether it truly was an illusion?
Or should I turn off the lamp first?
“But I won’t force myself on you.”
At Emperor Rinel’s solemn voice, both of my hands—reaching simultaneously toward the straps of my nightgown and the lamp—froze mid-motion.
Whoa, I almost made a complete fool of myself!
“…Your Majesty.”
“I’m serious. That’s truly how I feel. Whether my body will cooperate is another matter.”
The desire that had shone in his eyes just moments before had softened considerably.
“Though I can do nearly anything I please in the Lapion Empire—or rather, the entire Northern Continent—I don’t wish to treat my wife that way.”
Surprisingly, his words rang with sincerity.
It was astonishing that an emperor holding absolute power held such thoughts.
Whether he could uphold that resolve was another question entirely.
“I’ve also always wanted someone by my side whom I must treat with care and respect—someone I can’t just boss around.”
Suddenly, Emperor Rinel began to look endearing.
His earnest words stirred an impulse inside me to immediately shed the thin nightgown I wore.
Not that I actually intended to do it, but I was genuinely moved by what he’d said.
His being such a good man… only made my position as a proxy empress sadder.
Unconsciously, I lowered my head.
A few seconds later, his large hand settled gently on the back of my head.
“I won’t treat you carelessly, but honestly—I don’t plan on exercising much patience either.”
I looked up again at his confession-like words.
He kept his hand resting atop my head, just as priests do during blessings, and smiled.
“Of course, I’ll ask for your permission first. But still… hmm, I should warn you ahead of time…”
He whispered into my ear as if sharing a top-secret.
“I’m a man with damnably poor patience. Please keep that in mind.”
“…Noted. Thank you.”
I replied, biting down firmly on my lower lip.
“For tonight, let’s substitute with that.”
He gestured toward my hand with his eyes.
“…Huh?”
Substitute what with my hand?
My eyes darted around uncertainly.
Emperor Rinel withdrew the hand he’d extended toward me and gave me a sidelong glance.
“What, can’t even do that?”
“No, I’m not sure what you mean… but alright.”
“Really? But Empress, why do you keep dropping your gaze?”
Exactly—I wonder why my eyes keep doing that.
“And why are your eyes so wide open? Is there something you’re checking for in here?”
He poked the blanket covering us with his finger.
“No, it’s not that…”
His joke—utterly mismatched with his deep, resonant voice—left me completely speechless.
Even I couldn’t understand why my eyes kept wandering to random places, just as he’d pointed out.
In a gesture of contrition, I pinched my own eyes shut tightly with two fingers.
At that, Emperor Rinel’s chuckles sounded repeatedly beside me.
“Empress, you nearly caused a major incident just now.”
“…Why?”
“While your eyes were closed, my resolve almost changed.”
He ran his fingers roughly through his hair and muttered in frustration.
“So please, stop doing things like that.”
Things like that? Like what?
Why did the Emperor look so pained over something I’d done?
It wasn’t that he looked angry—but neither did he look pleased.
“Just let me keep my promise for tonight, at least.”
His promise? Ah, perhaps…
“I have no intention of forcing myself on you.”
Was that it?
“Don’t ask for details.”
Emperor Rinel warned firmly.
“Don’t be curious. And absolutely don’t try to verify anything.”
He shifted his hips slightly, creating a bit more distance between us.
“…Huh?”
“Let’s just sleep quietly tonight.”
He mumbled softly, almost as if speaking to himself.
“Come.”
Emperor Rinel abruptly extended his hand again, just as he had earlier.
“As I said before, I’ll be content with this tonight.”
His tone was as solemn as if reciting a formal decree.
I placed my hand gently onto his palm, just as he wanted.
“Your Majesty… are we really just going to sleep holding hands?”
At my words, he responded immediately.
Nod nod.
…So it really was true.
“You look disappointed? Seeing that, I’d say you’re not as innocent as you seem, Empress.”
He smirked teasingly.
“I don’t understand what you’re implying at all.”
I played innocent naturally.
I hadn’t expected anything in particular—but I honestly hadn’t anticipated we’d truly sleep just holding hands.
“You’re also terribly bad at lying.”
“…….”
He lightly brushed my cheek and let out a soft snicker.
“Let’s lie down now.”
We slid back down onto the bed side by side.
He slipped our clasped hands beneath the blanket and repeatedly squeezed and released them.
It almost felt as if he were giving my hand an acupressure treatment.
After a few minutes passed, he called out to me.
“Empress… no, Zelda…”
My name.
Spoken in a sweet voice.
Hearing my name from Emperor Rinel’s lips felt strangely moving.
When I didn’t answer immediately, he turned toward me.
“This feels much better. From now on, I’ll call you by name when we’re alone.”
His smiling face was far too close.
“Let’s address each other by name whenever it’s just the two of us. What do you think?”
“Are you saying… I should call you by your name too, Your Majesty?”
“Yes. You, Zelda, are now the only person in the world who may call me by my name.”
After all, both his father, the late emperor, and his mother had passed away before Emperor Rinel even turned twenty—there was no one left who could address him so familiarly.
“I can’t even remember the last time I heard someone call my name.”
“Rinel…”
I don’t know where the courage came from, but I called out to him without a hint of hesitation.
I spoke his name as naturally as if I’d always addressed him that way.
“What?”
“Rinel.”
“What did you say?”
He kept repeating the question—not as if he hadn’t heard, but as if savoring the sound.
“Why do you keep pretending not to hear me, Rinel?”
“Haha… hahaha!”
This time, he burst into laughter.
I couldn’t fathom what in my words had struck him as funny.
But seeing him in such a good mood made me happy too.
Though he acted bashful—as if hearing his own name were some teenage confession—he kept urging me to say it again.
“Go on.”
“Rinel, aren’t you tired?”
“Does that mean you’re tired and want me to stop?”
Indeed, he was a remarkably perceptive man.
“You’re a wise ruler.”
I replied with feigned admiration.
“Zelda.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
The moment I addressed him formally again, he shot me a quick, reproachful glance.
“Oh—Rinel.”
I hastily called him by name again, and he twitched his lips before looking up at the ceiling.
After a brief pause, he spoke to me in a serious tone.
“I like your name. I’m growing fond of it.”
“My name? You’re growing fond of my name?”
Not me—just my name?
His phrasing felt oddly ambiguous, so I asked again.
Rinel merely chuckled enigmatically and reiterated that he was indeed growing fond of it.
Could it be… that he meant me and not just my name?
For a fleeting moment, a vain hope fluttered through my mind like a spring breeze.
But that couldn’t possibly be true—surely he was just saying it casually.
I quietly nodded to myself, gathering my scattered thoughts.
Though the night deepened, our pointless chatter showed no sign of ending.
Just as our words began to dwindle, he murmured drowsily, like in a dream.
“Zelda… sleeping with you isn’t cold at all. It’s truly strange…”
His sleep-laden voice swirled warmly inside my chest.
Moments later, his relaxed breathing tickled my ear.
I cautiously turned my head—and found him already asleep, a gentle smile on his lips.
“When I’m with you, this body that felt like it was thrown into flames finally cools down. I wish I could keep falling asleep this peacefully with you…”
I whispered softly, watching him, and soon drifted off myself.
I could feel our clasped hands being gently pulled by him out from under the blanket.
Was I half-asleep?
Or was I really feeling Rinel’s heartbeat against my palm…?
Probably just an illusion.
[This is the timeline separator]When I opened my eyes in the morning, Rinel had already risen and left the bedroom—as usual.
“Your Imperial Majesty, did you sleep well?”
Sharon greeted me with a much brighter expression than yesterday, carefully observing my complexion.
She clearly knew that Rinel had spent the night in my chamber.
Sharon cast a brief, cautious glance toward his empty spot beside me before speaking carefully.
“His Majesty instructed not to wake you, as you were sleeping soundly.”
“I see. But next time, please wake me up anyway. I overslept again and couldn’t see him off—just like on our first day.”
Imagining Rinel gazing down at me while I slept obliviously made my cheeks burn.
“Yes, I shall do as you say, Your Imperial Majesty.”
Sharon replied cheerfully.
“By the way, Sharon—do you like your new quarters?”
“Yes! But it’s far too generous for someone like me!”
Last night, I’d moved Sharon from the servants’ dormitory to a room in the imperial palace reserved for handmaidens—the one closest to my own bedroom.
“I don’t know how I can ever repay your kindness, Your Imperial Majesty.”
“You’ve earned it. If you ever need anything, just tell me. I’ll help however I can.”
“I’m already more than satisfied! Thank you so much!”
Sharon’s face, beaming with joy, quickly turned solemn again.
“Um… Your Imperial Majesty…”
“Yes?”
“Grand Duke Martines has requested an audience.”
“Grand Duke again?”
What could that man possibly want today?
At my question, Sharon let out a flustered “Uh-uh—” and, realizing she’d missed part of her report, quickly flipped open the notebook she held.
“He requested to see both you and His Majesty together.”
“What? With the Emperor and me?”
“Yes, that’s exactly how it was conveyed. Shall I go confirm with Secretary Raphael?”
“No, it’s fine. If that’s the official report, it must be correct.”
Sigh—I already felt uneasy just thinking about the three of us meeting together.
“Alright… we’ll meet him together, then.”
I steeled myself and sat up from the bed.
Gurgle—
My empty stomach growled right on cue.
“Your Imperial Majesty, I’ll have breakfast served before your shower.”
I nodded in appreciation—Sharon truly was an exceptional attendant.
“Yes, that sounds good.”
I patted my stomach with an embarrassed smile.
One hour later.
I’d finished the hearty breakfast Sharon had prepared and completed my shower.
“The meeting with His Majesty and the Grand Duke is in the afternoon—what’s on your schedule for the morning?”
I asked Sharon as I sat at my vanity.
“Oh dear! I got so caught up reporting the day’s most important event that I momentarily forgot your morning schedule!”
Sharon tapped her head with her fist and hurriedly pulled a notebook from her dress pocket.
I chuckled at her flustered expression and turned fully toward her in my vanity chair.
“You have a tea time in the reception room with noble young ladies this morning. It might be a good opportunity to observe whether any of them would suit becoming your new handmaiden.”
“Hmm… tea time with noble ladies… How many are attending?”
“Fifteen young ladies have been invited to the Empress’s quarters today.”
“Are those same young ladies I saw in my bedroom yesterday attending too?”
“Yes—they’re on the list.”
“I see.”
I nodded and adjusted my posture, looking back into the mirror.
“I’ll now summon the attendants who will do your hair and makeup.”
“Alright, go ahead.”
Sharon quickly opened the bedroom door and ushered in two waiting attendants.
She proudly introduced the first.
“Your Imperial Majesty, this is Solie—she comes from a family of imperial gardeners. Her great-great-grandfather cultivated and pruned the palace gardens, and this tradition has continued for generations. Though trained in landscaping, Solie shows even greater talent in hairstyling.”
Listening to Sharon’s praise, I extended my hand to Solie.
“Pleased to meet you, Solie. That’s a truly precious talent.”
“You flatter me, Your Imperial Majesty! I shall serve you wholeheartedly!”
Solie kissed the back of my hand with a simple, honest smile.
“I’ll leave my hair entirely to you—treat it like a tree and style it as boldly as you wish.”
At my words, Solie’s face brightened even more.
“And this is Deresa, who will handle your makeup. She hails from a family of artists—she treats makeup like painting. Especially skilled is her ability to blend colors to create lipsticks unlike any in the world.”
“Oh, Deresa sounds wonderful too. Please paint my plain face like a masterpiece.”
“I—I shall do my utmost to make you the most beautiful and elegant woman in the Lapion Empire, Your Imperial Majesty!”
“I’m looking forward to it.”
I smiled softly and nodded at Deresa’s enthusiastic eyes.
As yesterday, I wore a dress Sharon had personally selected—and once again, I was amazed by her impeccable taste.
The three attendants conferred seriously about which hairstyle and makeup would best complement my dress, occasionally checking in with me.
Did I really need to appoint new handmaidens?
With such specialized experts already handling my clothes, hair, and makeup?
As they worked on me, I pondered this question earnestly.
“It’s all finished, Your Imperial Majesty.”
At Sharon’s words, I rose from my vanity chair and stood before the full-length mirror.
“Oh my—had I known you’d look this stunning!”
“You’re breathtaking!”
“Forgive my boldness, but you look far, far more magnificent than you did at your wedding!”
They circled around me, showering me with endless compliments.
Even I had to agree—the aura I now radiated was undeniably different.
In the mirror stood no longer Zelda von Trova, the former bath attendant of the Shattonil Kingdom.
This was Zelda Gadion Edpa—the Empress of the Lapion Empire.
Suddenly, I remembered the one person I wanted to show this refined new self to—more than anyone.
Rinel… what was he doing right now?
But before I could see him, I had to attend the tea time with the noble ladies.
Knock knock knock—
A servant outside the door announced Sharon was needed.
She asked my permission and stepped out of the room.
Minutes later, she returned—not with her earlier bright smile, but pale-faced and shaken.
“Sharon, what happened?”
“Y-Your Imperial Majesty… you must go quickly to the reception room—the tea time venue.”
“Why? Are the young ladies impatiently urging us to hurry?”
I approached the visibly distressed Sharon.
“N-No, it’s not that…”
She hesitated, her eyes pained and uncertain.
“What’s going on?”
A bad feeling hit me instantly.
When I frowned slightly, Sharon spoke in a subdued voice.
“At the tea party… there are… candidates meant to become His Majesty’s concubines…”
Male lead fell into her trap — and shattered when she walked away
This is also on my reread list!
This one is a slow burn, but when it burns, it burns hard.
Definitely worth a read, y’all!
The story follows a thousand-year-old seductive spirit who, on a bet, sets out to charm the male lead—a once-promising but unfortunate cultivator.
But just when she succeeds in making him fall for her, she heartlessly leaves, driving him to madness.
Determined to find her at all costs, he captures her, keeping her by his side no matter what, even if she hates him.
I love this kind of trope—I enjoy watching the male lead suffer in agony.
The ending drags a bit with unnecessary filler, but that’s fine.
As long as I enjoy the beginning, I’m good.
Intro
As an enchantress, Su Heng possesses captivating eyes and charming beauty, easily manipulating the joys and sorrows of living beings at her fingertips.
But to enchant a god, making him taste the bitterness of love’s separation, long-lasting resentment, unattainable desires, and inability to let go…
Do you dare?
Su Heng assists a divine lord in his cultivation, aiming to make him experience all the sufferings of love, so that he can attain the Great Dao.
Only after being chased down from the heavens by the divine lord, confined and completely possessed by him, does she realize how successful she has been.
The once gentle and polite youth has transformed into someone she no longer recognizes.
[Touch the gear icon in the bottom right corner of the screen to move to the next chapter if you want.]
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