“…Do you hate Roterra, or do you hate me? Or is it that being an emperor is burdensome for you?”

Renesha spoke slowly. It was a phrase that pierced Lexus’s heart like a sharp needle. Lexus widened his eyes. It felt as if his chest was being stabbed with a sharp needle.
“Do you feel like you’re being evaluated when standing in front of Roterra? Do you understand the feelings of a scolded child who didn’t do their homework?”

Lexus’s hand slipped.

“Shall I praise you? Shall I acknowledge that you’re doing well?”

“Shut up.”

Lexus gritted his teeth.

“Before I tear your mouth apart.”

“Do you think doing that will ease your mind? It would be more comfortable to kill me. You won’t be able to torment Your Majesty any longer.”

Renesha threw a cold gaze at Lexus on a chilly spring day.

“If that’s what you desire, yes. Go ahead. It wouldn’t be bad if it all ends when I die. After my death, you won’t be able to torment my people anymore.”

“….”

Instead, Lexus stepped back. With an uneasy expression, he looked around Renesha.

His mind tangled. His heart pounded anxiously. Kill Renesha? Was that even possible? Many times he had contemplated it, but he couldn’t bring himself to execute it.

“Tell me honestly, Your Majesty.”

Renesha whispered.

“Do you love me? Is that why you look at me with such a longing expression?”

Lexus held his breath.

“Rather, ask me to love you.”

It felt like his throat was closing. Lexus’s vision turned white. Renesha took a step towards Lexus. The situation reversed.

“Kneel under your feet and beg for love. Who knows, I might grant your wish if I change my mind.”

It was that moment.

A red, smooth snake inserted itself between Renesha and Lexus. Sssht. The snake extended its sharp fangs with its mouth wide open.

Golden eyes gleamed.

‘Cassius!’

The air changed again. Renesha stepped back, pushed aside by Cassius. Where did he hear it from?

Renesha rubbed her eyes. Why was the timing so bad today? If Cassius had returned after Lexus had been expelled, they might have spent the planned enjoyable time together.

Cassius threatened Lexus.

Fortunately, in Hientry, she couldn’t kill the snake.

Lexus’s expression also changed. The emotion-filled expression subsided. With a face that revealed nothing, Lexus opened his lips. Renesha swallowed her breath in tension.

“F***ing pathetic love. Did I say it was love, Renesha? That I love you.”

Lexus opened his eyes wide.

“I hate you. I hate you to death! I hate that I can’t kill you, and I hate that I can’t abandon you. Why did you appear in front of me and beg for your life? I should have let you die! I shouldn’t have trapped myself in this annoying restraint. I shouldn’t have opened that door. I shouldn’t have given warmth to the hungry one! Why did I do that to a leech who didn’t even know what human emotions were!”

Lexus shouted hysterically. Beyond Cassius, Lexus stared intensely at Renesha.
“So, it’s all your fault. Roterra’s death is your fault, our conflict is your fault, and everything happening now is your fault!”

That’s why we’re standing together in misery. Renesha laughed bitterly.

“I shouldn’t have opened the door.”

Lexus stiffened at Renesha’s indifferent words.

“Ha……”

“You shouldn’t have begged for mercy.”

It was a cold death sentence. Lexus’s desperate and intense confession was instantly dismissed. Without a hint of hesitation. It felt like all the energy had evaporated. Lexus’s body trembled.

Staggering, he left the room. The tense atmosphere, as if a storm had passed, filled the room. The courtier hurriedly closed the door. Then, Cassius moved his massive body to surround Renesha.

Cassius looked at Renesha, tilting his head.

“……It’s okay.”

Renesha reached out to Cassius.

“Cassius.”

Only then did the frozen Cassius nuzzle his nose against Renesha’s palm.

“It was nothing.”

Cassius nodded in response.

It was nothing.

Lexus meant nothing to Renesha. Really? Renesha smiled slowly with a tired face.

“Hug me for a moment. It’s too cold and dark here.”

Cassius had no choice but to obey the command.

Setting aside hesitation and embarrassment, Cassius returned to being human. Seeing him bare, Renesha chuckled lightly.

“So, that’s why you were embarrassed.”

“…I wasn’t embarrassed.”

Abruptly speaking, Cassius reached out his arms towards Renesha. With a warm heat, his body enveloped Renesha.

Leaning into his embrace, Renesha rested her head.

“Just stay like this for a moment. Just a moment.”

Late at night, fate began to move again.

The Canaria’s childbirth had begun.

It was two months earlier than expected. The courtiers anxiously roamed around her palace.

Everyone’s attention was focused here.

Even the emperor’s courtier continued to visit Canaria’s room.

“Aaaaaah!”

A scream of pain, a desperate voice of the midwife and doctor. Intertwined with it was the crying of a baby.

Finally.

“It’s the Crown Prince! The Crown Prince is born!”

A frenzied shout burst through the door. And that voice reached everyone who was gathered. Canaria safely gave birth to the Crown Prince. This news spread towards the Imperial Island in the early morning.