‘It’s certainly reassuring to have him on my side, but…’
As I remembered the reality of my situation, I couldn’t help but wonder.
‘Can my bloodline and abilities really offset my weaknesses?’
I definitely had abilities. Moreover, I was the legitimate daughter of the Emperor.
However, my gender and the black hair I was born with had always been weaknesses I carried since birth.
‘I’m sure the nobles will attack my weaknesses just like Fritz did.’
Just as Fritz, who felt inferior to me, had clung to my black hair, the nobles would probably bring up my qualifications and attack me.
Therefore, I needed a justification strong enough to overcome this weakness.
‘Of course, I have some ideas in mind that I could present…’
<Tsk, how did the imperial family end up with such a dirty color?>
<And yet, they have the audacity to act like they know their place? Honestly, it’s laughable. >
Imagining their fierce backlash if I declared I would become Emperor, my head started to ache again.
As I unconsciously frowned at that moment—
“Are you okay?”
Erich looked at me with a concerned expression once more.
“Ah, I’m fine. I just felt a bit dizzy from the motion sickness.”
As I tried to brush it off lightly, Erich spoke again.
“Are you still worried about what the prince said?”
His question felt as if he could see right through me, and I looked at him in surprise.
“How did you…”
Erich let out a small sigh, then looked at me with his blue eyes and continued speaking.
“Do you remember what I told you before?”
“What… ah.”
<People think that black hair is inferior because it’s associated with the people of the north, but that’s a misconception. In this continent, black hair was a symbol of greatness, possessed by the most superior being.>
I suddenly remembered his words about the possibility that the first emperor had black hair.
And…
<I’ve always thought your hair was beautiful. It’s like the night sky.>
At the same time, the embarrassing compliment he had given me resurfaced.
As I stood there, speechless and dazed, Erich spoke in a calm voice.
“Judging a person’s worth by the color of their hair is merely a prejudice created by humans. It’s something that can be changed.”
His blue eyes were fixed on me.
Then, a resolute voice flowed from him.
“So, don’t consider your hair a weakness.”
I was engulfed in shock, as if I had been struck.
The reason I had been so fixated on my hair was that I believed it to be an unchangeable, immutable weakness.
But upon reflection, his words were indeed correct.
‘Perceptions can be changed; that’s true.’
I finally voiced what had been stuck inside me for so long.
“Thank you. You’ve helped me come to my senses.”
Erich’s eyes widened in surprise at my words.
He then smiled gently, his eyes sparkling.
“It’s nothing. I was just stating the truth.”
His nonchalant tone made my heart race and flutter again, unknowingly.
At the same time, the question that had arisen earlier came back to me.
Before my regression, I wondered why he had chased after me.
‘Maybe he was worried about me and the child and wanted to help…’
But that thought was fleeting.
“Only three days left now. I’ll help to ensure there are no setbacks.”
I felt my excited heart sink at Erich’s words.
‘Right, this contract was originally made to lift the stigma placed on his family during the state council meeting.’
The reality that I had been avoiding hit me like a ton of bricks.
At the same time, I recalled an important fact.
‘Now is not the time to think about other things. The state council meeting comes first.’
The issues to be discussed at the state council meeting included Fritz’s dismissal, the election of a new heir, and the legal battle between the Marquis of Arzen and the Duke of Blant regarding my attempted murder.
‘I need to prepare thoroughly. Reinhardt and my uncle are sure to cause trouble. And Erich…’
After all, my relationship with Erich would end with a divorce.
There was no need to dwell on the past.
I clenched my fist tightly.
‘Yes, even if there’s a misunderstanding, I must never…’
Clunk!
“Ah!”
The carriage lurched violently, as if it had hit a rock.
As a result, my body lost in thought lurched forward.
“Are you okay?”
Thanks to Erich quickly catching me, I avoided falling awkwardly.
However, from my perspective, it would have been if I had just fallen over.
‘He’s too close.’
Normally, it would be difficult to do just one thing, but Erich, with his exceptional physical abilities, was able to hold Demian in his right arm and pull me close with his left hand.
Thud. Thud. Thud.
As my heart began to race again, rendering my earlier resolve meaningless, I hurriedly said, “I-it’s okay now, so could you let go of my arm…”
At that moment, perhaps awakened by the vibrations, Demian opened his eyes groggily.
“Wow!”
Soon, Demian wrapped his small, fern-like hands around both Erich and me.
“Mom and Dad both hugged Demian. I’m so happy.”
Since my child was under such an illusion, I couldn’t just push him away.
What made it even more maddening was that the damn carriage kept jolting along.
Erich cautiously said to me, “It seems that since we’re on a mountain road, some animals must have moved some rocks around. I know it’s uncomfortable, but please bear with it for a little while.”
Since I couldn’t refuse that, I had no choice but to nod.
‘What on earth could have done this?’
Though I was now stuck and unable to move, I felt more affected by Erich’s face and the fact that I was pressed against his solid body than by the discomfort of my position.
Moreover, the gentle encouragement he had given me earlier was shaking my resolve.
‘Right, they say that focusing on flaws can diminish affection, don’t they?’
For that reason, I tried to find flaws in his face, but…
‘Damn it, that handsome face has no defects!’
The more I looked, the more strange thoughts kept creeping in.
And my heart raced even more.
‘I must not get carried away. He’s just helping me successfully complete the state council meeting.’
Feeling that even a moment of distraction would lead to a strange expression on my face, I tightened the muscles in my face and thought,
‘I need to go into the room as soon as we get out of the carriage.’
☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓 ☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓
A little while ago, there had been an unexpected incident, but as the carriage left the mountain road, it became eerily quiet.
“I think it’s okay now, so I’ll go back to my seat.”
With those stiff words, Cornelia quickly pulled away from Erich.
Unknowingly, Erich looked at his own hands.
‘If you knew my true feelings, you would despise me, wouldn’t you?’
The years they had spent as a couple were not short.
However, during that time, Erich had never once held Cornelia in his arms.
This was because he feared that the moment he embraced her, he would lose control of his feelings.
And as expected, the moment he wrapped his arms around her fragile body, Erich felt a fierce desire.
A base desire to consume everything about this beautiful being and to feel the warmth deep within her.
So, during the time she was in his embrace, Erich wished the carriage would continue to shake.
And just as she was about to pull away from him, he instinctively reached out to pull her back into his arms.
‘I shouldn’t be greedy for you…’
After getting closer to Cornelia under the pretense of a divorce, Erich had tried to treat her well without being greedy.
However, contrary to his thoughts, his desires were growing larger.
- State Council Meeting
When the carriage arrived at the mansion, Erich got out first and helped Demian down.
“I’m sleepy.”
Was it because they had been out for so long? Demian was clearly showing signs of fatigue.
Seeing this, Cornelia spoke to Erich.
“I’m fine, so please take the child to the room first…”
At that moment, Demian shouted.
“I want to go with Jan!”
Seeing the child run toward Janet, both of them sighed for different reasons.
Eventually, Erich reached out his hand to Cornelia.
Though she had never held Erich’s hand before, since their agreement, she had consistently taken his hand.
This time as well, Cornelia grasped Erich’s hand.
“Thank you.”
Although it was blocked by gloves, the warmth and sensation of her hand beyond them were vivid.
Erich felt his heart racing once again.
And he couldn’t help but feel regret that he had to let go of this hand.
“Cornelia, if you’re okay with it, would you like to…”
He intended to suggest having dinner together, but…
“Then I’ll go to my room.”
Before he could finish his sentence, Cornelia turned to return to her room without a hint of hesitation.
As Erich watched her retreating figure, he forced a wry smile.
Beeee-!
Suddenly, a hawk’s cry pierced the air.
It was a hawk from Heit.
Erich stretched out his arm to land the hawk, then checked the message.
[The task you entrusted has been successfully completed. Sardin is also expected to return after completing his mission.]
Recalling Cornelia’s earlier words, Erich remembered her expression, which darkened whenever the topic of her hair came up.
<How did you…>
For a long time, Cornelia had suffered because of her weakness.
Although Erich always thought her hair was beautiful, people’s perceptions were different.
‘Becoming an emperor won’t be easy. But…’
Erich’s eyes gleamed fiercely.
‘From now on, you won’t have to suffer anymore. I’ll take care of everything that’s in your way.’
