I Would Rather Marry The Black Beast Than Become an Empress

“Episode 2”

“Her Majesty sent another carriage. It’s been consistent for ten years.”
Aris felt alive only when he smelled the deep fragrance of the tea Patrick had sent. The specially ordered blend of tea to commemorate their marriage was evidence that Patrick still thought of Aris.
“Her Majesty is a kind person.”
Aris murmured as he touched the jewelry he wore on his body. They were all jewels crafted by artisans under Patrick’s commission.
“It’s almost the full moon.”
The thought of seeing Patrick somewhat improved Aris’s mood.
“Tomorrow, Her Majesty will come to the Imperial Palace, so please go to bed early.”
“Yeah…”
The Queen must have come believing in some strange slander again and was determined to give Aris some odd task. She had done so several times already. But there had never been any positive outcomes.
“It would be nice if she just passed by quietly this time.”
Aris’s voice sounded lonely.

As expected, the Queen’s expression was not good. However, it was a little different from usual. The Queen grabbed Aris’s arm and headed straight for the chamber.
“Your Majesty, this is the Empress’s chamber!”
Lady-in-waiting Anna tried to stop her, but the Queen was relentless.
“It’s urgent! It’s none of Lady-in-waiting’s business, so don’t interfere with anyone!”
Under the Queen’s authoritarian attitude, Aris signaled to Anna with his eyes to follow her. It seemed that this was no ordinary matter. With a bang, the door to the chamber closed, leaving only the two of them alone. Aris looked at his mother’s face. The Queen glared at Aris with a fierce gaze as if her heart was about to burst because of him.
“My goodness…?”
“What have you been eating every day?”
“What?”
Aris widened his eyes in confusion, not understanding the question, but the Queen grabbed Aris’s hand forcefully, as if possessed by something.
“What have you been eating?”
There was madness in the Queen’s eyes. Pressed by her forceful demeanor, Aris couldn’t even think about how painful her grip was.
“Since you became the Empress… Haven’t you been eating the same thing every day? Think about it. There must be something.”
The Queen’s expression was too serious, so Aris couldn’t ask why she was acting like this.

“Your Majesty.”

Aris’s eyes, clutching Patrick’s sleeve as they entered the chamber, were clouded with tears. The Aris who always greeted with a smile seemed as though he might cry at any moment.

“Aris? What’s wrong?”

Patrick gently took Aris’s hand, concern evident in his tender gaze. Seeing Aris’s tearful eyes, Aris’s sorrow seemed to deepen, and tears streamed down his cheeks.

“Your Majesty, someone… someone has… interfered with my reign.”

Patrick’s eyebrows furrowed. It was natural for him to be skeptical.

“Is that true? Her Majesty found out. There was infertility medicine in the tea she sent down for you! Someone, someone wicked, knew that I drink tea every day and spiked it with infertility medicine!”

“Aris.”

“I’m so afraid, Your Majesty. I don’t know whose scheme this is, but they used it to prevent me from having children. It’s not that I couldn’t reign, it’s all because of the infertility medicine!”

How much anguish had he endured? It all seemed to be his fault, and even in his dreams, the anxiety of never being able to have a child tormented him.

“Your Majesty! I… I could have had children, but… but because of the infertility medicine, I couldn’t have a child all this time!”

Aris sobbed softly. Because of this, his legs felt weak, and it was difficult for him to stand properly. Patrick kindly held onto Aris and gently guided him to sit on the bed.

“First, calm down, Aris.”

“Your Majesty, please believe me and immediately, inspect the tea. Find out who… who dared to do this, and punish that wicked person!”

Aris had a chance. A chance to marry a loving husband and have children, to enjoy the happiness that others took for granted. But because of the person who had maligned her for ten years, she had not been able to enjoy that opportunity. Aris’s married life had been tainted by worry and recurring despair. Aris couldn’t forgive that person.

But Aris also felt a sense of relief. It wasn’t his fault. If he could punish that person and solve the problem with the tea, he could finally be happy.

“How much sorrow I have felt without knowing that, how much, how much I…”

Patrick took out a handkerchief and gently wiped Aris’s tears.

“Your Majesty, please find the culprit and punish them. Will you do that?”

“That’s difficult.”

Aris doubted his ears.

I must have misheard.

Patrick’s gentle touch was still wiping away his tears.

I must have misheard.

“Your Majesty, now I can have a child. If you find the culprit and never let such vile medicine be consumed again, soon… I can give you a child.”

Was it because of the long wait? As if his reason was paralyzed, Aris clung tightly to Patrick’s arms and cried out, as if he were vomiting out the stagnant feelings.

“I will give you a beautiful and healthy child. I will, I will fulfill my role as Empress! No one will ever say anything to me again!”

“Aris.”

There was compassion in Patrick’s smile.

“The successor will get what they want when they want it, right?”

Patrick neatly folded the handkerchief after wiping away all the tears. He was still as tender and gentlemanly as usual. Aris blinked slowly. Even in his tired face, only his blue eyes shone beautifully.

“Your Majesty…? So, please find the culprit quickly…”

“Now, to me.”

Aris’s voice trembled. Unable to contain herself, she forcefully pushed away Patrick’s hand. At that, Patrick frowned slightly.

“What have you done to me? I… you know how much I’ve suffered!”

“Yeah, yeah.”

Patrick withdrew his hand, with a forgiving expression.

“You might be upset. But, my dear, the choice I’ve made is best for both of us.”

Patrick had always watched Aris’s despair and occasionally comforted her. He was the kind and caring husband she could lean on. That was why Aris had made wishes—for him, to give him a child.

“We’re waiting for the right time for our child.”

Aris couldn’t even blink. From her fingertips to her heart, she was frozen like ice.

“In fact, it’s better to look for an heir from another woman to properly control the pretense… But still, I want to have an heir from you.”

Did Patrick know what he was saying? Was he so careless knowing what he was talking about? What kind of person had Aris known as her husband until now?

“Aris.”

He reached out his hand again nonchalantly. But Aris pushed his hand away again. That wasn’t enough. Aris finally slapped Patrick’s cheek. Hard enough to make her hand tingle.

“What’s this all about?”

A flash passed before Aris’s eyes. Only after stumbling on the ground did she realize that Patrick had slapped her cheek. It wasn’t pain that dominated Aris, but astonishment. Patrick looked down at her from above, not even considering helping her up. Ten years. The husband who had been with her for so long didn’t seem like him.

“All this time, wanting a child so badly… What did you think, seeing me withered like this?”

Patrick paused for a moment in thought.

“…I didn’t think anything in particular.”

His expression was indifferent. As if there was no value in thinking about it.

“Well… you’re thirty now, too. If you really want it, let’s have a child next year.”

He concluded the conversation very clearly. Arrogantly. And cruelly.

“Calm down your emotions a bit.”

Patrick said with a very generous expression as he grabbed Aris’s arm and lifted her up carelessly. Even after she stood up, Aris stared blankly at Patrick, as if she couldn’t believe it.

“I’ll forgive you just this once.”

It was still a gentle voice. His kind and characteristic smile was directed at Aris. That was even scarier. What kind of man was the husband she had trusted and relied on until now? The cruelty that didn’t match his smile was chilling.

“Well, then, rest well today.”

That was how the man who ruined Aris’s life turned his back on her and disappeared from her sight with ease. Faced with such a cruel reality, Aris’s world had already gone mad.