I Would Rather Marry The Black Beast Than Become an Empress

“Episode 9”

“Thank goodness. I need to find a fiancé before the rumors spread any further.”

Roxanne’s lively eyes had a corner that felt familiar even though they were strangers. Above all, Aris liked her bold and refreshing manner of speaking. In a world where both kingdoms and empires were wrapped in pretty packaging that hid thorns, Aris couldn’t help but be drawn to someone like Roxanne.

“But this time might be a failure… I don’t have a suitable match. I’ll be scolded when I return to my mother.”

“Scolded?”

“Well, I have some circumstances.”

Aris looked puzzled.

“My two fiancés died, so I haven’t found a match even at this age.”

“Oh…”

If not one but two fiancés had died, it was ominous. Aris looked at Roxanne with a darker expression. She couldn’t think of anything comforting to say.

“Oh, don’t make that face. It’s not my fault. One died in an accident, and the other from illness.”

But Roxanne’s resilience surpassed Aris’s expectations. She was admirable.

“I know. People just want to gossip about others who are slightly different from themselves.”

Aris nodded. Even though others’ misfortune didn’t bring her joy, she admired those who relentlessly pried into others’ lives.

“I want to tell you not to worry, but I can’t silence those people either.”

This time, Roxanne laughed.

“It seems you and I are on the same wavelength. I’ll have to return to the North soon, and I’m sorry we won’t be able to spend more time together.”

“Yes, I have to return to the kingdom soon too.”

There was a hint of reluctance in Aris’s somewhat bitter words.

“It’s a pity. Not being able to be free makes me frustrated. Not being able to find a match even for a marriage proposal… I wonder what my mother will say.”

“But still, it’s impressive that she allowed you to find a match on your own.”

In the kingdom, it was unheard of freedom.

“In fact, it was for my younger sister, not me. My sister… is a bit of a headache.”

Aris was surprised by the Duchess’s harsh words.

“I see. I don’t have any siblings.”

“It’s better not to have them. A sibling in need of a marriage proposal…”

Roxanne sighed.

“If it’s a sibling, could it be the current Duke?”

“Well, something like that. My brother is still my brother.”

Roxanne smiled mischievously.

“There should be plenty of women willing to marry the Duke.”

“Well, there are some circumstances.”

After a strange laugh, Roxanne changed the subject.

“More importantly, are you going to participate in the selection for the Empress?”

“Yes…”

This time, Aris’s face darkened.

“You don’t seem to want to be Empress.”

Aris nodded.

“Everyone wants that position, but not me.”

Aris’s reason was known only to herself. Anyway, Roxanne wouldn’t understand. In this world, saying you didn’t want to be Empress was like saying you didn’t want to live.

“That could be the case.”

“…”

“You might not want to be Empress.”

Aris blinked slowly. She never expected to meet someone like this.

Aris had never experienced such a thing. In the palace, she was simply a beautiful princess, and after becoming Empress, she was thoroughly controlled, so who would dare to say such things? Even Veronica, who was like family, was not a friend.

“Oh, to dare to compare yourself to a princess…”

“No, I hope we can meet again. Even if it’s just as friends through letters.”

Aris smiled sincerely, feeling sad about parting ways with someone she finally connected with after so long.

“I’m truly glad.”

Aris nodded. Whether the time spent together was long or short, it didn’t seem surprisingly important.

Her previous life had proven that. So Aris decided to focus on her conversation with Roxanne now. The subtle scent of roses wafted through the laughter of the women.

* * *

As Aris boarded the carriage heading back to the Parell Duchy after the tea party, she seemed quite content.

“I thought you didn’t like tea parties.”

“I met an interesting friend.”

“…Friend?”

Veronica was cautious about the unfamiliar word, but Aris didn’t notice and turned her gaze out the window.

“Veronica, what kind of person is the Duchess of Alberthus?”

“Why are you asking me about that now?”

“Just curious. She was beautiful, but seemed a bit different from the imperial beauties.”

When Veronica didn’t answer, Aris turned to look at her.

“Why?”

“I’m hesitant to speak about it because I don’t know much about it.”

“Lies. There’s no noble in your network that Veronica doesn’t know about.”

There were no nobles who could evade Veronica’s information network honed over a lifetime at the Leon Palace.

“The Alberthus Duchy has some… rumors.”

“What kind?”

“They say they’re cursed, or they made a deal with the devil, something like that.”

Veronica seemed cautious for a reason.

“So if you engage with the Alberthus Duchy, everyone dies. It’s said to be cursed.”

Roxanne’s bitter smile came to mind.

“I don’t believe such nonsense.”

“I don’t either, but it still feels uneasy. There are many other suspicious rumors as well.”

“Like what?”

“The current Duke is young and hasn’t married yet because… his face is said to be grotesque, like a beast. That kind of rumor.”

Come to think of it, Roxanne had difficulty finding a match for her brother.

“It’s said that the previous Duke passed away early, and he became Duke at the age of 17 or so. But since then, no one has seen his face properly, and he hasn’t appeared in public… so the rumors have gotten worse.”

Seeing Aris’s dark expression, Veronica added cautiously.

“Even if his face is grotesque, he might still be a good person.”

“A few years ago, during a battle, his manner of slaughtering enemies was said to be like a monster. Since then, the rumors have continued… there was even suspicion that he worships demons.”

“That’s absurd. Duchess Roxanne was perfectly fine and beautiful.”

Veronica’s face stiffened.

“Did you talk to the Duchess of Alberthus? To the point of exchanging names?”

“…Yes. There’s no stopping it.”

Veronica sighed heavily.

“If the Queen finds out, you’ll be scolded.”

“She doesn’t need to know.”

Aris retorted.

“It’s a sensitive time with the Empress selection approaching, so it’s best to keep a distance from households with ominous rumors, don’t you think?”

Seeing Veronica’s embarrassed expression, Aris reluctantly nodded.

“They’ll be returning to the North anyway, so it’s impossible to get closer even if I wanted to.”

Listening to Veronica’s words, Aris understood why Roxanne had become such a strong personality. But even so, being able to smile so brightly was enviable.

“That’s right. We’ll be going back to the palace soon, too.”

Aris couldn’t hide her melancholy. Meanwhile, the carriage arrived at the ducal residence. The footman opened the carriage door, his expression bright.

“Princess, the former Queen Mother just woke up a little while ago. She’s very clear-headed and is waiting for you.”

Aris’s face brightened at the footman’s words.