Episode 6
“Why would you say something like that? He is the Emperor of Zacador and my husband. Watch your words!”
“He’s a man who shamelessly plays with many women. That’s why, even for Your Majesty, the word ‘Emperor’ comes before ‘husband’, doesn’t it?”
Flint struck where it hurt. Eliano’s hand, gripping the armrest, was trembling. Her eyes were red. It looked like tears could fall at any moment.
“Marcel is the Emperor. Men of Bianteca don’t love only one woman either, do they?”
“The Emperor of Bianteca does not take multiple wives. At the very least, Biantecan men know such behaviour is shameful. Isn’t it laughable? Zacador allows many wives officially, but they still despise illegitimate children.”
“Why would you say that to me, the Empress of Zacador?”
“Because I find Zacador’s culture disgusting. Don’t you?”
Even before arriving at the palace of Zacador, Flint had known that he wouldn’t be able to fulfil Damian Rosana’s wish of bringing Eliano home. Even among his allies, people had doubts. Just by seeing her attitude now, it was clear the Empress Eliano and Duke Rosana were sworn enemies.
Still, Flint had to come to Zacador.
— Please bring my sister back. Then I’ll help you bring down my father. I’ll reveal all the crimes he’s committed. I’ll hand over all the proof. I want my sister to come home. I want peace in our family. If that happens, I’ll support Prince Heraith.
The Duke of Rosana was Prince Heraith’s worst enemy. All the hardships Heraith had faced were because of him. To bring down that root of evil, a deal was made with the Duke’s son.
— I can’t promise anything. But I’ll try to make the offer.
— She’ll want to come back, for sure. My weak sister has no child—how could she survive in that position forever? Ria is ignorant like a child. She needs protection.
It should have been enough to just show some effort, but Flint Howard was doing his best to persuade her. However, as soon as Eliano heard Damian Rosana’s name, she lost her temper.
“If it’s Damian Rosana’s idea, then I definitely cannot agree. What kind of deal did you make with that man?”
“I promise your safety.”
“I don’t trust promises. I have nothing to offer, so there is no deal.”
The Empress firmly stated she couldn’t believe in promises. It sounded like it held the weight of her entire life.
“I cannot feel peace under Rosana’s power. Would you understand if I said life in Bianteca was more terrifying than life in Zacador?”
She had been a child trapped in a glass bottle made by her father. Even after growing up, that glass bottle never broke. She tried to find happiness inside it, but the cracks began from within. In the end, she smashed it with her own hands.
Her whole body was cut and bloodied by the broken glass—but it had been worth it. That’s what free will meant. She had finally escaped. She couldn’t walk back into that bottle on her own.
“I don’t want to be used by the Rosana family anymore. You want me to carry the Rosana name again, to become the little duke’s tool? I’d rather carry the Zacador name and live dangerously like a candle in the wind!”
Even though it was clearly a failure, Flint was persistent. The dragging conversation continued. But no matter how stubborn one is, you can’t win against the person with the final say.
“…Let me give you a piece of advice. It would be more useful for you to erase people like Damian than to trust them. Should someone who seeks the emperor’s crown fear disgrace like that?”
“I don’t plan to wear the emperor’s crown.”
Flint replied firmly and asked Eliano to reconsider. She was too emotional right now.
“Please think again, with a clear mind. I, Flint Howard—not Damian Rosana—promise to protect you. Don’t you want to live the rest of your life in peace?”
When Flint gave a signal with his eyes, his man released the head maid, who had been held by force.
“If you decide, come to the greenhouse in the Empress’s Palace three days from now, at this time. I’ll be waiting.”
“Don’t wait. Have a safe trip on your rough road.”
Green eyes met silver-grey eyes. Flint spoke clearly.
“I promised you peace.”
As soon as Flint left the Empress’s bedroom, the head maid dropped to her knees and begged.
“Please, make a choice for your own sake. I’ll devote myself to bringing you home. I’ll follow you until I die.”
The head maid was loyal. She would gladly give her life for the Empress. It was obvious why she gave in to Flint’s threat. She wanted to save her master.
Eliano longed for peace but hated Damian Rosana even more. Her hatred was stronger than her will to survive. She couldn’t let him control her life. Born on the same day, the twins had always turned their backs on her. Sometimes, they hurt her deeply and left scars that never healed.
— Sister, support your husband and become Empress of Zacador. Father will help you, and I will too. That’s the only way you and your husband can survive.
There had been a time when Eliano hoped Damian truly cared for her as a sister. So she trusted him and gave him her love. She devoted herself to his future and obeyed their father’s orders.
“The family must do well for you to live proudly in a foreign land. Do you know how much money the family spent on your husband becoming emperor? You need to pay that back. Stop thinking useless thoughts and do what your father tells you. Send me a report on how many troops Duke Jonas has.”
“Sister, I’ve included herbs that help with pregnancy. Take care and be sure to have a son. Don’t worry. The Emperor Marcel adores you. The fact you’re still Empress despite having no child proves that. By the way, how many troops does Duke Jonas have? And is it true the Pope visited Zacador? Our family is struggling right now. Help us.”
Eliano couldn’t turn her back on her struggling family. So as the Empress, as Marcel’s wife, she did things she should never have done. She stole state secrets from the Emperor’s office and copied military information to pass to spies.
It was all to remove Bianteca’s Crown Prince and replace him with someone her father supported. She was tormented by guilt. She was lying to her beloved husband and betraying the people of Zacador. Even after all her dedication, the Rosana family abandoned her when she needed them most.
“Damian, you were wrong. Marcel doesn’t love me anymore. He has another mistress now. He doesn’t even care what I do. I’m tired of shaking in fear every time I eat, worried there’s poison. I’ll be poisoned for sure. I was poisoned again… it hurts so much.
And do you know what else? They say a barren woman like me can’t stay Empress. They’ll strip me of my title. I’m scared. I can’t take this anymore. I want to return to Bianteca. I’m going to divorce Marcel. Please help me come home. I’m begging you.”
And what did Damian reply to her desperate cry for help?
“Are you crazy? Divorce? You must be out of your mind from poison. Why should the Rosana family risk anything for you? The moment you mention divorce, we’ll cut off all support and deny everything. Eliano, stop being stupid and go smile at Emperor Marcel. He’s the type to cry with joy if you act sweet. Pull yourself together. After everything our family did for you, do you think divorce makes sense? Better to be dethroned than to divorce. Endure it. You’ve done well so far. Don’t act weak.”
That day, Eliano sobbed holding Damian’s letter. In the end, she did as he said. She endured and stayed as Empress. But she gave up all her trust and love for her twin. She also gave up loyalty to her family.
Eliano couldn’t trust the people who had betrayed her. That’s why she coldly pushed Flint away, even when he talked about peace.
She thought, There was never peace in my life from the beginning. Some people just don’t get that kind of life. But she couldn’t forget the look in that man’s eyes. It kept her from sleeping.
Living as Empress of Zacador, she had learned to read people. Maybe it was from years of watching her father. She had good instincts. And her instincts had grown sharper after years with her husband. Sometimes, she could tell what someone was like just from their eyes. That sense had saved her more than once.
Flint Howard’s eyes were annoyingly honest. Sadly, he seemed like someone you could trust. Eliano had never seen eyes like his before. They were filled with pure sincerity, without a trace of lies. Someone with eyes like that would do anything to keep their promise.
That’s why she couldn’t help but feel shaken.
“…Could I really… live in peace?”
Her instincts told her to take his hand. That he would protect her even from Damian Rosana. That this might be her last chance to leave Zacador. Eliano whispered to her maid like a sigh.
“Elisabeth… Do you think this is a blessing, not another misfortune?”
Her expression clouded.
“The fairy of luck will beith you, Your Majesty. Please do as you wish.”
“Maybe this is a blessing from the gods who took pity on me…”
Eliano’s instincts were usually right. But even stronger than her instincts was her distrust of Duke Howard.
Promises can be broken anytime. How can I believe those eyes won’t change?
If she took Duke Howard’s hand, her life would be controlled by Damian again. From father to husband and now her twin brother. Even if they were family, she couldn’t trust them. Damian Rosana had taught her that.
“Your Majesty, it’s Vivian. I brought her quietly, as you ordered.”
Eliano gently rubbed her stomach, just below her chest.
