In the Imperial Palace, you had to become the owner of the palace to survive. On the contrary, it was also said that it was difficult to survive without the owner of the palace. Having one’s palace in the palace was the Emperor’s offering of a place for that person.
That’s why, when Evelina married into the Imperial Palace, receiving her palace as a gift and using the Empress’ palace was considered quite a big deal.
But now, she was saying she didn’t have a palace.
“The Empress’ Palace was my palace.”
“…maybe he’s trying to get a new Empress.”
Kaiden was indeed in so much pain that no woman could come close to the Emperor in the meantime. No matter whose daughter she was, if she was forced into the Emperor’s bed-chamber, she would be sliced alive.
You were lucky to be shot to death. Because he didn’t show mercy when he killed an assassin. There was no way he would show mercy to a woman who sneaked into his bedroom.
Therefore, there was no choice but to leave Kaiden even though he went in and out every day. Now, after Evelina came back, he was changing the inside of the palace a little bit.
It’s not about welcoming an Empress other than Evelina, but if Kaiden’s heart was ready and if Evelina treated him sincerely, not with her acting. At least if she couldn’t love him, at least he could be sure that she would stay with him.
Then it was also a place to return to.
But not many people were aware of such circumstances. Only Duke Ruskun and David, Evelina’s aide, had dimly become aware of it.
So others didn’t know. They thought he took the palace away from Evelina.
They thought the reason why she couldn’t come out of the Imperial Palace was that she was trapped in the bedroom of the Imperial Palace and was just her being punished. The people of the Imperial Palace were not fools, and they predicted why Queen Evelina, who ran away even though she was pregnant, did so.
Usher Fronen, the Guardsman was gone. It is said that an indiscriminate massacre took place in Veron, his hometown, and all the villagers next to him died. The Emperor one day, the day Evelina returned, disappeared, and returned while leading the knights.
Then it was obvious. Queen Evelina ran away pretending to be dead in a mysterious way, and the reason she ran away was that she had a child of Usher Fronen.
It was thought that she had the Emperor’s child, and from that point on, something could have gone wrong, and ran away with the Emperor’s child, maybe miscarried, and then become pregnant with a new child.
If she had the Emperor’s child, there was no reason to run away.
Everyone knew that the Emperor loved Evelina. Rather, he was the Emperor who would have accepted all the unreasonable requests to restore her family after having a child. Because the Emperor was a madman, and that madman was a man who would kneel at Evelina’s words.
But now the Emperor didn’t treat her the way he used to. It was obvious that it was because of the feeling of betrayal. The reasons were likely to be those listed above.
“Are you truly saying that Kaiden is about to receive a new Empress?”
“…I don’t know. But usually… That’s why you refurbish the palace.”
“Kaiden said he’d sleep there.”
“…yes.”
Evelina couldn’t understand why. If it’s a refurbished place, things wouldn’t be organized.
The reality was that he was only changing the interior, leaving her traces, so Kaiden was only stubbornly using the Empress’ Palace.
“Ah…”
Evelina’s eyes heated up again because she thought that Kaiden was really not coming.
They needed to have a conversation. She had to clear up the misunderstanding. But will it change?
No matter what she said, it didn’t change that she trampled on his mind and left. He knew everything about her. And it would be right that the medicine that Kaiden gave her was an antidote.
“Will you tell Kaiden…?”
“Give me your orders, Your Majesty.”
“I… miss you. I really miss you.”
“…I understand, Your Majesty.”
Evelina said so and waited at the door. After sending out all the servants, she squatted in front of the door and waited for Kaiden.
But what she said to Kaiden didn’t get through. He remained to do government affairs until late, fell asleep at dawn, and the employees did not speak because they were afraid to incur his anger.
Now Evelina had no power. No one could properly convey what the Empress, who had been abandoned by the Emperor, had said.
~~~~
“The detention order under Majesty has been withdrawn. Now, you can go anywhere you want, not limited to the Imperial Palace.”
Evelina was confused when she realized that that was the first order that Kaiden, who hadn’t come to see her for days, gave her.
“Then where do I live in the future?”
“You can stay here.”
She was confused. She didn’t know why the detention was withdrawn.
She thought maybe he was tired of her because he hugged her every day. Maybe it wasn’t so much fun hugging her as a pregnant woman. Or maybe it’s because she was not as new as before?
Evelina knew that she had grown significantly emaciated even while she was being held by Hecate.
“Ugh…”
“Your Majesty?”
“Lian.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“I… I’m ugly, right? Am I really ugly now? That’s why he doesn’t want to see me again, right?
“What?”
Lian was a maid. She couldn’t understand at all how Evelina kept saying that about herself. No matter how emaciated, Evelina’s beauty remained. Her arms and legs were thin, but she was as beautiful as a fairy.
“That’s why Kaiden….”
“Your Majesty.”
Evelina ran to the mirror. In the mirror, she could see herself not as fresh as before. No matter how much she covered it with makeup and hid her thinness with clothes, she didn’t seem to be the same as before. Of course, it was a complete illusion, but it didn’t feel like an illusion to her.
“Ugh, uh…”
When Evelina began to cry in the mirror of the dressing table, Lian was at a loss for what to do and waited like that.
But she cried so much for a very long time that she didn’t even leave the room.
~~~~
– Snap
Kaiden loaded the gun and was aiming at Selena Verdeen, who was smiling awkwardly in his office.
“Did you forget that I told you not to come?”
“Then give me back the fortune of the Marquis of Logias!”
“I thought it was a bird’s mind, but it’s not as good as a bird’s*.”
*TN: Saying he thought she was as dumb as a bird but turns out she’s not as smart as one
Kaiden was cold. He deliberately released Evelina’s detention. However, when she was released from detention, she locked herself in the room. Kaiden felt like his head was going to explode just by worrying about it.
He didn’t want to see Evelina, but he did. When he saw her, he felt like he would forgive everything at once and beg for her apology. He hated himself because he felt crazy and pathetic.
For three days, Evelina did not leave the room.
“If you have a wish, leave it now. I’ll deliver it Ianathas Peran.”
“You didn’t come to Her Majesty, did you? Then where were you?”
“Don’t you know that you can live only when you don’t speak?”
“Oh my! Then it’s working properly.”
Kaiden aimed at Selena with angry eyes.
The matter with Evelina had to be solved between two people. It didn’t change when someone cut in. He was well aware of it.
“Why do you think she’s staying in your room even though you’ve released her detention?”
Selena looked at Kaiden’s expression and realized who had the upper hand in their relationship.
“Can’t you see that you gave her freedom but she still wants to be bound?”
“That’s a lot of nonsense.”
“If that’s not the case, why did she ask to be let out when she’s locked up, but won’t go out when freed?”
“…”
“Her Majesty awaits for Your Majesty.”
Then Kaiden lowered the gun.
“Where are you going?”
“To Evelina.”
“Are you crazy? Stop right now!”
Selena quickly grabbed Kaiden’s arm heading for the door.
“Oh!”
“Didn’t I tell you not to touch my body?”
He unconsciously shook off Selena Verdeen at the moment, and she fell on her hips to the floor.
“Oh…! It hurts!”
“Don’t grab me. Don’t even touch me. It’s an order.”
Selena shouted as he tried to go out again.
“If you go now, you will never win her heart!”
Kaiden stared at Selena, clenching the gun in his hand. Then Selena stumbled a few times while trying to jump up, and came near Kaiden.
“Say you’ll welcome me as Empress.”
“…”
“Just for now. And promise me you’ll give me Ianathas later, if I do as you say.”
Kaiden couldn’t tell if Selena genuinely loved Ianathas. But he knew it was necessary.
“Don’t make me want to cut off your hair and give it to the Marquis of Peran.”
She said with a sigh of nervousness every time Kaiden held the gun tightly.
“Have you regretted anything regarding Her Majesty while you were sleeping?”
“…”
“It’s not a pity that she didn’t even come to see you. If Her Excellency doesn’t come back this time, shoot me with that gun.”
Kaiden stared at Selena. It looked nice, but it was a hateful face that a snake would have inside.
“I can swear.”
Thus, Kaiden decided to do as Selena wanted this time.
~~~~
“I’m so frustrated.”
The Marquis of Logias was not dead. He hid in Tenesi to avoid Kaiden’s eyes.
“It seems so, Marquis.”
Renold, who was the Crown Prince of Tenesi, was assassinated. And now the new crown prince, Gallas Tenesi, who was originally aided by the Marquis of Logias, was king. After killing his father and brother.
“The Marquis of Logias likes social activities so it’s understandable.”
This was the King’s private drawing room. And the three people who were there were all made up of blood alliances.
“Your Highness Prince Ashes seems frustrated.”
Ashes, the second prince rumored to be dead, and Marquis Logias, who fled under the pretext of a landslide. And Gallas, who came to the throne with their help.
“This frustration will end soon. If Emperor Ashes becomes Emperor.”
This was originally where Selena Verdeen hid. The real daughter of Marquis Logias was said to have died of illness. The real Evelina.
