Chapter 50
It wasn’t a far distance to the palace, so we arrived sooner than expected. Despite preparing for the arranged marriage with no hesitation, standing before the grand palace made my heart tighten.
To calm myself, I took a deep breath and silently absorbed the view of the palace through the window. The palace wasn’t as dazzling as the Temple of Myaria, but it exuded a lonely, solemn atmosphere that surrounded it.
The thought of Emperor Aust and Ilias enduring their lives within these walls left a heaviness in my chest. However, now wasn’t the time for sentimental musings.
‘Today, I will become the person who perfectly deceived the entire empire.’
Back when I possessed this body, I never imagined I would deceive even the Emperor himself. From the lowest ranks to the highest positions, I felt a sense of achievement in uniting the empire through deception.
‘Your Majesty, I will become Ilias’ strength and ensure he can do whatever he desires. Please understand your future daughter-in-law.’
There was no time to delay.
‘Since I’m doing this, I must do it perfectly—completely hidden from everyone. That way, no one will be hurt.’
Life was always a battlefield, and I thrived in battle. With a silent cheer, I stood up.
Knock knock.
As I knocked on the carriage door, it opened, revealing a beautifully grown Ilias standing there.
The image of Ilias, the Crown Prince of the palace, was nothing short of a masterpiece. Dressed impeccably, he resembled a natural ruler, his regal presence commanding respect even amidst the grand palace surroundings. His appearance surpassed even the magnificence of the palace itself.
As I stepped out of the carriage, Ilias took my hand and gently pressed a kiss on my hand.
“Welcome to the palace, Lin.”
“Thank you for the invitation… Your Highness.”
Today was a day to emphasize etiquette more than showing off. I quickly adjusted my title.
Ilias, being exceptionally perceptive, seemed to understand my subtle change without explanation.
“The Emperor awaits us. Shall we proceed?”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
We exchanged greetings and immediately began walking towards the Imperial Palace. The path leading to the Emperor’s court was meticulously maintained, creating a picturesque view.
“It’s a beautiful place.”
“I’ve always thought so, but standing before you, Lin, I realize how modest it feels in comparison.”
I nearly stopped in my tracks, caught off guard.
‘Wow! This level of method acting is impressive. I can’t deny Ilias’ acting skill and spontaneity.’
Understanding how even Sierra, the cunning Empress, was easily deceived by Ilias’ double life, I could see why. If he could portray such a convincing fake lover, how effortlessly he must have played the role of a carefree prince.
‘I wonder if he had pursued an acting career, would he have swept the Best Actor awards? Was he born in the wrong era? Or should I say, as a prince, he was destined to be born in the right era?’
Lost in thought between a tragic prince and a modern celebrity enjoying wealth and fame, a gentle voice pulled me back.
“This is the Imperial Palace, Lin.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
The palace reflected the grandeur of the empire’s past, and standing before it made me feel slightly overwhelmed. Meeting the Emperor, the number one ruler of the empire, here in this vast palace made my heart race.
Of course, I continuously analyzed Emperor Aust based on the original work, trying to approach him both logically and emotionally. However, even with the logical analysis, my emotions stirred a different reaction.
‘What kind of person is Emperor Aust?’
Never having lived at the peak of the pyramid, and being reborn into the body of a common villainess, feeling anxious was only natural.
‘No, it’s fine. After all, I’m the prince’s lover in this arrangement. Even though he’s a prince whose rank may not seem superior, compared to me.’
When I shifted my gaze toward him out of sympathy, I caught sight of Ilias with slightly curved eyes.
The current Ilias was truly the embodiment of a prince deeply in love, with no trace of tragedy in sight. Seeing him give his best in the current situation made me feel the need to do the same as his contractual partner.
“Shall we enter?”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
* * *
The atmosphere inside the Imperial Palace was vastly different from what I had expected from the outside. It was, to put it nicely, modest and simple, but if I were to be blunt, it felt shabby and worn out.
Suddenly, the thought of the grand temples that were lavish on the outside but hollow inside flashed through my mind.
‘The power of the royal family and the power of the church—this is a clear reflection of their influence.’
Though the term “shabby palace” was used in the novel, seeing it in reality only magnified that thought.
‘The Myaria Church is destroying the empire. And now, they’re plotting to kill me. Honestly, evil people rarely stick to one wrong deed. They spread their harm equally to many.’
The more I learned about the church, the greater my frustration grew.
After the divine power test, the subsequent coercion became tiring and left me feeling drained. The relentless determination behind it was almost terrifying. I couldn’t understand why they were going to such lengths.
‘The enemy of my enemy is my ally. I’ll ensure Ilias ascends to the throne no matter what.’
“Lin? Lin?”
The sudden voice snapped me out of my thoughts.
“Lin, you seem to be lost in thought today.”
“Oh! Sorry, Your Highness. I think it’s because I’m overwhelmed with thoughts of being here at the palace for the first time. It’s a place that inspires so many reflections. I’ll focus now, so don’t worry.”
Ilias nodded, and a servant opened the door.
The Emperor Aust didn’t invite us to his audience hall or study but to a personal lounge, clearly indicating that he wanted to meet me not as the Emperor, but as a father.
The lounge was a simple space furnished with a display cabinet, a sofa, and a table, yet it exuded a cozy atmosphere. The tension quickly eased in such a relaxed environment.
Shortly after we arrived, Emperor Aust entered the lounge.
I rose, grasping the hem of my dress with both hands, and bowed formally.
“I greet you, Father of the Empire, His Majesty the Emperor. I am Adeline Senner.”
“Sit.”
Emperor appeared exactly as described in the books.
He was handsome, gentle, but showed signs of deep suffering, making him appear older than his years.
Instead of a servant, he personally poured tea and offered it to me.
“I’m honored.”
However, his gaze was cold and piercing.
“I hear Ilias wishes to marry you.”
I looked at Ilias with a fond gaze and then turned to Emperor Aust with a gentle smile.
“I feel the same, Your Majesty.”
“Ilias marrying a commoner is unprecedented.”
“Father.”
Emperor Aust raised his hand as if to signal Ilias to stay silent.
“Today, I wish to have a conversation with Miss Senner.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Today, I’m meeting you as Ilias’ father, not as the Emperor.”
“Yes.”
“You are well-regarded for your intelligence and warmth.”
“You flatter me.”
“While I know you are a good person, I cannot permit this marriage.”
I had anticipated this, so my emotions remained steady as I faced him. His expression, however, appeared more troubled than mine, who had just been denied marriage.
The pain of a powerless emperor and a loving father’s heartache were palpable.
“You may call me selfish, but I wish for Ilias to marry within the nobility. As a father, I desire nothing more than for Ilias to live a normal and happy life, not as an Emperor, but simply as a man.”
Though it was the Emperor’s will, I couldn’t immediately refute it. I paused, appearing thoughtful, before carefully speaking.
“Your Majesty, Ilias has not lived a normal life, nor will he in the future. You know this better than anyone. If Ilias marries within the nobility, he will face even more scrutiny.”
“He will find those who can support him.”
“Then, he may survive, but will he truly be happy?”
For a moment, Emperor Aust’s pupils flickered, and I didn’t miss it. Knowing his weakness from the start, this wasn’t a difficult situation.
“Your Majesty, all I desire is Ilias Driophea. I do not seek the position of Empress or any higher rank. Earlier, you mentioned that a commoner marrying a prince is unprecedented. I believe the same applies to a commoner becoming an Empress. It simply isn’t logical.”
Of course, I had no intention of becoming Empress because I would divorce Ilias later. At that point, he would remarry a noblewoman.
Given that there were likely eyes and ears belonging to Queen Sierra among the attendants in this room, it was crucial that Ilias and I appeared as though we had no ambitions. Perhaps they were all loyalists to Queen Sierra.
Thus, Ilias and I needed to act as if we had no ulterior motives.
Ilias took my hand and turned to Emperor Aust.
“Father, I want to live with this person as Ilias, not as a prince. The empire will manage even if I am not the heir, but Adeline only has me. Making her happy is already a challenge. As the eldest son, I have failed to meet my role, and for that, I am sorry.”
Emperor Aust’s expression couldn’t hide his disappointment. His inner turmoil was clear—his son, who had never known happiness, was now yearning for it.
What parent could remain indifferent when their child desired something more than a position and power?
Moreover, Emperor Aust was a powerless father who had passed down the imperial throne—a position he couldn’t protect his wife or son from. The guilt and helplessness weighed heavily on him.
After a long silence, Emperor Aust looked at us with a heavy expression.
“Senner, I may not be able to protect you.”
Hey Guys you can read advanced chapters on Patreon
If you liked my work and want to support me then you can visit my page for tips. As I can’t create Kofi because of the unavailability of Paypal in my country, I’ve made this tier which is being updated every week so that you won’t be charged again till you want to donate again by yourself or you can exit the tier after donating 🙂.
Happy Reading 🩷
