Until The Real One Shows Up​

“Anyway, that’s not what’s important now.”

Wilhelm, who had been watching Colton be pathetic for a while, opened his mouth with a sigh.

“Why the Empress is back is more important.”

“I heard she came back because she missed Your Majesty.”

Colton barely opened his mouth to answer.

“I didn’t know that. Oh, what kind of fuss I made by myself… Oh, I’m so embarrassed!”

“Calm down, Colton. Now is not the time to do that.”

Wilhelm narrowed his brow.

“The Empress heard the voice of the Goddess Rosenia and returned to the Imperial Palace.”

“Yes? What did she hear?”

Wilhelm explained the story he had heard earlier to Colton, who had a glum expression.

~~~~

“… What is this?”

Colton’s expression was serious when he heard the story. He opened his mouth in a bewildered voice.

“Your Majesty, if this is true… Instead, there will be a raging war of blood.”

“There will. The High Priest dared to manipulate the will of the Goddess.”

“What are you going to do now?”

“If the Empress is directly dealing with the High Priest.”

Wilhelm replied that it was not difficult.

“We should deal with Lady Hazel.”

~~~~

Without even having to fully enjoy the joy of reunion, Anastasia had been very busy since then.

This was because she had to understand everything that happened during her absence as well as the reception of the Vislante envoys.

Aside from the oracle, the current Empress was Anastasia anyway, so it was inappropriate for Avelin to take over.

“Finally tomorrow, the Vislante envoys will also leave. Your Majesty, you have been through a lot.”

Mrs. Rochester spoke affectionately as she brought refreshments to Anastasia, who was doing her official duties.

Anastasia picked up the sweets on her plate with a smile.

“What suffering? Mrs. Rochester did such a good job that it wasn’t too difficult for me.”

“I mean, Your Majesty was so well prepared in the beginning that there was nothing special to do.”

“Then we both did very well.”

Anastasia grinned and thought of something about her before opening her mouth.

“Oh, come to think of it, the Emperor’s birthday is in a few days, isn’t it?”

“Yes. That’s right, Your Majesty. You remembered it.”

“Can you forget such an important day?”

In response to Anastasia’s reply, Mrs. Rochester clenched her lips, desperately trying to contain her laughter.

It was because her reaction was so different from last year. Although she would of course welcome this with open arms.

“What should I prepare as a gift?”

“What are you worried about?”

Mrs. Rochester replied with a shrug of her shoulders.

“His Majesty will feel that it is enough as a gift for Your Majesty to change her mind and return.”

“… Really?”

Anastasia laughed bitterly. It wasn’t a leap, but the Wilhelm who she knew, was really likely to say so.

‘But I’ve never properly given you a present so far… I want to give you something small this year.’

Anastasia’s lips, who had been contemplating deeply, soon had a faint smile.

~~~~

Finally, a few days later, Wilhelm’s birthday was dawning.

His birthday was supposed to be held in the evening, but Anastasia’s maids started preparing late in the morning. It was the fastest preparation ever, but there was a reason.

“For today’s birthday banquet, the presence of Her Majesty the Empress is perfect! You have to show up.”

With Anastasia’s return, politics and social circles were again chaotic.

As the Duke of Barantes, who had supported Avelin, changed his position 180 degrees in favor of Anastasia, the supporters of Anastasia and those who supported Avelin clashed violently.

“Of course, His Majesty the Emperor is supporting us, but… we have to tell the people who dared to be attached to Lady Hazel who the true hostess of the Imperial Palace is!”

“Selene, calm down.”

Anastasia smiled as if she couldn’t stop it, and answered calmly.

“I know. So, aren’t you doing everything you guys can?”

In fact, she has already appeared splendidly at the reception site of the Vislante mission, which has imprinted her presence enough.

There was no disagreement that they should pay as much attention today.

So after a few hours.

“Oh my gosh… Your Majesty, you are so beautiful! really! You look like you’re going to eat up the whole banquet hall today!”

“Selene, where the hell did you get that…”

“Oh my gosh, you are so beautiful.”

Selene grinned and placed her tiara one last time on Anastasia’s head.

“It’s perfect. Your Majesty, the red diamond tiara suits you best.”

Anastasia heard those words and turned her head to check her own reflection in her full-length mirror.

Her elegantly curled golden hair was as coveted as an autumn field.

The purple dress of the Erica flower, the birth flower of Wilhelm, played a role in further enhancing Anastasia’s dignity with the weight of color.

The puffed-up puff on the shoulders made Anastasia’s head look smaller.

In addition, it seemed enough to attract everyone’s attention by highlighting the confident atmosphere.

Anastasia was about to get out of her seat.

“Your Majesty.”

Mrs. Rochester somehow approached Anastasia with an excited expression.

“Well, now out there…!”

“… Your Majesty?”

Even before Mrs. Rochester finished speaking, Wilhelm appeared inside.

Anastasia, seeing his sudden appearance, had a smile reflected on her face.

“How can you…”

“… Ah.”

Shortly after his appearance, Wilhelm, who had been frozen in a dazed state, soon opened his mouth casually.

“To escort you.”

Wilhelm naturally approached Anastasia and reached out his hand.

Anastasia looked at his hand with a slightly flushed face.

“Everyone will be waiting for you to appear.”

He was going to let them know for sure, let them know who his Empress was. To not dare say anything about divorce in front of him.

“It’s a deal. I’m willing to be an accessory, so please grant me a wish.”

Anastasia held his hand without even hearing what it was. Wilhelm asked with a little surprise.

“Are you holding my hand without asking me what it is?”

“I’ll do anything for you.”

“…”

Wilhelm paused for a moment and muttered in a meaningful voice.

“That’s very dangerous.”

“What? What do you mean…”

“If you say so, I want to make a deal that’s too advantageous for me.”

“Do so. It’s your birthday, after all.”

Wilhelm’s eyes grew quickly with a gentle answer. Anastasia shrugged as if she didn’t care.

“I’ll pretend it’s a birthday present. I couldn’t prepare for it because I didn’t have enough time.”

“You even thought about preparing a birthday present?”

“Even thought…? You must have thought I wouldn’t do so.”

“It’s just… because you didn’t do it last year?”

“…”

She had nothing to say when she recalled last year when she tried to omit congratulatory greetings, let alone gifts.

Anastasia stammered with embarrassment at Wilhelm’s disappointed expression.

“Well, you know, at the time, I…”

It was that moment. Wilhelm bowed to Anastasia and kissed her lightly.

Anastasia stiffened with surprise at the sudden kiss.

Wilhelm muttered, looking at Anastasia’s expression with a smile.

“It’s fun to tease you. I knew it.”

“…”

“Why didn’t I know this from the beginning?”

“It sounds like you’re going to keep teasing me.”

“That’s good, too. I’ll keep going.”

Anastasia glanced slightly at Wilhelm at the thoughtful retort.

Wilhelm stared at the figure and kissed her again around her eyes.

“Your Majesty.”

She sounded perplexed but didn’t hate it. Wilhelm opened his mouth, smiling until the corners of his eyes were bent.

“This is my wish, Anastasia. Let me kiss you as much as I want for the day.”

~~~~

Anastasia accepted his wish.

‘It even grants the wishes of the dead as well…’*

*TN: so there’s no problem with granting one wish of the living

The wish of a loved one on his birthday was enough, and there was nothing she couldn’t do.

‘And, honestly, if you’re going to look at the gains and losses, it’s better for me…’

“What are you thinking?”

The voice from the side broke her thoughts.

Anastasia looked around in amazement. Wilhelm was looking at her with a grumpy expression disguised as a smile.

“You have other thoughts while with me. Who dared steal my share of the Empress?”

“Now you’re jealous… is that the case…?”

“If I am?”

“I’m in trouble. I was thinking about Your Majesty.”

When Wilhelm heard the answer, he smiled and wrapped Anastasia’s cheek with his hands and made her look at him.

“Why do you think about me when you’re next to me? It’s inefficient. You can just watch me.”

“…” 

“Oh, look over there.”

Then, a loud voice came to Anastasia’s ear.

Anastasia still had her cheeks caught by Wilhelm, only her eyes turned towards the sound.

“I think you two have such a good relationship. You seem to have become more special since the Empress’ return, haven’t you?”

“Yes, it seems that your affection for each other has deepened while you were apart.”

“You two entered together earlier. Isn’t this the first time? Your Majesty must have made up his mind.”

It was a familiar reaction from the first time they stepped inside the banquet hall.

Wilhelm had already made numerous statements before, but it was clearly symbolic to appear on his birthday party as the first to escort the Empress.

Moreover, the two have not been separated since they entered the banquet hall.

Wilhelm’s birthday congratulations were also received by the nobles, so what this meant was clear.

That the Emperor really loves the Empress. Therefore, there is no way for the two of them to divorce voluntarily.

“Where are you looking now?”

As Wilhelm tapped his finger on the cheek, Anastasia’s gaze finally returned to Wilhelm.

Anastasia asked with an absurd expression, still sulking.

“… Are you keeping women in check now?”

“Gender doesn’t mean much. It’s just important that I take your attention.”

“I didn’t know you were so jealous.”

“If you know, you should cooperate. I just found out for the first time this time, too. Well, I should have used this as a wish.”

“I’m not going to change it now…”

“Your Majesty.”

At that time, a clear voice intervened between the two.

It was Anastasia who turned her head again this time. Wilhelm turned his head to the side with a slight frown.

“Greetings to the leaders of the great Rosenberg, the sun and moon of the Empire.”

It was Avelin. Wearing a light green off-shoulder dress that showed off her shoulders coolly.