Until The Real One Shows Up​

“It was Marquis Lutent who first suggested to His Majesty to take in a paramour today.”

“Ugh, how ungrateful! How could he do that to Her Majesty? How!”

“Both father and child are insidious. It gives me the creeps.”

“Your Majesty, there is no need for you to feel hurt! Don’t put your precious heart on such insignificant things.” 

Meanwhile, Anastasia was not affected by the sight of the maids getting angry instead of her. When she sipped her tea with a blank face, the maids misunderstood her expression.

“Hmm. Look at you being shocked and speechless!”

“Hurry up and call the court physician. What if Her Majesty collapses again?”

“I’m fine, everyone. Calm down.”

When Anastasia spoke – without a hint of anger in her voice – the maids shuddered in shock.

“Your Majesty, how can you speak calmly in this situation?”

“I don’t know anyone else, but Marquis Lutent shouldn’t have done that. You’ve known each other for years! Doesn’t it mean that he has an insidious purpose in approaching His Majesty in the first place?”

“Well, maybe.”

When Anastasia replied casually, the maids looked at her with stunned faces.

She then unhurriedly explained the situation.

“As you may know, something happened last time with Lady Lutent. I mean, I didn’t expect this to happen, but I am also not surprised.”

“Your Majesty the Empress….”

“Why–Why are you so composed? Is it weird for us to get angry?”

“No, you’re not. It’s only natural to be as angry as you are.”

However, since she has been through all sorts of things before and until now, this much was not surprising. But the ladies did not understand Anastasia’s reaction; instead, they found it peculiar.

“Your Majesty……did you die and come back to life? Otherwise, you can’t be this unruffled!”

“Oh, how did you know?”

Anastasia appeared startled at the unexpected conjecture, but the ladies naturally did not take it seriously. The maids appealed in frustration as if it wasn’t the time to play around in such a situation.

“Your Majesty…! We are serious!”

But this really is my second life.

In fact, even if it wasn’t for that reason, her personality was originally like this. Anastasia said with a grin.

“I mean, you don’t have to worry about me getting hurt anyway.”

“But I hope Your Majesty expresses hate to Lady Lutent and do something as retaliation.”

“Yes, Your Majesty…… You’re being a benevolent angel!”

The lady who uttered that immediately looked a little embarrassed.

Three months ago, such a compliment could not be used to describe Anastasia. 

Anastasia heartily burst into laughter, thinking that she had been living quite well.

“Hating others won’t benefit me. It’s a waste of time and energy.”

“Your heart is so…… you became more cordial.”

“You’re not going to forgive Lady Lutent, are you?”

“What?”

Anastasia laughed meaningfully when the maid urgently asked.

“Forgiveness? Don’t you mean punishment?”

“What? B–But just now…….”

“I said I wouldn’t hate her. I didn’t say I’d forgive her.”

“…….”

“They’re definitely different, don’t you think so?”

Anastasia’s eyes were smiling on the outside, but inside, a bright red flame resembling the color of her eyes seemed to ablaze.

As expected of Her Majesty! Her personality isn’t dead yet!

Phew, Good thing it came out like this. I was worried that she’d be bullied.

Of course, you don’t have to take revenge, but punishment must be given to her!

It was only then that the maids were relieved.

“Right! It’s different! Be sure to punish those ungrateful things, Your Majesty.”

“Show them that justice is alive!”

“Oh, now you look more like our Empress!”

For the first time, the maids were pleased with Anastasia’s ruthlessness, feeling a bit at ease.

“But I’m glad the Emperor handled it well.”

“Yes, I can’t believe he’d like to discuss it with Her Majesty. No matter what anyone says, you have once again nailed that the hostess of the Imperial Palace is Her Majesty.”

“……I know.”

His last remark certainly guaranteed her position flawlessly.

“But why?”

Didn’t he hate Anastasia? She thought he didn’t care what kind of situation she was in.

Thinking for a moment, Anastasia soon realized that she had thought of it one-sidedly and shook her head.

If you can’t throw it away anyway; you should at least prevent it from getting stuck in the gutter.

Anastasia did not become the Empress just because; rather, she was chosen by the goddess to become the Empress. It was a separate edict from the authority of the Emperor, a descendant of the goddess.

Maybe he’s bringing in a paramour? How many is he going to take in?

She wasn’t perturbed. For her, loving Wilhem was a separate matter.

There’s no need to feel upset because of the paramours since there is Avelin, the final boss. 

So Anastasia was nonchalant about it; even in paramour matters, where the Empress should react vehemently.

It’s pointless to care about people who didn’t even exist in the original.

That night, however, Anastasia experienced a sudden, intense panic due to Wilhelm’s unexpected action. 

***

“……Your Majesty.”

Anastasia – in her nightdress – stared at Wilhelm in incredulity.

“What brings you here…….”

“Is it strange for the husband to seek his wife’s bedroom?”

He asked curiously, leaving Anastasia speechless.

Of course, it wasn’t strange. But he knew better than anyone else what their relationship was like.

“……you’ve never done this before.”

“Done what?”

“You never came to my bedroom…….”

“Ah.”

Wilhelm, as if he had only realized, asked;

“Were you sad?”

……why is this happening?

Anastasia looked at him in bewilderment.

Wilhelm nodded, perhaps understanding silence as a positive answer.

“I’ll have to come often then.”

No, that’s not it!

Anastasia hurriedly opened her mouth.

“That’s not what I meant.”

“Then?”

“I mean, why all of a sudden…… What’s the matter?”

“I’m sure you know what happened today.”

“…….”

“Looking at your expression, I think you heard it.”

Wilhelm, who was looking at Anastasia’s face, muttered.

“But what are you doing here?”

Wilhelm then responded, a bit perplexed.

“Why are you being indifferent about it? Are you saying that the Empress’ seat is yours anyway?”

“……you’re here to discuss this matter.”

“Half.”

“Half?” Anastasia asked immediately in wonder.

“What about the other half?”

“It depends on your answer.”

She was about to question him what it was, but Wilhelm was faster.

“What do you think?”

He came straight to the point.

“Of taking in a paramour.”

“…….”

Anastasia was silent for a moment. However, it was not a silence of concern, but a silence to increase the authenticity of the answer that would follow.

A short time passed before she spoke.

“I shall obey His Majesty’s wishes.”

“What does that mean?”

“Do as you please.”

“As I please?”

Do as you please.

This line was usually used in one of the two situations. When you sincerely respect the other person’s choice or when it’s ironic.

In this situation, that answer was usually the latter.

Just do what you want. I’ll stay still.

Of course, it was supposed to mean like this…….

‘Why did it sound sincere?’

Wilhelm became displeased with the idea.

‘Why on earth do I feel like you don’t care one bit?’

Irritation flared up in the air as he angrily asked.

“You mean you don’t care even if I take in a hundred paramours?”

“A hundred is too much. You have to think about the royal budget.”

“……Oh, you don’t like a hundred paramours,”  Wilhelm remarked, baffled.

“Simply because of the royal budget?”

“Is there any other reason?”

“There is.”

He could now hear the unfamiliar anger in his voice, noticing the quiver in his tone that he was unsure whether it was because of anger or some other emotion.

“There should be. That shouldn’t be the essence of it.”

At least if she considered him to be her husband, she wouldn’t give such an answer.

Wilhelm stared intently at Anastasia, wondering if there was any possibility of ridiculousness in her reaction.

But he couldn’t read her at all. Her eyes were without emotion.

Such a reaction caused Wilhelm’s mind to become complicated and confused.

She meant it. His wife – without any pretense – was not interested in this matter.

When he realized it, beyond absurdity, an unfathomable, overwhelming emotion came to him.

All the plans he had made before he came here were gone. Wilhelm asked Anastasia as if he were chewing on words.

“Earlier, you asked me the other half of the reason I came here, right?” 

Anastasia just curiously stared at Wilhelm.

“Self-reflection.” 

“……what?”

“When I said I’d try harder with the Empress, Marquis Lutent said I’ve already tried hard enough. I wasn’t able to say anything when I heard that.”

An unusual crooked smile hung around Wilhelm’s mouth.

“We’re not a real couple yet; it’s a secret that only the two of us know.”

“……what?”

Is that what it was?

Anastasia appeared more embarrassed than ever.

Of course… She thought they already did it at least once, but they never did…?

……You two must have had a really awful relationship.

Nevertheless, she really didn’t know that it was to this extent.

“You looked surprised as if you’ve never been aware of it before.”

Even that reaction was regarded as indifference to himself. Wilhelm murmured in a somewhat despondent tone and remained silent for a moment.

Meanwhile, Anastasia was naturally quiet.

But before long, Wilhelm moved one step closer to her, causing Anastasia to recoil from the sudden movement.

But he soon approached Anastasia with bigger strides, and the embarrassed Anastasia took a step back as well.

“So, I made up my mind.”

The following words uttered from his lips made Anastasia freeze on the spot.

“I’m going to be a real couple with you today.”

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