Until The Real One Shows Up​

Before discovering the location, Wilhelm anticipated that Anastasia would be angry.

However, even if she didn’t love him, he found it unpleasant.

Even if her feelings for him were out of possessiveness.

No one wanted to lose what they had to anyone.

‘Even if it’s something insignificant to you, isn’t it natural to get angry if someone takes it away?’

Moreover, bringing in a paramour in a situation where there was no heir was a matter that could sufficiently shake the position of the Empress.

‘I mean, I thought you’d show me your feelings this time.’

“Do as you please.”

She sounded sincere. At first, he denied it; though eventually, he had no choice but to accept it.

‘She’s not interested in me, even in these matters.’

‘Why on earth…… Why? Why do you hate me so much?’

‘Is it possible that you, as a wife, would be apathetic about these issues?’

Anastasia’s continued indifference provoked Wilhelm’s pride and desire to win.

How would she react if he approached her first?

He slowly came closer to her. Consequently, she unconsciously flinched and took a step back.

It was oddly gratifying. This time, he made his stride wider and approached her.

She appeared more bewildered than before, trying to walk back further.

But he didn’t want to give her that chance. In anticipation of Anastasia’s ensuing reaction, Wilhelm immediately dropped the bomb.

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

The moment she heard his words, her eyes widened for the first time.

The same unknown pleasure he felt earlier thrilled him. 

Wilhelm’s smile became wretched.

‘Yes, you have to come out this much to respond to me.’

Like a boy who bullied a girl he liked just to get her attention, a strange feeling began to eat him up.

~~~~

If Anastasia was acting clueless about this, she would have been deceiving herself.

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

The moment she heard it, her heart began to beat fast.

It wasn’t just excitement. There was also a dire warning resounding within her.

Not to spend the night with him.

‘…I won’t be able to handle it.’

She knew herself well. She may go crazy if she became a real couple with him, arranging themselves to sleep together. 

She loved him that much. It was tormenting. 

At the same time, she would be miserable to the point of wanting to die since she would let herself succumb to happiness that would not last.

She and Wilhelm have a relationship that would end in less than a year.

It was foolish to pursue a tempting circumstance that would lead to a catastrophe. How was it different from taking drugs?

‘So I have to reject it.’

There was no room for further thought. Anastasia answered quickly.

“I don’t want to.”

Wilhelm appeared puzzled by the firm answer.

Anastasia continued, remaining steadfast.

“I have no intention of trying with His Majesty.”

“… You are fine seeing me having an heir with a paramour?” 

“It’s only a matter of me adopting him as my son.”

There have already been countless precedents. The Empress, who couldn’t give birth to a child, adopted an illegitimate child and succeeded the Emperor.

Even the original Anastasia, didn’t she consider adopting someone from outside the Imperial family?

More importantly, as long as Avelin was present, this conversation was meaningless. Anastasia expressed resolutely.

“So go back.”

“You really hate me.”

Wilhelm looked strangely hurt and angry.

Anastasia was distressed to see him like that, so she turned her gaze away.

Perhaps he took it personally, the tone in Wilhelm’s voice escalated.

“If it wasn’t for the oracle, you would have turned down the position of Empress, right?”

“Of course.”

It was true. As soon as she returned, she would have thrown away that hazardous coffin of the Empress and left the Palace on her own if she could.

She sensed the perplexed gaze Wilhelm was giving her. As well as the ever-present anger.

“Alright. I’ve decided.”

He spoke again – after a long time – more restrained than before.

“The government will not interfere.”

Anastasia stared at him in silence. Wilhelm then asked, his mouth sullen. 

“Is that right? You told me to do as I please.”

“If that is what His Majesty wants.”

Anastasia replied calmly.

“I’ll act according to your bidding.”

“…”

Wilhelm glared at her for a moment and rushed out of the bedroom.

Once the sound of his footsteps receded, Anastasia slumped on the spot.

“Your Majesty!”

Selene, who walked inside after Wilhelm left, was startled and ran to her.

“Your Majesty, are you alright?”

“… It’s alright, Selene.”

Anastasia managed to open her mouth and reply. Selene hurriedly helped Anastasia to her feet and assisted her to her bed. Anastasia murmured with an empty expression:

“Should I be happy?”

“What?”

“…No, nothing.”

Let’s not worry. It has nothing to do with her anyway.

Anastasia shook her head and answered weakly, and Selene, who was looking at her, cautiously asked.

“Did you quarrel with His Majesty?”

She was unsure. Was it a fight? She didn’t even raise her voice.

‘Wilhelm looked angry, though.’

 But why? She couldn’t understand.

The dissatisfaction of the Empress was not that important to him.

‘It’s better for him that I wasn’t being clingy.’

Nevertheless, she was more confused. She has loved him for a very long time and she believed she knew him well enough.

However, for the first time, he felt strange to her.

~~~~

A few days after that, Duke Barantes came to visit.

“Your Majesty, you’ve lost a lot of weight.”

He said so in a mournful voice as soon as he saw Anastasia. Anastasia then asked with a quizzical look.

“Me?”

“Yes, you’ve become half your original weight!”

Duke Barantes burst into anger.

But Anastasia was still puzzled.

“I don’t think so. I haven’t lost any weight…”

If anything, she had instead gained weight.

It was because the maids made her eat meat at every meal, saying that she should eat better at times like these. They also brought dessert every hour, claiming she needed a change of mood.

She felt that she was getting fatter as she kept eating. She was even contemplating controlling herself better…

“No, you’re too thin. You must be having a hard time… sigh.”

Eventually, Duke Barantes couldn’t hold back his emotions and burst into tears.

Surprised, Anastasia hurriedly placated him.

“I’m really fine, Dad. I’ve never had a hard time.”

“But who wouldn’t be sad about this?”

Duke Barantes did not seem to believe Anastasia’s words.

He appeared to be distraught, crying all over again.

“Is it true that you have resigned yourself to the situation when you said you would obey the will of the Emperor? Our poor majesty…”

“His Majesty said that?”

“Yes. He also conveyed that he doesn’t want to let a paramour in.”

“…”

“Hence, the opposition – including Marquis Lutent – vehemently opposed it. They said he couldn’t continue without a successor. So….”

Duke Barantes paused to control his rising anger and concluded.

“We have reached an agreement that His Majesty will take in maids.”

“Ladies in waiting?”

“Yes. It was decided that about five people were to enter the Palace.”

Being an Emperor’s maid was something similar to being his mistress.

The reason for that was the higher possibility of her excelling if she were to have a close interaction with the Emperor.

Therefore, it could be said that it was a process that one must succeed in before becoming a paramour.

But this one was a little different.

If a noble did not receive the other nobles’ blessing and presented a maid, there was a chance that nothing would happen.

However, the future was unknown, so the nobles were on the lookout for any opportunity.

‘… Well, it doesn’t really matter to me.’

“Also, one of the five maids is Melina Lutent.”

Then, the Duke spoke in a wrathful voice.

“These days, I have trouble sleeping at night because of how revolting she and her family is. I don’t know about the others, but Marquis Lutent shouldn’t have done that to us. Ever since the last time His Majesty expressed his concern, they have shown signs of betraying us.”

“Or maybe they didn’t mean to direct it to us from the start, as my maid said.”

“What?! What? Those despicable people…!”

Anastasia unintentionally fired up her father, and now there was a fire in his eyes.

“I’ll just…!”

“Take it easy, Dad. I’m afraid you’ll hurt yourself.”

“… Mrs. Rochester was saying that you were an angel, so maybe that’s why?”

Duke Barantes appeared more blown away and worried at Anastasia’s calmness.

“Are you sure you’re okay? I wonder if you’ve experienced a great shock that caused you to be disturbed.….”

“No, and you don’t have to worry too much.”

“I don’t have to worry? What if one of those ladies becomes his mistress? What if they give birth to his son? What if Miss Lutent is among them?”

Duke Barantes, the head of the family, soon screamed and covered his head at the terrifying implication.

“Well, if that happens, you’ll just burn yourself out in the battle and collapse.”

“Don’t worry. That won’t happen.”

“Do you have any reason for being so confident?”

“Of course.”

The male lead would never cheat on the female lead. It’s even more ridiculous to see an illegitimate child.

Anastasia quietly reminded herself of the fact that she shouldn’t divulge it to anyone, and only smiled meaningfully.