Until The Real One Shows Up​

Fortunately, shortly after Wilhelm arrived, the fire at the Cysteine Palace was quickly extinguished.

“Thankfully, we had the forethought to store an ample amount of water for today’s celebration.”

“It could have been more problematic. It’s going to be cold soon; pay more attention to fire management from now on.”

“Understood, Your Majesty.”

“What’s the cause of today’s fire? Is it arson?”

“I’ll immediately see to it and thoroughly investigate.”

“Committing arson in the Palace is a felony. Be sure to find out the cause.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Will you be returning to the banquet hall now?”

Colton asked once everything was temporarily settled. Wilhelm shook his head.

“I think you should change your clothes before you go back.”

“After remaining at the scene of the fire for quite some time, the smell of smoke seemed to permeate your clothes.”

Hence, Wilhelm decided to go straight to the Central Palace to change into a new suit and take a short break.

Meanwhile, Colton prepared chamomile tea – which he often drank – for the exhausted Wilhelm. He was about to bring it to Wilhelm’s room when someone called him.

“Sir Colton?”

He turned to the familiar voice.

It was Siena of the Orangtin family, one of the ladies who, like Melina, had also entered the Central Palace.

“Lady Orangtin, I thought you were at the banquet hall. What are you doing here?”

“I’m here to take a break. But Lord Colton, why are you here…?”

“I just came from putting out the fire in the Cysteine Palace. His Majesty wanted to take a break.”

“Oh, I see. I’m glad the fire was safely put out.”

Siena smiled and asked, pointing to the teapot in Colton’s hand.

“Are you going to give that to the Emperor?”

“Yes.”

“Can I bring it to him instead?”

“…Lady?”

“Yes, I’m also a lady-in-waiting of the Central Palace.”

Siena smiled innocently and wondered.

“It is fine for me to do that, right?”

“…”

Colton hesitated, unable to answer immediately.

Although Melina’s actions had made the Central Palace’s ladies’ positions rocky, Siena was still a court lady of the Central Palace.

However, he was strangely unwilling. Even though it didn’t signify anything.

“I can’t?”

Siena asked in distress as if anxious about the situation.

Colton pondered a little more and opened his mouth.

“Sure.”

Eventually, the tray with the teapot in Colton’s hands went over to Siena.

With a faint smile, she said to him:

“Thank you, Lord Colton.”

It was only then that the whole plan was in motion.

~~~~

Meanwhile, Wilhelm was staring at an empty vase.

Not long ago, that vase had the red roses Anastasia had given him.

Sadly, the roses gradually withered and eventually rotted. Naturally, it was quickly disposed of before it completely crumbled.

Colton offered to put in new ones, reciting various kinds of flowers to him, but he rejected them.

All that remained now was an insignificant, empty vase.

However, looking at it reminded him of Anastasia.

He recalled the time when she gave him that bouquet of red roses. Her dress was similar to that of a rose, and she had a flustered look on her.

Naturally, he also remembered the bright smile she had when she held those flowers.

He couldn’t help but be honest with himself: He no longer hated Anastasia as much as he used to.

Wasn’t it normal? The reason he despised her in the first place was because of her blind reliance on that oracle and being arrogant about it.

Moreover, there was also her senseless acts and dereliction of duty as the Empress.

Fortunately, the current Empress was no longer like that. Her attitude had softened and her dignified display as the Empress was much more befitting. 

However, whenever she stared at him, she would set the blade as it was*.

*TN: kept things clear as the same as before

At first, he thought it might be a ruse. However, he gave up on that thought when he witnessed her diligence even in imperial matters. It seemed she really hated him.

Therefore, when he no longer received her affection, he felt angry.

‘How long are you going to avoid me and treat me like a stranger?’

He then did things that he normally would never have done.

He first asked her to dance and then offered reconciliation.

“I like for us to remain how we usually are. The only thing that should be rectified is my negligence in my duties as the Empress—”

It was impressive how she declared that she would now perform her duties as the Empress while simultaneously rejecting him.

Who the hell did the Empress think she was? The Emperor’s legal representative? Where was the concept of being one’s spouse?

So when he saw the embarrassed look on her, when he seethingly mentioned what must happen between married couples, he thought it was worth it.

…He could have stayed with her if it weren’t for the fire.

Then he could continue watching her be uneasy while anticipating what answer she would give to get out of the situation.

It wasn’t that bad. At least, it was much more enjoyable than the Empress’ evasion, which made him feel troubled.

“You won’t be able to depose me anyway.”

That fact, nonetheless, was quite odd.

How long could she maintain her current attitude when they live the rest of their lives together?

Relating it to what he was feeling now, Wilhelm could imagine the pleasure he would feel once he saw Anastasia again.

Knock. Knock.

He was thinking that he should return to the banquet hall when he heard the knock. Assuming that it was Colton, Wilhelm said: 

“Come in.”

But it wasn’t Colton who showed up.

Wilhelm narrowed his brows as he looked at Siena approaching him with a teapot.

Siena quickly poured the tea into an empty cup, regardless of Wilhelm’s sharp gaze.

“Chamomile tea, Your Majesty. It’s good for relieving fatigue.”

“…I see that you asked Colton to let you do it yourself.”

“Don’t you think Lord Colton should rest, too? That’s why I’m here for you instead.”

Siena replied with a grin.

“Also, I wanted to take this opportunity to see you.”

“Come to think of it,”

Wilhelm interrupted, staring at Siena with an indifferent face.

“I haven’t decided yet where the four remaining court ladies should go.”

“What do you mean, Your Majesty?”

“I plan to execute your dismissal as soon as possible. So it would be better to pack up ahead of time.”

“Your Majesty, the one in the wrong was only Lady Lutent.”

Siena complained to Wilhelm in disbelief.

“Aren’t you being too much, letting us also shoulder the blame?”

“Let you shoulder the blame?”

Hearing her discontent, Wilhelm muttered, his gaze stone-cold.

“If someone heard you, they’d think you did nothing wrong.”

“…”

“Didn’t you also collude with Lady Lutent in the last incident? Even a mite?”

Siena couldn’t say yes to Wilhelm’s continuous questioning.

Everyone knew that the four women in the Central Palace helped spread the rumor of the Empress’ alleged infertility.

When Anastasia showed up at Melina’s tea party, all four of them were there.

When Siena only bit her lips in response, Wilhelm openly laughed at her.

“You should be grateful that I didn’t punish you all together.”

Simultaneously, Wilhelm picked up the teapot, poured himself a cup, and then drank it.

All of these were silently watched by Siena. 

“Get out of here.”

“…That…”

She looked directly at Wilhelm and continued,

“I can’t do that.”

“What?”

“Because…”

Siena’s expression quickly contorted into a smile.

“His Majesty will soon show his love to me.”

“What do you—”

Before he could make sense of what was happening, he felt intense dizziness washed over him.

Soon, unexpected heat spread all over his body as if a volcano erupted from within him.

“Ha….”

Breathing out heavily, it didn’t take him long to realize the meaning behind Siena’s words.

“You…”

“Fortunately, I’m the only one here. If there were others, using the medicine would be a waste.” 

Siena smiled and shook her head.

“I don’t want to leave, Your Majesty. This room, the palace.”

“…Get out. Now.”

“I can’t do that. Why would I waste this kind of opportunity?”

Siena then began to laugh at him.

“Besides, in five minutes, you’ll start whispering sweet words to me, of how much you love me.”

“Get out of here now!”

Wilhelm roared as he rose from his seat.

But, immediately, he lost control of himself and stumbled.

With a look of surprise, Siena approached Wilhelm and helped him.

“Oh, my lord, are you all right?”

“Sigh….”

“It’s better to give up, Your Majesty.”

Siena smiled faintly and whispered in Wilhelm’s ear as if teasing.

“Your Majesty will soon love me passionately.”

“Don’t be ridiculous. Now—”

Bang!

At that moment, the door opened violently. Wilhelm and Siena gazed at the door, startled.

“Sigh….”

Anastasia, who seemed to have rushed to get there, was panting heavily.

“Fortunately….”

Anastasia breathed a sigh of relief at the sight of the two people who still appeared fine.

“I guess it’s not too late.”

“How are you…”

While Siena was at a loss and panicking, Anastasia decisively approached the two.

‘Is she also going to slap me?’

Having seen Melina be slapped at the last tea party, her body unconsciously trembled while her face became tense.

However, Anastasia went to Wilhelm instead, not showing any interest in Siena.

“Your Majesty, are you alright? Your Majesty!”

“… Empress?”

Wilhelm opened his lips, still struggling.

“How can you…”

“…I apologize, Your Majesty.”

Anastasia crisply said to Wilhelm.

“For now, this is the only way.”

“What do you—”

The moment Wilhelm was about to ask what she meant, Anastasia cupped his cheek and kissed him.

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