Chapter 15

“That’s impossible!”

To prepare for a wedding, she first needed a dress tailored, pick out wedding jewelry, and get skin treatments. On top of that, she was supposed to obtain the list of foreign delegations, memorize their nationalities and characteristics. Yet—they only had two weeks left!

“I don’t even have a dress!”

“That’s why the maids are waiting in your office. Everything will be done on schedule, so please don’t worry.”

Edelis was taken aback by Lehan’s words. What she was worried about wasn’t that the dress wouldn’t be ready in time—it was the wedding itself.

“How could you…”

As she struggled to find the words, flustered, Lehan spoke with a sheepish smile.

“I started preparing as soon as I ascended the throne.”

“What?”

“Luckily, the madam from the boutique we used to go to still makes your clothes, so she already knows your preferences and measurements.”

“…”

“I’ve already arranged for the capital’s most famous boutique designer—one worthy of an Empress—to work on your dress. Just in case, I also asked the previous madam to come up with designs.”

Edelis was stunned at how unnecessarily meticulous Lehan could be.

“The treasures in the royal vault are already yours. Ever since I took the throne, I’ve been buying up every decent item that came up for auction…”

He seemed to be saying she didn’t even need to worry about jewelry. But Edelis was too shocked by the news of her wedding to hear any of that.

‘…All this was being prepared without me even knowing?’

Now that the envoys were on their way, there was no pushing the date back. In the end, it meant she would have to meet the schedule.

“Let’s go.”

“Where would you like to go?”

“My office, of course. Didn’t you say the maids are waiting?”

“Understood.”

Edelis hurried out of the treasure vault with Lehan. Even in her dazed state, she didn’t forget to drape herself in as much jewelry as she could carry.

***

To prepare for the wedding, Edelis had dress fittings, and during her free time, she underwent skincare treatments. She now laid on a bed with a mixture of yogurt and honey smeared on her face. Even in that state, she read through documents listing the characteristics of the soon-to-arrive delegations. Knowing them well would help her build connections—and in case things ever went wrong and she needed to flee across a border, those connections could prove crucial.

“…From Serniere, there’s Marquis Kante and Sir Mirhi.”

She muttered as she tried to memorize the names. Some were so difficult she almost threw the documents several times, but she held back.

“Sir Mirhi?”

“Hm?”

“Ah, pardon me. Did you say Sir Mirhi from Serniere is coming?”

Edelis had been trying to find ways to grow closer to Sir Pasis. In the book, they’d already been close, but that sort of trust couldn’t come from nowhere. Still, for someone like her, who had lived a secluded life in the county without building relationships just in case she had to flee one day, socializing was no easy task. Yet now, unexpectedly, Sir Pasis had spoken to her first.

“Yes, that’s right. Do you know him?”

The document’s information on him had been pitifully lacking.

“Of course I do! Sir Mirhi picked up a sword for the first time at age four, and by seven, he was already…”

It was obvious to anyone that he admired Sir Mirhi deeply. Thanks to that, Edelis felt she wouldn’t need to read his file twice to remember it.

“You really do know a lot.”

“Anyone who’s a knight knows him.”

“Is that so…”

A maid who had been helping with Edelis’s skincare gently wiped the mixture off her face as the time came. Her skin now felt shinier, more radiant than before.

“Ah, and Your Majesty. The Chancellor just sent a memo.”

“A memo?”

Pasis handed her the note, which informed her of a correction in one of the files.

“Count Ludalt was scheduled to remarry, but the engagement’s been called off? Then I’d better not mention it.”

She had almost congratulated him on his marriage. Imagine how it would feel to attend someone else’s wedding right after your own engagement was broken off. She was lucky not to make that mistake.

‘…But a broken engagement?’

Edelis suddenly smacked her own forehead with the stack of papers.

“Are you alright?!”

“Yes, I’m fine. Don’t worry.”

“Shall I call a doctor…”

“No, I’m really fine.”

Edelis regretted not thinking of breaking off the engagement sooner.  

‘Right, I can call it off before we even get married! Why did I only ever think about divorce?’  

Now, the word “breakup” floated vividly in her head.  

‘No, actually, it’s a good thing I thought of it now. There’s still two weeks left before the wedding!’ 

Even if she didn’t break off the engagement now, it might serve as leverage for a divorce later. So, she decided to first come up with a plan to get the engagement called off, then go see Lehan.

“Do you think I could find out why Count Ludalt’s engagement was broken off? I just want to be careful, that’s all!”

She added an unnecessary explanation out of guilt, but Sir Pasis didn’t seem particularly suspicious.

“I’ll confirm with the chancellor.”

“Please do.”

She might not be able to find out the real reason for Ludalt’s broken engagement, and even if she used the same method, it might not work. So she would come up with several ways to get the engagement annulled and try them one by one. Of course, it was important not to go too far—getting herself killed would defeat the purpose.

‘Alright! Let’s do this!’

A short while later, Pasis came back with the information: the breakup had been caused by conflict between the two families.

‘If a conflict arises between the emperor and a noble house… that’s treason…’ 

Treason was absolutely out of the question. Ludalt’s case wouldn’t help her.

Instead, Edelis decided to think of something she could do as Empress and immediately went to find Lehan. With little time left before the wedding, she had to make the most of every moment. On her way to the corridor leading to the Emperor’s office, she saw a servant carrying a huge stack of documents.

‘This is it!’  

<Attempt #1: Operation Incompetent Empress> 

Knock knock.

“Who is it?”

“It’s me, Lehan.”

As soon as she answered, the door swung open.

“Edelis! What brings you here?”

“Could we talk for a bit?”

“Of course.”

Lehan’s desk was still piled with an overwhelming amount of paperwork.

“What’s going on?”

“Well… I don’t know if it’s really a problem, but…”

“What is it?”

“To be honest, I never thought I’d become the Empress.”

“…Yes.”

“So I’m not confident I can do the duties of an Empress.”

She had received basic education on what the lady of a noble house was expected to do, but once she found the book, she had thrown herself into studying foreign languages, geography, and medicine to prepare for life on the run.

‘But the duties of an empress? Hosting banquets, managing concubines, uniting nobles, overseeing citizens… it’s on another level.’

Not that she couldn’t do it. Most empresses didn’t come fully trained, and it was normal to receive extensive tutoring afterward. Still, declaring she couldn’t do anything before even trying would surely make Lehan lose affection for her.

‘Even Lehan, who grew up without any proper education, is handling imperial duties just fine…’

Without even a hint of hesitation, Lehan replied, “Then don’t do it.”

“Huh?”

“If you don’t want to do it, then don’t.”

He said it so matter-of-factly that Edelis was thrown off.

“B-but they’re the empress’s responsibilities…”

“The ministers and I handled everything before you came. We can continue like that.”

“But those are supposed to be the empress’s duties!”

“If it’s too much for you, there’s no need to do it.”

“…Won’t people criticize me? Saying the Empress doesn’t even do her job?”

The warm atmosphere in the office suddenly turned cold. It felt like the temperature had dropped.

“Who would dare criticize you?”

Lehan’s tone was icy, but then he smiled gently and pressed his forehead against hers.

“You said it yourself before—how you just wanted to be by my side, not necessarily as the Empress.”

“W-why are you bringing that up now!”

He was recalling what she’d said in desperation, and just thinking about when he kissed her made her heart pound again.

“My wife doesn’t need to do any of that. Just stay by my side.”

Edelis knew immediately: Her Attempt #1 at breaking off the engagement had failed miserably.  

‘But I can’t give up like this! Not if I want to stay alive!’

She launched into Attempt #2: Excessive luxury and indulgence!  

Especially after declaring she wouldn’t do any empress duties, if she demanded luxury and flaunted power, Lehan had to start losing interest. Right?

“Lehan!”

“Yes?”

He looked at her lovingly, arms gently around her. Handsome or not, he was still someone who might kill her. Edelis steeled herself.

“There’s something I want.”

“What is it?”

He looked ready to give her anything.

“T-there’s a necklace called ‘Mermaid’s Tear’ that’s up for auction. They say it’s really beautiful!”

“You wanted that?”

“It sold for a record-breaking amount…”

She’d heard that with that much money, you could buy several mansions in the capital.

“Hmm…”

Lehan looked thoughtful.

‘Was that too expensive? I picked the most extravagant thing I’d ever heard of, but maybe I overdid it…’

“To me, it looked like just an ordinary jewel. Maybe I’m not good at judging gems.”

“You’ve seen it?!”

“Yes, it’s in your drawer.”

“…What?!”

Lehan rang a bell to summon an attendant and ordered them to retrieve the Mermaid’s Tear from Edelis’s jewelry collection. When the maid returned with the dazzling gem, Edelis was speechless.

‘Why is this in my drawer?!’

“T-this is Mermaid’s Tear?”

She remembered seeing it in her jewelry box today, but it looked so flashy she hadn’t even considered wearing it.

“Would you like to try it on? I’ll help.”

“Sure…”

She couldn’t very well say no now. Edelis gathered her long hair to one side so it wouldn’t get in the way. Lehan stood behind her and gently placed the necklace around her neck.

“Edelis…”

“Hm?”

“…Nothing.”

His large hands fumbled slightly with the clasp. Unlike the cold gemstone, his warm fingers left trails of heat where they brushed her skin. His focused breath tickled her neck—she thought she might explode.

‘My heart—it’s going to burst! I should’ve asked for a maid instead!’

At last, she heard the click of the clasp and sighed with relief. She lifted the necklace gently to admire it. It was unbelievably beautiful and ornate.

“So pretty…”

“I’m glad. I paid extra to buy it off the person who originally won the bid.”

“You added extra to that insane price?!”

“I thought it would suit you. But it was already sold…”

Lehan smiled brightly, but Edelis was more baffled than anything by the sheer scale of imperial extravagance. The weight of the necklace on her neck felt suffocating.

‘What if it gets scratched or something?’

To Edelis, who’d grown up a count’s daughter, this level of opulence was completely foreign. She admitted that breaking off the engagement by playing the “luxury-loving Empress” would require more studying.

Worried she might damage the necklace, she reached up to take it off—but it wouldn’t come loose.

“Could you call a maid to help me take this off?”

“I’ll help you.”

“It’s okay!”

“It’s fine.”

Lehan stepped behind her again, and Edelis’s heart started racing as the earlier memory flashed back. She swept her hair to one side again and waited nervously for the necklace to be unfastened. Another click—but just as she was about to relax…

“Eek!”

A tiny gasp escaped her as she slapped a hand over her mouth.

Lehan had kissed her.  

On the now-exposed side of her neck.  

Where her hair had been swept aside.  

On her bare skin.  

And the feeling of his lips was unmistakable.