Chapter 16

“Wh-what was that all of a sudden?”  

“My apologies. It just happened.”  

Lehan replied in a tone that didn’t sound apologetic at all. Edelis quickly let her hair down and composed herself.  

“Just happened?”  

“I’ll be careful for the next two weeks.”  

“Why two weeks… Oh.”  

Two weeks from now was their wedding day.  

“As I’ve said many times before, after that, I won’t hold back or be careful anymore.”  

Lehan smiled sweetly and kissed the back of her hand.  

‘Will my heart survive until the saintess arrives…?’

***

Edelis remembered nothing afterward. In a daze, she somehow managed to return to her room. After all that had happened, she vowed more firmly than ever.  

“If this keeps up, I’ll end up falling for Lehan.”  

When reading the book, she couldn’t understand why the Empress had fallen so deeply for the Emperor who would kill her. But now she completely understood. Lehan’s appearance, his actions, even the way he spoke to her—there was nothing to criticize. If she had known nothing, she might already have fallen for him.  

“He’s dangerous. So dangerous!”  

This couldn’t continue. If she fell for him, and he committed the same evil deeds as in the book after the saintess appeared, it wouldn’t be strange.  

‘That’s why I have to make my move first!’

<Attempt #3: A Hidden Lover> 

Lehan had approved of the two worst things an Empress could do. He even encouraged Edelis to enjoy herself and buy anything she wanted. So she changed tactics—this time, appealing to his emotions.

“Lehan, I have something to tell you.”  

“Go ahead.”  

While strolling through a quiet corner of the imperial garden after a meal, she brought it up.  

“I… I can’t be Empress.”  

“If it’s about your duties, didn’t we already resolve that? Don’t worry about it—I’ve already reassigned everything.”  

“No, that’s not it!”  

“Then what is?”  

Lehan spoke confidently, like he could solve any problem.  

‘But this is one he can’t fix—because it’s about feelings!’  

“I… I actually love someone else.”  

“…”  

“That’s why I can’t marry you.”  

“Who is it?”  

Lehan’s voice was icy cold. Just like the version of him in the book when he killed the Empress.  

“…”  

“I’m not blaming you. When I came to see you again, I thought there might be someone. Who is it?”  

“Um, well…”  

Edelis’s mind went blank. She hadn’t interacted with anyone in her seven years on the estate or during her reclusive time in the capital. Most noble girls made friends through their mothers, but Edelis had lost hers in childhood.  

‘Who do I say? Think, think…’

There was one. The last nobleman she had interacted with.  

“Lord Ruta Baise, the heir of the Baise viscounty.”  

“The one who asked you for a dance at your debut ball?”  

“You remembered?!”  

Edelis was genuinely shocked.  

“But you didn’t dance with him in the end, did you?”  

“That doesn’t mean I fell for the Emperor I did dance with that night.”  

“…”  

“Please, Lehan. I can’t be Empress. Please break off the engagement.”  

“No. That I cannot do. Absolutely not.”  

Lehan’s refusal was firm. He had never reacted like this before, and Edelis tried to push further.  

“Lehan—”  

“Enough.”  

Lehan raised his hand, cutting her off.  

“There will be no annulment. It’s not an option.”  

“But Lehan, I—”  

“I don’t want to hear it. It’s late—go back and get some rest.”  

He called Sir Pasis over.  

“Make sure she returns safely to her room.”  

“Lehan!”  

But Lehan turned and walked away toward his office.  

‘He looked so heartbroken…’

Edelis was overwhelmed with guilt. It wasn’t just the lie—it was the fact that her lie had hurt him.  

‘No, I can’t go soft now! When the saintess arrives, even Lehan will thank me.’

***

The next morning, Lehan summoned Edelis early. When she entered his office, he was there with a servant.

“What’s going on, Lehan?”  

“…”  

“Lehan?”  

“It’s nothing. Could you wait in the library for a moment?”  

“Alright.”  

He ordered the servant to escort her. Normally, Lehan would’ve done it himself. He was distancing himself.

‘Is this my chance to break it off?’

But when Lehan came into the library later, she realized she had been mistaken.

“Edelis.”  

“Yes?”  

“The servant you saw earlier—did you recognize him?”  

“He seemed new.”  

“He’ll be leaving the palace soon.”  

It was odd for someone newly hired to be leaving already.  

‘Did he do something wrong? What else would prompt him to meet the Emperor before resigning?’

But Edelis didn’t have time to theorize, because Lehan got straight to the point.

“Edelis. Why did you lie to me?”  

“…What do you mean?”  

“I found it strange. If you loved someone else, why did you ask me to run away with you? Why did you say you wanted to be by my side?”  

“…”  

“Didn’t you strongly criticize Ruta Baise at your debut?”  

“Maybe I did then, but my feelings changed.”  

“Also, Ruta isn’t the heir. He inherited the viscounty four years ago.”  

Edelis froze. She realized she was doomed.

“The servant you saw earlier—that was Ruta Baise.”  

As soon as Lehan had heard the name, he sent people to bring Ruta to the palace. Not forcibly, but with a royal escort, to ensure his safety. Lehan had considered having him eliminated immediately but decided to verify things first.

“He said he hasn’t had any contact with you since your debut ball.”  

“…”  

She wanted to make an excuse but couldn’t think of one.

“You said the Empress’ role was overwhelming?”  

“…Yes.”  

“Is that why you lied?”  

She nodded, unable to come up with anything else.

“You don’t have to do anything. Just stay by my side.”  

‘But the whole point of the lie was to get away from your side…’

“Before I found you again, I thought I could accept it if you loved someone else. But I can’t.”  

Lehan’s trembling hands pulled her into his arms. His heartbeat, pounding in her ears, and his tense touch proved he wasn’t lying.

“Take your time, but please… fall for me. Not someone else—me.”  

“Lehan…”  

“I keep wanting more. At first, just being close to you was enough. But now…”  

“I’m not that special. There are better women out there.”  

Like the actual female lead, for instance. But Lehan cut her off, firm and unshaken.

“There aren’t. Not for me.”  

He held her tighter, like he was afraid she’d vanish.

***

Back in her room, Edelis scrapped Operation #3.  

‘It failed completely. I ended up patting his back to comfort him!’

She held her head in her hands, torn between guilt over the lie and the wound it had caused. But she couldn’t abandon her mission. The wedding was drawing nearer every day.

“This might really be my last attempt.”  

She glanced at the newspaper in her hand.  

<Final Attempt: Eye for an Eye, Fight Obsession with Obsession!>  

A tiny article had shocked her: someone said their obsessive lover left them after they acted just as possessive in return.

“This is perfect! No betrayal, no deception—just harmless mimicry. I won’t get stabbed for this!”  

Since it wasn’t a lie, she wouldn’t feel guilty either. It might take time, but she had to try. Even if she couldn’t call off the engagement, she could still aim for divorce later!

“Alright, let’s do this!”  

Edelis went straight to Lehan.  

“Lehan.”  

“Yes?”  

He still looked a bit down from last time, which made her feel guilty. But if she wavered now, he’d end up witnessing her death. She steeled herself.

“What are you doing?”  

“Work.”  

“Can I stay here?”  

“Of course! There’s a sofa prepared just for you.”

Lehan beamed proudly. Edelis smiled inwardly—the article said the obsessed lover liked it at first! It was working.

She sat on the sofa with a book and muttered to herself: ‘Obsession, obsession!’  

As soon as Lehan picked up a document, she spoke.  

“What are you reading?”  

“Customs duties for trade goods.”  

“I want to read too!”  

“Sure.”

He handed it over easily, which threw her off. But obsession meant taking excessive interest in everything your partner did.

“This figure’s wrong.”  

She handed it back, pointing.  

“It should be 3,328, but it says 3,428.”  

“You’re right. Good catch.”  

“Here too.”  

“I see.”  

“How did the final total stay accurate if one of the figures changed?”  

Lehan summoned a deputy and ordered them to return the document for revision, proudly saying the Empress had caught the mistake. Edelis panicked.

‘I wasn’t supposed to actually do the work… but I couldn’t ignore it either!’

Seeing the affection in his eyes grow, she quickly changed tactics.  

“Lehan, what’s your favorite food?”  

“Beef.”  

“What kind of weather?”  

“A cool day—perfect for a walk with you.”  

She blinked. Why was she suddenly involved in the answer?

“Favorite color?”  

“Gold, then green.”  

“Why?”  

“Because gold is the color of your hair and my eyes. Green is the color of your eyes.”  

“…Anything else you like?”  

“Edelis.”  

“Huh?”  

“I like you.”

She froze. The whole point was to overwhelm him with obsessive attention, but somehow, it felt like he was seducing her. He was smiling lazily as he covered her hand with his own.

Knock knock. A maid entered with Edelis’s favorite snacks.

‘Embarrassment is temporary. If I can extend my lifespan…!’  

Edelis made a noble sacrifice. She would now suspect every woman.

“Who is she? What’s your relationship with her?”