Chapter 18

Edelis was determined to confirm whether the mysterious female Saintess was truly the Saintess. If she was, then Edelis’s course of action would drastically change.

“Let’s prepare to receive the delegation.”

At her command, the maids quickly began dressing her up. Since it was her first time meeting envoys from a foreign nation, she wore an elaborate dress and was adorned accordingly.

“Where is the delegation now?”  She asked a maid once she had finished getting ready.

“They will be granted an audience with His Majesty in approximately thirty minutes.”

“Then let’s head to His Majesty.”

If reality was starting to unfold like the book she had read, she had to stop it.

* * *

Edelis headed to the Emerald Palace, where the Emperor resided. Lehan was already in the reception room.

“Edelis!”

“Mm.”

“I told you, there’s no need for you to carry out duties as Empress.”

“I wanted to come.”

She had seen the Saintess in the book. If the female Saintess was truly the Saintess, she would recognize her immediately. If not, she could simply press on with her divorce preparations. But if she was the Saintess…

“I wanted to see them too.”

“…Have you seen them before?”

Did Lehan know something about the Saintess? That would be troublesome.

“What do you mean…? Oh, wait—you didn’t come because you miss me, did you?”

“No, I’m curious about the delegation.”

Edelis had naturally meant the foreign envoys, but Lehan had misunderstood and thought she came to see him.

“Then next time, come to see me.”

“Hm.”

“Anytime. It doesn’t matter.”

“Anytime?”

If she was going to continue her <Obsession with Obsession> strategy, she probably would have to visit him again.

“Did you forget? If you tell the chamberlain, he’ll lead you straight to the room I’m staying in.”

“R-right…”

“Even in the dead of night, when everyone’s asleep.”

Lehan leaned in and whispered near her ear with a languid smile. His warm breath brushing against her earlobe made Edelis instinctively cover her ears. But her red ears peeked clearly through her fingers.

“…”

“To my bedroom.”

Even if she continued the strategy, she resolved to only visit while the sun was bright and high. At that moment, a knock at the door swiftly cooled the heated atmosphere. Knock knock.

“Your Majesties, the delegation from the Holy Empire requests an audience.”

‘The Holy Empire’s delegation.’ The moment she heard those words, Edelis tensed up. Lehan gently patted her shoulder to reassure her. She turned to him and smiled. ‘I’m okay. Everything’s fine.’

“Let them in.”

With Lehan’s permission, the doors opened and three members of the Holy Empire’s delegation entered. Behind the two low-ranking male priests stood the female Saintess—Edelis’s eyes immediately fixed on her.

‘Brown hair… just like in the book.’

The female lead had the same hair color. When the priests finished bowing and lifted their heads, Edelis recognized her at once.

‘…It’s her.’

She wasn’t some mere Saintess. To replace a high-ranking priest just before a diplomatic visit? That meant she held high authority. Edelis had only seen her a few times, but there was no forgetting her—she was the female protagonist, the Saintess.

Her heart sank. Her worst fear had come true: the female lead had arrived.

‘Why did she come so soon…?!’

Edelis wanted to survive. But now the female protagonist was inside the empire, and time continued ticking forward. If things kept following the book, those scenes she had dreaded might soon come to pass. Of course, she had tried everything to prevent that from happening.

‘I can’t waste time—I need to revise my plan.’

For now, this was their first formal audience. The female protagonist was standing right in front of her. Edelis forced herself to remain composed, not wanting to appear shaken. Though her nails dug into her palms until they bled, no one could see, so it was fine.

“Greetings. I’ve come as a representative of the Holy Empire.”

The Saintess looked quite young—about twenty, around the same age as Lehan. But the way she spoke was confident and commanding, fitting for someone representing an entire nation. She didn’t seem like someone who had been added to the delegation at the last minute. It felt more like she had been preparing for this moment all along.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you. With the blessings of the priests, this wedding will surely be even more meaningful.”

Edelis watched their fated first meeting unfold. Soon, the two would be drawn to each other. And her own future…

‘No. It’s not too late yet. Not yet. I’m going to do everything I can.’

She shook off the negative thoughts. But the way the Saintess was already looking at the Emperor—with clear interest—it seemed like love at first sight.

‘What should I do? Should I follow the book and help Lehan and the heroine get together?’

Her mind was already overflowing with worries. She had suspected the female Saintess might be the protagonist—but she’d never wanted it to be true.

“I’m glad you came. I hope you enjoy your stay here.”

“…Thank you.”

The Saintess, eyes still fixed on the Emperor, responded belatedly. But Lehan, unlike her, didn’t seem interested. Instead, when his eyes met Edelis’s—who was closely watching the exchange—he smiled slyly.

‘It won’t be easy pushing the two together.’

For now, it was clear that Lehan still preferred her over the Saintess. But the two were destined to fall in love. With the right trigger, it could all change in an instant.

“There will be a banquet once all the delegations have arrived. You should attend.”

“Yes, understood.”

The Saintess responded brightly to the Emperor’s words. It wasn’t just excitement for the banquet—her clear affection for the Emperor was showing. But Lehan, having nothing more to say, brought the meeting to a close.

“You must be tired from the journey. You may go and rest now.”

“…Yes.”

The Saintess looked like she wanted to say something more, but couldn’t disobey. After they left and the door closed behind them, Edelis finally exhaled the breath she’d been holding. Her head throbbed, and she pressed her fingers to her forehead.

“Edelis, are you alright?”

She couldn’t even answer. She just turned her head to look at Lehan, who stared back at her with genuine concern.

“I’m fine.”

“You must’ve been nervous—it was your first official duty as Empress.”

“…Maybe.”

She had been nervous. Because she thought she might see the female lead. Now it has come true.

“If it’s too hard, you don’t have to meet the rest of the delegations.”

“No. I’m fine now.”

The most important delegation—the Holy Empire—was already over. All that remained was building ties with the others. Now that the female lead was here, it was even more crucial to secure as many escape routes as possible.

‘Even rabbits dig multiple burrows to stay safe!’

Edelis resolved to build as many diplomatic connections as she could during this visit.

“But… are you really alright now?”

“Yeah, I’m fine.”

“Hmm… Actually, I was hoping you’d ask me something.”

Even though she had just said she was okay, what did he mean by that?

“You said you don’t like seeing me with other women, right?”

“That’s…!”

“That Saintess just now was a woman too. Was that really okay?”

If she said that to the female lead, she might end up like in the book—disgraced or killed by the Emperor.

‘I can’t believe my past strategy is coming back to bite me like this!’

“I-it’s fine! Totally fine! I didn’t mind at all!”

“I see.”

Lehan looked disappointed. Edelis, who was planning to push him toward the Saintess, was flustered by the turn of the conversation.

“You can get close to her if you want.”

“No. I don’t want to do anything that would worry my wife.”

“No, really, it’s fine!”

“I’m fine too. More accurately, I just don’t want to get close to her.”

“Why?!”

It was clear the Saintess liked him—so why wouldn’t he?

“Because I have you.”

Lehan lifted her hand and pressed a kiss to her knuckles. Edelis’s heart thudded painfully. From the kiss—or maybe because she couldn’t see a way out anymore. If she could just push the two of them together and be rewarded for it with a hefty settlement, that would be perfect. But Lehan clearly had no such intention. This was becoming a real problem.

‘I need a new plan. It’s time for <Operation Divorce>.’

Safely getting divorced while securing a comfortable future was now the goal.

“Lehan, I’m going to the library now.”

“Then allow me to escort you.”

“It’s just right there.”

Edelis giggled, and Lehan looked sheepish. But in the end, he still insisted on walking her to the library. Just before she entered, he didn’t let go of her hand.

“Lehan?”

“Bringing books to my office… like you used to…”

Edelis was too flustered to say anything, and Lehan stepped back.

“Please consider it next time.”

“…Okay.”

It was only a short walk across a wall, yet Lehan’s reluctance was so clear. Edelis left him behind and entered the library.

‘How could I carry books over after all that…’

From the shelf in her study, the book once again shimmered faintly.

‘I had a feeling this might happen once I saw the heroine…’

Just like how it had glowed after Lehan returned as Emperor, she had suspected it would react again. But now that she saw it with her own eyes, it felt heavier than expected.

‘Not once has this book shown me anything in my favor…’

Edelis took a deep breath to steady her heart and stared at the book. What would it show her this time?

‘I haven’t even gotten close to Sir Pasis yet… I have to try.’

Lehan could easily reassign him, so she had to be careful. But now that the heroine had appeared, she couldn’t put it off any longer.

‘I hope it shows me a chance to get close to him…’

As if wishing on the book, Edelis whispered the thought in her heart and opened it.

* * *

Spring winds filled the air with fluttering blossoms. Not too hot or cold, the crisp weather had drawn many people into the palace garden. Beautiful decorations, lavish food prepared by the royal chefs—everything caught Edelis’s eye.

‘The virgin road…’

But what most drew her gaze was the central aisle laid out among the crowd: the virgin road.