Episode 26
Alicia, dressed in a white nightgown, was still awake, deep in thought.
It was already past midnight, nearly 1 a.m., but she couldn’t sleep because her mind was so busy.
Knock, knock.
Agnes came into the room, looking not worried but very surprised.
“What is it?” Alicia asked.
“W-Well… the Emperor’s servant is asking if His Majesty can visit the Empress’s quarters,” Agnes replied.
Alicia was just as surprised.
“Right now?” she said.
“Yes. Actually, His Majesty is already nearby. He just wanted to check if you were asleep.”
Since the lights in Alicia’s room were still on, it was obvious to anyone outside that she wasn’t sleeping.
The Emperor must have seen that, too.
“Well, let’s welcome him.”
This wasn’t really a question. He had already come, just checking formality.
“I’ll let them know,” Agnes said, bowing and quickly stepping out to speak to the servant.
Then she returned.
“You should change clothes quickly,” she said.
“Oh, right.”
Alicia looked down and realized she was only wearing her thin white nightgown.
She stood up quickly, and Agnes rushed to the wardrobe to find something easy to wear.
Alicia peeked outside the window and said, “Agnes, forget it.”
The Emperor’s group had already reached the Empress’s garden.
Knowing how fast Kaiyen usually walked, there wasn’t time to change.
“Give me a robe.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Agnes helped her put on a simple robe over the nightgown and tied it firmly.
“Your hair still looks nice since you weren’t lying down. I’ll just apply some light makeup.”
Alicia nodded. As Agnes gently applied some powder, the sounds of the Emperor’s arrival filled the hall.
‘His Majesty the Emperor is here!’
This time, unlike usual, he had his formal group with him, so trumpets and the sharp voice of the chief attendant echoed through the night.
“Let’s go,” Alicia said, tightening her robe and quickly heading down the stairs.
In the center of the hall stood Kaiyen, wearing a formal black uniform she hadn’t seen before.
“I greet His Majesty the Emperor,” Alicia said, bowing.
Kaiyen gave a faint smile and said, “You may rise.”
It was the first time he told her to stop bowing.
“Thank you, Your Majesty.”
Alicia looked up, a bit stunned.
“I finished the Grand Assembly and went for a walk. I saw lights here and stopped by,” he said calmly.
His tone was normal, but his appearance in the fitted black uniform made him look more powerful and handsome.
As he stepped closer, his scent filled the air and made Alicia’s heart race.
“I’m sorry, I’m not properly dressed. I was about to go to bed,” she said.
“It’s fine. I came late, so it’s not your fault.”
Though he sounded the same, Alicia felt more nervous just because he looked different.
“Your Majesty, please follow me to the parlor,” said Agnes, whispering to Alicia.
They couldn’t just keep standing at the entrance.
“We’ll go to the usual room, then—” Alicia started to say, but Agnes shook her head.
“It’s late, so the usual room has been cleaned and the lights turned off. We’ll use the small parlor next to Your Majesty’s bedroom.”
Kaiyen’s expression stiffened slightly, but Alicia didn’t notice.
“Is that okay with you?” she asked.
“…That’s fine,” he replied.
Alicia nodded, and Kaiyen followed the chief attendant up the stairs with quick steps.
Hearing Alicia invite him so casually to a room near her bedroom made the stress from the Assembly vanish.
He had never even come near her quarters before, and now she was inviting him right beside her sleeping chamber.
It made his mind wander.
“Your Majesty, please come in.”
The small parlor wasn’t big but was cozy and nicely decorated.
Soon, servants brought in fruit, cookies, wine, and tea.
“If you’re hungry, we can bring food.”
“This is enough.”
The servants bowed and left. Alicia came in wearing her robe and bowed again.
“Your Majesty, may I change into proper clothes?”
“No need. You don’t always have to be so formal around me.”
Kaiyen had no patience left tonight.
He was so frustrated after the Assembly, the sight of the Empress’s lit room made him feel relieved.
“Please sit,” he said.
“Yes, thank you,” Alicia replied, taking a seat across from him.
Even in her simple robe and white nightgown, she looked graceful. Her long silver hair swayed gently, and Kaiyen found her appearance very elegant.
“Sorry, this room is small.”
“No, I like it better.”
Kaiyen reached for the wine bottle and poured himself a drink.
“Your Majesty, I can do that—” a servant said.
But Kaiyen waved his hand. It meant everyone should leave.
Now only the two of them remained.
Alicia wasn’t that nervous.
After all, in their past life, they’d spent 10 years with nothing happening between them.
She had lived so long thinking there was no romantic connection between them.
“Do you drink?” he asked.
“I… I don’t really know.”
In her past life, she never had a chance to drink.
It was forbidden in Lucan’s teachings.
Even though she used to drink beer in her real life, she had no idea how Alicia’s body handled alcohol.
“Lucan forbids drinking,” he said.
They once tried chicken and dark beer together, but it didn’t taste like modern beer.
Maybe wine would be different. Seeing the red wine in his glass, Alicia became curious.
“If you allow it… I’d like to try a glass.”
Kaiyen gave a quiet laugh.
“You have really changed.”
He poured a glass for her himself.
“Thank you.”
“Do you mean it?”
“Yes. I’m honored that Your Majesty is pouring for me.”
Kaiyen sighed and finished his glass in one go.
“I’d like to ask you for a favor.”
He didn’t say “order.” He said, “Ask.”
“…Yes?”
Alicia tried to read his face, but he always looked the same—expressionless.
“I know you’re just being proper with royal manners, but it makes me uncomfortable.”
He poured himself another drink.
“So when it’s just us, can you stop saying things like ‘thank you, Your Majesty’ or ‘I’m honored’?”
Alicia’s eyes widened. What else could she say to an emperor?
“But Your Majesty, that goes against proper etiquette.”
“No. We’re the Emperor and Empress. I make the rules. So if you say that stuff again, I’ll punish you.”
Alicia looked shocked. Being punished for following the rules?
“You just said ‘thank you, Your Majesty,’ so for that, you must finish your drink.”
He gave a playful smirk.
Alicia was already curious about the wine, so she drank it all slowly.
It was smoother and sweeter than any wine she’d tasted in her original world. Much better than the beer.
“How is it?” he asked.
“It’s smooth and sweet.”
She smiled softly.
Her cheeks flushed pink from the alcohol, and a little wine clung to her lips.
Kaiyen almost burst out laughing, but held it in.
“I didn’t know there was such a good drinking partner in the palace.”
He refilled her glass cheerfully. This was a big change from when he first entered.
“The Assembly was terrible today, as usual,” he said, even though she didn’t ask.
“So seeing your lights on was a stroke of luck.”
Alicia sipped her wine again, a little shy. In their past life, this man had always looked at her with cold eyes.
Now he seemed so different.
“Before I came here, I was stressed and annoyed. But now… I feel calm.”
His voice and expression were gentle.
The change was small, but Alicia noticed right away after seeing his cold face for years.
“Your glass is empty.”
He refilled it himself again.
“Just because I pour doesn’t mean you have to drink. You can have tea or water instead.”
“Thank y—”
She almost said “thank you, Your Majesty,” but stopped.
Kaiyen smiled playfully.
“Still, that almost sounded like a forbidden phrase. Another drink as punishment.”
His eyes sparkled like a mischievous boy.
Alicia looked away, embarrassed, and drank the wine quickly. He seemed pleased.
“You’re smart, so you know how to avoid more punishments.”
“Yes.”
She had gone back in time and changed a lot, but Kaiyen’s warmth still felt unfamiliar.
His gentle gaze, voice, and small gestures were all new.
