TCFA~03

~Chapter 3~

The head chamberlain and the captain of the imperial guard—
the two closest people to the Emperor—had disappeared in an unexpected accident.

Izaya had wanted to comfort Ern, who must have been grieving…

But—

“I don’t need it. Don’t come near me from now on.”

From that moment on, Ern began avoiding her again.

She asked him why, unable to bear the frustration, but no answer ever came back.

‘Why on earth is he acting like this?’

Tormented by confusion and sorrow, Izaya struggled.

Then, in the midst of her distress, she finally heard the reason through one of her father’s subordinates.

“The ones who eliminated the Emperor’s people—including the chamberlain—were your father.”

After her mother’s death, her father had been the only person she relied on and trusted.

That was why Izaya couldn’t believe it.

But when she confronted him, what she received was confirmation.

“Yes, so that woman told you something unnecessary. I told her countless times to keep her mouth shut.”

At that moment, it felt as if her entire body had been thrown into filth.

‘Did you ever truly think of me as your daughter?’

Instead of blaming him, Izaya smiled brightly—like a flower in full bloom.

“Don’t worry. It seems the Emperor hasn’t noticed.”

Even if it meant playing the role of a villain…

Even knowing she would be hated by him…

Izaya endured it.

Because she had to protect her young, helpless husband—who had no one else to rely on—from her father.

But in the end, she failed.

‘I decided to leave you far too late. I should have distanced myself much earlier… It was my greed.’

At the moment that regret consumed her—

Her consciousness faded into darkness.

Izaya jolted awake.

‘Did I come to hell?’

As she looked around, her expression stiffened.

‘Wait… this place…’

A pristine white marble floor, adorned with gold decorations.

It was far too luxurious to be hell.

And more importantly—it was familiar.

‘How…? I definitely died.’

Yet everything felt vivid—
the faint scent in the air, the dazzling surroundings, even the heavy fatigue pressing down on her body.

‘Did someone heal me?’

Just then, a hand rested on her shoulder.

When Izaya turned to look—

Her eyes widened in shock.

‘You…!’

Silver hair shimmered under the sunlight.
Amethyst eyes narrowed slightly in a frown.

Fourteen? Fifteen?

The face staring at her was at least ten years younger than when they last parted.

‘How are you younger? Don’t tell me…’

“Izaya, I have something to ask you…”

Her young husband—
the one who had first reached out to her, the only family she had—

The one she had longed for so desperately.

‘If I’ve really returned to the past…’

Izaya softly called the nickname she once gave him.

“Ern.”

Before her regression, she could never call him like that.

After the deaths of his close aides,
she had treated him coldly to deceive Duke Lauchen’s watchful eyes—
and he, in turn, had come to ignore her with disdain.

But now—

“Why?”

Though blunt, he answered her.

Just like back when they had been close.

‘I really came back…?’

At the moment of her death, she had steeled herself—
believing she would never be with him again.

She had regretted it. Resented herself.

For failing to give him true happiness.

‘But… this time, I can change everything.’

Overwhelmed with emotion, Izaya suddenly pulled him into a tight embrace.

‘This time, I’ll protect you—and everyone precious to you. So…’

But then—

Ern abruptly pushed her away.

“W-What are you doing right now?!”

‘Huh?’

He was glaring at her like she had committed a crime.

Only then did Izaya realize what she had done and forced an awkward smile.

‘No wonder he hates it.’

Although their relationship wasn’t bad enough to forbid nicknames, there was still a clear line between them.

Ern was still young, and Izaya had always treated him more like a younger sibling.

In other words, they were closer to siblings than a married couple—so his reaction was only natural.

“I’m sorry. That was a mistake.”

She thought apologizing would calm him down—

But his expression darkened even more.

“A mistake?”

“Yes.”

“…Why would you make that kind of mistake?”

His low, pressing voice made her think:

‘He must have really hated it.’

There was no avoiding this now.

Swallowing dryly, she answered,

“I… had a terrible nightmare.”

“What kind of nightmare?”

At his question, Izaya lowered her gaze.

Soon, Ern would lose his aides and supporters.
His lack of experience would give nobles—led by Duke Lauchen—an excuse to strip him of power.

Even when authority was eventually returned to him upon adulthood, it would be meaningless.

The nobles would already control everything.

He would become nothing more than a puppet emperor.

‘There’s no need to speak of that cursed future. I’ll make sure it never happens.’

So instead—

“I don’t remember.”

“What?”

Ignoring his disbelief, she changed the subject.

“Shouldn’t you be heading to your duties? You’ll be late.”

Ern let out a quiet sigh.

“…Help me change.”

Izaya helped him into his formal attire.

‘By the way… what point in time is this?’

Then suddenly, he asked—

“Is there something you want?”

‘Something I want?’

As she looked at him in confusion—

“You said you wanted a coming-of-age gift.”

‘Coming of age…?’

At that moment, a memory surfaced.

“Father, was your inspection trip safe?”

“Yes. Thanks to your prayers.”

“I’m glad they worked.”

“My dear daughter, tell me everything that’s happened while I was away.”

“Oh—recently, His Majesty asked me what I want as a coming-of-age gift.”

Back then, she had been foolish.

She had mistaken her father’s surveillance for affection.

And so, she told him everything without hesitation.

‘It won’t be easy… but I have to change everything, step by step. Starting with…’

Izaya spoke.

“Then promise me one thing—never neglect your duties as Emperor.”

Ern frowned slightly, then nodded.

“…That’s obvious. Now tell me what you want.”

She hesitated.

“Will you really grant anything I ask?”

At her cautious tone, Ern frowned.

“What do you take me for? As Emperor, there is nothing in this empire I cannot do.”

Originally, she had asked him for a date.

But this time, it would be different.

“Then… I want permission to use the Moon Palace starting today.”

“…What?”

Thinking he misheard, she clarified—

“I want us to start sleeping in separate rooms.”

Ern’s gaze darkened.

“…Why would you want that?”

“You said before it was uncomfortable sharing a room with me.”

He fell silent for a moment before asking—

“…Is that the only reason?”

“Well… historically, emperors and empresses use separate residences. It’s actually strange that we’ve been sharing one.”

Normally, they would have separated after the honeymoon.

Even in monogamy, emperors often had concubines, so separate residences were standard.

The only reason they hadn’t—

Was Duke Lauchen.

“The Emperor is still young. He needs someone to care for him. It would be best if he shares a room with the Empress.”

A reasonable excuse.

But behind it lay something vile.

‘He wanted to use me to control the Emperor… and spy on him.’

Izaya clenched her fists.

Because they had shared a room, her father had used her—
to eliminate the Emperor’s allies and seize power.

‘Everything started because we stayed together.’

So this time—

They had to separate.

Smiling as if nothing was wrong, she said,

“You’re grown now. It’ll be more comfortable living alone.”

“….”

“Ern?”

He glared at her with resentment, lips slightly pouting like a sulking child.

“…Let’s talk about it later.”

Bang!

He stormed out, slamming the door behind him.

Izaya blinked in confusion.

‘Why is he angry? I thought he’d like it…’

But only for a moment.

Soon, her eyes turned cold.

‘No matter what he says, it doesn’t matter.’

Her decision was already made.

Her father would return soon.

She had to act quickly—

To prevent the deaths of those who stood on the Emperor’s side.