Episode 4
Alicia didn’t sleep a single wink that night.
Her mind was firm about what she wanted to do, but her heart still trembled.
She thought she was ready… but seeing that man again, the Emperor, was something she wasn’t sure she could handle.
The fear from her past life hadn’t completely faded.
But she had no choice.
If the Emperor returned to the palace and the Empress did not formally greet him, society would tear her apart with criticism.
The nobles of this empire were as cruel as Kaien’s cold eyes.
“Your Majesty, you are ready.”
Aness’s voice brought Alicia back to reality.
She looked at herself in the mirror.
Her long platinum hair was neatly pinned up.
Even without any makeup, the youthful beauty of her twenty‑year‑old face shone through.
At least Kaien couldn’t complain about that.
“Let’s go.”
For the first time in a long while, a carriage waited in front of the Empress’s quarters.
Alicia stepped in with Aness.
The wide palace gardens passed by outside until the carriage stopped in front of the grand building where the Emperor received petitions.
“This is where you must step down, Your Majesty.”
Alicia climbed out, guided by Aness, and stood before the audience chamber.
It was still early.
“We greet Your Majesty, the Empress.”
The servants guarding the door bowed, but their tone was flat, indifferent.
It reminded Alicia clearly of her low place in this palace.
“Her Majesty the Empress has come to see His Majesty.”
Howard, the head servant from her quarters, stepped forward and spoke with formality.
The other steward nodded.
“His Majesty has not yet arrived. Please wait in the reception rooms.”
Many people were seeking an audience with the Emperor, so several reception rooms were attached to the chamber.
“Forgive me, but the only one ready at this hour is the small room at the end of the right hall.”
That room was the smallest, most humble of them all—meant for ordinary servants, not an Empress meeting her husband after a year.
“How dare you—!”
Aness’s voice rose in anger, but Alicia raised her hand calmly to stop her.
“Very well. I will wait there for His Majesty.”
Alicia gave a gentle smile.
In her previous life, something like this would have cut her deeply.
Now, she didn’t even care.
Where she waited didn’t matter.
She sipped two cups of tea before a servant finally came to say the Emperor would see her.
Two hours had passed, but Alicia’s face was as calm as ever.
“Her Majesty the Empress.”
The heavy doors opened.
Alicia stepped inside, walking over the long carpet toward the tall throne.
Her pace was steady—not too fast, not too slow.
She stopped before the steps leading up to the throne and lifted her skirt gracefully, bowing low.
“I greet Your Majesty, the Emperor.”
Her clear voice echoed.
There was a silence, then she saw the Emperor’s boots—muddy, scarred, harsh.
In her last life, she had once flinched at those blood‑stained boots, and Kaien had clicked his tongue in annoyance.
This time, she didn’t even blink.
“If you will allow me, I wish to see Your Majesty’s face.”
Kaien never cared for palace etiquette, and before, Alicia had nearly fainted from holding her bow too long while waiting for him to release her.
But today, it didn’t matter.
“…Ah. Fine.”
His low voice sounded as though he had almost forgotten she was there.
How long had it been since she’d seen his face?
Her heart gave a small tremor as she slowly raised her blue eyes to look at him.
“I heard you were ill. But you seem fine now.”
He lounged on the throne, one arm draped over it, speaking in a careless tone.
“Yes. Thanks to everyone’s care, I am well enough to greet Your Majesty like this.”
For a moment, his dark eyes stared deep into hers, as if searching for something.
Something about her felt… different.
“You’ve changed a little.”
Not her beauty—her eyes had always been bright, her features delicate.
It was something inside her.
“A year has passed, after all.”
At that, Kaien raised an eyebrow.
Her dress was simple yet elegant, her lips curved in a soft smile, and most striking of all, she met his eyes calmly—nothing like the trembling bride she’d been before.
“…I see.”
Kaien rubbed his temple and spoke idly, as if not interested in continuing the conversation.
“Your Majesty also looks well.”
“Ah… you mean after I’ve spent months cutting down barbarians and living in wastelands?”
Alicia almost winced at his sharp tone—words she had once feared so much.
Her head throbbed with old memories.
“I meant only that you appear stronger and healthier, Your Majesty.”
If she answered the way she had before, nothing would ever change.
So she forced herself to keep a gentle smile.
Kaien squinted slightly, studying her.
“…Fine.”
In his reports, they had said the Empress had been ill with a high fever for three days and that she seemed like a completely different person afterward—almost as if she had caught some so‑called “wisdom fever.”
And indeed, the endless letters filled with Lucan’s teachings had stopped arriving after that.
“The campaign is nearly over. I know some criticize me for being away so long, but the situation demanded it.”
He spoke before she could begin the usual lecture about Lucan’s teachings.
But Alicia simply tilted her head in confusion.
“Forgive me, Your Majesty… but I don’t understand.”
Her lips still curved in that small, peaceful smile.
“I came only because I was glad you returned safely.”
Now it was Kaien’s turn to look surprised.
Alicia didn’t miss that flicker in his eyes.
“Is that all you have to say?”
“Your Majesty is well. What more could I ask?”
Kaien blinked, opened his eyes, and stared again.
This was not the frightened girl from their wedding, unable to meet his gaze.
This was not the woman who wrote endless letters filled with Lucan’s words.
“You must be busy after returning. Since I’ve seen you healthy, I will take my leave now.”
There was no fear in her eyes.
No preaching, no ambition, no forced devotion.
Just calm, clear blue eyes.
“Then I shall go.”
Before Kaien could say anything else, she bowed gracefully and walked out.
Even long after she left, Kaien sat there, staring at the spot where her eyes had met his.
“…What was that…?”
He frowned slightly.
He had always prided himself on seeing through people’s hearts.
But in that short meeting, his wife had completely unsettled him.
The morning passed as Kaien dealt with endless audiences.
“The nobles are still as disgusting as ever. But at least it’s easy to handle them when their motives are obvious.”
“Yes, Your Majesty,” Glen replied.
But Kaien’s mind wandered.
“That’s it.”
“Your Majesty?”
“Something’s wrong. The Empress… she was strange.”
Glen’s face showed confusion.
Kaien couldn’t stop thinking about it.
The way she left so calmly felt… off.
“Perhaps it’s simply because she is there to deliver Lucan’s words, Your Majesty.”
“No. That’s not it.”
If she had been the timid bride he remembered, he would have dismissed her.
If she had kept preaching Lucan’s teachings, he would have ignored her.
But today…
“She’s completely different. She didn’t even mention Lucan. Even when I brought it up, she acted as though she didn’t know.”
Glen blinked in surprise.
The Empress had been sent from Lucan as part of the deal that placed Kaien on the throne.
Her only duty was to repeat Lucan’s teachings and remind him of their power.
“Perhaps Lucan gave her new instructions?”
“No. That’s not it.”
Kaien was certain.
Her eyes held no schemes, no hidden agenda.
“On the battlefield, I can read an enemy’s next move by their eyes alone. If she were plotting something, I’d have known. But…”
But he hadn’t.
Instead, he felt something he couldn’t name.
“She did have a high fever. Perhaps this ‘wisdom fever’ they talk about—”
“Ha.”
Kaien shook his head.
“If that existed, Lucan’s hypocrites wouldn’t be so rotten.”
Typical Kaien.
“Shall I look into things at the Empress’s quarters, Your Majesty?”
Kaien gave a small nod.
It was strange.
In his life, nothing had ever been unclear.
But that brief encounter left him with a feeling he couldn’t define.
Like a drop of blue ink spreading across still water.
“No. I’ll see for myself.”
“Your Majesty?”
“I’ll meet her again. What would be most natural?”
For once, Kaien asked for advice.
His expression was serious.
“As husband and wife, you could have a meal together… or tea… whatever you wish.”
“I don’t like troublesome things.”
But even as he said it, he couldn’t stop remembering her calm smile and poised manner.
“We’ll have dinner.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
A ripple had started in his heart—and he could no longer control where it would go.
“Inform the Empress’s quarters at once.”
Kaien crossed his long legs on the throne, with the same effortless dominance he showed on the battlefield.
To be continued…
