Chapter 18
Kaien was flipping through past Assembly records, but soon showed his boredom.
He glanced at the clock again—it still hadn’t moved past 5.
Dinner was supposed to be at 6, but today’s time felt especially slow.
“What does the Empress usually do during the day?”
He suddenly remembered asking that question earlier.
At the time, the head maid said she’d prepare a summary of the Empress’s daily routine.
“Head maid, bring me the Empress’s daily schedule if it’s ready.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
The elderly maid, Emma, stepped forward with a smile and handed him a decorated envelope.
Kaien tore it open without care for the decoration and looked at the neat handwriting inside.
[At 10 a.m., the head maid visits the Empress’s bedroom to check on her mood and help her start the day.]
Before, reading this wouldn’t have meant anything. But now, since he had met Alicia a few times, he started imagining her face as he read the first line.
“10 a.m.? Isn’t that too late?”
“That is standard for noble ladies. Most wake up earlier, but they stay in bed until the head maid checks in.”
“I see.”
Kaien always woke up with the sunrise, so this routine was very different. Still… for some reason, he didn’t hate the thought.
He wondered if twenty-year-old Alicia would wake up rubbing her cheeks and yawning.
[Breakfast is light—just fruit and tea. Afternoon tea at 3 p.m., and dinner around 6. She usually goes to bed after 10 p.m.
Kaien had asked for this himself, but now that he read it, he was a bit surprised. That was it—just this simple routine.
“…That’s all?”
“Yes, those are the official parts.”
“And the unofficial ones?”
“I wouldn’t know, Your Majesty. I don’t serve in the Empress’s quarters.”
Emma gave a clever answer, as expected from an experienced woman.
Since the Emperor showed interest in the Empress and was dining with her tonight, she was happy to encourage it.
“Hm… if that’s all she does, is she a person or a cat?”
“Each noblewoman has her way of spending time. The Empress likely has her routine, too.”
“Doesn’t she get any visitors?”
Kaien asked casually. When Emma nodded right away, he was surprised.
“Not even once?”
“No. She only receives letters from Lucan.”
“She has all this free time but no friends?”
Emma looked at him quietly.
Men often forgot what they said, especially once they got busy.
Clearly, Kaien didn’t remember what he’d said after the wedding.
“Forgive me, but… it was Your Majesty’s command.”
“Mine? When?”
Kaien frowned, confused.
“I wouldn’t have interfered with the Empress’s friendships.”
“You didn’t say it directly, but you told her there was no need to mingle with the noble ladies since she was from Lucan.”
He blinked slowly, not remembering. But thinking back, it did sound like something he might’ve said.
He probably didn’t want the Empress from Lucan getting close to the capital’s nobles.
“She’s too serious. She could’ve at least spent time with girls her age or women not involved in politics.”
“The Empress is careful. She probably didn’t want to go against your wishes. Also… she doesn’t have any close family to visit her.”
Kaien had forgotten that. In Lucan, everyone with the Grand Sage’s blood was considered family, so he always saw Alicia as just another daughter of Lucan.
“Right… she lost her parents early, didn’t she? No siblings or relatives?”
“Well… Your Majesty also told us not to allow anyone from Lucan into the palace.”
Whenever he asked what was going on, the answer always led back to his orders. Even Kaien felt awkward now.
“I heard the Empress didn’t have close siblings or relatives to begin with.”
Emma added kindly, trying to ease the mood.
“But her old nanny now serves as the head maid.”
“Oh? At least she has someone by her side.”
Kaien felt a bit better knowing Alicia wasn’t completely alone.
“As long as she’s not totally by herself, that’s good.”
“I’m glad to hear Your Majesty say that.”
“…Huh? I didn’t say I was worried.”
Kaien looked genuinely confused, but Emma just smiled quietly. She could see all his emotions clearly—even if he couldn’t.
“Ah, it’s almost dinner time.”
Time had passed quickly now that he was thinking about Alicia instead of reading boring reports.
“I’ll go with just the chief attendant.”
Normally, an emperor would take a full group with him, but Emma simply bowed.
She didn’t want to ruin Kaien’s rare good mood. Besides, Kaien would ignore formal rules anyway.
“Strangely, I feel hungry. Let’s go.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
The chief attendant, waiting at the door, quickly bowed and rushed to keep up with Kaien’s fast steps.
Emma watched them go, deep in thought.
“He seems different lately… but it’s too soon to tell.”
If this continued, maybe even a couple with no affection could slowly change.
But as long as Kaien planned to return to Lubeo, nothing was certain.
This tiny spark of emotion could fade with distance and time.
“All I can do is hope for luck in the Empress’s quarters.”
Emma didn’t know much about politics, but she remembered how warm and kind Kaien had been as a boy.
It had broken her heart when the mad emperor banished that kind boy.
She also knew how the nobles and Lucan isolated the emperor. Honestly, everyone in the palace knew.
“If only someone could gently reach His Majesty’s heart…”
Right now, all they could do was quietly hope.
It was too much to ask from a twenty-year-old Empress—but those who served Kaien still held onto that little bit of hope.
Alicia wore a soft sky-blue dress to welcome the Emperor.
“Welcome, Your Majesty.”
Her long platinum-blonde hair was half tied back and half flowing down, making her look gentle and graceful.
She barely wore makeup, which made her look more natural and elegant.
“What’s that smell?”
Even before reaching the dining room, the delicious smell filled the hallway.
Kaien couldn’t figure out what kind of food it was, but it smelled amazing.
“Is this tonight’s dinner?”
“Yes.”
Alicia answered shyly and walked into the room first. Aness pulled out her chair, so Kaien had to wait for his servant to do the same.
“Go ahead, sit.”
Kaien, now more used to palace manners, gestured politely.
That alone was big progress.
“Thank you.”
After Alicia sat, a bowl of water was brought for handwashing.
Kaien calmly dipped his fingers and dried them with a napkin—without watching Alicia for guidance this time.
“So… what’s the food that smells like this?”
Kaien looked almost like a puppy, sniffing the air eagerly.
It was hard to believe this was the same man who made everyone afraid that morning.
“Today, I asked them to bring out all the food at once to preserve the flavors.”
Who could enjoy salad while smelling fried food? Alicia had planned this setup from the beginning.
“Sounds good.”
Soon, silver-covered dishes were placed before them, along with pickles, salad, and glasses of dark beer instead of wine.
But the real moment came when Kaien opened the lid of the main dish.
“…What’s this?”
Kaien frowned at the unfamiliar food. The kitchen staff froze, but Alicia stayed calm.
The golden-fried chicken wings and drumsticks were shaped like tulips and smelled mouthwatering.
“I saw it in a book once and wanted to try it.”
Alicia picked up a piece of fried chicken with her bare hand.
“The book said it’s proper to eat it with your hands.”
“I like that.”
Without hesitation, Kaien picked one up and took a big bite. His eyebrows shot up in shock.
Alicia nervously watched his face.
“Is it… not to your liking…?”
Kaien stared at the chicken in his hand, then took another big bite—again shocked.
“This… This is real food?”
Fried food didn’t exist in imperial cooking. Maybe this had been a bad idea after all?
“This is…”
The twenty-five-year-old emperor’s eyes were still wide with surprise—yet he couldn’t stop reaching for more chicken.
Then, thirsty, he drank the cold dark beer and slammed the glass down, looking at Alicia.
“Well… how is it?”
“It’s strange and unfamiliar… but it’s shockingly good.”
Was it just her imagination, or did he look like he had puppy ears wagging with happiness?
“It’s… incredibly delicious.”
Hearing his honest words, Alicia smiled in relief.
Kaien had already grabbed another piece.
“And this crispy texture… Why haven’t I eaten this before?”
For a second, he smiled like a happy boy.
“There’s plenty, so enjoy as much as you want.”
It proved one universal truth:
If you want to tame someone, start with food.
And chicken must be fried.
