Episode 35
When Agnes laughed awkwardly at Alicia’s strange joke, Alicia felt a little embarrassed.
“Um… You know how people say your ears tingle when someone talks about you from far away? It felt kind of like that.”
“Oh, I see.”
Alicia used to envy people who could make jokes and always get laughs.
But now that she was in that position, she found it awkward too.
“Shall we begin with your makeup and dressing then?”
“No, I think I look fine already.”
Yesterday, Alicia had put on makeup and worn the sapphire necklace herself, which made Agnes hopeful.
But clearly, people don’t change overnight.
“Well, since His Majesty only comes at night, I suppose we can wait on the makeup.”
“Actually, I…”
“More importantly, there’s a visitor coming during the day.”
Alicia looked confused.
The Emperor had said he would visit at night—who else would be coming?
“That was my little joke. Actually, Madam Emma wants to visit and give you something.”
Technically, palace staff weren’t considered “guests” for the Empress.
But Emma wasn’t just any palace worker.
“Really? When?”
“She said she can come whenever you’re free since you won’t be meeting His Majesty today. Should I call her now?”
Alicia nodded.
She had just finished a light lunch and strolled through the garden, so she had nothing else to do.
Now that she knew Emma basically ran the palace, she wanted to talk with her more.
“The first-floor drawing room sounds good.”
“Yes, Your Majesty. Nancy, escort the Empress. Maren, prepare refreshments.”
Thanks to Agnes’s training, even the young maids had become more confident and efficient.
“Your Majesty, the weather is lovely. I’ll open the curtains.”
Nancy knelt and pulled them back, letting in the bright sunlight.
Maren soon arrived with snacks and tea and set them down neatly.
“These are the herbal tea and apple cookies you praised before.”
Unlike in her previous life, the Empress’s palace was slowly starting to feel like a proper royal space.
Alicia smiled without realizing.
“Thank you, everyone.”
“We are honored.”
The two maids politely bowed and left.
Not long after, there was a knock on the door.
It was perfectly timed, as if Emma had been waiting for Alicia’s invitation.
“Come in.”
With Alicia’s clear voice, Agnes opened the door and let Emma in, giving Alicia a hint to speak with her alone.
“I greet Your Majesty, the Empress. I hope you are well today.”
Even though Emma was an elderly woman, she bowed deeply just like a young maid would.
“No need for that. Please sit.”
Alicia politely offered her a seat.
“Thank you, Your Majesty.”
Emma bowed again and sat down, slightly away from the head seat. She was much more formal today than at their last meeting.
“You seem a little different today. Is it just me?”
Alicia asked playfully, pretending not to notice the change.
“I may be old, but I still believe good changes are always needed.”
Her wise brown eyes looked at Alicia kindly.
“What’s that you brought?”
Alicia asked as Emma carefully placed a bundle of red notebooks on the table.
“These are journals written by the late Empress Dowager, who once ran the palace. The plain ones below are just my own notes. Please don’t think too little of them.”
Looking closer, Alicia saw several thin, undecorated notebooks under the fancy red ones.
“Why are you giving them to me?”
“Because the true mistress of the palace is now here. I shouldn’t be holding onto these anymore.”
Emma’s meaning was clear.
“But you barely know me.”
“That may be true. But I’ve seen His Majesty become warmer and more relaxed since being around Your Majesty.”
Emma didn’t need to be in the Empress’s quarters to know Alicia’s character.
She could see it from Kaien’s change and the fact that he still hadn’t returned to Rubeo.
“Thank you for the gesture. But I’m not sure I’m the right person to make that call.”
“Please don’t worry. My humble notes might not matter, but the Empress Dowager’s journals are locked, as you can see.”
Alicia raised her brows.
“Sorry, but I don’t have the key.”
“Then why give them to me? I can’t just break them open.”
“Of course not.”
Emma smiled gently.
“According to Darius’ family tradition, the key is given when the marriage is fully complete.”
“What? That was a long time ago. I never got a key.”
“Yes. That’s because you only receive it after the marriage is truly complete.”
Alicia coughed awkwardly, realizing what Emma really meant.
She understood what “completing” a marriage meant, but hearing it in the bright daylight made her feel extra shy.
“Traditionally, after the engagement, wedding, and… first night are fulfilled, the morning after is when the marriage is considered complete.”
Even with Alicia blushing, Emma continued calmly.
Clearly, her many years of experience made her comfortable even discussing such matters in daylight.
“Madam, that’s a little… complicated.”
“Yes. It was a shame that it couldn’t happen because His Majesty had to leave urgently to care for his people in Rubeo.”
Alicia sighed. There was no winning a debate with this old woman.
“It only shows how much His Majesty cares about the people. But I know the Empress was deeply hurt.”
Emma didn’t know what happened in Rubeo, but it was clear Kaien hadn’t wanted to be married.
Even though it was a past life, Alicia could never forget how cold and harsh her wedding had been.
“As you know, I lost my memory after the fever.”
“Oh yes, forgive me. That was insensitive.”
“No, I’ve heard a little about it.”
Alicia lied.
Back then, desperate to fit in, she followed Lucan’s sage’s advice and approached Kaien—only to be rejected on their wedding night.
That moment marked the start of a miserable marriage and a lonely life.
“His Majesty regrets that day.”
He had told her that himself.
And though Alicia had once blamed herself for being naive and blindly following Lucan’s advice, the bitterness had faded over time.
“But isn’t he returning to Rubeo soon?”
Judging from her past life, Alicia knew Kaien wouldn’t stay much longer.
“There’s a loyal knight order and people who serve him there. If they’re truly loyal, they’ll give him time to enjoy his one and only honeymoon.”
Logically, that made sense.
But Alicia’s mind was only growing more confused.
“Seeing Your Majesties growing closer brings joy to the people.”
When Alicia first returned to her 20-year-old self, she had already lost all affection for Kaien—her so-called husband.
“I don’t think we’re close enough to meet anyone’s expectations.”
Alicia smiled bitterly.
Not just her marriage—she had experienced such a lonely, painful death before that she never wanted to live that way again.
“I can’t promise everyone a happy future as Empress.”
She knew Emma, the palace maids, and all the people hoped for harmony between her and Kaien.
But she didn’t want to give anyone false hope—especially not this kind old woman.
She remembered how painful it had been when she believed things would get better.
“I’m not in a position to judge Your Majesty. But I will say one more thing.”
Alicia looked up.
“These journals were sent to you by His Majesty.”
That was unexpected.
“…Why?”
Even if they had grown a little closer, this felt unrelated.
“I don’t know His Majesty’s thoughts. But this isn’t all he sent.”
“What else?”
“It was too big, so I gave it to Agnes.”
“What is it?”
Emma smiled again.
“Most of the jewelry in your quarters is from the Darius family. But the ones that belonged to the late Empress Dowager—His Majesty had been keeping those separately.”
To Kaien, his mother was a very precious and painful memory.
Of course, he would’ve kept her things safe. But why was he giving them to Alicia now?
“Today, he ordered that all of them be delivered to you.”
Alicia blinked in disbelief.
“That’s why I’ve been happily waiting for your call.”
Emma stood and bowed deeply again.
“Your Majesty, by accepting this gift, you’ve taken one more step toward completing your marriage.”
Passing on the late Empress Dowager’s keepsakes to the new Empress was a Darius family tradition.
Though the Empress Dowager had passed long ago, Kaien handing them to Alicia himself made the gesture very meaningful.
“Now, there’s only one step left until the marriage is truly complete.”
This wasn’t anything like the future Alicia had expected.
That’s why, even now, she couldn’t bring herself to smile.
