**Episode 9 –
On the way back from the theater after taking care of the sudden monster attack, no one spoke for a while.
Everyone was lost in thought after such a big incident.
Joy and Doris were shocked that the Empress, who was said to be a Saint, had such amazing powers.
Allen was deep in thought, trying to figure out why a monster appeared right in the middle of the capital’s theater.
Emperor Kairus, however, was only worried about one thing—whether Arion had been affected in the slightest by the monster’s poison.
He regretted not arriving sooner, even though he had finished his work early just to see her.
*“Work… what’s the point of it,”* he thought bitterly.
Even the Emperor, who had once built the greatest empire in history through relentless work, was beginning to hate it because of Arion.
Arion, on the other hand, was simply curious—why had the Emperor suddenly appeared at the theater?
Soon, the carriage arrived safely at the palace.
Arion gave her startled maids a short half-day break and relaxed alone in her room, sipping chamomile tea.
But the short peace didn’t last.
Emperor Kairus ordered the royal physician to check Arion thoroughly from head to toe.
The doctor couldn’t go home until dawn, only after confirming that the Empress was perfectly fine.
Even though he was exhausted, he had to keep his face straight—because the Emperor himself was still working at that hour.
—
The next day, Arion couldn’t hold back her curiosity any longer and went to the Emperor’s office.
Even though they were newlyweds, her husband hadn’t come to the bedchamber last night—he’d worked late again.
*“Could he have a secret lover?”* she wondered.
She told herself she was being silly, but still, he was the Emperor—such things weren’t impossible.
It was also strange that he suddenly showed up at the theater when he said he was busy with work.
“*I just had some business nearby and went there by coincidence,*” Kairus said.
It was such an unbelievable answer that anyone else would have laughed, but he said it with a perfectly straight face.
Next to him, Grand Duke Ian wanted to speak up on the Emperor’s behalf—he knew very well how desperately Kairus had rushed to the theater last night, worried about the Empress.
“*Allen,*” the Emperor called quietly.
The knight who had been standing behind Arion stepped forward.
Since he had failed to fully protect the Empress during the attack, there would normally be a short punishment.
But since Allen had also saved many citizens, Kairus decided to reward him instead.
He announced a new noble title and land for him and said that Allen’s family would be allowed to live near the capital.
Arion smiled softly. “*So now you’re Duke Soma. Congratulations, Allen. You’ve worked hard.*”
“*Your Majesty,*” Allen replied, his blue eyes trembling slightly with emotion. He didn’t cry, but his heart was full.
For ten years, Arion had only seen his strong, calm side—seeing him like this felt strange and touching.
Kairus cleared his throat loudly.
“*Ahem!*”
“*Ah…!*” Allen straightened himself immediately and returned to his place.
The Emperor gestured, and his aide stepped forward to continue the earlier report.
“*Your Majesty, about the monster that appeared in the theater yesterday—it caused great panic among the citizens of the capital.*”
“*I can imagine. I already formed a countermeasure committee last night to analyze the cause of its appearance.*”
“*Yes, sire. However… the Empress has become the talk of the empire.*”
“*The Empress?*”
“*Yes. People are praising how Her Majesty bravely saved an elderly woman and used her holy power to heal the poisoned citizens. Overnight, the number of people supporting the Empress has greatly increased.*”
Kairus’s lips curved faintly. “*That’s good news.*”
For once, he looked genuinely happy—not only because he cared for Arion personally, but because she was being loved by his people as a true Empress.
The officials were quietly amazed. It was the first time they’d ever seen their cold Emperor smile.
“*There’s one more thing, sire,*” the aide continued. “*The Empress’s connection to the Temple has drawn huge attention. Many witnesses are now sharing stories of her kindness as a Saint. Because of that, even the Temple’s popularity has risen sharply.*”
Kairus frowned slightly. “*That last part… isn’t exactly a good thing.*”
The aide didn’t understand what he meant, but Arion immediately did.
—
“*We’ll meet soon enough,*” Arion thought quietly.
The High Priest.
Even though she’d been busy for days, she hadn’t forgotten her plan for revenge.
Her saintly instinct told her she already knew the real reason she’d been offered as a sacrifice.
She just hadn’t had the will to escape back then.
Now she understood—life wasn’t only pain and disappointment. It could also hold unexpected beauty.
But knowing the truth wasn’t enough. She needed to expose it properly, to make the world see it.
She was sure what happened before was only part of something much bigger.
She would use her title as Empress to uncover it all.
It might be a long fight.
But Arion was ready. She could become as ruthless as needed and stain her hands with the blood of the corrupt.
For now, she would continue to act gentle—like the saint everyone remembered.
She smiled coldly. *“With the purest face, I’ll greet them.”*
“*Death has turned my soul black,*” she whispered to herself.
Suddenly, the door opened—it was Allen.
Like Arion, he had come to the quiet prayer room for peace.
Seeing her there, he bowed politely and turned to leave.
“*Allen Soma,*” Arion called softly.
“*Thank you… for what you did the other day.*”
They were about the same age and had known each other for years in the Temple, so when they were alone, they spoke casually like old friends.
They talked quietly, their voices gentle like birds singing.
They didn’t say much, but both knew they were thinking about the old days—about the times they went on missions together.
Even though they were sent to fight monsters, to Arion those days had felt like picnics, because it was the only time she could leave the Temple.
“*It’s much more peaceful here than in the Temple,*” Allen said. “*The treatment is better too. I can’t complain.*”
“*I’m glad. I was worried about you,*” Arion replied with a faint, honest smile.
That was enough for Allen. Even as a knight commander once, being by her side now was something he didn’t regret.
But someone else was watching them from outside the window.
It was Kairus.
He told himself it was just part of his daily duty—to check on the Empress’s safety.
He couldn’t hear what they were saying, but something about the air between them bothered him.
It wasn’t passionate or bold—more like something warm and familiar.
*Like a flower and a bee,* he thought. Not flashy, but close, comfortable.
*Should I get rid of the bee?* he wondered seriously.
He could give the flower everything—land, water, sunlight—but not constant closeness.
After thinking for a while, he sighed. *I should at least work less at night.*
After all, Allen was the only knight who could truly protect Arion.
For now.
Inside, Arion suddenly felt someone’s gaze on her.
“*Wait a moment,*” she said softly.
She leaned in and brushed a stray eyelash from Allen’s nose, moving closer to his face.
Allen’s heart raced wildly, but thankfully, Arion didn’t notice—she was looking toward the window instead.
She deliberately turned her face so that it overlapped with Allen’s from outside the glass—just enough to make it *look* like something else.
It was her small, petty revenge—for the name of another woman the Emperor had murmured in his sleep on their wedding night.
Kairus, outside, pretended not to notice and walked away—his hand unconsciously gripping the hilt of his sword.
If Allen hadn’t been necessary… something might have happened right then.
—
