CHAPTER 06

Vivian’s husband was obsessed with her being perfect.
Not with her clothes or jewelry — but with her daily life being perfect.

Still, sometimes, just sometimes, Vivian wanted to break the rules and do something exciting.

“Your Highness, this seems dangerous,” her maids said.

People feared her husband’s cold personality, so they often worried around her.

At this time of day, Vivian was supposed to be reading after a walk, just as her husband planned.
He made her read a lot of books under his watch. He never said why.

Vivian guessed it was because she needed to learn to be a good empress someday.
She didn’t hate reading, so sometimes she even looked forward to it.

But today, she didn’t feel like reading.

Back when she lived with the Duchess, she used to secretly sneak out too.
So today — just this once — she wanted to do it again.

Even if just once sometimes became twice… and three times.

“As long as I don’t get caught.”

Vivian blinked her pink eyes playfully.

Her husband had a lunch meeting today, so he couldn’t go on a walk with her.
That’s where she got her idea.

Her husband never let her attend outside events after he became Crown Prince.
So today, she decided to secretly follow him on his walk.

“If you keep making noise, we’ll get caught. So shh.”
Vivian smiled and turned around quietly.

Her husband was walking with Noach, his assistant, to the Emperor’s palace for lunch.

“I hope you get what you’re looking for today,” said Noach.

“Are you mocking me?” her husband replied angrily.

Vivian giggled.

‘Noach is always so calm.’

Even though her husband was harsh like spicy chili, Noach never quit his job.

Maybe he even enjoyed getting yelled at!

“Yes, I’m mocking you. Are you sure she has it?” Noach asked.

“I don’t know. But your lead stopped at the Silaria family, didn’t it?”

Silaria family?

Vivian knew the Silaria family was full of strong magic users, while her own family, the Endris family, was known as protectors of the empire.

‘But why Natalia?’

Vivian tilted her head. What did Natalia have that her husband wanted?

This secret adventure suddenly became very interesting.

Her heart started racing. It felt like she was spying on his secrets.

“So, are you really going to give Lady Natalia what she wants?”

“Maybe.”

“Are you really going to marry her and make her Empress? Without even asking Lady Vivian?”

What?!

Vivian was shocked and stepped back.

The tree she was hiding behind made a small sound, but in the palace gardens, small animals were common, so her husband and Noach didn’t notice.

“Empress…?”

Vivian’s face went pale.

He never told her this.

She always knew he might marry someone else one day — after all, he was going to be Emperor.
But she thought that day was far away.

He always said he didn’t want kids.
She thought that meant he didn’t need to marry someone else, even if she couldn’t have a baby.

Also, the Endris family was already powerful — there was no reason for a political marriage.

Vivian took a step back.
And then she realized — he never actually said those things.

She was the one who believed them.

‘Maybe he needs a child from another woman?’

The more she thought, the worse it felt.

She looked up at the sky.
It was still a clear and sunny day — but everything had changed.

Her husband always got what he wanted.
If he wanted something from Natalia, he’d get it — even if it meant another arranged marriage.

“Your Highness…”

The maids whispered, worried.

They had heard everything too.

Vivian opened her mouth to say, “It’s fine, let’s go back.”
But no words came out.

She could only force a smile.

That was the day Vivian stopped sneaking away behind her husband’s back.

* * *

“Ah…”

Eve (Vivian) rubbed her eyes and sat up in bed.

The new house was clean. The bed was soft. But she still couldn’t sleep well.

Every night, she cried in her sleep — and she never remembered why.

She wiped her tears with a handkerchief and drank water she left by her bed.

“If someone saw me, they’d think I’m crazy.”

She grumbled and touched her face.

At first, she was curious — What memories did I lose? Why do I cry every night?

But after one year… then two… and now seven years — she stopped wondering.

She never woke up smiling.
It felt like her past had no happy memories.

Her friend Ariane once told her, “Some pasts are better forgotten.”

So Eve forgot all her dreams — every one of them.

‘Just how sad was I back then…’

She stood up and got ready.
The sun was rising, and Estella would be waking up soon.

She tied her messy hair up quickly and went to the bathroom.

After all, she didn’t want Estella to worry.

* * *

“Your Majesty? Are you still sleeping?”

Noach gently tried to wake up Samuel.

He was groaning in his sleep and shaking his head. Was he fighting someone in a dream?

Samuel wasn’t someone to mess with.

“Your Majesty!”

“Damn it…”

Phew — no punches.

Noach stepped back 10 steps, just in case.

Samuel, once a man from the streets, sometimes dropped his gentleman act — especially when he woke up like this.

He ruffled his hair and sat up on the sofa.
He hadn’t slept at all last night.

His body ached, but worse than that…

‘Why are you crying in my dream?’

Vivian left him — but in his dreams, she didn’t even look happy. She always cried.

He felt crushed.

Samuel sighed and asked, almost to himself:

“Where’s Vivian?”

“…I’m sorry.”

Noach gave the same answer every day.
Samuel knew it, but still asked.

He blinked slowly, then said,

“Bring my clothes. What’s on my schedule?”

“You should take a shower first. Are you trying to look like a heartbroken man?”

“We’re not divorced.”

Samuel smirked at Noach’s teasing. He didn’t argue back.

“Haha! So, what should I prepare? Navy? Or black? You’ve got a meeting with the foreign envoys — maybe black is best?”

Noach joked as he quickly ran away.

* * *

Eve had planned to visit the morning market with Estella today — to shop for herbs and food.

But Ariane canceled everything and dragged her to see a doctor.

“This isn’t necessary. The doctor in Bibrage was good too.”

“Still, the city is different. You need medicine and a doctor here too.”

Ariane kept insisting.

She could probably list 50 reasons why Eve needed to see a new doctor right now.

Finally, Eve nodded.

Estella, watching them both, suddenly hugged her mother’s legs.

“Mom, don’t be sick! I’ll be sick instead!”

She didn’t really understand what being sick or dying meant.

Vivian felt her nose tingle with emotion.
She stroked Estella’s hair.

“Estella is so sweet, I feel all better already.”

“Really? Sniff…”

Estella was crying a little and looked up at her with big pink eyes.

Ariane gently picked Estella up and said,

“Of course! If Mom takes her medicine, she’ll be fine.”

Vivian smiled softly.

But both Ariane and Vivian knew — they were just words.

Vivian had come to the capital… to prepare for death.