GOHGN | CH 06

~Chapter 06~

“…Are you serious?”

“Yes. Of course I’m serious.”

Absolutely serious.

Even if someone offered to give me back that worthless husband who would one day kill me, I wouldn’t take him.

From here on, I had to stay sharp.

Give away something I didn’t need at all, and take in return what I truly wanted.

This was where the real negotiation began.

“Your Majesty, the Empress… I’m sorry. Did I upset you somehow? Did I do something wrong at the banquet yesterday? Is that why you’re saying this, because you’re angry with me?”

Aria lowered her eyes, looking pitiful, as if she didn’t understand.

“I’m not making this offer for no reason. And I’m not just going to hand over my position for free, either.”

“…What do you mean?”

As I expected, her face showed suspicion.

“I mean I want something in return. If you can be honest with me, I’ll be honest with you. Can you do that?”

Aria studied me, as if trying to see through my thoughts, then slowly nodded.

“Really… you’re serious?”

She looked at me again, wanting to confirm my intentions. I didn’t look away.

“Do my eyes look like they’re lying?”

She shook her head.

“I came here to make a deal with you. You can trust me.”

“What kind of deal? You said you want something from me, but I don’t think I have anything to give.”

Maybe just hearing the word “deal” made her think we were equals now.

The timid act she’d shown a moment ago vanished, and she lifted her chin to meet my gaze.

“You have something.”

“And what is that?”

“Noah Everdane.”

I didn’t hide what I wanted — I said it plainly.

“…What? Who did you say?”

She frowned, clearly not expecting that answer.

“I want Noah Everdane.”

“Why would Your Majesty want my brother Noah…?”

“Have you already forgotten we were introduced yesterday?”

I quickly cut her off, annoyed by her calling him “brother.”

“Oh, right. We did meet yesterday. But… do you really want my brother Noah?”

“Yes. You want the Emperor, don’t you? I’ll give you my husband — give me Noah Everdane.”

“That’s…”

I knew this wasn’t the most appropriate conversation — trading a person, and Noah of all people — but I couldn’t afford to show hesitation now.

“Do you not understand me?”

“No, I understand. I just don’t get why it has to be my brother Noah.”

“Do I have to explain my reasons?”

“You said you want to make a deal, Your Majesty. Don’t I deserve to know the reason before I decide whether to agree?”

As I expected from the original story, Aria wasn’t easy to deal with.

“That’s fair… The reason I want Noah Everdane is because I fell for him at first sight.”

“…What?”

I hadn’t planned to say that, but it seemed fine to be this honest.

“You fell… in love with my brother at first sight?”

“Yes. Isn’t he the kind of man anyone could fall for instantly?”

The Emperor already had an Empress, yet he still brought another woman he loved into the palace. Why shouldn’t I be able to like someone else?

As I spoke without the slightest guilt, I remembered when I first read the original story and came across Noah’s character.

I’d always longed to meet someone like him, even just once.

If he could really exist… even if I died after meeting him, I’d have no regrets.

Wait… Is that why I died?

It suddenly hit me — maybe someone had granted my wish, and that’s why I ended up here.

Yes. I became Veronica to save Noah.

I looked back at Aria with renewed determination.

“But… Your Majesty already has the Emperor.”

“And the Emperor will need a new Empress, won’t he?”

I glanced at her meaningfully.

“That’s…”

“You want my position. And for the child you’re carrying, wouldn’t it be better to have an Empress for a mother than just a Consort?”

“That’s not true! I’m not—”

“We agreed to be honest with each other. You don’t have to hide your feelings from me.”

I could see in her eyes that she was trying to figure out my true intentions.

“I don’t lie or trick people. You can trust my sincerity.”

“Please, don’t misunderstand. I’m not doubting you.”

Liar.

“It’s just… I can’t believe it. Would you really give me your position? Truly?”

“Yes. Of course. But…”

I paused, locking eyes with her.

As I expected, her gaze narrowed — she knew a condition was coming.

“I know about the relationship between the Everdane family and your Harrington family. My condition is that you end that arrangement.”

“You want me to break the dependent relationship between our families?”

“Yes. Can you do that?”

“That’s… That’s beyond my power.”

“Are you saying you can’t meet my condition?”

She frowned and slowly shook her head.

“I don’t lie either. I can’t say I can do something that I can’t.”

I wasn’t shaken by her answer. I’d already guessed she might say that.

“In that case, you can’t have my position. Is that still fine with you?”

“That’s… no, but…”

She trailed off, clearly thinking. Her face betrayed her unease.

I still had one last card I could use if she refused again.

Just as I was watching her calmly, her expression suddenly changed.

“But you know, Your Majesty…”

Aria lifted her head high and smirked.

I stayed silent, telling her to continue.

“No, wait a moment.”

Then she suddenly gave a short laugh.

“What’s so funny?”

“It’s just… a little amusing.”

“You think this situation is funny?”

“You could say that.”

She’d dropped the act completely now.

I’d seen this side of her once before — the first time we met, when she secretly mocked me behind the Emperor’s back.