~Chapter 09~
When I said I wanted a divorce, I thought the Emperor would quickly agree.
But instead of happiness, his face showed confusion and surprise.
“You want to divorce me?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“I must be short on sleep. I can’t be hearing the Empress’s words correctly.”
“No, you heard correctly.”
I looked him straight in the eye and continued firmly.
“Wouldn’t you prefer to have the concubine by your side instead of me?
After all, the concubine…”
I glanced at Aria’s belly.
She quickly placed her hands protectively over it.
I gave a small laugh inside before going on.
“She is carrying your child.
Wouldn’t it be better for the baby if the mother were the Empress rather than just a concubine?”
“That’s…”
The Emperor looked troubled.
Aria, noticing this, linked her arm with his and leaned on him.
Only then did he seem to realize she was beside him, and he flinched slightly.
“So you really mean to divorce me?”
“Yes.”
“Are you truly serious?”
Why did both of them keep asking if I was serious?
Did they think I was like them—backstabbing and betraying?
Well, I guess people see others through their own habits.
“Yes. I’m completely serious.”
I stared at the Emperor with unwavering eyes.
“Well, I also think you’re not suited for the position of Empress.
If you step down on your own, that’s good.”
“Yes, of course.”
“Then we’ll proceed with the divorce immediately.
And as for where you’ll live—”
“You don’t need to worry about that, Your Majesty.
But there is one request I hope you’ll grant me.”
“A request? What is it?”
“After the divorce, I plan to remarry right away.”
“Remarry?! What do you mean?!”
At the word “remarry,” the Emperor jumped to his feet, clearly agitated.
He glared at me sharply.
So he didn’t want me, but also didn’t want someone else to have me?
That kind of attitude made me lose any lingering affection I might have had.
“Remarry? With who?!”
“Noah Everdane.”
“Noah Everdane? If you mean…”
The Emperor’s gaze shot straight to the concubine.
“Yes. The same Noah Everdane from the Everdane family who greeted you at the banquet recently.”
I explained for him, in case he’d forgotten.
“You knew him before?”
“No. I met him for the first time that day.”
“Then how can you decide to remarry someone you just met?”
“I fell in love at first sight.
So… I want to marry him.”
“What is this nonsense…! Concubine, is that true?
The Empress had no prior connection to Noah Everdane?”
“As far as I know, yes.
Noah—ah, sorry—Noah Everdane only came to the capital for the first time recently.”
“Empress, think carefully.
You’d marry someone you only just met? Were you always so reckless?”
‘I think marrying you was the most reckless mistake of my life!’
I swallowed that thought and spoke calmly.
“No. This is the most careful decision I’ve ever made.”
“Still, how could you—”
“Your Majesty, this is my matter. Please don’t interfere further.”
“After all the years we’ve spent together, how can you speak like that?”
The more I talked to him, the more I disliked him.
Even in Veronica’s memories, aside from the very beginning, there were almost no moments when he was kind to her.
I didn’t even want to keep talking.
“Your Majesty, calm down. Getting angry is bad for your health.”
“Oh, Concubine. I’m not angry—just… surprised, that’s all.”
Aria spoke at just the right time.
The Emperor, realizing she was there, coughed awkwardly and sat down again.
“So, what’s your request? For me to allow this remarriage?”
“Allow? No. After the divorce, remarriage is entirely my own matter.
I’m asking you to grant Noah Everdane a noble title.”
“A title? For Noah Everdane?”
“Yes.
Since he’ll be marrying me, the former Empress, it would look better if he had a title.”
“And why should I give him one?”
“Or… do you want me to threaten you using the dowry?”
At the word “dowry,” the Emperor’s face darkened.
“By imperial law, a wife’s dowry must be returned when a marriage ends, depending on the length of the marriage.”
The Emperor asked stiffly, as if confirming:
“So you’re asking for your dowry back?”
I’d expected this from the start.
After all, my family—the Duke of Glensis—was one of the wealthiest in the empire, rivaling even the imperial family.
When I married the Emperor, my dowry had been enormous.
Part of my family’s diamond mine had been given—essentially an endless fortune.
And the Emperor had a taste for luxury.
So of course he wouldn’t be happy about giving it back.
“Of course. It’s mine, so I should take it back.
But if you grant my request, I can forget about the dowry.”
“…Are you serious?”
He looked displeased, like he felt he was losing, but his eyes were full of doubt.
“Of course.”
I smiled and nodded.
“Hmm.”
He hesitated, though I knew he wasn’t going to refuse.
“Fine. I’ll grant Noah Everdane the title of viscount. Will that do?”
A viscount? Absolutely not.
“A viscount? That’s not enough.
Before I married you, I was the daughter of a duke.
I can’t marry a mere viscount.”
“Empress, your greed is excessive.”
“I’m making a reasonable request for my position.”
“What title do you want, then?”
“A marquisate.”
I stated my demand without hesitation.
“A marquis? A marquis is—”
“If not a marquisate, then there’s no deal.”
I pressed hard, knowing he wouldn’t refuse.
“The other nobles will strongly oppose it!”
“That’s also for you to handle, Your Majesty.”
“I didn’t realize you were so greedy.”
“Is that so? If you think so, then fine.”
“…Very well. There’s no need for us to talk further.
I’ll announce it to everyone in the meeting the morning after tomorrow.”
In the end, he agreed.
“Thank you, Your Majesty.”
“Now leave.”
“Yes. I’ll take my leave.”
With a look that said he was tired of me, the Emperor waved me away.
I gave him a gentle smile, then met the concubine’s eyes one last time.
We both silently confirmed that our deal was complete.
Then I left the imperial palace and returned to the Empress’s palace.
