Episode 32
Kaien was in a daze as he left the Empress’s chambers.
He wasn’t technically kicked out, but it sure felt like it.
It took him a while to even realize what had happened.
“No, seriously though…”
Alicia’s firm and commanding voice still echoed in his ears.
He couldn’t believe that his body—one that had once shouted orders on bloody battlefields—had frozen up just because of her.
Part of him wanted to storm back in and argue, but he couldn’t admit that he’d been overwhelmed by her words.
“Was it something in the tea?”
Kaien’s pride searched for something to blame.
Or maybe Alicia had just been too shy about his sudden closeness.
Though, someone that shy wouldn’t have shouted at him so coldly.
“But, I don’t have time to dwell on this.”
Her earlier question had shaken Kaien’s long-held beliefs.
He needed to talk to Glenn before the thoughts faded.
“I’m returning to my quarters. Call Glenn immediately.”
“Yes, Your Majesty. Shall I give a message to Her Majesty the Empress?”
“Tell her… I’ll return tomorrow.”
Miller, Kaien’s head attendant, was stunned that the Emperor had been basically kicked out—and was still leaving without a fuss.
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
The Empress’s own head maid was also relieved.
No one knew what had happened inside the drawing room, but it was shocking that Alicia had sent Kaien away so easily—and even more shocking that she was safe after doing so.
“Your Majesty, the Emperor says he’ll return tomorrow.”
When the servant told Alicia this, she was fanning herself frantically in the cold night while Agnes tried to stop her.
“I don’t know, okay!”
Alicia snapped while fanning harder.
Agnes signaled Howard to leave the room.
“Agnes, can you open a window?”
“No way! You’ll catch a cold! And stop fanning yourself!”
“Doesn’t the air feel stuffy and warm to you?”
Both Kaien and Alicia were feeling strange heat symptoms.
“The room was aired out earlier. Please just change and rest, Your Majesty.”
Alicia’s cheeks were still red, as if she didn’t need any makeup after tonight.
“With all due respect… what exactly happened in the drawing room that made His Majesty leave so suddenly?”
The door had opened less than 30 minutes after they entered, and Kaien had walked out as if pushed.
Only Agnes and Howard had seen it happen, thankfully—otherwise, rumors could’ve started about the Empress throwing the Emperor out.
“It wasn’t my fault,” Alicia said, pouting.
But her red face gave away that something had definitely happened between a man and a woman.
“His Majesty was just… too rude.”
“Your Majesty, you shouldn’t say that out loud.
And it’s not like you didn’t know what he was like.”
“I’m not talking about court manners.
I mean, he’s too sudden with everything.”
Agnes’s eyes twitched at Alicia’s bold words.
“S-Sudden? What exactly did he do?”
Alicia’s dress was still tidy, and her hairpin hadn’t moved.
So what exactly had been “sudden”? Even the experienced maid was confused.
“We were just talking… and then suddenly—he grabbed my hand!”
Alicia’s eyebrows twitched angrily.
“Th-Then what?”
Agnes was getting nervous just listening.
“Huh? I shook him off. But he got all excited by himself…”
“What?”
Agnes’s mouth fell open.
“I mean, it was so one-sided!”
“O-One-sided… what exactly?”
Agnes’s voice actually shook.
“He suddenly leaned in really close—so close I could feel his breath—and then…”
Just remembering it made Alicia feel hot again, and she grabbed her fan.
Agnes quickly took the fan away and tried to calm her racing heart.
“And then…?”
Had the palace’s most secret scandal really happened that fast?
“Oh right! I yelled at him to stop without even meaning to.”
Alicia sighed and looked more composed.
But Agnes couldn’t relax at all.
“With respect, Your Majesty—you still haven’t said what happened before you shouted.”
You can’t just skip the most important part with a sigh!
“Huh? What do you mean?”
Alicia looked innocently confused.
“The part you were just talking about.”
“Oh! Well, I told him to stop, but he didn’t listen. Then he grabbed my hand even harder, and I shouted without even thinking.”
What was that supposed to mean? Agnes blinked, trying to process it.
“I know, I was wrong. I mean, shouting at the Emperor without using honorifics?”
No! Agnes wanted to yell. That’s not even the issue right now!
“Thankfully, I think he understood. He stopped, and things got awkward, so I just politely sent him off early.”
“I… see.”
Agnes answered weakly, and Alicia smiled kindly.
“Don’t worry. He didn’t seem mad. And didn’t the servant say he’s coming again tomorrow?”
Agnes had no words as Alicia gently held her hand. Now wasn’t the time for such a soft gesture…
“He won’t get angry at anyone.”
Agnes bit her lip and finally asked,
“Your Majesty… you do know that the Emperor is your husband, right?”
“Of course. That’s why I’m here.”
Usually that innocent answer would have been charming—but not today.
“Didn’t you say earlier that you wanted to find your role as Empress?”
“I did. And I’ve got a good idea.”
Agnes didn’t have high hopes.
“I overheard something earlier… Rubeo really suffers in the winter.”
And the air in this palace bedroom was cold too.
“They can’t even dream of things like milk. So I thought—why not create a dish with cheap, common ingredients to comfort the people?”
It was a noble thought—but Agnes was stressed.
“I feel like… there’s a more important task for the Empress.”
“Luckily, the Emperor’s been visiting often, so I’ll bring it up bit by bit. Maybe Madam Emma can help teach me how to run the palace.”
“If His Majesty keeps coming, it must mean your relationship is improving.”
As Agnes helped Alicia change and took out her hairpins, she gently said this.
“You think so? Maybe.”
It’s said that sharing meals brings people closer.
Eating a warm dinner together at the end of the day naturally builds intimacy.
So Kaien’s kindness could be explained by modern psychology.
“Today, he even complimented your beauty.”
“When?”
“He said you looked nice. That’s a compliment.”
“Maybe he liked the sapphire.”
Even though she tried to brush it off, Alicia blinked rapidly.
“But still…”
“No, when he grabbed my hand, it felt more like… comradeship or something. Really!”
She didn’t shout at him out of nowhere. If that kiss last night meant anything, it was clear.
“I think he was just lost in thought about something else.”
Women’s instincts were always sharp.
“And in that state, he just grabbed my hand out of nowhere—so excited, too!”
Usually that would lead to an even spicier story…
“No matter if he’s the Emperor, wasn’t that just too rude?”
“Hmph,” Alicia huffed, removing her other earring and pouting.
“I have to protect my pride.”
“Yes, of course, Your Majesty.”
After her recent fever, Alicia had changed—and not all in a good way.
She was now more cheerful, honest… and even childlike when it came to matters of love.
“Maybe he’s not as cold or scary as people think.”
Alicia kept dodging eye contact while she spoke.
“You know how some people are totally different once you get to know them?”
Agnes wanted to remind her that that man was her husband, but bit her tongue.
“He even listens to me sometimes.”
Experts say that when training someone, you have to be very firm at the right moment.
And when Alicia had shouted “Stop!”, even Kaien froze.
“I see.”
“Right? Isn’t that good?”
It meant all those tasty meals, careful observations, and efforts to bond had worked.
To Alicia, it felt like a huge win.
“Yes, it’s definitely a good thing.”
Agnes smiled gently. She might not know modern psychology, but she was an expert at subtle advice.
“But His Majesty will be returning to Rubeo soon.”
“Oh…”
That obvious truth suddenly hit Alicia hard.
All her excitement from their recent closeness faded.
If he left, their connection would fade too.
All her effort to “train” him would mean nothing.
“Right… I forgot.”
Agnes saw the smile disappear from Alicia’s face and nodded quietly.
Leading and guiding someone wasn’t something only Alicia could do.
