Episode 40
Things were just as confusing in the Empress’s quarters.
Alicia had gone for a nice walk with the Emperor, but then he suddenly left, looking flustered.
When Agnes and the other maids went to check on Alicia, they found her beautiful face soaked with tears.
“It was all just a misunderstanding…”
Alicia lay curled up in bed with swollen eyes, mumbling to herself.
“Nothing’s changed. No one has. Isn’t it funny? I really thought I could change His Majesty… but to him, I was just that kind of person.”
Agnes, who had stayed by Alicia’s side alone, couldn’t hide how sad she felt.
She knew how hard Alicia had worked and prepared for Kaien’s return.
“I feel so pathetic…”
Alicia closed her eyes again, and fresh tears fell.
She couldn’t understand why she had to return to this cruel world through reincarnation only to live such a sorrowful life again.
Even if fate was against her, couldn’t she at least be the main character in a story where she was truly loved?
“But then again… I’ve always lived like this.”
She wiped her tears with the back of her hand and stared ahead.
Even in her past life, she had been ignored by the Emperor and lived as a lonely Empress for over 10 years until she died early.
She had already experienced plenty of pain and despair back then.
“Your Majesty, if there’s anything I can do… Should I bring tea? Or maybe some warm milk?”
“No.”
Agnes meant well, but Alicia knew that warm drinks weren’t what she needed right now.
“Be honest with me.”
Her blue eyes turned to Agnes.
“What happened today… is that really okay?”
“Pardon?”
“Even if he’s the Emperor… can he just suddenly demand our first night like that?”
They were married, yes, and Alicia had been formally crowned Empress.
But could a husband just suddenly return after a year and treat the first night like it was equal to dessert?
“…I’m sorry, but… yes.”
Agnes looked down sadly. Alicia frowned deeply.
“But that’s so unfair! We only recently started having dinner together!”
“Still, you both exchanged vows in the name of God. That means the Emperor has the right to the first night.”
“I used to believe that too… before he suddenly left the palace a year ago.”
It was from her past life, but the humiliation still felt real.
Kaien had never once looked at Alicia, not even on her deathbed.
“…That’s why I planned to leave this place.”
She had never expected a real marriage with Kaien.
But when her small hopes were crushed so harshly, it hurt even more.
“Honestly, I hoped Your Majesty wouldn’t leave. It would’ve been reckless and dangerous…”
Alicia had said she wanted to tame the Emperor.
But people around her had begun to hope for something more between them—something beautiful.
“I can’t begin to imagine how painful it is for you. But I’m not someone from Lucan or this empire.”
Agnes gently touched Alicia’s fragile shoulder.
Just like Emma wanted to protect Kaien, Agnes felt the same duty to Alicia.
“Now that I think about it, what’s really different? Lucan picked a husband for me, and that man thinks he can treat my body however he wants. Like I’m some kind of… late-night dessert.”
Alicia couldn’t stop the anger from bubbling out.
She had no real expectations of Kaien—she only wanted to leave him.
But now, she was angry and hurt, and she didn’t even know why.
“It’s a sad and harsh truth… but this world is too kind to selfish men.”
It wasn’t just Kaien. Most marriages were like that.
A wife had to belong to her husband, bear children, and serve him for life.
But husbands could treat their wives however they wanted—and still not be criticized.
“If I had a choice, I would never have gotten married.”
“Yes… I’m lucky I was able to make that choice.”
Agnes said with a small, bitter smile.
She knew how hard life was for a single woman in this world.
“Thanks to that, I’m able to stay by your side. I won’t give up until you find your happiness, Your Majesty.”
Agnes had followed Alicia’s mother, Evangeline, from the small kingdom of Tristan all the way to the Empire.
She had promised her many times that she would help Alicia find happiness.
From a young age, Alicia had been an outsider in Lucan.
The Grand Sage had disliked that his favorite son married a foreign noblewoman, and after Evangeline died early, he ignored Alicia completely.
“That’s why I was so glad when we got out of Lucan.”
Noble daughters like Alicia never had control over their lives.
The Grand Sage picked suitable husbands, and the girls were married off to live like Lucan’s puppets.
Most men didn’t welcome Lucan’s daughters, so it was obvious how they ended up being treated.
“I know. If I hadn’t become Empress, I would’ve married some old Duke with grown children.”
Originally, the Grand Sage wanted a more obedient granddaughter to become Empress.
But Duke Nigel worried Lucan had too much influence and insisted on a compromise—Alicia, who only had half Lucan’s blood.
“And now I’m treated like a ‘late-night dessert’ by someone who was supposed to be the better choice.”
Alicia had once dreamed of marrying the handsome young Emperor in the portrait, just five years older than her.
That dream shattered quickly—but it had shone so brightly.
“Maybe… It’s not too late yet.”
Agnes finally spoke the thought she’d been holding back.
“I rejected His Majesty tonight. But… can I do it again next time?”
She probably could—but that would mean risking her life and freedom.
“If I’m lucky enough to survive another rejection… he’ll never speak to me again. He might forget I even exist.”
Just like Kaien had in her previous life.
Alicia knew better than anyone how miserable her future would become.
“…But what if it wasn’t a rejection? What if it was… annulled?”
“I thought about that too. But I’m already the Empress.”
“That’s only because of the coronation. It’s expected.”
Alicia bit her lip.
Even though they had a grand wedding a year ago, the fact that they still hadn’t had their first night meant the marriage wasn’t officially complete.
“By both the Empire’s laws and the church’s rules… the marriage only becomes valid after the first night.”
It was ridiculous that nothing had happened for a whole year after such a big wedding.
But legally, they weren’t truly married.
“And too many people know that.”
When Kaien left right after the wedding, rumors spread across the continent.
Back then, it was humiliating—but now, it might actually work in Alicia’s favor.
“Agnes, can you find me the official documents from the Church and Empire about how marriage is defined?”
“Of course.”
Alicia had stopped crying now. She nodded firmly.
She couldn’t say what she’d expected from Kaien… but pain and disappointment were already familiar to her.
“My plan isn’t over yet.”
Letting others decide her fate had only led to suffering. This time, she would choose her own future.
“I will never be someone’s late-night dessert again.”
Her blue eyes gleamed sharply.
She had no idea that Kaien was spending a sleepless night full of regret and confusion.
The Next Morning
Glenn came to visit the Emperor like he always did, but when he walked in, he was shocked. Kaien sat on the bed, looking completely out of it.
His eyes were tired and his face pale.
“Your Majesty, are you alright?”
Kaien didn’t respond at first. It took him a while to even move his eyes.
“No.”
His voice was low and hoarse.
“Shall I call the royal doctor?”
Kaien shook his head weakly. His hair was a mess—he always ran his hands through it when he was stressed.
‘This is something only His Majesty can solve on his own,’ Emma had told Glenn firmly the night before.
‘You must not interfere, no matter what.’
Glenn respected Emma deeply, but his loyalty to Kaien came first. Still, Emma had said something that stuck with him:
‘If you get involved… His Majesty may never find the answer. Or worse—he may lose his chance at happiness.’
Glenn had grown up with Kaien in Rubeo, but he didn’t understand women’s hearts.
If he got involved, he might just make things worse. Emma had been right.
“Where’s Emma? Or the chief attendant?”
It was rare for Kaien to ask for the palace staff himself.
Was he… actually needing them?
“They’re outside. Shall I call them in?”
Kaien didn’t reply—just gave a small nod.
Finally, he was starting to realize that this wasn’t a battlefield.
This was the palace where his wife lived.
