Episode 3
Alicia had no idea why the Emperor had returned so suddenly.
Her cheeks flushed red like the sunset when she remembered how she had almost hidden behind the curtains at the sound of the royal trumpets—like a frightened child.
“…It seems His Majesty’s procession passed us by.”
“Are you sure?”
Alici’s blue eyes went wide.
Aness peeked through the curtain, then nodded firmly.
“Yes. The procession is heading toward His Majesty’s quarters. It has passed the Empress’s residence.”
“Hah…”
Relieved, Alicia sank back onto the sofa.
Just moments ago, she had been so certain the Emperor would never come back. Now she was sighing in relief like a silly child.
“It’s so strange.”
“That His Majesty has returned?”
“Yes. He was never supposed to…”
The Emperor only ever returned in spring to honor his late mother.
In the beginning, Alicia had joined those ceremonies and shared formal meals with him.
But after she kept repeating Lucan’s words, he stopped seeing her altogether—right up until the day she died.
“I don’t think it’s strange, Your Majesty. It’s normal for an Emperor to be in his palace. It was unusual that His Majesty left for Lubeo right after your wedding.”
An ordinary Emperor would have stayed.
But Alicia knew better. Kaien Darius was far from ordinary.
“But… you know too, don’t you, Aness?”
She remembered that first day, the wedding veil lifting, and Kaien’s handsome face.
It had fooled her for just a moment—before she learned he was a cruel man who would be a terrible husband for the rest of her life.
“Our marriage was never normal from the start.”
On their wedding day, he had only brushed her forehead with a quick kiss, then immediately left on horseback.
There was no wedding night, no celebration.
The new Empress was ignored, left alone with no visitors, no allies.
Later, when Kaien came back a few times, people gossiped about her briefly, but soon even that faded.
She grew sick and died alone, with no one at her side.
“Still, Your Majesty should show proper courtesy.”
“Not in the middle of the night. Tomorrow morning will do.”
Alicia answered calmly, with a poise far beyond her years.
“Yes, tomorrow morning would be best.”
Aness felt uneasy but knew Alicia was right.
In a palace where no one was on her side, following proper manners was her only shield.
“Aness, when I meet him, I want to dress plainly. Just as I am now.”
“Your Majesty?”
“Yes. No decorations. The simpler, the better.”
She suddenly remembered one dinner from her previous life:
A very long table separated them, so far apart they could barely see each other.
Alicia had worn a simple diamond necklace that belonged to the palace.
And Kaien’s cold words had cut deeper than silence:
—How extravagant.
—Do you even know how much that little stone is worth to starving people?
Back then, Alicia had been so naive.
She hadn’t brought any jewelry from Lucan—Lucan’s teachings banned luxury.
She had only worn a small heirloom necklace because her lady-in-waiting insisted.
But Kaien hadn’t cared.
—Even that small stone could bring water to a village. Do you know what that means?
She had no answer.
Maybe nothing she said would have pleased him.
To him, she was only Lucan’s talking parrot.
“Aness, make sure my gloves are simple too. No shine. And not too bright. What length?”
“Just below the elbow.”
Alicia nodded. Gloves were more than fashion—they showed closeness or distance.
With Kaien, she wanted distance, but not so much that she looked like she was attending a formal event.
“Good. And no fan. Plain shoes.”
A fan was expected of a noble lady, but she wasn’t about to give him another reason to criticize.
“Your Majesty, you can’t go with any jewelry. At least wear a pearl necklace?”
“No. Not.”
Alicia’s voice was sharp. The memory of that old insult still stung.
“But going without any necklace at all might be seen as rude.”
“…Then I’ll wear my mother’s necklace.”
She opened a drawer and pointed to a simple keepsake—plain platinum, nothing flashy.
“But… it’s so ordinary…”
“Exactly. That’s why I’ll wear it.”
Kaien might not understand, but she did: no bright jewels, no shine.
“If he criticizes, I’ll just say it’s my mother’s. He can’t complain about that.”
Aness carefully fastened the simple necklace around Alicia’s pale neck.
It looked more beautiful than expected, resting against her fair skin.
“I’ll have Nancy bring the gloves and shoes. Have some tea and calm yourself, Your Majesty.”
Alicia nodded.
Later, after checking the plain outfit, the Emperor’s servant finally arrived.
“Your Majesty, His Majesty the Emperor has returned. You are requested to attend to him tomorrow morning.”
Alicia’s expression was calm now.
“I understand.”
She dismissed the servant with a graceful gesture and looked straight ahead.
“Aness.”
“I’ll have the carriage ready. I will accompany you, along with Howard the head servant and—”
“Leave Maren behind. This won’t take long.”
Alicia rose slowly.
This would be her first time seeing Kaien in this life, though she hadn’t seen him for eight years in her last.
Unexpected as his return was… perhaps it was an opportunity.
“Aness, didn’t they say something about me in the palace?”
“Ah… they said Your Majesty, coming from Lucan, must have caught the so‑called ‘wisdom fever’…”
Alicia laughed softly.
That old belief—when a sick child woke with strange wisdom—had nothing to do with her.
“That doesn’t exist.”
Soon enough, Kaien would see that for himself.
“Go rest, Aness. Wake me early tomorrow.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
When Aness left, Alicia let out a deep breath.
“This is my chance.”
If she let them believe the Lucan-born Empress had lost her memory and her cleverness, Kaien would have no reason to care about her.
Lucan might even take her back.
“That’s enough reason to ask for a divorce.”
Once, she had lived a simple life, dreaming only of a little house with a yard and a few dogs.
That dream had felt impossible then, but compared to this palace…
“Even a discarded Empress could have a house with a yard.”
Her mind was made up.
Alicia would throw away this fake role and live freely.
“I will not play this part any longer.”
