Chapter 13
‘What if Leto hadn’t appeared then?’
I wasn’t entirely speechless. I had a plan too.
“I intended to publicize the authenticity of the ‘Goddess’s Snowflake.’ By then, Your Majesty would have found evidence that it was fake, just as you did today.”
“The plan is sound, but you knew it would put you in danger.”
“That’s sothing I had to be prepared for. Not everything in the world resolves peacefully and safely.”
“It shouldn’t be that way.”
Leto spoke firmly.
“Whatever happens, the priority must be safety. Especially in front of the High Priestess. There’s no room for compromise on that point.”
I pondered his words. No matter how much I thought about it, the sa conclusion erged. I asked cautiously.
“Were you worried?”
“…What else could I have been but worried?”
“Maybe… scolding?”
For a mont, Leto seed at a loss for words. He let out a shallow sigh and muttered.
“It’s frustrating.”
Even if he felt frustrated, what could I do? His usual expression was as cold as ice.
Perhaps aware of my thoughts, he spoke in a softer tone.
“Please, don’t put yourself in such situations anymore. I don’t want to see you in danger.”
I could feel it. He was genuinely worried about . I felt a pang of guilt.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t an to cause you worry.”
“Alright. It’s a relief that you know now. By the way, are you always this brave?”
I’m not exactly timid. But what gave
the courage today was…
“I also believed in Your Majesty.”
“…What?”
“Even if I beca the High Priestess’s target, I believed Your Majesty would protect .”
He questioned, as if to confirm.
“You did it because you trusted ?”
“You called
‘wife,’ rember.”
He might laugh at . Wonder why I placed so much aning in a simple word. But I wanted to say it. That I wasn’t just acting recklessly.
“That’s why I trusted you. Even if it’s in na only, we are married.”
Leto’s eyes widened. As if they couldn’t widen any more. He looked at
as if he could pierce through .
Was I being presumptuous? Was it inappropriate to attach the word ‘spouse’ to him and ?
“Are you angry?”
“No.”
“You look angry.”
“Do you want
to be angry?”
“No, you look like you’re angry.”
His eyes shook, and he bit his lips slightly. If this wasn’t anger, what was it?
Leto seed to realize sothing then. He quickly softened his expression and looked away.
“Just surprised.”
He rubbed his face with his palm.
“…I’ll work on my expressions.”
‘Work on them? Then…’
I lightly touched the frown lines on his forehead with my fingertips.
“These lines here.”
“……!”
“They make you look angry.”
“……”
“You said you’d work on them.”
For a mont, he froze like a statue. Did I overstep? I slowly withdrew my hand. That’s when he grabbed it and pulled it down.
Was it my imagination? His face seed slightly flushed. His hand was warr than before.
Feeling a bit embarrassed, I spoke first.
“Anyway, I’ll act more cautiously from now on.”
“No. Do what you want.”
“……”
“You said you trusted . Act accordingly.”
‘Huh?’
For a mont, I felt strange. Like I had beco soone special to him. A ridiculous notion.
Leto suddenly asked out of the blue.
“Have you heard of the ‘Empress’s Garden’?”
“It’s the first I’ve heard of it.”
“You wouldn’t know, working all the ti. It’s a rose garden between the Emperor’s and Empress’s palaces.”
“Is that so?”
“Do you want to see it?”
“Now?”
“Yes.”
“Is it an order?”
“No. A suggestion.”
aning I could refuse. But I was curious. Especially given the na.
“Sure, let’s go.”
The ‘Empress’s Garden’ was indeed on the way to the Empress’s Palace. The gatekeepers opened the previously shut garden gate.
Creak—
“Wow…”
A gasp escaped my lips. Red roses blood everywhere. A dizzying fragrance filled the air.
‘It feels like stepping into a bouquet.’
We were alone in the garden. It was probably reserved for the royal family. It seed a waste that such a view was limited to so few.
“But why is it called the ‘Empress’s Garden’?”
“My father created it for my mother.”
I see. Their bond must have been very strong. They say he never remarried after she passed away.
“The forr Empress must have loved red roses.”
“Not so much that. It was more of a symbol. My mother had a unique appearance.”
“Unique?”
“Red hair and violet eyes.”
“Ah.”
It all made sense now.
Red hair is rare in Set Empire. So are violet eyes. Soone with both is considered exceptional, even seen as extraordinary.
And the pri example of that… is ril Iste.
There was a reason ril caught Leto’s eye. He must have seen how much the forr Emperor cherished the Empress.
Leto would make a good husband. Judging by how he worried about
earlier, he’s not just cold-hearted.
“Why are you smiling?”
“I think you’ll be kind to the woman who becos the next Empress after .”
“What?”
He stopped abruptly, as if he’d heard sothing unexpected.
He swallowed sothing hard and asked .
“I have a question.”
“Ask.”
“You’re doing well as Empress, you can’t return ho, and you don’t have another man. So why do you want a divorce so badly?”
“Does the reason matter?”
“It does.”
There are many reasons.
I’m still scared of Leto. In the original story, he changes after eting ril. Until then, I can’t let my guard down.
‘Living as good companions with him? Impossible.’
ril Iste. Her arrival will change many things. I have no intention of getting in the way of their love.
Even if, by so wild chance, Leto starts liking , that would be a huge problem.
ril won’t participate in the ‘Goddess War.’
That would endanger the Empire and, most importantly, my life. I don’t want to be on the battlefield.
But I can’t explain all that. I’ll give a plausible excuse.
“I need to live my life too.”
“Your life?”
“Yes. I never dread of a life as Empress. It doesn’t suit .”
“You don’t know yourself well.”
“I appreciate Your Majesty acknowledging
as Empress, but I don’t want such a glamorous and intense life.”
“So what do you think suits you?”
“Sothing stable and peaceful.”
“And?”
“What?”
“Keep talking. Specifically. How should it be peaceful?”
I’ve never thought about it concretely. But if I had to describe it…
“Hmm… A small teahouse on a secluded beach. I’d welco guests, read books, or do research. Ah, studying herbal dicine could benefit the Empire.”
Just imagining it is nice. A peaceful, modest life, contributing to the world with research. That’s all I need.
But Leto is silent after hearing my dream. I think I know why and chuckle.
“It’s too far-fetched, isn’t it? Unrealistic. If there aren’t many custors, I can’t keep the shop open.”
But Leto asked a different question.
“Would you be alone there?”
“Hmm… I don’t know. If I’m lucky, soone might be with . It’s okay if there’s no one.”
“If you’re lucky, huh.”
Leto fiddled with the flower bed. There must be many thorns. He didn’t seem to care.
He found a white rose and handed it to .
“Thank you.”
“Is that really enough? The beach, the teahouse, and herbal research?”
“…For now, yes.”
“Alright.”
What does he an by that?
Maybe Leto feels insecure. He doesn’t know about ril yet. He just dislikes the idea of an empty Empress’s seat.
We continued walking through the garden.
I slled the white rose. Its scent was subtler and simpler than the red roses. Feeling better, I smiled at him.
“Soon, a good woman will co into Your Majesty’s life.”
“……”
“Trust .”
A few steps later, he disappeared from my side. I turned back and stopped.
He stood there, looking utterly shocked.
The High Priestess sat alone in a dark room. A shadow entered.
“Baron Orang was taken?”
The voice was familiar.
“Dante.”
“It’s unfortunate, Your Holiness. Baron Orang could have been a good source of funds.”
“Watch your mouth!”
Dante raised his hands in mock surrender. The High Priestess jumped up and pointed a finger at him.
“I told you to deliver the letter only to Rivia! How did the Emperor end up here?!”
The High Priestess got in Dante’s face.
“Did you deliver the letter properly?”
“I swear on the goddess. I gave it directly to the Empress where no one could see.”
“The secret about the ‘Goddess’s Snowflake’ didn’t leak?”
“Of course not. Only a few priests know about it, and they wouldn’t speak. If caught, they’d lose their tongues.”
Everything he said was true. The High Priestess collapsed onto the sofa.
“That woman—”
“The Empress?”
“Yes. That woman… she’s completely different from the Rivia I knew.”
Dante laughed, incredulous.
“Weren’t you the one who proclaid her resurrection?”
“Because I believed her resurrection was a true miracle of the goddess. Miracles do happen, albeit rarely.”
“Very rarely.”
“But it’s too strange. She’s changed too much. Like a different person. What do you think, Dante? Do you believe this Rivia is real?”
Dante had a unique sense. He could feel the goddess’s power directly, surpassing even the High Priestess.
Dante smiled mysteriously.
“Yes. I feel the ‘goddess’s power’ within her.”
“You’re not lying?”
“Why would I lie?”
“Fine. Leave now.”
“Yes, Your Holiness.”
Dante bowed and turned to leave. He paused at the door.
“Your Holiness. What if she’s not the real resurrected Empress?”
The High Priestess grinned wickedly.
“What does it matter? Whether to kill or spare her, we’ll see.”
“…Indeed.”
Simple logic. If she blocked the way, she wouldn’t be spared, even if she truly was resurrected by the goddess’s power.
Dante quietly left the room. He thought deeply.
‘I didn’t lie. I do feel the ‘goddess’s power’ within her. Strongly.’
That power wasn’t in the old Rivia. Nor in anyone else in the Empire.
Dante’s smile grew intrigued.
‘Empress Rivia. I should look into her more.’
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