The artificial garden hadn’t changed despite the time that had passed since I’d last seen it.

From the dome-shaped ceiling designed to resemble the sky to the perfectly cultivated garden.

“It’s still beautiful.”

When I muttered as if to myself, Ainberg walked forward and answered.

“It should be the most beautiful and perfect place.”

When I first came here with Ainberg, I couldn’t guess this place’s purpose at all.

I only thought of it as a place for his secret meetings or hiding women.

To create an indoor garden just to meet a woman.

I didn’t know whether to admire the Emperor’s scale or click my tongue.

I never imagined he had been looking this far ahead.

“I didn’t expect to come back here.”

I whispered while touching a leaf with my fingertips.

Though I knew we were the only two people here, the quiet atmosphere made it difficult to raise my voice.

“Your Majesty, did you really create this garden for me?”

“Yes, today it’s finally complete.”

I looked around and fell into thought.

I wondered if this garden was too extravagant for such a brief moment.

He seemed to read my mind and continued calmly.

“I needed a place for you to rest comfortably. It was a secret and delicate matter.”

Ainberg spoke while moving with measured steps.

“You were a quiet and gentle person who enjoyed walking in gardens. I couldn’t simply prepare a cell and keep you in a stifling place.”

At those words, I withdrew my hand from the leaf.

“……”

Ainberg was talking about me.

A quiet and gentle person.

He didn’t seem to know me properly.

‘Though it’s true I enjoy walking in gardens.’

It felt strange.

“Unfortunately, that’s all I knew.”

His voice dropped at the end.

I didn’t want him to become too gloomy.

After all, it was in the past, and I now understood that all of Ainberg’s actions had reasons.

“That’s right, I did enjoy walking in gardens. So you knew almost everything about me.”

When I deliberately spoke cheerfully, Ainberg smiled bitterly.

Then he looked at me once and opened his mouth.

“But one thing was wrong.”

“…..?”

“You weren’t a quiet person—”

“What are you saying? I’m quiet, I am quiet.”

When I objected, Ainberg simply narrowed one eye without saying anything.

“Yes, Your Majesty is right. I’m not a quiet person.”

“Quick to admit it.”

“Not quiet, but quick to admit things.”

“And good at self-awareness.”

When I let out a hollow laugh, he laughed along with me.

“Always bright and full of laughter.”

“Yes, it’s true that I laugh a lot. Of course, before, I had no reason to—”

I stopped speaking mid-sentence.

I didn’t want to bring up the past and make Ainberg uncomfortable.

But his expression had already darkened.

“I’m sorry. I meant that being in the Empress’s position, I couldn’t always be laughing.”

I made excuses while touching my face, but Ainberg still looked melancholic.

“An Empress can’t be constantly giggling, right?”

“Of course.”

“It was to maintain dignity.”

“I know.”

I unnecessarily cleared my throat once and walked forward.

“By the way, where exactly am I? You didn’t bury me in the ground, did you?”

Just as I made a joke to lighten the mood,

“We’re almost there.”

“Did you need to make such a large and complex hideaway just to conceal me?”

After walking with him for quite some time, we finally approached the center.

Ainberg came to a complete stop, and at last, a strange scene appeared before my eyes.

I thought I knew everything and wouldn’t be surprised.

But facing it directly, I couldn’t remain completely calm.

“……”

In the center of the garden was a comfortably arranged bed.

Lying peacefully on it was me.

Sienna Viper.

‘The most beautiful place in the world. Though it’s not yet complete.’

‘Not complete?’

‘The most important thing is missing. It will be complete when it comes down soon.’

I could finally fully understand Ainberg’s enigmatic words.

My appearance, which I was facing after a year, hadn’t changed at all, as if preserved.

Spotlessly clear and clean skin, eyebrows that seemed drawn one by one, and elegant features.

‘Is she breathing?’

The perfection made it ambiguous whether she was alive or not.

‘She looks like Sleeping Beauty.’

In the center of an eternally unchanging garden.

I was lying there like a painting.

I carefully took a step and walked toward where my physical body was sleeping.

I wanted to reach out my hand but felt I shouldn’t touch it.

“Your Majesty.”

When I whispered, I heard Ainberg’s footsteps approaching.

“It feels strange.”

I knew what had happened and that I could soon return.

Plus, it was flawlessly perfect and beautiful.

Yet looking at my sleeping self felt strange, even bizarre.

“And a little frightening.”

It was clearly me.

My appearance, but why did it feel so alien?

“It’s natural to feel that way.”

“But my strongest feeling is regret.”

“Regret.”

I turned away from my sleeping form and carefully opened my mouth.

“I feel sorry toward Leonora and her family.”

For over a year, I had unintentionally deceived the Chadmon family.

I received the affection meant for Leonora and spent happy times under their care and concern.

If Father and Brother learn this fact later.

They will also be bewildered and disheartened.

“It’s not your fault.”

“I know. But still.”

It was the first family love I had ever experienced.

The Chadmon family was close-knit and harmonious, and I spent an incomparably happy year within that shelter.

The thought that I had stolen affection from someone who should have rightfully received it kept disturbing my mind.

Should I have at least told the family the truth?

“You may have heard from the High Priest.”

Ainberg slowly closed and opened his eyes as he continued.

“If your soul hadn’t entered her, Leonora would have died.”

“Yes, I know.”

“If the Duke learns this fact later, he might be shocked at first, but he’ll be grateful for the current situation. It’s better than dying and disappearing forever.”

I looked again at my deeply sleeping face.

When Leonora wakes up, where should I start explaining to her?

“Sienna.”

Just then, a languid voice touched my shoulder.

“Right now, I want to focus on you.”

This man has a talent for suddenly making people nervous.

Though I knew I should turn around, somehow I was afraid to face him.

As I stood still, clasping my fingertips together, Ainberg spoke again.

“There’s something I want to tell you.”

When I slowly turned around, Ainberg was facing me with a somewhat rigid expression.

What kind of words would make him look like that?

Is there something even more serious than what I’ve heard so far?

But I couldn’t predict or guess anymore, so I just quietly looked up at Ainberg.

“I’m sorry.”

What came through his lips was quite unexpected.

Sorry?

When I couldn’t react, Ainberg pressed his lips together and tensed his jaw.

“Sienna.”

Then he painfully opened his mouth that had been tightly closed as if glued.

“I don’t think I’ve properly apologized to you. But I’ve always carried a feeling of regret.”

“Your Majesty.”

“I don’t think explaining everything up to now will make your heart completely mine. I also know it’s too early to ask about your feelings, how you think of me.”

“……”

“I’ll wait.”

With each word from Ainberg, I felt like I couldn’t breathe.

“As you well know, waiting is what I do best.”

An elegant smile poured down like sunshine.

I fell into the arms of the man standing like an old tree, tense.

I closed my eyes in his embrace, but I could still see Ainberg’s expression.

“Yes, please wait for me.”

“As long as it takes.”

When I whispered with my head buried in his chest, Ainberg held me a little tighter.

At first, I was slightly tense, but gradually my heart relaxed languidly.

Would it be okay to stay like this a little longer?

Just then, Ainberg’s affectionate voice settled down.

“There’s one thing you need to do for me.”