Chapter 5

“Ah!”

At those words, Liliana nodded. Now she understood who the woman was. In the original story, the Empress was always referred to as the Empress, which is why she hadn’t recognized the name.

The Empress was the villain who saw the original female protagonist as a thorn in her side.

‘And she’s the one who will cause my first miscarriage.’

It was puzzling why such a formidable person was already standing before the Emerald Palace. But since the Emerald Palace was practically Liliana’s home now, it seemed odd not to enter just because someone else was there.

Liliana walked straight up to the entrance of the Emerald Palace. A maid next to Beatty was the first to notice her, and soon Beatty turned to look at Liliana as well.

“Oh, the princess of a defeated kingdom?”

Hearing Beatty’s first words, Liliana thought,

‘First a madman, now a madwoman.’

It would have been nice to just walk past this madwoman, but Liliana couldn’t do that since she was to be the future Empress. Beatty opened her fan and waved it with a haughty expression.

“I’m just taking a look around the palace. Seeing how grand it is.”

Liliana hadn’t even opened her mouth, but Beatty’s eyes were hostile. It was hard to understand what she was so dissatisfied with.

Since Liliana was a hostage princess from a defeated country, even if she became the Empress Consort, she wouldn’t be adequately treated. Any respect she received couldn’t compare to that of the Empress.

However, Liliana couldn’t show her true feelings, so she smiled calmly.

“Since it was granted by His Majesty, I am satisfied with anything.”

“Anything?”

Beatty laughed and fluttered her fan. As she looked at the Emerald Palace, her eyes were filled with contempt and disdain.

“This isn’t even the best among the Empire’s palaces. Isn’t it too early to be so conceited?“

‘When did I ever act conceited?’

Liliana wanted to say that, but she held her tongue.

Beatty circled around Liliana, shaking her head as if appraising her. At the same time, she didn’t forget to belittle the Emerald Palace.

“The Empress’s palace is quite far from here. You’ll have to come every day to pay your respects to me in the future. It’ll be a lot of trouble for you.”

With her powerful family backing and designation as the future Empress, it was natural for her to be arrogant. But Liliana knew that Beatty’s head would roll once she died and the child was born.

Thinking Beatty’s arrogance would only last a few more years, her haughty expression seemed more pitiful and almost cute.

‘Tsk.’

It must have been a reaction to those thoughts.

Liliana clicked her tongue unconsciously and was momentarily startled. Ah, she shouldn’t have done that.

A slap landed on her cheek before she could even finish regretting it.

Liliana’s head snapped to the side, and her petite body staggered. The blow was so hard that her vision spun.

The maids behind Liliana gasped in shock, and Sophia hurriedly supported her.

Beatty’s voice came from above her head.

“How dare you…”

Her words were so angry that it seemed she was chewing and spitting out each word. But Liliana, who had been properly struck, was now in full alert mode.

Liliana, who always seemed gentle, opened her eyes wide and raised her hand.

Lady Beatty of the House of Gabriel had never seen anyone raise a hand against her. She was so shocked that she froze and took a step back.

However, Liliana didn’t actually hit her. Her last shred of reason held her back.

In this world where not everyone was equal, she couldn’t repay a slap in kind just because she was hit. Liliana sighed deeply, held her burning cheek, and nodded.

“Well then.”

As Liliana brushed past Beatty, their shoulders nearly touching, Beatty muttered a moment too late.

“A princess of a defeated country…”

Her muttering was filled with various emotions. Feelings of bewilderment, fear, and anger.

So, despite being slapped, Liliana didn’t feel too bad. She looked back at Beatty and whispered softly,

“You’re scared but pretending not to be.”

‘Even if I look like this, it’s my second life.’

Then, as if nothing had happened, she lifted her skirt and ran into the Emerald Palace.

As soon as she entered the palace, the maids who had been quietly waiting began to fuss.

“What should we do! The Princess’s face is all red!“

“Well, I’m not planning to go out for a while anyway.”

Liliana replied nonchalantly, rubbing her stinging cheek. The blow had been so hard that even a slight touch made her wince.

“Ouch.“

“Get some medicine and ice, quickly!”

Sophia shouted urgently as she supported Liliana. Liliana sighed and flopped onto her bed as soon as she entered the bedroom.

While lying flat on her back, the maids hurriedly brought medicine and applied it to Liliana’s cheek.

Sophia, looking at Liliana’s swelling cheek, whispered sympathetically,

“What are we going to do? Your beautiful face…”

Liliana chuckled softly and shook her head. The soft feel of the pillow against the back of her head calmed her, allowing her to think back on what had just happened.

“I made a mistake. I don’t know why I clicked my tongue suddenly.“

“Why did you do that? She’s going to be the future Empress.“

“Exactly.”

Liliana sighed deeply and then looked at Sophia, biting her lip.

“Can I rest now? The Empress Dowager isn’t calling for me, and the consort appointment ceremony is still far off. I don’t have anything to do, right? I don’t need to have lunch either, do I?”

Though she was whining like a child, it was confirmed that she had nothing to do for a while. What could a princess of a defeated country do other than stay quiet?

Sophia smiled and tucked the blanket up to Liliana’s chin.

“Yes, rest well. I’ll wake you for dinner.“

“Wake me as late as possible.”

Meeting the Empress Dowager in the morning had been nerve-wracking, and encountering Beatty had tired her. Liliana slowly fell asleep, feeling Sophia’s hand holding an ice pack against her cheek.

* * *

When Liliana awoke, a red sunset light was seeping through the curtains.

Sophia must have stepped out momentarily, as there was an ice pack on the nightstand, but the room was empty.

Liliana picked up the still-solid ice pack and pressed it to her cheek. The cold felt good, even though it stung at first. She lay there, eyes closed, when she noticed a commotion outside.

She reached out and pulled the bell cord. Someone should have been outside the door, but no one came in.

Feeling puzzled, Liliana returned the ice pack to the nightstand and sat up.

“Isn’t anyone there?”

As she called out a bit louder, the door opened, and a man entered the dim room.

His bright blond hair appeared dark in the backlight but was still beautiful, and his blue eyes shone with undiminished intensity.

Liliana blinked, then quickly lowered herself into a bow.

“I greet His Majesty the Emperor.”

She had thought she could rest for a while, but what was this madman doing here? She couldn’t afford to be careless with her greetings.

As she obediently lowered her eyes, a large, handsome hand appeared in her lowered view.

“Huh?”

Liliana instinctively looked up, blinking. This time, her view was filled with a splendidly familiar face. Helio, with a smirk, extended his hand once more.

“Hmm.”

What a foolish conversation. No one would imagine such a stupid exchange between an emperor and a princess.

Frowning, Liliana hesitated before finally taking his hand. Helio helped her to her feet as if escorting her.

“Thank you…“

“No need to mention it.“

“But why have you come here?”

At her question, Helio chuckled incredulously.

“You are to be my Empress Consort. Can I not come and go as I please?”

With that, he sat on her bed. As Liliana hesitated, staring at him, Helio reached out and pulled her by the waist onto the bed.

“Eek!”

Startled by his sudden action, Liliana stiffened and fell onto the bed, the recoil of trying to push him away.

As she lay there, looking up, Helio raised his hands to shoulder height, feigning innocence.

“I didn’t expect you to be so startled.“

“Yes, indeed. I was startled on my own…”

Liliana awkwardly sat up, scooting an inch away from Helio.

‘Why on earth did he come here?’

Her mind was filled with that single thought. In fact, Liliana had an obvious candidate for the answer.

Liliana was soon to be the consort, and Helio, the emperor, was effectively her master. Why else would an emperor visit his consort’s palace?

‘It must be for the sake of having an heir.’

Liliana couldn’t hide her troubled expression. Without any contraception, she couldn’t risk sleeping with the emperor. What if she accidentally got pregnant?

Since the Empress’s designate, Beatty, already bore ill will towards her, things would undoubtedly unfold as in the original story.

‘Absolutely not!’

Helio silently watched as Liliana’s expression went from thoughtful to desperate. He even checked to see if steam was coming from her head from thinking so hard.

As he reached out to touch her head…

“Oh, my!”

Liliana let out a strange noise and pulled back. She stared at Helio with wide eyes.

Helio also gazed at Liliana. Narrowing his eyes, he leaned toward her.

“Princess.“

“Y-yes?“

Liliana’s heart was pounding. He was handsome, pretty, and attractive, but this was a matter of life and death!

Trying to figure out how to get out of this situation made her face flush with anxiety.

When Helio reached out his hand toward her again, Liliana closed her eyes tightly and shouted,

“Y-Your Majesty! We still…“

“Still?“

“We’re not officially a couple yet, are we?!”