Chapter 1

<Beyond This Night>
 
It is a story about the male protagonist, Carlos, who mistakenly believes that he is in love with his ex-wife, Aneta, until he meets the female protagonist, Eres, and realizes his true love.
 
In the story, Aneta is a character who is completely played by the author’s fingertips.
 
She was set up to be the perfect partner for the male protagonist in their arranged marriage, but that was all.
 
The author consistently showed Carlos being swayed by Aneta whenever she appeared. 
 
The author also didn’t hesitate to use the supporting characters to compare Aneta to Eres.
 
As it turned out, the story only showed Eres being tormented by the presence of Aneta.
 
Despite Aneta quietly carrying out her duties without plotting any wrongdoing, a supporting character who is occasionally depicted only through the eyes of other characters, and a protagonist whose emotions are revealed in detail. Naturally, it was easier for readers to empathize with the latter.
 
Aneta Adenauer is the impurity between the two, and to establish this formula, the main characters meet and develop a relationship while she is away on a trip.
 
A total exclusion.
 
That’s why, after realizing that she was reincarnated as Aneta, she was forced to leave the empire against her will shortly after her divorce.
 
But suddenly, an unexpected twist is thrown into the mix. A letter bearing the Emperor’s seal.
 
The crimson paper that seemed to stain fingertips and the golden ink seeping into it conveyed a clear message.
 
“Lady Aneta Adenauer is to return to the capital immediately and adhere to the imperial schedule.”
 
There was nothing else. Aneta looked at the unnecessarily brief letter and recalled the events the Emperor had requested her attendance at.
 
A ceremony that can only be attended by the so-called seven glorious families who have made great contributions to the founding of the nation and are bestowed with a treasure named Glory. On the eve of the ceremony, a banquet was held for nobles unable to participate in the main event.
 
While attendance was optional, this time it was different. There was no room for refusal once summoned by the emperor.
 
The original story went awry from the moment the emperor gave her the order to return. When she faced reality, it wasn’t difficult to make a decision.
 
After deciding what came first, Aneta canceled the rest of her itinerary and returned to the capital.
 
It’s not bad to be back after all.”
 
Whenever she attempted to resist the original story, the oppressive feeling that had previously subdued her was nowhere to be found. In other words, the cause of the deviation wasn’t her.
 
There was an inexplicable unease, despite her relief.
 
‘What on earth happened?’
 
She couldn’t quite figure it out.
 
Aneta raised her champagne glass, feeling her stomach burn. The half-empty glass was too full to put down.
 
It was like her complicated state of mind.
 
Even though she couldn’t completely empty it, it filled up regardless of her will.
 
Aneta stared at it as it bounced off the transparent walls, and she chided herself. She thought it was nothing special, but it was so suffocating that he felt like he would drown at any moment.
 
Finally, her eyes fell on the blond man who had set down the champagne bottle. One of the young lords, who had been sitting beside her, shivering, was now meeting her gaze with fervor.
 
“My Lady, I hear you’ve traveled to Lithea, the City of Arts, and I wonder if you could tell me what you encountered there.”
 
It was no secret that Aneta had just returned to the capital today, and he asked, looking for the easiest topic of conversation, but it wasn’t her voice that came next.
 
“While stories of your travels are delightful, I’m more interested in the painters who receive your patronage.”
 
“Is it really necessary to talk about that?”
 
“Yes. They must have exceptional talents to have been chosen by Her Grace.”
 
The noble man’s aggressive demeanor ignited the competitive spirit of the others, and they engaged in a nerve-wracking game of blocking and jostling.
 
Some of the onlookers’ eyes glowed with envy, but Aneta found them annoying.
 
‘Should I put an end to this?’
 
She thought to herself.
 
“The benevolent sun of the empire, His Imperial Majesty, Russell, has arrived!”
 
With the emperor’s entrance and the majestic sound of trumpets, a grand entrance befitting his status occurred.
 
Everyone in the hall stopped what they were doing and bowed to the emperor. Aneta bowed low and straightened her posture in response.
 
The name that followed was predictable.
 
“The Glory of the Firmament, Duke Carlos Baltimor, has arrived!”
 
Carlos Baltimor.
 
A murmur of chatter accompanied the voice calling him.
 
Aneta huddled even tighter against her feverish body, ignoring the mention of her name alongside his.
 
She didn’t want anyone to know that she wasn’t supposed to be there.
 
‘Now that I think about it, this was the first time we met since we became strangers from a married couple.’
 
It was no wonder that a topic that had died down was heating up again.
 
Aneta studied Carlos’s face carefully. Her ex-husband’s expression was dull, devoid of smiles.
 
‘He still stands tall on the formal platform.’
 
With a chilly atmosphere surrounding him, Carlos strode forward confidently. People around him pretended to accidentally drop items as he passed, but there was no one shallow enough to be played by such a simple trick.
 
‘’They’ll be lucky if he won’t trample them to death.’
 
Soon after, Russell ascended the stage. Carlos naturally positioned himself in front of him, as if it were expected.
 
He immediately looked around for someone, and thanks to this, his eyes turned to Aneta.
 
Their gaze became an indicator. Carlos, who read the atmosphere, found Aneta without difficulty.
 
The gleam of her golden eyes melted like warm honey as they came face to face with the depths of her pupils.
 
That stark temperature difference was something she was very familiar with. Because he was a man who became infinitely docile only to those he brought within his control.
 
But her fleeting springtime spirits were shattered when he realized the men standing beside her.
 
His face, which had been warm for a moment, froze in an instant.
 
The tainted emotion was replaced by a clear hostility, or perhaps jealousy.
 
Carlos took a step forward, as if he would come closer at any moment. What stopped him in his tracks was a voice that echoed from the highest places.
 
“Let the feast begin.”
 
Russell raised his glass and began his toast. On his waist were a kurtana, a symbol of the emperor and the ‘glory of mercy’, shining with its majesty.
 
While the emperor with flaming red hair talked about the ceremony that would take place tomorrow, Carlos’ golden eyes, like those of a bird of prey, grew more ferocious.
 
“See, I was right.”
 
“So the Duke hasn’t gotten over his wife yet.”
 
“I guess the rumor that it was Lady Adenauer who was divorced wasn’t true.”
 
There were murmurs from those who had witnessed his blatant change of expression. Aneta hoped that Carlos would refute their statements, but he showed no sign of doing so.
 
At this rate, she would be nothing more than a spectacle. Perhaps it would be better to leave first.
 
Having made her decision, Aneta drained her glass just as the toast was concluded, prompting a reaction from Carlos, who had sensed her intentions.
 
Before turning away, Aneta shook her head at him, who seemed to be trying to follow her.
 
It was a clear rejection.
 
Carlos could not help but stop walking at the sight.
 
The chandelier scattered shards of brilliant light. Leaving him beneath it, Aneta strode toward the terrace.
 
***
 
A single moon stood alone in the starless night sky.
 
As she held it up to her eyes, the overpowering scent of her perfume hit her nostrils.
 
“Oh my goodness, My Lady.”
 
After leaving Carlos behind, a fox caught up with her.
 
Aneta subtly leaned closer, surveying the charming young man who was trying to flirt with her. Although his gentle smile was endearing, she couldn’t be sure of his intentions.
 
“Since you are alone, shouldn’t you relieve your loneliness?”
 
Whoever said that only women try to seduce powerful men, here was a clear example that proved that men are no different.
 
Wondering if she had made the wrong choice, Aneta stifled a laugh and replied in a nonchalant tone.
 
“I don’t know. I haven’t seen anyone yet.”
 
She expected him to be disappointed, but to her surprise, his expression brightened. He must have realized he had a chance of winning her heart.
 
“So, My Lady, what do you look for in a man to be by your side?”
 
The nobleman acted as if he could meet that standard no matter what she said, but Aneta could only laugh at him.
 
It was something she’d never thought about, and even if she did, it didn’t seem like the man in front of her could fulfill it.
 
‘Unless it’s him.’
 
Aneta thought of Carlos spontaneously and stared at the young man in front of her.
 
She wondered what she could do with this fearless brat if she could just come up with a ridiculous condition.
 
“I’ll answer that question for you.”
 
The temperature and echo of the voice in her ears were unbearably low. It was a voice she couldn’t help but recognize.
 
She turned around, and there was the one she expected.
 
‘You followed me.’
 
Aneta swallowed a sigh.
 
It was obvious what was being said in there.
 
“My ex-wife said she looks at not only the family but also character and appearance.”
 
His dark eyes fluttered with an even darker wave of emotion. Only Aneta could be free from the unrelenting pressure of his opponent.
 
“Carlos.”
 
She mouthed his name with familiarity.
 
“……..”
 
Instead of answering her call, Carlos waved his hand once in the air. The change that came with that light movement came from someone other than Aneta.
 
“Uh-oh!”
 
The man who had been clinging to Aneta as if they were some sort of intimate connection stumbled backward as if he were being pushed by something, and Aneta’s eyes scanned the empty space.
 
She could feel Carlos’s power lingering, insubstantial, dispersing in the breeze.
 
“She doesn’t particularly like flattery.”
 
Eventually, her eyes landed on Carlos’ wrist.
 
The curled feather-shaped cuff bracelet, ‘Glory of the Firmament’, was emitting a soft light as if it were resonating with its owner.
 
“Which means that you will never be chosen.”
 
Carlos strode forward with a stride.
 
Taking up the vacated space with ease, he turned his back to Aneta, blocking their view.
 
“If you understand, I’d like you to excuse yourself. As you can see, I have business with her.”
 
His purpose was clear, as if he didn’t need to hide it. The man’s shoulders tensed as he realized that Carlos was trying to push him away.
 
A shiver of menace ran down his spine, threatening to bite the nape of his neck at any moment.
 
He hoped Aneta would help him, but there was no response from the sturdy woman.
 
“My Lord?”
 
“Ji, I’m leaving right now!”
 
Nuance’s call, “What are you doing here?” forced him to abandon his willfulness.
 
Aneta watched him scurry away like a frightened deer, and it wasn’t until she could no longer see him that she spoke up.
 
“What do you think you’re doing, ex-husband?”
 
“What do you mean? I haven’t done anything, ex-wife.”
 
“Did I say those words to you?”
 
“Even if you didn’t, it doesn’t matter. You’re the kind of person who would say them.”