Chapter 11 (Part 3)

Opening the door, which could not be unlocked from the inside, a dark space emanating a faint aura of death came into view.  

“Light the candles.”  

When the servant hurriedly lit the candles, the walls revealed red handprints and scratch marks left by fingernails.  

The Emperor, inspecting these with a pleased expression, noticed a small figure crouched in a corner near the bed.  

Even at his arrival, Therese didn’t move. The confident smile on Felipe’s face turned cold.  

“You’d better lift your head right now.”  

At the Emperor’s ominous tone, Therese raised her head. Her silver hair, now unevenly cut, fell messily over the white dress she wore.  

“Why do I keep being drawn to you?”  

Muttering to himself, Felipe approached Therese and grasped the ends of her shortened silver hair.  

“…I see.”  

Therese Demori, though alive, was shrouded in an aura of death.  

“You have the same eyes as me.”  

As his cold hand brushed against her cheek, Felipe’s face flushed with a reddish hue.  

“The Empire’s sun desires you. How does that feel?”  

Felipe’s deep voice grew heavier as he caressed Therese’s cheeks, ears, and neck, his breath quickening.  

“Are you so overwhelmed with gratitude that you can’t even make a sound?”  

Therese remained silent in response to the Emperor’s absurd remarks.  

‘I thought nothing could be harder than this…’  

But she realized she had been mistaken.  

Worrying about her father, whose fate she didn’t know, and the Duke, whom she had left in danger, left her restless.  

‘To say I have the same eyes as that filthy man—nonsense.’  

She found the mad Emperor’s self-absorbed excitement utterly repulsive.  

Moreover, the Emperor had broken his promise.  

‘He said he’d tell me about my father as soon as I arrived at the palace…’  

Instead, he had locked her up and hadn’t even visited her.  

‘Was I deceived?’  

Overwhelmed with fury, Therese’s shoulders trembled.  

“Don’t you look as though you’re already dead?”  

When the Emperor lightly tilted her chin, Therese snapped back.  

“Don’t touch me.”  

Her fiery eyes met his, burning with defiance.  

“I like those fierce eyes of yours.”  

The Emperor didn’t get angry at her insolence; instead, he laughed.  

“Wear the dress I’ll send you tonight and attend the banquet. I’ll let you meet Baron Demori.”  

At the mention of Baron Demori, Therese’s anger subsided.  

“Is my father safe?”  

“You’ll find out at the banquet.”  

Felipe shrugged, his expression full of hidden intentions.  

***

After days of immobility, even standing up was a challenge for Therese.  

“P-please help me.”  

Two maids had to support her as she barely managed to sit in a chair. But the dizziness that followed made her vomit everything in her stomach.  

“Madam, here’s some porridge.”  

Too weak to even hold a spoon, Therese had to be fed by one of the maids.  

Though the porridge made her nauseous, she forced herself to swallow it.  

‘I need to gather strength.’  

If there was a chance she might see her father, she didn’t want to appear weak.  

Shortly after, Therese began preparing herself. Even sitting still caused cold sweat to soak her back.  

Unaware of her condition, the maid attending her couldn’t stop marveling.  

“My, the dress suits you so perfectly!”  

The golden dress elegantly highlighted her neckline and shoulders.  

But Therese only cared about her reflection in the mirror. Her face, pale and gaunt after ten days of confinement without sunlight, looked as if it might collapse at any moment.  

Touching her cheek lightly, Therese spoke softly.  

“Please make the makeup a little heavier.”  

Therese wanted to appear radiant enough that her father wouldn’t worry when he saw her.  

“Yes, I will make you look the most beautiful.”  

The maid carefully applied powder to Therese’s face and painted her lips with red rouge. She pinned up Therese’s silver hair, which reached her shoulders, and secured a tiara adorned with large rubies. Finally, she fastened the ruby necklace sent by the Emperor.  

“This way, please.”  

As they approached the dining hall entrance, Therese straightened her back as much as possible.  

‘When I meet Father, I’ll smile as much as I can.’  

Though she had resolved herself firmly, Therese inwardly screamed as she entered the hall.  

Her father was not the only guest at the banquet.  

‘…Your Grace.’  

Jeremy Richard, dressed impeccably, was seated next to Baron Demori.  

“You’ve arrived at last.”  

The Emperor rose and took Therese’s hand, causing the air in the dining hall to turn icy.  

He ostentatiously held her hand and stood beside her. The gold embroidery on their outfits made them look oddly coordinated.  

Baron Demori, flustered, stammered.  

“Your Majesty, why is the Duchess of Richard here…?”  

He had so many questions, including why she was wearing a dress that seemed to match the Emperor’s attire.  

The Baron had recently returned to the Empire after being held captive by pirates for several months. As soon as he arrived in the capital, he tried to contact his daughter, but days passed without a response.  

With his son-in-law, Duke Richard, busy eliminating monsters on the frontier, the Baron had been wracked with anxiety.  

It was during this time that he received an invitation from the Emperor.  

Though he wasn’t in the mood to attend a banquet, he couldn’t refuse. And now, meeting his daughter at the Imperial Palace, he was utterly shocked.  

The Emperor ignored the Baron’s question and led Therese to her seat.  

“Why don’t we eat first?”  

The table was laden with appetizing dishes made from rare ingredients.  

There was crab stew, saffron garnishing roasted pork, and venison cooked with garlic and onions, all neatly arranged on silver platters.  

Yet no one seemed to have an appetite, except for the Emperor, who savored the food and expressed his satisfaction.  

“The venison is exceptionally tender.”  

After rinsing his mouth with wine, the Emperor turned to the Duke.  

“So, Duke Richard, I hear you’ve settled matters on the frontier?”  

The Duke, who had been staring at the table, finally lifted his head.  

“Yes, Your Majesty.”  

“…”  

Therese, whose chest had felt heavy since entering the dining hall, gripped her dress tightly instead of crying out.  

‘Why does he look so worn out?’  

Duke Richard had become noticeably gaunt. His cheeks were hollow, and his eyes and jawline appeared sharper than usual.  

But the Duke never once looked in her direction.  

Therese bit her lip as she stared at his chiseled jawline, which resembled a finely honed blade.  

‘He must despise me.’  

She couldn’t blame him if he cursed her. After all, she had left divorce papers behind and walked away from him after a passionate night.  

It must seem as though she had toyed with him.  

Though it had been her intention, seeing the Duke’s haggard face now made her chest tighten painfully.  

The Emperor, slicing into a piece of meat oozing with blood, broke the silence.  

“You’ve worked hard. I’ll arrange a ceremony to honor your contributions soon.”  

The Emperor didn’t even bother to offer an excuse for the lack of weapons or supplies sent to the frontier.  

In this awkward atmosphere, Baron Demori spoke again.  

“Your Majesty, I must ask why my daughter is at the Imperial Palace.”  

Baron Demori had dedicated his life to raising his only daughter. Even while suffering from a chronic illness, he had worked tirelessly to earn money, not wanting her to be looked down upon for her merchant lineage.  

Thanks to his efforts, he had managed to marry her into the Empire’s most prestigious family. Only then did he feel he could face his late wife with pride.  

But today’s scene was beyond baffling.  

As the Baron pressed for an answer, the Emperor cleared his throat and spoke.  

“Well, it’s best to clarify in front of everyone.”  

With a leisurely expression, the Emperor firmly grasped Therese’s hand.  

The Baron’s eyes widened at the sight of their clasped hands, and the Emperor finally revealed the truth.  

“The Duchess of Richard is my guest.”  

At this, all color drained from the Baron’s face. Though the Emperor had phrased it delicately, the meaning was clear.  

In short, the Emperor had taken Therese as his mistress.  

‘Why…?’  

The daughter he knew wasn’t the type to do such a thing. And with such an honorable husband, there was no reason for her to make such a choice.  

‘Did Duke Richard allow this?’  

Yet the Baron knew well that even the Duke would find it difficult to oppose the Emperor’s wishes.  

‘…My dear child.’  

Hiding his shock, the Baron looked at his daughter, who gave him a faint smile.  

The forced nature of her smile made the Baron’s heart ache.  

As the atmosphere grew heavier, the Emperor wore a puzzled expression.  

“Baron Demori, isn’t this what you’ve always wanted? Your daughter has become the most distinguished lady in the Empire.”  

Felipe asked with a smirk.  

“…Ah.”  

The Baron, sweating profusely, could only swallow nervously.  

The Emperor wasn’t wrong.  

Becoming the Emperor’s mistress meant gaining immense power and wealth. Many nobles deliberately pushed their daughters into the Emperor’s bedchamber.  

But what the Baron wanted was his daughter’s happiness, not wealth or power.  

As the Baron struggled to respond, the Emperor turned his attention elsewhere.  

“Duke, do you also consider this an honor?”  

When the question was directed at him, Therese wished time would stop.  

Being introduced as the Emperor’s mistress in front of her father and husband was far more humiliating and heartbreaking than she had imagined.  

Without lifting his head, Duke Richard replied in a low voice.  

“I only wish for the Duchess’s happiness.”  

It would have been better if the Duke had lashed out in anger or hurled insults.  

But his lifeless tone made Therese’s eyes burn with unshed tears.  

“As expected, the Duke is a man of reason.”  

Satisfied that everything was settled, the Emperor proposed a toast.  

Hiding their conflicting emotions, the four clinked their glasses together.