“It’s nothing. I was just reminded of old times.”
Aristie answered politely, while marveling anew at the Emperor’s duality. To think such ruthlessness lurked beneath that gentle demeanor. Isn’t this level of duality almost unfair?
As she was thinking this, Khalid suddenly put down his teacup and chuckled.
“Speaking of the old times, I’m reminded of when we used to play together as children. Back then, you would complain about dresses being cumbersome and take them off.”
“Wh-when are you talking about?”
“Do you remember? You and my sister climbed a tree in your underwear. You were on an adventure to see a bird’s nest and nearly had a big accident when the branch broke.”
“Fortunately, Your Majesty caught me as I fell…”
Aristie murmured softly, her cheeks reddening. Catching that sound, Khalid mischievously asked.
“Do you also remember how you clung to my neck and cried your eyes out then?”
Instead of answering, Aristie avoided his gaze. It meant she remembered clearly.
As he recalled the past, the smile on Khalid’s lips became slightly wistful.
“You and I, my sister and Aiden. Everyone has changed, but those memories are still vivid to me. They give me strength whenever I’m tired.”
“…It’s the same for me.”
Feeling a lump in her throat, Aristie sipped her tea. For her, those memories were not just a source of strength, but everything.
The time when she enjoyed freedom and happiness. When her mother was alive and her brother was much more talkative than her. When even her father used to smile affectionately…
“By the way, what brings you here today?”
Aristie changed the subject, fleeing from her weakening heart. At this, Khalid’s expression became quite serious.
Still kind, but more resolute, and even showing a hint of bashfulness.
What on earth did he come to talk about?
“It’s been a year since the late Emperor passed away.”
“……”
“I understand how harsh your life must have been, being selected as the Crown Princess at such a young age. Not only enduring all sorts of education and customs, but also no small amount of slander from those around you.”
I know. He didn’t come all this way just to say such things.
However, Aristie listened silently to the Emperor’s words without pressing him.
“You used to always smile brightly, but it pained me to see you lose your smile at some point. I’m sorry for neglecting you, making excuses about not having enough time when I should have comforted you.”
“No, Your Majesty has nothing to apologize for…”
Though she tried to hold it back, warmth welled up in Aristie’s chest. How much had she longed to hear such words of comfort?
Hearing this now, after wishing for it so desperately, felt like summer sunshine pouring down in the middle of winter.
It felt as if her frozen heart was melting away.
“It’s all something I should have endured. Your Majesty has been doing impeccably well.”
Aristie swallowed the surge of emotion and answered calmly.
It was a reciprocal greeting to the other’s comfort, but the content was sincere, not just empty words. Thinking about it, Khalid’s life had certainly not been smoother than hers.
The late Emperor who had been ill for a long time. The regency he had to start at a young age. The enemy country’s invasion taking advantage of that gap. The ensuing war and post-war reorganization. The late Emperor’s passing. The Emperor’s coronation ceremony held in conjunction with the funeral…
And that’s not all. Reorganizing the ruling system, intense domestic and foreign exchanges, and all sorts of unexpected situations that popped up with his ascension to the throne.
‘Isn’t it you who needs comfort more than me, Khalid…?’
As her heart warmed, Aristie felt sorry for Khalid instead. Even in the midst of his busy public and private affairs, Khalid had never neglected to take care of his fiancée.
Twice a month. They met on set dates and spent time together. On occasions when unavoidable circumstances arose, he would make a separate day and come with flowers.
Khalid, who gifted her beautiful jewels every year on her birthday. Isn’t he the one who waited only for her until she turned twenty-four, not even looking at other women?
Apologizing that the Crown Princess investiture ceremony had been canceled due to the late Emperor’s illness and the sudden war.
Even though she was just a political marriage partner chosen by their parents in childhood, not someone he had chosen himself.
‘Even that is becoming a burden to His Majesty due to our family’s declining influence…’
The corners of Aristie’s lips twisted self-deprecatingly. She deliberately smoothed her lips into an arc.
“It seems I have caused Your Majesty worry in many ways due to my inadequacies. To the extent that you personally came to comfort me like this.”
“I didn’t come just to comfort you.”
“Then…?”
Khalid put down his empty teacup and interlocked his fingers. As if to show his determination.
“Now that the state affairs have somewhat stabilized, I would like to formally proceed with the imperial marriage. I want to welcome you as the Empress, what are your thoughts on this?”
“The imperial… marriage?”
The fingertips that had been maintaining composure twitched slightly. Aristie looked at Khalid with a face that clearly showed her surprised state of mind.
Is this… a proposal?
Yes, that’s right. It’s a proposal!
As reality gradually sank in, a warmth tickled up her cheeks. It had been 18 years since she was designated as the Crown Princess.
And now, at the age of twenty-two this year, she finally received a proposal from her fiancé.
“…I am overwhelmed with gratitude.”
Aristie belatedly composed her expression and softly expressed her acceptance. She tried to calm her excitement, but her mood kept lifting.
Abundant love, a happy marriage… It wasn’t for reasons like these. She was too mentally and physically exhausted to indulge in such sweet things.
It was enough just to be able to escape. From her father who tried to use his child’s marriage as a means of power. From the nobles who looked down on her brother and plotted against her family.
The jealousy of women who admired the Emperor was already beyond harsh, now bordering on torture. If she becomes the Empress, she can subdue those things. At least, she can gain enough power to fight back.
‘If that happens, will I be able to live smiling too?’
As she smiled at Khalid with such hope,
“And… along with proceeding with the imperial marriage, there’s something I want to tell you.”
Khalid spoke, hesitating.
“Yes?”
An ominous feeling struck Aristie’s heart.
She couldn’t tell what it was. It was like discovering a small butterfly that would bring a storm.
“What is it?”
“Well…”
Aristie quietly watched Khalid, who struggled to continue speaking. As she observed his hesitation, she realized something.
The real reason for his visit was to convey the next words.
Even more than the talk of marriage.
“First, I hope there won’t be any misunderstanding.”
After an uncomfortable silence, Khalid opened his mouth.
“I’m not saying this to hurt you at all. I have no other intentions. It’s solely from my desire to be honest with my fiancée.”
“It’s alright. Please go on.”
Although it wasn’t really alright, Aristie reassured Khalid. Her father’s order to be obedient to the Emperor was still faithfully in effect even at this moment.
“So, recently…”
Khalid hesitated one last time, and then confessed.
“I met a woman.”
“……”
Aristie looked at her fiancé without moving a muscle.
With her eyes wide open. Her mouth slightly agape.
Seeing her like this, a flash of apology crossed Khalid’s eyes. But it was only for a moment.
“I’ve been seeing her.”
He soon spoke forcefully, as if urging himself. Aristie unconsciously clenched both her hands tightly.
The golden eyes, as if the sun had melted into them, were burning with passion.
Embracing someone other than her.
***
“You’ve been… seeing her?”
“Yes.”
“Another woman?”
“Yes.”
“Who is she?”
“Even if I tell you, you wouldn’t know her. She’s not a noble.”
Her heart, which had dropped with a thud, began to beat faster and faster. Various thoughts whirled chaotically, stirring up Aristie’s mind. She was flustered without knowing why she was flustered, and a baseless sense of betrayal made her insides ache dully.
Even though she had known that such a time would come someday.
Because it was a political marriage, no, even if it had been a marriage of love, it would have been the same. Didn’t the Empress originally have no right to interfere with the Emperor’s women?
‘That’s right… It’s no big deal. I just need to focus on my role.’
Aristie comforted herself. Unless he was bewitched by his lover and cast her aside, Khalid had promised to marry her, and he wasn’t the type to easily break that promise.
After all, it was this kind of faith that had sustained the two of them until now.
Moreover, the Emperor was originally a being who could have as many women as he wanted. Looking back at history, most emperors had kept consorts or concubines besides the Empress.
Even the late Emperor, who was said to have had such a good relationship with his wife.
Perhaps… behind the praise of ‘good relationship’ lay the painful endurance of the late Empress.
“I see. I didn’t know.”
Aristie replied indifferently. In fact, she was pretending to be indifferent, but her voice came out a bit sharp.
Still, she was sincerely trying to understand her fiancé.
The Emperor who had never known a woman’s embrace even after coming of age long ago. He who had lived a dry life devoted only to state affairs, deserves to be attracted to the opposite s*x, even if late.
Isn’t it rather admirable that he’s now enjoying the romance he couldn’t dream of because of her?
Even though it’s a romance that could never be allowed for her, the Emperor’s fiancée.
‘If I were to blame someone, it should be the late Emperor who matched us. We were already paired as each other’s partners from the moment we could remember.’
No, if I say that, half the blame would be mine. I bear responsibility too, for having shown only an old-fashioned image consistently over the long years.
Enough to make him seek comfort in another woman’s arms.
So…
“Congratulations, Your Majesty. You’ve found a good relationship.”
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE
chocolattes
and so the misunderstanding begins… i dont blame her for being so careful due to her upbringing, but it’s just sad to read her thoughts and knowing she can’t act on them 😭
edit: whoops i commented on this chapter already. i didnt even notice lmao.