“Is it true that you were promised entry into the imperial family?”

“N-no! I……”

Cornered, Estelle stammered with a bright red face. She couldn’t judge how much she should admit.

She wanted to loudly refute everything. That she and the Emperor were not fake lovers but barely even companions. That in truth, she had tried everything to become his real lover, but the Emperor hadn’t even glanced her way.

But only the Emperor held the right to reveal the nature of their relationship. If she disclosed even a word, she would completely alienate the Emperor’s already cold heart. So completely that she could never recapture it.

‘So please say it yourself…… Just say the Empress’s words are lies, Your Majesty!’

Estelle looked at Khalid with desperate eyes.

But Khalid remained silent.

His silence only invited misunderstanding that he was confirming the allegations. Just like Zephyros had done.

‘Why!’

Why aren’t you saying anything!

This will cause trouble for you too! You’ll be branded as homosexual!

You’ll suffer irreversible humiliation!

“I respect His Majesty the Emperor.”

Aristie spoke up instead of Khalid, who maintained complete silence.

“I don’t care what His Majesty’s values are or what his s*xual orientation is. As long as it doesn’t affect the validity of our marriage. So I would appreciate if this unsavory deal with the Saintess ended today.”

“That’s enough!”

The high priest, unable to tolerate the wedding turned into chaos, shouted angrily.

“How dare you speak such nonsense in this grand occasion! This could be grounds for arrest on charges of insulting the imperial family!”

Then Aiden, who had been quietly observing the situation, suddenly stood up and stammered.

“The Y…Yentrice d-ducal family has im…immunity privileges, I b-believe. Except for s-serious crimes like tr…treason. I’m u-using that im…immunity privilege now!”

His manner of speaking was perfect for ridicule, but given the situation, no one laughed. Instead, there was opposition. It came from young duke Chelbon, who had been humiliated by Aiden and Ryuel at a previous party.

“That privilege is limited to the title holder and heir! Don’t you even know that!”

Aiden’s answer came without hesitation.

“Th-then from this moment, I p-pass the heir qualification to my y-younger sister!”

“Aiden!”

Duke Yentrice exclaimed in shock and horror. Watching this scene, Aristie felt heartbroken. Her brother rarely showed himself in public.

Yet here he was, subjecting himself to ridicule for her sake. Even declaring he would give up his most precious possession.

Feeling like she might cry watching her brother, Aristie fixed her gaze on the high priest. Then she said,

“You mentioned insulting the imperial family, but as you know, enjoying homosexuality is not considered a crime. There’s no specific punishment for it either.”

“This is different! How can you say it’s not a crime when your statement is so insulting!”

“You need not be so indignant, High Priest. You’re not even of imperial blood.”

“From the perspective of someone who is of imperial blood.”

A powerful voice cut into the argument. It was the voice of Grand Duke Torjan.

“I believe the prospective Empress’s question does not constitute an insult to the imperial family. Isn’t it natural to confirm such matters for a sacred marriage?”

The Grand Duke expressed his opinion with his arms leisurely folded. Of course, he didn’t step forward because he doubted Khalid’s s*xual orientation.

He simply thought Aristie must have a clear reason for doing this and sided with her.

‘Thank you, Your Highness the Grand Duke.’

Aristie sent a grateful look to Grand Duke Torjan before continuing.

“Whether my question insults the imperial family or not will be judged by His Majesty the Emperor himself. If it constitutes an insult, I will gladly accept punishment. And let me state clearly.”

Aristie lifted her chin slightly and spoke proudly.

“I have never refused this marriage. Nor do I intend to change His Majesty’s preferences. I merely asked if these facts would pose a problem for the marriage.”

Having achieved her goal, she lowered her eyelashes gently and murmured.

“I consent to this marriage.”

Aristie’s lips closed gracefully after saying all she needed to say. Having accomplished her goal of putting Estelle in a controversial position, her role was complete.

All that remained was to watch Estelle’s downfall through public gossip.

“Your Majesty.”

The high priest called to the Emperor plaintively. The public’s attention naturally turned to the Emperor. Everyone focused on how the Emperor, who had maintained silence throughout, would respond.

With all eyes fearfully united on him, the Emperor……

Could have easily denied everything.

He could have dismissed this as crazy nonsense and immediately punished the prospective Empress for insulting the imperial family.

But he merely asked.

“I also want to ask. Is it a problem?”

“A problem? What do you mean, Your Majesty?”

“Does the ‘spouse’s different s*xual preference’ that the bride pointed out pose a problem for the marriage?”

The high priest’s lips twitched as if he might curse, but he barely restrained himself and answered.

“There has never been such a case raised, so it’s difficult to give you an answer.”

“I see…… Then we can proceed as planned.”

Khalid glanced at Aristie standing beside him and then faced forward to answer.

“I also consent to this marriage.”

“……!”

The high priest’s eyebrows trembled. However, once the Emperor of the Empire had consented, he had no right to stop the marriage.

He cleared his throat and declared to the world in a resounding voice.

“I hereby declare that His Majesty Khalid Arcadian Isha Ferzen, Emperor of the Great Ferzen Empire, and Aristie Crua of the Yentrice ducal family are now husband and wife!”

A wedding in complete disarray. Even amid countless shocks and suspicions, the royal marriage was accomplished.

It was the moment when an unprecedented wedding scandal was recorded in the history of an empire that had enjoyed prosperity for generations.

* * *

After the wedding.

Avoiding the reception, Estelle entered an empty guest room and, after confirming no one was outside, began a silent outburst. It was a habit from her acting days when she would release stress in waiting rooms.

Fists swinging at the air. Curses mouthed silently. When extremely angry, she would even kick using taekwondo techniques she learned as a child, and this was exactly such a moment.

Though she nearly toppled over due to her heavy dress.

‘Aristie, you crazy woman! You think you can make a fool of me?’

After venting thoroughly, Estelle plopped down on the sofa, breathing heavily. She lamented the absence of a manager to receive her anger as much as the lack of a phone.

She had never missed a leading role since her days as a child actor. Yet here she was, possessing the body of a country bumpkin who wasn’t even an extra in the book.

How infuriated she had been when she woke up as Estelle.

She was fortunate at least that her features were pretty; if she had been ugly too, there would have been no hope.

After a brief period of despair, Estelle resolved to use knowledge from the book as a weapon to reach the top. She was someone who would climb to the highest position even if she had to kill those who got in her way, so she thought she just needed to act as usual.

‘But to publicly humiliate me like this. And what about Khalid? He didn’t even refute the Empress’s lies!’

The Emperor of the Great Ferzen Empire.

The absolute male lead of romance fantasy, ‘Khalid.’

He became famous among romance fantasy fans because the novel’s descriptions were astonishingly vivid. The novel itself was highly praised for its delicate writing, but the portrayal of the male lead was truly artistic.

The kind that makes you fall in love just by reading?

She had doubted if it was too exaggerated, but lo and behold. The real Khalid exceeded her imagination. His appearance was miraculous, transcending humanity. Overwhelming wild charm. And his personality was so attractive!

His Janus-like character—cold and ruthless yet infinitely warm and gentle—stimulated Estelle’s possessiveness immensely. If she had to choose between power and the Emperor, she would choose the Emperor after some hesitation.

She had subtly tried to seduce him, wanting him somehow. But such attempts repeatedly failed, embarrassingly so. At first, she thought maybe the man was too innocent, or perhaps lacked desire, but at some point, Estelle realized.

He simply considered her an interesting conversation partner from the beginning. As long as the Empress existed by his side, he would never turn to her.

‘Even so, how could he just keep his mouth shut? When I was so cornered!’

Why didn’t he tell the truth?

One word would have been enough.

If he had just denied it, saying it was all a blatant lie, he wouldn’t have needed to bear the stigma himself!

‘I really don’t understand. What a weak male lead.’

Of course, she could guess the reason. But Estelle refused to think about it more specifically.

If her guess was correct, it would mean she had been rejected by the Emperor, which she absolutely couldn’t accept.

‘I need to somehow turn Khalid’s heart back.’

Feeling anxious, she wanted to meet the Emperor. But today was his wedding day. Khalid would be busy greeting guests and would have no time for her.

Given that she had even been accused of a fake romance, she couldn’t approach him for a while due to watchful eyes. She would have to visit the imperial palace when the time was right.

‘……It’s okay. I’ve had many rivals try to trip me up before. But I defeated them all in the end.’