There were two glasses.

Her heart raced unnecessarily when she saw those ordinary glass cups. It made the reality of the wedding night sink in.

But soon her heart settled.

Wedding night, really? After causing such embarrassment at the wedding, would Khalid actually come to see her?

During the reception, he acted composed because many eyes were watching, but logically, no one could remain unaffected after experiencing something like that……

“Then rest well.”

When Lady Hildebrand gave her farewell, the maids giggled and each added a comment.

“Have a happy night, hoho.”

“I’m envious, Miss!”

“What do you mean ‘Miss’? We should call her ‘Your Majesty the Empress’ now.”

“Oh my. I’m more excited than she is!”

The maids’ chatter only subsided after Lady Hildebrand’s reprimand. Left alone, tension crept up Aristie’s spine.

Should she sit here on the sofa?

Or would it be better to go to the bed?

She wanted to lie down and fall asleep first…… but that would be too impolite, wouldn’t it?

‘What useless worries about a man who probably won’t even come.’

—just as she was grumbling to herself, the door flung open and Khalid entered.

‘He came!’

Though she had seen his face countless times throughout her life, her heart seemed to stop the moment she saw him. Had she been hoping he wouldn’t come? Even she felt confused about her own emotions.

But if Khalid didn’t come to her, rumors would spread that she was a neglected Empress who had earned the Emperor’s displeasure……

‘I wish he would just hit my vital point and knock me unconscious. It wouldn’t be difficult for him.’

While seriously contemplating this absurd thought, Aristie barely managed to open her mouth.

“You… came.”

“……”

Khalid stared at her silently.

No, the impression that he was staring was just Aristie’s misconception.

In truth, Khalid had momentarily frozen, all his senses captivated by the sight before him.

The thin shoulder straps that seemed to beg to be removed. The floating lace. The woman’s nightwear, close to underwear.

In some ways, this might be considered the most modest outfit Aristie had ever worn, yet seeing it made Khalid’s lower abdomen tighten as all his nerves were seized.

He wanted to do something to her and simultaneously wanted something done to himself.

‘No. I must control myself……’

Khalid took a deep breath and slowly closed and opened his eyes. Seeing this, Aristie’s misconception deepened.

He’s definitely angry. Well…… he was called homosexual in front of all those wedding guests.

‘He wants to do something to me but is barely holding himself back.’

He did want to do something to her, but not in the way she thought. However, Aristie, unable to know Khalid’s true thoughts, became more defensive and spoke stiffly.

“I will apologize.”

At this unexpected statement, one of Khalid’s eyebrows shot up.

“Apologize?”

“To Sir Zephyros. But not to Your Majesty.”

“Ah. That apology.”

Understanding her meaning, Khalid’s lips curved pleasantly.

“It’s fine. I’m satisfied that it became quite an impressive wedding. ……Oh, speaking of Zephyros, I’m thinking of assigning him as your guard for the time being.”

“Sir Zephyros?”

Aristie narrowed her brow.

“If it’s surveillance, I’ll decline.”

“It’s not surveillance. The commotion at the wedding might have caused some people to harbor ill feelings toward you. It could lead to danger, so I want to prevent it in advance. Besides.”

Khalid smiled faintly and continued.

“You publicly declared to the world that Zeph is my lover. Some people will believe it, and in this situation, I can’t keep him by my side, can I?”

“That’s…… true.”

Aristie reluctantly agreed. It was frustrating, but he was right.

But why assign him specifically to me?

“Will Sir Zephyros want to guard me? I slandered him in front of countless people.”

“Don’t worry. Zeph won’t mind. No, he’ll probably be thrilled? He’s become your fan since the trial.”

“That can’t be.”

“It’s true. More importantly……”

Khalid narrowed the distance and approached Aristie’s side. He remained standing.

Despite being the supreme ruler of the Empire who needed no one’s permission, he asked Aristie with utmost courtesy.

“May I sit beside you?”

“O-Of course.”

When Aristie consented, Khalid sat down next to her, maintaining a slight distance. He wore a grinning face, clearly pleased about something.

Aristie corrected her earlier thought. Her assumption that his gaze had been a glare was her misunderstanding.

The current Khalid wore an expression so gullible that he would happily hand over money even if offered garbage.

‘I wonder what he’s thinking…… The atmosphere isn’t right for smiling, yet he’s smiling, so I don’t know what to do. I can’t smile back either.’

Aristie poured champagne and handed a glass to Khalid.

Khalid seemed to want to make a toast like “To our happy married life!” but seeing Aristie subtly glaring with her noble eyes, he tactfully just clinked glasses.

The champagne was non-alcoholic, no different from a soft drink. Thinking it fortunate there would be no intoxication, Aristie spoke.

“Regarding what I did today, let me explain……”

She organized her thoughts mentally, and Khalid waited silently.

“That was the only way to stop Estelle. The wedding was the only opportunity to publicly bring her down.”

“I know.”

“Estelle will continue to target me using various methods, and I will fight against her. If Your Majesty continues meeting with her, I will take the lead in spreading malicious rumors.”

“Do that.”

“I won’t hesitate to implement even vile tactics. If Your Majesty protects Estelle, I will protect myself from that villainess! Furthermore, I’ll protect my people and the Empire……!”

“No, I’m the one who will protect you.”

Khalid, who had been listening well, suddenly objected.

“Remember? I chose to trust you.”

“But Your Majesty and Estelle……!”

“I intend to search for evidence to prove your words. To reveal that you are right.”

Aristie looked surprised. So that’s what he meant by trusting her.

“Without evidence, we can’t do anything about Estelle anyway. Especially while she enjoys the status of both a noble and a saintess. You know that well, Aristie.”

“……Your Majesty is right about that part.”

“So give me time. Time to investigate Estelle’s true nature and find the evidence you need.”

“……”

Aristie remained silent for a moment. She hadn’t expected Khalid to respond this way, so her mind felt confused.

She was the woman he had chosen himself. The woman he considered a friend. The woman he trusted more than me.

Yet suddenly he stands on my side and says he’ll find evidence to corner that woman……?

“……You said you need time.”

With a face that had become cold—no, with visible effort to become cold—Aristie spoke.

“I need time too. Just as trust and faith in Estelle remain in Your Majesty, resentment and distrust toward Your Majesty remain in me.”

“……”

“Now that I’ve become Empress, I will serve Your Majesty wholeheartedly, but emptying my heart will take quite a long time. Just like it will for Your Majesty.”

The final part, “Just like it will for Your Majesty,” was truly meaningful. Underneath lay the distrust that Khalid would never abandon Estelle.

Isn’t that how the human heart works? The heart often nullifies in an instant what the mind has painfully resolved to do.

“……”

Khalid maintained his silence. He didn’t utter hasty words about what he would do with Estelle right away.

Instead, he took out a small box from his chest and held it out to her.

“What is this?”

Khalid simply urged her.

“Open it.”

Aristie carefully opened the box. Inside was a ring with a platinum sheen and a pure feeling.

When Khalid took it out and placed it on Aristie’s ring finger, the ring glowed and adjusted to fit her finger perfectly.

“This is the wedding ring passed down to the ladies of the imperial family for generations. Its beauty is a bonus; magic is the essence.”

“Magic?”

“It has magic that helps remember each other’s precious moments for a lifetime.”

The ‘precious moment’ referred to the wedding ceremony. Hearing those words, tears welled up in Aristie’s eyes without her realizing.

She had hated him so much. She had decided to hate him.

She had just regained control over her weakening heart……

Aristie had to struggle to manage her emotions to prevent the pooling tears from spilling out.

“Why…… are you giving this to me now?”

A wedding ring should rightfully be worn during the wedding ceremony. To give it on the wedding night after the ceremony was over……

“I wanted to give it to you earlier. But would you have accepted it in the middle of that commotion? Even if you had, would it have meant anything to us?”

Khalid asked bitterly. Aristie understood his meaning.

Khalid had prepared the ring to give during the marriage vows. But because she had ruined the ceremony, he couldn’t bring himself to offer it. He couldn’t capture the scene of a wedding turned into chaos in the ring.

To receive such a precious heirloom passed down from ancestors in this manner……

“You are now officially the Empire’s Empress. So you have the right to receive the ring, and the duty as well.”

Khalid gently requested to the regretful Aristie.

“So please keep it, Aristie. So that you and I can use it whenever we have our happiest moment.”

Aristie forgot her embarrassment and stared blankly at Khalid. For a long time, she gazed into each other’s eyes, which she had fallen into for years but never truly understood.

The sensation of golden eyes and blue eyes blending into one. It felt like an ocean embracing the sun.