Pushing through the dense crowd was more difficult than Freya had expected.

But thanks to the Imperial Guards, who had cleared a path in front and behind her to protect her, she was able to reach the centre of the execution ground more quickly than she had expected.

There stood a towering pillar, surrounded by a massive pile of firewood.

And tied to that pillar – was a man.

‘Who could it be…?’

The bound figure appeared to be male, but with his head bowed low, it was hard to make out his face.

A moment later, when Freya finally recognised him, the strength drained from her legs and she collapsed to the ground.

The man on the stake was none other than the Marquis Lambert, loyal subject of the late King and father of Aaron and Christy.

‘How could it be…?’

Freya blinked several times, unable to believe what she was seeing.

But there was no doubt.

The gaunt, weathered figure tied to the guillotine was indeed the Marquis Lambert.

He was noticeably thinner and more worn than before, but it was unmistakably him.

‘Why…?’

Stunned and helpless, Freya sank to the ground, her expression blank with shock.

People began to look in her direction, curious and suspicious.

The presence of the royal guards surrounding her only drew more attention and the stares intensified.

“You must get up, Your Majesty.”

The maids, alarmed, hurriedly tried to lift Freya, but she had lost so much strength that it wasn’t easy.

“Who is that woman?”

Someone whispered in the crowd.

“Is she someone important?”

As the crowd’s curiosity about Freya grew, Estel, unable to watch any longer, leaned forward and whispered firmly.

“Your Majesty, you must leave this place at once.”

With the help of the maids, Freya barely managed to stand. Her complexion was deathly pale and her violet eyes had lost all focus, clouded with shock.

The Imperial Guards escorted her quickly and safely from the execution site.

The Empire had yet to officially announce to the public that the Queen of the defeated Kingdom of Havern had been made Empress. Apart from quiet rumours, nothing had been officially declared.

There was nothing to be gained by drawing attention to her here.

With the maids supporting her on either side, Freya climbed unsteadily back into the carriage, her fingertips trembling uncontrollably.

‘I must see the Emperor. Now.’

Marquis Lambert had been one of the late King’s most trusted and loyal servants.

He was also one of the few who had managed to contain Christy’s uncontrollable outbursts.

Even if his children had ended up on a dishonourable path,

did not justify such a terrible death.

❖ ❖ ❖

As Rabion sat at his desk, lost in thought, the chief attendant approached and announced.

“Your Majesty, Her Majesty the Empress requests an audience.”

Rabion lifted his head and looked out the window. The sky was slowly darkening – sunset was near.

‘It won’t be long now…’

A languid smile curved his lips as he nodded.

“Let her in.”

Freya entered the office, led by the servant.

Her face was so pale it was almost painful to look at.

“I greet Your Majesty, the Emperor.”

Her voice trembled. Her violet eyes were unfocused and her steps unsteady.

Strangely, her fragile state gave Rabion a twisted sense of satisfaction.

“You’re early.”

“Pardon?”

Confusion flickered across Freya’s face, as if she didn’t understand what he meant.

“You seemed to enjoy drinking quite a bit last night.”

He was referring to her drinking alone and passing out.

“That was…”

Freya, who had been about to make some kind of excuse, closed her mouth again.

There was no time to waste on such trivial matters.

“Your Majesty, I need to tell you something.”

“Go ahead.”

The Emperor’s blue eyes stared straight at her.

“On my way back to the palace, I saw a large crowd gathered at the execution site.”

“So you have already visited the place.”

His utter indifference sent a shiver down Freya’s spine.

“Yes… I went, just in case…”

She couldn’t bring herself to finish, but the Emperor spoke first.

“It seems you’ve already found out. The execution will begin soon.”

“How could you do this?”

“Do what?”

“You didn’t say a word to me…”

Freya’s lips trembled as she struggled to continue, but before she could finish, the Emperor’s gaze turned sharp, tinged with cold amusement.

“And why would I need your permission?”

After a moment’s hesitation, Freya finally spoke.

“I… am now the Empress of the Kingdom of Karl.”

That was all she could say.

Rabion almost laughed bitterly at the sound of her trembling voice.

‘Empress…’

The Empress, he thought almost mockingly.

The memory of last night flashed through his mind and once again he felt his blood boil.

The anger he had barely managed to suppress began to rise again and he clenched his jaw with all his strength.

‘She really thinks we spent the night together.’

Freya clearly thought they had completed the ceremony.

He had no intention of correcting her misunderstanding.

Letting her think that – maybe that wasn’t such a bad idea.

And yet it made him feel pathetically small.

He laughed bitterly to himself.

“I didn’t ask for permission. But you could have at least told me…”

“You’re deeply mistaken.”

“…What?”

His icy blue eyes fixed on her.

It wasn’t the same look as the day before.

In just one night, it felt as if the Emperor had become a completely different man.

“The Empress of the Karl Empire has no authority to directly interfere in politics.”

“What?”

“The Empress is responsible for managing the affairs of the palace. But she must not interfere in political matters. Do you know that I have dozens of secretaries working under me?”

“…”

“Why do you think I employ so many people?”

Freya was at a loss for words.

Thinking back, the late King had ruled alongside her mother, the Queen.

Although the Queen had been in poor health and couldn’t take on many duties, Freya remembered that her father had always discussed matters of state with her mother and valued her opinion.

Freya had wanted the same – to rule her people alongside her husband Aaron.

Though in the end, because of Christy, she hadn’t even been able to touch the affairs of the kingdom herself.

“But still…”

She tried to argue, but the Emperor cut her off coldly.

“I understand. Now that you’ve become Empress of the Empire, you feel the need to show some dignity to those who were once your people. I’m not unaware of that.”

“…”

“But the Marquis Lambert is a criminal who must be executed.”

“Why… why must he be?”

“When the goddess Imona gave the divine order to conquer the kingdom of Havern, I didn’t understand it at first. As you know, she is the sister of the goddess Remior.”

Rabion continued with a deep sigh.

“I only realised it recently – Havern was already rotten from the inside, beyond saving.”

“What do you mean by that?”

Freya looked at Rabion with worried eyes.

The Emperor clearly knew something.

“The false saint.”

“…!”

He could only mean Christy.

She had believed she had been chosen by the goddess Remior, but in truth she had been consumed by the evil god Tiberla.

“How… how did you find out?”

Freya asked, her voice trembling slightly.

“Did you think I wouldn’t? And interestingly… our empire and Havern share the same law regarding collective punishment for worshipping evil gods.”

There was even a hint of amusement in the Emperor’s voice that made Freya instinctively jump.

“As you know, Tiberla is an evil god, outlawed in every nation on the continent. She’s not just any heresy.”

“…”

“The mere fact that Marquis Lambert’s daughter wore the mask of a saint while secretly worshipping Tiberla is reason enough to take action. What I intend to do is make an example of her—one the entire realm will remember—as a warning against such treachery.”

Rabion spoke his next words to the speechless Freya as if offering her a great mercy.

“In return, I intend to show mercy to all the other prisoners – except the Marquis.”

“What do you mean?”

Freya turned to him, her eyes wide with surprise.

“On the day I officially proclaim you Empress of the entire realm, I will grant them their freedom.”

“…”

Freya couldn’t say another word.

If what the Emperor said about imperial law was true, then she had no reason to stop the execution.

And now he offered to spare all the other prisoners – except the Marquis Lambert.

There was no point in provoking him any further.

But still…

“Your Majesty.”

Freya said after a long moment of silent thought, her voice trembling with despair.

“Please… at least change the method of execution.”

“What?”

“Burning… is far too cruel. I beg you – show him some mercy.”

Rabion’s eyes narrowed as he stared at her for a long time.

And when he finally spoke, his voice was cold and sharp, his blue eyes filled with barely contained rage.

“This esteemed royal consort—he was once your husband.”

“…”

“Aaron Lambert.”

“…”

“You’re pleading for the Marquis Lambert because he’s the father of your former husband, Aaron… is that it?”

At these words, Freya’s expression twisted slightly.

“But what does it matter?”

A sharp, bitter smile curled the Emperor’s lips.

“As I said – the Empress has no authority in this matter.”

Freya bit her lip in silence and said nothing.

Then the Emperor suddenly moved closer to her.

“There is, however, a way, as a matter of fact… I’ve heard of several women who have managed to influence whole nations with it.”

“What is that?”

“Have you ever heard of pillow politics?”

It was a completely unexpected response.

Freya’s face flushed with shock and humiliation.

“It’s something only a wife can offer her husband, so if you really want to get involved in politics…Try it.”

In the blink of an eye, the Emperor’s warm breath brushed against Freya’s earlobe.

Startled, Freya took a step back.

Although they had spent the night together, she had no memory of it.

The situation was deeply uncomfortable – strange and confusing.

“Why are you doing this?”

“I’ve already told you. If you want to get involved in politics, try pillow talk.”

Freya’s pupils widened in shock.

She had thought he was just mocking her – but now it didn’t seem like that was all he was doing.

If the Emperor was really giving her a choice…

She couldn’t say.

They had shared a bed out of commitment to their marriage vows, yes, but this – this was something else entirely.