#2. Opposing Relationship

Having returned to her palace, Karina paced aimlessly around the reception room. Her mind was in turmoil. She had accepted Aidan’s proposal for now, but she wasn’t sure if it was the right decision. Death in 3 years… she had demanded a divorce to avoid that, but would that event necessarily happen in 3 years? Hadn’t things changed from the past she knew from the moment she went to see Aidan?

Moreover, with Aidan’s soul changing to someone else, his treatment of Kate Spencer had also changed. The changed Aidan seemed to have no interest in her at all. If she doesn’t become pregnant with Aidan’s child, would the future change? If so, wouldn’t there be no need to divorce Aidan in the first place?

Thinking that far, she chuckled and shook her head. It was still unknown how well the current Aidan would adapt to the imperial palace. In the worst case, he might die at the hands of the Empress within half a year, not even making it to 3 years. Considering the personality he had briefly shown, it seemed he could cause problems in that time and more. Was the original Aidan, who tried not to stand out, better after all?

Nonsense.

Rather than seeing that frustration again, it’s better to have someone who would fight back, whether it ends well or not. But she would have to make sure he doesn’t cause any major incidents within half a year. After all, Karina’s goal was to divorce him and leave the imperial palace safely and without any disturbance.

For now, since Aidan had distanced himself from Kate Spencer, who had been the cause of the rebellion or whatever incident three years later, things might change even if they change.

‘Your Highness! It’s me, Kate! The Kate that Your Highness cherished.’

She remembered how Kate had shouted that she was Kate Spencer even as she was being dragged away. The image of Aidan’s face, who didn’t even look at her despite her cries, came to mind, and she couldn’t help but laugh.

Honestly, it was a bit satisfying. In the past, even when Aidan was in conversation with her, if a message came that Kate Spencer had arrived, he would look around nervously and leave. It wasn’t just Kate who was single-heartedly devoted to Aidan; she was also somewhat special to him.

Yet that Aidan had treated her like a complete stranger. Well, to the Aidan who’s currently in that body, she was indeed a stranger.

But the same was true for her. Karina Hewitt was also no different from a stranger to the current Aidan. Nevertheless, Aidan had chosen her over Kate.

“It seems you’ve had something good happen.”

Bernice, who had entered the reception room, said as she set down tea on the table. Realizing that the corners of her mouth were constantly curling up at Bernice’s words, she cleared her throat and composed her expression.

“Is it because of what happened earlier?”

Bernice asked with a narrow-eyed smile.

“What happened earlier?”

When Karina pretended not to know, she answered specifically, “Miss Kate Spencer.”

“To be honest, I felt completely relieved earlier. It seems His Highness felt sorry towards you. Although it’s a bit disappointing considering yesterday’s events, at least he upheld your dignity in front of Miss Kate Spencer.”

That’s how it must have appeared to others, including Bernice. Although it was still the worst in terms of cheating on the first night, they probably thought it was fortunate that he prioritized his legal wife. The truth was completely different from what they thought, but if it was packaged as him trying to maintain Karina’s dignity, it wasn’t bad. It was much better than having his mistress boldly nursing him in the prince’s bedroom after cheating on their wedding night.

The present is better than the past. It was a very small starting point, but nonetheless.

“Bernice.”

“Yes.”

“If you knew the future, what would you do?”

“My future?”

She tilted her head as if she had never thought about it.

“Wouldn’t it depend on what kind of future it is?”

“If you saw… your death?”

“That’s a terrible assumption.”

Bernice frowned as if imagining it.

“I’d try to avoid it if possible, wouldn’t I? If I saw myself dying from illness, I’d try not to get sick, and if I saw myself dying in an accident, I’d avoid doing things that might lead to such an accident. If I died of old age, well, that’s unavoidable.”

It was a light response. There was no option like being accused of treason and dying by the sword. However, her answer was simple and clear. Just don’t do things that would lead to death. In any way.

She had thought that method was divorce, but now that it had been postponed for half a year, what she had to do was clear. Not allowing Aidan to have a child with another woman, and making Aidan the heir to the throne as the Hewitt family had originally planned, so that he could gain perfect power. Fortunately, this time Aidan was cooperative. No, he had asked for help first.

What should she do now? Karina fell into deep thought, her eyes narrowing as she held the teacup Bernice had handed her.

‘We will find who attacked Your Highness. We need to uncover who’s behind it to prevent such incidents from happening again.’

It was natural to find the culprit in an incident where a member of the imperial family was attacked.

‘There’s no need for that. I’m alive and well, aren’t I? I don’t want to know… who the culprit is, so just leave it be.’

But three years ago, the original Aidan had opposed it.

‘I don’t want to provoke anyone unnecessarily, so let’s just quietly let it go.’

He feared the very act of uncovering who was behind the attack, as he could sufficiently guess. From the beginning, he didn’t even have the option of confronting the Empress or Lloyd.

But this time it might be different, right?

‘The best defense is a good offense.’

Remembering what he had said, she smiled again. It’s so different from her previous memories that she can’t get used to it.

“It seems you had a good time meeting His Highness. Besides the incident with Miss Kate Spencer.”

Bernice, who had been observing her expression, didn’t miss the corners of Karina’s mouth curling up and spoke.

“A good time…”

She hadn’t particularly thought of it that way. It was still uncertain how this change would unfold.

“I hope it was a good thing.”

After giving a noncommittal answer, she put down her teacup, and at that moment, a visitor was announced from outside. It was Duke Hewitt, Karina’s father.

The Duke of Hewitt, who entered the reception room with Karina’s permission, had a grave expression as if the world had collapsed.

“Are you alright?”

He asked in a concerned voice as soon as he sat down. Karina nodded with an ‘Ah’, only then realizing. With rumors spreading that her husband had cheated right after their marriage, it was natural for her father to be deeply worried.

‘It doesn’t matter. I wasn’t expecting affection from His Highness anyway.’

That’s how she had answered in the past. Unable to admit that she had been hurt from the very first night in the imperial palace, she stubbornly insisted that what she wanted from Aidan wasn’t affection.

“I’m not alright.”

But this time, she answered honestly. At the same time, Duke Hewitt’s face became even more serious. Not knowing how to comfort his daughter, he just let out a long sigh.

“But I saw hope.”

At the word ‘hope’, Duke Hewitt raised his head to look at his daughter.

“There won’t be any more incidents like yesterday.”

It wasn’t a promise from Aidan. Rather, he had even said nonsense to Karina like if she was that upset, she should get a lover too. However, she was certain that unlike the previous Aidan, he wouldn’t go around spreading rumors with this woman or that woman. She could tell from his attitude towards Kate Spencer.

If he sincerely wants to become Emperor, he won’t try to ruin his future with petty rumors. He said he wanted to survive. For Aidan, becoming Emperor was directly linked to survival. Above all, this time she wouldn’t turn a blind eye to his rumors. If he wanted the help of the Hewitt family, she planned to make him write a pledge not to cheat with anyone, at least while she was the Crown Princess.

“Well, that’s a relief, but…”

Even if he never does it again, it doesn’t change the fact that last night was despicable.

“You don’t need to worry.”

At Karina’s calm attitude, Duke Hewitt, who had been silently watching with tightly pressed lips for a while, finally nodded almost imperceptibly.

“Instead, when I judge that I absolutely can’t continue anymore, I’ll withdraw without any lingering attachment.”

At those words, Duke Hewitt’s eyes widened.

‘You don’t need to worry. His Highness and I just need time.’

In the past, she could say such things because she only thought about changing Aidan somehow. Now that she knew there are things in this world that don’t change no matter how hard you try, she no longer held onto such useless stubbornness.