Chapter 1

The place where they first met was a field overgrown with weeds, a stark contrast to the grandeur of the imperial palace.

On the day she first visited the palace, holding her father’s hand, she got lost in the labyrinth-like palace and met Raymond for the first time. 

She was only ten years old, wandering in search of her father, tears streaming down her face. Exhausted from crying, she sank down onto the grass. That was when a pale hand reached out to her.

“Are you lost? Don’t cry. Take my hand and stand up.”

When she lifted her head, she saw a boy with dark hair and a bruise on his cheek looking down at her. That boy was Raymond.

Strangely enough, the moment she met Raymond’s jet-black eyes, her tears stopped as if by magic. When she took his outstretched hand and stood up, the vast palace no longer felt frightening. 

Perhaps it was from that moment onward that she held Raymond deep in her heart. As if it were fate, she fell in love with Raymond at first sight. His skinny frame and bruised cheek didn’t even register; all she could see was how dazzlingly radiant he appeared.

Before she knew it, he had completely captured her heart. From that day forward, she followed her father to the palace whenever she could, meeting Raymond at the same spot each time.

At the time, her father was an Earl who worked in the administrative palace and often had business at the imperial palace. Having lost her mother early, she easily convinced her father to let her accompany him, claiming she felt lonely when left alone. Her father doted on her dearly, so he readily agreed.

As she frequented the palace enough to become familiar with its maze-like layout, she continued to meet Raymond. Then, on a particularly sunny day, she learned of his status.

That day, he didn’t appear at their usual meeting spot. She waited endlessly for him until the sky began to turn red, and finally set out to find him.

After wandering around the palace for quite some time, she arrived at a very old building. Compared to the golden splendor of the imperial palace, this place seemed so small that she wondered if such a building could exist here. Its outer walls were covered in eerie moss and tangled vines.

And there she saw Raymond standing.

“A prince with the blood of a lowly maid—how disgraceful. It’s a wonder Father doesn’t see that even this small palace is too much of a luxury for you vermin.”

The taller boy, about a hand’s breadth taller than Raymond, spat out dirty saliva before striking Raymond’s cheek hard.

Slap!

The sharp sound of the blow echoed loudly, yet Raymond showed no reaction.

“You filthy vermin. It’s shameful that someone like you bears the title of prince in this empire. Live as if you’re dead—don’t bring dishonor to the imperial family.”

Raymond merely bowed his head quietly in response to the boy’s venomous words.

At that moment, she bit her lip hard, but there was nothing she could do. The black-haired boy tormenting Raymond was none other than Astor Egrita, Crown Prince of the Egrita Empire.

Having learned his face from portraits of the Crown Prince since she could speak, there was no way she wouldn’t recognize him.

Even after the Crown Prince left the palace, Raymond kept his head bowed. She held her breath as she watched him, her young heart aching terribly. 

But her suppressed sobs escaped, and Raymond noticed her.

“Don’t cry. I’m fine.”

Just like the first day they met, Raymond, with a fresh bruise on his cheek, smiled calmly and comforted her.

She threw herself into his arms, and as she cried bitterly in his embrace, she felt pity for him, who couldn’t even shed a tear.

In her childish heart, she didn’t yet understand what those feelings meant.

***

She realized she loved him during the winter of her sixteenth year. 

On that day, when even the weeds froze solid, Raymond showed her a smile full of excitement she had never seen before.

“Elia, I’ve met someone truly beautiful. Every day, she fills my thoughts completely. I… I like her so much.”

Her heart throbbed with pain, but she smiled back at Raymond. She wanted him to be happy.

From that day onward, he told her countless stories about the woman. What had happened to her, what conversations they had, and how his heart raced whenever she smiled.

Though she had known him for a long time, it was the first time she saw him so happy. 

Ironically, the happier he became, the sadder she felt. When she realized the reason for her sadness was because she loved him, it was already too late.

Even though she had come to understand her feelings, she couldn’t bring herself to confess her love to him, who was already looking at someone else.

***

It was the day of the imperial ball, marking the beginning of spring.

On that warm spring day, when everyone’s faces were adorned with smiles, she saw Raymond’s beloved. 

Lady Lizena Sios of the Marquis Sios family, with her beautiful blonde hair and green eyes.

Lizena and Raymond looked so perfect together, like a pair of lovers straight out of a painting. Watching them smile at each other, she decided to give up on her love for him. 

There was no place for her in their flawless world.

But her resolve proved meaningless as their happiness didn’t last long. 

Lady Lizena was sent as a concubine to the elderly king of the Western Kingdom.

***

One dark night, a drunken Raymond came to her, leaning against her shoulder and sighing deeply.

“Elia, there’s nothing I can do. I’m pathetic for not being able to protect her.”

After Lizena left for the Western Kingdom, Raymond lost his smile. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t bring his laughter back.

Still, she stayed by his side, hoping he would one day regain his happiness.

But her efforts were cruelly mocked when, at the age of eighteen, Raymond’s mother passed away.

The reason? She had accidentally spilled wine on the Crown Prince’s clothes at a party.

That trivial incident was absurdly escalated into claims that she had tarnished the Crown Prince’s honor. 

It was likely an attempt to crush Raymond’s spirit so he could never dream of the throne, despite being a nominal heir.

Raymond’s mother, who was considered too lowly to be recognized even as a concubine, was ultimately executed by beheading. 

The imperial family didn’t even allow a funeral.

When she ran to his palace upon hearing the news, she saw Raymond crying for the first time.

Despite being beaten, ignored, and losing the woman he loved, he had never shed a tear. But now, clutching his mother’s clothes, he sobbed and wailed like a child.

Watching him crumble, her heart broke, but all she could do was stay by his side until his tears stopped.

“Elia, I will never lose my precious people again.”

Raymond, his jet-black eyes gleaming, spoke those words. Exactly one year later, he staged a coup.

It wasn’t difficult to gather supporters, as many were dissatisfied with the Emperor, who was steeped in indulgence and neglectful of state affairs, and the incompetent Crown Prince. Her father was the first to step forward and join hands with Raymond, and thus the corrupt imperial family crumbled at Raymond’s hands.

It wasn’t even a civil war. The coup ended so quickly it felt almost anticlimactic.

He became the Emperor, and not long after, she, as the daughter of her father who had made significant contributions to the coup, became the Empress.

“Elia, I grew up watching my mother’s loneliness. I will never fill the imperial palace with women like the deposed Emperor did. I can’t promise you love, but I swear I will never bring another woman into the palace.”

On their wedding day, he didn’t speak of love. But he swore that she would be the only one to stand by his side.

That promise was enough for her.

Even if he didn’t love her, she thought, she could simply love him more.

She believed their future would be filled with happiness.

***

‘You are pregnant. Congratulations.’

The physician’s voice echoed in her mind.

She had endured great sorrow after losing their first child. Though he had told her every day that it was okay, she knew the truth. She knew how much he had hoped for the child. When she was pregnant, he had looked at her with genuine, heartfelt eyes, not the formal gaze he usually gave her.

But after the palace physician said she might never be able to conceive again, he began to distance himself from her even more.

Still, she didn’t resent him. It only showed how much he had been looking forward to the child.

So how happy would he be to hear that they were expecting another child?

She couldn’t wait to share the news with Raymond.

“Your Majesty, you might fall if you continue like this. Please walk a little slower…”

“I’m fine. I just want to see His Majesty as quickly as possible.”

Ignoring Helan’s worried words, she smiled brightly.

Forgetting all decorum, she practically ran to the Emperor’s office. Catching her breath in front of the door, she was about to speak to the attendant when she heard Raymond’s voice from inside.

“Lady Lizena will return to the Empire.”

“…Lizena?”

Her face froze as she stared at the office door.

“Lady Lizena will return from the Western Kingdom the day after tomorrow. Make sure preparations go smoothly.”

Raymond’s decisive voice felt like a nail being driven into her heart. Her heart sank with a heavy thud.