Chapter 7.

To Shuvien, each of Bellian’s words felt like floating dust particles.

Because otherwise, it made no sense.

‘Sleep together? Sleep together again? What kind of nonsense is that, like a passing dog saying meow!’

This mess happened because of a one-night stand, so why should they sleep together again!

When he wanted a child so badly.

What if something happened to the child!

‘Even for a tyrant who does whatever he wants, this is really too much!’

For a moment, her tangled reason almost made her words come out harshly, but Shuvien barely gathered her wits and spoke in a proper sentence.

“What are you suddenly saying? S-sleep together? I have a child, how could I do s-such a thing with a child in my womb……”

Bellian listened to what Shuvien was saying, then suppressed the laughter trying to escape and explained concisely.

“We should sleep together precisely for the child in your womb. And in a way that announces widely to the entire Empire that we slept together.”

“What?”

“To make the child in your womb my child, we need an official first night. That night we slept together, only we know about it.”

At Bellian’s words, Shuvien finally understood his meaning and her face turned red.

‘That’s true. You need to see the person to pick the stars, so to make the child in my womb the Emperor’s child, we need to stage another con. In this era, there’s no way they have genetic testing, so everyone will be fooled.’

Of course, even without doing that, the child in her womb was already this man’s child.

“Of course, we’ll just pretend to sleep together, so don’t worry. I have the entire plan. But.”

Bellian’s gaze became dangerously intimate as it rested on Shuvien.

Shuvien tensed involuntarily at that look and swallowed a heavy breath.

“Why, why are you looking at me like that?”

“You seemed to be secretly expecting it.”

“Ex-expecting what?”

Before she could avoid it, Bellian’s hand grabbed Shuvien’s wrist and rubbed his finger over the spot where her heart was beating.

At that momentary caress, Shuvien flinched and trembled, and Bellian didn’t miss even that small change as he raised the corner of his lips.

“Your heart is beating fast. You taught me then, didn’t you? That this is the spot.”

“Ha, hahaha. You have a good memory, Your Majesty.”

“I haven’t forgotten anything you taught me. Just as I haven’t forgotten any aspect of you.”

His fingers kindled an increasingly intimate heat, and under his persistent gaze, Shuvien’s heart beat indiscreetly again as unnecessary sensations warmed her body.

‘What kind of reaction is this suddenly? Shuvien, are you crazy? What are you thinking, constantly falling for him! That guy would kill you anytime. You shouldn’t let your heart act up like this for someone dangerous who could devour you from head to toe!’

But unfairly, all dangerous things in this world were beautiful and magnificent.

Poisonous mushrooms are splendid, poisonous flowers are the same, and likewise, handsome men are naturally dangerous.

No matter how much her ordinary self struggled against that danger, she couldn’t help but instinctively respond.

‘You should have been less handsome.’

Even in this situation, her gaze shamelessly observed his face as if appreciating it.

Whenever his cold eyes beneath slightly disheveled silver hair occasionally drooped, her heart made its own assertions regardless of her will, becoming helplessly harmful.

If only this man hadn’t looked at her directly at that festival, she wouldn’t have been enchanted and chosen him!

‘Truly, you have the face of a savior who came to ruin my life.’

“It really wasn’t just one night, was it?”

‘It’s just one night, so names aren’t necessary, right?’

‘Just one night… that remains to be seen.’

Yes. She never expected those words would become seeds like this.

Because of that damned one-night stand, she could no longer predict how the ending would unfold.

Now this novel had begun to deviate slightly from the content she had read.

***

An urgent but clear imperial order descended upon the Felisa family.

Before the wedding, Shuvien was commanded to enter the imperial palace earlier than planned to receive education on the virtues and refinement required of an Empress.

Of course, this was merely a pretext for show to the nobles; the reality was to focus on prenatal care.

Shuvien had nothing particular to pack, so she prepared to leave for the imperial palace lightly, bringing only herself.

‘I’ll arrive empty-handed and disappear empty-handed. After divorcing and leaving the imperial palace, I won’t return here anyway.’

For Shuvien, this place was not home.

She had stayed here only because she had nowhere else to go, and even then, she had endured with anxiety, fearing she might not be able to stay.

But since she wasn’t Shuvien, she no longer needed to struggle to endure here.

“Instead, I should make a fresh start somewhere else.”

“Shuvi!”

At that moment, Count Mondri barged in with a voice that grated on her ears.

Shuvien’s expression automatically soured, but since this person was still Shuvien’s father, and until she could properly plan her escape, she needed to obediently follow his words to avoid any misunderstandings about the changed Shuvien.

‘Come on. Smile, Shuvien. It’s not that difficult. Just show a capitalist smile!’

“Count, you’re here.”

Shuvien greeted Count Mondri with an exceptionally gentle smile, but Count Mondri wore a sullen expression.

“Still calling me Count. Drawing such a line makes me feel so hurt. I’m already heartbroken about sending my daughter away.”

Hearing those detestable words, maintaining even a normal expression wasn’t easy.

But regardless, Count Mondri finally made one thing clear as he looked at his golden goose departing for the imperial palace with covetous eyes.

“Shuvi, this isn’t just good for me. It’s good for you too. You’re becoming the Empress of this country. You’ve been given an opportunity you’ll never have again in your life. You could say it’s all thanks to your father. You know that, right?”

“What are you trying to say?”

“To not lose that opportunity, you must absolutely, absolutely not be discovered.”

‘Of course. Whether this family is ruined or not, I don’t care about that, but now my life depends on it.’

“Of course. I’ll be extremely careful.”

“Good. And don’t forget. Even if you become Empress, you’re still a member of our family. Without us, you wouldn’t exist now. Our good Shuvi wouldn’t forget that debt. I’m just saying this out of concern.”

‘Where was this attitude when you were completely dismissing me?’

As Count Mondri’s brainwashing and gaslighting began again, Shuvien’s lips stiffened awkwardly once more.

“I’ve always considered you my own child. Of course, I don’t expect anything in return, but if you want to repay that debt, I certainly won’t stop you. It wouldn’t be polite for me to refuse such feelings from you.”

He might as well openly ask for money.

Well, he can’t exactly ask for a specific amount.

Because he plans to play, eat, and live off it for the rest of his life.

He can’t possibly put that into a specific monetary value.

‘The previous Shuvien might have been manipulated by you, but things are different now. I don’t have time to worry about you.’

But for now, Shuvien suppressed her temper and spoke meaningfully.

“The debt of raising me, Count. I will absolutely, absolutely never forget it.”

Someday she would repay him.

Properly, certainly, exactly in kind.

A moment later, Lloyd appeared with a very polite knock.

He approached Shuvien and greeted her with an elegant manner.

“Pleased to meet you. I am Lloyd, His Majesty the Emperor’s advisor. I have come to escort Your Majesty the Empress.”

‘Already calling me Empress. Really driving in the nail. But I don’t plan to run away immediately either. Fleeing thoughtlessly would mean death.’

And this child.

Shuvien thought of the child in her womb, which could hardly be called a life yet.

‘I must escape in the safest way possible.’

“The Emperor’s advisor himself has come to escort her! Our Shuvi, your father can finally rest easy!”

Count Mondri, whom she had momentarily forgotten, made a fuss and stuck closely to Shuvien’s side.

This caused Shuvien to stagger for a moment, and she quickly steadied herself by leaning against the wall.

‘I almost fell! What’s this? Why are you still standing here instead of leaving? I knew you were tactless, but!’

“Count, no, Father. I will now be going to the imperial palace.”

Thinking he would only let her go if she explicitly said goodbye, Shuvien bowed her head in farewell. But Count Mondri grabbed her wrist firmly.

“Still, this is the first time I’ll be separated from my daughter. Your father isn’t completely at ease. Since the wedding hasn’t happened yet, I want to take care of our Shuvi a bit more.”

Shuvien almost burst into laughter.

Could he possibly be saying he wanted to go to the imperial palace with her?

‘He wants to go monitor me in case I make a mistake. He’s more thorough than I thought?’

But Shuvien wanted to end her connection with Count Mondri here.

‘How can I shake him off?’

After pondering briefly, Shuvien’s eyes flashed as she deliberately whispered to Lloyd in a trembling voice.

“F-Father. But going to the imperial palace together without His Majesty’s permission is……”

“His Majesty cherishes you so much. He’ll grant anything you ask. Surely you don’t want to part with your father here? Shuvi, saying such things hurts your father’s feelings.”

“But still, I should first inform His Majesty……”

As Shuvien acted frustratingly, Count Mondri unconsciously raised his voice.

“Are you saying you can manipulate His Majesty the Emperor!”

In that moment, Lloyd stepped between Shuvien and Count Mondri.

But as Count Mondri still held Shuvien’s wrist, Lloyd opened his mouth with a gentle smile.

“No matter how close a blood relative you are, you must now show proper respect.”

“What?”

“She is no longer the lady of the Felisa family but the noble Empress, so even speaking her name, raising your voice before Her Majesty the Empress, and especially laying hands on Her Majesty’s body is unacceptable, Count Felisa.”

“Ah, that’s……”

“And to dare presume the intentions of the great ruler and creator, His Majesty the Emperor. Count Felisa, you must have several lives to spare.”

As cracks appeared in Lloyd’s previously gentle expression and his tone changed instantly, Count Mondri quickly prostrated himself with a pale face.

Seeing this, Shuvien concealed a satisfied smile.

‘As expected, I knew Lloyd would step in.’

Lloyd, as the Emperor’s advisor, wouldn’t let comments belittling the Emperor slide.