Cornelia knew it was improper, but she rubbed her eyes roughly, hoping that this moment wasn’t real.

Emperor Carlisle was the one person she absolutely had to avoid at all costs.

The Olsen Marquisate had long been politically opposed to the Emperor’s faction, and her father, Marquis Olsen, frequently clashed with Emperor Carlisle in the council.

‘Why on earth is he here?’

‘And why… did he kiss me?’

Cornelia’s head felt like it was about to explode from the flood of disjointed thoughts.

A kiss from the cold-blooded Emperor Carlisle, who was said to have neither blood nor tears?

Who would have ever imagined that the infamous emperor could be so passionate, his body burning with desire?

Of course, she had only heard such descriptions through rumors, but still!

That wasn’t the issue here.

If anyone learned about this, her peaceful life would be gone forever.

‘I’ve worked too hard to protect my peace—I can’t let this happen!’

Determination settled on Cornelia’s face.

“That’s certainly an unusual reaction, but not a pleasant one. Should we stop now?”

Emperor Carlisle, who had been observing her ever-changing expressions, furrowed his dark eyebrows and spoke in a low voice.

“You already knew who I was when you came here, didn’t you?”

‘Knew already? What does he mean by that?’

Cornelia realized that he had mistaken her for someone else.

No wonder he had kissed her so suddenly, despite them never having met before.

For a moment, an overwhelming sense of disgust surged within her, but she couldn’t express it fully.

After all, he was the Emperor, and she was merely the daughter of a marquis.

Wait.

As far as she knew, the Emperor’s official lover was Lady Grace Citran, daughter of Count Citran. Their relationship had lasted for quite some time, and she hadn’t heard any news of their breakup. That meant they were still together…

Cornelia’s mouth fell open in shock.

‘Cheating on his lover for a casual fling?’

Emperor Carlisle seemed even more uninhibited in love than the rumors suggested.

Cornelia suddenly grew curious about the Emperor’s new woman.

A relationship so secretive that they had to meet in a place where no one would find them!

Her curiosity stirred.

“Let’s get to the point.”

“Ah…”

Just as Cornelia’s thoughts deepened, a low voice and the sudden heat of his hands tightening around her waist pulled her back to reality.

She tried to ignore the sensation of his hot touch, twisting her body slightly to create some distance.

‘Right, what does it matter who Emperor Carlisle is involved with?’

What was important now was explaining the situation and clarifying her identity.

She had to fix this absurd misunderstanding.

There was an odd sense of emptiness where his hand had been, but she quickly pushed that thought aside.

“Cornelia Olsen greets Your Majesty the Emperor.”

Fortunately, her voice remained soft and elegant as always.

Her greeting was as graceful as a butterfly landing on a flower, and her beauty was impossible to ignore under the moonlight.

“Olsen?”

A flash of bewilderment crossed Carlisle’s crimson eyes.

He slowly looked her up and down.

Her luscious golden hair gleamed brilliantly, and her clear, light brown eyes sparkled with life beneath her thick, dark lashes.

‘Olsen?’

She looked nothing like the face he had often encountered in the council.

Upon closer inspection, there were some subtle similarities, but the Cornelia before him was entirely different from the Marquis Olsen he knew.

Especially her curvaceous, toned figure, accentuated by her mermaid-style golden dress—

He wouldn’t have realized she was from the Olsen family if she hadn’t introduced herself.

Carlisle, who had been mesmerized by her enchanting appearance, suddenly became aware of the situation.

‘Where did this go wrong?’

‘I was sure I received accurate information.’

His gaze turned cold.

A heavy silence fell between them.

Cornelia’s heartbeat, which had been racing moments ago, began to slow.

Was he shocked because the woman he had passionately kissed wasn’t the one he was supposed to meet? Or was it because she was from the Olsen Marquisate?

Cornelia tried to gauge his thoughts.

“So, that explains your reaction.”

“…”

His crimson eyes blinked slowly.

His voice was now eerily calm as if his momentary confusion had never existed.

He had already assessed the situation in that short time.

“The Olsen Marquisate?”

Emperor Carlisle repeated the words slowly.

His relaxed demeanor carried an unspoken authority that naturally weighed on others.

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Cornelia lowered herself in a respectful bow.

The Emperor was surely displeased since they had kissed and even exchanged some rather scandalous words.

But if anyone was in trouble here, it was her.

If word of this got out, the consequences for her would be far worse than for Emperor Carlisle.

She hadn’t caused this situation, yet the heavy atmosphere he created was suffocating.

‘I only came here to rest—how did I end up in this disaster?’

No matter what he said, she wanted to escape this ridiculous situation immediately.

It had only been a single, accidental kiss, yet her legs felt weak, and all the strength had drained from her body.

She just wanted to open that door, return to her estate, and bury herself in her familiar bed, staying hidden for a day or two.

Maybe then she could forget this whole ordeal—forget the way her heart had pounded like a drum, forget the thrilling sensation of his lips and the heat of his touch.

“I apologize.”

“I’m sorry.”

“…”

“…”

Cornelia and Emperor Carlisle spoke at the same time.

Their faces both twisted in a frown.

‘Of all times, now?!’

Cornelia pressed her lips together and shut her eyes tightly before reopening them.

She had planned to apologize quickly and leave, but everything kept getting more complicated.

“It seems I made a mistake,” Emperor Carlisle murmured in a low voice, watching her hesitate.

His tone was colder than one might expect from someone expressing regret.

Cornelia’s delicate brows twitched.

The word “mistake” bothered her.

It was undoubtedly the appropriate term for the situation, yet she found it unsettling for some reason.

Regardless of how she felt, Carlisle continued speaking.

“It seems I mistook the terrace.”

“It’s all right, Your Majesty,” Cornelia responded.

“Is it?”

“Yes. In this situation… I, too, was careless.”

Carlisle’s brows furrowed.

“What did you do wrong? If anyone was careless, it was me.”

His gaze landed on her slender frame.

He had seen countless people react nervously in his presence—some stumbling over their words, others trembling in fear.

It was a common sight for an emperor, and he usually felt nothing about it.

But Cornelia was different.

She tried to remain composed, yet her small frame trembled slightly, like a startled bird.

She reminded him of Marquis Olsen, the head of the noble faction who frequently opposed him in parliament.

Unlike the marquis, who kept his gray hair neatly tied and always exuded a cold, sharp presence, Cornelia was like a delicate golden kitten.

Even at a second glance, there was no resemblance between them.

Carlisle’s gaze lingered on the gentle rise and fall of her chest.

Her fair shoulders and delicate nape caught his attention, making his lips go dry.

Bathed in moonlight, she radiated an undeniable brilliance.

‘If only she didn’t bear the Olsen name.’

Carlisle was well aware of his growing attraction to her.

Yet he had to exert all his renowned patience and self-control to keep from staring.

“No matter what you say, the fact remains that the fault is mine. What should I do? If you desire compensation, I will grant it.”

“It’s really fine.”

“Don’t hesitate to ask. I won’t hold it against you later.”

Carlisle spoke again, urging her to reconsider.

“In fact, it would be better for me if you made a request.”

“I appreciate Your Majesty’s consideration… but I seek no compensation.”

“You seek no compensation? Are you serious?”

There was a note of curiosity in his voice.

Their gazes met.

“Yes. I take full responsibility for my own carelessness. Therefore, I swear to keep this matter a secret on my family’s honor.”

“……”

Cornelia’s voice was calm yet firm.

If this incident became public knowledge, she would suffer more consequences than he would.

In truth, had Emperor Carlisle not suggested secrecy, she might have been the one to beg him to forget about it.

Silence followed her repeated refusal.

After a moment, Carlisle spoke again.

“I was under the impression that Adrian Olsen was the heir to the Marquisate.”

“Yes, Your Majesty. My brother is the heir to our family.”

“Then how can I trust the word of someone who isn’t even the successor? I met you for the first time today.”

His low voice carried an air of detachment.

Cornelia’s delicate features tightened.

Furrowing her brows in front of the emperor was bold, perhaps even reckless.

If he chose to take offense, the situation could escalate dramatically.

Yet, he simply continued speaking as if her reaction had little consequence.

“A single kiss is hardly enough to warrant blind trust, don’t you think?”

“……”

“I’ll ask once more. Instead of refusing, name a compensation.”

There was an unmistakable edge to Carlisle’s deepened voice.

Had he taken her refusal as defiance against his authority?

The oppressive aura radiating from him, the swordmaster emperor, was truly chilling.

Cornelia flinched.

She felt an instinctual fear for a brief moment, as though she should submit to his demand.

But she gritted her teeth and forced herself to endure the pressure.

“It was just a kiss… but Your Majesty was the one who kissed a woman you had never met before.”

“And that is supposed to convince me to trust you?”

“Of course not.”

“Then?”

“If I lack the credibility to represent the Olsen Marquisate, why not place trust in Your Majesty’s own judgment? I assure you, the matter you fear will never arise.”

Cornelia’s response carried a subtle sting.

A slight act of defiance, no doubt, but minor compared to the uninvited kiss and the insult of his earlier words.

‘He stole a kiss from me without permission, and now he questions my credibility?’

She could have dismissed his remarks as nothing more than the arrogance of a man who ruled the vast Roman Empire.

Normally, she would have.

But the phrase “just a kiss” irked her.

A quiet chuckle escaped Carlisle’s lips.

The edges of his usually cold expression curled into an irresistible smirk.

The sight was so captivating that Cornelia felt her throat tighten.

Her ears buzzed as if her entire body had become a drum, and a strange pang of unease struck her chest.

“If not my judgment, what will you offer as collateral?”

“C-Collateral?”

Truthfully, Cornelia had expected Emperor Carlisle to be angered.

She had anticipated that he would scold her for her impudence.

But instead, he seemed… intrigued.