After piling a heap of shopping bags onto Charte’s chest and walking outside, he followed her and asked with genuine curiosity.

“Why do I have to carry these?”

“Then should I carry them?”

“Aren’t there any attendants?”

“I told you. This is a self-reliant place where people take care of their own business. Unless you’re very rich, people like me do everything themselves. At least this much.”

Then Charte suddenly caressed her cheek with a pitying face and said.

“You’ve had it tough. From now on, I’ll do everything for you, so don’t do things like this.”

“How sweet. My man.”

To recharge Charte, who was tired from trying on clothes, they went into a cafe to rest and have drinks.

“Oh! Do you remember the Strange Garden?”

“Of course.”

“The store where we bought your clothes was the clothing company where Joo-hyun worked.”

Charte’s eyes widened as if truly surprised.

“Does he really work here? Can we meet him now?”

She laughed at his childlike, pure curiosity. She explained step by step to Charte, who had become confused.

As she was explaining in a quiet voice, she felt Charte’s face getting closer, and a moment later, she felt his thick, soft lips overlap with hers.

It felt softer and sweeter than the chocolate chiffon cake she was eating after drinking the bitter americano, and she unconsciously closed her eyes for a while until she felt a stinging sensation.

When she opened her eyes, everyone in the cafe was staring at them, and her face turned bright red.

“Your face is red. Do you have a fever?”

“Let’s get out of here quickly.”

“But I haven’t finished drinking.”

She whispered quietly and quickly to Charte, who was speaking innocently, and pulled him out.

“Let’s go somewhere where we can be alone.”

Charte, who had been pulled out with an innocent face that truly didn’t understand what was happening, asked.

“Why did we suddenly leave?”

“In public places here, you shouldn’t kiss intensely like you just did.”

“After waiting so long and meeting with such difficulty, do we have to care about others’ gazes?”

She thought they should be careful, as he was someone who captured everyone’s attention even when just standing still, and such behavior would definitely draw more attention.

His speech was already strange enough, and she didn’t want to create any potentially dangerous elements.

“Ah! Is it perhaps prohibited by law? Would we be executed?”

“It’s not as severe as execution, but since we’re not alone and there are other people around, there’s a moral code to follow, what we call public decency. Plus, I’m a civil servant.”

“If there’s public decency, instead of showing the courtesy of turning away for lovers like in the empire, they’re interested in all sorts of trivial things. Then we should quickly go somewhere we can be alone.”

“In the empire, you’re the emperor. That’s why everyone turns away. But here, you’re just an illegal resident from another world.”

She wondered what to do with this man who was looking at her with an incredulous expression.

She absolutely couldn’t take him home, and she was worried about where this man with completely lacking social skills should stay.

In the end, though it was expensive for her means, she took him to a luxury hotel to maintain His Majesty the Emperor’s dignity.

Besides, nothing spent on Charte felt wasted.

“Charte, we can’t stay together at my house because of my parents, so stay here.”

Darkness suddenly invaded Charte’s face, which had been bright until then.

“Can’t I stay with you, Yun-ah? Every minute and second is precious, but I have to stay alone?”

“Don’t worry. I’ll come often.”

“Yun-ah’s world, where we can’t be together constantly, is a bit inconvenient.”

Seeing Charte mumbling glumly, she felt sad.

But when they moved by taking the elevator, his face changed to look like he was riding an amusement ride.

She thought she should definitely take Charte to an amusement park.

Though it was nothing compared to the imperial palace, she was excited to explore the suite room as it was her first time.

Ironically, I was the one enjoying it, while Charte followed behind with a composed face.

After looking around the room, they stood in front of the large glass window that offered a panoramic view of the night scenery.

“The night view is more beautiful than the empire’s. Of course, you are even more beautiful.”

Charte pulled her shoulder to lean against his firm chest and whispered softly.

“Charte, I’m so happy that we can be together like this.”

“I’m happier than you. Because there are only the two of us here.”

Charte’s shadow, filled with intense desire, gradually consumed my shadow.

In the silence, only our excited breathing echoed, and the air instantly turned into sensual pleasure.

There were many things she wanted to ask, but she couldn’t ask anything because she didn’t want to disturb their happiness.

Of course, it wasn’t a situation where she could speak, but more than that, her fear was greater.

Because we probably couldn’t be together forever.

So she decided.

This time, she would definitely take all of Charte and give all of herself.

“Charte, today at home……”

‘Ding dong!’ The doorbell rang.

Only then did she remember that she had ordered room service because she was concerned that Charte hadn’t eaten a single meal.

They sat side by side, eating and talking.

She realized she hadn’t even asked how he had been doing, surprised by Charte’s sudden appearance.

“Charte, how have you been?”

“I’ve been doing my best in my position, as promised to you. What about you?”

“Me too. I talked big before leaving you, so I worked hard to live well, not wanting to be embarrassed.”

She had spoken proudly, wanting to be praised, but Charte’s brow furrowed.

“Did you perhaps keep all the promises you made to me?”

“Of course. I think I’ve kept almost all of them, why? Will you praise me?”

But suddenly the surrounding air became as cold as a Siberian field, making her shiver involuntarily.

Charte was emitting coldness from his entire body, yet strangely, his eyes were shooting laser beams that were burning fiercely.

She didn’t understand this incongruity, but sensing that the situation would worsen if left alone, she changed the subject.

“Did you divorce Leila?”

“No. The divorce is on hold.”

She suspected there might be some strange current between the two.

She became notably sensitive and a combative question burst out.

“Why?”

“Lady Leila asked to put it on hold. She said she had something to do.”

Hearing his answer, her heart settled a bit.

Indeed, she shouldn’t doubt someone who had come all this way to see her.

He must have gone to great lengths to come here.

Just as her expression softened, Charte’s sharp question pierced her.

“But Yun-ah, do you remember all the promises you made to me?”

“Of course.”

Looking at Charte, who was exhaling deeply to control his anger, she reflected on what mistake she might have made, but couldn’t think of anything particularly wrong.

“Then perhaps……”

She wondered why he was struggling to continue, unlike his usual self.

“What’s wrong?”

Charte, who had been deeply regulating his breathing, spoke with difficulty in a serious voice.

“Then did you date as well?”

Charte’s voice trembled faintly, making her tense and hold her breath.

Only after hearing the full question did she exhale in relief and smile, stroking Charte’s face.

“I haven’t kept that one yet. Of course, there was someone who liked me, but I couldn’t do it. With only you in my heart, how could I let anyone else in?”

She gazed intently into his eyes, feeling Charte’s tense face relax.

Charte smiled with an inwardly relieved face before speaking coldly.

“By the way, who is this man who said he liked you?”

“What good would it do you to know?”

“With one stroke of my sword, I’ll…!”

She grabbed Charte’s mouth and stretched it.

“Stop saying such mean things now. You could get in big trouble for that here. Don’t waste our precious time talking about other people when just looking at each other is valuable. Let’s only talk about us. I want to be with you forever like this.”

Her chest ached because she knew that forever was impossible for them.

“That’s why I came. Because I want to be with you forever.”

Surprised by Charte’s answer, she dropped the chopsticks she was holding and shouted.

“What? What do you mean…… Did you give up being emperor and come here? Can you live here? Is that possible?”

“No. I came because I want to take you back with me.”

“What do you mean? How can you take me?”

Charte handed her an envelope stamped with the imperial seal from his chest.

“What is this?”

“It’s from Lady Leila Whyman. Read it and give me your answer.”

[To Yun-ah,

Now that I’m trying to write this letter, I’m at a loss for how to begin.

We seem to be very close, knowing each other better than anyone else since we’ve lived by switching bodies, but when I think about how we’ve never met and talked in person, it feels like we’re the most distant of strangers.

How can we define this relationship of ours? It’s quite difficult.

But I think I know one thing.

Reading the letter you wrote to me, I could see how much you cherish the empire and how much you love His Majesty the Emperor.

You were happy in my world, and I also felt hope in your world.

Are you doing well in your world now? Are you happy in your world?

If given another opportunity, what choice would you make?

I intend to send this letter through the only person who can make you the most tempting offer.

—Leila Whyman]

After reading the letter containing a proposal she had never imagined, her whole body turned cold, and her hands were trembling.

Her mind went blank, and she couldn’t say anything, just reading the letter over and over again, not knowing how many times.

Charte finally embraced her as she couldn’t calm down.

As his warmth spread, her trembling stopped, and she began to find stability.

She wanted to answer right away, but she couldn’t bring herself to do it.

When she didn’t answer easily, Charte’s face turned distressed, and she asked a few questions that puzzled her.

“Can we switch completely this time? If we go back and forth like last time, I think it will be more painful.”

Charte looked back with a firm gaze.

“This time, the Tower Master has agreed to do it personally. There will absolutely be no failure.”

“Does Prime Minister Whyman know about this?”

“Lady Leila earnestly wished for it, so the Prime Minister eventually gave his permission.”

“What do you think?”

“As you know, I can only follow your choice. I am completely at your mercy.”

“Charte, I’m sorry. But please give me a little time to think. I need to go home today. I need some time alone.”

Perhaps because she didn’t answer right away, Charte looked pitiful like a wounded animal.

Yet he was clearly trying to smile to make her feel comfortable.

“Contact me if anything happens.”

She felt guilty about leaving him alone, but she gathered her clothes and bag and hurried back home.

* * *

“I’m home.”

“Why are you so late? Have you eaten?”

Since the accident, her mother had never gone to sleep before her.

She could only go to bed after confirming that she had returned safely.

Even at night, she opened the door several times to check on her sleeping figure.

Dad and Yun-seo had become just as attentive.

Leaving without saying anything felt like committing another sin against her family.

Moreover, if she left this time, she could never return.

She wasn’t afraid of living a life in the empire.

But she felt terribly sorry for the family she would leave behind.

She had taken an urgent leave because of Charte, but she couldn’t go to him and instead wandered aimlessly outside until the afternoon when she finally went to the hotel.

But when she went to the room, Charte was nowhere to be seen.

She searched thoroughly, but Charte wasn’t there.

Fear and terror overwhelmed her as she wondered if he had left disappointed without saying goodbye.

She couldn’t let him go like this.

She couldn’t bear the thought of losing him again.

She frantically ran outside and began searching for Charte.