The attendants smiled.

Another attendant entered carrying a black slip dress.

“Kyaa, it’s so sexy, Your Majesty the Empress! You wear this underneath and then put that on top.”

Today’s nightwear felt quite explicit.

I was already uncomfortable with all the talk about seduction lately……

And though I knew it was the attendants’ duty to dress me up, it was pointless to be so elaborately prepared.

We were merely in a contractual relationship.

Seduction wouldn’t help fulfill the contract, nor would it work on him. Rather, I always felt enchanted by his face.

The space he occupied was one where male beauty, not female charm, held sway.

Yes, that face…… that very handsome face…… But why are my thoughts so vivid?

Why is it getting closer? Is it 3D?

The moment I realized it was real, I jumped up like a spring.

He had entered my room while I was still getting ready.

“Your Majesty the Emperor.”

Everyone in the room was startled and didn’t know what to do.

They were even more flustered because preparations weren’t finished.

“Everyone, leave.”

When he ordered everyone out from his position by the door, the attendants left in the middle of tying the wrap-style nightgown’s waist ribbon.

No, if they leave like this, what am I supposed to do…… Hey, you all!

“You’ve arrived, Your Majesty the Emperor.”

Flustered, I had no choice but to walk awkwardly beside him with a stiff smile, clutching my loosening nightgown and moving like a crab.

She hastily tied the waist ribbon that was barely hanging on one side.

But perhaps because she had misaligned the symmetry, her appearance was utterly disheveled.

He looked at her with a strange gaze, but that was all.

His coolness in not questioning her odd behavior was convenient at times like this.

As usual, he sat comfortably with an arrogant expression.

And there she was, fidgeting in front of him, tugging at her lopsided nightgown.

Feeling the difference between their employer-employee status, she felt sad, then suddenly angry.

Without thinking, she asked something she had been deeply curious about.

“By the way, Your Majesty the Emperor, did you believe me?”

“Why bring up past matters? The empress always looks forward.”

“After facing a life-threatening situation, I’m curious about the level of trust in our contractual relationship. Since my life depends on this contract. Whether or not you’re a partner I can truly rely on……”

“It seems unnecessary for me, the employer, to seek confirmation from you, the employee, when I’m the one maintaining the contract. Start the story now. Don’t waste time.”

Seeing him refuse to answer, her internal distrust grew, but feeling powerless as the employee, she obediently began her story.

Of course, only after quietly praying: Please make me be born as an emperor in my next life. One with absolute power……

“Then I’ll fulfill this week’s contract.”

He nodded, crossing his legs.

Yet somehow, his presence felt as comfortable as a familiar painting hanging in her room.

Suddenly, she had a thought.

The realization that this time had become somewhat familiar to her, that she felt a certain stability in his presence……

Perhaps that’s why she had cried so much in front of him after finding the evidence.

She hadn’t understood why she had behaved that way in front of him, but now she knew.

Seeing his familiar figure had triggered an explosion of the inner sorrow she’d been holding back.

She could show him embarrassing moments, like kicking off her blankets in her sleep, something she wouldn’t have done for years with others.

He was the only person she could lean on in this strange place.

Though he threatened her life, he was also the only one who could protect it.

Noticing that he was looking at her with an expression that said “why aren’t you talking,” she quickly resumed the story where she had left off last week.

“I’ll begin.”

* * *

“After successfully seducing Gyo-min, Eun-hee gradually moves to take over Ae-hyung’s beauty salon. But Ae-hyung isn’t someone who would just sit back and take it, so she sabotages Eun-hee’s contract by injecting drugs into the beauty products Eun-hee was about to sign a contract for, causing side effects and ruining the deal.”

‘A person who makes beauty products injecting drugs—if she doesn’t like something, she wouldn’t hesitate to poison someone.’

“Ae-hyung is tough, but Eun-hee is one level above her.”

Charte nodded in agreement.

“Eun-hee isn’t one to just take it either, so she secures all the evidence and instead blackmails Ae-hyung. To expedite her revenge, Eun-hee arranges a drinking session, and Gyo-min spikes her drink, just as he did when she was young. But Eun-hee gives the drugged drink to Gyo-min and calls Ae-hyung to the hotel.”

Suddenly, a sigh escaped from Charte’s mouth without him realizing it, and Yun-ah, not understanding why, watched his reaction carefully.

With a heavy expression, Charte shook his head and clicked his tongue.

‘This story isn’t educational nor is there anything to learn from it, but why do I find it so entertaining? Strangely, once I’m drawn in, I can’t escape. What kind of magic is this?’

* * *

Suddenly, Charte’s expression darkened, which worried her.

Was he bored? What should she do? Afraid he might tell her to stop, she quickly continued.

“Eun-hee, recalling what Ae-hyung had said to her before, pays her back in exactly the same way…… cough cough“

Speaking too quickly in her hurry, she choked.

After drinking some water and pausing briefly to catch her breath, his gaze turned toward her.

For some unknown reason, his eyes seemed somewhat urgent.

Taking advantage of the pause, she reached for the chocolate in front of her, intending to take a break.

“What were you saying?”

She was so surprised that she asked him to repeat himself.

“Pardon?”

This was the first time he had shown such a reaction while listening to her story.

“What did Ae-hyung say to Eun-hee?”

“Ah, ahem! ‘I’m talking about how love has an expiration date. You should have made sure love didn’t spoil, even if you had to keep it in the freezer.’ That’s what Ae-hyung told Eun-hee when she stole Gyo-min from her.”

His expression suddenly hardened upon hearing this.

“Do you really think so? You too, empress?”

“Pardon? Think what?”

“Do you think love has an expiration date?”

“Well, I think it’s not love that changes, but people. Love always remains the same, but people change as they face winds, rain, and snow.”

He looked at her.

With the face of someone left behind with love in that place…… It was a look she had never seen before.

It felt unfamiliar, as if he wasn’t the same arrogant and confident man she knew.

Seeing that face, she couldn’t continue the story. She paused and remained there with him.

After a while, he composed himself. She asked as if nothing had happened.

“Shall I continue?”

He nodded with an indifferent expression.

“Ae-hyung secures a contract with a large company by pretending that imported beauty products are her own creation. She lists Gyo-min as the contract guarantor. But the guarantee itself was a trap set by Eun-hee. Eun-hee lures him into another trap—gambling—to financially corner Gyo-min.”

“What kind of gambling? A proper match should involve betting something like one’s life, like you did, Empress.”

She stared at him in disbelief for a moment.

She thought it was an inappropriate comment about her life-or-death bet. This man always managed to say something annoying just when things were going well.

“Gyo-min isn’t as bold as I am.”

For some reason, he nodded without further comment.

“But as time passes, Jae-woo’s feelings for Eun-hee grow stronger, and he tells her not to be miserable for the sake of revenge anymore. But Eun-hee, who values revenge more than love, swears she’ll take her revenge and go to hell, showing Jae-woo her determination.”

A fleeting look of loneliness crossed his face.

Seeing his lonely expression didn’t make her feel particularly good.

This man really knew how to play with people’s emotions.

Why was he suddenly making such an expression?

“According to her plan, Gyo-min loses tens of billions in gambling, and Eun-hee offers to lend him money, taking his land as collateral. Gyo-min feels even more love for Eun-hee because of this and hates Ae-hyung even more.”

Despite this being a satisfying revenge segment, his expression remained melancholic. She kept getting distracted by it.

“Meanwhile, Ae-hyung’s evil deeds become the catalyst for Gyo-min to declare divorce, and Ae-hyung rushes to Eun-hee’s house and causes a scene. Then she receives exactly the same words she once said thrown back at her.”

Yun-ah paused and observed his expression.

Should she repeat those words?

It might be overstepping or unnecessary concern, like a mouse worrying about a cat, but she strangely felt concerned.

From Yun-ah’s perspective, it was surprising to learn that someone had hurt him in love—this perfect employer who held power over her life and death.

The thought that someone could have such influence over a person who seemed to possess only selfishness and no altruism……

She thought such a being would have to be transcendental, perhaps even godlike.

“‘If your spouse had an affair, the person who failed to protect their spouse also bears responsibility. Neglecting love was your dereliction of duty; you should have made sure love didn’t change.’ Ae-hyung, reminded of past memories, resents Eun-hee, asking if she’s going to haunt her even after death.”

He suddenly shook his head, which startled her into stopping.

He looked at her quizzically.

“Should I stop?”

He reached toward the window.

“The sun hasn’t risen yet. What are you saying? Do you want to stop forever?”

She had asked because he was such an unpredictable person, but now she felt like she was the one who had done something wrong.

Seeing that dawn would soon break, she began to pick up the pace.

She had predetermined where today’s ending point would be and needed to reach it.

Usually, she prayed for this night to end quickly, but today, because he had shown a sad expression in the middle, the story had been significantly delayed, which worried her slightly.

“Ae-hyung kidnaps Eun-hee, and when the truth is discovered, she gets divorced.”

“Tsk, tsk.”

She looked at him when she heard him click his tongue.

“Kidnapping? I really can’t tell whether this Ae-hyung character has any conscience at all.”

“I agree with Your Majesty. I’ll continue with the rest of the story.”

He nodded.

“Eun-hee holds a commitment ceremony and moves into Gyo-min’s house. The revenge now reaches its climax.”

The timing was perfect.

She could see dawn breaking.

The sun gradually rising and emitting light gave her a good feeling.

It was like her fate starting anew this week.

Hahaha!

“That’s all for tonight, Your Majesty.”

For the first time, a fleeting look of regret appeared on his face before disappearing.

Though it was a brief moment, witnessing such intense regret for the first time gave her a perfect sense of victory.