He made an interesting expression.

After blurting out whatever came to mind, I started racking my brain.

‘What should I do? I’m not a comedian, how can I be entertaining? I don’t even have any special talents. I should have learned magic or dancing earlier…… Ah!’

Then one idea flashed through my mind.

In this place without TV, computers, or phones, the only enjoyable things would be books or stories, right?

What helped me endure my difficult and depressing period as a civil service exam student was dramas.

So I thought I should tell him stories from dramas.

But would this strange and peculiar, seemingly very complicated man actually enjoy dramas?

No, no. Have confidence. Korean Wave isn’t famous for nothing! It’s popular because it appeals to everyone worldwide!

Even this prickly Emperor will surely like it.

“Are you going to strip?”

“What? My clothes?”

I looked at him who suggested such a lewd method that I hadn’t even thought of.

Did Leila’s charms work?

Contrary to my imagination, Charte’s face remained coldly composed without the slightest change.

“I’ll decline such things in advance. Though I married you out of necessity, I have absolutely no intention of embracing you. Of course, I have even less intention of falling in love. I trust you weren’t expecting such things.”

“No, I wasn’t expecting anything like that. But I’m genuinely curious — then why did you marry me?”

“Because the empress’s position cannot remain vacant any longer. And I thought the Prime Minister’s daughter would perform the role of empress well……”

“And?”

“I’m worried it seems I was quite wrong.”

Though I felt offended, I couldn’t really protest since he wasn’t wrong.

But I seemed to have found a way to survive.

Since it wasn’t about love anyway, I felt rather comfortable and started speaking more easily.

“Your Majesty and I are like a fake marriage, a show-window couple. Not a real marriage……”

He didn’t deny my words.

“If you just spare my life, I will perform the role of empress better than Your Majesty wishes. And I will never bother Your Majesty. However, if Your Majesty kills me here, the ministers will surely torment Your Majesty to take concubines and marry again!”

He didn’t deny it.

“By keeping me alive, Your Majesty gains the freedom to never marry again.”

“Your proposition about playing the role of empress isn’t bad.”

Sensing him leaning toward my side, I deliberately paused and took a breath to heighten my negotiating skills.

Feeling his interested gaze on me, my confidence started building.

“However, the crucial matter remains unresolved. How will you heal me? Without that, the role-playing is unnecessary.”

He truly wasn’t someone to be taken lightly.

Quickly gathering my scattered thoughts, I looked at him seriously and began making my important proposal.

“I will heal Your Majesty’s pain and wounds with interesting stories.”

He looked at me with an incredulous expression.

“I will tell Your Majesty stories you have never heard before and never read in books.”

“Stories? Is that all?”

In an awkward silence, he stared at me in disbelief for a while.

Then with a look of disbelief, he snorted and looked at me mockingly while speaking.

“Lady Leila Whyman, you seem to know too little about me. You’re telling me you’ll entertain someone who was born into the imperial family, received the finest education, and has read every book in the imperial library regardless of field, with stories of all things?”

“Yes!”

“Perhaps you have a strong adventurous spirit and sense of challenge?”

“Not at all. Living life comfortably is my life’s goal.”

“I seem to have made a mistake in treating you as a lady out of consideration for the Whyman family, who are founding contributors and loyal subjects. You claim to have read more books than me and know stories I don’t know? Too presumptuous a proposal.”

“Your Majesty, the stories I will tell aren’t from books. Why do you think all stories exist in books? That’s quite a prejudiced view for someone so well-read.”

He looked at me with disbelieving eyes, as if interrogating me.

Whether she’s the Prime Minister’s daughter or not, handling her for imperial blasphemy would be the easiest thing for Charte.

However, Charte felt his pride and a strange stubbornness stirred by Leila who was betting on stories.

Honestly, he couldn’t understand Leila who seemed excessively confident.

Suddenly wondering if she was still drunk, Charte asked to check her condition.

“But why do you think I would marry again? Someone like me who can freely kill or spare lives could easily……”

“You might not have to, but you already married me, Your Majesty……”

“Is that the issue? Why?”

“Ah! Really! Listen until the end!”

“Have you forgotten you’re in this situation because of imperial blasphemy?”

“Ah, that’s not what I…… I must be crazy. My mind keeps coming and going…… Anyone would lose their mind when facing life and death…… Oh!”

I quickly slapped my mouth several times and looked at him with a servile expression.

“I, no, my mouth is this reckless. Your Majesty, I apologize.”

The Emperor looked at me with suspicious eyes.

“I hope you’ll be prudent rather than reckless in everything. Our time left in this world is precious to everyone.”

“Yes! I will keep that in mind, absolutely! An employee should naturally follow their employer’s words. I’ll do whatever you say!”

“Did I hear that correctly? Whatever?”

He shook his head.

“I’ve never heard such crude expressions before. I truly can’t believe you’re the Prime Minister’s daughter, Lady Whyman.”

I looked at him guiltily.

“What? Ah, that…… I’m just a bit, um, down-to-earth?”

“Down-to-earth…… Your word choice for self-expression is remarkably careful. From now on, I forbid the use of cheap and reckless language that displeases me.”

“Yes, Your Majesty. I will be careful.”

When he looked at me, signaling me to continue, I carefully began speaking again.

“Your marriage to me…… I know Your Majesty didn’t want it. For Your Majesty who can do anything freely, if you made an unwanted marriage, I think that was because of Your Majesty’s love for the Oneroad Empire.”

I paused to check his reaction, but his expressionless face made it impossible to read.

‘I’m giving you excessive praise but would it kill you to smile? They say the more successful people are in high positions, the more likely they are to be sociopaths. This sociopath Emperor!’

“Perhaps if Your Majesty had refused until the end, my father and the other ministers couldn’t have forced this marriage. Though you could have refused, you accepted because the Empire needs an empress. I think even when Your Majesty rules tyrannically, you never abandon the minimum duties of an Emperor.”

Though it was a rare case, his eyes kept changing as he watched me speak normally and seriously.

Though incomprehensible, he seemed quite confused.

“If you need an empress for the Empire rather than for Your Majesty, then I am truly the most suitable empress.”

Charte looked at me with his face clearly showing his inner thoughts: ‘Why are you most suitable? You’re the most unsuitable!’

Though I felt deep anger at being attacked by his unguarded inner thoughts, I just pretended not to notice since I couldn’t really refute it.

“The first reason is my family background. As you know, we’ve been loyal subjects for generations so we won’t do anything harmful to the imperial family. Second, I can keep my mouth shut and be especially careful with my actions.”

“I agree with the first reason but disagree with the second.”

‘Ugh, the Emperor is so petty……’

“I cut off all personal relationships the moment I became empress. I’ve decided to live only as the Empire’s empress from now on. I’m confident I’ll be the most tight-lipped empress Your Majesty could meet.”

Ignoring his disapproving gaze, I started saying what I needed to say.

“Usually, marriages without love that are just for show are called show-window couples, but as I said earlier, I’ll coolly think of this marriage as a fake marriage.”

“Fake role-playing followed by fake marriage?”

“Yes, so Your Majesty hasn’t married me but made a deal…… no, just think of it as hiring me as empress.”

Charte stared at Leila as if he could see through to my real self inside her.

“And finally, I don’t want love from Your Majesty. Never!”

“I like that final condition. I have no such intention either.”

I smiled slightly in relief.

“How.ev.er. How should I take such an impudent thought of treating marriage to the Emperor as a deal? Someone pre.ju.diced like me!”

‘This sociopathic petty Emperor!’

Hiding my inner thoughts, I smiled brightly at him and said,

“Your Majesty, I’m a transparent and honest person. I don’t have the ability to scheme against Your Majesty, so please just accept things as they appear, as they’re said, as they’re heard.”

“Hmm……”

Heavy silence continued in the room.

Though it seemed the conversation might work out, he wasn’t as easy as expected.

After contemplating for a while, he finally opened his mouth to look at me.

“Do you really have the confidence in healing me? Or are you just putting on airs to escape this crisis for now? Why should I agree to your proposal with dangerous words like fake couple and fake marriage being thrown around?”

What do I have? Even this body isn’t mine, only my soul is mine.

Besides, how could he have less money than me? Less treasures? What could he lack? What collateral could I possibly offer! Ah, how pathetic.

In my pathetic and miserable state, I asked him.

“What does Your Majesty want from me?”

When I asked sincerely, he also answered seriously.

“Are you confident enough to bet your life?”

‘If I back down here, I will die. Not just me, but Leila’s life ends too.’

I looked at him with determined eyes.

“If that’s what you want, I’ll gladly bet my life……”

Charte silently stared into my eyes. His gaze was so serious it was almost suffocating.

But I couldn’t back down here. I couldn’t let go of this chance I’d barely grabbed.

“I’ve bet everything I have. Now it’s Your Majesty’s turn to answer.”

Having decided on his answer to the proposal, Charte looked at Yun-ah and nodded heavily in agreement.

“I accept your proposal.”

“Then may I write up a contract? This is my first time betting my life so…… I want to be careful.”

He nodded in agreement.

“Ah! Your Majesty!”

Charte responded just by looking at me.

“Perhaps…… if Your Majesty feels healed by my stories, I’d like you to grant me one request later, much later, though I don’t know when……”