If it were simply desire, he could have just taken her to his satisfaction.

That was what women had always been to him.

‘This is maddening.’

At another wrong answer, Dade pressed his throbbing temple firmly.

* * *

Cain and Nian avoided meeting after that. They communicated through messengers when necessary.

After all, Dade had explicitly warned both of them, and he was someone who could be quite cruel if provoked, so they decided to be cautious.

Cain stepped back for Nian’s sake, and Nian was careful for Cain’s sake.

Finding the Emperor’s former lover took longer than expected. Although the scope had been narrowed considerably, there were still dozens of young noblewomen who had died seven years ago in this vast empire.

It would have been easier to find the guard from seven years ago, but there had been no progress on that front yet.

‘Yes. It’s a matter of time. We’ll find her. Don’t be impatient.’

Nian reassured herself.

“Empress! It’s Azel!”

Azel announced her presence from outside. After Nian responded, Azel quickly entered the room.

“Empress. They’re looking for you from the West Palace.”

‘The Empress Dowager?’

Nian looked at Azel with slightly puzzled eyes before finally standing up and heading to the West Palace.

When she arrived at the West Palace, another guest was already there.

It was Dade. He glanced at Nian and then calmly gazed at the Empress Dowager, while Nian quietly sat down beside him, hiding her surprise.

“You’ve come, Empress.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

The Empress Dowager looked at the two of them alternately with a pleased expression.

“It’s so nice to see the imperial couple sitting side by side after such a long time.”

Dade answered in a disinterested tone.

“Ah. Mother, please just tell us your business briefly.”

‘What an impudent boy.’

The Empress Dowager rolled her eyes.

“Word has come from the Kingdom of Rund. That’s where Princess Camilla is.”

Rund. After a war long ago, they had made a truce, and Princess Camilla had gone there as a symbol of peace to marry into the neighboring kingdom.

Although it was a political marriage, the King of Rund loved Camilla dearly, and thanks to that, peace between the two countries had continued until today.

After frequent exchanges, Dade and the King of Rund had become quite close friends. Come to think of it, they hadn’t visited each other much lately.

“I hear she recently gave birth to a prince. As you know, this is a joyous occasion not only for Rund, where heirs are rare, but also for us.”

Dade frowned slightly, feeling uneasy at the lengthy explanation. Despite his discomfort, the Empress Dowager continued undeterred.

“So, this old woman was thinking, wouldn’t it be nice if the Emperor and Empress went in person to congratulate them? What do you two think?”

“Mother!”

Dade called out with a slightly raised voice.

“If the Emperor and Empress visit in person to congratulate the birth of the Crown Prince, it would be even better for Camilla’s honor.”

“What a plausible reason.”

Dade sneered as if he understood, but the Empress Dowager continued unperturbed.

“It’s your only sister, Your Majesty. Moreover, aren’t you friends with the King of Rund? Go and congratulate them in person.”

Just as Dade was about to respond to the Empress Dowager’s almost desperate words, Nian spoke up.

“In that case, wouldn’t it be better for His Majesty to go alone this time? If I leave the palace too, it will be too much for Your Majesty the Empress Dowager.”

That was exactly what Dade had been about to say. That he would go alone. That the Empress should stay and guard the palace. But when Nian said it instead, Dade felt somewhat angry.

He looked at Nian coldly and said,

“Are you saying this knowing that you’ve never even properly greeted, let alone entertained, for the sake of diplomacy between countries?”

It was a fair point, as she had never appeared at official events since becoming Empress.

“I don’t want to hear that from someone who has never even formally introduced me.”

Dade somehow felt like going with Nian after she retorted his sarcasm so nonchalantly.

“Well, I have no choice then. We’ll go together.”

“?”

“I’ll take care of the remaining preparations, Mother.”

Before Nian could say anything, Dade left, and Nian, unable to hide her troubled expression, followed him out.

The Empress Dowager, who had been quietly watching, smiled. She was quite pleased with the change in their relationship. It felt like rusty gears that had been stuck for a long time were finally turning.

In truth, the congratulatory delegation was just an excuse. It was a shallow trick by the Empress Dowager to somehow bring the two closer.

While excessive affection for the Empress could strengthen her family’s influence and should be guarded against, the opposite was also problematic. The longer the delay in producing an heir, the weaker the imperial authority would become.

‘Yes, Your Majesty. As they say, married couples need to see each other often to build affection.’

The wrinkled eyes of the middle-aged woman crinkled for the first time in a long while.

“Your Majesty.”

Nian called out to Dade, who was walking ahead, as she struggled to keep up with him. At her call, he took a couple more steps before stopping abruptly, causing Nian, who was hurrying after him, to bump into his back.

Dade turned around.

“What?”

“Why did you do that?”

He was actually regretting it a bit himself but didn’t show it and asked dully.

“What?”

“Your Majesty.”

“Stop calling me that. Mother insisted, so what was I supposed to do?”

At his words implying he didn’t care what happened, Nian was at a loss for words.

“What else? You will have to endure an uncomfortable travel companion, Empress.”

“Is Your Majesty comfortable with this?”

“Well. That depends on you.”

At his words, Nian felt a bit dazed. This was their first encounter since his warning about Cain. He didn’t seem to realize it, but he had changed somewhat. Before, he had been overtly uncomfortable with Nian.

He had hated her very existence, regardless of her actions. But now he said it could become comfortable depending on her.

This change in him was quite perplexing to Nian.

“It seems Mother has already made all the preparations.”

“……”

“I’m thinking of going through the mountains. Will that be too difficult?”

“It’s fine.”

“Let’s do that then. We’ll depart in a couple of days. Get ready.”

Nian, who had been listening to Dade’s words in a daze, finally nodded. After watching her for a moment, Dade consciously pulled back his hand that was unconsciously reaching out to her and turned away.

Nian watched his retreating back for a while longer before taking a step.

“Where did you say you’re going?”

Azel asked in surprise.

“Rund.”

“You’re saying you’re going to Rund with His Majesty? Now?”

“Yes.”

“Oh my goodness! I can’t believe it. When are you leaving? Oh dear. How can you be so sudden? What should I pack for you?”

Azel jumped up and made a fuss. Seeing Azel’s beaming face and excitement, Nian finally smiled.

“I’ll be away for quite a while, so you should take a vacation too.”

Nian smiled as she handed Azel a bundle of money.

“Visit your family home or wear any clothes and accessories from my dressing room if you like.”

Azel answered with a bright smile.

“Yes! Empress, don’t worry about me and have a safe trip! I need to go pack your things now. You rest!”

“Alright.”

She was truly a grateful child. Despite likely facing much disrespect while working under her, she had never shown it.

The only person in this desolate imperial palace who rejoiced with her joys and sorrowed with her sorrows as if they were her own. Nian thought that even if she were to leave this palace, she must ask His Majesty to take care of this child.

Azel rushed out. Nian smiled gently as she watched Azel’s retreating figure.

* * *

Two days later, Nian left the imperial palace after a very long time.

There were two routes to Rund. The road accessible by carriage and the path crossing the low mountain range on the border between the two countries.

Since traveling by carriage would take a full fortnight, Dade chose the shortcut through the mountains. It was quite rough and couldn’t be traversed by carriage, but Nian thought it was better that way.

She felt that staying in a bumpy carriage for so long would be more tiring. Moreover, they couldn’t leave the imperial court empty for too long. The Empress Dowager would substitute for their duties, but it would surely be burdensome.

“Are you sure I shouldn’t come with you, Empress?”

Azel asked with an anxious tone, like a child left at the water’s edge.

“Yes. You take a good rest too.”

Nian deliberately decided not to bring Azel. She wanted to give Azel a vacation.

In fact, being a lady-in-waiting to an Empress was quite a luxurious position. They could attend official parties and enjoy themselves, and when the Empress traveled, they too could enjoy sightseeing.

Additionally, being the closest person to the Empress, they often received requests for favors. That’s why after just a few years in the position of an Empress’s close lady-in-waiting, they could accumulate more wealth than a nameless lower noble in the provinces. But for Azel, it was a different world entirely.

Nian never attended official parties, let alone traveled, and no one would make requests to an Empress ignored by the Emperor.

Rather, she was often disrespected wherever she went. Though she didn’t show it, Nian always felt sorry for Azel.

Only after repeatedly confirming that Nian was okay with it did Azel finally release her skirt.

Nian mounted her horse and asked Dade,

“How long will it take?”

“Well? For me, it’s a week’s journey, but……”

“?”

“Seeing the Empress’s horsemanship, I think we’ll arrive in about ten days.”

At his teasing words, Nian rolled her eyes and replied,

“I’m sure you know best.”

He chuckled and shook the reins of his horse.

For the rare outing of the imperial couple, advance and rear guards of escort soldiers lined up before and after them. The procession seemed endless with gifts for the King of Rund, who was both a friend and in-law to the Emperor.

* * *