A dark room with no lights on. Thanks to the bright moon, the room was grayish. Nian lay in bed with her eyes closed, regardless of the sound of the door opening.

Her hazy mind was precariously balanced on the edge of sleep. Looking down at her, Dade placed his hand on her forehead. Fortunately, she didn’t seem to have a fever.

“You’re making me worry.”

He murmured softly. She seemed to have been quite ill; her face had become haggard in that short time. After pondering a bit, he gently shook her shoulder.

“Ilena.”

She opened her swollen, heavy eyelids with difficulty.

“Are you sick?”

A gentle voice.

Ah, if only he had remained cold to me, would it have hurt less?

Nian felt choked up.

“Should I call a doctor?”

Dade asked urgently. He felt somewhat guilty, thinking her illness might be his fault.

“No. I’m just not feeling well, so don’t worry.”

Dade sighed and carefully lay down beside her. He extended his arm under her neck and pulled her shoulder. Nian, leaning against his chest, closed her eyes again as she felt his warm body temperature.

‘Just a little, just a little longer. Yes, just until brother Cain finds her. Let me stay like this at least until then.’

As if in response, Dade patted Nian’s shoulder.

* * *

Cain sighed involuntarily as he recalled Nian’s face, pale as a sheet. It pained his heart, feeling as if he had trampled on her feelings that had just begun to sprout.

Though she asked him to find that woman in a trembling voice, her fear was evident. Cain knew well that the relationship between the Emperor and Empress had subtly changed recently.

He had secretly hoped she would stop here, that she would settle for what she had without knowing, but Nian stubbornly shook her head and asked him to find her.

‘What do you intend to do, Empress?’

Cain thought he should help her, regardless of what decision she made.

So she wouldn’t regret again.

He wouldn’t leave her alone again under the pretext of her happiness. Cain left his residence. It was to go to the city where Rachel had lived.

By the time he returned, he would probably be one step closer to the truth.

Cain lightly kicked his horse’s flank.

Several days passed.

Nian seemed quite calmed down. After suffering for three or four days, she finally decided to accept reality. Wasn’t she the woman he sought even in his dreams? If he found her…… yes, if he really found her.

‘I’ll have to give up my place.’

She had accepted the broken engagement from the beginning. It was a place never permitted to her from the start. Now, claiming to love him and being stubborn and throwing tantrums would be futile. She didn’t want to be hated by him again.

Meanwhile, Dade, sitting in his study, sighed at the mountain of documents. Already backed up from the trip to Rund, and even after returning, he had played hooky while dallying with Nian. This was the price.

Because of this, he hadn’t even seen Nian yesterday. He had to spend the night buried in paperwork. Busily scribbling with his fountain pen, Dade finally threw it down irritably and stood up.

‘Well, it’s not like I’ll die if I don’t do it today.’

Dade wanted to see Nian. And he felt like he would die if he couldn’t see her today too. It was an embarrassing thing, but for him who had already surrendered to love, it wasn’t particularly shameful.

‘Yes, I admit it.’

No matter how much he denied it again out of unnecessary pride or tried to substitute other emotions, it was impossible.

‘I wonder if she’s at the herb garden.’

He hurriedly left his study.

Contrary to his expectations, Nian was neither at the herb garden nor at the East Palace. Impatience gave way to irritation.

‘Where on earth is she?’

While he hurriedly wandered aimlessly around the imperial palace, Dade spotted a familiar face at the entrance and ran over with relief. The escort knight and Azel following behind her noticed him and immediately bowed their heads and withdrew.

“Where have you been at this hour?”

“Were you looking for me?”

“Yes. I was about to call for someone.”

“I’m sorry. I had an errand outside the palace.”

“Outside the palace?”

Only then did Dade notice the item in Nian’s arms.

“What’s that?”

Nian hugged the item in her arms more tightly, then smiled awkwardly and answered.

“It’s a flowerpot.”

“A flowerpot?”

“Yes. I wanted to plant the seeds Your Majesty gave me……”

Dade sighed and scolded her.

“Without sending someone else.”

“I wanted to plant them myself. It won’t happen again.”

At her words, Dade’s mood seemed to soften, and he took the flowerpot from her.

“It’s heavy. Let’s go. I’ll carry it in for you.”

As he started walking toward the herb garden, Nian grabbed his sleeve.

“What?”

After hesitating a bit, Nian blushed and said softly.

“It doesn’t matter if we do it tomorrow.”

“?”

“I’ll escort you to my palace……”

Nian let go of his sleeve and turned around. Watching Nian walking ahead, Dade realized what she meant only after a while.

‘Ah. Ilena, what should I do with you.’

Dade strode after her and soon caught up with Nian.

As soon as they entered the East Palace bedroom, Dade grabbed Nian and showered her with passionate kisses. Rough breathing filled the room.

Eventually, Nian began to yield to his strength and collapsed onto the bed as he led her. Dade urgently climbed on top of her.

He must have been quite desperate, as his hands removing Nian’s clothes were involuntarily forceful.

Rip.

The thin material of her dress collar tore from his rough touch, but neither of them cared about the clothes.

Dade lowered his lips to her exposed collarbone. Nian closed her eyes tightly and focused on the sensation he gave her.

Due to yesterday’s absence, he entered her earlier than usual. Nian tightened her arms around him as if struggling with his somewhat rough movements.

As Nian’s moans grew louder, he paused momentarily and looked down at her with deep eyes. Nian met his blue eyes with slightly dazed ones and spoke.

“Your Majesty.”

“Yes.”

“Who does Your Majesty belong to?”

Remembering their previous conversation, Dade smiled faintly.

“I’m not an object, Ilena.”

Nian smiled languidly.

“Let me ask again. Whose man is Your Majesty?”

He kissed her briefly.

“Since you are the Empress, I must be your man.”

At his answer, Nian pushed his upper body away. Then she pushed him to the side with more force, raised herself, and climbed on top of him.

Dade, slightly surprised, soon smiled playfully. Despite his relaxed expression, his manhood inside her swelled even larger.

Nian lowered her head and kissed him.

“Stay still.”

Commanding him in a seductive tone, Nian impudently moved her hips.

“Ugh.”

He couldn’t help but groan. Unlike her quite seductive tone, her clumsy movements made him impatient, and unable to bear it any longer, Dade finally grabbed her pelvis and thrust upward from below.

Her br*asts bounced greatly above him.

“Ahh. Too, deep…… ugh.”

She inhaled sharply as he invaded deeply. Nian tried to get down as if his rough movements were too much for her, but he held her firmly as if that was out of the question.

She wobbled precariously with his quick movements from below.

How much time had passed?

Her white n*ked body, dancing and swaying above him, collapsed onto him. Dade tightly embraced his lovely lover who had reached climax.

“By the way, why do you need a flowerpot? Can’t you plant it in the herb garden?”

Dade, still holding her n*ked body with one arm after their recent lovemaking on the bed, asked while looking at the flowerpot on the table.

At his question, Nian stared at the flowerpot. At first, she had certainly intended to do that. She had thought about planting it in a corner of the herb garden visible from the cottage, but she changed her mind.

When she leaves the imperial palace…… she wanted to take it with her.

“Just……”

Nian trailed off.

“I thought you’d pester me to tell you what flower it is, but you’re being patient.”

“I think it might be better not to know.”

What color will it be, what scent will it have? I’ll be curious the entire time I’m growing it. And, every time I wonder, I’ll think of you.

Nian recited the words she couldn’t say in her heart.

A sincerity she couldn’t convey.

Suddenly, Nian burrowed into his embrace. Fortunately, Dade wrapped his arms more tightly around her.

* * *

Cain had been contemplating for days. The truth was more cruel than expected, and he was very concerned about Nian who would face this truth. If she learns this fact……

‘Ilena will give up her position as Empress.’

Considering Nian’s personality, that was too obvious. She was a foolish woman who would choose to sacrifice herself rather than cause trouble for others.

Until a few months ago, that would have been fortunate. It would have been a welcome relief to save her from guarding her heavy position with a lifeless, empty expression.

But the woman he had met recently was clearly a woman in love by anyone’s standards. To see her face turn pale at the mention of his former lover.

Because of this, he had been deeply troubled about whether to just pretend not to know.

Although several weeks had passed since he informed her that Rachel was alive, Ilena never rushed him. Just by that, it seemed she didn’t want to know anymore.

If he just kept his mouth shut, would it be okay? Would Ilena be happy?

Cain shook his head.

Although she had come to love the Emperor, unfortunately, it was an unrequited love. The Emperor had ignored the Empress for a full five years because of his past lover.

Of course, he had recently shown fiery possessiveness, but if he later learns that Rachel is alive. Or, if the Emperor himself discovers the truth and moves first…

Cain felt a chill down his spine. Finally, he strengthened his resolve.