Nian didn’t wake up until the afternoon of the next day.

When Nian awoke, Dade habitually reached out toward her. He wanted to convey the love he couldn’t express in words through his touch, stroking her hair as always, asking if she slept well, and giving her a brief kiss.

Flinch.

Nian instinctively shrank back and avoided his touch.

Dade looked at her painfully.

Ah. We can never go back to how things were. Kissing her as she smiled shyly, holding her tight and inhaling her scent. He would never be able to do these things again.

“Let’s return to the palace.”

Dade spoke, trying hard to hide his painful heart. Nian, still n*ked from the previous night, wrapped herself in a blanket and stared blankly into space. Just as he was about to urge her again, Nian answered coldly.

Without even glancing at him.

“I won’t go.”

“It seems you still don’t understand.”

He stood before her and continued in an intimidating voice.

“I heard that Count Payon, whom you love so dearly, was captured and brought to the imperial palace last night. If you behave obediently, his life might be extended a bit longer, don’t you think?”

“Your Majesty…… Please.”

Nian called to him with desperation in her voice, but he coldly turned away.

In the carriage on the way back, Nian stared out the window with empty eyes. Dade also occasionally glanced at her with his blue eyes before turning his gaze back outside.

“Perhaps, Brother Cain…… Was he alone?”

When Dade heard Cain’s name, his expression immediately hardened as he looked at her.

“I see you worry about that guy day and night.”

“Your Majesty, that’s not it……”

Nian realized something had gone terribly wrong.

How did it come to this?

She had only wanted to give him back his love and restore the rightful place to the woman who had been sacrificed so she could become empress.

It was a lie told in case he might feel a little guilt in the process.

“I only received a report that he was captured. I’m very curious too, so let’s go see.”

It was just that, but how did she end up facing such eyes? Dade was like a wounded beast.

If she approached even slightly, he would immediately growl and bare his claws. The tangled skein became more entangled the more she tried to handle it. To the point where it needed to be cut with scissors.

Upon arriving at the imperial palace, Azel came running out, stamping her feet anxiously.

“Empress!”

Dade glanced at Azel and smiled coldly. Then, as if making sure she would hear, he ordered the soldier behind him.

“Take her to the bedroom in the Main Palace. If she tries to escape again, put a leash on her and tie her up.”

Azel cried out in shock.

“Your Majesty!”

“Were you thinking of going to the East Palace? That’s the Empress’s quarters.”

Instead of Nian who gave no answer, Azel replied anxiously.

“B-but.”

“If you wish, I’ll allow you to attend to her.”

“Y-Your Majesty.”

“You don’t want to?”

“No. I’ll do it. I will. Please let me do it.”

Azel answered urgently. Dade glanced at Azel, who had bowed her head, then immediately withdrew his gaze and walked forward.

The soldiers grabbed Nian’s arms and led her to the Main Palace.

* * *

Dade faced Cain through the bars.

“It seems my previous warning was amusing to you.”

“Lovers in love are typically fearless, you know.”

At those words, Dade finally reached through the bars and grabbed Cain’s collar. He gripped it so tightly that Cain was nearly choked.

“What a pity, your lover is tied up in my bedroom.”

“Your Majesty. The Empress…”

“Shut up. I’d like to chew your bones to pieces, but for Ilena’s sake, I’ll give you one last chance.”

Dade released his collar with a cruel smile. He gestured to the guard, and immediately the prison door opened. Despite the bars opening, Cain stood motionless.

“Ilena will pay for your sins to me every night.”

Dade immediately turned away from Cain, who was staring at him blankly.

Dade returned to the Main Palace only late at night. Collapsing onto the bed, he spoke.

“Come here.”

Nian, who had been burying her face between her bent knees, raised her head. Judging by the strong smell of alcohol even from a distance, he seemed drunk.

“I released Count Cain.”

“Your Majesty.”

“So, come here.”

At his sad tone, Nian finally rose from her seat and approached him.

Seeing her like this, Dade smiled bitterly.

Such a tearfully devoted love.

He was furious. So furious he could go mad. Just a short while ago, she had been smiling in his arms. Wholly mine. My woman.

She had clearly said with her own mouth that she was his woman.

‘Come to think of it, she said she was mine because she was the empress.’

Because she was the empress. She had only said she was the Emperor’s woman because of that. Now she couldn’t even say that, so she tried to fly away to her beloved, stepping down even from the position of Empress.

Taking advantage of my absence from the palace. How vicious.

‘And I, like a fool.’

As Nian approached the bed, he immediately grabbed her and laid her down. Mounting Nian as she collapsed powerlessly, Dade gritted his teeth and spoke.

“As you know, I can’t stand being in debt.”

“……”

“Now the price of his life is your responsibility. Ilena.”

Dade tore her white clothes. The torn fabric pieces scattered like feathers.

‘I won’t let you fly away on your own again. Even if I have to break both your wings completely.’

Nian closed her eyes as she felt him entering her painfully. Having learned from the previous night that resistance was futile, she simply surrendered her body to his touch.

A cold relationship without the gentle caressing touch or kisses like usual. Nian bit her lip, but Dade didn’t even allow that and drove into her.

Her helpless heart was painfully cold, but she decided to give up. Even her feelings that couldn’t be conveyed due to misunderstanding.

‘Instead, I won’t give him anything else about you.’

Dade kissed Nian’s forehead as she fell asleep exhausted.

So, Ilena. Please don’t hate me too much.

After much deliberation, Azel caught Dade as he entered the Main Palace.

“Your Majesty”

“What is it?”

“I was wondering whether to tell you…… but I thought it would be better to speak up.”

“Speak.”

“The Empress…… I mean, Ilena hasn’t eaten anything since yesterday.”

Dade’s brow immediately furrowed.

“She says her stomach doesn’t feel well. I’m wondering if we should take her to the hospital.”

In Azel’s hands was the porridge that Nian had rejected.

“Give it here.”

Dade took the porridge and looked toward the Main Palace bedroom where no lights were on.

“Are you planning to starve yourself to death?”

He asked coldly, looking at Nian who was sitting blankly in the dark bedroom.

Nian raised her head to look at him.

“That doesn’t seem like a bad option.”

Nian had grown gaunt in just a few days. Dade knew this but pretended not to notice. If he acknowledged it, he would worry, and if he worried, he might let her go due to his weakened heart. So he pretended not to know and just coldly took her every night.

Since forcefully taking her at the inn that first time, she hadn’t even resisted. She just swayed precariously according to his touch and looked at him with empty eyes.

Occasionally she would wake up at dawn and look at him with sorrowful eyes, but as soon as his gaze met hers, she would hide it and return to her empty expression.

Though it hurt him terribly, he didn’t show it. After all, he had decided to give up on sincere feelings that wouldn’t be conveyed anyway.

Dade strode over and set the porridge down in front of her.

“Eat. You need to eat if you want to fight me or do anything else.”

“Fight? Do I have the capacity to fight Your Majesty?”

“I won’t say it twice. Eat.”

At his words, Nian finally picked up the spoon. She didn’t want to argue with him anymore. When she brought it to her mouth, nausea immediately overwhelmed her. In the end, she couldn’t manage more than a few spoonfuls before putting the spoon down. Her nerves seemed to have become sensitive from the events of the past few days.

“What do you plan to do with me?”

“Keep you as you are.”

“Your Majesty.”

“And I’ll clear a part of the Main Palace garden for you to plant herbs.”

“……”

“You’ll grow herbs, and I’ll drink herb tea every night before taking you. Like before.”

“……”

“If you don’t like the position of Empress, I won’t force it on you again. I can bring in someone new for that role.”

“Your Majesty. That’s impossible.”

“No, that’s how it will be. Nothing will change from before. We’ll spend every night together, and mornings too.”

“Your Majesty, please.”

Dade approached Nian and wrapped his large hand around her slender neck.

“Try to run away again. Next time, I’ll cut this beautiful neck.”

Nian finally spoke the words she had been hesitating to say.

It was like a spell.

A spell to drive away this cruel, beautiful person from her side.

“Rachel…… she’s alive.”

“……!”

Dade froze.

“Brother Cain has been taking care of her.”

“What?”

“He planned to bring her to the palace around the time Your Majesty returned, but things seem to have gone wrong.”

“Don’t talk nonsense.”

“You can call him and confirm. So, reclaim her and let me go.”

“……”