‘It’s dark.’

She couldn’t see anything. Then she felt her v*gina being rubbed against something firm and solid. Soon, Diego’s member entered her deeply.

“Hah…! Ah, mmm…!”

Perhaps because her eyes were covered, her other senses felt heightened. The sweat dripping from Diego’s body onto hers felt more pronounced, and when his member entered her, it seemed like her vaginal walls stretched endlessly.

“Ah…! Hah.”

Not being able to see made it more frightening. His member felt almost like a tentacle of some monster.

‘A monster’s tentacle? Of course, I’ve never experienced such a thing…’

At that moment, Diego removed Siara’s blindfold. His deeply furrowed face was looking down at her.

“…What are you thinking about right now?”

How did he know she was distracted when her eyes were covered?

Diego bit her earlobe.

“Ugh…!”

“Why? Today you’re so wet it doesn’t hurt at all? …Did someone lick you?”

“What are you…”

Siara feigned ignorance, but Prince Isaac had indeed aroused her body before leaving. Perhaps because of that, Diego’s member didn’t hurt as much as usual.

Diego bit her ear so hard it felt like he might tear it off.

“Aack!”

The pain brought tears to her eyes.

“Is being unfaithful and brazen about it your natural character? Or do you just think I’m a pushover?”

“…I haven’t been unfaithful… Ah! Mmph.”

Diego bit her ear again, drawing blood this time. Siara clutched her ear, tears streaming down her face. At this sight, Diego’s dark eyes gleamed ominously.

“…Acting cute won’t help you.”

“What?”

‘When did I act cute? Oh, he means the crying?’

“That doesn’t erase the fact that you were unfaithful…!”

His member thrust deep inside her again, repeatedly hitting her sensitive spot. Her legs trembled uncontrollably.

“Ah, yes…! Diego, hah. I’m about to… come…”

“Sh*t, I know. …You’re squeezing so tight.”

Diego’s hip movements accelerated.

Siara wrapped her slender legs tightly around his waist. Her arms encircled his neck while she panted heavily.

“Mmm, hah…! It feels, so good…! Ah-ah.”

“…Siara. Ngh…!”

In that moment, whitish s*men filled Siara’s insides.

Her legs lost strength, and she slumped down onto the bed. When Diego withdrew his member, her vaginal entrance quivered, expelling a mixture of her fluids and his s*men. Staring at this sight, Diego grabbed his shaft again and rubbed it against her entrance.

“Stop…”

Though Siara felt drained, Diego kissed her lips. After sucking on her tongue with loud smacking sounds, he thoroughly explored her mouth with his tongue. His hardened member pushed deep into her v*gina again.

“Mmph, ah…!”

The ankle Diego gripped hurt. Later, it would show red marks, and despite her tanned skin, bruises would soon form.

* * *

Six months later. On an exceptionally hot day, Diego ascended to the throne as Emperor and simultaneously held the Empress’s investiture ceremony.

Many nobles applauded in the grand hall of the imperial palace. Siara was among them. While she had often gone without underwear in the Crown Prince’s palace, today she was properly dressed in a gown and hat for the first time in a long while.

The woman becoming Empress was Samantha, daughter of Marquis Marcel Hart. Marquis Marcel was overjoyed.

“Finally, we have a new Emperor. Huhu.”

“…I trust Marquis Marcel will provide excellent support.”

“Of course. For the sake of the Empress too…”

When he smiled, his gold teeth gleamed. Marquis Marcel would receive the title of Duke as the Empress’s father.

After looking around at the imperial family members, he spotted Siara and cackled unpleasantly.

‘Ah, to think such a man is Diego’s father-in-law. Tsk.’

She had thought the Empress Dowager Karina had been sufficiently warned, but in the end, she had accepted the daughter of such a man as Empress.

‘Not my problem.’

Siara’s position was ambiguous. She held no official title—she was merely the Crown Prince’s night companion.

While everyone was blessing the young imperial couple of the new nation, she felt displeased. Just yesterday, Diego had been rolling around in bed with her. Yet today, he married another woman and became Emperor.

‘I knew this would happen. How could an illegitimate child with commoner blood become Empress? Impossible.’

Diego, dressed in a golden suit, walked among the nobles. Instead of escorting Samantha, he walked alone and stopped abruptly where Siara stood.

Their eyes met, but he turned away by himself. It felt like their relationship had ended just like that. A wall began to rebuild between Diego and Siara.

While the Empress’s investiture ceremony was taking place, Siara slipped away to the quiet imperial library.

Sitting in the imperial library, Siara became lost in thought.

‘I can no longer go to the Crown Prince’s palace.’

Since Diego had become Emperor, he now had to stay in the Emperor’s palace. Without any official position, she couldn’t go there. The need for a night companion existed only until he welcomed an Empress. 

Now that the Empress had been invested, he needed to produce an heir, so those who had served as night companions had to leave the palace.

[I saw that you’ll marry someone who isn’t here! What could that mean? It must be someone from another dimension.]

Jensen’s prophecy seemed wrong. He had said one in a hundred predictions could be wrong, but she hadn’t expected it to be hers.

‘Should I go back?’

Diego needed to produce an heir with Samantha. Who would be more of a home-wrecker than her if she stayed?

‘But Samantha was the one who came between us, which feels unfair.’

Since this wasn’t an ordinary romance, she thought this ending was inevitable.

The now-familiar archivist smiled brightly at her.

“Are you leaving?”

“Yes. …I have nothing to do anyway.”

But as soon as she left the imperial library, familiar knights surrounded her.

“His Majesty is waiting. Let’s go to the Emperor’s palace.”

‘Who does he think I am, someone he can summon and dismiss at will…?’

Siara didn’t want to see Diego’s face today of all days. She might unconsciously pierce the center of his forehead with an ice awl.

“Not today. I have somewhere to go.”

“I’m sorry, but we were ordered to bring you without fail…”

“He needs to spend his wedding night with the Empress, doesn’t he? Tell him I’m fine, go to her instead.”

Even to herself, it was nothing more or less than jealousy. Childish, so childish.

But what could she do? Even after living for a thousand years, this was her first experience with jealousy.

Two knights grabbed Siara’s arms, one on each side. Siara was dumbfounded.

“Hey! Let go!”

“We apologize, but we must escort you even like this!”

“Hah…”

‘If Diego dies, it’s your responsibility!’

Though Siara was seething inside, she followed them without much resistance. Honestly, she was curious about what excuse Diego would make.

The Emperor’s palace had such intense security that it would be difficult to enter without the imperial guard.

Normally, they would search for weap*ns and ask about one’s position and origin. However, because she was with the imperial guard, she could go straight to the Emperor’s chambers.

Outside Diego’s room, Peter had been pacing all day, but when he saw Siara, he looked relieved.

“Lady Siara! Where have you been? His Imperial Majesty has been waiting so long…”

“…For me? He must be waiting for the Empress.”

Siara’s lips protruded in a pout. Seeing her, Peter smiled awkwardly. Anyone could tell her mood had sunk. On the other hand, he felt somewhat relieved to confirm that Diego’s love wasn’t one-sided.

He gently poked Siara’s side.

“…You know he had no choice if he wanted to become Emperor. Diego must be feeling uneasy too, so please comfort him. He’s been in such an angry state, it’s frightening…”

“I should be the angry one, why is he?”

“Urk… Lady Siara. Please watch your words. He’s no longer your classmate but the Emperor!”

“I’m far above him. In age and everything…”

As she was about to say more in front of the door, the double doors swung open wide. There stood Diego, wearing only a robe, looking down at Siara.

“What are you doing standing out there?”

“…That’s not my room anymore.”

Diego’s eyebrows rose slightly. He grabbed Siara’s arm and pulled her inside. Peter tactfully closed the door.

This was Siara’s first time in the Emperor’s quarters, so she looked around curiously. The Stana Empire was much larger in scale than the Kingdom of Estain, making it interesting to explore. The room was spacious, with rare treasures scattered throughout.

Diego poured wine and offered her a glass. Siara, sitting on the sofa, accepted it.

“…I know you’re not happy.”

“Yeah.”

Siara took a sip of wine. Watching the person she cared for marry someone else was an experience she never wanted to repeat.

Diego, uncharacteristically, kept glancing at her nervously.

‘This kid… He’s becoming more irritating.’

Diego shouldn’t have called for her today. He should have let her go to the Kingdom of Estain without stopping her, should have just let her be.

Diego looked above Siara’s head and smirked.

“…Do you want to kill me?”

“What?”

Diego pointed above her. Ice awls were all aimed at him.

Siara scratched her head. She must have been unconsciously preparing to kill Diego.

Diego moved closer to her and played with her lips.

His thick thumb slowly explored inside her mouth. When he lightly scratched the roof of her mouth, Siara’s face flushed.