Rockfort’s distrust of humans wasn’t formed overnight. As far as he could remember, even his earliest memories were stained with his mother’s schemes, so it was natural.

“What about the deceased Empress? The shy woman who couldn’t even meet my eyes…… committed adultery with another man and became pregnant with his child.”

He hadn’t spent much time with Cecilia, but he had respected her as his wife. He had intended to continue doing so.

Before he knew of her filthy betrayal.

“No one can remain noble in the face of this throne and power.”

That was the nature of humans. The logic of power didn’t particularly distinguish between humans and beasts.

“Except one person.”

The tiny suspicion hiding in a corner of Rockfort’s heart completely crumbled.

“Elia Theon, the woman who will become my empress.”

He now realized that his choice was definitely right.

It didn’t matter if Elia wasn’t a daughter of Theon. If she was a woman so detached and honest even before him, the Emperor, she was worth risking his life to obtain.

“All my life…… I’ve been looking for someone I could trust unconditionally.”

Jayden was his loyal servant and the head of the Crimson Knights directly under the Emperor, but even he was bound by the oath between a knight and his lord.

“While living in this sinful position as Emperor, I wanted to find someone to guard my side and heart. I didn’t want to show my children what I went through.”

Rockfort’s amethyst eyes held sincerity.

“Finally, I found her.”

For the first time, Rockfort wore a gentle smile. He was recalling Elia’s elegant profile.

“Let’s go.”

Rockfort suddenly rose to his feet.

“Pardon? The sun is about to set, where are we……”

“We’re going to the Theon mansion.”

Her calm demeanor, composed voice, and dignified gaze seemed to already shimmer before his eyes.

* * *

Elia’s tranquility, as she sat leaning against the bed watching the sunset outside the window, was instantly shattered.

“……What?”

“W-well, His Majesty the Emperor has arrived.”

Elia’s eye twitched slightly.

“I told him the lady was asleep, but he ordered me to wake you up……”

Hannah couldn’t continue, appearing troubled. A mere maid would have no way to defy the Emperor’s orders.

“Alright, I understand.”

Elia tried hard to compose herself.

“Bring His Majesty in.”

“Since I said I would wake you, perhaps you should take a little more time to prepare……”

“No. We cannot keep His Majesty waiting.”

The Emperor was someone who had forgotten what patience was. Although she had never been treated as a wife, this was a fact she had deeply felt every time she performed her duties as Empress.

“Escort him to the room immediately, and then you and Dain quietly withdraw.”

“Yes……”

Hannah sighed worriedly and left the room. Elia’s thoughtfulness was deep, concerned that Hannah might somehow offend the Emperor’s eyes and incur his wrath.

“Your Majesty, the lady has awakened and is waiting for you.”

The Emperor, who had been sitting with his long legs crossed on the sofa in the reception room, rose as if he had been waiting. His expression looked like someone who had been waiting for an hour, which made one newly appreciate Elia’s wisdom.

“No one is to follow.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Rockfort strode up the stairs and knocked on Elia’s bedroom door. However, as always, he opened the door and entered before hearing a response.

“I greet Your Majesty. Given my condition, I hope you will forgive me for offering my respects from bed again……”

“It’s fine.”

Elia’s platinum blonde hair was neatly tied, giving her a tidy impression as she bowed her head deeply.

Thanks to this, her fair cheeks, long eyelashes, delicate nose bridge, and lips that she hadn’t been able to observe in detail before were fully revealed.

“I heard you sent a letter.”

“Yes.”

The pink lips that answered his question were a little fuller than he remembered. Rockfort unconsciously fixed his gaze on those lips.

“I…… understand your virtuous heart well.”

Elia kept her mouth firmly shut.

Rockfort looked at her for a while, then arbitrarily sat down on the chair placed at her bedside. It was where Hannah usually sat when caring for Elia.

Elia involuntarily flinched at his casual action of sitting right by her bedside.

“I didn’t know you feared me.”

Elia remained silent. She was surprised that the fastidious Rockfort had sat on a simple chair meant for a maid, but there was no need to explain it in words.

“I have issued an official disposition regarding this incident.”

At those words, Elia’s gaze turned toward Rockfort. She had known that the calamity in the Empress’s chambers could no longer be hidden and would soon be announced, but not knowing the content made her anxious.

“Do you want to know?”

It was strange that Rockfort kept asking meaningless questions, but Elia nodded.

“I will not record that woman’s adulterous act in history. Therefore, I have concluded that she committed suicide due to nervous exhaustion. The Duke and Duchess of Theon will be banished from the capital and confined to the Theon territory for the crime of poorly raising their daughter and bringing shame to the imperial family.”

“……Pardon?”

Elia’s eyebrows furrowed, and her eyes reflected complete incomprehension.

“This mansion and House Theon will be passed to the second son, Daniel, and the status as a meritorious family will be maintained.”

Elia slowly blinked. No matter how she thought about it, the disposition was too lenient.

It was definitely not the kind of disposition that the Rockfort she knew would issue. Moreover, why had he come here in person to inform her of this?

“I also regret what happened to your parents.”

That was the maximum consolation an Emperor could express.

Elia feared him for an entirely different reason than before. Despite returning in time after death, nothing had changed, yet why did Rockfort alone seem like a different person?

“The imperial physician said you need more rest, so we will observe a one-year mourning period.”

Still, she couldn’t understand what he was saying.

“After that, I will make you my Empress.”

Blink, Elia slowly closed and opened her eyes again.

Was she hearing things? Or was this another nightmare?

“The former Emperor arranged the engagement between the lady of House Theon and me. You are here, and I am here, so I will keep that promise.”

Thud, Elia’s hands, which had been neatly placed on her knees, fell.

Rockfort, thinking Elia was too shocked, carefully tried to take her hand and put it back in place, but the moment his hand touched hers, Elia shuddered.

“Why……”

For the first time since their reunion, Elia spoke without being asked.

“Why must I become the Empress?”

There were many official reasons. Rockfort had arranged it that way.

“Because I wish it.”

But to Elia, instead of reasons to deceive the world, he wanted to convey his heart.

Since she hadn’t deceived him, he felt the same way.

“I…… I don’t want to.”

Seeing Elia’s pale face, Rockfort suddenly felt sympathetic.

“I know your heart is heavy. I know it’s a difficult position.”

“Please withdraw your order. I am the daughter of criminals.”

Rockfort’s amethyst eyes stared intently at Elia.

“I hate that.”

At his resolute single word, Elia’s pupils trembled.

“I requested the death penalty. Please grant it.”

Become the empress? Once again, to succeed Cecilia and become the second empress.

Could there be a more cruel punishment than that?

Just how long must Elia be punished?

“I said I hate that.”

Elia stared directly at Rockfort with a hardened face.

“I hate it too.”

She was inwardly surprised at rejecting him for the first time, but she had nothing to fear anymore.

“I hate it. I would hate it even if I died. I will absolutely never become the empress.”

The first word was difficult, but once spoken, the rest came easily.

Rockfort looked at Elia’s resolute face with his amethyst eyes for a moment, as if surprised.

“It’s been a very long time since I heard a refusal.”

His puzzled expression soon changed to a faint smile.

“I don’t hate your honesty.”

His chillingly low voice resonated unusually softly. It was a tone Elia had never heard in her past life.

And what about that gaze? His mysterious amethyst eyes gazed at Elia with gentle light.

“All my life, I’ve been searching for someone as noble and upright as you. Your being a daughter of Theon is merely a justification; it’s not at all important to me.”

“That……”

“I want you, Elia, as my empress.”

Rockfort was a man who despised falsehoods. So these words were his true feelings now.

It was a fact she neither wanted to believe nor could believe.

“Elia.”

His low voice murmured her name. It felt as if pain she thought she had forgotten was pricking her heart, leaving her unable to move.

“I want to marry you.”

That couldn’t be possible. During that long time of solitude, she had prayed with all her heart, but couldn’t grasp even a corner of his heart.

“I want you, Elia, no one else.”

The sincerity filling his amethyst eyes made her chest throb as if she would go mad.

It wasn’t joy. Her long regret felt empty, and she resented this harsh life.

“My mind is already made up. Only you are qualified to be my Empress.”