The muscles in Rockfort’s jaw visibly tensed. Aside from that, there was no change.

“Your Majesty is right. As emperor, you need only command and forbid as you wish. It’s been that way from the beginning.”

Seeing Elia speak so meekly and obediently, a strange fire spread through Rockfort’s chest.

He thought this was the answer he wanted, but seeing her speak with a face as emotionless as a doll intensified his displeasure.

“The reason I didn’t give Your Majesty an empty answer despite knowing all this…… is because I too have feelings.”

She knew Rockfort’s patience wouldn’t last long. No matter how much she threatened to die, he could simply use this tactic.

But his change in attitude came faster than expected, which left a bitter taste she couldn’t shake.

“As you said, Your Majesty can have me whenever you wish.”

Each word tasted bitter on her tongue. Elia slowly raised her head and stared directly into his eyes.

“But my heart would break.”

It wasn’t a threat. Her blue eyes gazed at him clearly, simply revealing the truth.

“Broken and shattered…… I would live on, unable to die.”

“What if I don’t care?”

Hoo, Elia exhaled a short breath.

“That’s all there is to it.”

The memory of living with the pain of loss remained vivid.

Only what she lost would differ, but if her heart broke, life would remain the same.

“Like the trees in this garden, I would simply exist here. Without smiles or tears, until death comes, just…… living through a long winter.”

Huh, Rockfort let out an incredulous laugh.

“Why are you so pessimistic? It’s as if marrying me carries some curse that guarantees unhappiness!”

A curse.

Perhaps that was it. Maybe her past life took root in Elia’s painful places, making it difficult to look at him directly.

“Is it because of what happened? I understand I can’t forget what happened with your family overnight. That’s why…… I’ve overlooked your insolence until now.”

From Rockfort’s perspective, he already showed excessive mercy.

Not only did he maintain the Theon lineage through Daniel, but he also sent the former duke and duchess involved in the incident to their territory, allowing them to live as lords at least. Anyone who knew the inside story would consider it an exceptional ruling.

“It was I who said I wouldn’t charge you with any crime. It was also I who judged you innocent.”

Frustration built up every time he saw Elia, unable to get closer, stuck in conversations that went in circles. Naturally, his voice grew increasingly agitated.

“Are you now protesting that my judgment was wrong? Do you want to say you’re the same as Cecilia, who committed that filthy betrayal behind my back?”

“That’s…… not it.”

Elia bit her lip firmly.

No matter the reason, Cecilia’s actions were unacceptable. And despite being her sister, Elia couldn’t forgive her.

“I already judged you as someone completely uninvolved in the incident. I saw you as someone who knows what’s right and has the courage to speak the truth.”

At first, what caught his interest was how fascinating it was to see her calmly confess her family’s crimes to the emperor.

“But that wasn’t all.”

Gradually, his attention turned to Elia. When he turned away, he thought of her.

More curiosities arose. He found himself seeking her voice and figure more often.

“Why do you think you’re here? The former emperor’s decision to get engaged? Being the daughter of House Theon? Do you really believe those reasons are strong enough to cover up the previous unfortunate incident?”

“……What?”

Rockfort needed to marry the daughter of House Theon by the former emperor’s decree. That engagement remained in effect, which is why Rockfort chose her.

She didn’t know what came after, but that must have been the initial reason.

“Don’t misunderstand. My will comes first, then the reason follows.”

Elia’s eyes unconsciously widened. Her intensely blue eyes filled with Rockfort’s shadow.

“Because I wanted you, reasons emerged for you to become empress. It’s never the other way around.”

Slowly, Elia blinked. Though his face looked angry as he scolded her, his words seemed to convey something entirely different, which made her dizzy.

“You come all this way and still pretend to know nothing? Did you really think I’m marrying you reluctantly because of the former emperor’s decision?”

“Yes……”

Elia unwittingly let the word slip between her parted lips.

Wasn’t she here because she told him the truth and because she was the daughter of House Theon? Did another reason exist?

“Yes?”

Rockfort repeated Elia’s answer, looking dumbfounded. His face looked like he might choke from disbelief, devoid of his usual coldness.

“You drive me crazy.”

His large hand quickly rose. Elia involuntarily flinched, but that hand merely ruffled his own hair.

“……Why, did you think I might slap you?”

Rockfort let out a hollow laugh. He couldn’t understand why the otherwise intelligent Elia knew nothing about him.

No, what kind of man did she think he was? It was utterly maddening.

“I must be the worst.”

The man Elia imagined Rockfort to be was undoubtedly the worst. Just now, when he raised his hand and she flinched, the fear that pooled in her blue eyes was proof enough.

“Yes…… the worst.”

Once more, roughly ruffling his hair, Rockfort bit his lip then released it.

Elia couldn’t bear to look at him and lowered her eyes.

“Anyone watching would think I’m trying to kill you.”

Rockfort found his own state so pathetic it was almost laughable. He couldn’t even tell where things went wrong. He bestowed the greatest consideration he could, yet Elia regarded him as a monster.

She never gave him the answer he wanted. She didn’t even deny his self-deprecating words.

She simply bowed her head in silence like a criminal, as if accustomed to such treatment.

“Fine, I give up.”

If only she acted arrogantly or spoke impertinently as usual. But her tightly closed lips drove Rockfort even crazier.

“It seems I misjudged you. I even feel betrayed.”

The word “betrayed” stabbed Elia’s heart deeply. Immediately, her chest burned as if she drank poison.

“I never betrayed anyone.”

Elia raised her head and looked at Rockfort. Those were the same unwavering, straightforward blue eyes he remembered.

“Is that what matters most right now?”

“Yes, it matters to me.”

She didn’t mind being called foolish. Her past life, stained with lies, left Elia with terrible wounds and unhealed scars.

She needed none of that now. Even if she died this instant, Elia would leave no falsehoods behind.

“From the beginning, I told Your Majesty everything.”

She rejected him again and again. Said she hated him.

Said she would continue to hate him, that she’d rather die.

How could she speak the truth any more plainly than that?

“The engagement ceremony, appointing me as the future empress…… weren’t those all Your Majesty’s decisions? Me entering the palace, me being here—Your Majesty decided all of it.”

Her fine eyebrows curved. Beneath them, her eyes revealed everything, just as when she confessed her family’s crimes.

Beautiful yet sorrowful eyes that inspired sympathy and pity.

“I never deceived Your Majesty. Even if it meant my family’s extermination…… You said you believed me.”

Yes. The night he first met Elia, he said so.

—Does that mean you believe my story?

—Yes. I believe you.

Rarely did Rockfort find himself at a loss for words from surprise. Yet his face revealed nothing.

To Elia’s eyes, he was simply looking down at her.

“You may be displeased that I don’t follow Your Majesty’s will, but I have never…… absolutely never betrayed your trust, nor will I ever.”

Elia’s clear voice carried a gentle strength.

Rockfort felt his earlier rage fading. Even his agitated voice now seemed ridiculous in retrospect.

“Why.”

A low, calm voice resonated.

“Why are you so fixated on trust?”

While believing he couldn’t forgive a woman who rejected him, Rockfort couldn’t stop his curiosity about her.

Though vexed, when he saw her face, a corner of his heart softened. Her stubbornness irritated him, yet he wanted to understand the reason.

“Without trust, it’s the same as having nothing.”

Her past life, beautiful as a mirage, collapsed hopelessly like a castle built on sand. Stained with lies, deception, and betrayal, everything crumbled.

“That’s too extreme. Is your hatred for me also because you can’t trust me?”

It was a different issue. Something Rockfort wouldn’t understand anyway.

“You don’t know me well. The same goes for me about you. We haven’t known each other long, and we’ve rarely spent time together. So why make hasty judgments about our relationship?”

His words were right. She understood it in her mind.

“I simply wanted to tell you that everything until now was Your Majesty’s will, and that I too have feelings.”

“Again, our conversation goes in circles. We have a future ahead, so why not consider getting to know each other and changing those feelings?”

This time, Elia was the one surprised. Unlike Rockfort, it showed plainly on her face. Her already pink cheeks blushed as vividly as garden flowers.

It was fascinating how she could speak so coldly one moment, then appear as an innocent young woman of her age the next.

“Don’t tell me you never considered it.”

Rockfort frowned. Elia had nothing to say and tried to avoid his gaze, but that made her look even more unnatural.

Huh, Rockfort’s laugh made her cheeks redden further.

“Did you think this relationship would continue forever exactly as it is if you stubbornly rejected me?”

Elia flinched as he read her thoughts.