She thought it would be awkward to even meet his eyes again after that kiss, but fortunately the atmosphere wasn’t too bad, perhaps because the location had changed or his attitude was different.

“I’m saying I escaped because it was annoying and it gave me a headache. Jayden has very quick feet, so it’s not easy to shake him off even for me.”

Though they growled at each other whenever they met, if familiarity comes with proximity, it seemed they were getting used to each other now.

Elia no longer found Rockfort’s presence strange or unfamiliar. She just still couldn’t guess his true feelings.

“What. Is it surprising that I, the emperor, sometimes run away?”

“Yes……”

“You’re really honest.”

Rockfort chuckled, then caught his breath, snatched the teacup in front of Elia, and drank it in one gulp.

“Ah.”

Seeing Rockfort shamelessly put down the empty teacup, she didn’t know what expression to make.

“Surely you’re not so stingy as to begrudge me a cup of tea?”

“I’m…… not that petty.”

“That’s good.”

Rockfort sighed deeply and beckoned to Hannah, who was far away.

“I greet Your Majesty.”

Hannah approached hurriedly and bowed respectfully.

“Brew more tea, including my share. And bring some cold water too.”

“Yes.”

Whether his story about escaping was true or not, he certainly looked parched.

Elia found herself blankly watching him gulp down the water Hannah brought a little later. His manly, bold jawline and the prominent Adam’s apple that moved up and down as he drank were both refreshing and handsome.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“Ah…… it’s nothing.”

Rockfort casually wiped the moisture from his mouth with his sleeve. Elia couldn’t help but recall how he had made the same gesture after kissing her.

Hoo, Elia exhaled briefly as she desperately hoped for more wind to cool the heat rising to her cheeks.

“I didn’t intend to come here.”

Rockfort said unnecessarily. Even he didn’t know why he said them.

“I just wanted to shake off Jayden and rest in a quiet place, but…… seeing you drinking tea under the lilac tree reminded me of the old times.”

The emperor Elia knew was always dignified and radiant with authority.

It was strange that he used the word ‘escape,’ surprising that he actually seemed to have run here, and all these things he showed her so nonchalantly stirred indescribable emotions.

“You seem to have many questions. Everything shows on your face.”

Today’s Rockfort was a little different from usual. Perhaps because this wasn’t a situation where he came with the purpose of meeting Elia.

Maybe their natural sides emerged because they didn’t need to argue about what their relationship was or how they felt.

“Well, it’s better than the nobles chattering in the council. If you’re curious about anything, ask directly.”

“Why…… did Your Majesty escape from the council……”

“It was noisier than I expected and my head hurt so much I couldn’t bear it. It happens occasionally.”

“Then why didn’t you dismiss the noisy ones instead of Your Majesty……”

Elia’s eyes grew round with curiosity. Though she usually spoke spitefully and was sometimes too cold, seeing her without her thorns now made Rockfort’s heart soften.

“They become even noisier during the dismissal process. Council nobles are all that kind of breed. I guarantee they would keep their mouths above water even if they were drowning.”

Was this Rockfort’s normal self?

Neither the previous Elia nor the current Elia had seen this side of him before, but she liked it the most among all she had seen.

“Then, did you leave Sir Jayden behind because he was noisy too?”

“Quite the opposite. Jayden doesn’t talk much. Instead, he’s a rigid man with no flexibility or tact.”

Elia nodded slowly. It was obvious, but Rockfort the emperor and Jayden the knight commander were people just like her.

“You still look like you have questions?”

“Earlier, you said memories came back to you…… was that about the princess who stayed in this palace?”

Rockfort nodded.

“My younger sister.”

“Ah…… I’ve heard about her too. That she was beautiful and compassionate.”

At those words, Rockfort’s expression softened considerably. His caring yet somewhat bitter face proved that warm blood flowed through him too.

“She was bright and gentle. She always had the power to light up her surroundings. Everyone treated me with difficulty, but she was the only one who even played pranks on me……”

Rockfort trailed off. Despite knowing how important political marriages were, despite already having a child, that bright Leticia was now begging her brother to let her return.

“She must have had a beautiful heart too.”

Elia’s calm voice felt like the clear spring breeze blowing in.

“I can feel it from this palace. She must have cherished even small things and loved these small, pretty flowers.”

“Is that so.”

His low voice resonated calmly.

“Well, that’s fortunate.”

“Pardon?”

Though it wasn’t intentional, the most suitable person for Rockfort’s question was right in front of him.

“Today I’m not trying to argue, so I’d appreciate honest answers. Well…… you’re always honest anyway.”

Elia inadvertently fixed her gaze on his moving lips, then startled herself and nodded.

“You said you hate marrying me and becoming empress. But isn’t it the natural order for women of noble birth to marry as arranged?”

It was a question with unclear intent, but his attitude wasn’t accusatory or persistent.

“That’s what I was taught. My mother married that way too.”

If there was one thing she realized with the full arrival of spring, it was that she didn’t need to raise her thorns unnecessarily.

It wasn’t a conscious decision or deliberate choice. She just naturally came to accept that Rockfort, like her, was a person with warmth.

“Yes, everyone marries that way. After a few years, children are born to the couple. But can one still not shake off feelings of hate? Because the initial emotions don’t change?”

Since Cecilia’s incident until now, Elia had engaged in far more conversations with Rockfort than in her previous life.

She knew that his cold face wasn’t all there was to him, and she had realized in her heart that he was a complete stranger she needed to get to know from now on.

“I don’t understand what Your Majesty is asking. It seems like it’s about me…… but you said you weren’t trying to argue……”

“Let me clarify.”

Rockfort’s purple eyes looked at Elia. There wasn’t the same flame of desire as that day, but it was a strange gaze with a gentle warmth.

“I’m curious about your feelings, and also curious about the feelings of a woman in the same situation.”

And now those eyes were honest.

“I think there are…… different reasons behind saying ‘hate.’ Perhaps my mother hated marriage at first too. Any lady could feel that way.”

Elia calmly continued.

“But if those feelings remain even after becoming a couple, having a child, and raising it together…… then, I think…… there must be clear reasons why she can’t help but hate it.”

It might have been crossing a line, but since Rockfort asked for honesty, she gave an honest answer.

“I see.”

Seeing her consistently straightforward attitude so clearly, Rockfort couldn’t help but smile weakly.

If Elia ended up the same way…… If she ultimately didn’t want him…….

It was a future he wanted to think about even less than the noisy council.

* * *

Did the spring season soften people’s hearts?

Elia no longer felt Rockfort’s eyes looking at her against the backdrop of abundantly blooming lilac flowers as fierce.

“I thought that after getting married, having children, and living as a couple for a few years…… feelings would change greatly from how they were at first.”

Elia nodded slowly.

“Most would, I suppose.”

Born as nobility, women had no authority to choose their marriage partners. That was common sense and the natural order of this world.

Marriage was the union of family with family, the joining of power with power. Through marriage, the privileged spread their bloodlines and built power with even stronger ties.

“It’s no different for men. The fact that marriage is both a special opportunity given in life and also simply a task doesn’t change. My first marriage was like that too.”

Even as emperor, he chose Lady Theon as his empress based on the former emperor’s engagement and the flow of power.

He intended to respect her as empress, but he didn’t feel particular sadness when Cecilia died, so it couldn’t be called love.

It was the same reason he didn’t feel great anger about her infidelity. Without affection, emotions don’t follow.

“I didn’t choose her for herself, but simply chose the daughter of Theon.”

Elia silently bowed her head.

“I spoke unnecessarily.”

Rockfort briefly looked away and took a sip of tea.

“……You are different.”

Elia gently raised her head.

“I was the one who requested the former emperor to maintain the engagement.”

“……What?”

At these unexpected words, Elia’s eyes grew round again. Every time her emotions showed so honestly on her face, he found it somewhat cute.

At least, it was certain she couldn’t lie.

“At first I found it fascinating. I was impressed that you dared to confess everything to me so honestly. I wanted someone by my side who would hide nothing from me.”

Elia knew this much. It was the reason he had told her several times.