“You probably don’t understand since it’s still a raw stone. When the Empire’s finest jeweler comes to make it into rings, you’ll surely like it then.”

This was clearly evidence that Rockfort was trying to win Elia’s favor. Considering his usual demeanor, there was no need for confusion.

“Your Majesty, if that’s the case…… may I gradually implement what I wrote in that notebook?”

However, Elia now seemed to deliberately ignore his goodwill.

“I won’t stop you if you start with small matters. In particular, the damaged walkways in the inner palace have bothered me for some time as well.”

“I am honored. I will start with that.”

“However, I need to borrow this notebook for a while.”

With that excuse, he hoped to increase the time spent face to face with Elia for a few days.

“You may keep it. I’ve already memorized it from copying it frequently…… I apologize that it’s not clean.”

Elia’s blue eyes were like a clear blue lake, without a trace of desire.

Yet they had grown strangely cold. As intensely as they had shared tongues and breaths earlier, her body temperature had dropped and her attitude toward Rockfort had become chilly.

Her lips, which looked so pure as if she had completely forgotten their passionate kiss, seemed unfamiliar.

“The dinner has only just begun, so let’s take our time enjoying this moment together.”

Meanwhile, there was a reason for Elia’s attitude. Tonight, even if she were to fall into his arms, she couldn’t refuse as his fiancée.

If that happened, Elia would again have to live a life like a flower, blooming and withering with the seasons.

Elia decided to reclaim her agency.

At the very least, she needed the minimal right to determine her own fate.

* * *

The apple pie served as an appetizer was fragrant and appetizing. Rockfort personally took up a knife, cut it into bite-sized pieces, and placed them on Elia’s plate first.

“I am honored.”

Elia, who had never received such treatment even from her parents, stared blankly at her portion of apple pie.

“I may be emperor, but to you, I’m your future husband. If you say you’re honored for every little thing, how will food go down?”

Watching his knife move so delicately and elegantly, it was hard to imagine him wielding a sword ruthlessly on the battlefield.

His long fingers, which had instantly cut another piece of pie, tasted it before Elia did.

“Hmm…… This is why I missed the palace’s taste. You should try it too.”

“Ah, yes……”

Elia also took a small bite of her pie. It was a taste that stayed true to the basics, made with the finest ingredients and deep care, without any special tricks.

“How is it? Does the palace food suit your taste?”

“Yes. I’m eating it gratefully.”

Rockfort stared at Elia’s lips as she chewed the pie, then returned to eating his own portion.

“Victor tells me I’ve liked this apple pie since I was young. I don’t actually remember why, but eating it makes me feel like I’m home.”

Everyone had soul food with their mother’s taste. Of course, Rockfort’s couldn’t have been made by the empress dowager herself.

“Do you have any food you particularly like?”

Elia also had special food her mother made for her. When she returned from travels or was sick, her mother would personally make simple dishes.

“Yes…… I did.”

“I’m curious.”

“An omelet with plenty of milk in the eggs.”

“That’s ordinary.”

Omelets were common food even in the ducal residence. However, the omelet cooked in her mother’s own way tasted somehow different, and that made it more special.

“Your Majesty, my lady, I will bring out the main course.”

After Victor bowed and left, servants quietly moved in, pulling silver wagons.

They cleared the previous course’s plates, brought out steaming main course dishes, and served accompanying wines.

“Lamb with red wine…… a good combination.”

The savory aroma made Elia’s mouth water without her realizing it. Again, Rockfort swiftly and efficiently cut the meat and served it on Elia’s plate first.

“Taste it before it gets cold. It’s a dish our palace prides itself on.”

“Yes.”

As Elia carefully tasted a piece of meat, she understood why Rockfort was so proud. The quality of the meat, its flavor, and the cooking method were all perfect.

“It’s really…… really delicious.”

“Is that so? I’m glad it suits your taste.”

Rockfort cut more meat and placed it on Elia’s plate.

“I can’t eat this much.”

“You need to eat this much to avoid getting too thin.”

The string instruments began playing a different melody. Rockfort seemed very pleased to be able to have a satisfying meal with Elia for once.

The end of a banquet is determined by the host, and if they kept bringing out small dishes, desserts, and after-dinner drinks endlessly like this, it might end in the middle of the night.

“Victor.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“What kinds of desserts have been prepared?”

“Would you like to see the dessert menu?”

“No……”

If they had a separate menu just for desserts, there must be quite a variety. Elia continued chewing and swallowing her food while observing the unfamiliar imperial banquet hall.

“Bring them all.”

Rockfort gazed at Elia with what he thought was an affectionate expression. He might be thinking of this as something like a date.

“Aren’t your gloves uncomfortable?”

“It’s protocol.”

“Between us, gloves that only cover the wrists would be fine.”

Elia responded with a quiet smile instead of words, giving a curious answer.

“Since it’s just us here, there would be no problem if you took off your gloves for a moment.”

“Still…… protocol comes first.”

Now Elia didn’t easily fall for Rockfort’s advances, nor did she readily give him openings.

“I just wanted to hold your bare hand. Since our engagement has been formalized, it wouldn’t violate protocol.”

His purple eyes looked at Elia quite differently from his usual arrogant gaze.

It couldn’t be, but almost…… like a puppy seeking affection.

“A woman should be virtuous.”

Who would have thought that words that had hurt her in her past life when Rockfort said them would be helpful here.

After saying this much, even Rockfort sighed and let his gaze persistently circle around Elia.

“Wasn’t there anything you were curious about regarding me?”

“Of course there was.”

Rockfort’s face brightened considerably.

Elia raised her clear blue eyes to gaze at Rockfort. This was the moment he had been eagerly waiting for.

“I think it would be best for the princess and her child if you quickly decide how to treat them……”

However, there seemed to be nothing about the two of them—Rockfort and herself—in Elia’s mind. It was clear even to him that she was trying to focus solely on her duties as empress, to the point where he felt betrayed.

“So this is what you meant by only fulfilling the duties of an empress?”

Rockfort’s voice grew cold.

“Asking perfunctorily about the emperor who has returned from campaign, and only caring about matters of the palace and inner palace?”

“I’ve already…… told you my feelings.”

“We.”

Abruptly, Rockfort firmly grasped her gloved hand.

His passionate heat could be felt even through the glove. His eyes were even hotter.

“The joy we felt when we kissed and intertwined our tongues? Was that just meaningless play with no significance?”

Elia’s face momentarily flushed red as she recalled the kiss.

The intensely sweet sensation from that time and the desolate feeling after he left were still vivid.

She hadn’t forgotten. She couldn’t forget.

She would never be able to forget.

But Elia kept the voice in her heart firmly locked away, looking at Rockfort with a calm and gentle face.

“I mentioned the more important matter first.”

“No. Nothing is more important than what’s between us. Everything else comes after.”

Rockfort roughly removed his own gloves and threw them on the table. Then he immediately grasped Elia’s wrist.

“If you feel my hot body temperature, you’ll remember too.”

Certainly, in some instant, Elia’s lips had accepted him. The ecstasy of that moment was on a different level from a one-sided kiss.

“Are you trying to remove my gloves?”

“Would you prefer to take them off yourself? That would be even better.”

Elia sighed briefly, facing the man she had once admired.

“My kiss with Your Majesty was my mistake.”

“……What?”

Rockfort’s face crumpled completely.

“Since it was my first time experiencing such a thing…… I didn’t know where to draw the line.”

“Why draw a line between soon-to-be spouses?”

“Because that’s the married life I wanted.”

Rockfort looked at Elia with narrowed eyes and a stern face.

He hadn’t realized she was still seriously considering that nonsensical talk about only fulfilling her duties as empress.

“I think you’re mistaken, but consummating the marriage after the wedding ceremony is the groom’s right. It’s not your choice.”

“Yes…… if r*pe applies to the wedding night, then that’s true.”

“How dare you!”

At Elia’s impertinent words, Rockfort’s face froze like ice. The tense atmosphere between them felt like she was witnessing a moment from her past life.

“Lady Elia.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“How long do you think I will tolerate your outrageous and unreasonable behavior?”

“How could I possibly gauge Your Majesty’s intentions?”

In the time he hadn’t seen Elia, her characteristic calmness had grown deeper and more solid.

Rockfort kicked his chair in frustration.

At that moment, a bell rang at the entrance of the banquet hall, and Hannah approached with a silver tray, bowing her head.

“I present myself before Your Imperial Majesty and my lady.”

Hannah bowed respectfully and set the tray down beside Elia.

“I apologize for my rudeness in coming at this time, but it is when my lady must take her medicine.”

Looking at their expressions, this kind of excuse seemed necessary.

“If the medicine is important…… she should take it.”

With a scoffing sigh that was almost a laugh, Rockfort gave his permission, and Hannah handed Elia the cup containing medicine.

Elia frowned just from smelling it and then emptied the cup with a pained expression.

“Give the lady some candy.”

“I’m sorry, but she says that makes it worse……”

With her eyebrows furrowed and looking dejected like someone who had taken unpalatable medicine, Elia appeared much younger than her age.