Either way, it was a headache-inducing situation. Kareina knew she had to do this job perfectly. It was work Raul had practically threatened the nobles to seize for her.

If she failed, another opportunity might never come. Raul would surely be unable to hide his disappointment. Kareina knew well how cold-hearted a person Raul was.

Moreover, it was an incident that occurred in Niyev. If she couldn’t catch the culprit, public opinion would never be favorable. Not just toward her, but toward all Niyev people.

“I have to catch the culprit with my own hands.”

Kareina muttered while glaring at the pale tree across the lake. Right now, she was in the most determined state since entering this palace.

The investigation process that would unfold began racing breathlessly through her mind. Under silver eyelashes bathed in moonlight, her pink eyes narrowed sharply.

However, the next moment, as the silhouette across the lake moved, Kareina’s concentration crumbled.

“……A person?”

The shadow she had thought was a dark tree swayed and moved one step under the moonlight. Someone wearing a black cloak from head to toe revealed themselves under the white moonlight.

Kareina swallowed at the strange premonition.

She called the ladies-in-waiting quietly, but they had already moved away, absorbed in their own chatter without hearing. As their voices grew distant, the silhouette on the opposite side of the lake formed clearly in her eyes.

Kareina stared intently at that shadow, feeling inexplicable fear.

Though the distance was far enough to confuse whether it was a person or tree, she could tell the other party was also staring piercingly in her direction.

That the figure wrapped in black cloth was quite tall. That what she was seeing now was absolutely not a ghost or apparition, but a person.

But the most bizarre thing was the familiarity that emanated thickly despite the body being completely covered.

Strangely, she felt certain this wasn’t their first meeting. It was a conviction close to the instinct of a mouse encountering a wolf for the first time in its life.

But why on earth?

Just as Kareina, suppressing her fear, was about to move her lips—

“Kareina.”

“!”

Her heart dropped at the weight settling on her shoulder. Before she could collapse in shock, the owner of the voice turned her around.

“Your, Your Majesty.”

Fortunately, it was Raul. Though Raul and fortunately were quite mismatched words, at this moment Kareina was genuinely relieved.

At least he felt like a safer person than the unidentified shadow across the lake. Relieved, Kareina glanced across the lake. Then Raul asked curiously.

“Why that expression? Like someone who saw a ghost.”

“Ah…… I thought I saw someone standing alone among those trees over there.”

“Hmm. At this hour?”

As Raul said, it wasn’t a time for anyone to be at the secluded lakeside. Kareina squinted and looked again, but the black form had already disappeared.

Had she seen an illusion? As she squinted, Raul, who had been staring at the same spot, muttered casually.

“You probably saw the chief chamberlain leaving work.”

“What?”

To Kareina’s puzzled question, Raul smiled and pulled her shoulder.

“If you’re uneasy, I’ll increase security around the Empress’s palace.”

His suggestion didn’t sound serious, so Kareina shook her head.

There was no need to deploy guards for something she wasn’t even sure was a person or ghost. Also, she was somewhat curious about that strange feeling just now.

Because there was almost nothing in Tirantus that she would feel familiar with.

Meanwhile, Raul removed his robe and wrapped it around Kareina’s shoulders. Raul taking off his clothes for her.

Since it was something she’d never imagined, she could quickly erase thoughts about the unsettling shadow.

The garment bearing the Emperor’s body heat was quite light and warm, blocking the cold wind well. Her body, frozen by the dawn chill, gradually relaxed drowsily.

Kareina fiddled with the long sleeves before bringing up something else.

“What brings Your Majesty here at this hour?”

“I came out for a walk to clear my head. I got bored doing nothing but work for days.”

Ah. As expected, of course.

At Raul’s answer, Kareina realized she had secretly been hoping for a different response. But there was no reason for Raul to come all the way to the Empress’s palace to see her at this hour.

Come to think of it, he seemed to have preferred the Empress’s palace garden over the main garden before too. They often ran into each other when walking near the lake.

Back then, they avoided each other without even making eye contact.

Sometimes when Evelyn and Raul were together, she would leave before encountering them. So perhaps she should be grateful that at least today he didn’t bring Evelyn.

Kareina adjusted the slipping robe once more. Perhaps because her heart felt cold, her body seemed to grow cold again too.

Right. Let’s go in now. If she caught a cold, it would interfere with the work she finally obtained.

Hiding her bitter feelings, Kareina bid Raul farewell.

However, she couldn’t move even two steps. Because Raul grabbed her arm and stopped her. As she opened her eyes in bewilderment, Raul sighed and corrected himself.

“Fine. I came because I wanted to see you.”

“What? What do you……?”

“Did you know the entire garden is visible from the office? I hurried down after seeing you taking a walk in the first place. Is that answer enough?”

Oh my. Kareina learned that people become speechless when they hear unexpected words.

“I…… didn’t know. I’m sorry.”

“I thought so.”

When she barely managed to apologize, Raul grinned and pulled her arm to rest it on his forearm.

“Let’s go in for now. I didn’t plan to stay here long either.”

The embers in the bedroom fireplace were already dying out. After the ladies-in-waiting revived the flames and left, an awkward silence flowed through the still-chilly room.

So when Raul, who had been leaning by the window, approached the bed, the rustling of his clothes felt particularly loud.

“Your, Your Majesty. Since it’s late at night, now……”

“Since it’s late, I should sleep here.”

Her attempt to send Raul away was cut off in one stroke. Kareina gripped the blanket she was sitting on tightly.

She prided herself on not being oblivious.

Whether when she lived as an imperial princess or now living as Empress, perception in palace life was almost like a lifeline.

Especially now, she could tell very well that what he wanted, having entered deep into the bedroom, was her body. It was something she should have been prepared for from the moment she decided to get close to Raul.

She just hadn’t thought things would progress this quickly. Considering their relationship after marriage, it was natural.

Kareina bit her lower lip hard. Her fingertips seemed to tingle with tension.

Raul placed his thumb on her pale lips. She felt like only the part his body heat touched had a separate pulse.

“Kareina.”

“……Yes.”

“You seem nervous.”

Kareina realized she should have been prepared. In fact, what could Raul possibly want from her?

If she refused this moment and upset him, then what came next…… she didn’t even want to think about it. As she slowly raised her head, Raul, as if he’d been waiting, embraced her and laid her on the bed.

Moonlight flowed down along Raul’s straight facial lines as she looked up at him from the smooth sheets.

Suddenly she recalled their first night. It had also been an unexpected night, just like now.

Because Raul had been openly displaying his hatred toward her even before the wedding. That’s why it had been more painful and miserable. Would this time be the same?

Kareina reached out her trembling hand to stroke Raul’s thick arm. Raul, who had been looking down at her as if to devour her, lowered his body.

“I’m fine, so do as you wish, Your Majesty.”

The softly whispered words might have been an incantation she was repeating to herself. Looking back, being unable to refuse was the same then and now. Kareina closed her eyes tightly.

She could tell Raul was drawing closer from the shadow cast over her closed eyes. With each passing second, her heart pounded with tension.

But that was the end. No matter how long she waited, he didn’t come any closer. As if time had stopped.

Sensing something strange, Kareina opened her eyes. And swallowed.

“……Your Majesty.”

This wasn’t the man who had been glaring at her as if to devour her just moments ago. No. His eyes were still fixed piercingly on Kareina alone. But simultaneously, they were sinking distantly and hazily.

He was a different person. No, that wasn’t it. He was clearly the former Raul. The man who hated her more than anyone.

Kareina felt her entire body stiffen. How on earth could she explain being held in his arms in this situation?

She should call someone instead. Right now. So as Kareina tried to open her reluctant mouth—

“Is this a dream?”

The deeply collapsing voice blocked her mouth. A dream?

“Right. A dream.”

As if answering the question she’d cried out in her mind, Raul muttered.

Right. A dream. Kareina forced her stiffened head to turn. A dream would be better. When he, who thought this surreal situation was a dream, fell asleep, she could escape then and call the imperial physician.

“It is a dream, Your Majesty. So if you close your eyes and wake up, it will all be like it never happened.”

“Like it never happened?”

Raul’s brow furrowed weakly as he repeated the short sentence. Whether unfortunately or fortunately, he didn’t seem to be in a completely sound state. Slowly, she felt the strength draining from his distant eyes.

Had it worked?

Kareina carefully turned her body to escape Raul’s embrace. She wanted to quickly call someone who could resolve this situation. The imperial physician or the chief chamberlain. Anyone.

However, before she could bring anyone, she was thrown back onto the bed.

“Ugh……”

She tried to sit up in surprise but couldn’t. Thick arms bound her torso firmly. Raul, who had easily trapped Kareina, whispered in a still thick voice.

“Even if you hate it, endure it. Because it’s a dream.”

His cracked voice settled by her ear. And before she could grasp the situation, hot breath swallowed her lips.

“!”

A hot mass, as if she’d swallowed a fireball, ransacked every corner of her mouth. Had kissing always been this violent and hot? Raul’s presence bound Kareina and swallowed her whole.

The fingers that dug through her hair were domineering and rough.

Kareina unconsciously pushed at his shoulders at the fear that surged over her, but Raul didn’t budge and dug in even deeper. Her consciousness grew increasingly distant with her blocked breath. No, her entire body seemed to be melting.