‘When His Majesty was severely injured during the war and was only just beginning to recover… the local women prepared this spicy stir-fried dish and presented it to him. Surprisingly, he took quite a liking to it. Even afterward, whenever he lost his appetite, he would often ask for this dish.’

Clodine carefully recalled the recipe Cal Regerson had given her, repeating it in her mind as she prepared each ingredient in order.

The slick, unfamiliar texture of raw meat,  something she had never touched before, sent a clear, unsettling sensation across her palms. She was more flustered than she let on, but she did her best to appear composed and capable.

After all, Ahazan had dragged a chair right up to the counter and was sitting there, staring at her without a break.

For some reason, Clodine kept fighting back a smile, her lips twitching.

Being like this… reminded her of what had happened at Selena’s villa shortly after their marriage.

Back then, when she had been ill, Ahazan had made her a dreadful-tasting soup.

The situation itself was much the same as now but the feelings and resolve they held toward each other were entirely different.

That thought felt strangely moving, and in the end, Clodine couldn’t stop the smile that slipped through.

Unlike her, however, Ahazan’s expression remained far from pleasant.

“Clodine. I was wrong.”

“What are you talking about all of a sudden?”

Without even looking at him, she questioned him while focusing on slicing the chicken into small pieces with a large knife.

“I’ll eat whatever you give me, so please just stop using that knife.”

Muttering, ‘I wondered what you were going on about.’

Clodine let out a small laugh and continued cutting.

Though still clumsy, she handled the knife calmly, and once she finally finished slicing the chicken and set the blade down on the cutting board.

Ahazan, who had been watching her hands the entire time with a furrowed brow, let out a quiet sigh of relief.

“Next… mix the chicken with rosemary, salt, and oil…”

Murmuring the steps to herself, Clodine used her hands to thoroughly coat the ingredients in a large bowl. ‘Ah—’ Realizing something, she poured a bit of the prepared alcohol into the mixture. She glanced at Ahazan’s still-displeased expression and shook her head as if he were impossible.

“Could you relax your face a little? The way you’re staring at me is making me more nervous, I’m starting to forget the steps.”

“You’re going to cook that over fire?”

“What else? Should I cook it with lightning?”

At her obvious answer, Ahazan finally lost his patience and abruptly stood up.

Using his teeth to compensate for his injured arm, he unfastened the cuff of his good sleeve.

“Move. I’ll cook it.”

“What are you talking about? What are you planning to do with one arm?”

“It’s better for my remaining arm to burn than for you to get hurt.”

“Ahazan!”

As he actually tried to step into the kitchen, Clodine snapped at him with a stern expression and voice.

“Can’t you just sit still?”

Perhaps realizing that barging in and taking over would only disappoint her, Ahazan reluctantly returned to his seat.

Though she still looked a little uncertain, Clodine followed the steps and process properly, far more skillfully than one would expect from someone cooking for the first time.

It had seemed daunting and frightening when she only imagined it, but once she started, it wasn’t nearly as difficult as she had thought.

She finished the spicy stir-fried chicken by finely grinding the herbs and spices Cal had gathered from all over the town along with dried chili peppers and mushrooms and sprinkling them generously over the dish.

When the completed meal was placed before Ahazan in a deep dish, he finally seemed to understand what she had been trying to make.

“So this is what you were preparing… after making me anxious the entire time.”

“It’s not like you needed to be that nervous.”

“Next time, have the servants do it. Even if it’s for me, I don’t want to see you get hurt making something like this.”

Clodine cast him a slightly displeased glance, as if hurt by the fact that he only continued to worry instead of showing any real excitement.

“It’s true I made this for you… but honestly, I’ve always wanted to try something like this at least once.”

She added the last part a little awkwardly, her words slightly mumbled unlike her usual clear and precise way of speaking.

“…This is how ordinary people live, isn’t it? The husband works hard in the fields, the wife cooks meals for the family, and the children laugh as they run around and play…”

It wasn’t that she had always longed for such a life.

If anything, it was simply too far out of reach, something she could only imagine from a distance.

As the son of an emperor and the daughter of a count, even if Ahazan had never become emperor and Clodine never empress, their future could never have resembled that of ordinary people.

Even if war threatened peaceful days, how liberating would it be to live without the burden of losing a nation?

Even if one were weak enough to flee, how blessed would it be to simply take the hand of the one you love and go anywhere together?

Clodine lifted her gaze to meet Ahazan’s eyes, her expression noticeably calmer than before.

“What kind of empire do you want to create?”

It was a question she had wanted to ask ever since they left the Aselda territory.

The new empire Ahazan sought to build…

This long, arduous journey for its sake…

At first, she had thought it meant reconciling with the rebellious nations erasing the past war and stepping into a new future together.

But the further their journey went, the more solemn and resolute the atmosphere became.

It felt different.

And unsettling.

As if her guess had been wrong, Ahazan shifted slightly in his seat, like someone preparing to speak of something important.

His gaze lowered, lost in thought.

A long silence passed.

Then finally.

“An empire where anyone can become emperor, even without royal blood.”

His eyes, sharp and unwavering, locked onto hers filled not with hesitation, but with clarity and ambition.

Clodine frowned slightly, narrowing her eyes as she struggled to comprehend his words.

Ahazan continued calmly.

“Power will no longer be determined by birth, but by ability. The leaders of all subordinate states, including former rebel nations, will serve as council members, supporting a system centered around a prime minister.”

“A prime minister…? Not you?”

Clodine’s confusion deepened.

Ahazan smiled faintly and nodded.

“The imperial family will lose all of its authority.”

“But then… who will rule this country in your place—”

Clodine’s thoughts raced as she tried to piece everything together.

And then, as realization struck.

Her eyes widened.

“You… don’t tell me… you’ve been keeping Ashton Haimos at the palace from the very beginning for this reason…!”

Ahazan’s smile deepened, clearly pleased by her sharp insight.

Pretending not to notice how serious she had become, he added lightly.

“I suppose it’s not easy to say out loud that the only thing I have, this trivial power, is something I intend to give up soon.”

By now, both of them had long forgotten about the food between them.

Ahazan reached out, gently taking Clodine’s hand and pulling it toward him before placing a soft kiss upon it.

“If you want, becoming a farmer who works the fields isn’t difficult at all.”

His voice was gentle, just like when he had confessed his love to her before.

“But I have no intention of letting you live a life where all you do is cook for your family.”

Without the slightest hesitation, Ahazan looked up at her, his expression filled with certainty and resolve.

“Even if I am no longer emperor, I’ll make sure you live a life more precious than that of an empress.”

By then, Clodine had already imagined what kind of empire he wished to build.

And at the same time, she understood, what he truly wanted.

What he was willing to give up for it.

Even more surprising, the empire she imagined didn’t seem impossible, It seemed… magnificent.

And so, she found herself unable to do anything but support him wholeheartedly.

At last, Clodine let out a small laugh, responding to his sincere yet playful words.

The shock had completely faded from her expression.

She looked at him calmly, far too composed for someone who had just heard something that could overturn the world.

“Then… does that mean I’ll soon become Mrs. Lernando?”

Even saying it aloud felt awkward, and she laughed in embarrassment.

Ahazan let out a low chuckle.

“I don’t know what you’ll be called… but one thing will never change, even after death.”

“You’ll be my wife.”

Why did those simple words sound so overwhelmingly warm?

A faint blush spread across Clodine’s cheeks.

With quiet anticipation stirring in her chest, she pushed the still-warm dish closer to him.

“Then you’d better eat well and recover quickly… if you’re going to become a strong farmer.”

Ahazan glanced down at the appetizing dish, its aroma already familiar.

Without hesitation, he scooped up a large bite and put it into his mouth.

He chewed in silence for a moment before swallowing, then calmly reached for the glass of water beside him and took a quiet sip.

“Let me say this again.”

With a charming smile, he looked at Clodine, who was waiting expectantly for his reaction and spoke in a steady voice.

“I will never let you live a life where you have to cook.”