Chapter 3 – Part 1

The dethronement of the empress was decided.

Since the Marquis of Evan was not disgraced, she was allowed to return to the Marquis’s manor.

When she was about to leave the palace, the voices opposing Eric’s succession gradually subsided.

Though it might be difficult, but that alone was a rare luxury for the children of traitors.

After handing over her duties to the aides, Tenere no longer visited the Emperor’s office.

She simply waited in her room for the day to leave the palace.

Occasionally, nobles who had favored her would come to her and offer words of comfort, but she would only smile softly.

“Empress, Marquis Salvatore requests an audience.”

Although her abdication was decided, she still held the title of empress on paper. The maids continued to treat her with respect.

Watching maids shed tears here and there, Tenere couldn’t help but feel that she wasn’t such a bad mistress after all.

“Alright.”

Tenere nodded and headed for the parlor. The maids looked a little uneasy.

Perhaps because they knew that Marquis Salvatore had announced Tenere’s abdication.

Tenere knew about it, but there was nothing she could do now that her abdication was decided.

As the door opened, the standing Marquis greeted her politely. Tenere saw a Marquis with red hair, resembling Alaina.

“Isaac Salvatore, greets Empress.”

“Please, sit comfortably.”

Tenere took a seat across from him. The Marquis spoke.

“I came to express my gratitude to Empress.”

His tone was not mocking. he had apparently changed his tune and insisted on abdicating the Empress. The favorable attitude was more than a little puzzling.

Apparently aware of this, Marquis Salvatore smiled bitterly.

“It is not because I am sorry for the Empress, I am fully aware that neither she nor Marquis Evan had anything to do with treason.”

“…”

“It’s just that, as a servant of the Emperor, I couldn’t help but think about what would be the best for him.”

The path to support the Emperor, Leonard.

She felt bitter that it was to the detriment of herself. She had tried to be helpful to him, to be someone suitable for him.

However, Tenere couldn’t deny his words. The Emperor needed an heir, and a family with power to support him.

Even if she had borne a child, things might not have turned out this way.

“I don’t blame you.”

Tenere raised the corners of her mouth as if going back to the time when she could only smile.

“I was late in my decision, so it’s natural for you to be concerned.”

“Apologies.”

“It’s not your fault.”

Tenere chuckled softly. The Marquis bowed his head. Tenere calmly looked at him and spoke.

“I apologized for my father’s bad action towards the Marquis.”

“It’s a past matter.”

“I hope you find your daughter again.”

Tenere sincerely wished. The Marquis smiled at her.

“Thank you, Empress. Alaina will return soon.”

His voice was confident. It was somewhat strange, but Tenere didn’t ask further.

It was the last night before leaving the palace.

The palace physician examined her for the last time. There was some lingering sentiment after their last intimate night.

The maids took great care of Tenere.

She bathed in warm water and combed her hair after the bath, then tied it to one side.

“The knights will guard the mansion, but it doesn’t mean you’re under surveillance. You can freely move anywhere within the empire.”

Usually, those who committed serious crimes and were abdicated were subjected to a lifetime of surveillance by knights, even after returning to the world outside the palace.

Although dignity was maintained as a former empress, those accustomed to a splendid lifestyle found even that painful.

However, in cases where the relationship between the abdicated empress and the Emperor was not bad, things were a bit different.

They could move freely within the empire, and if they wished, they could return to social life. With the Emperor’s permission, they could even remarry.

“You’ve been very considerate.”

Tenere spoke softly. After her abdication, Leonard never visited her, but from the treatment she received, she could tell that he was making an effort.

“His Majesty has asked me to serve the Empress well until the end.”

The maid said, bowing her head. Tenere nodded.

“I would like to thank His Majesty for that.”

“Would you like to request an audience with the Emperor?”

The maid asked cautiously. Tenere looked outside the dark window and replied.

“… Yes.”

I wasn’t expecting to be rejected since it was the last day I could request for him.

Tenere prepared to go to his palace with a shawl on her shoulders.

However, the maid who went to the imperial palace did not return alone.

“Your Majesty?”

Tenere, who spotted Leonard, stood up with a surprised expression.

His lips drew a bitter smile.

“I thought I should at least say hello.”

“Ah….”

Tenere sighed briefly. It felt surreal that today was her last night in the palace.

“We have some things to talk about.”

“I…… was going to come and see you.”

Her voice trembled a bit. Tenere bowed her head tightly, holding the shawl.

The maids, having prepared tea, hastily left the room. In the room where only the two remained, silence descended.

Tener spoke first.

“Thank you for everything, Your Majesty. You also allowed the succession of my brother.”

Tenere closed her eyes and smiled. One was firm, the other, casually smiling, created a peculiar scene.

Leonard struggled to open his lips.

“If there’s anything else you need, please let me know.”

His voice remained consistently affectionate. What she needed, well.

What Tenere desired was equivalent to what Leonard wouldn’t give.

When Tener didn’t respond, Leonard spoke again.

“I will send the knights, but it’s for protection, not surveillance. If staying in the capital is burdensome, you can go to your estate, or you may travel to other countries, as long as you have knights with you.”

Tenere still couldn’t fully grasp the idea of returning to the mansion.

It felt more like taking a short trip than leaving the palace completely.

Maybe that’s why I’m not crying, she thought and bowed her head.

“Thank you.”

“If there are any maids you wish to take with you, you may do so.”

“We have some at the manor “

Tener replied with a smile. She had no desire to bring the palace maids to the mansion.

They prided themselves on being the servants of the royal family, and it would be a shame to keep them away from the Empress.

“I’ve told the knights to do their best to serve you outside, and I’ll be sending someone to check on you from time to time, so let me know if there are any inconveniences.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

After saying that, the two fell silent again.

Although they were facing each other, their gazes avoided each other, looking at different places.

“And if you wish…”

Leonard hesitated for a moment.

“After some time has passed… you may remarry.”

At his words, Tenere finally raised her head. Leonard grinned at her surprised expression.

“Do you have anyone in mind?”

Tenere remained silent. He had heard such a gentle question before.

He was that kind of person.

On the first night, he said not to expect love, and if there was someone the empress wanted as a consort, he would make a place for him.

I didn’t realize how much his kindness struck a chord in my heart.

“I do.”

Tenere replied quietly. Apparently, Leonard looked a bit surprised.

“Who is it?”

Tenere didn’t answer. She had to shake her head. She should have said no, that it was a joke, and laughed.

Although she knew in her head, her opened mouth spoke on its own.

“I’m sorry.”

Leonard still seemed bewildered. He quickly lifted the corners of his mouth.

“Didn’t I tell you first that it’s okay to have a consort, and the only thing you have to apologize for is…….”

“I… “

Tenere couldn’t continue her words. Her breaths, which she tried to hold back, trembled thinly.

Was it wrong to say unnecessary things? Wasn’t she just burdening him with unnecessary baggage?

Even though she thought that, with the thought that it was the last, her mouth opened on its own.

“I failed to fulfill my promise.”

It was a word squeezed out with great difficulty, but Leonard still seemed unable to understand.

As if he hadn’t expected her to love him.

Was it so pitiful and regrettable?

“You said it from the beginning, and I said I would…….”

She wondered if she had mistaken her first taste of affection for love.

Was the warmth she swallowed in haste, like a hungry child, really so good?

Even though she knows he would have treated her the same no matter who became empress, she can’t help but feel drawn to him, even though she keeps telling herself it’s not because he loves her.

“I kept wanting things I shouldn’t, kept wanting… “

She managed to suppress the urge to burst into tears. Tenere slowly raised her head.

A confused expression was on his face, the one she loved and was about to give up.

“I loved you, Your Majesty.”

It had been emotions kept bottled up for so long that she thought they might never surface.

The love she spoke of before leaving was both the first and last.

It felt absurd to have lightened such a heavy burden with just a few words.

Leonhard remained silent.

“I… loved you, Your Majesty.”

At those brief words, confusion flickered across Leonard’s face. He looked like someone who heard something he shouldn’t have.

Regardless, Tenere continued speaking.

“Meeting Your Majesty was the greatest happiness for me.”

It was a sincere statement without a hint of falsehood.

If he hadn’t proposed to her, if she hadn’t met him and Beatrice, she would still be a powerless person unable to even look her father in the eyes.

“Since when?”

After a long silence, Leonard spoke heavily. Tenere bowed her head.

“I apologize.”

Even she didn’t know exactly when it started.

How many times had she pretended not to notice the short-lived excitement or embarrassment?

“Why haven’t you said anything until now…?”

Leonard stopped speaking. His large hand rubbed his face heavily.

“Why did you ask me to…… have a concubine?”

“…”

“Why did you ask me to abdicate you…….”

Tenere didn’t answer. Leonard knew the answer himself.

He had told her not to demand love, and he himself wished for someone without greed.

“I thought I might become someone to you, Your Majesty.”

Tenere replied calmly. Perhaps it was the expected response, but Leonard couldn’t say anything.

His tightly closed lips twitched. Tenere looked at him and smiled gently.

“Why did you treat me so well? I might have misunderstood…”

Although she said it to lighten the atmosphere, Leonard didn’t smile.

He just kept his mouth shut for a long time, as if searching for excuses.

“…You’re a good person. Yes, Your Majesty. It’s not because you’re not good enough, but because I’m not good enough…….”

“…”

“I’m sorry.”

Leonard apologized heavily. Tenere just nodded, as she had already expected the answer.

She loved this person. Though he wished for someone without greed, he was the one who made Tenere harbor greed for the first time.

A greed that made her want to be worthy of him, a greed that made her want to be someone who could help him.

“You said if I needed anything, I should just ask.”

Tenere spoke softly. Leonard remained silent. 

Tenere took a deep breath and exhaled as if spitting it out.

“Could you treat me just once… like a lover?”

Wanting to be a good empress, wanting to be of help to him—everything was a desire for him.

So if she could wish for something not for his sake but for hers, just for a moment, until she could leave while getting rid of her lingering attachment…

“…Alright.”

It was a moonlit night. At this ambitious hour, it wasn’t strange for two lovers left alone to exchange kisses.

Tener closed her eyes and willingly embraced his neck. As their lips met, Leonard looked into her eyes.

“Tenere.”

It was the first time Leonard called her by her name. It felt both sad and thrilling. Suppressing the urge to cry, Tenere smiled.

“…Leon.”

She whispered softly, and their lips met again.

In the room where even the light from the moon hadn’t faded, clothes that had slipped down touched the skin and fell to the floor.

“Tenere, Tenere,” his deep voice intertwined with their breaths.

Until the long night passed, Leonard never spoke of love.

However, calling her name countless times, Tenere was satisfied with just that.