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Chapter: 2
Letting Go of the Heart
.“Why?”
“Shouldn’t ‘I’m sorry’ come first? Even if it was a mistake, that’s what you’re supposed to say first.”
At the words she spat out in anger, Eljer let out a scoff and nodded.
“Sorry.”
She said it, but Sesennia knew all too well that her sister didn’t truly feel sorry.
“……”
“Yeah… but this isn’t something that can be solved with just an apology.”
“I said I’m sorry, and now you’re saying that’s not enough. You’re really so rigid.”
As if she were some enlightened modern woman, Eljer clicked her tongue while looking at her younger sister. Even so, Sesennia did not stop speaking.
“You think this is something normal? Then again, if you actually had any sense in your head, you wouldn’t have started an affair with your younger sister’s husband in the first place.”
“So what do you want me to do?”
“I used to just stupidly endure it, but not anymore. Unfortunately for you. Sister. No matter how hard you try, you’re just a woman who spreads her legs for any man, and a piece of trash who stole her sister’s husband. Do you understand? Trash that can’t even be recycled?”
“Hey!”
“Don’t ‘hey’ me. The person standing in front of you is the Empress of this country. And no matter what you do, you can never become the Empress. Well… who knows. Maybe things would be different if time turned back—if we went back to when the Crown Prince’s fiancée was being chosen. But I am already the Empress, and I intend to punish you. Not like before. Take her away.”
At the completely unexpected turn of events, Eljer’s face turned pale.
“W-wait. You weren’t like this before. You just kicked me out.”
“Yeah. I did. But not anymore. I let it slide for too long… and you clearly haven’t come to your senses.”
“Wait. Your Majesty—no, Sesennia. This isn’t right.”
“What do you mean it isn’t? I may not be able to do anything about you, the Emperor, but at least when it comes to my own sister… I can’t just let this pass. I’m going to make it public.”
At that moment, the Emperor—who had been lounging lazily on the bed—jumped up.
“Sesennia. Make it public?!”
“Until now, because you are my husband, I didn’t do anything—I didn’t want to tarnish your name. But this will be formally exposed, and Eljer will be properly punished.”
“W-wait. You don’t have to do that. Right? Sesennia. Why go that far between us? Besides, you know it won’t benefit you either. Women are supposed to be obedient and quiet. Why be so aggressive about it?”
Perhaps, even for her own sake, she had tolerated her husband’s infidelity.
Because she was the Empress—because she didn’t want to become the subject of gossip—perhaps that was why she had overlooked the Emperor’s actions. But not anymore. Sesennia was resolute.
“Your Majesty, please listen—”
The Emperor got down from the bed and grabbed Sesennia’s shoulders. But as he stood, the blanket draped over him fell away, revealing his naked body.
Perhaps that was why Sesennia’s expression hardened even further.
“Don’t touch me. You’re filthy.”
She brushed off the part of her clothing he had touched, her face colder than ever.
“Sesennia. How dare you treat your Emperor—!”
“An Emperor should act like one to be called Emperor.”
Do you even know what I’ve endured all this time?
Without even sparing him a glance as he shouted in anger, Sesennia turned to the knights standing at the door.
“Drag that woman out and lock her in the underground prison.”
“Y-yes…? B-but…”
“What are you worried about? That she’s the Emperor’s mistress? Or that she’s the Empress’s sister?”
“…Will you really be alright?”
“I’ll handle this myself. So take that filthy thing away.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
In the end, the knights made no further objections and dragged Eljer out.
For a brief moment, Eljer’s gaze turned toward the Emperor in the room.
Perhaps realizing that the consequences might reach him next, the Emperor showed no reaction as she was taken away. He merely stayed by Sesennia’s side, watching her mood.
But… I want to stop now, too.
As soon as she looked at him, the Emperor tried to act charming, lightly nudging her.
“Sesennia. This was just… a momentary lapse. Just a brief deviation. You know how much I love you.”
She had believed that.
That they loved each other.
She had thought everything he did was just a passing mistake. That was why she wanted to protect him. That was why she never exposed anything that could harm him.
But now, Sesennia no longer had the will to protect him—or this position.
“I’m leaving.”
“Wait… listen to me. Sesennia. Sesennia…?!”
But that was all.
Sesennia didn’t listen.
She simply returned to her own room.
Time passed.
Though it had been like a storm in her life, each day drifted by meaninglessly.
All Sesennia could do was abandon her duties—as Empress and as the head of the Marquis household—and remain shut inside her room.
No matter how disgracefully the Emperor behaved, she had never neglected her responsibilities before.
But now, she did.
She was simply exhausted.
When she first saw her sister and husband together, she had been filled with rage—enough to want to execute her sister and expose everything immediately.
But as time passed, lethargy consumed her.
“I heard the rumors.”
Until the day Ian, her only friend, came to visit, Sesennia had met no one.
She had even skipped meals.
Lying sprawled on the sofa, she slowly lifted herself up like a corpse and looked at him. Having gone days without eating, her body swayed unsteadily.
A true friend might have supported her—but Prince Ian merely watched her silently.
After her vision went dark for a moment, Sesennia regained her senses and forced a faint smile.
“…Rumors spread so easily.”
“So what are you going to do?”
“…I don’t know. Back then, I was so angry… I wanted to execute my sister immediately… but she’s my only sister.”
“That’s true. If you did that… your elderly father would collapse.”
As if he had been waiting, Ian agreed.
Despite her staggering, despite her condition, his reaction remained strangely indifferent.
But Sesennia did not suspect him at all.
“What should I do…?”
Ian was practically the only person she could open her heart to.
Another had passed away not long ago, leaving Ian as the only one by her side.
Prince Ian—her husband’s younger brother—but also her only childhood friend.
After a moment of thought, he spoke.
“Then send her far away.”
“Far away?”
“My mother owns a villa. In the north. No one lives there, and it only gets colder as time passes. It’s practically uninhabitable. Send her there.”
“Ah.”
“She’s family, so you can’t just execute her. And you don’t want that either, right?”
For a moment, it felt as though Ian was concerned for Eljer.
But Sesennia dismissed it as her own sensitivity and simply nodded.
“That’s true…”
“Do as I say. It’s the best way to minimize your guilt while still punishing her.”
Even so, Sesennia couldn’t decide easily.
She knew exactly what her choice meant—and what it would change.
Ian visited her several more times after that, persistently urging her to follow his suggestion.
As if it had to be that way.
In truth, it was not Eljer who was cornered—but Sesennia.
She wanted to give up everything.
And so, she had no choice but to follow his advice.
“…Alright. Let’s do it your way.”
On the day she made her decision, she informed the Emperor directly.
As always, the Emperor showed no further interest in the woman he had spent the night with.
To him, women were like meals—something to consume according to his appetite, changing every day.
Eljer was no different.
He only seemed concerned about the damage he might suffer if the matter became public.
The real commotion came from elsewhere.
Their father—the Marquis of Vestel—tried to stop Sesennia.
“I’m holding back from killing her, Father.”
“She’s your sister.”
“All the more reason she shouldn’t have done this. When it was time for marriage, she called the Crown Prince a playboy—said he would never become Emperor—and pushed me to marry in her place. And now that he has become a proper Emperor, she covets him.”
“That’s…”
“What kind of sister desires her younger sister’s husband? Honestly… I want to tear her to pieces… I’m only letting her live because I’m too exhausted. So… please… please don’t provoke me.”
It had always been like this.
To her father, she had never been the priority.
Was it because Eljer resembled their beloved mother? Or because, unlike herself, Eljer was affectionate and charming?
Though he claimed not to favor one child over another, the Marquis showed blatant favoritism.
And today was no different.
Sesennia’s expression turned bitter.
“As always, Father, you’re not on my side. I’m the one who was wronged, yet you don’t even ask if I’m okay.”
“Sesennia…!”
“It’s fine. It’s always been like this. I have no expectations left, no resentment either. Even if I could go back, I wouldn’t wish to be loved by you anymore. I’ve already let go.”
That was how she felt.
For over twenty years, Sesennia had never been loved.
She had always been a substitute for her sister.
Being treated differently was normal.
Because she was the younger one—she was always told to yield for her sister.
Even so, perhaps she had still hoped.
That in moments like this, at least, he would take her side.
That before defending her sister, he would ask her if she was alright.
Even now… you choose her.
