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Chapter 15…
“I will hear it here.”
“Your Majesty. This place is—”
“You have already stopped me once. How much more of my time do you intend to waste?”
“……”
Lucrezia glanced around.
The emperor, his aides, and her own maids were all present. This was not something she wanted to say in a place with so many listening ears.
But she also knew the emperor would not make any more concessions for her.
“……Last night.”
At that first word, the aides and maids all lowered their eyes at once. They realized immediately that this was not a conversation they should be hearing.
“The incense I used—”
“There is no need to ask forgiveness for that.”
The emperor cut her off coldly.
“As I said, such tricks never worked on me in the first place.”
Lucrezia blinked slowly. Doubt flickered in her eyes. He claimed the seductive incense had no effect on him, but that night he had teased her so thoroughly…
‘Yes. Even that must have been an act to mock me.’
Had he enjoyed it?
Without realizing it, Lucrezia clenched the hem of her dress. Had he swallowed his laughter while watching her struggle helplessly in his arms?
Looking down at her hesitation, the emperor spoke sharply.
“I do not wish to hear any more about that night.”
Lucrezia stared at him blankly. His expression was as cold as a winter wind. His lips were pressed tightly together.
He truly did not trust her at all. It was only natural.
Even during the Count Johannes incident, his gaze had not been this cold. But now, after they had shared a bed, there was a clear wall between them.
“A waste of time.”
The emperor clicked his tongue and turned to leave.
“Your Majesty.”
Lucrezia called out again.
If she retreated in fear now, nothing would ever change.
She would spend her whole life trembling, afraid her father’s secret—that he was of fairy blood—would be exposed. Watching only his back, the father who had never treated her like a daughter.
And one day, when she was no longer useful, she would be discarded.
“I believe you once said I entered this palace as the marquis’s dog.”
The emperor, who had been about to walk past her, suddenly stopped.
It was only a brief chance. Lucrezia hurried to continue.
“You are mistaken, Your Majesty. I am not an animal… I am a person. And—”
Her heart pounded wildly.
Was she being too bold? What if he left immediately, saying he could not even bear to look at her?
Even as she trembled, she continued.
“I am also the person who made marriage vows with Your Majesty. Therefore…”
She had practiced these words in her mind many times.
But now that she was saying them aloud, her voice shook so badly she could hardly speak.
Still, she forced the final words out.
“As Your Majesty’s empress, I wish to fulfill that role. I wanted to tell you that… no matter what.”
For a moment, the emperor said nothing.
He did not turn to face her, but he did not walk away either.
Lucrezia watched his profile anxiously, unable to guess what he was thinking.
After a few seconds, the corner of his lips slowly curved upward.
“My empress’s role, you say.”
He turned his shoulders and grabbed Lucrezia by the chin.
She widened her eyes in shock. His face was right in front of hers—just like that night a few days ago.
He leaned close enough that she could feel his breath and whispered,
“As my wife’s role, do you mean spreading your legs beneath me and receiving my seed?”
Lucrezia’s eyes grew round with shock.
Seeing her wide brown eyes, the emperor sneered.
“If that is the role you want, you should beg for it at night. Not in broad daylight.”
Lucrezia stared at him in disbelief.
Heat rushed to her face instantly.
He was openly treating her like a prostitute. In the middle of the corridor, in front of subordinates, he humiliated her without hesitation.
Still holding her chin, he had not let go.
“…Please remember what I said.”
She was used to humiliation. She had not lived such a gentle life that she would collapse in tears from shame.
Being called a prostitute—was that really such a big matter? She had once begged like a beggar in the back alleys.
And yet, why were her lips trembling so helplessly?
“I truly meant it when I said I want to be Your Majesty’s person… no matter what that role may be.”
The emperor’s hand tightened slightly on her chin. She swallowed. His intense gaze searched every feature of her face.
After a moment, he released her and turned away.
She quickly raised her eyes, but he had already shown her his back.
All she could do now was bow properly to his departing figure.
Only after he disappeared into the distance did Lucrezia finally exhale.
“……Ha.”
She had succeeded in stealing his time, but she had gained nothing.
‘I cannot give up so quickly, not after only a few attempts.’
She had spent her whole life being controlled by others. She was not used to making her own decisions or holding onto her own will.
But she knew it was too early to give up.
Her maids, Aira and Jenin, exchanged uneasy glances. They had witnessed their empress being treated coldly by the emperor, and their faces were full of worry.
Pretending not to notice, Lucrezia spoke calmly.
“Let’s go back. To the Empress’s Palace.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
The two maids bowed obediently.
Count Seldin looked around nervously.
The Seldin estate was filled with countless masked guests. Today was the day of the grand masquerade ball, the pride of the Seldin family.
‘That woman should be somewhere among them.’
Tonight, the empress was supposed to attend in disguise, hiding her identity behind a mask.
“Empress.”
At the word, Count Seldin scoffed inwardly.
For a long time, he had secretly exchanged benefits with Marquis Zephir.
During that time, he had seen the empress when she was still a girl. Back then, her name had been Lucrezia Larene.
‘Ha. She looked like a soaked baby rat.’
He chuckled at the memory.
The girl, unable to even wash properly, had looked filthy. Though she was the daughter of a viscount, in truth she was no different from a servant in the Zephir household. She would run in fright at the slightest cough from the marquis.
‘And now that little mouse is called Empress. The world is truly coming to an end.’
Still, he did not dislike it.
Placing such an obedient servant on the throne as empress only strengthened Marquis Zephir’s influence.
And that meant Count Seldin, who had tied himself to the marquis, would receive even more benefits.
This ball had been held under Marquis Zephir’s instructions. He had demanded a discreet place to meet the empress and an important guest.
As the clock struck midnight, the ball reached its peak.
Masked men and women danced wildly. The scent of fruit wine filled the air.
Blending in with the guests in his own mask, Count Seldin looked around. Soon he spotted a well-built man wearing an orange leopard mask.
Approaching quietly, he spoke in a low voice.
“Marquis. The room is ready.”
“It is the agreed location?”
“Yes, without fail.”
“And that person?”
“They have already arrived.”
The man in the leopard mask nodded and quietly left the hall through the back door.
Watching the door, Count Seldin soon noticed a woman following out.
She had an unusually pale neck and beautiful blonde hair. Even with her face hidden by a mask, her clean skin hinted at beauty beneath.
Was there such a woman in society these days?
Unconsciously, Count Seldin licked his lips.
The wig felt suffocating.
Lucrezia adjusted the false blonde hair and took a small breath in front of the door.
A few days ago, through Clara, she had learned where the family meeting would be held—this masquerade at Count Seldin’s estate.
Following Clara’s plan, she wrapped pillows in blankets to make it look like she was in bed and secretly slipped out of the Empress’s Palace. It was possible because the maids loyal to the marquis left later than her personal attendants.
She knew it was dangerous, but she had no choice.
She was running short on Elnash leaves, which she needed to inhale starting tomorrow. The marquis had likely calculated the timing and arranged it so she would be short.
In any case, the fact that he had arranged such a setting meant this family meeting would not be ordinary.
‘How will he question me?’
It was certain that Marquis Zephir would punish her.
Since entering the palace, she had not given him any real benefit even once.
She might even have to roll up her skirts for a beating.
Or perhaps he would strike her somewhere less visible, so no one in the palace would notice the marks.
Exhaling slowly, Lucrezia turned the doorknob.
