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Chapter 27
Lucrezia was completely dazed.
A cold, bone-chilling sensation tormented her. Then, suddenly, something warm and firm wrapped tightly around her body.
Thump… thump… a heartbeat that was not her own, beating steadily.
It felt as if everything around her was whispering: You’re safe now. Get up.
Slowly, Lucrezia’s consciousness, buried deep inside, began to return.
When she opened her eyes, she saw the Emperor’s face.
“Uh?”
A face so beautiful it hardly seemed real. She had never imagined seeing it so close, and her mind froze for a moment.
She realized she was leaning on the Emperor, her bare shoulder pressed against him. Even his shirt was unbuttoned, exposing his chest.
She felt as if she might faint.
Was she losing her mind, or was this some audacious dream? It had to be one of the two. At that moment, memories of nearly collapsing hit her like lightning.
“Shh! Keep your mouth shut.”
When she had fallen off the cliff, she thought she might die. But at that instant, something soft wrapped around her back.
Another guard appeared, catching her and covering her mouth.
“Ugh?”
“Listen carefully. From now, we’re going to ‘accidentally’ let the former Empress fall into the river. You must act as if you drifted downstream naturally near where His Majesty is waiting.”
“Mmmph!”
Lucrezia’s eyes widened as she tried to speak through her muffled mouth. The guard muttered in frustration.
“Stay still! We can’t let him hear anything.”
“Ugh, ugh!”
“I don’t understand… The Marquis said you’d be obedient. Just listen carefully. Once His Majesty rescues you from the water, that’s when it starts.”
Start what? Lucrezia had no idea. The guard handed her a small package.
“Keep this hidden inside your clothes. Don’t worry—it won’t dissolve in water. And don’t look at me like that. I don’t know anything. I’m just following orders.”
“Ugh!”
Without warning, the guard slipped the package into her skirt. Lucrezia screamed into her gag, but the guard ignored her.
“It’s time to let the Empress fall. Let’s go!”
The guard lifted her onto the horse and galloped toward the riverbank.
When they arrived, he pulled the reins.
“Here we are.”
Here? Lucrezia stared in horror. The river’s icy water made her skin shiver.
A hawk circled above the guard’s head. The guard nodded at it and then turned to her.
“His Majesty will rescue you soon. Don’t hate me too much.”
With that, the guard let Lucrezia fall into the river. She was swept downstream immediately.
“Huh?”
The guard had underestimated the strong currents. The water carried her far faster than expected. He tried to chase her, but the river swallowed her completely and carried her away.
So cold… so cold…!
The icy water filled her nose and mouth. That painful memory was her last.
Her face turned pale as all her memories came rushing back.
Father… he’s insane.
The Marquis had planned everything. Using the tulips as an excuse to lure her to the cliff, brainwashing Evelyn, framing her for a crime, pushing her off the cliff… and ultimately bringing her to meet the Emperor.
Had her father planned this far?
Her mouth went dry from fear. But even worse things were yet to come.
The Emperor’s lips teased her, and her mind grew dizzy. As she tried to regain control, he removed her outer skirt, and a hallucinogenic powder filled the air like fog.
The Emperor’s expression changed. Gone was the subtle charm; now he looked fierce.
This was when the real torment began. The heat of his body and his breath clouded her mind.
“Don’t worry. Soon, the Emperor will hold you in his arms.”
She remembered the minister’s words. Could the minister have foreseen this plan?
I’m just a pawn again.
Like a chess piece, she had no say in the strategy. Her father and the minister hadn’t told her anything. Even though she was used to this manipulation, tears came. Her body was now at the Emperor’s mercy.
Every touch filled her head with heat. She could not even think freely, and it made her sad.
“Even once… ugh.”
Her voice trembled with tears. She wanted to appear strong and capable, but now she sobbed like a child.
Surprisingly, the Emperor let her speak, letting her pour out her words.
After a long silence, the Emperor finally spoke.
“Hmm… so you have something you want to tell me. I’m curious now.”
Lucrezia’s eyes widened. He would listen. Finally.
But…
Could she really speak in this state? The Emperor was still on top of her, leaning close.
No. This was an opportunity she couldn’t miss.
“Do you remember when I said I want to be Your Majesty’s, not the Marquis’s?”
The Emperor’s smile curved smoothly, as if saying, that again?
Her heart pounded, but she focused.
“Of course, words alone won’t make you trust me.”
“Of course. Words alone do nothing.”
The Emperor tapped her cheek lightly, smiling mockingly.
“I will bring proof of my loyalty.”
“Proof?”
He narrowed his eyes.
“What kind of proof?”
She moistened her dry lips. The Emperor looked slightly bored; she needed to grab his attention quickly.
“I will bring evidence that the Marquis is colluding with the minister.”
The Emperor’s red eyes widened.
Her heart raced. He probably suspected it, but had no proof. If he did, he would have already taken action against them.
After a tense silence, the Emperor cupped her cheeks, examining her face with his eyes. His gaze felt as if it could strip her bare.
“If…”
Finally, he spoke. Lucrezia held her racing heart.
“If you try to trick me with lies, what shall I do?”
“I will accept any punishment.”
“Any punishment, huh.”
He smiled at her, low and elegant.
“I might lock you in my room and not let you see sunlight. Will that be okay?”
She understood the meaning too late. Her eyes widened, and his smile grew.
“You’d be tied by the bed, not a drop of water at will, and the people would never see the Queen’s face again. Would you accept that punishment?”
His red eyes glowed like a predator in the dark. She froze instinctively.
“Yes… I will accept it.”
She forced herself to speak.
“Good. I’ll wait for your evidence.”
Her heart raced. She didn’t have it yet, but she had a chance to find it from a secret meeting she had seen before.
“To deliver the evidence, I must meet you privately again, Your Majesty. Only then can I give it to you.”
The Emperor lifted her chin and smiled.
“If you request a private meeting, I will allow it.”
Though she should have been happy, she tensed. His long fingers gently brushed her chin.
“Perhaps it’s better if you fail,” he whispered.
She stared at him, confused.
“I might even prefer it that way,” he added softly.
If she failed, she would be trapped in his room, no longer treated even as a figurehead Empress.
This is a matter of survival.
If she succeeded, the Emperor could remove the Marquis and the minister. If she failed, she could be eliminated as a pawn.
It was a life-or-death situation. She spoke firmly.
“I will definitely bring you the promised evidence, Your Majesty.”
