PLMEA 08

Chapter 8

2. A Birthday Trip from Hell

[Your Majesty, you truly made the right decision. I’m certain this trip will greatly help bring the two of you closer together.]

Paul looked happier than ever.

[Is there anything you want? A souvenir, perhaps?]

Luxen was famous for its hot springs, so it sold all sorts of local souvenirs.

Fresh hot spring water collected every morning, rare minerals excavated from the oldest hot spring site… Most of these items were extremely popular with elderly visitors. Since Paul was nearly sixty, Calyx assumed he might appreciate something like that.

[No, thank you.]

But Paul shook his head.

[At my age, what more could I possibly need? Just being allowed to remain by Your Majesty’s side all these years is blessing enough…]

[Enough. Just tell me what you want. If you ask, I’ll uproot the entire hot spring and bring it back for you.]

[That won’t be necessary… Though there is just one thing I hope for…]

[What is it?]

*[Nothing grand…]

[Stop dragging it out and say it already.]

[Well… there’s that saying, isn’t there? Two people leave on a trip, but three return…]

“…”

[Well… you don’t have to force yourselves too much. After all…]

[After all?]

[You’ll both continue living together in the Empress’s Palace from now on.]

“…Ha.”

Paul, you’ve got it completely wrong.

If that woman is the other half, then even a hundred years from now, I will never be the one “forcing” anything!

Massaging his temple, Calyx let out a weary sigh.

“Wow… This is amazing! I’ve never seen anything like it!”

She really had no dignity whatsoever.

Not a trace of the grace or elegance expected of an empress remained.

Frowning, Calyx stared at Iena, who was happily soaking her feet in the hot spring.

“What are you looking at? If you’re jealous, come soak your feet too.”

Iena shot him a sideways glare.

Luxen—the northernmost city of the Alkrus Empire.

A land where snow never melted, no matter the season.

It was known as the City of Winter.

It also happened to border the Triania Empire.

And…

It was the very place where Iena was destined to have her head chopped off.

Despite that unsettling fact, she couldn’t help feeling excited.

The carriage ride here had been irritating enough—being stuck alone with that unlucky excuse for a husband—but the moment they arrived in Luxen, all that annoyance vanished.

“So this is like… some kind of private mountain lodge? There’s nobody else here.”

Power really was the best thing in the world.

Getting to enjoy scenery like this all to yourself…

She murmured to herself.

High in the mountains, steaming hot spring water bubbled endlessly from the earth.

Snow-covered trees surrounded the pools, their white branches visible through the drifting mist.

Behind the springs stood a luxurious residence prepared exclusively for the emperor and empress.

It was the perfect place to soak in warm water while enjoying nature.

“If only we’d gotten here a little earlier.”

Unfortunately, it was already deep into the night.

Even arriving at sunset would have made the scenery even more breathtaking.

She sighed regretfully.

“How provincial. Don’t tell me someone from the great House of Higha has never visited a place like this.”

Calyx mocked.

“I’ve been too busy trying to survive.”

“…Busy doing what?”

“Getting my diploma, earning certifications, job hunting. Then once I got hired, work buried me every day. When was I supposed to travel?”

She’d been too busy making ends meet to even visit Jeju Island.

The closest thing she’d had to a vacation was visiting the public bathhouse on weekends.

Nothing compared to this.

“So Sir Edward never even took you on a proper trip. He’s more conservative than I thought.”

“Well, I’m planning to travel a lot from now on.”

“…Who said anyone would be taking you anywhere?”

“Even if you don’t, I’ll travel by myself. I’ll have plenty of time and plenty of money once I quit being empress.”

“…By yourself?”

“After I resign as empress, what else would I have to—”

She suddenly clamped her mouth shut.

Calyx was glaring at her with frightening intensity.

“…If you’ve got nothing to do, why don’t you go inside? Quit standing there staring at me.”

“…”

“By the way, do we really have to share a room here too? I’d rather sleep separately if possible.”

“If rumors spread that the emperor and empress slept in separate rooms during a trip together, that would certainly be quite a spectacle, wouldn’t it?”

Honestly, Iena couldn’t care less.

They’d already been sleeping separately anyway.

If people found out their marriage was distant, well…

It was simply the truth.

Still, she decided not to argue.

She hadn’t come all this way just to fight with him.

“Fine. Do whatever makes you comfortable. I don’t really care.”

“You don’t care?”

“Hm?”

“You don’t care… about sharing the same bed with me?”

Calyx frowned slightly.

“Why would I?”

She blinked innocently.

Of course, sharing a bed wasn’t exactly appealing.

But judging by what happened last night, he wasn’t the type to force himself on someone who clearly didn’t want it.

Besides…

More than anyone, she knew Calyx had absolutely no romantic feelings for her.

It would just be a little inconvenient compared to sleeping alone.

Nothing more.

“Nothing happened on our wedding night anyway. It’s not like something’s suddenly going to happen now.”

Calyx stared at her in disbelief.

Sharing a bed with Iena wasn’t something he looked forward to either.

But what irritated him even more…

…was how utterly indifferent she seemed.

It was as though she didn’t even see him as a man.

Not even as her husband.

It bruised his pride.

Especially coming from Iena Higha.

“…Anyway, I’m going to look around a little more before I— Ahh!”

Without warning—

Thud!

Her back was shoved.

Splash!

A huge wave rippled across the hot spring.

Now drenched like a soaked rat, Iena glared up at Calyx, who stood over her with folded arms.

“What are you doing?! Are you insane?!”

“I merely gave you the opportunity to enjoy the hot spring properly.”

“What kind of nonsense is that?!”

“You looked like you were restraining yourself to preserve your dignity in front of the emperor.”

He deliberately emphasized the word dignity.

Iena, who hadn’t acted dignified even once since arriving in Luxen, instantly realized he was making fun of her.

“I’ll head inside first. You should stop fooling aro—”

Splash!

Another enormous wave erupted.

“…”

Warm water dripped from Calyx’s hair…

Down his sharp nose…

Along his sculpted jawline.

“…Ha.”

He sighed, brushing back his soaked hair.

“You really are…”

“…”

“…Out of your mind.”

“I merely gave His Majesty the opportunity to enjoy the hot spring too.”

“…”

“You looked like you were holding back to preserve your dignity.”

She shamelessly threw his own words back at him before grinning.

What in the world was he supposed to do with this crazy empress?

This was the same woman who’d trembled just trying to undress on their wedding night.

And now she’d grabbed the emperor by the waist and thrown him into a hot spring.

The change was so extreme it defied belief.

As if that weren’t enough—

“Hahaha!”

She was splashing water around while laughing like an otter.

“…Stop.”

“Serves you right! Acting all noble by yourself!”

“I said stop.”

“Go ahead, swim! Dive underwater! I won’t tell anyone!”

“Stop!”

Calyx grabbed her slender wrist.

That much was fine.

At least the splashing stopped.

The real problem came afterward.

“Ahh!”

Losing her balance, Iena stumbled straight into him.

Thud!

Calyx fell backward onto the marble floor.

“…”

Groaning slightly after hitting the back of his head, he opened one eye.

Iena was lying right on top of him.

“Uh…”

This wasn’t supposed to happen…

Anyone who saw them now would misunderstand immediately.

Both of them were soaking wet.

Neither of them was properly dressed.

Wait…

Not properly dressed?!

“Eek!”

Only then did Iena realize her condition.

Her silk robe, soaked with water, clung to her body and was on the verge of slipping off.

It had become almost transparent.

Calyx wasn’t in much better shape.

If anything, he was worse.

Iena still had some clothing on.

He was practically half naked.

His broad bare chest was completely exposed.

And she…

…was pressed right against it.

“…”

A strange silence settled between them.

Embarrassed, Iena tried to read his expression.

But the thick steam obscured his face.

“Um… could you let go of me…?”

Drip.

Drip.

Droplets rolled down her cheek before falling onto his face.

Without saying a word, Calyx simply stared at her.

Her waist-length golden hair curled from being wet.

Her large green eyes looked almost rabbit-like.

Her slightly parted lips were as red as cherries.

Her fair skin glowed with a rosy blush.

For the first time since marrying her…

Calyx truly looked at his empress’s face.

To be honest…

Iena Higha had never been unattractive.

Quite the opposite.

He’d always known she was beautiful.

But…

He had never realized it this suddenly.

Or like this.

“Um…”

Her lips moved softly.

“Are you… trying to seduce me right now?”

“…What?”

“I mean, isn’t this exactly how these stories go? Like those romance comics. The handsome male lead pulls something like this, and the heroine falls for him.”

“…”

“Come to think of it, the setting is perfect too. They say they hate each other, then suddenly they fall on top of each other like this… and next thing you know, something happens.”

“…Ha.”

“I guess you’re trying to keep me from leaving the palace with this cheap trick.”

She shook her head confidently.

“Sorry, but your handsome-guy charm doesn’t work on me.”

Calyx simply stared at her blankly.

Ignoring him completely, she brushed his hand away and stood up.

“You’re not my type.”

She shrugged.

“I prefer… hmm… someone rougher. More of a macho type. Guys who are too handsome like you aren’t really my thing.”

“…”

“When I was little, I liked Im Kkeokjeong more than Tuxedo Mask. So stop trying to seduce me and go to bed, Your Majesty.”

…Forget it.

I’m the fool for even trying to reason with her.

The empress really has lost her mind.

Once they returned, he’d hold the royal physician responsible.

Calyx stood and walked away.

“…”

Whew.

I thought he was going to hit me.

I probably shouldn’t pull pranks like that anymore.

Watching him leave, Iena sighed in relief.

If she was going to die, she’d rather die at Emperor Raiden’s hands than at those of Calyx Klose…

…her own husband.

Now that that irritating man was finally gone…

She could enjoy the hot spring a little longer.

Just as she was thinking that—

Calyx suddenly stopped.

Then he turned back toward her.

“What now?”

“I…”

“Hm?”

“I’ll admit… I’ve pretended not to notice your feelings.”

What is he talking about now?

She frowned slightly.

“But…”

Nothing happened on our wedding night anyway. It’s not like something’s suddenly going to happen now.

“The reason I didn’t touch you on our wedding night…”

“…was because I was trying to be considerate.”

“…So I’d appreciate it if you’d stop saying things that make you sound like you’re suffering from delusions.”

Having finally said everything he wanted to say, Calyx turned and walked away without looking back.

“What a pointless thing to be considerate about.”

Left alone, Iena shook her head.

So…

He’d felt guilty about taking advantage of someone who loved him so deeply?

That consideration had been for the original owner of this body—Iena Higha—the woman who had truly loved Calyx.

But…

Who knew?

Iena couldn’t say which was worse.

Sleeping with the man she loved even while knowing she was merely being used…

Or spending her entire life, like in the original story, being ignored until the day she died.

“…Not my problem.”

The current Iena Higha didn’t love Calyx Klose.

She had no intention of sharing a bed with him.

And she certainly had no intention of dying for him.

So she simply chose to ignore his ridiculous misunderstanding and move on.