Chapter 27

Adel, who was about to go to sleep, lost her words at the sight of Karl, who burst into the bedroom with the force of a tyrant. He hadn't knocked or requested a meeting; he just barged in.

"What are you doing...!"

"I want to spend the night with you."

At his words, Adel's frowning eyes widened. The emperor's gaze, like a boiling heat from within, overflowed and spilled over like a glass of wine, dangerously rippling. Lady Gix, who followed him in, hesitated and stared at the empress's face, even the experienced old lady was taken aback.

"Leave. Clear the area."

The old lady, who had been bewildered, had no choice but to comply with the emperor's concise command. She looked at Adel with a bitter expression, then bowed deeply and stepped back. Adel watched Lady Gix close the door with a cold gaze. The moment the door closed silently, Karl, who had been standing precariously, approached her with the rough steps of a predator stalking its prey. The emperor looked down at Adel, who was sitting on the bed. He was a man who took what he wanted. There was no reason to hesitate or suppress his desire, even if his target was the empress.

"I came because I want to spend the night with you, but you look like you want to kill me."

"You said an hour ago that you would make me regret it. And now you suddenly want to consummate the marriage? At this point?"

"I remembered that you said you needed to acknowledge me as your partner first."

"..."

"Isn't this the first step?"

Karl climbed onto the bed with one knee and leaned over Adel, who was sitting. As he bowed his head, a sweet scent like spring flowers wafted up.

"It seems you're trying to gain proper power in the palace. Why take the long way around? This is also the duty of an empress. Fulfill your duty and gain power. I'll put it in your hands."

Karl slowly pushed Adel's shoulder with his hand, but the empress's body, which should have moved backward, didn't budge. Her face, cold and devoid of any passion or excitement, made Karl step back for a moment.

"You're difficult."

"..."

"Do you think you can gain power as an empress without fulfilling your duties?"

Adel shuddered with a terrible feeling. Whether she liked it or not, he was her partner, and consummating the marriage was a duty. It was a given. It was a given, yet... it felt so dirty. As she distorted her face, Karl whispered.

"Is there something in what I said that you can't accept? What is so humiliating? Is there anyone in this empire who can subdue you besides me?"

Adel growled in response.

"An empress must unconditionally submit to the emperor? I've never heard such a thing. Is that what an empress is in Echmont?"

Karl tilted his head. After staring at Adel with a fierce gaze, he suddenly smiled, as if it were a lie. While Adel was momentarily taken aback by his dark, night-like smile, the emperor carefully lifted the blanket she was covering herself with. If he were rude, the empress would certainly be angry. Eventually, a very white and small foot was revealed. Karl, who had been holding Adel's ankle in one hand, slowly bowed his head while still looking at her. If there were a demon in the night, it would look like this. As his purple eyes captured Adel's golden gaze, he kissed the soft, indented part of her foot.

A soft, wet sound was made as something soft and wet detached from her ankle. The emperor, who had released Adel's foot and stood up, stared at her expression and whispered.

"See, I bowed my head and kissed your foot. Is that enough?"

Her beautiful and proud face was that of someone born into royalty. A flawless royal with perfect lineage. She must have lived a life where she never had to submit to anyone. Karl, leaning forward like a predator about to bite its prey, cupped Adelaide's cheek with one hand. As his hand slid from her cheek to her slender, white neck, a thrill of power washed over him. He sighed deeply and slowly caressed her red lips with his thumb, intending to push it into her mouth. If it weren't for his icy, cold voice, he would have done it.

"Let go."

"..."

"Let go of my neck."

The moment he grabbed her neck, Adel felt a chill run down her spine. Despite her warning, Karl didn't let go. Their gazes locked without a gap. Suddenly, her golden eyes flashed, and her red lips curved into a smile. Captivated by her enchanting smile, Karl was momentarily dazed, and Adel coldly pushed his hand away. Annoyance slowly rose in Karl's eyes.

"You don't know your place."

Adel laughed at his sharp sarcasm. Her sinister laughter continued for a while. After composing herself, she glared at Karl with a fierce gaze and spoke, enunciating each word.

"You don't know me."

Daring to choke me and threaten me. The pressure on her neck made Adel's whole body boil with anger. Seeing her furious face, Karl also chuckled. He stood up from the bed with a leisurely attitude.

"No, you don't know me."

Don't bark. Adel almost said that.

"You only have that meager self-respect, yet you're putting on airs and baring your teeth. What are you thinking?"

Damn it, Adel couldn't respond to that. The emperor smiled and whispered in a very affectionate tone.

"Submit. Bow. Kneel to me."

Adel spat out her response to the poisonous whisper.

"No."

"..."

"I won't."

Karl stared at Adel's face and took a step back. She didn't realize how distorted her expression was. Seeing the disheveled empress, he felt a sense of satisfaction even though his passion had cooled.

"Well... You'll be the one who regrets it."

The sound of his heavy footsteps faded, and the door opened and closed. After some time, someone opened the door again and entered. Adel didn't check who it was. Fortunately, the person didn't ask what was going on and left her alone. A cold autumn breeze seemed to seep through the tightly closed door, making her shiver. As she rubbed her arms and swept her fallen hair, Adel realized her face was wet. Hot moisture continued to wet her cheeks. Her neck felt unbearably hot, and she gently massaged it. Her throat tightened. Adel realized, foolishly, that she had only just fully realized it. Her whole body trembled as she realized she was truly alone. How foolish to think she had always walked alone. Just because no one was in her field of vision, it didn't mean there were no trustworthy people by her side if she turned her head a little.

'Don't come. If you all follow, who will guard the tower headquarters?'

She had left everything behind. Someone asked if she was abandoning them. She hadn't abandoned them, but in the end, she had. If she hadn't felt a pang of regret, it would have been a lie, but she thought it would be okay.

'You've always walked alone, so don't worry about me.'

She always thought she walked alone. She took for granted the many loyal and kind people who followed her. She had forgotten to be grateful, treating them like the air that had always been there. Arrogantly, it was only after losing them that she realized how much she had relied on them. No one would come now. She had made sure of that. Adel clutched her chest and collapsed, gasping for breath like a fish out of water. She shivered and suffered from a new emotion. She was lonely. ＊ ＊ ＊ She didn't know when she fell asleep. She was caressing the edge of the abyss with her fingertips. Perhaps a demon that crawled out of the darkness embraced her back.

'Your damn pride! Does pride feed you? What's so hard about bowing for a moment?'

Oh! Damn!

'Pride doesn't feed you~'

Damn, I'm being crushed by a nightmare.

'Pride~ makes you lose your status~ If you just close your eyes and do as you're told, it's a simple thing~'

A seductive voice sings in her ear. While others talk with knives in their mouths or have ghosts strangle them or dance above their heads, Adel was tormented by such a song.

"Ugh."

She tried to use all her strength, and a giggling laugh seemed to follow.

"Ow, really!!"

Stiff with effort, Adel finally broke free from the nightmare and jumped up from her seat. She panted heavily and irritably ran her hand through her hair.

"What... a lousy nightmare."

Whether it was a nightmare or a voice from within, she couldn't tell. Muttering irritably, Adel threw off the blanket and got out of bed. Her body still trembled, so she rubbed her arms. She must have fallen asleep while shuddering at the endless abyss.

"Damn! I can't avoid marriage. And even if I could, there's nowhere to go."

The words "you don't know your place" kept scratching at her heart, so Adel rubbed her chest vigorously. The devilish face of the emperor came to mind, and she shook her head roughly. At that moment,

"Your Majesty, did you cough? It's Hannah Gix."

Her agitated heart turned cold.

"Come in."

She appeared with the same face and appearance as yesterday.

"Is something wrong?"

At the cold tone of her question, Lady Gix was silent for a moment. It felt like time had stretched.

"The emperor has ordered that the supplementary budget for the empress's palace be treated as if it never happened."

"..."

Damn bastard. Before she could regain her composure, a despicable and petty revenge hit her in the throat. Even worse, it was news from the Ivory Palace. As the news of the failed supplementary budget for the empress's palace spread like wildfire across the dry fields, the empress's palace responded in kind. [Lionel Valder is appointed as the empress's secretary.]