CHAPTER 107
The late morning sunlight streamed through the window, casting a long beam across the bed, falling gently on her closed eyelids.
Long, lush eyelashes slowly curled up, revealing her round eyes.
The velvet canopy of the bed came into view in her blurred vision.
Arabelle's brow furrowed slightly as if trying to remember where she was.
It was certainly not the greenhouse in the west annex of the palace. Nor was it her bedroom.
In that instant, a freckled, adorable face filled her round eyes.
"Your Majesty, no, Your Majesty, you're awake? Head maid! Her Majesty is awake!"
Millie, usually calm beyond her years, couldn't hide her excitement as she called for the head maid.
She seemed fascinated, muttering "Your Majesty" a few more times to herself.
Arabelle, not realizing that Millie's "Your Majesty" referred to her, turned her gaze to the side.
The Emperor, with whom she had spent the night, was nowhere to be seen.
A sense of disappointment welled up, making her nose tingle.
Arabelle, you're so greedy. Expecting the impossible. She chided herself, her cheeks flushing.
During her lessons, she learned that it was an old imperial custom for the Emperor to return to his chamber after spending the night in the Empress's.
Upon returning, the Emperor would undergo a recovery regimen led by the royal physician, including a bath, massage, and nutritious meal.
Furthermore, it was taboo for the Emperor to visit the Empress’s chamber for four days after consummation. The Emperor’s health was paramount to the entire empire.
People often half-joked that previous emperors avoided the Empress's chambers due to the exhaustive procedures. Even though it was only twice a week.
The time and energy required for conjugal visits were considerable, leading emperors to prefer secret trysts with their less restricted consorts.
Conjugal visits with the Empress were heavily monitored by various departments, while visits to the Emperor's chosen consort faced no such interference. An ironic custom indeed.
Given these political marriages and the lack of bonding opportunities, previous emperors and empresses were more political allies than true spouses.
They were allies or enemies for their families’ interests, unable to fully trust each other.
Don’t be disappointed. Arabelle clenched her small fists under the blanket.
Thud, thud, thud. Vera, who was usually meticulous about her demeanor to avoid the scrutiny of palace officials, entered the room with heavy footsteps.
“Your Majesty…!”
Like Millie, Vera seemed overwhelmed, momentarily speechless as she approached Arabelle.
She clasped her hands in front and bowed her head, prompting Millie to regain her composure and follow suit.
It was then that Arabelle realized the “Your Majesty” they were addressing was her, and her eyes widened in surprise.
“Not yet…”
Her voice came out raspy, barely audible.
Startled, Arabelle quickly closed her mouth, and so did Vera and Millie.
With a glance from Vera, Millie rushed to the table, bringing a glass of honey water back to Arabelle’s bedside.
At first, it was difficult to swallow the honey water due to the soreness in her throat, but soon she downed two glasses with relish.
“Your fever seems to have subsided. Are you feeling discomfort anywhere else…?”
A gentle hand removed the cloth from Arabelle’s forehead and checked her temperature.
Blushing deeply, Arabelle shook her head slightly.
She couldn’t bring herself to mention the dull, lingering pain she felt with every movement.
Just then, Rosa and Dina entered, carrying trays of food.
“Miss, no, Your Majesty! You’re awake?”
“Dr. George assured us not to worry, but we were still so concerned, Your Majesty.”
Like Vera and Millie, Rosa and Dina addressed her as “Your Majesty,” their faces filled with emotion.
“There are still two weeks until the wedding ceremony…”
Arabelle, trying to steady her voice, spoke up, worried that Millie and the three maids might be reprimanded for calling her “Your Majesty.”
Vera’s facial muscles twitched into a reassuring smile.
“You were married to His Majesty, so you are officially the Empress now. Not just to us, but to the entire empire.”
Vera’s eyes reddened with emotion as she spoke.
“But that was a private ceremony, just between us in the greenhouse…”
Arabelle’s nostrils flared slightly in embarrassment.
In the 1,500-year history of the Helterian Empire, the imperial wedding was known for its rigorous preparations and elaborate procedures. The Emperor's wedding day was also the day the new Empress was formally announced to the empire.
Even if the private ceremony in the greenhouse was her real wedding, she knew it wouldn’t be recognized by the imperial court.
“I learned this recently, too. For a royal marriage to be official, it requires the Emperor's explicit permission. The wedding ceremony includes the Emperor placing the crown on the Empress's head, marking her as his consort and the Empress of the empire.”
As Vera handed Arabelle a spoon, she continued.
“His Majesty said, ‘It’s the same permission in my capacity as Emperor. Does the fact that our ceremony was private change that? Don’t worry, the official wedding will proceed as planned. But know this: the Empress and I are already married.’”
“I heard it from the guards in the reception room. When the royals and noble elders protested, His Majesty said, ‘If I cannot conduct my own wedding as Emperor, how can I dictate the marriages of your families? I will annul all previous marriages I sanctioned and will no longer send the imperial seal of approval for future weddings. You may marry as you see fit.’”
Dina’s words made Arabelle’s eyes widen even more.
To be honest, Millie and the three maids didn’t know half of what was discussed in the Emperor’s reception room yesterday.
Especially without the Emperor’s expressions and tone, they couldn’t grasp the severity of the situation.
Of course, the chilling atmosphere was not a battle of wits but a one-sided display of the Emperor's authority. The nobles had to bow their heads in submission.
***
Yesterday, early in the afternoon, the royals and noble elders gathered in the Emperor’s reception room, fully prepared.
They were determined not to be swayed by the Emperor’s tactics this time. They exchanged signals of solidarity.
The start was excellent.
The Emperor, who rarely showed his emotions, looked unusually happy, and his annoyingly handsome face even seemed to glow.
The nobles and royals united in opposition to the Emperor’s declaration that Arabelle would be officially made Empress before the imperial wedding ceremony.
They were confident this was something even the Emperor couldn’t overturn.
The Emperor’s previously gentle smile twisted slightly.
‘Apparently, the wedding I conducted was fake, which makes me a pretty worthless Emperor and husband.’
The nobles and royals stared blankly at the Emperor, expecting a rebuke and having prepared themselves for it.
The Emperor shook his head slightly and continued.
‘Even though it was a wedding allowed by my authority as Emperor, you claim it was bogus. That means my power as Emperor is non-existent,’
The strange turn in the Emperor’s speech made everyone’s eyes waver as if in an earthquake.
‘Since I can’t even call my wife my wife, I must be the worst of the worst. Do you understand how I feel right now?’
The ruby-like beautiful red eyes disappeared, replaced by the sharp, merciless eyes of a ruler.
His gaze, as sharp as a blade, sent cold sweat trickling down their backs. The nobles and royals bowed their heads to avoid the Emperor’s relentless red gaze.
As silence filled the reception room, the Emperor answered coldly.
‘I am deeply embarrassed. Now I’m worried about how to face my wife. The imperial wedding is in two weeks, so I guess I’ll have to avoid her for a while.’
Every time the Emperor began such sophistry, the nobles felt as if their lives were shortening. The most frustrating part was that they couldn’t refute him.
The Emperor’s long fingers tapped slowly on the table, pretending to ponder.
‘So, in the next two weeks, I plan to properly restore the authority of the Emperor. What do you think? I’ll personally visit each of you to hear your advice.’
After a moment of silent and intense mental calculation, the nobles and royals spoke in unison.
“Your Majesty, we congratulate you on your marriage.”
By midday, Arabelle Delcrain was made the 27th Empress, and this news was proclaimed throughout the Empire and the entire continent.
The imperial wedding would proceed as planned, and it was announced that it would be the official event for the new Empress.
***
Vera, with her weak hand, fed soup to Arabelle, who couldn’t even hold a spoon properly.
As the warm soup made of truffles and tomatoes entered her mouth, Arabelle realized how hungry she was.
The three maids and Millie watched in amazement as Arabelle ate eagerly, despite her swollen lips still aching.
As they were finishing the meal,
“His Majesty the Emperor has arrived.”
Before the guard at the door even finished speaking, the bedroom door opened.
The Emperor, with his long legs, crossed the living room and approached the bed. The Emperor, who usually maintained a perfectly measured gait in any situation, now showed his impatience in his steps.
Seeing the Emperor’s face, Arabelle’s eyes, which had been shining with delight, suddenly dropped.
The moment she saw the Emperor’s red lips, she remembered all the words he had whispered in her ear last night.
Words that should never be uttered again, words that could be considered obscene.
“What are you thinking about that you can’t even look at your husband’s face?”
Strong fingers lifted her chin, making her meet his eyes.
The Emperor leaned deeply over Arabelle, casting a shadow.
His playful red eyes filled her vision,
And then, warm lips gently touched hers before pulling away.
Vera and the maids quickly disappeared from the bedroom, sensing the atmosphere.
“I wanted to be by your side when you woke up, but I had to meet the delegation representatives from the northwest kingdoms this morning.”
The large bedroom, now empty, felt completely filled with the presence of the Emperor.
Arabelle’s bright eyes couldn’t hide her excitement.
“You’re working even on a holiday.”
The Emperor’s birthday was designated as a three-day holiday. Arabelle felt sorry for the Emperor, who couldn’t take a proper rest even on a day off.
The Emperor’s eyebrow rose slightly as if puzzled.
“Holiday… Today is not a holiday.”
“Wasn’t there a birthday celebration yesterday? Has the law changed?”
Arabelle tilted her head slightly in confusion.
The Emperor subtly sat on the bed, avoiding her gaze for the first time.
“The law hasn’t changed, but…”
His large hand held hers firmly.
As if worried she might be startled and run away.
“Today is the day after the three-day holiday… uh, ended.”
Arabelle stared blankly at the Emperor, her mouth dropping open.
She was too shocked to speak, her breath quickening.
She thought it was the morning after their wedding, but it was four days later.
Fragments of her lost memories started to float in her mind.
She vaguely recalled the moon turning into the sun through the glass ceiling over the Emperor’s shoulder.
Then, waking up to stars pouring down below the window in a blurred vision.
With a cracked voice, Arabelle asked,
“Where are we?”
“In my bedroom.”
The Emperor, who had never cared about reading others’ feelings, now subtly watched his wife’s reaction as he answered.
He knew he had committed many wrongs. He had to make up for it somehow.
“Do you remember me bringing you here yesterday morning and staying by your side without moving a step?”
Arabelle shook her head.
“Then, do you remember me taking care of you day and night by your side?”
The Emperor asked, slightly aggrieved, and Arabelle met his gaze with wide eyes.
No matter how kind and soft-hearted Arabelle was, she knew she was the one who should feel wronged in this situation.
The Emperor also instinctively felt that he should show at least a hint of remorse instead of feeling aggrieved.
As Arabelle wriggled to distance herself under the blanket, the Emperor followed her, his expression serious.
“I’ve been thinking, perhaps the curse isn’t fully broken?”
At the Emperor’s question, Arabelle’s heart sank.
“Are you unwell, Your Majesty?”
Her small hand covered his.
The Emperor naturally lay beside Arabelle, pulling her closer by the waist.
Arabelle was too startled by the possibility that the Emperor’s curse hadn’t been broken to notice he had laid her down to make a pillow for her.
The Emperor whispered, slightly tightening his grip on her delicate shoulder.
“The curse might not be fully broken, and the beast inside me might still be unrestrained. I feel I might live like this forever.”
As she pondered his words for a moment, Arabelle’s face flushed brightly.
The Emperor laughed and pulled her even closer into his arms.
Her eyes, slightly pouting and glaring at him, were so adorable that the Emperor couldn’t help but shower kisses on her soft cheeks.
Her round eyes, now filled with warm, flickering red, curved into crescents.
Arabelle’s lips parted, releasing a happy laugh that softly filled the bedroom.
The three maids and Millie, standing at the door, were certain that the Emperor’s bedroom, occupied by the Empress, would be where she greeted the morning from now on.
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