With Father’s murmured words, silence settled between us once more.
Lowering my gaze, I saw the calm blue tea in my cup. I’d never paid much attention to it before, but its hue was strikingly similar to Father’s eyes.
Beside the cup, a small lemon slice sat among simple pastries. I dropped the lemon into the tea. With a splash, the blue liquid turned a warm coral shade in an instant.
“Years ago, I asked if you wanted to be empress. Do you remember?”
“Yes, I remember.”
It was the day I recalled two lifetimes, as if waking from a dream—the day everything began for me now. It was also the day my biological mother, Father’s wife, the Marchioness, took her own life. A memory I could never forget.
“You asked me in return if you could choose as you wished.”
Father had asked me the same question in the carriage on the way to meet Sys for the first time.
Back then, I was cynical toward him. I believed he would never do anything for me. To me, he was neither more nor less than a stranger.
So I asked: Could I do as I pleased? Would he allow it?
And he answered.
“I said it would be difficult, but not impossible.”
His eyes locked onto mine. Like the tea that had changed color in an instant, the cool blue of his gaze burned with a fierce intensity, as if it had swallowed flames.
“That still holds true.”
“I don’t understand what you mean.”
“If you wish it, I’ll make it happen—whatever it is.”
His unwavering gaze bore into me. He was a man who never spoke empty words or jested. He was sincerely offering to grant my wishes. There was no need to question him.
If I’d heard this months ago, I would’ve unhesitatingly asked to break my engagement with the crown prince.
But now?
I love Sys. I’m in love with him.
Yet, hesitation lingered. To stay by his side, I’d have to become empress again, returning to that lonely, desolate position.
Loving Sys and becoming empress were separate matters—but not entirely disconnected.
Sys was born to become emperor, living his life for that purpose. I couldn’t ask him to abandon his destiny because I lacked the confidence to be empress. As I wavered, Father spoke first.
“I’ve already requested a dissolution of your engagement with the crown prince.”
My heart seemed to drop. He watched me silently.
“Did… His Highness agree?”
His thick eyebrows arched upward. I now knew what that meant—displeasure, his unique way of showing it.
“The crown prince’s consent is irrelevant.”
His firm lips, furrowed brow, and clipped tone signaled his irritation.
Seeing his reaction, I managed to calm my startled heart. His displeasure meant Sys hadn’t readily accepted the request.
“What matters to me is your will, Bionne.”
His gaze softened slightly.
“His Majesty won’t permit it.”
My engagement to Sys was, in a sense, forced by the emperor’s decree. There was no way he’d easily allow a dissolution, even at Father’s request.
Father frowned at my words, his voice tinged with clear displeasure.
“The crown prince failed to uphold the contract. The imperial family no longer has a choice.”
“Contract?”
The word brought back the day Sys confessed to me. When I rejected him, he angrily said the contract didn’t matter.
Somehow, I felt the contract he mentioned then and the one Father spoke of now were the same.
“What contract are you talking about?”
Father’s eyes crinkled, his expression showing discomfort despite minimal change.
“Is it something I shouldn’t know?”
“Hmm.”
He cleared his throat, stroking his chin. I didn’t look away. Silence descended on the study again. Finally, his lips parted, letting out a small sigh.
“It was to protect you.”
“Protect me?”
It was an incomprehensible answer. Without being the crown prince’s fiancée, I was just an ordinary noblewoman. A contract with the imperial family to protect someone like me made no sense objectively.
He closed his mouth again. I pressed further.
“Protect me from whom?”
“I can’t tell you yet. I’m sorry.”
He shook his head. His firm expression told me he wouldn’t budge, no matter what I said.
It was frustrating to be kept in the dark about something concerning me, but I stepped back. “Not yet” implied he’d tell me someday.
“Then one more question. Please answer this.”
“Go ahead.”
“Did the crown prince get engaged to me because of that reason?”
“Not solely because of it.”
“Not entirely, but it was the biggest factor.”
He didn’t respond to my conclusion, but I knew it was correct.
Lowering my gaze, I saw the cooled tea. The moment my eyes landed on it, the sharp-eyed butler swiftly replaced it with a fresh cup.
I took a sip. The warmth slid down my throat, spreading through my body.
“Bionne.”
“Yes.”
“What is your will?”
I set the cup down and met his gaze. His blue eyes watched me earnestly.
“I thought you didn’t want to be empress. Was I wrong?”
“I didn’t want it.”
Even now, the idea of being empress filled me with dread. The sorrow, pain, and piercing loneliness of that time felt like they might resurface. My mind knew things were different now, but my instincts recoiled.
“It sounds like that’s no longer the case.”
I turned from him to the half-drunk tea. The fresh cup, untouched by lemon, glowed with a vivid blue hue.
Like the tea turning coral with a lemon’s touch, should I adapt to this changed situation and change with him? Or let him go, as I’d originally planned?
A wry laugh escaped. There was no need to rethink—the answer was already clear. I drained the remaining tea in one gulp.
“I want something now. Help me, Father.”
At my request, the wrinkles around his eyes softened.
—
Act 13: Stirrings
I threw the documents I was holding onto the floor. The white papers scattered, falling across the table and ground. Unlike the butler, who stood unmoved before me, the maid behind him flinched. Ignoring her, I fixed my gaze on the butler.
“So?”
“The current guild master insists that unless the order comes directly from him, they won’t acknowledge it.”
“Insolent.”
Leaning back into the sofa, I curled one lip upward. The plush cushion pressed against my back.
“So, the granddaughter of the guild master’s orders are to be ignored?”
I laced my voice with irritation, glancing at the maid behind the butler, her head bowed. She thought she was hiding it, but her eyes darted nervously, plain as day.
“A mere merchant daring to be so bold.”
I crossed my legs, tapping the sofa’s armrest with my fingers. The sound of nails against wood echoed sharply in the room.
“Every one of them is begging to be dealt with. Shall I sweep them all away?”
At my muttered words, the maid’s face drained of color. She stole a glance at me, head still bowed. Before she could notice, I shifted my gaze to the butler.
“Did they suspect anything?”
“Well…”
The butler trailed off, glancing at the maid. Feeling his gaze, she shrank further.
“You.”
“…Yes?”
She startled at my call, bowing deeply. With an annoyed expression, I waved her off.
“Get out.”
“Yes, miss.”
The maid cautiously opened the door and left. As it closed, only the butler and I remained. A moment later, the faint chime of wind bells rang out, signaling no eavesdroppers remained.
“What about her?”
“We confirmed she’s connected to the Timon barony.”
