Puck! A dull sound rang out.
‘Just because you’ve become an empress, do you think you’re great?’
Bringing his face closer, the Grand Duke whispered slowly. The Grand Duke let out a low laugh when Rivena only stared at him without replying. He muttered as he stroked Rivena’s blonde hair.
‘And why aren’t we a family? You and I have the same blonde hair.’
‘…get your hand off.’
Soon Rivena gritted out in her low voice, and the Duke, who looked at her once, lifted his hand. At that moment, Rivena grabbed her own neck and exhaled hard. Looking at Rivena, the Grand Duke spoke, relaxed.
‘I’ll make sure to engrave that in your little head. The real reason my sister became the Empress. If she forgets her duty just because she became the Empress, this is also very difficult. Do you remember? That we took revenge for Sister’s clan. If it weren’t for us, you would be by now...’
He chuckled, mocking her. She was in shackles, from which she could never escape. Rivena bit her lip. The Grand Duke, admiring Rivena’s angry face, left the room. At that moment, as if her tension relaxed, Rivena sat down. Before long, she buried her face in her hands. And she took a deep breath. Slowly, she exhaled deeply, steadying her breath.
‘…’
Rivena, sitting alone in the middle of a quiet room in the dark, seemed so lonely. Irene unconsciously stretched her hand towards her shoulder.
‘I’m fine...’
The moment Irene was about to touch her, her body exploded like a bubble, and her surroundings changed in an instant.
‘Riina.’
The changed place was a large flower garden. The gentle man’s voice flew in the wind with the flowers in full bloom, the warm sunlight, and the fresh scent of flowers. In the centre of the garden, a man was reaching out his hand toward Irene. Irene recognised who he was at once.
‘That person…’
‘Arkand!’
Just as Irene muttered his name, a woman passed by Irene and fell into the man’s arms. Gorgeous blonde hair fluttered in the sun.
‘The Ex-Emperor...’
He was Rivena’s husband and former Emperor Arkand Lou Weilian.
[Riirii looked the happiest when she was with him.]
Hearing Undi’s words, Irene looked at the man and woman, who were quietly embracing each other. Even in the eyes of Irene, who did not know the two of them well, she could see that they really loved each other, and it hurt even more.
And again, the scene changed. This time, a familiar face appeared in front of Irene too.
‘Auntie…?’
A woman who looked exactly like Viscountess Friedan was talking to Rivena.
She must have been the Viscountess in her youth. Now she felt joy that she met her again, whom she thought she would never see. It was short-lived, but the atmosphere of Rivena and the Viscountess as she talked to her was not solemn.
‘Sally.’
‘Yes, Empress.’
‘I like you.’
‘Thank you.’
‘I treat you as a friend, not a maid. How are you?’
As she spoke, Rivena’s face looked haggard and exhausted. The fresh look when she had just been held in the arms of the man she loved was gone.
At her sudden question, the Viscountess seemed perplexed for a moment, and then she nodded seriously.
‘I also regard Empress as more than my master whom I have to serve.’
‘Thank you. Actually, Sally, I have something I want to tell you.’
‘What is it?’
At Viscountess Friedan’s question, Rivena spoke.
‘His Majesty’s child is conceived.’
‘Is that really true? If so, call a member of the council immediately and tell His Majesty...!’
Hearing Rivena’s words, the Viscountess jumped up, invigorated. There was a complex mixture of joy and concern on her face.
Rivena caught the Viscountess, who was about to run out to inform the Emperor of this.
‘Sally, don’t tell anyone about this.’
‘Pardon? What do you mean? When it becomes known that you have conceived His Majesty’s child, the accusation of trying to assassinate His Majesty will be completely cleared...!’
The fact that Rivena had not tried to assassinate her Emperor would be clarified, but the Viscountess was furious that Rivena had been put into such a situation. They dared to frame such a disgraceful name on the Empress...!
But, for some reason, while the Viscountess was fluttering, Rivena looked very calm, as if she had expected it. If she had pushed harder, no one would have dared to frame her. The Viscountess slapped her chest, feeling suffocated. Rivena then approached and gently grabbed her hand.
‘Do not do that. It hurts.’
‘Empress! At the very least, I have to inform His Majesty.’
‘No. I won’t even tell His Majesty.’
‘Why! Please tell me why!’
Rivena, who looked at her at the sound of the Viscountess’s cry, parted her lips.
‘What I am telling you from now on is the fact that His Majesty does not even know. Only you, Sally, my friend, should know.’