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Once again, his question caught me off guard, and I didn’t know how to answer.
“He seems to know me surprisingly well,” is that what I should say? Of course, it’s only because I read the original novel where he was the male lead! But why would he suddenly bring up that question out of nowhere in this conversation?
And it wasn’t like I was alone with him—Lucius was sitting right beside me. With his younger brother right there, why ask his wife something like that?
I really couldn’t figure out what he was thinking. Was Rayel always like this? He said he regressed, and he definitely had changed. It’s hard to get used to.
I didn’t even have time to fix my baffled expression. When I glanced at Lucius, I saw he, too, was staring blankly at Rayel, clearly not expecting that sudden question.
Rayel, watching the both of us, laced his fingers together and spoke with a smile.
“It’s just that you seem to know very well what my words mean to me.”
“Are you talking about when I mentioned ‘status’?”
“Exactly. You seem to know that I’m sensitive about the status of the woman who’ll become Empress—as if you’d peered into my past.”
“……I only heard old rumors. I know it’s impolite to say this, but Your Majesty experienced it firsthand yourself.”
“What do you mean?”
“How much pain the former Empress suffered. And how much humiliation Your Majesty also endured. No noble is ignorant of it.”
In the original story, the past of the former Empress was laid out in detail. It was inseparable from the relationship between Rayel and Lucius, after all.
Rayel’s mother, the former Empress, had been a mere Count’s daughter. Lucius’s mother, the former Consort, was a Duke’s daughter. Though Rayel was the eldest son of the Emperor and Crown Prince from birth thanks to the Emperor and Empress’s favor and his natural brilliance, nobles never stopped whispering behind his back about his mother’s low birth.
Especially the noble faction—they pressed hard and relentlessly. Even after Rayel became Crown Prince, they constantly brought up his mother’s humble origins and questioned his qualifications.
“No matter how extraordinary he is, if you consider his mother’s status, his ability is far inferior to that of the Second Prince.”
On that basis, they repeatedly argued for Lucius to replace him as Crown Prince. Luckily, the former Emperor strongly opposed the idea, and the change never happened. But the nobles’ whispering never ceased. Under such circumstances, Rayel and Lucius could never draw close.
From Rayel’s perspective, he had every reason to resent Lucius. During childhood, the treatment they received differed according to their mothers’ ranks. Even as Crown Prince, even as Emperor, the shadow of the past never left him, weakening his footing.
Only when he put on the mask of a “tyrant,” closed his ears, and charged forward without looking back did he finally manage to escape, even a little, from those shadows and shackles. But that wasn’t true healing. That was why he still ran, still striving to overcome it completely.
Rayel fell silent at my words. After staring at me for a while, he straightened up. His expression softened, and he let out a long, weary sigh.
“I know. That’s not exactly something people try to hide—it’s an open truth.”
The faint curve of his lips didn’t carry grief. His flat tone sounded like self-reproach, as though he’d already accepted everything.
But his eyes told a different story. Even in the bright room, his dark crimson irises glowed vividly, declaring: this is only the beginning.
“No doubt, just like back then, there’ll be plenty of birds trying to peck at me.”
“Most of the nobles will, I imagine.”
“Yes. Maybe more this time. After all, thanks to that big migratory bird, the circumstances are rather… special.”
“You mean Marquis Iven? Do you think he’ll oppose you as the leader of the Emperor’s faction?”
“Very likely. For him, this is the perfect chance. And… he has a daughter.”
His once-calm face tightened into a frown. The daughter of Marquis Iven…? Was he thinking she might become Angelica’s rival?
“The Marquis’s daughter?”
“……You know her?”
“I’ve only heard of her a few times. I don’t even know her name.”
“I see.”
“Do you mean Marquis Iven might use his daughter for his schemes?”
Rayel didn’t answer. His brow relaxed, and he just stared at me in silence, which puzzled me. What was he thinking?
After a moment, he finally spoke.
“Either way, both of them are dangerous people.”
“Even the Marquis’s daughter?”
Did something happen between them? In the original story, I don’t recall anything special.
Oh, wait—before she died in an accident, I think I read that she harbored a one-sided love for Rayel. Come to think of it, a lot of young noblewomen from the Emperor’s faction admired him. She must’ve been one of those girls who believed she could somehow break through his unyielding walls.
But really, what chance does a minor extra have against Angelica, the heroine, whose place was already set in the original? Unless she somehow possessed Angelica’s role, there was no way.
If Rayel says she’s “dangerous,” she must’ve been more persistent than I thought. Maybe she really was bold. Could she actually become a rival to Angelica? Backed by her father, a Marquis, she’d have plenty of support to challenge her.
Well, I wasn’t worried about Rayel himself falling for her—that was impossible. The issue was that, once she made herself visible, a lot of nobles might rally to her side.
The thought alone gave me a headache. I let out a deep sigh, and Rayel asked:
“What’s wrong? You look troubled.”
“I was just thinking Angelica’s ‘flower path’ might not be so smooth.”
“Flower path?”
“Ah—by that, I mean her bright future. Like a path covered in blossoms.”
“Flowers… a path that’s peaceful and beautiful. You want her to walk such a road?”
“Of course.”
“Why?”
“Eh?”
If he asked why, the only true answer was: because she’s the heroine of the original story! And because she’s a character I genuinely like.
Of course, I couldn’t tell him that. Forcing down the twitch of my lips, I smiled and said:
“Because it’s my preference.”
“……Haha. Honest and wise.”
Maybe I’d answered too brightly, because Rayel let out an unrestrained laugh. It was the first time I’d seen him laugh out loud, and I stared in surprise. So he laughs like that too… He even looked a bit like Lucius when he did.
The way the skin around his eyes crinkled as he laughed resembled Lucius. Well, they shared a father, so it made sense they had similarities. Especially their eyes—they made the resemblance more noticeable.
“What I said earlier was just a joke. I hope neither of you take it to heart.”
“Pardon?”
Leaning back comfortably on the sofa, he smiled. Earlier? Oh, about me knowing him so well? He’d been teasing me again?
“……So you were just making fun of me. Was my reaction that amusing to you?”
“Very. More than I expected.”
“Haa……”
Fine. As long as you’re entertained. It was strange enough that I could even banter like this with him. He wasn’t my top favorite, but he had been my second favorite character. Maybe that was why I let it slide.
Still, I gave him a mildly reproachful look. Watching me, Rayel’s lips curved again.
“Lucius.”
“Yes?”
Startled, Lucius answered when his brother suddenly called his name. Rayel’s expression softened even further.
“You’ve found yourself a fine wife. She suits you very well.”
“……Yes. I think so too.”
“Cherish her. Always stay by her side, never part from her. Live together for eternity, until the end of your days.”
“Yes, brother.”
Hearing Rayel’s words, Lucius smiled happily as he replied. Watching the two brothers exchange smiles, I couldn’t hide my own warmth inside.
Live together until the end of your days. His unusually heartfelt words lingered in my ears for a long time.
After meeting Rayel, I busied myself with helping to prepare for both the engagement and the wedding while keeping an eye on the mood in society. At the tea parties and gatherings I attended with Alexandra, the hot topic was always Rayel and Angelica.
“I heard there still hasn’t been an explanation about His Majesty and Lady Werner’s relationship?”
“Yes. Unlike before, neither side has released any official statement.”
“It’s been over two weeks already. Surely these rumors have reached His Majesty’s ears. Doesn’t his silence mean it’s true?”
“Maybe so. At this rate, I wonder if we’ll get not an explanation, but an engagement or marriage announcement.”
“What?! Surely not!”
Oh, but surely yes, young ladies.
I sipped my sweet milk tea, listening to their excited chatter. After drinking nothing but flower teas and black tea lately, the smooth sweetness of milk tea felt refreshing.
“Ugh……”
“Alexandra, are you okay?”
Sitting beside me, Alexandra drained her cup in one gulp and set it down, exhaustion darkening the circles under her eyes. Poor thing—she’d been up all night making wedding clothes. I heard she was sewing not only the bridal gown but also the dress for the engagement. At this rate, she might collapse from overwork.
I was watching her with concern, when suddenly a voice rose from behind us.
“But did you hear the news?”
“What news?”
“Well……”
The voice was quiet and cautious. Feeling something unusual, I glanced back discreetly. A young lady with short brown hair glanced around before whispering:
“One of the girls who used to bully Lady Werner—you know, Baron Tiven’s daughter? Apparently… she had an accident back in her territory and… passed away.”
“What?!”
……What did she just say happened to who?
