Prologue
“Why don’t you ask me anymore if I had breakfast?”
The emperor (male lead) asked as he signed a document. I was sitting at the table, writing something, and looked up with a bright smile.
“You’re healthy now, Your Majesty. There’s no need, right?”
As I replied casually, his handsome eyebrows twitched.
“So… now that I’m healthy, you don’t care about me anymore?”
“Oh, don’t say that. You know my lifelong wish has always been Your Majesty’s health.”
I comforted him like usual, and soon enough, his expression softened.
‘Ah, so satisfying.’
I watched his healthy, handsome face with pride and walked closer.
For two years, I had carefully taken care of him — cooking all his meals, making sure he slept well, nursing him back to perfect health.
And today was finally the day to end it all.
Today!
“Your Majesty, I have something to tell you.”
I placed a piece of paper on his desk. He looked between the paper and me.
“Let’s get divorced.”
“…What?”
As soon as I said it confidently, his face froze.
Ah, wrinkles! I gently stretched out his forehead with my fingers and smiled.
“You don’t need me anymore, right? It’s time for me to find my own life.”
“You mean… you’re leaving the imperial palace?”
“Yes. Our marriage was political anyway, and you’ve always been annoyed because of my father. So, I’ll finally set you free.”
He was healthy now, the empire was peaceful and strong — there was nothing more I wanted.
“My dream is to live quietly in the countryside, growing herbs, knitting, and living peacefully until I’m old. So please agree to the divorce, okay?”
He stared at the divorce papers for a while, then nodded slightly.
“Let’s talk during afternoon tea.”
“Really? Thank you!”
It was a faster decision than I expected. I happily went back to my palace.
Later that afternoon, I followed the head attendant to the tea room.
Then—
Clang!
“Y-Your Majesty?! There’s blood from your mouth!”
He collapsed right after finishing his drink — a farewell toast, he said.
“…Lea. I’m sick.”
He was smiling when he said it.
I froze, staring at him in disbelief.
‘Wait… something’s wrong.’
Servants rushed in, and the royal doctor examined him.
“His Majesty has been poisoned! The drink was sweet — he must have noticed it. But someone as cautious as him… why did he drink it all at once?”
I held my head in shock.
‘No way… did you drink it on purpose, didn’t you?’
How did things end up like this?
