#48. The Four Empresses
The bed dipped under his weight.
He had always been a man of imposing stature, but from this angle, looking up at him, it felt even more overwhelming.
Broad, expansive shoulders.
Long, elegant limbs.
Firm, solid chest muscles.
Everything about him set my heart ablaze.
Just the fact that I was sharing a bed with Nikolai sent waves of heat through my body.
Reason had fled far, far away.
I wanted to keep looking up at him until tonight’s moon sank and tomorrow’s sun rose.
“Elizabeth. Do you enjoy driving me mad?”
His voice was low, strained, as though pressed out after holding it back.
A strange thirst burned in his eyes.
Even breathing in and out wasn’t easy anymore.
Maybe I should just stop altogether.
If I stopped breathing, would this moment freeze in time?
I forced away the foolish thought and curved my lips into a smile.
“I hope Your Majesty becomes not a mad tyrant, but a wise sovereign.”
“Why?”
“So that I can live well under your reign.”
That lie was enough.
I reached out both hands toward Nikolai.
His cheek was warm and smooth.
For an instant, he flinched, but Nikolai didn’t avoid my touch.
Sometimes, it was still hard to believe he was within reach.
That I could touch the emperor at all, that he would lean into my hand and give me the drowsy look of a languid cat—it all felt like a dream.
‘I want to see you called a wise king. I want to stand by your side. I want to be your only one. It’s impossible, but…’
Pain, hollow and crushing, pressed in on me from all sides.
My nose stung.
My vision blurred.
And yet the feel of Nikolai’s skin beneath my fingertips was still soft.
Fine. Let me enjoy this moment, just for a little while.
Because someday, it will disappear.
After a long silence, Nikolai narrowed his eyes.
“Are you saying you’ll never marry?”
“Why does it sound like that?”
“Have you forgotten? A woman who is not empress cannot live in the palace.”
“That’s why I became the crown prince’s tutor.”
Nikolai suddenly sat up.
The bed, now empty, felt cold and desolate.
I reached toward his back, then let my hand fall.
‘Desire isn’t something only you feel. Possessiveness isn’t yours alone. I could never forgive you if you took another woman while keeping me at your side.’
The words stayed locked inside me.
The bitterness of them lingered on my tongue.
‘I hate myself too—for falling for a man I can never spend my life with. That’s why we must continue this game of temptation. It’s the only way we can remain close.’
I forced my stiff facial muscles into something resembling a smile.
“If you want to marry me, then admit your defeat first. Hm? Be cool about it.”
The truth, though, was different.
I was restless, afraid he really might declare defeat.
I didn’t want this game to end.
Tempting each other, becoming special to each other, sharing reckless touches—these were only allowed within the game.
“Seems to me you’re the one who’s fallen for me.”
“You’re mistaken.”
“Do you often touch men you haven’t fallen for?”
“It’s strategy.”
“A very effective one.”
“I knew you’d say that.”
“Is that why you winked at Simon?”
Nikolai asked bluntly.
How on earth had he seen that? Did he have eyes everywhere?
“My eyelid just twitched a little.”
“And the hand kiss?”
“Maybe he thought something was on his hand.”
“After that, Simon’s attitude toward you completely changed.”
“You know what he’s like. Silly. Fickle.”
But this excuse didn’t work either.
Nikolai’s gaze was sharp, piercing.
“Kares behaved oddly too.”
“…!”
“He’s unusually kind and polite to you. He even bends rules for your sake—something he’d never do otherwise. Normally, his attention is only on me.”
“I didn’t realize you and Lord Kares were so close.”
“Kares has changed. Because of you.”
“Your Majesty, aren’t you tired? It’s so late… yawn…”
I gave him a hint with an exaggerated yawn.
But Nikolai didn’t budge.
“Elizabeth. What trick are you weaving?”
“…”
“What are you hiding from me?”
His relentless questioning left me unable to answer.
A faint guilt pressed down.
I couldn’t tell him where I had come from, what circumstances I was in, or what abilities I had.
Even the name Elizabeth wasn’t truly mine.
I couldn’t confess why I had approached him, why I wanted to make him into a wise king.
And I probably never would.
Yet still, my feelings for him grew deeper.
Who would believe that my heart was sincere—when even I couldn’t make sense of myself?
“Your Majesty doesn’t tell me everything either. It’s the same for me.”
“Elizabeth.”
“We need a certain distance between us.”
“So we only joined hands for our own benefit, is that it?”
“That’s what contracts are.”
Nikolai didn’t reply.
But we both knew the truth.
We wavered under desire, were intoxicated by tenderness, burned with longing… but a deep, cold river ran between us.
And neither of us could cross it so easily.
“…Yes. You and I are bound by contract only.”
Nikolai muttered to himself.
A sharp pain wrapped around my heart.
But that was where it had to end.
“Sorry to disturb you.”
“Sleep well, Your Majesty.”
“I don’t know what you’re plotting, but I’ll pray for your victory.”
Rose Brendan, imperial consort, held a tea party in the lilac garden.
Of course, the concubines of low birth weren’t invited.
Only empress candidates from the four great noble houses could drink tea there, attended by handmaidens.
Rose brushed back her auburn hair and flaunted a diamond bracelet.
But no one gave her trinket the attention she wanted.
Sinsia Blackfold sat upright, buried in a book.
Freya Lehmann stared blankly at the scenery.
Emma Pipe shrank her shoulders, busy glancing nervously around.
‘Bookworm. Empty doll. Timid fool… Clearly, I’m the only one fit to be empress!’
Smiling in satisfaction, Rose crunched into a butter cookie.
“Thank you for coming even though you must be busy.”
“Thank you for inviting us, Rose. The pastries are delicious today too.”
Only Emma responded with polite courtesy.
She was timid as a frightened squirrel, but better than Sinsia, who acted like a know-it-all, or Freya, lost in her own world.
“Your chef is quite skilled too, Emma. That lavender jam cake was exquisite.”
Rose licked her lips.
Lately her corset felt tight from putting on weight, but she couldn’t give up sweets.
Weren’t they the only joy in this prison-like harem life?
“If all we’ll discuss today is food, I’ll take my leave. I have a debate to attend.”
Sinsia snapped her book shut.
She tucked it under her arm, dark brown hair swinging as she stood.
Emma spoke quickly, seeing Rose bite her lip.
“Rose went through the trouble of hosting us. Please stay, Sinsia.”
“Emma, don’t waste your breath placating her. Especially if you know the fate of the Brendan family.”
Rose flared up at Sinsia’s words.
“Don’t you think that’s a bit much, Sinsia?”
“I heard your brother is challenging that woman to a duel. The gossip has spread everywhere, from high society to the streets.”
The phrase “that woman” hung in the air.
In the harem, Elizabeth’s name was practically taboo.
The emperor’s favor leaning toward her was a disgrace to them all—especially to the four empress candidates.
“Good. Let the rumor spread. Then our house will become the richest in the empire!”
“The full-bellied know no suffering, they say. An old proverb rings true.”
Sinsia’s frown deepened.
Rose’s eyes caught on her gaunt figure, her collarbone protruding starkly above her dress.
She longed to slap her, but as the future empress, she had to keep her dignity.
“Sinsia, acting smart won’t help you. Once that woman is gone, Heartmann’s heart will be mine.”
“By imperial law, the daughter of a criminal cannot become empress.”
“What?!”
“She was kidnapped, wasn’t she? Unfortunate she survived, but who do you think was behind it?”
“Are you accusing my family?!”
“Just think about who benefits most from her disappearance—the answer is obvious.”
“Ridiculous!”
“The culprits have been captured. It’s only a matter of time before the truth comes out. I’ll pray you don’t end up in prison with them for your family’s crimes. Though I doubt prayer will help.”
With those cutting words, Sinsia swept away.
Rose stamped her foot in fury.
“When I become empress, she’ll be the first I throw out!”
Emma hurried to soothe her.
“Don’t worry, Rose. His Majesty wouldn’t punish the Brendan family without evidence.”
“Why should I worry? We’re guilty of nothing!”
“That’s not what I meant…”
“It’s obviously that woman’s scheme! Using her lowly body to catch His Majesty’s attention.”
“But she already has it. Why would she need to?”
Rose’s eyes widened at Emma’s remark.
“Whose side are you on, Emma?! Did you forget we vowed to join forces to destroy her?”
“Calm down, Rose. If you’re too rash, it might bring suspicion on us.”
“What suspicion?”
“Well… that is…”
Emma fumbled, unable to answer.
Freya, twirling a blade of grass idly, spoke up without looking.
“The suspicion that your brother’s behind the kidnapping, obviously.”
“Freya!”
“Don’t shout. That’s what the rumors say, whoever started them.”
“You truly have no manners.”
“So what? There’s no one here worth minding them for.”
Freya toyed with her long golden curls.
Even with her rudeness, her beauty glittered like sunlight.
All the imperial consorts were beauties in their own right, but Freya shone with the singular charm of a living doll.
Freya, the beauty.
Sinsia, the intellect.
Emma, the grace.
Rose, the passion.
But Rose couldn’t agree with any of those titles—least of all her own.
Her red hair had become a symbol not of her, but of Elizabeth.
‘That woman stole everything from me. Father told me to stay quiet, but I won’t stand by!’
Just then, a maid whispered in her ear.
Elizabeth was strolling through the crown prince’s rear garden with a young girl.
“Apologies, but this tea party is over. Something urgent has come up.”
Rose made the announcement without a hint of remorse.
Today, she was determined to trample that arrogant woman’s pride.
Never imagining the humiliation that awaited her instead.
