MAE 01

Chapter 1: The Emperor Took a Mistress

The social scene was thrown into an uproar.

The Emperor, who hadn’t paid any attention to women since the death of his first Empress…

…even to the new Empress, he had never once cast a warm glance.

“What kind of woman is she, exactly?”

“All that’s known is that His Majesty picked her up while on an excursion,” someone replied.

“So, she’s essentially common-born,” another whispered.

The nobles, who had repeatedly tried to present women from their own families to the Emperor only to be rebuffed every time, spat out their words with jealousy and anger.

Lineage. Culture. Appearance.

Despite having noblewomen who lacked nothing in any of these aspects, the Emperor had casually taken a new Empress, and now he had taken a mistress whose origins were unclear.

“Why would His Majesty… settle for a woman like that?”

Though they wanted to call her a “lowly woman,” no one dared speak so boldly, keeping careful watch on the Emperor’s reaction.

“And her appearance? Just how beautiful is she?”

“After she was brought here, she hasn’t stepped out of His Majesty’s bedroom. Very few have even seen her face properly—the closest attendants and the Empress, perhaps?”

“Speaking of which, how did the Empress react?”

A spark of interest lit up the eyes of those who had been displeased.

In the empire, the Empress was simultaneously the most exalted and the most trivial figure—a toy endlessly entertaining to observe and gossip about.

“They say her face turned pale, and even her hands were trembling.”

“Good heavens! Is she jealous despite her position?”

“Even petty power is still power—it seems she doesn’t want to lose it.”

Laughter and scoffs spread across the room.

“I still don’t understand why His Majesty would be taken by such a woman.”

“Indeed. Some distant relative of the chief secretary? She has no proper noble title, hence the term ‘distant relative,’ I suppose.”

“The late Empress was herself a noblewoman, wasn’t she?”

“Could it be…”

One of the nobles, previously joking and laughing, lowered his voice.

“Is it true that the Empress is the last princess of that kingdom?”

A murmur ran through the room.

“That rumor… is true? Even the curse?”

“Be careful. His Majesty has decreed that anyone who speaks of that rumor shall be dealt with by death.”

The room fell silent at the sharp warning.

“Anyway, I am curious… what kind of woman could capture His Majesty’s heart so completely?”

Not long after, as if to answer the curiosity of the masses, a palace ball was held.

The Emperor, seemingly wanting to demonstrate his favor for his new mistress, hosted a lavish event comparable to the founding ceremony of the kingdom.

The palace was illuminated with torches producing various colors from minerals, and dozens of fireworks, each costing nearly a year’s living expenses for a middle-class family, were set off.

The nobles arrived in excited anticipation, stepping down from their carriages. It was the first proper royal party in three years since the death of the first Empress.

Normally, royal parties were hosted by the Empress, but the current Empress held less authority than a minor official.

“Her Majesty, the Empress, enters!”

With the steward’s announcement, the Empress entered the hall without an escort.

Her dress was tattered, her body thin, eyes hollow, yet her cheeks still retained a bit of youthful softness.

Despite the natural inclination to pity the young Empress, the nobles were cruel. They carried on their conversations as if she weren’t there, and the musicians played on without pause.

When the Empress finally reached the throne, pushing through nobles who refused to make way, the steward announced again:

“His Majesty, the Sun of the Empire, the Black Lion of Remegaton, the Emperor, and Lady Vintera!”

Unlike the Empress, everyone in the hall paused and watched as the two entered.

The Emperor, though his hair was tinged with gray, still radiated an overwhelming presence and sharp gaze, dominating the room. Beside him stood the woman everyone had been curious about.

The first striking feature was her vivid green eyes.

Then her well-defined facial features, healthy tanned skin, and long black hair, which fell freely as if she had just jumped off a running horse. Her dress, informal and slightly wild, exuded a feral charm.

Her confident gaze, undaunted by the crowd, suggested to everyone present that she was the lion tamer.

The nobles, as if rehearsed, parted to clear a path to the throne. Even those who had spoken ill of this “lowly woman” bowed as she passed.

The Emperor’s gaze, satisfied, fell upon the throne. His expression suddenly hardened.

“Vintera, this way.”

Leading his mistress to the throne, the Emperor coldly addressed the seated Empress.

“Step aside, Empress.”

After dancing the first and second dances consecutively with his mistress, the Emperor returned to his throne, claiming he was too exhausted to continue.

“Your Majesty…”

One of the few who dared speak plainly to the Emperor, Chief Secretary, Marquis Pecori, approached. Expecting another scolding, the Emperor frowned, but the Marquis was firm.

“Your treatment of Her Majesty, the Empress, was harsh.”

“My woman is mine to protect.”

Though the Emperor’s reply was curt, the Marquis carefully chose his words with a deep sigh.

“Your Majesty, your woman is the Empress. While I understand your favor toward Lady Vintera…”

“Isn’t she beautiful?”

Regardless, the Emperor’s gaze remained fixed on his woman across the hall. At fifty-three, he felt as if he had returned to the vigor of a twenty-year-old.

This fresh beauty, this burning passion, made him feel alive again—a vitality he hadn’t felt since the last war.

“Some previous Empresses even tried to kill the Emperor’s mistress. I will ensure nothing like that happens to Vintera.”

“Your Majesty, the Empress has no power to—”

“Where is Vintera?”

In the blink of an eye, Vintera had disappeared from view.

The Emperor leapt from his seat, and a commotion arose at the balcony.

“Look! On the balcony…!”

On the empty balcony, the Empress and the Emperor’s mistress faced each other. The Empress crouched, while the mistress stood tall.

“Vintera!”

The Emperor thundered and dashed toward them.

“Ah, Your Majesty…”

It appeared that the mistress had pushed the Empress. Vintera, flustered, began to explain.

But the Emperor no longer followed common sense. His universe revolved around Vintera; anyone opposing her was evil.

“Empress.”

His eyes, dark and unfathomable, flashed dangerously.

“Are you trying to slander my Vintera with such petty tricks?”

Even the nobles surrounding them and Vintera herself raised their eyebrows in shock.

“What did you just say?”

“Stand up immediately! The so-called Empress behaves like this?”

The Emperor, scolding, firmly protected Vintera’s shoulders.

“Are you alright? Any injuries?”

Vintera, quickly hiding her initial embarrassment, placed her hand on top of his and smiled seductively.

“Is there anything wrong?”

Her low, alluring voice perfectly matched her appearance. Some male nobles even blushed at just her tone. She was already captivating by her mere existence, and she clearly knew how to enhance it.

Ah, that’s why…

That’s why the Emperor had fallen for her.

“Marquis Pecori, Vintera and I will retire for now. See to the conclusion of the ball.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

With a brief command, the Emperor departed.

Blinded by love, yet not a fool, the Emperor knew enough to understand that the Empress was innocent. He had a sly reason for making a scene.

Back in the bedroom, as soon as the door closed, he lifted Vintera into his arms. Her scent overwhelmed him, and he felt blood rushing through his body.

“Vintera… oh, my Vintera.”

Whispering her name in a cracked, hoarse voice, he lay down on the bed. The moment he felt she was not of this world, Vintera wrapped her hand around his head.

As she whispered something, a flash of white light burst from her hand, and the Emperor collapsed.

Kicking him aside as if clearing an obstacle, Vintera cursed while brushing her hair back.

“Perverted bastard. You like rolling around with a girl your daughter’s age?”

Within the illusion Vintera created, the Emperor felt the ultimate pleasure.

“Ugh, gross.”

Shaking herself free, Vintera draped a shawl over her shoulders and headed toward the window.