PWE 05

Chapter 5

A soft jasmine scent tickled Amanda’s nose.
As if she suddenly remembered something, Amanda quickly sat up.

“…Ah, right. Shan.”

“Yes, miss.”

“I want to eat tomato pudding.”

“If you say you’re sick but ask for pudding, people will think it’s strange.”

“Then just say I’m too sick to eat anything, but I managed to eat a little of my favorite tomato pudding, so they gave it to me.”

“….”

“Please, Shan.”

Amanda lay flat on the bed and picked up a book. Seeing this, Shan let out a deep sigh and went to get the tomato pudding.

At the gate of Moonlight Palace, a maid came running in a hurry and rushed toward Shan.

“Head maid! Head maid!!”

“What is this noise? Her Majesty has just fallen asleep…!”

“Ah—haah… haah… it’s just…!”

The maid struggled to catch her breath, then gestured for Shan to come closer.

Shan leaned in quietly. After hearing the maid’s words—

“W-What did you say?!!?”

“Y-Your voice is too loud!”

“S-Say it again! What did you say?!”

Shan grabbed the maid’s shoulders and shook her, hoping she had heard wrong.

But the maid repeated the same thing.

“H-His Majesty the Former Emperor invites Her Majesty the Empress to have lunch tomorrow at 1 PM.”

“Is this better? Or this one? This looks nice, right?”

“Yes, it suits you very well.”

“…At least look before answering.”

“Ah, really! What wouldn’t suit you, miss? Just wear anything!”

“How can I? He’s my benefactor, after all~”

“Benefactor?”

“Yes. The one and only person who made my dream of living comfortably for life come true. Isn’t that right?”

‘Benefactor, my foot.’

Shan clicked her tongue loudly and turned her head in annoyance.

Meanwhile, Amanda kept changing dresses again and again, excited to meet the Former Emperor, Charles Imperial, for lunch.

“What’s so good about that root of all evil…”

“Hmm? Shan, what did you say?”

“Nothing.”

Shan muttered and gave half-hearted responses.

Charles Imperial.

The Former Emperor.
A long-time friend of Amanda’s father, Baron Tender Raymond.
When he was on the throne, he reduced the power of the temple, abolished slavery, strengthened borders, and provided treatments for many poisons—earning the title of a great emperor among the people.

And yet, that same man had completely betrayed the Baron.

In the past, Charles loved a woman.

‘Louise Regist.’

Though she was a woman, she lived as a knight. Everyone thought she might become Empress.

But Louise suddenly left for the Magi Empire and, within a year, gave birth to a child alone.

That child was ‘Elgear Regist.’

He inherited Louise’s blue hair and unknown father’s blue eyes—or so people believed.

One day, rebels attacked Louise’s city.
She fell into a coma, and Elgear disappeared.

Charles brought Louise back, but Elgear did not return for a month.

As Charles cared for Louise, a desire grew in him—he wanted a child with her.

Soon, people learned that the comatose Louise was pregnant.

She gave birth early, surrounded by many doctors.
The child had her blue hair and eyes.

Charles, blinded by joy, named him Crown Prince without even giving him a proper name.

But that happiness shattered when Elgear returned.

Elgear fiercely criticized Charles and demanded to take Louise back.

Since Charles had no right over her, he had no choice. After much thought, he made Elgear a prince.

Soon after, the Crown Prince suddenly became an idiot for no known reason.

No matter how much time passed, he did not recover.

Meanwhile, Elgear gained power by working with nobles from the underworld.

Feeling threatened, Charles made another decision.

Louise became pregnant again.

This time, the child had golden hair and blue eyes.

People said he resembled Charles and Louise.

Charles named him ‘Cyrus.’

When Elgear heard this, he was furious and went to confront Charles.

But that night, assassins attacked him.

Severely injured, Elgear fled back to the Magi Empire.

Years later, as if by miracle, the Crown Prince returned to normal.

After that, Cyrus began bullying his older brother.

No one stopped him.

Then, Elgear returned from hiding.

Strangely, both Cyrus and the former Crown Prince sought affection—not from their parents, but from Elgear.

But Elgear ignored them and focused only on building his power.

Years later, Elgear suddenly announced he would marry.

The woman was a courtesan of unknown origin.

He made a condition:

“If you allow this marriage, I will give up my title and never return to the Empire.”

He also said he would take the former Crown Prince as his adopted son and leave together.

Charles had no reason to refuse.

He allowed the marriage.

Elgear left the Empire with the former Crown Prince.

But the problem was—

Even after Cyrus became Emperor, he still longed for Elgear’s affection.

Even though he had a wife.
And even a son.

And knowing all this—

The Former Emperor chose Amanda to be the Empress.

“Shan? Shan?”

“Yes, miss.”

“I’ve been asking. Which one looks better?”

“Ruby suits you more.”

“But ruby makes me look healthy.”

“….”

“I’m supposed to look sick.”

“Then wear aquamarine.”

“But won’t that make me look too pale?”

“Then what do you want me to do?!”

“Ah! Why are you yelling?”

After much thought, Amanda chose a lace dress in sky blue and white, showing her fragile image.

She applied thick pearl powder to look sick and chose pure white crystal jewelry.

Seeing Shan’s sour expression, Amanda linked arms with her.

“Shan, do you hate this that much?”

“Yes. I hate it.”

“Why?”

“The Emperor said clearly—he hates women. He had no intention of taking an Empress.”

“Yes, he did.”

“But the Former Emperor forced the Baron and made you marry into the royal family.”

“And then you were disliked by the Emperor. Not even a week later, he brought that fox woman. And within a year, a prince was born—”

“Shan, don’t call it ‘forced.’ Have you ever seen such a good deal?”

“Miss!”

“If the Emperor likes her that much, then let him. It’s good for him, good for her, and good for me too.”

“…I don’t understand.”

“I’m thankful to the Former Emperor. I get to live comfortably, eat well, be treated as Empress, and I don’t even need to bear a child.”

“How easy is that?”

“….”

“Think positively, Shan. We’re already on the same boat.”

Shan sighed deeply.

She had known since Amanda was young—

Amanda always dreamed of doing nothing and living comfortably.

But even Shan didn’t expect it to be this extreme.

When Amanda first entered the palace—

She completely transformed.

She became a woman deeply in love with the Emperor…
So convincing that anyone would pity her.

Even now, Shan felt like someone had struck her head when she remembered it.

“Your Majesty, are you alright? Should we inform the Former Emperor—”

“No. I’m fine.”

Amanda gently refused the maids’ help and walked forward.

Her body trembled as if she could collapse at any moment.

The maids spoke with teary voices—

“The Former Emperor is too much.”

“That’s right… he knows Your Majesty is ill…”

“Do not say that. If not for him, I would never have married His Majesty.”

“I must repay his kindness, even if it is just by talking with him.”

“But…”

“Let’s go. We shouldn’t keep him waiting.”

Step by step—

A distance that normally took 5 minutes took over 20.

Finally, Amanda stood quietly in front of the Sky Palace, where Charles was staying.