The Empress Tames the Tyrant - Chapter 11

Alicia wore a bewildered expression, so surprised that Cayenne knew about teatime.

“Did I come at a bad time?”

“No, not at all.”

Cayenne’s lips relaxed at Alicia’s quick reply.

“Agnes, bring up the tea.”

Agnes, who was also surprised and standing still, finally came to her senses and stepped back, soon bringing up the refreshments.

It was a simple tea, just like Alicia usually had, with a subtly fragrant herbal tea and a few slices of seasonal fruit.

“I don’t know if it will suit Your Majesty’s taste.”

“How different can fruit taste in the Imperial Palace?”

He ate fruit often in Rubeo as well. Of course, it wasn’t neatly cut and served on a plate like this, but it wasn’t unfamiliar food.

Rather, Cayenne was often put off by the overly elaborate and heavily spiced refreshments and food served in the Emperor’s quarters.

“The Empress seems to live frugally.”

Cayenne offered a compliment, though not quite, as he looked at her unadorned dress and simple refreshments.

He didn’t seem to realize that she was wearing indoor clothes without any preparation because the Emperor had come unannounced, contrary to etiquette.

“You flatter me.”

Silence fell between the couple again. They were a couple in name only, and it was awkward since they had never even faced each other properly.

“What is that box?”

Cayenne, being human, asked a question to break the awkwardness. His black eyes pointed to a box that looked like it was about to burst with letters from Lucan.

“Ah! I apologize for showing you such a messy sight.”

“I asked what it was.”

“They are letters from Lucan, but as I said before, I lack the wisdom to reply to them.”

“It looks like you haven’t even opened the letters.”

Alicia was at a loss for words as his dark eyes stared intently at her face.

“To be honest, I couldn’t understand the meaning even after reading the letters, so I haven’t opened them since.”

Cayenne chuckled at Alicia’s earnest answer. Alicia felt goosebumps all over her spine at his unfamiliar laughter.

“Finally, the Empress has become like me.”

At first, he had secretly suspected that the Empress had other intentions, but no matter how he looked at it, Alicia had no ulterior motives. The unopened letters from Lucan were proof of that.

“I am sorry, but…”

Alicia cautiously opened her mouth, seeing Cayenne in such a good mood for once.

“My abilities have become insufficient since I fell ill.”

“Don’t worry.”

Cayenne said without hesitation.

“If you don’t want to, you don’t have to send or read letters to Lucan. No, you don’t even have to receive them at all.”

If Alicia wanted to change her life, she had to break free from the chains of Lucan. And surprisingly, the right person to help her was right in front of her.

“Can I really do that?”

“Just say that I told you not to send them because the Empress is ill.”

For the first time, Cayenne’s existence was helpful in her life. Moreover, he would soon return to Rubeo, so everything would be perfect if she could resolve the divorce as well.

“I had lunch with the nobles today, and when I told them to prepare it following the Empress’s banquet, they were all impressed.”

Cayenne’s good mood was also due to the success of today’s luncheon. Although it was a simplified banquet, it was a great improvement because the nobles, who were inherently intolerant of rudeness, did not have to see the Emperor’s barbaric behavior.

In particular, Duke Nigel’s eyes widened when he saw Cayenne gracefully dip his fingertips into the prepared water, wipe them with a napkin, and eat the food served by the attendant with the correct utensils. It was amusing and gratifying.

“What’s for dinner tonight?”

“Pardon?”

Alicia, who had been staring blankly at Cayenne for a moment, asked back.

“What is the Empress’s dinner banquet?”

“That’s Agnes?”

Agnes, who had been standing by the door, quietly approached and curtsied.

“Yes, tonight’s dinner at the Empress’s Palace is a simple banquet with seasonal vegetables and veal stew as the main course.”

“Good, my appetite is returning.”

Alicia had prided herself on becoming quite clever after her regression, but she couldn’t understand what Cayenne was saying at all.

“If Your Majesty would join us, I will prepare more food. Red wine goes well with veal stew, would you like that?”

Fortunately, Agnes, as an experienced head maid, understood Cayenne’s intentions.

“Hmm, I will.”

Cayenne nodded in satisfaction, drank the cold tea in one gulp, and stood up.

“Then, I’ll come in the evening.”

Alicia stood up with a bewildered expression and bowed.

“Please be careful on your way, Your Majesty.”

Cayenne quickly disappeared, and Alicia, still looking bewildered, raised her head.

“What kind of conversation just took place?”

“His Majesty said that he will have dinner at the Empress’s Palace again tonight.”

Agnes wore a smile that couldn’t hide her pride.

Alicia had mentioned divorce, but Agnes, unaware of the real reason, thought it was best for the couple to get along well.

“Why?”

It was a truly innocent question.

“It’s a natural thing between a married couple.”

Agnes was certain, but Alicia’s mind was complicated.

“So, why suddenly?”

She had been married to him for 10 years in her previous life, but this had never been natural.

“His Majesty has been away in Rubeo, so they have grown apart, but the fact that they are a couple has not changed. Or rather, even if it was… isn’t it gone now?”

No, this was not the answer Alicia wanted.

More than that, what was Cayenne’s attitude just now? Even though he hated Lucan, the way he seemed to protect Alicia bothered her.

“The only thing that has changed is that I no longer follow Lucan’s words.”

At least, that was the only change Cayenne knew. Just that alone was enough to create an opportunity to have dinner together for two days in a row. All her hard work in her previous life was trivial.

“Agnes, there will be no dinner tonight.”

“Pardon?”

“I’m sick.”

Alicia said very casually.

“Where do you feel unwell?”

Alicia smiled sweetly at Agnes, who innocently widened her eyes.

“I’m planning to have a fever. It would be good about an hour before dinner.”

“Ah!”

Agnes slowly nodded, finally understanding. She had prided herself on knowing everything about Alicia, but there were countless things she didn’t know about her after she had a high fever.

“Um, Agnes.”

“Yes?”

“Perhaps, did His Majesty have even a little bit of such a such a liking for me just now?”

Alicia’s pink lips were lovely as she asked seriously. If Agnes thought so, why wouldn’t Cayenne?

“Is it just a liking?”

Her jewel-like blue and beautiful eyes stared intently at Agnes. Her lively rose-colored cheeks and elegant features could not have gone unnoticed by Cayenne, who was in his prime.

“I saw it from the side just now, and it was a look of affection.”

Alicia let out a burst of laughter.

“No way.”

She seemed to really not know anything as she waved her hands. Whether they knew it or not, Cayenne’s gaze towards Alicia was filled not only with affection but also with a man’s curiosity.

“It’s true.”

“Eh, no way.”

Agnes stood in front of Alicia with a serious expression as she continued to laugh it off.

“Your Majesty. I swear on my years of experience, it’s true.”

Now the smile completely disappeared from Alicia’s face.

“No way.”

“It’s true.”

Alicia let out a flustered breath.

Cayenne didn’t even exist in her plans to live a new life, but something was going wrong.

“No way. It absolutely can’t be. Anyway, no way.”

She didn’t even want love. Just interest, affection, or respect would have been enough. Those were the things she had craved, begged for, and hoped for, only to give up bitterly on her own.

She couldn’t count how much her heart ached from her sudden and futile death, from accepting loneliness after waking up as the Empress in an unfamiliar world she didn’t even know properly.

It took her 10 years to finally give up even a piece of Cayenne’s heart why, now, was he looking at her?

“There is nothing absolute between a married couple. Besides, there is no reason for the two of you to be on bad terms. Even if there was isn’t it gone now?”

“You’re saying he became interested in me just because I denied Lucan?”

“To say it’s just that, it’s too big of a change.”

Alicia put down her teacup with a clatter at Agnes’s wise answer.

She was right. Alicia had denied and abandoned the world she had lived in until now. When Alicia first opened her eyes, she had obediently listened to Lucan’s words because of the obsession that she had to adapt and live no matter what. Once again, it was a heavy decision that she could never have made if she hadn’t turned back time as Alicia.

“Hoo, unexpected.”

And that decision had changed Cayenne’s actions. It wasn’t affection, but it was certain that it had attracted his attention in a good way.

“Your Majesty.”

Howard, the head attendant who had been listening to their conversation outside the door, came and bowed.

“I met Miller, His Majesty’s head attendant, earlier, and he said that everyone was impressed by how he had a much more elegant dining etiquette at the luncheon with the nobles today than before.”

Oh dear.

Alicia seemed to know now why Cayenne had been in a better mood than usual. At the same time, she couldn’t help but sigh at the thought that she had done something unnecessary.

Really, she didn’t intend to do this well.

“His Majesty was also pleased with that fact.”

Alicia’s head began to throb from the good influence she had unknowingly spread.

Cayenne’s interest was poison to her plan to escape this imperial family and live a leisurely life. Fortunately, she had spent very little time with him yet, so there was still a chance to become strangers again.

Probably, definitely.