The Empress Tames the Tyrant - Chapter 26

Alicia, dressed in a white nightgown, remained wide awake, lost in deep thought. Even as midnight passed and the clock struck one in the morning, sleep eluded her, her mind a tangled mess of reflections.

It was then that a soft knock, knock sounded. Agnes entered the bedchamber, looking not worried, but utterly flustered.

“What is the matter?” Alicia asked.

“The… the Emperor’s attendant is here, Your Majesty. He is asking if His Majesty may visit the Empress’s Palace now.”

The look of bewilderment on Agnes’s face instantly mirrored itself on Alicia’s.

“Now?”

“Yes. In truth, His Majesty has already nearly arrived; he only sent word to ask if Your Majesty was already asleep.”

The lights in Alicia’s room were still burning bright. Since the mistress of the palace was still awake, the rest of the Empress’s Palace was naturally illuminated as well. Cayenne, who was already nearby, would have seen that clearly.

“We must receive him.”

This wasn’t a request; it was a notification, issued the moment he saw the lights flickering in her windows.

“I shall relay the word,” Agnes replied. She bowed hurriedly, rushed out to whisper to the attendant, and returned just as quickly. “You must change your clothes at once, Your Majesty.”

“Ah, right.”

Realizing she was wearing nothing but a thin, white nightgown, Alicia scrambled out of her seat. Agnes flew to the wardrobe, pulling out the simplest garment she could find. Meanwhile, Alicia stole a glance out the window.

“Agnes, there’s no time.”

The Emperor’s procession had already entered the gardens of the Empress’s Palace. Knowing Cayenne’s characteristically long and rapid stride, there wouldn’t be a spare second to change.

“Just give me a robe.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Sensing the urgency, Agnes slipped a modest robe over Alicia’s nightgown and tied the sash tightly.

“Since you haven’t laid down yet, your hair still looks lovely. I will just apply a light touch of rouge.”

Alicia nodded. While Agnes carefully applied the tint to her lips, the sounds of the palace stirring reached their ears.

“His Imperial Majesty arrives!”

Unlike his usual private visits, the Emperor was accompanied by a full procession today. The Chief Attendant’s shrill cry and the sound of trumpets tore through the silence of the night.

“Let’s go.”

Tucking her robe tightly around her, Alicia hurried out of the room and down the stairs. There, standing in the center of the hall, was Cayenne, dressed in a formal uniform she had rarely seen.

“I greet the Sun of the Empire,” Alicia said, dropping into a graceful curtsy.

Cayenne watched her for a moment, a faint smile playing on his lips, before he spoke.

“Rise.”

It was the first time he had ever told her to dispense with formalities so quickly.

“You are most gracious.”

Alicia lifted her head, looking at him with a slight daze.

“I was taking a walk to clear my head after the Grand Council when I saw the lights of the Empress’s Palace, so I decided to stop by.”

His voice was low and steady as usual, but his appearance in the black formal uniform was striking. His tall stature, broad shoulders, and the way the tailored fabric clung to his toned physique exuded not just masculine charm, but an overwhelming sense of majesty. As he took a step closer, his distinct scent wafted toward her, making her heart flutter against her will.

“I apologize, Your Majesty. I was about to retire for the night, so I am not properly dressed. Please forgive me.”

“It matters not. I am the one who arrived at such an ungodly hour.”

He sounded exactly like the Cayenne she knew, yet the change in his attire made her feel strangely tense.

“Your Majesty, perhaps you should escort His Majesty to the drawing room?” Agnes whispered to the stunned Alicia. It wouldn’t do for the two of them to stand awkwardly in the entrance hall.

“Ah—then, I shall lead you to the drawing room, Your Majesty. The usual…”

Alicia started to speak, but Agnes quickly shook her head. Because of the late hour, the large first-floor drawing room normally used for receiving the Emperor had already been closed for the night.

“Ah, since it is late, I must take you elsewhere. Agnes, which room is ready for His Majesty?”

“There is the small parlor attached to Your Majesty’s bedchamber.”

Cayenne’s expression stiffened slightly, but Alicia, failing to notice, looked back at him.

“Would that be acceptable, Your Majesty?”

“…Well, I suppose it shall have to do.”

As Alicia bowed her head slightly, Cayenne followed the Chief Attendant up the stairs with a stride even faster than usual. Seeing Alicia so casually invite him toward her private quarters had instantly cleared the irritation of the Grand Council from his mind. He had never even been near the Empress’s bedchamber before. Being invited to a parlor right next to it at this hour naturally stirred certain thoughts.

“Your Majesty, please enter here.”

The attendant gestured toward a luxurious sofa. Though the parlor was small, it was decorated with cozy, high-end touches that gave off a comfortable atmosphere. Soon, another attendant arrived and placed fruit, cookies, wine, and tea on the small table.

“If you are hungry, I shall have a meal prepared,” Alicia offered.

“This is enough.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

As the attendant bowed, Alicia, still in her robe, entered and offered another greeting.

“Your Majesty, if you would permit it, I shall go and change my clothes.”

“Enough. You needn’t be so formal with me tonight.”

Cayenne had no patience left for waiting. He had felt so stifled earlier; seeing the lights of the Empress’s Palace had brought him more relief than he cared to admit.

“Sit.”

“Yes, I am honored.”

Alicia gave a small bow and sat on the sofa opposite him. Her platinum blonde hair, free of any ornaments, flowed like silk, and her modest robe over the white nightgown gave her a look of pure, untouched elegance.

“I apologize that the parlor is so cramped.”

“No, I find I prefer it here.”

Cayenne reached out and poured the wine himself. He moved so quickly that there was no time for Alicia to stop him or for an attendant to intervene.

“Your Majesty, allow me,” an attendant began.

Cayenne simply waved his hand without a word. It was a command for everyone to leave. All the palace staff bowed and quietly exited the room. Though they were left alone, Alicia wasn’t particularly flustered. Had they not spent ten years in her previous life with nothing happening between them? She had lived far too long believing there was no romantic spark between them at all.

“Does the Empress care for a drink?”

“I… do not know.”

In her previous life, she never had the chance to drink. It was partly the teachings of Lucan and partly because her life was too strained for such luxuries. Though she had ended her days with a beer in her original life, she didn’t know Alicia’s tolerance.

“Right. Lucan forbids alcohol, does it not?”

She had served him fried chicken and dark beer once before, but it hadn’t tasted like the modern beer she remembered. Wine, however, might be different. Seeing the red liquid shimmering in Cayenne’s glass, Alicia felt a spark of curiosity.

“If you would allow it… I would like to try a glass.”

When she spoke up bravely, Cayenne let out a short, dry laugh.

“You really have changed.”

He picked up the bottle himself and filled Alicia’s glass.

“I am overwhelmed by your grace.”

“Are you truly?”

“Yes. It is an honor to receive a drink directly from Your Majesty.”

Cayenne sighed and drained his glass in one gulp. “Will you do me a favor?”

He said favor, not order.

“Yes…?” Alicia watched his face, but as usual, his indifferent expression gave nothing away.

“I know you are upholding the etiquette of the Imperial Palace, but it makes me uncomfortable.” He poured himself another glass. “So, when we are alone, I would prefer if you stopped using words like ‘overwhelmed,’ ‘apologetic,’ or ‘honored.'”

Alicia’s blue eyes widened. If she took those words out of her vocabulary, she would have nothing left to say to the Emperor.

“Your Majesty, I am… forgive me, but that would be a breach of etiquette.”

“No. It is between the Emperor and the Empress, and I have decreed it, so it is fine. From now on, if you use those formal pleasantries when we are alone, I shall punish you.”

Alicia couldn’t hide her bewilderment. She had briefly forgotten what an absurd man Cayenne could be—punishing someone for following the law.

“Since you just said you were ‘overwhelmed’ a moment ago, your punishment is to finish your glass.”

One corner of Cayenne’s mouth tilted up slightly. Alicia, curious about the taste anyway, nodded and slowly finished the wine in her glass.

The beer had been a failure, but the wine was far smoother and more enchanting than the cheap varieties she had tasted in her past life.

“How is it?”

“It is smooth and sweet.”

Alicia smiled. The alcohol hit her faster than expected, and her cheeks flushed a soft pink. There was a tiny trace of wine on the corner of her lip; Cayenne found her expression so amusing he had to twitch his lips to keep from laughing out loud.

“I didn’t realize I had such a good drinking companion in the palace all along,” Cayenne said, his tone much brighter than when he first arrived. “Today’s Grand Council was, as usual, the worst.”

He volunteered information she hadn’t even asked for.

“It was a stroke of luck that the lights were still on here.”

Alicia sipped her wine to hide her shyness. In her past life, this man had looked at her with contempt and blame; now, he was looking at her with an entirely different gaze.

“To be honest, my head was heavy and I was in a foul mood before I came here. Now, I find I am not thinking of those troubles at all.”

His voice and expression were quite tender. It was a subtle shift from his usual self, but Alicia, who had spent ten years watching his cold face, could see the difference clearly.

“Your glass is empty.”

He reached out to fill it again.

“You don’t have to force yourself just because it is a drink from me. You may have tea or water if you wish.”

“Yes, I am hon—”

Alicia caught herself just in time. Cayenne flashed a mischievous, boyish grin.

“I’m afraid you’ll have to take a punishment for that one.”

His eyes sparkled with playfulness. Feeling overwhelmed by his gaze, Alicia looked away and drained the glass in one go. Cayenne didn’t hide his satisfied smile.

“The Empress is clever. You know what to do to avoid further punishment, don’t you?”

“Yes.”

She had returned to being twenty and had changed so much already, yet Cayenne’s human warmth still felt foreign to her. His gaze, his attitude, and the kindness in his gestures were things she was still learning to accept.