The Empress Tames the Tyrant - Chapter 52

In her previous life, she never had the chance to face him like this. Back then, Alicia was lost in confusion and fear after falling into this world, and this massive man was the primary source of that terror.

“What kind of man would not protect his own wife?”

Cayenne, once so cold and distant, was now looking into Alicia’s eyes and speaking with desperate sincerity. Witnessing his heart laid bare over and over again was enough to melt the lingering resentment of her lonely and miserable past life.

“Your Majesty and I… we knew so little about each other.”

Their mistake had been allowing themselves to be bound by the titles of Emperor and Empress, never once treating each other as individual human beings.

“I… was afraid of you.”

Cayenne’s brow furrowed with regret. Though he had never intended to cause her pain, his past coldness was beyond excuse.

“When we met again this time, you didn’t seem afraid at all.”

“No.”

She could never tell him the truth: that she had lived in another world for a long time before falling into this story, only to live as his wife once before and die a wretched death.

“Because…”

And this was not merely by Alicia’s choice. At the same time she had forgotten the name of her original world, she discovered that whenever she tried to explain the truth to someone, her lips would freeze and her voice would fail. This was why she could not even tell Agnes, who had stayed by her side until the very end.

“I wanted to face Your Majesty at least once and find out what kind of person you really are.”

The life of an Empress without an Emperor had been miserable. Having seen its end, Alicia feared nothing more than that prolonged solitude. In fact, if she were forced to repeat such a life, she would rather die early and cleanly.

“If Your Majesty had been angry at my blunt attitude… I was prepared to accept death.”

Cayenne winced at the grim confession. Yet, considering their past, there was plenty of evidence to justify why Alicia would feel that way.

“I truly hope your assessment of me has changed by now.”

“At the very least, I don’t think you will kill me,” Alicia said with a faint smile. “Even if I keep pushing you away.”

Cayenne nodded immediately. “I admit it.”

Since when had this woman’s every word become so vital? That single glance, the sensation of her touch against his fingertips—everything about her felt momentous.

“If this were a game, I would have lost. A long time ago, in fact.”

Whether he liked it or not, Cayenne had found himself unable to do anything but follow Alicia’s lead. It had made the word stop the most hated word in his vocabulary, but what could he do? It was already done.

“I have no idea what tactic you used to defeat me so easily, but regardless, it is my defeat.”

Cayenne took Alicia’s hand and pressed a light kiss to the back of it. Though they had crossed far more intimate lines the night before, having his lips touch her hand in the broad light of day made Alicia’s face flush crimson as she withdrew her hand.

“That… is a state secret.”

Seeing her tart response and the way she pursed her plump lips, the intense and burning memories of last night naturally flooded back to him.

“I believe we have more important things to discuss right now,” Alicia said.

Cayenne wore a regretful smile. He had finally found the person he wanted to protect as a man, yet time seemed to slip away helplessly whenever he looked at her face. Why had he not realized this at first?

“If you promise to call me by my name whenever we are alone, I shall tell you,” Cayenne joked, his expression clearly showing he was at least partially serious.

“I will… think about it.”

“Is the winner the one who decides the rules of the game?”

“Let’s say that is the case.”

At her bell-like voice, Cayenne could not help but smile and nod. The man who had struck terror into the hearts of allies and enemies alike on the battlefields of Rubeo was now as submissive as a well-trained beast.

“Uncovering Duke Nigel’s treason was largely thanks to you.”

“To me?” Alicia asked, bewildered.

Cayenne nodded. “You asked me why we always win yet the barbarians keep coming. You asked why their numbers seem to keep growing.”

“Ah, that was… only because I was so ignorant.”

“No. Because of that, I realized there was a blade at my throat.” Cayenne’s expression was far too serious for a joke. “For at least the last two years, the barbarians attacking Rubeo have been acting on the weapons, mercenaries, and funding provided by Duke Nigel.”

“Heavens…”

Alicia knew she could not speak of the even more horrific things Duke Nigel would do in the future. It seemed she was under a curse that prevented her from telling anyone about her mysterious experience.

“Indeed. A man who is one of the Ten Great Houses of the Empire was funding the slaughter of his own imperial subjects.”

Despite his efforts to suppress it, rage seeped into Cayenne’s face and voice. “I cannot forgive that.”

Alicia nodded. She knew well that he had been a valiant warrior in Rubeo, never sparing his own body in battle.

“If I had… only feared Your Majesty as I did before, I would have thought your reason was merely anger.”

Now, Alicia saw Cayenne as a man and a person.

“But right now, Your Majesty is grieving for the sacrifices of Rubeo.”

She had lived her whole life not knowing him, yet she wondered why she could see into his heart so clearly now. It was similar to the reason she could not control her passion the night before.

“Yes. I can no longer view them as fellow humans, nor can I forgive them, nor can I allow them to harm my people.”

Cayenne had never imagined sharing such a conversation with a woman. But seeing Alicia nod with such resolve made his goal even firmer.

“Today, I exercised the unique authority of the Darius House. I used that cursed Imperial Seal, the thing I hated most.” There was no regret in his voice, but the bitterness was heavy. “No matter how many men like Duke Nigel there have been in the history of this Empire, they could not scale that wall. I suppose I should be grateful to my father and my ancestors.”

Cayenne’s words were laced with self-loathing. Having heard Emma’s stories about his birth and upbringing, Alicia could dare to empathize with his feelings.

“It belonged to you from the beginning.” Alicia’s white fingers hesitated for a moment before she carefully tapped the tip of Cayenne’s hand. “So it is only right that you use it.”

She knew how much Cayenne hated his father. But for now, his choice was the correct one.

“Even though it comes from a man who has never held its duties or rights until now?”

“Yes, even so.”

Alicia spoke the same words Cayenne had used earlier with absolute certainty. In her blue eyes, Cayenne saw the recognition and conviction he had searched for his entire life.

“The tool or the method does not matter. Such things will naturally move according to the will of the person using them.”

The answer Cayenne had been thirsting for came from those beautiful lips.

“Is that so?” Cayenne nodded bitterly, and Alicia gathered her courage to take his hand. This time, it was she who reached out.

“Yes.”

She tried to maintain a composed expression, but her heart was pounding frantically. She hadn’t realized it before, but holding his hot hand made her realize how cold her own hands were, creating a strange sensation.

“I am… on your side, Your Majesty.” Her voice trembled at the end of her brave declaration.

“That is all I need.” Cayenne wrapped both of his hands around hers. His hands were hot, giving weight to the small comfort she had offered. “If my only wife takes my side, I shall fear nothing in this world.”

These words were also sincere.

And so, Alicia realized that she could no longer leave him as she had originally planned. At least in this life, he and she could not remain strangers.

“But my choice today might change your life… I suppose that is unavoidable.”

Alicia shook her head at his face, which was full of guilt.

“I cannot take Duke Nigel’s head immediately, but war has essentially begun. If that is the case, the Great Sage of Lucan will not remain idle.”

It was the alliance between Duke Nigel and the Great Sage that had made Alicia the Empress of this Empire. Therefore, peaceful days could not possibly continue.

“Do not worry about me,” Alicia said without hesitation. “You know, don’t you? That I have forgotten everything since the fever.”

In this era, a high fever was a perfect excuse. Thanks to it, Alicia had become a “foolish” woman who had forgotten Lucan’s teachings, and Cayenne had begun to look at her because of it.

“I know nothing.” Her blue eyes looked at him calmly. “So no matter who comes, they won’t be able to trouble me.”

Alicia could handle the matters of Lucan herself.

“Even if it is the Great Sage… I won’t even recognize his face because of my condition.”

It was a powerful show of support for Cayenne. “But he is your family. Are you sure you should…”

“I don’t remember him.” This was the truth. “If we were truly family, I would have remembered.”

Cayenne, harboring similar wounds, understood her meaning immediately. “I see.”

He reached out again and gripped Alicia’s hand firmly. His slow movements signaled what was coming, but Alicia did not pull away.

“To tell the truth, I also came today to ask about the palace laws.” His body temperature was warm, just like the gaze and the tender voice he directed at her now. “Alicia, you are my wife… so can we be a family?”

It was not a question of palace law, but a question from Cayenne himself.

“No.” He corrected himself. “Can we truly be a married couple someday?”

He wasn’t talking about finalization or customary law. Right now, he simply wanted Alicia.

“I do not know.” Alicia turned her head to look out at the garden.

“That is enough for me.” Cayenne gripped Alicia’s slender wrist. He could feel her pulse thumping against his fingertips. “Since you didn’t say no.”

The corners of Cayenne’s mouth tilted up slightly. Alicia was left to stare out at the empty winter garden for a long time.