The Empress Tames the Tyrant - Chapter 63

Despite scouring the records of the Darius Imperial Family all night, they could not find a single case that perfectly matched Cayenne’s current situation. To begin with, there were no instances where a national wedding had simply failed to conclude properly; furthermore, since most held their weddings as Crown Princes, examples of a marriage held after ascending the throne were rare.

“Your Majesty, for now, I have listed only the cases where marriages were declared void.”

Emma handed a paper to Cayenne, who had been busy sifting through records. She was his most reliable ally in this war.

“These are events from the last 300 years.”

The history of the Darius Imperial Family was so long that some records from the earliest ancestors had been lost. Moreover, since citing examples from an ancient era would not fit modern reality, Cayenne had ordered them to find records only from the past three centuries.

“No.” Cayenne frowned as he looked at the paper. “Exclude cases where the Empress was deposed. And those where she was executed.”

Once a woman ascended to the position of Empress, she could not leave that post until the day she died. The only exceptions were if the Empress’s family committed treason against the Imperial Family or if the Empress herself committed an unpardonable sin; in those cases, everything vanished along with her life.

“Then there is no precedent at all that matches the current situation,” Emma noted.

Cayenne swallowed a sigh at her words. “Not a single one?”

“Yes. To match your situation, there would first need to be a precedent where a wedding ceremony was interrupted, but such a thing has never occurred.”

Cayenne was now keenly realizing just how foolish and terrible his past actions had been. His behavior—leaving without even properly finishing the wedding—was the root cause of this entire crisis.

“If our marriage vows have become void, can we not simply take those vows again?”

“Theoretically, it is possible.”

While holding a second wedding ceremony would look somewhat ridiculous, if it could serve as a breakthrough, he had no reason to refuse.

“However, as Your Majesty knows, a national wedding requires the consent of the Council.”

“Damn it,” Cayenne cursed under his breath. It was Duke Nigel who had brought this issue to the surface. Since there was no one in the Council other than the Chancellor who would side with Cayenne yet, a second marriage was nearly impossible.

“With all due respect, I have something important to tell you.”

At Emma’s cautious words, Cayenne moved to a corner of the room.

“An Archbishop is currently staying in the Imperial Palace.”

Cayenne looked puzzled at the cryptic statement.

“Actually, though it was presumptuous of me, I summoned the Archbishop in advance, fearing that the marriage vows between the two of you might become void.”

Contrary to Emma’s expectations, however, the two had not consummated the marriage even after that night.

“The current Pope is of advanced age and is bedridden. Therefore, I requested that an Archbishop be sent to oversee the affairs of the Imperial Palace as a representative of His Holiness.”

In other words, the Archbishop currently in the palace could exercise the rights of the Pope, who had presided over the wedding. Just how many steps ahead had this elderly woman seen? Cayenne only now remembered the time Emma had left her post to offer “prayers.”

“But the marriage vows are already void.”

“Sometimes, lovers who are not permitted to marry exchange vows before a priest in the middle of the night and become husband and wife.”

This was a method often chosen by young ladies of noble birth seeking to escape marriages arranged by their parents. Any priest belonging to the Holy See could broker a marriage, and even a secret marriage was just as valid.

“Are you telling me to have a secret marriage?”

“I am merely stating that such a method exists.”

Cayenne was willing to do anything if it meant holding onto the bond that connected him to Alicia. But what would happen afterward? After a secret marriage, it was the woman who would face public condemnation and ridicule.

“The method I seek is not one that tarnishes the honor of the Empress,” his deep voice stated flatly. “If I were going to use such a lowly tactic, I would not have come this far.”

Cayenne’s expression was resolute. The way to maintain this marriage normally had been simple: consummate it before the vows lapsed. The problem was that Alicia’s presence had become too precious to him. He had come to want her heart, not just her shell.

“There must be a way to break through their disgusting logic.”

He was a man who preferred moving forward to regretting the past. He did not regret giving Alicia the power to decide on this marriage even for a moment. That remained true now.

“First, keep the Archbishop in the palace in case of an emergency.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Dawn was breaking in the distance. He had a premonition that today would be an incredibly fierce day.

Duke Nigel led a group of nobles into the audience chamber. He was fully prepared with a wealth of legal evidence proving the Emperor’s marriage was void.

“The Emperor is late.”

An hour had passed since the scheduled time, yet Cayenne had not appeared. Duke Nigel let out a smirk, certain that Cayenne had found no solution despite staying up all night.

“Chancellor, you look quite tired. Did you, by chance, stay up all night with His Majesty?”

Duke Nigel aimed his provocation at Blake. He was far from fond of the successor who would take over the public duties he had once monopolized.

“I do not know what you mean,” Blake replied indifferently. He knew well how much his presence must irritate Duke Nigel. However, at this moment, protecting Cayenne’s will was more important than a battle of nerves. “Furthermore, His Majesty is only late because he has several matters that require his authorization.”

When Blake spoke confidently to remind the Duke of his position, Duke Nigel snorted.

“I did not realize His Majesty had so much to do.”

“It is his Empire and his Palace; how could he be idle?”

“Well, there is a major problem in the palace right now.”

Blake felt that if they spoke any further, voices would be raised. He intentionally stepped away to avoid the Duke’s gaze. As Duke Nigel said, there was already a major problem in the palace; there was no need to add the friction of noble infighting.

As soon as dawn broke, Alicia wrote and sent a reply to the Emperor’s letter. The anxiety she had felt all night felt insignificant the moment she saw Cayenne’s handwriting.

[To my wife, Alicia.]

His handwriting was upright and strong, reflecting his character.

[You likely have heard of the situation surrounding us. However, there is no need to listen to those reports at all.]

Even while desperately searching for a solution, Cayenne was worried about Alicia’s heart.

[Alicia, you alone are my only wife, and my vow to uphold that fact is eternal.]

The single line of text embedded itself in Alicia’s heart as a source of certainty. It felt as if he were whispering it directly into her ear.

[I beg you to forgive me for being a poor husband in the past. I ask that you trust me and wait for me.]

Seeing his familiar signature at the bottom brought a faint smile to her lips. Having seen his face almost every day, his absence, forced upon them by others, made her miss him even more.

“We are surely under the same sky, in the same palace,” Alicia murmured, looking out the window. It was so regrettable that their distance was so small, yet she could not look into his eyes and speak. Involuntarily, Alicia pressed her nose to the letter. It was very faint, but she felt as if she could catch a trace of Cayenne’s scent.

“An eternal promise.”

These were words Alicia had never dared to dream of. Yet now, those words made her heart beat more surely than anything else. There was no doubt or anxiety. Cayenne would surely keep his promise.

“I believe in him.”

Regardless of who he was or what his status was, the man Alicia had begun to cherish—her only husband—would never break a promise.

“Even if everyone says otherwise, I believe.”

Even if the whole world said their marriage was over, Cayenne still called Alicia his only wife. If that were the case, Cayenne was also Alicia’s only husband.

“Your Majesty.”

A knock sounded and Agnes entered, offering her respects. She had likely entered late to give Alicia privacy to read the letter alone.

“Yes, how did His Majesty respond?”

While Cayenne’s letter had arrived with the break of day, bad news had arrived alongside it. It was a request from the Great Sage to enter the Empress’s palace today for a private meeting with Alicia. Alicia, who had heard this while receiving the letter, sent word to the Seneschal requesting permission.

“The Seneschal visited just now. His Majesty is very concerned and said you may refuse the Great Sage’s request if you wish, however…”

As expected, Cayenne was trying to protect her.

“The conclusion?”

“He said if the Empress desires it, he will allow it.”

Cayenne did not think of Alicia as someone who was merely weak and could only survive under his protection.

“I see.”

Duke Nigel and the Great Sage of Lucan treated Alicia as a woman who knew nothing of the world, but Cayenne alone knew her true value.

“Are you truly going to meet the Great Sage? His Majesty… would likely prefer you didn’t, deep down.”

“I know. But he is trusting me.”

Cayenne’s answer meant that even if he found the idea of her meeting the Great Sage unpleasant, he would follow her lead if she wished for it, believing she had her reasons.

“No one knows the Great Sage’s true intentions.”

“Which is why I must meet him.”

The Great Sage had joined Duke Nigel in threatening this marriage. In other words, it was safe to say he was Alicia’s enemy right now.

“You cannot fight a war if you do not know your enemy.”

Alicia wore a determined smile. In this life, she would never again surrender the rights or decision-making power of her life to anyone.