The Empress Tames the Tyrant - Chapter 70

As soon as the quick-witted Agnes left the room, Alicia hurriedly opened the book. It was a volume written exclusively for the Imperial Wedding, specifically for the Empress who would undergo it, and it contained only the most essential information.

[After the wedding vows are complete, and following a period of rest in their respective drawing rooms, the Empress shall change into her second dress to share her first tea time with the Emperor.]

Did I change dresses then? Alicia could not recall the details clearly, as their original wedding had been so shockingly interrupted.

[Thereafter, the Empress shall change into her third dress to participate in the banquet with the nobility.]

Alicia flipped past the tedious parts. She was not having a wedding ceremony right now anyway, so past procedures did not matter.

[The Empress shall depart the banquet early in the evening to prepare for the night in her bedchamber. The Emperor shall remain at the banquet a while longer, but shall arrive at the Empress’s palace with a priest before midnight.]

She was glad she was reading this alone. Her face flushed just looking at the words. What she truly wanted to know was the conclusion of the wedding ritual, exactly what happened next.

[The bedchamber of the Empress’s palace shall be decorated entirely with white bedding, and all items except for the bedside candles and water shall be removed. Furthermore, the Empress, having bathed, must await the Emperor wearing nothing but a white nightgown.]

Alicia’s imagination ran wild. The image of herself waiting for him in an empty bed, lit by a single candle and clad only in white silk, kept flickering through her mind, making her lips feel dry.

[Thereafter, when the Emperor enters the bedchamber.]

As she reached this passage, she could feel her heart thumping against her ribs.

[The Empress shall simply follow the Emperor’s will.]

Alicia, who had unconsciously held her breath, let out a long sigh. The most crucial moment was described with frustrating brevity.

“Well, I was a fool to expect anything else from Imperial protocol.”

However, it was not entirely useless. It told her, at the very least, how she was expected to receive him. Of course, there was also a section about offering prayers with the Archbishop the morning after their first night, but she paid that no mind.

“I will give you all decision-making power regarding our marriage.”

Cayenne’s low voice felt vivid in her ears. He had kept that promise. Even when he approached her with a passion as hot as fire, he would suppress his instincts and withdraw the moment Alicia told him to stop.

“The power to decide is mine.”

Until now, that power had served as a reason to push him away. Alicia had allowed nothing more than a kiss, claiming she was not ready, and every time, Cayenne had forced himself to back down without hiding the heat in his eyes.

“If there is a right, there must also be an obligation.”

Alicia looked back at the words in the book. The instruction to “simply follow his will” once he entered the room was already ill-suited for the two of them.

“And my heart.”

She placed her hand over her racing heart. There was no point in denying it; she already missed his warmth and his scent.

“It’s decided.”

She would no longer let the happiness of the present slip away out of fear for an uncertain future.

“I won’t regret it again.”

What could be more miserable than being left alone to regret the past? She had had enough of that in her previous life.

The sun had set and the night had grown deep, but Cayenne remained in his office, unable to rest. When a knock sounded, his entire focus shifted to the door.

“Who is it!”

Contrary to his hopes, the man who entered was Bern, the former Commander of the Rubeo Knights and current Commander of the Darius Knights. Knowing the gravity of the situation, Bern approached with a solemn expression and bowed.

“I greet His Imperial Majesty.”

“Speak quickly.”

“The deployment of the Holy Knights who arrived at the palace is complete. They will maintain close cooperation with the existing Rubeo knights.”

It was not the news he was most desperate for, but it was welcome enough for Cayenne to nod. Though he was currently wielding power as an Emperor with ancient legitimacy, there were limits to that authority.

“Realistically, what is the extent of my military strength?”

“Though it is unlikely to come to that, it is enough to suppress any incident that might occur within the capital,” the Commander replied cautiously. There were issues that the Emperor’s authority alone could not resolve. If Cayenne did not bend his will over time, there was a possibility Duke Nigel might commit open treason. Even if he did not, Cayenne needed to hold military power to truly secure the throne.

“As Your Majesty previously commanded, we will not slacken our efforts until we possess this level of strength even without the cooperation of the Holy Knights.”

“And Rubeo? How is it there?”

“As if by magic, the attacks by mercenaries and barbarians have ceased.”

The Commander was already aware of Duke Nigel’s atrocities. It was hollow to realize that the raids stopped simply because the Emperor pressured the Duke politically and hinted through the Chancellor that he was aware of the treasonous acts.

“So far, the knights from the County of Hyer have done well, so there are no casualties.”

Only then did Cayenne’s expression soften with relief. Although his most precious person was now in the Imperial Palace, he had never let go of his responsibility toward Rubeo.

“Your Majesty, I know you are busy with many matters, but if I may be so bold, I believe you should gather the nobles and hold a military review tomorrow.”

Bern spoke carefully. Having lived on the battlefield for years, he knew human nature better than anyone. Might was not something to be expressed in numbers or words alone.

“They must see Your Majesty’s dignity with their own eyes. Especially the capital nobles who do not know war, they must see it for themselves to understand what true power is.”

A military review at a time like this. Though it was a necessary task, Cayenne’s heart felt heavy. Until recently, he had been thinking about making his first official appearance as a married couple with Alicia. His current circumstances felt bitter.

“Your Majesty.”

“I understand. Tell the Chancellor to issue the decree.”

“Yes. I shall take my leave.”

As Bern exited, Cayenne gazed out at the indifferent night sky. Just then, he felt another presence behind him.

“Did you forget something?” Cayenne asked irritably, still looking out the window.

“Your Majesty, a carrier pigeon has arrived.”

The voice did not belong to Bern. At Glenn’s urgent tone, Cayenne spun around faster than a lightning strike.

“Just now, from the Holy See.”

Before Glenn could finish, Cayenne reflexively braced one hand on the desk, vaulted over it, and snatched the letter. Glenn could only blink at a movement faster than any he had seen on a battlefield.

“Why is this preamble so long!”

Cayenne muttered impatiently as his eyes scanned past the useless protocols of the Holy See. Terms like God, etiquette, and duty meant nothing to his dark eyes right now. Then, near the end of the letter, Cayenne stopped abruptly.

[It is valid.]

Those three words made Cayenne’s heart race wildly. Fearing he had misread them out of sheer desperation, he rubbed his eyes and read the passage again.

[This Holy See recognizes that the wedding vows of the Imperial Marriage were delayed due to the period of mourning, and agrees that said wedding vows remain valid until next week.]

For a moment, Cayenne almost shouted for joy. Had there ever been a more relieved and joyful moment in his life?

“Your Majesty?”

Glenn called out, worried by Cayenne’s unreadable expression. But as soon as Cayenne looked up, all of Glenn’s worries vanished.

“Congratulations, Sire.”

Cayenne nodded vigorously.

“It is only natural. Since my only wife is the Empress, our marriage must be valid and legitimate!”

Though his words were arrogant, his step was already light.

“Glenn, go to the Empress’s palace yourself and deliver this news. There is no need to inform anyone else. In fact, let’s keep it a secret.”

“Yes. Uh, what should I tell her?”

“Ask Lady Emma for that! I’m busy right now.”

“What? Ah, yes.”

The moment Glenn bowed and left, Cayenne pumped his fist and let out a triumphant cry.

“It’s done!”

Through this brief separation, he realized how much he had missed being by Alicia’s side. He would not have been able to forgive himself if she had been hurt by this series of events.

“I can see her now.”

Cayenne had kept his promise.

And now, there was not a single reason to hesitate. Just then, Lady Emma, who had sent Glenn off, knocked and entered. It was indeed her turn to step in.

“Your Majesty, congratulations.”

“Congratulations for what? It was merely a confirmation of an obvious fact.”

Seeing Cayenne smirk with confidence, Emma could not help but smile herself.

“Sir Glenn will deliver the news secretly to the Empress’s palace, so all is well. Now Your Majesty can finally get some rest.”

“Rest?” Cayenne asked, looking genuinely puzzled.

“Did you not stay up all through last night? Since the problem is resolved, you should sleep well tonight and tomorrow at the military review with the Empress.”

“Tomorrow?”

No matter how insightful the lady was, she could not possibly fathom the feelings of a man burning with long-suppressed desire.

“I am going to the Empress’s palace immediately.”

Cayenne blurted it out and began to stride toward the door, then suddenly skidded to a halt.

“No, you are right.”

His gaze was fixed on the empty air rather than on Emma.

“I am tired, so I should take a bath.”

His words came out more bluntly than usual due to his embarrassment, but Emma’s smile did not fade.

“I will prepare it at once.”

On this long-awaited night, a bright full moon shone softly over the black sky.