The Empress Tames the Tyrant - Chapter 9

Alicia buried her face in the pillow, biting her lip.

She became Empress at nineteen, and now she’s twenty, such a young age.

“I can’t waste my life here any longer.”

In her original life, she wanted to live a real life, but she didn’t have the ability to do so.

“There’s no guarantee I can go back.”

In modern times, even securing a room to lie down in was a great feat, and it would have been even harder for her, who had no parents or family.

“It might be good, this might be the end.”

Still, it was too early to give up.

“Not a single person was truly on my side.”

Even though she was now in the difficult position of Empress, she had Agnes, a staunch ally. Also, the excuse that the world was harsh and she had no choice but to live that way no longer worked.

Because she knew what would happen to Alicia’s life in ten years if it continued like this.

“It might be an opportunity.”

If she had to live Alicia’s life twice, she had to change the root of it. It wasn’t such a grand goal. If she was satisfied with just a quiet house to live in, rather than becoming a proper Empress or Empress Dowager who would wield power in the future yes, what she needed was a divorce.

“It’s not that different in this era.”

After suffering from a high fever, she had a week.

During that time, Alicia read books that were practically helpful instead of looking at Lucan’s tedious letters.

“The breakdown of a marriage presided over by the Papal States is theoretically possible.”

People live the same everywhere, they said.

The judge who said he would see her in four weeks in her original life and the judgment of the Papal States here were not so different.

Of course, here, a woman cannot freely request a divorce. It was even more so if the other party was the Emperor. It was not possible to simply laugh at the time Alicia had endured alone.

“A woman can only request a divorce, when she fails to fulfill her duties as a wife or cannot produce an heir, only with the meaning of self-reflection.”

She knew it was a ridiculous story. Two people who got married and became husband and wife have the same responsibilities, so why should the blame for the breakdown fall on the woman?

Even in the past, Alicia had been criticized as an Empress who could not produce an heir because the Emperor had not touched her even once.

“You have to look at the sky to pick the stars.”

Tsk, Alicia clicked her tongue.

It wasn’t even her original life, but the memory of living as Alicia for the past 10 years and then dying remained as a deep wound in her heart.

“Now and in the future that man has no intention of touching me.”

Cayenne had not looked back at the Empress who had been so devoted for the past 10 years.

Therefore, the grounds for divorce were already sufficient.

“Lucan wouldn’t need a fool like me either.”

Everyone’s interests were aligned.

Cayenne despised the very existence of the Empress, and Lucan wanted an Empress who would convey their will to the Emperor and make him follow it, so Alicia, who was neither one nor the other, would be unnecessary.

“And perhaps, one more possibility.”

Alicia held tightly to a platinum necklace with no decorations.

The necklace, which was so plain that even Cayenne didn’t point it out, opened like petals when a small button on the side was pressed, revealing the contents.

-Evangeline was a very beautiful and kind person. She had blue eyes like Her Majesty the Empress now.

When the platinum ornament split, a blue jewel like Alicia’s eyes appeared. It was a simple device, but others didn’t know.

-Just before her last breath, she entrusted me with the baby.

Finding her mother’s existence in her previous life was when she was already dying. In Lucan, there was no individual, and all children were raised collectively, so she didn’t realize it.

You must cherish this keepsake.

Agnes was her mother’s maid.

And she wanted Alicia’s peaceful life, so she hid various facts until the end.

Evangeline wanted the baby’s happiness.

Even if she could get out of this imperial family right away, she needed realistic measures. Divorce meant abdication as Empress, and no one would welcome such a woman. In particular, Lucan would not be pleased with Alicia, who had not fulfilled her role. Even if they accepted Alicia, she would have to live as if confined to a monastery for the rest of her life.

“Obeying Lucan is not the happiness I want.”

Alicia caressed the blue jewel. In her past life, she couldn’t even think of getting out of the Empress’s position, so the possibility she had passed over was now shining at the tip of her white finger.

-Tristan is a very small, but rich and peaceful kingdom. Evangeline, the only princess, left Lucan and fell in love at first sight with your father, who was exploring the world.

In her past life, she had wondered about her parents several times. According to Agnes, her father was a generous and handsome young man who hated Lucan’s bondage and had a passionate heart.

“I can’t understand.”

And the princess of the small kingdom met that man, abandoned all her freedom, went to Lucan, gave birth to Alicia, and died not long after.

“What is it about love with a man that’s so important?”

If Alicia had been born as a beautiful princess of a small kingdom, no matter how wonderful a man appeared, she would not have abandoned her freedom and entered a place like Lucan.

“Your Majesty the Empress, I have something to report.”

Chamberlain Howard’s voice broke Alicia’s dazed thoughts.

“I apologize for disturbing your rest.”

“No.”

The palace ladies of the Empress’s Palace were always calm and wise.

“What’s going on?”

When Alicia gave him her attention, Howard bowed his head and paid his respects again.

“Tomorrow, His Majesty the Emperor will have lunch with Duke Nigel and other nobles, and he has ordered the Empress’s Palace to take charge of the preparations.”

Alicia looked puzzled at Howard’s words. No matter how good the Empress’s Palace was, it couldn’t be better than those who directly served the Emperor, so it was strange that he would specifically request it.

“He has ordered that it be prepared exactly like the dinner you had with His Majesty the Empress before.”

Alicia’s beautiful eyebrows tilted slightly.

The dinner the two had at the Empress’s Palace minimized all formalities and was not so great that it could be held again with the nobles. However, she couldn’t say that nothing came to mind.

“First, reply to His Majesty the Emperor’s Chamberlain that you understand and call Agnes.”

“Yes.”

A moment later, Howard brought Agnes and paid his respects again.

“You heard the story?”

“Yes. But…”

Agnes’s concerns were clear.

“Just follow what His Majesty has ordered. However, it would be good to increase the number of dishes a little more than that day’s dinner. But the overall course should not change.”

The reason why Cayenne enjoyed and sought out the dinner at the Empress’s Palace was probably because of the simplification of etiquette and the comfort he felt through a small play that catered to him.

“Then, how about keeping everything else the same and serving three kinds of steamed and grilled meat as the main dish? I will also put effort into the dessert.”

“Do that. It would be good for Howard to go to the luncheon tomorrow and serve His Majesty.”

“I will follow your orders.”

In her past life, the reason why Cayenne was called a tyrant and distanced himself from communication with the nobles was ultimately due to his contradictory upbringing as an Emperor who was not aristocratic.

The criticism towards the incompetent Empress who could not fulfill her role and the dissatisfaction towards the Emperor who was no different from a barbarian were almost the same.

❖ ❖ ❖

Cayenne’s expression softened when he heard the news that the Empress’s Palace would fully assist with tomorrow’s luncheon.

“Step down. I need to rest now.”

“Yes, Your Majesty. Then, I will step down.”

When Glenn paid his respects and stepped down, Emma, the head maid who had been waiting outside, came in and paid her respects.

“I greet His Majesty the Emperor.”

Cayenne had become more dignified in the meantime, but Emma, who was over middle age, was becoming an old woman.

“The Chamberlain has gone to the Empress’s Palace, so I will serve you instead.”

With skillful hands, Emma took off Cayenne’s outer garment and had a maid bring a washbasin made of silver with washing water. From the neat sleeping clothes to the wrinkle-free bed, all preparations were perfect.

“Your Majesty, please lift your arm for a moment so I can put on your sleeping clothes.”

“It’s okay.”

Cayenne shook off the hand serving him and threw off his shirt wherever he pleased. It was because of the habit of taking off his top comfortably in Lubeo.

“I am sorry, Your Majesty.”

“Anyway, this is the Emperor’s private chamber. Don’t force etiquette even here.”

“Yes.”

It was a strict imperial order, so Emma had no choice but to bow her head. As Emma, who had served Cayenne’s late mother in the past, it was only heartbreaking to see Cayenne, who had grown up so strongly, acting like an ordinary commoner boy.

If Cayenne had grown up in the imperial palace, receiving the care of his mother and following good teachers like the emperors of the past, he would have been completely different.

“Then, I will bring chrysanthemum tea for a good night’s sleep. Also…”

“There’s no need to make things complicated just because I’ve returned. The imperial chamber is only for sleeping, and when I sleep, a glass of water is enough.”

Cayenne’s upper body, which had thrown off his coat, had broad shoulders and firm muscles, giving him a very sturdy feeling, making even the old woman Emma embarrassed and turn her gaze away.

However, when she saw Cayenne pick up a dusty sword and place it at the head of the bed, she couldn’t help but keep her mouth shut.

“I am sorry, Your Majesty.”

Emma’s eyes, which had no choice but to lift her gaze, caught sight of Cayenne’s large and small scars. Some seemed to be very old and faint, and small scratches seemed to have occurred just recently, and there were too many to count.

“Your Majesty, how did you hurt your precious body so much? I should call the royal physician right away tomorrow.”

“This much will heal if I leave it alone.”

Emma barely swallowed a sigh. She had said he was a commoner boy earlier, but even such a child would apply ointment when he got hurt. She could only imagine how heartbroken Cayenne’s late mother would be if she saw this.

“It’s okay. It doesn’t hurt at all.”

Cayenne’s words, spat out, were unpretentious and friendly.

“It means you don’t have to make such a dark expression.”

“I am sorry.”

The nobles of the capital said that Cayenne was similar to barbarians and was a cruel and bloodthirsty madman, but the man Emma saw now was just a simple young man who was not good at etiquette.

“Come to think of it, you are in charge of all the maids in this imperial palace, aren’t you?”

“That is so.”

The Emperor’s Chamberlain and Head Maid were high in status and had considerable power. Originally, they would have been busy serving the Emperor, but because Cayenne was always away from the imperial palace, Emma was mainly busy taking care of the entire imperial palace.

“How has the Empress been?”

Cayenne, who had slumped down on the bed, asked an unexpected question. Why was Cayenne, who had not even stepped on the threshold of the nuptial chamber that Emma and the maids had prepared with all their efforts, now showing interest in the Empress?

“Her Majesty the Empress has always managed the Empress’s Palace and the inner palace with a gentle appearance. However, as you know, she was recently critically ill with a high fever, so I understand that she has temporarily stepped down from all work.”

It was a good answer, but it was not what Cayenne was curious about.

“Besides that, what does the Empress usually do? I mean, her daily life.”

“Of course, she spends her day according to the established laws of the imperial palace.”

The more she answered, the less he understood, so there was no use asking more.

“If you are curious, how about I write it down and present it to you so you can see it when you are free tomorrow?”

Cayenne nodded at the suggestion that he liked the most.

“Well, I’ll see it if I’m really free.”

The way he threw out the words as if he had no interest at all, even though he had asked about the Empress’s daily life until just now, was still like a boy, so Emma quietly smiled.

“Write it down anyway.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

When Cayenne waved his hand in the air, Emma paid her respects and quietly stepped down.