“…What brings Your Majesty here?”
“I think I was the one asking the questions.”
Yasiris hesitated for a moment, taken aback by the unexpected situation.
She had only intended to humiliate the Marquis's arrogant daughter a little, but the Emperor's appearance disrupted her plans.
Unlike the naive noble offspring, Kazan knew her well.
At least, he knew she wouldn't jump off the balcony just because she was insulted.
Yasiris admitted to herself that the stance she had taken with Belan had been merely courageous.
She expected that if she actually jumped, she would be the one to scold.
I had no appetite to eat.I'll be eating twice as much to make up for it, so please leave them alone
This was the man who came to threaten her with hostage just because she skipped a few meals.
The thought of what he might do if she voluntarily jumped from the balcony was unbearable.
It was a simple fact.
No one, except Kazan, could treat her body with such disregard.
This includes Yasiris itself.
Therefore, she had to erase the last conversation as if it never happened.
“It's nothing serious.
I just felt a little warm and wanted to get some fresh air.”
“On the railing?”
“Yes, it makes me feel freer that way.”
Yasiris quickly changed the subject, saying anything that came to her mind.
As if to help her, a gentle night breeze blew, gently ruffling her platinum hair.
It was a beautiful sight, but unfortunately, it did little to divert Kazan's attention.
“How amusing”
From the beginning, he had a rough idea of the situation.
Just remembering how the nobles had pleaded with Yasiris made it clear that something else was going on.
In his heart, he wanted to grab her right away and scold her for her reckless behavior, but…
Kazan's eyes fell on Yasiris's tense stance.
She looked as if she might fly away with the slightest breeze, and his heart beat loudly.
It is possible that the reason for his cold blood was anger, not anxiety.
"What are you all gathering around and staring at?
Did you come to watch something?"
“Oh, no!
Please enjoy your time, Your Majesty!”
After dismissing the nobles first, Kazan took a deep breath.
He looked at Yasiris in the secluded space, then approached her slowly, step by deliberate step.
“You are fearless and brave enough to be reckless.”
“I was just...”
“Empress”
Kazan reached the fence and pulled Yasiris's arm forcefully.
He swallowed a short breath and held her chin firmly in his palm, bringing his face close to hers.
“Who would dare put your safety at risk without my consent?”
His low voice rang out like a roar.
As expected, Yasiris swallowed her pride, and calmly responded to his intimidating behavior.
“I just sat on the railing, Your Majesty.”
“That's quite enough.
So, did the nobles apologize to you?”
"this …!"
“I told you before.
You are mine, so don’t treat yourself rashly.”
Kazan honestly didn't want Yasiris to get hurt.
He knew he was the only one who could truly protect her.
How much has been done for this purpose.
He left Yasiris to the gossip of the nobles, making sure no one laid a hand on her.
Even her appointment as Empress this time was partly to keep her close to his side.
There were many who were dissatisfied with her, and the magic of the Kazan era was not quite enough to protect her.
It was an additional cost to pay for betrayal.
“I didn’t know you were still foolish enough to be provoked by the nobles.”
Kazan noticed that Yasiris was biting her lower lip tightly.
He naturally noticed the anger boiling in her eyes.
But that didn't matter.
If he could subjugate Yaris more, make her submit more, if that meant he could fully keep her by his side, he was willing to drag her down again and again.
Then, Yasiris will be by his side forever...
Well, maybe they'll live to resent each other.
“I had no intention of jumping.”
Kazan deliberately interrupted his thoughts at Yasiris's words.
It didn't matter what you did next to him.
He was committed to honoring the old oath to be together for life.
“Indeed.
If you continue like this, it may lead to irreparable consequences.”
“Even if I fall, I won't be seriously injured.”
“If you are so confident, shall we test it next time with an envoy from Beren?
Let us see how safe he is when he loses his balance and falls from this railing.”
Yasiris clenched her fist at the blatant mention of hostage-taking.
Kazan's suffocating desire to control her body and mind was completely disgusting to her.
After he brought a new wife, Yasiris hoped that things would change somewhat, but they did not change at all.
His behavior, focusing on her body while whispering love to the Empress, was ridiculous.
What's wrong with this guy?
The old question has resurfaced again, unanswered.
He remained a mystery, without a proper explanation.
Kazan doesn't like her.
In fact, he's closer to hating her.
But why?
“Why do you treat me this way?”
Yasiris couldn't help herself and asked the question that had ended in vain many times before.
As expected, the answer came back as if it were obvious.
“I already told you.
Because you belong to me.”
"I will no longer participate in this conflict.
Isn't everyone in the Osivia Empire yours?"
Yasiris demanded an answer, facing Kazan directly.
At one point, Yasiris forced herself to accept that maybe it was because she suited his preferences.
She had convinced herself that the Emperor's trait of keeping others completely under his control was evident in his focus on his only wife.
But now, even after he found a woman he loved, shouldn't his behavior towards her change?
“Now that I have welcomed an Empress...”
“Empress”
Kazan interrupted Yasiris's words, spitting out each syllable as if he were chewing them.
“Say it again.
You belong to me.”
“So, what I'm saying is...”
"From the beginning, always.
You were mine."
Kazan's red eyes narrowed.
He grabbed Yasiris' shoulder, his tone firm and full of unwavering emotion as he repeated his words.
“You belong to me,” he said.
I just forgot.
You, and only you, were all I had.
You alone...my world.
“So don’t even think about escaping, even in death.”
Even though I am neglectful of you, I still hold on to you.
Live next to me, your enemy, and hate me for the rest of your life.
Don't ever forget me again.
Kazan stared at the now calm Yasiris for a moment before slowly turning away.
Just as he took a step, the balcony door opened with a creak.
“Your Majesty!”
A woman in a white dress, her red hair fluttering like roses, embraced Kazan.
It was his new bride, Ronelia.
"I thought you came back alone because I couldn't see you.
I heard you were here and rushed over.
I hope I didn't interrupt anything important?"
“Runelia”
Kazan put his hand on Runelia's shoulder.
Although he wanted to push her away nervously, he felt the look behind him and instead hugged her tenderly.
“I didn't think about your feelings enough.
Have you been searching for a long time?”
“Not really.
It's just, today is our first day.
I still want to be by Your Majesty's side.”
Although she prided herself on her status as Empress of the nobility.
As Kazan looked down at the shy Ronelia indifferently but gently rubbed her back, he joined her instead of pointing out her arrogant attitude by ignoring Yasaris' presence.
“It's better that I'm late than never.
Let's stay together from now on.”
“Oh, did you finish everything you had to do here?”
"Yes.
I was about to leave anyway, so shall we go back to the room?"
“That's okay.
You know, even though it's not the first time, I still feel very nervous...”
Kazan accommodated Ronelia appropriately and they left the balcony together.
Yasiris was not filed separately.
Instead, he confidently linked his arms with Runelia, as if showing off their affection, and walked through the banquet hall.
Pretending to be in love was easy.
When he remembered the days he spent with Yasiris, he instinctively knew how to act.
He just had to treat his lover as a Qin Jenot, not a Kazan Tinilath.
…Although the object of this love is no longer Yasaris.
Isaris was standing on the balcony alone, and remained motionless for a moment before leaning her back against the railing.
She was deep in thought, and didn't even mention Runelia's impudence.
He made her accept it as her defeat and imagining Runelia's victorious expression she sighed involuntarily.
Strangely enough, Kazan's piercing red eyes remained stuck in her mind.
The claim of ownership over it seemed as if it belonged to someone else.
Why did Kazan seem to overlap with Kane at that moment?
Their appearance, personality, and status were completely different.
Ken has been long gone now.
“Such useless thoughts...”
Maybe it was due to intermittent longing.
He still comes to her mind sometimes, despite his tenderness.
Yasiris wiped the bruises on her wrist hidden under her long sleeves with her fingertips before lowering her head.
She could not compare the careful tenderness she received to how Kazan treated her.
Maybe the only similarity was just the red eyes.
However, even that was filled with completely opposite feelings.
“I have to come back”
Yasiris forcibly got rid of the red imprint that seemed engraved in her mind.
After taking a slow, deep breath, she finally moved her legs.
The balcony door opened and then closed.
The light that briefly spilled from the banquet hall inside disappeared without a trace.
Like destinies intersecting in opposite directions.