So, by chance...
What if Yasiris gave birth to the emperor's child?
"Oh, my God!"
Isaris shuddered, shaking her head as if she wanted to get rid of the horrific thought.
child?
Not only would she have to share her body with a man she despised, but also carry his child?
She shivered lightly, and hugged herself tightly.
She wasn't just worried about her husband's reaction; She couldn't even imagine how she would feel about the child herself.
What if she ends up hating her child?
If she abandons the child, his father will most likely neglect him already, his mother too...
“Poor child...”
Yasiris gently rubbed her hand over her flat stomach.
He was unnecessarily worried at the moment, given that she wasn't pregnant.
In fact, it was an unfounded assumption because it was unlikely that she would get pregnant.
After all, she was taking birth control diligently.
Contraceptives prepared by the royal doctor himself.
Yasiris remembered the blurry memory and closed her eyes.
In that isolated place, with no allies, she immersed her face in the bathtub as if trying to escape.
She wished the world would stop as it is, but indifferent time continued to flow unchanged...
Soon the coronation ceremony of the new empress arrived.
Tick-tack-tack-
The couple, arm in arm, gracefully crossed the wide hall.
With every step, the woman's red hair waved, and her white dress fluttered.
The tail of the man's black uniform rose and fell in the same rhythm.
Radiant colorful light streamed from the chandelier, blessing the future of the new couple.
An orchestra lined up on one side and played cheerful summer tunes, celebrating their union.
Clear skies, warm weather.
It was a really perfect day.
There was no better day for the Emperor to marry his wife.
“Oh my God...was Mrs.
Logitin always this beautiful?”
“She is now Her Majesty.
Ronelia Tenilath, Her Majesty the Empress.”
“No matter what, I knew she was beautiful, but I didn't realize she was so amazing.”
“Isn’t that why she caught the Emperor’s attention?”
Well, the reason he had kept the Empress by his side all this time must have been because of her appearance as well…
Isaris ignored the low murmurs of the nobles, and kept looking straight ahead.
She spent the time counting patterns on the patterned wallpaper next to Kazan and Runelia, who stood on the platform.
Ronelia, who was blushing perhaps because of the makeup or who she really was, smiled happily, she looked as beautiful as people said, but that didn't matter to her.
The ladies' whispered admiration about how handsome Kazan looked in his rare adornments also fell on deaf ears.
With her usual indifferent expression, Yasiris remained in her isolated world while the coronation ceremony, disguised as a wedding, continued quickly.
“From now on, as Ronelia Tenilath, I will assist His Majesty the Emperor and contribute to the prosperity of the Ozevia Empire...”
Yasiris listened silently, with her eyes lowered, to Runelia's artificial voice.
The duties of a wife, the duties of an empress, the duties of a member of the royal family… As she listened to the flawlessly delivered, obviously well-prepared speech, a sudden curiosity arose within her.
What might the Emperor feel now?
Is he proud of his new wife? happy?
Is he smiling, unlike how he was during his wedding with her?
In her memories, Kazan's face was always stern and cruel.
It was still a mystery why he forced himself to marry her if he hated her so much.
That's why she searched for him, almost unconsciously.
Curiosity at the rare sight of his smile made her look up.
Then she met his red eyes directly.
How long had he been watching her?
The intensity of his gaze made the surrounding colors fade for a moment.
The sensation of coming face to face with Kazan caused Yasiris to hold her breath briefly before turning her eyes elsewhere.
She just wanted to check his expression; If she had known their eyes would meet, she would not have looked.
Wasn't this party supposed to be for his new wife?
Although it was officially called the investiture of the empress, the coronation was practically a wedding ceremony.
She expected him to look at her lovingly, but she couldn't understand why his eyes were on her instead.
Yasiris did not look at Kazan.
She steadfastly ignored the look she continued to feel on her.
No matter how parallel their two worlds were, Runelia's party was steadily moving towards its end.
“…I hereby declare that Runelia Logeiten has become Runelia Tinilath.
She is now the wife and Empress of His Majesty Kazan Emperor Tinilath.”
Applause-! applause-! applause-!
Applause broke out when the official was announced.
An energetic young noble blew a whistle, drawing disapproving glances at his lack of decorum, but it was a secondary issue.
The orchestra imitated huge cannons.
Pollen scattered in the air, and the magicians released light.
The nobles politely congratulated the new couple.
In a scene where everyone smiled, only Yasiris and Kazan did not smile.
It's like a comedy tragedy.
After the evening banquet extended into the night, another reception was held.
If the daytime event had been hosted by the royal family, this time it was held in the same place by Duke Temesyan Blake, known as Kazan's right-hand man, to congratulate the new couple.
“Our heartfelt congratulations, Your Majesty.
It is a great occasion after a long time.”
“Thank you, Duke”
“With such a beautiful new wife, Your Majesty, I'm sure the worries about the imperial succession will ease.”
“Let's wait and see.”
Kazan ignored Timsyan's remark, and caught his attention.
Amidst the sounds of machines, conversations, clinking of cups... and footsteps.
Amid the noise of the boisterous crowd, he struggled to identify Yasaris' presence at the reception.
Her tendency to stand still without much movement was both an advantage and a disadvantage.
Once he knew her initial location, she would likely remain there for a long time without getting lost, but her calm demeanor often led him to accidentally ignore her.
And there she was, when he turned around, Yasiris casting her gaze into the void with an indifferent expression.
As always, she stood with an impeccable posture, staring straight into the distance like a lifeless flower.
Alive but not alive, a flower in the picture.
She was more active than this.
While Kazan pretended to survey the party and briefly examine Yasiris, Temesyan spoke with a puzzled expression.
“Shouldn't you start thinking about your successor before it's too late?
The previous emperor had seven wives and fifteen children.”
“One more will be enough later.
After all, out of the fifteen children I was left alone in the end.”
“Well, if that's the way you put it, I don't have anything more to say.”
While the Duke remained silent in response to the tyrant personally killing all his other brothers, Runelia suddenly intervened.
“I will do my best to contribute.”
“Thanks to Her Majesty the Empress, the future of the empire looks bright.”
“Indeed, it is individuals like His Majesty the Emperor and the Duke who truly illuminate the empire.”
“Haha, your compliments are so high.
Are you enjoying the reception?”
"Sure!
The seamless transition from daytime to a completely different atmosphere in such a short time is truly impressive.
Did you enlist the help of magicians?"
“Yes, through the connections I made this time...”
While listening to their conversation, Kazan again followed Yasaris' behavior.
Although he was temporarily distracted by Temsian and Runelia, he was relieved to find that she had not left.
Her constant presence reassured him of her usual presence.
Normally, he wasn't this worried, but today he was unusually worried about Yasiris.
This concern has persisted since the daytime event.
Was it her lack of reaction that bothered him?
Or the fact that she didn't look at him properly?
Was it because he took another woman as his wife?
“How do you see it, Your Majesty?”
“Your Majesty?”
“Nothing...”
Kazan spoke, hoping she would remain silent.
Which gave him something to think about.
Kazan furrowed his eyebrows and unconsciously ran his hand through his hair as usual.
"What?" , responded vaguely to the Duke's voice.
“No, what were we talking about?”
“Well, it's something I noticed while preparing for this event.
It might be helpful to involve the royal family's contract mages in new construction projects...”
The conversation got longer.
Instead of Runelia, who left midway to join the young nobles' gathering, other high-ranking nobles gradually joined the discussions.
Their movements exuded an exquisite aura of wealth.
Dealing with official matters makes time fly by.
In the mature atmosphere, the voices were filled with laughter and chatter amidst the intoxicating drinks.
Since they were celebrating the arrival of the new bride, Kazan didn't need to stay here long.
Although the Duke considered his proposal to leave early, the only reason Kazan stayed was because of Yasaris.
He wanted to gauge her reaction.
He wanted to know what Yasiris, who tended to be more honest when dealing with others than him, thought about the empress's investiture today.
But…
“I missed it”
“Excuse me?”
“I'm leaving now”
“Your Majesty?”
After abruptly ending the conversation, Kazan left the confused nobles behind him and left.
Pretend to choose food from the tables placed along the edge of the banquet hall, and set out to find the missing Yasaris.
Meanwhile, Yasiris received an unwelcome guest on one of the balconies of the banquet hall.
“Oh, Your Majesty the Empress, are you here?”