Chapter 2

Leto stared at me, unmoving. It was a stare that seemed to swallow me whole, even at this dawn.

 

“You’re good at stating the obvious.”

 

He took another step toward me. I took another step back. With a pop, my back was against the wall.

 

Those blue eyes peered down at me up close. Up close, they weren’t so fierce. Rather, there was a mysterious quality to them that seemed to draw me in.

 

‘…That’s why it’s even scarier. I feel like if I let my guard down even a little bit, I’ll be taken advantage of.”

 

He smiled, trying to sound determined. The moment I show my fear, I’ll lose this nerve war.

 

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?”

 

“You won’t believe this, but… I don’t know why I woke up in the Empress’s coffin.”

 

“I don’t know, Ra.”

 

He lifted my chin with his fingertips. I gasped, and he scrutinized my face.

 

“Then what is this face?”

 

“…….”

 

“I’ve never heard of such magic. Is it the work of livia’s stupid brothers?”

 

Magic was an unfair word. It was a gross glorification, of course, but I was the original.

 

“I swear, this face is mine, Your Majesty.”

 

He didn’t probe further. Not because he didn’t believe me. It’s just that he doesn’t want to engage me in wasteful conversation.

 

“Yes,” he said, removing his hand from my chin.

 

“Yes, it is. The other reasons don’t matter, because the important thing is that you’re guilty.”

 

“But there’s also a reason you need to keep me alive.”

 

He sneered at my comment. As if to see how far I would go.

 

“The Empress of livia has died, hasn’t she?”

 

“…….”

 

“Aside from the grief of losing your wife first…”

 

Let’s leave the emotional stuff alone. It doesn’t work with this person anyway.

 

“Her Majesty’s passing must be quite troubling for the Emperor, and I’m sure I’ve complicated things further by showing up unannounced.”

 

According to the original story, Leto soon faces a political crisis. The Matrion family and its followers turn against the imperial family. Of course, Leto survives the crisis. He’s the hero.

 

But the situation is worse than in the original.

 

An empress who was persecuted by the emperor has been resurrected, only to be executed by the emperor himself.

 

Will it end with some families turning their backs?

 

‘Leto is a shrewd man. He’s unrivaled in politics and calculation, and even he might be inclined to recognize the’resurrected empress,’ as long as he’s convinced I’m not one of the High Priestesses.

 

He smirked.

 

“Your head is spinning. I’ve been beaten by the High Priestess.”

 

“I am not the High Priestess’s man.”

 

“You expect me to believe that.”

 

“You have no proof.”

 

“What?”

 

“Proof that I’m one of the deputy’s people.”

 

I took a step closer to him and looked him straight in the eye.

 

“It’s not too late to kill me after you find the proof.”

 

“…….”

 

“If I’m that much like the Empress, use me. You won’t lose.”

 

For a moment, I felt his icy gaze waver ever so slightly.

 

There’s no way Leto can’t be thinking what I’m thinking. He’s weighing his options, too, running through dozens of them.

 

“Please, the scales should tip in my favor.

 

Leto asked.

 

“What is your purpose in doing this?”

 

It was a simple question. My answer was equally simple.

 

“Just keep me alive.”

 

What more could I ask for?

 

“‘Spare my life’.”

 

He leaned down and grabbed the window behind me. I was now trapped between him and the window.

 

“This is… too close.

 

His eyes shone brightly in the dawn light. But his words were still cold.

 

“Do you have any idea what ‘save me’ means to me?”

 

His voice was barely above a whisper. The feeling was overwhelming, like he was holding my life in his hands.

 

Leto is a staunch meritocrat. Not just in his abilities. He never lets weak or incompetent people into his life, and that’s how he became so powerful as a young man.

 

I, for one, am not so gentle.

 

I said to him:.

 

“You want me to know that you’re worth keeping alive.”

 

He paused. Had I answered him correctly?

 

“You’re a good talker.”

 

Leto stepped back, still. He crossed his arms and looked at me. The anger in his eyes faded a little.

 

“For now.”

 

For now?

 

“Ten days from now, in Gunkuk, you will be the Empress. Can you do it?”

 

I nodded slowly. Not that I had a choice in the matter.

 

“But never speak or move from your seat.”

 

“…Okay.”

 

“You know better than I do what happens if you break that, don’t you?”

 

“Of course.”

 

Leto turned and left the common room, the door slamming shut behind him.

 

I sat back, stunned. My heart, frozen in suspense, was beating like crazy.

 

‘I’m alive… literally, for once.’

 

And that was when I finally breathed a sigh of relief.

 

Bam!

 

The door suddenly burst open. Leto had reappeared, and he approached me without hesitation.

 

‘Why, why did you come back in? Have you changed your mind?

 

I tried to get up, but I couldn’t.

 

He grabbed me by both shoulders.

 

“Ah!”

 

I squeal in surprise, and he lifts me as lightly as if he were lifting a ball of cotton.

 

I barely centered myself on my wobbly legs.

 

“Why, why are you doing this?”

 

“You should have followed me out.”

 

“What?”

 

“You should’ve alerted the chis in the conference room.”

 

“Oh… yeah.”

 

It finally made sense. Everyone was waiting for us in the conference room. If we were going to pretend to be a couple, now was the time.

 

“Hold on.”

 

Leto held out his arm. I hesitated, but I took it.

 

 

 

 

 

We walked back to the conference room. Leto spoke to the group in a hushed tone.

 

“I’ve checked, and this woman is the Empress of livia.”

 

“Of course!”

 

“I knew it. It is an honor for the Empire to have the Empress back in power. Your Majesty.”

 

One by one, the ministers congratulated me. The priests were busy clasping my hands and offering blessings.

 

“Your Majesty, you are the embodiment of the goddess’s grace.”

 

“It is the honor of the imperial family and the honor of the High Priestess, Your Majesty.”

 

Amid the hustle and bustle, Han turned to Leto.

 

“By the way, how did Your Majesty come to your conviction?”

 

“Well, how can I answer that?

 

This is the man who was just trying to kill me.

 

Leto answered without changing his expression.

 

“We’re a couple. We share many secrets. Don’t you agree, Empress?”

 

He put his arm around my shoulders and grinned at me. I knew the meaning of that smile.

 

If he was going to play the part, he was going to play it right.

 

I smiled back at him.

 

“Sure, sure.”

 

Sneaky. Leto hadn’t answered my question after all. Who else would pry into the secrets of the Emperor and Empress?

 

“Livia!”

 

“Livia, are you okay?”

 

Louis and Sean rushed over, pushing past the priests to stand in front of me. Louis gripped my right hand tightly.

 

“We thought you were dead. We never got to meet your parents in heaven. This is… it’s a miracle, literally.”

 

The Marquis and Marquise de Matrion both passed away. Their eldest son, Louis, inherited the title. The only family I have are my three brothers.

 

This time, Sean grabs my left hand.

 

“Yes, my dear, if you were so ill as to die, you should have spoken up! …Of course, your husband wouldn’t have had the heart to listen.”

 

The last words passed in a quick, low voice. Fortunately, Leto didn’t seem to hear it.

 

“I’m afraid not. We’ll have to take care of you now.”

 

I didn’t have time to protest. Sean turned to Leto.

 

“Hmm, Your Imperial Majesty.”

 

“What is it, Sean?”

 

“My brother needs to freshen up, so we’ll have to take him to his room.”

 

Sean’s tone was subtly disrespectful. The brothers had always disliked Leto. After all, what kind of brother likes his sister’s indifferent mistress?

 

“That’s not allowed.”

 

The High Priestess blocked our path.

 

“The Empress is favored by the goddess, and for the time being, she must purify herself in the temple.”

 

“That will not do.”

 

Leto said it sharply.

 

“The mistress of the imperial palace is not going to empty the palace, and where is she going to go?”

 

The High Priestess did not back down.

 

“But, your majesty, please consider the etiquette.”

 

“You mean, after the funeral of the empress, the palace must be vacated for a month?”

 

“Yes. Although the Empress has been resurrected in a new body, her old one is enshrined in the temple, so she has been buried.”

 

“The High Priestess has gone to great lengths to remind me of imperial etiquette, but we seem to disagree on the interpretation.”

 

The argument between the two men grew increasingly heated. I can’t do this. This is going to keep me up all night.

 

“I’m-”

 

I opened my mouth.

 

“I’m going to the Empress’s palace.”

 

Leto seemed more surprised than the High Priestess at my words. I wondered if she didn’t expect me to be so articulate or if she was taking Leto’s side.

 

It wasn’t that I was siding with Leto. I just didn’t want to be around the high priest. It’s better to be scared than despicable.

 

“I see.”

 

Only at Leto’s words did the High Priest step back.

 

“Marquis de Matrion.”

 

Leto called Louis. Louis bowed politely.

 

“Yes, sir. Your Majesty.”

 

“I understand that the Star Chamber is empty. Please escort the Empress to the Star Palace.”

 

“Yes, sir. Let’s go, Livia.”

With that, I left the meeting with Brother Matrion. I glanced back as I walked out the door. Leto’s piercing gaze was watching me.

 

 

 

 

 

 

* * *

 

 

 

 

 

It was already dawn.

 

I followed Brother Matrion to the Star Palace. The colorful gardens glistened in the rising sun.

 

It was unbelievable.

 

I’d overworked myself to death in a pharmaceutical lab and nearly died again in this world, and now I was alive to see this beauty.

 

Louis studied my complexion.

 

“Are you okay, Livia?”

 

“What? Livia, are you sick?”

 

“Oh, I’m fine. Just a little dazed.”

 

Sean looked around and asked cautiously.

 

“Livia, he didn’t bother you earlier in the conference room, did he?”

 

“Him?”

 

“The Emperor. Tell me the truth, and I’ll… Yes, I’ll give you a divorce! He’s a fool to marry you off to such a cavalier.”

 

Shawn clenched his fists. They were the white, fine knuckles of a wizard.

 

“Enough is enough, Sean. For today, I’m satisfied that Livia is back.”

 

“So you won’t help Livia if she wants a divorce?”

 

“What are you talking about? I’d sell my title to help her.”

 

Louis frowned.

 

“If she ever wants a divorce, just tell me. Okay?”

 

I laughed at the way they looked at each other. Maybe it’s because I’ve never had a brother. I was already starting to like them.

 

And suddenly, I had a realization.

 

“So, this imperial family can get divorced?