Previously
Irenia exposes a maid's deception by finding the stolen jewelry in her pocket, clearing Delfina's name and asserting control over the Emerald Palace. She decides to protect Caesar and herself by seeking an audience with the Empress to secure loyal staff.
“The Blue Flame Dream?”
The mere mention of it was enough to stir my memory. I had always heard that this jewel was passed down through the imperial women from generation to generation.
“Yes. Whoever receives that jewel gains the Empress’s personal recognition.”
“Really?”
In my heart, I knew that meeting Empress Cornelia would be no easy matter. The very fact that she had cast off the Emerald Palace to us suggested something… something resembling a hidden hostility.
Sitting down for tea with her? And having her look upon me with approval? It was hard to believe. I would barely even taste the tea if I drank it.
Yet I had no choice. There was no escape. If I wanted to survive this situation, I had to endure everything, even meeting her.
“Ah, Your Highness, you must prepare before lunch…”
The maids cast embarrassed glances my way. It was not my fault, but Caesar’s, who remained clinging to me like a kitten refusing to leave its mother’s chest.
At this rate, I would not even be able to change my clothes.
“Is Caesar not coming with me?”
Mercedes shook her head gently.
“Her Majesty the Empress…”
She cleared her throat slightly before continuing:
“…does not wish to see the First Prince.”
I froze for a moment. That meant I would be alone in the Empress’s presence.
Honestly, even if Caesar came, his presence would have been a source of anxiety in itself. Perhaps it was better to face her alone… and though my heart hammered wildly, I tried hard not to let it show.
“I don’t want to see Cornelia.”
Caesar said it in a decisive voice. The maids froze where they stood, gripped by sheer shock.
“Truly?”
“Yes.”
Even so, I could not evade this meeting. Time was slipping away, and I had to prepare.
“Caesar…”
I called his name softly, trying to push him away, but he buried his face back into my chest as if clinging to his last safe shore.
Mercedes pressed a hand to her mouth, smiling with uncalled-for fondness.
“No… it is not what you think.”
I muttered in a hurry. Perhaps he simply disliked strangers. Or… perhaps the effect of the blood we gave him yesterday was beginning to fade.
Whatever the reason, we needed a few moments alone.
“Could we… be left alone for a while?”
Everyone withdrew from the room at my request, after I insisted that no one be allowed in no matter what happened. We did not have much time.
“Caesar.”
I grasped his shoulders and gave him a gentle shake, and his head jerked up. For an instant, a heavy atmosphere settled around us.
He parted his lips, his fangs clearly bared in the light. They gleamed sharply amidst his thick hair, as if heralding an impending danger.
His breath felt warm, almost hot, and then he leaned his full weight onto me until I was nearly suffocated by the bulk of his body.
His instincts were overtaking him once more, and here he was, scenting me like a starving beast, his gaze fixed steadily on my neck.
“Not here!”
I was about to meet the Empress; there was no room for any mark to be left on my body.
Yet despite my protest, he dragged his warm tongue slowly across my neck, tracing the long pulse beneath.
I covered my neck with my hand, so he moved down to my collarbone.
“Not here either.”
Still, he continued, trailing further down, and my breath began to hitch.
How long would I keep bargaining away my body like this? From the very start, this relationship had been… twisted.
I pressed my hand against his mouth, knowing the wound had not yet closed.
Sure enough, the moment he smelled the blood, he buried his face into my palm, drinking in the scent of life.
His fangs sank straight into my open wound. The pain was awful, but I clung to my composure.
I squeezed my eyes shut, repeating inwardly:
‘Bear it, it’s all right… just a little pain.’
Yet when I opened my eyes, I found him staring at me with his crimson eyes, as though tearing me apart piece by piece.
At that moment, I wondered… was what I was doing right? Had I done something wrong?
Yet, as always, he went back to burying his face in my hand after covering it with bite marks.
In the end, as it ever was… I was the one forced to plead and break.
“Let’s stop… please?”
I whispered with tears welling in my eyes, watching him ravage me with wild fervor, pleading with him and soothing him as I had done so many times before. He only settled after a long struggle, when it felt as though my heart could endure no more.
_________________
The moment I tugged the bell cord, the maids entered immediately.
Yet Caesar did not think for a second of pulling away from me. He clung to me like a frightened child, refusing to let go, oblivious that the time had come for me to depart. So I began trying to coax him.
“I have to change my clothes now. I will not be long.”
“Mmh…”
I thought he would stubbornly object as usual, but the sip of blood he took seemed to have made him more compliant. He let out a deep sigh, then quietly unclasped his arms from around my waist.
One of the maids, who had been watching in silence, drew a folding screen and began preparing the clothes.
“Please choose something as simple as possible.”
From among the dresses, I selected the one that seemed the least flashy. I had no desire to draw more attention than necessary.
I kept cosmetics and accessories to an absolute minimum, since every little delay was met with clear grumbling from Caesar.
The real trouble, however, was my injured hand. Though hidden beneath the folds of my dress, the marks of his fangs remained prominent, completely marring the skin.
Everyone knew I had hurt my hand yesterday and received treatment, but displaying the wound like this… was not an option. If someone noticed anything amiss, it could open doors I had no wish to unlock.
I watched the maid’s reflection in the mirror, but she seemed to pay the wounds no mind.
I looked down at my hand and felt revulsion. It was an utterly hideous sight, unfit for a woman’s hand, let alone that of an imperial princess.
“Bring me gloves.”
“Shall I help you put them on?”
“No, just hand them to me.”
It had to be concealed from everyone’s eyes, and most of all from the Empress’s.
I selected a pair of short, light-colored lace gloves suited for daywear and pulled them on carefully. I had to ensure I would never have to take them off in front of anyone.
“Caesar, I’ll be back soon.”
“I don’t want you to go.”
Just as I expected… he clung to me once more.
“I have no choice. I must go.”
“…I don’t want to.”
I sighed. Could he still be thirsty? Surely not…
“Your Highness is embarrassing her by doing this.”
Mercedes intervened in an attempt to pacify him. But his… ah, his lower lip protruded in a sulk, completely unconvinced.
“I shall remain with Your Highness until she returns.”
“Mmh…”
He scowled, displeased by my absence, yet made no further objections.
“I promise I’ll be back soon.”
I repeated my promise several times before I could finally set out toward the Empress’s quarters.
The sun beat down with relentless cruelty, scorching my head without mercy. My breaths quickened as though racing against time, and sweat poured like rain down my body.
Truly, the road was long and agonizing. It drove home just how remote the Emerald Palace where I resided truly was, sitting at the furthest corner of this sprawling imperial complex.
My exhausted legs were on the verge of collapsing, pain stinging my muscles with every step. In the end, I was reduced to dragging my feet, barely limping along, and not one member of my escort bothered to cast a glance my way—neither the accompanying guards nor the servants supposedly attending me.
“Haa…”
I had anticipated such treatment, which was why I had picked clothes as simple as possible. My choice had been entirely justified. Though it was still early spring, the air hung stifling, damp, and unbearably oppressive.
By the time I finally reached the Moonstone Palace, the sun hung high in the center of the sky.
That place belonged to the highest-ranking woman in the palace, and it appeared opulent at first glance. Its entrance alone differed from every other wing, adorned with unmistakable luxury.
Built of white marble and gold in harmonious balance, crystal glass pieces were scattered here and there to catch the sunlight, casting a captivating, milky radiance as if born from a sacred dream.
“The Princess has arrived.”
A servant announced my entrance, and my eyes fell upon Empress Cornelia, seated nonchalantly upon the golden throne in the reception hall.
Her fiery red hair was swept up with meticulous care, and she was adorned in a crimson gown that accentuated her striking hair. Atop her head sat a crown blending rubies and pearls, resting over a golden net woven with luxurious thread.
From her neck hung a pendant bearing a white rose wrapped around a wooden cross—a symbol no one was permitted to wear save for the Empress herself.
I tightened my fists and drew a deep breath, striving to hide all traces of exhaustion and press forward with steady steps. It was no easy task, especially as faint giggles began creeping out from among the Empress’s ladies-in-waiting, piercing my silence like tiny arrows.
FADE OUT