Immediately, the door opened and the emperor entered.

Emperor Perdea, wearing a white and golden uniform, was taller than expected and had a good physique.

'Wow.... Uh, he's very handsome.'

Raphine was perplexed.

It was the first time seeing the emperor in real life.

To be honest, until you see your face, you're either a 'bad guy' or a 'two head'. I've been called 'Hogu' a lot....

When I saw that face, I was like, 'Are you paying for your face? ....' I thought

Of course, in Raphine's eyes, his father, the Duke of Aston, was the best, but the emperor must have made a lot of money for noble women when he was young.

If the Duke of Aston is a friendly, manly style that appeals to him, then the Emperor....

'It's a little bit like a sheepdog, but it's cool.'

It was a style that gave a slightly rough and sensitive feeling.

I didn't know that I felt that way because my expression wasn't particularly good.

The emperor, who came in with a deep impression, was taken aback when he saw that an unexpected guest had arrived.

When Raphine made eye contact with the emperor, he awkwardly said, 'This.' He smiled and set the example.

"I see the Empire Sun."

"This child...."

When the emperor asked the question with a chin, one maid hurriedly answered.

"I am the youngest daughter of the Duke of Eston. your majesty."

"Aha, that kid."

The emperor looked at Raphine with curious eyes. Raphine showed off her polished manners to the fullest and laughed so that the corners of her mouth cramped.

As if he could not be angry in front of a smiling child, the emperor coughed heavily.

"Nice to meet you. See you next time."

The emperor gave a tuck to the maid.

It meant taking me out.

The maid looked at the empress's eyes, then grabbed Rafine's hand and left the room naturally.

Just before leaving the room, Raphine turned her head to look at the empress's face.

The empress's face was full of emotions such as irritation, fear, and anger.

Because of her heartbreaking expression, Raphine cursed the emperor.

'You bastard....'

What do you do when you're handsome?

Raphine grunted inwardly and followed the maid into another drawing room on the same floor.

"Girl, please wait here. It seems that your Majesty the Emperor has an urgent matter to discuss with your Majesty the Empress."

"yes."

What should we discuss?

Raphine thought to herself and snorted.

In the original story, the fight that took place around this time caused a huge difference between the two of them.

In order to mediate that, Raphine began to constantly visit the Imperial Palace under the pretext of learning to paint.

'I didn't know you would come to pick me up on the first day I started painting.'

It must have been that Empress Rebecca had rushed to work.

'I rather like it.'

Raphine smiled inwardly and started eating the dessert that the maid brought.

The maid stood by Rafine's side, and stood in front of the drawing room door as if anxious.

"I can be alone."

When Raphine said that, the maid said she was sorry and asked the knight at the door firmly for everything, and then went away.

'Your Majesty's Majesty seems to be very concerned.'

Raphine wiped her hands while eating dessert, and opened the door very naturally and left.

The knight guarding the front door said, 'Huh?' I looked at Raphine.

'Orphana.'

"Yes, Master!"

Paah!

"Aww!"

Suddenly, a stream of water poured down from somewhere on the ceiling. The knight was bewildered as he covered his eyes with both hands at the unexpected water baptism.

'I'm sorry.'

Raphine apologized to the driver who was struggling because she couldn't see, and then ran down the hallway.

* * *

After sending out all the maids, attendants, and court painters.

"Whoa...."

The Emperor let out a deep sigh as he unbuttoned his tightly locked neck.

The Empress turned her head with a cold face and looked out the window.

"empress."

At the emperor's call, the Empress did not turn her head and said, "Yes. Tell me," he replied.

"Hey, I don't even want to see your face anymore, is this?"

The emperor raised one corner of his mouth, smiled, and sat down on the sofa. Sitting in an arrogant posture, he shot the Empress.

"Did the Empress also hear the rumors?"

"What are you talking about, ah.... Rumors that I have formed an alliance with the Marquess?"

"I know you well."

"I don't think your eyes and ears are clouded enough to believe that."

At the empress's sarcastic tone, the emperor burst out laughing hahaha. He stopped laughing.

"okay. I haven't grown up enough to believe the rumors yet."

"I'm happy."

"However, I know very well that he and the Empress were close."

At the Emperor's words, the Empress's forehead was wrinkled in a mess.

no way....

The Empress was absurd.

'Are you suspicious of my relationship with the Welsh Marquess?'

It was amazing. How could you have brought in another woman as the empress and have such suspicions?

"Am I wrong, Empress?"

The emperor's persistent questions made her all annoyed and annoyed.

When he shut his mouth tightly and turned his head, the emperor spit out a small swear word as if frustrated.

Then he jumped up and said in anger.

"Byung-baek, I know very well how sad he was when he heard the news of your engagement with me in the past. Aren't you also very sorry?"

"I don't know what you mean."

"Sichimi, didn't the Empress terribly dislike marrying me from the beginning? I don't think I look like a head to the point where I don't know about it."

"your majesty."

"But now, do you come and talk to that child? So, what were we talking about? The emperor had an affair, so let's have an affair too, did you say that?"

"Stop it."

The Empress was calm from beginning to end. The emperor shouted in rage.

"The Empress always does! Being alone and calm and rational! So I'm always like this...!"

"...."

"... I'm tired of it."

"I'm bored too."

"What?"

"I am also tired of fighting with your Majesty."

"Tell me again, Empress. Am I bored?"

"Yeah, I'm sick of it!"

....

"Twitter."

When I arrived in front of the room where the emperor and the empress were left alone, the hallway was empty.

It seemed that the courtiers had retreated far away, knowing that there was going to be an all-out marital fight.

'There must be only escort knights hiding here and there.'

Raphine twitched her tongue at the loud noise from inside.

And it was when I naturally turned a corner to hide.

"...!"

Facing the unexpected face, Raphine took a deep breath in bewilderment.

"Raffine?"

"I, Zerkan's brother?"

It was Zerkan.

Zerkan was leaning against the wall.

"... miss!"

It was then. It seemed that the knight, who was hit by water by Orpana, was chasing Raffine.

"Ah, my lord."

But knowing that Zerkan was with him, the knight bowed his head and backed away.

Raphine was confused the whole time and just looked at Zerkan.

"I came to see my mother, but it seems that there are passengers."

"... I see."

Raphine hesitated, fiddling with her fingers.

It was a disappointing situation.

There were still loud shouts coming and going in the room.

And Zerkan seemed very familiar with this situation.

Zerkan got up from his seat and proposed to Raphine.

"It's noisy here, so why don't we go for a walk, Raffine?"

"Yes. great."

Raphine nodded and quickly grabbed Zerkan's outstretched hand.

Zerkan seemed to think that the loud noises from inside would have a bad effect on the young Raphine.

'Are you listening to everything every time we fight?'

Raphine walked through the gardens of the Empress Palace, watching Zerkan's eyes.

Zerkan's expression was so expressionless that it was difficult to guess his emotions.

Even though he could see a little bit of upset about what happened a while ago, he was very determined.

to the point of being puzzled.

'Is it too familiar or....'

Raphine suddenly felt faint.

Zerkan's face was expressionless, but on the other hand, he looked like someone who had fallen into extreme depression.

An expressionless expression as if he had given up on everything.

She knew it well because she had also suffered from depression in a previous life.

'Is Zerkan also depressed?'

Often, some people think that depression is a serious disease that only affects adults.

However, there have been cases of depression in children as well.

Although the symptoms of childhood depression are diverse, one of the symptoms was to make a lot of expressionless expressions that are not like a child.

'Besides, you haven't seen Adrian and Violet at all lately.'

Raphine looked at Zerkan with an anxious gaze.

"I heard that you and your mother are learning to draw from a court painter."

"That's right."

"Then when are you coming again?"

"Well.... Two days later."

"I will come again then. Your Majesty may come to visit your mother again."

"yes?"

"The sound of adults fighting is not good for children."

"...."

Raphine was silent for a moment. Then he stopped and asked.

"What about Zerkan's brother?"

"yes?"

"Your brother is also a child. Is your brother okay?"

"... I am"

"...."

"I'm so used to it. It's okay."

Zerkan said in a strong voice as if he was really okay. However, Raphine clearly saw that the corners of Zerkan's eyes trembled slightly and distorted.

"I'm going to stop. It is time for the teacher to come."

Zerkan took Raffine to the place where the maids were waiting.

Then I said goodbye and left.... Raphine looked at him blankly for a long time.

Zerkan's back looked so lonely and cold.

Even in the warm season when spring flowers are dazzlingly scattered.