Zerkan stopped thinking while even imagining putting innocent young men on the guillotine.

He looked at Raphine who was sleeping a little more and then left the room. It was early work.

When I arrived at the office, the eyes of the aides who had been preparing for work early in the morning widened.

"I, my lord."

"Good morning, Your Majesty."

They waved goodbye. Zerkan nodded bluntly as usual and entered the office.

The aides gathered immediately and began to mumble.

"No, why are you already going to work? Even if it's an engagement, isn't it the first day of the newlyweds?"

"So! I took a vacation right on the first day of my honeymoon.... Because I was busy until morning."

"Shut up! I'm not curious."

"Anyway, that's right, it's the first day of your honeymoon, and you're going to work so early...."

"Jeon-jae left for work on time. It's just the same today."

Chief aide Percy tried to calm the other aides, but to no avail.

"Did everyone hear the rumor?"

"Like what? At yesterday's banquet, did your Highness look openly and coldly at His Majesty?"

"Oh, that! I heard it too. It was said that he looked so displeased that people who saw him were embarrassed."

"Ttttttttt. I'm sorry. But hey, you're basically that kind of person. I was forced to get engaged, so your Highness Vision will take care of it."

"If it were me, if I had a fiance like that, I would bow down every day."

"Why is such a woman engaged to a guy like you?"

Percy listened intently to their conversation and pondered. If the aides were like this, I could guess what the rumors would be among the general aristocrats.

'I'm worried about my Highness's reputation.'

Percy sighed and gathered the data to report.

Cleverly, after knocking and waiting, I heard a voice telling me to come in.

Percy entered the office nervously. Zerkan, who was reviewing the documents he had placed on the desk beforehand, turned his head.

"Your Majesty, all I have for this morning is to attend the State Council meeting. After that there's a luncheon, and in the afternoon you have to go to the Dukes of Aston."

It was an imperial tradition. On the next day after a couple gets married, they go to their wife's house and have dinner with their family.

It meant becoming a real family only through this.

It was such an important tradition in the Empire that there is a saying that one can become a real man only if he is recognized by his wife's family.

And although Zerkan and Raphine were still engaged, they were almost married, so today's schedule was very important.

Percy looked carefully at Zerkan.

From the rumors alone, it seemed that Zerkan did not like this marriage.

'I thought you liked it very much....'

In fact, Percy judged that Zerkan had a positive view of Raphine Eston.

The fact that he secretly issued a wanted order only on the outskirts of the country, and that he easily agreed to the marriage.

But looking at Zerkan's face now....

'It must have been the worst from the first day.'

Percy gulped in tension.

As an expert in reading Zerkan's facial expression, Zerkan's current facial expression wasn't very good.

'You must have been extremely upset.'

It was quite rare to have such a dark complexion. I couldn't sleep and my eyes were bloodshot.

'Let's just report quickly and run away.'

In this case, it is best to leave it alone.

Percy pulled out one of the most important documents and slid it onto Zerkan's desk.

"This is the letter of appointment from Sir Ohelt, which Your Majesty said in person last week."

Zerkan, who was staring quietly into the air, turned to Percy. Percy sneaked back, avoiding his terrifying eyes.

"Sir Ohelt...."

Lord Ohhelt was a loyal and honest knight, who was directly appointed by Zerkan as the deputy commander of the Blue Knights.

He had a good personality, and his family had a good reputation.

And, crucially, Zerkan was one of the people that Raffine thought of as a potential remarriage this morning.

He was also the first person in his imagination to climb the guillotine and be executed.

Everything was perfect, but when I stood next to Rafine, the flaws were stark.

He was executed because he was too talkative.

'If you are too reticent, Raphine will be bored.'

Zerkan sighed and touched his forehead.

No matter how you look at it, there were no good men in this empire. Raphine can never find a good remarriage. Empire is wrong.

"Then I will."

Percy rushed out of the office to catch Zerkan's moment of thought.

Zerkan got up from his seat in frustration and looked out the window. It was a sunny day with plenty of clouds floating around.

'By the way, Raphine is about to wake up.'

When I imagined Raphine who would have woken up, it reminded me of a children's book I read as a child.

It feels like a forest fairy waking up and stretching.

A pleasant smile hung on the corner of Zerkan's lips.

It was a nice smile that would have surprised Percy, an expert on Zerkan's facial expression, if he had seen it.

* * *

Unfortunately, contrary to Zerkan's imagination, Raphine's morning was quite bleak.

thud!

"Ugh...."

Raphine rolled out of bed and woke up, bewildered, and looked around.

'eww.... That's right, I'm the Imperial Palace.'

Raphine quickly grasped the situation and got up from her seat.

It looked like he had been obsessed with sleeping on the edge of the bed and eventually tumbled.

My body ached a bit, but it was bearable.

'But should I continue to live like this?'

It wasn't uncomfortable at all. I can't ask you to bring me another bed....

Raphine turned her gaze to the pink teddy bear on the bedside table.

As soon as the magic shield was lifted, the voices of the spirits reached my ears.

"Baby, are you okay?"

'Yeah, did you all sleep well?'

"Master, I have had a night of horror."

Orphana's voice was horribly split. It looked like he was trembling for fear that he might run into a dark spirit.

'What makes a dark spirit so scary? Don't worry too much, I'll chastise you so I can never bother you.'

Even at those words, Orpana continued to sniff. Raphine frowned at the gloomy sobs.

At that moment, a smart knock sound was heard.

As soon as I was allowed in, the two temporary maids who helped me do the laundry yesterday came in.

"Good morning, Vision."

"Good morning, Vision."

The two lifted the ends of their skirts to pay their respects, and immediately helped wash and change their clothes.

"The Crown Prince told me to get a good night's sleep today, so I didn't wake him up."

"Lunch will be served at the Crystal Palace with His Majesty the Empress. In the evening, you and your Majesty will go to Aston's mansion."

The maid, who kindly explained the schedule, took out a couple of dresses and told Raffine to choose one.

When Raphine chose a pale yellow dress, they skillfully helped decorate it.

It was great speed. Raphine, who became neatly dressed in an instant, admired her appearance in the mirror.

When I woke up, my hair, which had been frizzy, was neatly organized.

'I'm kind of nervous.'

Although I met the Empress frequently, the situation was a little different from before.

At the time, I was just a comfortable aunt, but now I am not a prospective mother-in-law.

Raphine took a deep breath and followed the maids. Crystal Palace is located quite close, so we arrived quickly.

When she arrived at the dinner table, Raphine's tension doubled.

'No, why are you even coming to His Majesty the Emperor?'

The emperor, who had tea time with the empress, greeted Raffine with a bright face.

"Raphine!"

The emperor looked very excited. He seemed to be somewhat moved.

"Finally, you are my daughter. My daughter from the Duke of Aston's daughter!"

what else is that Raphine couldn't understand and smiled awkwardly.

"your majesty.... Please, do it in moderation."

The Empress scolded the Emperor and pulled Raffine to her side.

"It's just something you say because you're happy. I don't care."

"Yes, His Majesty."

Raphine smiled awkwardly and sat down. The emperor sitting across from him looked at Raphine with a smile.

The emperor had seen him for a long time, but it was the first time he had seen a face like that.

He must have gained 5 kilos, but he ate a lot of churro and looked like a happy cat.

"Did you sleep well? The bed should have been comfortable, but if you have any discomfort, please tell me."

The Empress took care of Raffine very carefully.

The bed was comfortable, the room was not cold or hot, the blanket was not too heavy, etc.

Raphine smiled as she replied that there was no discomfort at all.

'Actually, I thought I was going to die from discomfort.'

I thought my back was going to sag from sleeping hanging on the edge of the bed.

But I couldn't tell the truth.

Raphine started her first meal at the Hwangseong like that.

Although the attitude of the emperor and his wife was warmer than before, it was not much different from before, so it was not uncomfortable.

* * *

After eating and taking a walk, Raffine returned to her room and was worried.

It is said that an exact wedding date has been set. It was about 4 weeks from now.

It is common to proceed with a period of several months, but the date seemed to have been decided because the emperor and his wife were in such a hurry.

And the first thing that Raffine should do as the future Crown Princess was decided.