Chapter 3

Cecil was genuinely embarrassed.

She had never thought that the emperor would be so handsome.

‘Why did I say that?’

Why did she think he was an ugly man when no one around her told her so? Soon, Cecil understood why.

Firstly, there simply were no portraits of the emperor.

All the aristocrats who have been around for centuries, leave something as a memorial for special events such as portraits with all kinds of poses and they were an insane number of them to the extent they had to build a separate mansion for it.

If the aristocrats do it, then what about the Imperial royal family? However, she has never seen nor heard of any portraits of the emperor.

‘Come to think of it, it’s only natural to send a portrait with the marriage proposal.’

The King of Navidan hadn’t shown her any portrait—meaning there wasn’t any.

If there was, no doubt that the King of Navidan would scream ‘Look! Isn’t he handsome?’ and obviously, Cecil would yell back ‘I’m sure that’s a fraud!’

Secondly, no one has ever spoken about the emperor’s appearance.

If she were to recall anything relating to his appearance, the only image that pops into her head is ‘The Demon of the Blood-Soaked Battlefield’ and ‘The Descent of the God of War’.

‘The God of War is an ugly god.’

In mythology, the God of War was depicted to have a gruesome appearance due to all kinds of scars and injuries he had received. How could one have thought he was such a good-looking man when he’s referred to as the God of War?

‘I know it’s partly my fault for never asking.’

However, she didn’t have a single shred of interest for the emperor himself from the start. So, she never bothered asking what color his hair was or how he looked like until the day of the wedding.

‘No, but if you’re this handsome, you would think people would mention it at least once, right?’

Cecil wiped the drool that almost escaped from her mouth, and then gave the emperor another glance.

Ah, he is really good-looking.

If only the situation was different and he didn’t have the status of emperor. She would preferably want to sit next to him for a while and ask him a couple of questions. Then in that case, she’ll ask for his home address, then pretend she made a mistake and accidentally holds his hand…

‘So this kind of person is the renowned the worst tyrant in the Empire.’

She suspected that it might be a false rumor. He was much better suited to stand in the middle of a theatrical stage rather than a battlefield.

“The mentors who taught you…” He spoke as Cecil, who forgot what was going on, looked at the emperor.

“……?”

What about them?

“I’ll have to kill them.” From those words, Cecil felt like ice cold water was poured on her.

She was distracted by his beautiful face for a while but… her opponent was unmistakably Emperor Estian! The emperor who will take her life.

“W-why do you have to…”

The moment she was about to ask why he was going to kill them, the emperor ducked and stepped into the carriage.

Afterwards, he reached out and pulled Cecil’s arm. Without letting out a scream, Cecil’s body lunged forward with that strong force.

She reflexively closed her eyes, waiting for the impact that would come at any. moment. However, instead of an impact, she felt herself spinning.

“…….Eh?”

When she opened her eyes once again, Cecil was being held in the emperor’s arms.

“…What are you doing?”

Rather than being surprised, she was dumbfounded. What’s with this sudden princess carry?

“Isn’t this one of the traditions of Navidan? Is there something wrong with me fulfilling your requests?”

“…You’re not going to kill me?”

“Why would I?”

“My small country won the draw lots and I was brought here to give birth to successor. I asked you, the Emperor of the Empire, to come pick me up, carry me to the cathedral, and change the colors of the flowers, all those nonsense.”

For a moment, the emperor couldn’t help but stare at Cecil as she said those words.

“I didn’t draw lots, I threw a dice and chose one. Oh, instead of the numbers written on it, I chose your country because it’s where the dice stopped when I threw it on the map.”

Cecil was left speechless by his answer. Is he saying that he decided without really thinking this through thoroughly?

While she was at loss for words, the emperor had already entered the cathedral. Cecil turned her head and looked around the cathedral.

‘Of course…’

Certainly, the looks she had received from the people outside weren’t happy at all, but the looks she’s receiving from these people of Empire seemed to glare daggers at her. She could feel her skin tingle from the sharpness of their gazes.

‘This is exactly the reaction I had expected from the Emperor himself, but what happened?’

Despite the very tense atmosphere, the emperor suddenly arrived in front of the altar.

“In Navidan, do we have to hold the wedding the whole day?”

“……No”

There was no tradition of picking up or carrying the bride in the first place. It was all just the customs from a romance novel she had read that were brought by the maids of the palace.

‘Isn’t this a little bit different from what I had imagined…?’

***

And then, 10 hours later.

‘Isn’t this a little bit different from what I had imagined…?’

Cecil repeated that same thought as she watched Estian climb on top of her on the bed and undressed her.

***

The wedding ended in a flash.

“The whole ceremony will be finished in ten minutes.”

“That’s impossible, Your Majesty!” The vicar cried with tears streaming down his face with his unreasonable demand. What kind of a wedding finishes in 10 minutes?

“Even if we reduce it to the utmost minimum, we need to recite the prayers and chant the songs, but how can we…”

“You can recite quickly and chant it quickly then.”

“……”

It seemed like the vicar was unable to do the emperor’s request, hence, he had no choice but to speak once more.

“Why? You can’t do that?”

The emperor looked passed the vicar and immediately pointed to the senior priest standing behind him.

“You’re good at reciting the prayers and chanting the songs.”

“Pardon?”

“You can recite and sing it quickly.”

“…P-pardon?”

“From now on, you are the vicar. Why are you just standing over there? Go change your clothes.”

The vicar was slashed in an instant. And the priest, who succeeded him, was able to miraculously recite all the necessary prayers and chant the songs in just nine minutes.

Obviously, he didn’t breathe through the entire thing and fell flat on the ground shortly after.

Thirty minutes after the wedding ended, Estian sat in his office.

The Imperial Palace viewed from the window was still beautifully decorated for the wedding, but for the party involved, he didn’t feel any excitement.

‘Is this the beginning?”

On the outside, it’s known to many that he married just to finally shut up those annoying people around him. However, Estian was guessing that this marriage would bring about even more turmoil.

His work was always the same. He usually takes care of national affairs and war as fast as he can.

Since his ascension to the throne, there have been only two things in his daily routine, and the first change today was…

‘It’s Cecil.’

As if someone was standing beside him, he heard someone muttering in his ears saying, “Princess Cecil, Princess Cecil.”

Estian took out a document from his spacious desk and began reading its contents.

Then he heard a knock.

“Come in.”

Soon, the door opened and a red-haired knight with a sturdy physique entered. It was Cain, the Commander of the Knights, also known as Estian’s right-hand man.

“It’s about your orders earlier…”

“Which one?”

“The one about the mentors of those who were in charge of the Empress’ education.”

“What, have you killed them already? Were they that close?”

“No, the person who was preparing to go there contacted me. They said all of them committed suicide by drinking poison.”

Estian nodded without any hit of joy, as if he had already expected such a thing to occur. It seems like the turmoil that this marriage will bring is only beginning.

Estian looked straight ahead as he had recalled Cecil’s words, ‘You’re handsome?’

If her mentors had properly taught her the right thing to do, she wouldn’t have dared to utter such a thing.

Everyone knows how much he hates talking about his appearance, but her mentors neglected to tell her about it.

“…They must’ve been handpicked by some prick.”

“Didn’t she do it on purpose?”

“… Why do you think so?”

“If she didn’t, then you would have kept a close watch on her. But she didn’t have a care during the wedding as if she deliberately wants to be seen by everyone. Well, the enemies were suspicious to set foot on such a rare opportunity. Oh, how was the Empress? Does it seem like she’s good with a sword? Or would she use poison?”

Cain’s questions led Estian’s mind to wonder to Cecil. Sword? Poison?

With those slim, long arms, she wouldn’t be able to swing a sword. Actually, if those arms were even able to lift a sword, that would be admirable enough.

Poison? That’s a good choice. However, he didn’t feel any unique dark energy from her that’s emitted by those who deals with poison. Rather, he thought she would probably die instantly just from one touch of it.

“I don’t know. She just looks pretty, is all.”

“…What?”

Astonishment spread all over Cain’s face as Estian answered.

Estian glanced at the documents that he had pulled out once again, paying no mind to Cain’s reaction. It was report about Cecil.

The details written in the report was about her being the princess of Navidan, how she lived, and people she met in the Empire.

“Of course.”

From the teacher who came to teach her in the Empire, to the maid who came and went to the mansion, there was no doubt about it.

‘This is enough evidence to assume that she’s the main culprit.’

Otherwise, how else can such a suspicious person be able to freely walk around?

But Estian easily noticed this was all a fabricated scheme. With what happened, Cecil, and the Kingdom of Navidan, everything was all tied together.

Estian closed his eyes and laid the document down.

The woman, who looked at him strangely while muttering ‘You’re handsome?’ without any hint of fear, kept stirring in his head.

With this as the first thing that occurred between them greatly irritated Estian.

‘I was planning to take a suitable woman and then trick her… It’s better if they just kill themselves.’

This isn’t right. Something is strange…

“What do you know?”

Estian, who was leaning on the chair, stood up.

“Anyway, I’ll just have to do what I have to do today.”

“Today’s agenda is…”

“You’re married.”

“Oh, give me a break…” Estian said irritatingly.

“Yes, there will be uninvited guests.”

“……”

“What are you doing? If you’re done watching, get out. You’ll be guarding the Imperial Palace today, tonight’s going to be a little bit noisier than usual. We’re going to have a great night together.”

“U-understood.” Cain stammered as he turned bright red and left.

Estian opened the drawer with dozens of daggers arranged neatly. He selected the best dagger among them and placed it on the desk.

If he is right about his assumptions, they’re definitely going to have a steamy night together.