CHAPTER~14
The Escape Plan Starts with Gathering Talent (1)
I had no choice but to meet the intruder’s gaze.
In the dimly lit room, his golden eyes gleamed like a predator.
Kallio was personally undoing the waist tie of his robe.
When his rugged body suddenly leaned in, I urgently pressed my palm against his chest.
“W-why are you doing this, Your Majesty?”
“Is it wrong for a husband to sleep with his wife?”
“Most husbands don’t try to sleep with a wife who cursed them.”
If someone were watching us from afar, they might think we were a loving couple whispering sweet nothings.
No— even up close, he played the part of a doting, affectionate husband perfectly.
At least on the surface.
He stroked my hair gently with one hand and pulled my waist close with the other.
Our lips were almost touching.
As if we were truly some perfectly harmonious imperial couple.
But this was all an act.
I knew that too well.
“Weren’t you trying to kill me?”
Kallio had pointed a sword at me while I was casting a curse.
That was why a few strands of my side hair had been chopped off.
At my words, Kallio lowered his head slightly.
A cold aura spread across his shadowed face.
In the silence, his throat moved slowly.
“Indeed.”
Then he whispered softly.
“If I kill you here, will I die with you? Because of the curse?”
“Who knows. I can’t guarantee anything, but… if you want to die for nothing, be my guest.”
“Your attitude has changed since before we entered the tomb. Is this your true nature?”
What, am I supposed to butter him up?
To the man who keeps threatening to kill me?
The more I thought about it, the more furious I became.
“Does my real attitude bother you?”
Kallio remained silent.
“If you don’t like it, then divorce me.”
“…Divorce?”
To be honest, the fake identity and money were only necessary for when I *escaped*.
If he agreed to divorce cleanly right here, I wouldn’t need either of those immediately.
Life would surely be harsher after divorcing the Emperor—
This archaic country forces wives to take their husband’s surname, and divorced women don’t have it easy.
But I remembered some of the original plot.
And I had awakened powers.
Even if I went hungry at first, I could manage to survive.
In fact, divorcing now was the cleanest way to separate from Kallio without unnecessary noise.
But.
As always, life refused to unfold my way.
“You curse me, and then ask me to set you free?”
His lips curled mischievously.
“If I lift your curse, then will you divorce me?”
Kallio’s large hand slowly slid down my hair.
“If we were to divorce… you’d go to another man and do all these amusing little things again, wouldn’t you?”
“Are you saying that’s more important than your life?!”
He grabbed my wrist tightly.
“I’m sure you’d whisper sweet stories to him every day. Maybe even give yourself up, depending on the man.”
His arms pulled my waist closer.
His breath, hot and direct, brushed against my face.
Something hard brushed between my legs, making my mind go blank.
“Wait— you—!”
“Why should I watch that?”
His golden eyes flickered strangely.
Kallio placed a hand on my shoulder.
My clothing snagged on his fingers and slipped, exposing my bare shoulder.
A cold breeze from the open window brushed across my skin, raising goosebumps.
Then he pressed a kiss to my shoulder.
I could’ve endured that much.
But then something warm and wet dragged across my skin.
“Ugh…!”
A strange sound escaped me without permission.
“Did you show that side of yourself to the man you tried to protect in the tomb?”
I hurried to cover my mouth, but Kallio whispered at my ear.
“Hm? Say it yourself.”
His hand slid under my top, grazing my bare skin.
“This time, tell the truth.”
“Ngh…”
“Whether he’s alive or not, if his body remains, I can still take his head.”
His hand slithered like a snake, stopping at my inner thigh.
For a moment my mind went blank.
But then logic returned.
Because the more he talked, the angrier I got.
Kallio had stabbed Kyrus once in the tomb.
He must’ve seen the blood.
Even though it was fake, and Kyrus was perfectly alive.
Kallio didn’t even know who Kyrus really was or what became of him.
Yet he acted as if he were certain Kyrus still lived.
So this bastard is threatening me without any proof?
And if I had actually done “this and that” with other men, I wouldn’t be this frustrated.
“I’m a virgin…”
Kallio froze.
My ideal type had been a gentle, reserved man.
Why did I have to give my first time to this barbaric lunatic?
“You’re my first, you bastard!”
I kicked his inner thigh.
A very weak strike.
Kallio blinked like he had been hit with a kitten’s paw.
I unleashed my frustration.
“I’ve only done things like this— with you— no one else! And you’ve been married three times!”
“What did you just say…?”
“If I actually had experience, at least I wouldn’t feel so wronged!”
“…”
“What, do you hate my personality? Is that why you’re picking a fight? If you don’t like it, just divo— what the hell?”
I stopped abruptly.
My trembling hand pointed downward.
Because I had just witnessed a horrifying sight.
The thing between his legs was pushing against the fabric like it wanted to burst out.
Is this psycho… actually aroused?
At WHAT point in this conversation?
I had underestimated the dopamine-addicted tyrant completely.
What kind of crazy man is this…
“Rivie.”
Kallio called me by my nickname again.
Chills ran through my entire body as he spoke languidly.
“I don’t think I’ll be able to sleep tonight. Will you?”
I gulped loudly.
I had been too busy panicking to notice, but the scene before me was unbearably indecent.
I tried not to look down, but my eyes kept drifting to the abs beneath his robe, to the line of his neck.
Kallio fluttered his long lashes and smiled seductively.
I scrubbed my face with both hands.
“Ugh…”
Inside, I vowed firmly.
One day. Without fail.
I’ll escape from this dopamine-addicted lunatic husband.
***
In short, Kallio and I stayed up all night.
I tried to have a serious conversation about my safety.
And about the divorce.
I needed to confirm whether he planned to tell others about the curse.
I don’t want unnecessary attention.
I won’t reveal I can use magic unless absolutely needed.
But—
With him in that state, rational conversation was impossible.
Even when I wrapped myself in blankets, he hugged me tightly—
still unable to “control the lower half of his body.”
Because he held me all night, I couldn’t sleep at all.
Despite both of us staying awake all night, Kallio’s complexion didn’t change one bit.
If anything, he seemed happier leaving the bedroom.
“Y-your Majesty the Empress… your dark circles…”
“Bring something for my skin! Quickly!”
Only the maids and attendants were running around in panic.
Judging from everyone’s reactions, Kallio hadn’t mentioned the curse.
Does he think it’s more fun if only he knows?
Whatever the reason, as long as I wasn’t dragged back into the underground prison as an attempted regicide, it was fine.
Ugh, I’m so tired because of Kallio.
I want coffee… except this world doesn’t have it. Damn it.
At that moment, something inside the maid’s cosmetics box caught my eye.
“What’s that?”
It was a small stick, small enough to fit in the palm of my hand.
