TTEWD 10

Episode 10. The Empress on Her Deathbed Takes a Lover.

“Do you doubt my relationship with Enric as well?”

“I am well aware of Your Majesty’s chastity and virtue.”

“…Is that so?”

“The Empress taking a lowly slave? That would be impossible.”

It felt strangely unpleasant that my courtier believed in my fidelity.

*‘Clifford is fine, so why can’t I be? Because I’m a woman? Because I’m in a wheelchair?’*

I hated being the demure lady. I was bored of the noble and elegant empress role.

If I wanted to spend the remainder of my life meaningfully, I first had to break the prejudices against me.

With so little time left, I had no choice but to use the fastest and surest method.

“Summon Enric. I have urgent matters to discuss.”

“And Prince Gillian?”

“Apologies, but I’d rather see a handsome man who listens well than a haughty envoy.”

—

“Madness! Even staging a play to grant a knighthood to a slave!”

Clifford slammed the table. Michelle looked up at him with swollen eyes from crying.

“It’s just a momentary lapse. Let’s endure it a little, okay?”

“Nonsense!”

Clifford dismissed Michelle’s words. Stella not only attracted a lowly man but openly insulted him. She had to be removed—through divorce or deposition—right before his eyes.

“There’s no choice but to make her use the Star Eyes.”

“Stella’s heart might stop!”

“All the more reason to make her use it.”

“Can’t we forgive Stella? She ignored Cliff, brought in a concubine… but we’ve grown up together.”

Clifford stroked Michelle’s pink hair and twisted the corner of his mouth.

“I’m not trying to kill Stella; I’m trying to teach her the duties of an Empress. Power comes with responsibility!”

Prince Gillian’s daily visits were getting on Clifford’s nerves. More than ever, Stella’s abilities were needed.

*“You said you’d lend me the Star Eyes, yet the Empress hasn’t appeared. How long must I wait? Is it alright if the borders close tomorrow?”*

Disgusting as it was, Gillian held the upper hand.

If Stella continued to hide in her chambers, a major disaster would occur.

She had not only been lazy but also declared she would withdraw from all state affairs.

It seemed she intended to put Clifford in a difficult position—or perhaps she was bewitched by the sexual slave and had lost her mind.

“The ministers blame me. They believe this country needs an Empress more than an Emperor!”

“Could that be Stella’s doing? The worse things are between Cliff and the ministers, the easier it is to wield power.”

“What did you say?”

“Forget I said that! I spoke harshly without realizing it.”

Michelle covered her mouth in shock. Clifford’s eyes blazed with fury.

He thought he was caught in Prince Gillian’s trap, but the real trap was much closer.

*‘The Empress wants to isolate me and take everything I have. What does she truly want? She already wields more power than the Emperor.’*

As if on cue, Michelle lowered her head, sad-faced.

“Could it be that Stella wants a higher position than Empress? Though of course she wouldn’t.”

Cliff felt as if he had been struck hard on the back of his head.

The thick fog lifted, and the hidden truth became clear.

“Yes. The Empress wanted to become Emperor! Being Empress wasn’t enough.”

“Cliff?”

“She treated me like a puppet, sowed discord with the ministers, and eventually forced me out of state affairs. Why?”

“That’s impossible. Stella only has until thirty to live, right?”

“Exactly. That’s why she was so desperate—to become Emperor as soon as possible!”

A fierce blue light flared in Clifford’s eyes.

Michelle, perfectly hiding her smile, poured oil on the fire.

“Are you saying Stella plotted a rebellion?”

“Even if not, it doesn’t matter. As long as we can depose the Empress!”

“Sadly, I think Cliff is right. Did she involve the concubine to provoke him?”

“It’s all a play. The Empress playing around with men? Ridiculous. She’s neither woman nor Empress anymore.”

“I don’t know what she’s plotting, but I’m worried. What if the Goddess doesn’t forgive her?”

Michelle closed her eyes, clutching a cross as if in prayer.

Clifford didn’t notice she held the cross upside down.

A sharp sound escaped Clifford’s clenched teeth in rage.

“The Empress is finished. If she refuses divorce, I’ll execute her for treason.”

—

“You called, my lady?”

Enric was dressed in a custom-fitted royal knight uniform. Its details differed slightly from the regular knight garb.

The fabric was pitch black, with silver buttons on white epaulets. The chest bore not the imperial crest but a star symbol representing the Empress. The uniform could not hide Enric’s muscular physique.

Its high collar emphasized his sharp jawline and broad shoulders.

He was so handsome that not only maids but noble daughters admired him.

Perhaps that was why my heart raced—faster than when I first met Clifford in the palace.

*‘No, it feels even faster than back then.’*

A woman who knew men and a six-year-old girl were inevitably different.

I felt thirsty for no reason, yet I didn’t want Enric to notice.

Seeing his boots dirtied by dust, I picked a trivial quarrel.

“As a royal guard, keep your posture proper at all times.”

“I want to, but my lady is far too popular.”

Noticing no one else was in the chamber, Enric relaxed his speech. He seemed irritated by formalities.

“What does your dirty boots have to do with my popularity?”

“Knights who admire you keep starting fights.”

“Fights?”

“Dueling, but… they come at you to kill.”

“So, did you fight them?”

Enric shrugged as if obvious.

“You can’t avoid a fight coming to you. I have to show my skill.”

“So you want to prove you’re strong.”

“I only want to prove that not just anyone can be the royal guard of my lady.”

Enric replied calmly.

He must have won easily, only dirtying his boots slightly.

“If my swordsmanship were poor, what would that make your lady? She’d be distracted by strange rumors.”

“You knew?”

“Anyone with ears would know.”

After a pause, Enric lowered his chin and slightly raised his eyes. Unaware how alluring he looked.

“Are you alright, my lady?”

“Of course.”

“Do I feel like a pen or desk to you?”

Enric’s voice was low, reminiscent of a large beast, wet and dejected.

*“You can’t hurt me. A desk or pen can’t hurt its owner.”*

Perhaps that thought crossed his mind.

*‘Was she hurt?’*

I wanted to ask but held back.

Whatever Enric’s answer, I would be shaken.

“I plan to use that rumor.”

“The one that I staged an assassination plot to keep a sexual slave close?”

“Yes.”

“It’s all false. I’ve never served you at night, and you’ve never hired assassins.”

“The assassination plot doesn’t matter.”

“My lady, what are you planning?”

Enric’s golden eyes flickered. I spoke to the boy-like transparent eyes.

“I intend to take you as my lover.”

“Wh-what?!”

“It means you’ll act as the Empress’s lover in front of others.”

—

Not even two days after the Empress made a slave her royal guard, she announced she would take him as her lover.

Nobles who respected Stella dismissed it as a ridiculous rumor.

“Even if it were the Emperor, yes, but the Empress would never do that.”

“How devoted she is. Virtuous as a goddess!”

“A slanderous plot! Sexual scandal involving the Empress? Ridiculous.”

As if mocking everyone’s expectations, Stella released an official statement:

**[Enric, the Empress’s royal guard, is granted the title and lands of Duke Daesher. He shall serve as the Empress’s official lover under the law.]**

Invitations with the Empress’s seal were sent.

It was a welcome party introducing Enric to high society.

Nobles were nearly fainting. Citizens were equally shocked.

Officially, an Empress could have a public lover.

But no Empress had ever publicly granted a title and held a welcome party for a man who was not the Emperor.

The Empire buzzed at Stella’s unprecedented actions—Empress greater than Emperor, symbol of the empire.

“What is the Empress doing…”

Even the Marquisate of Randesta, at the empire’s southernmost border, received news.

Stella’s father, Briarton, Marquis of Randesta, muttered in a cold, marble-like voice.

“A party for her concubine? Unthinkable.”

Though his voice was even and emotionless, the invitation was shredded in his hands.

—

“Why go this far?”

Enric asked, pouting.

I rolled my wheelchair into the center of the rose garden.

“Come closer so the gardeners can see how affectionate we are.”

“Why?”

“Didn’t I say I’m tired of the refined Empress role? I’ll be free in every way.”

“Having a lover will make you free?”

“Better than pretending to be mad or sneaking out. I want to live my remaining life as I please.”

“Why speak like an old dying woman? You’re only twenty-two.”

Enric didn’t know about the Star Eyes. Nor did he know how little time I had left.

“That is…”

The words wouldn’t come easily. I didn’t want to share long, sentimental stories.

I hated receiving his pity even more.

“I’ll tell you later.”

Enric looked puzzled. I pulled him into the play I had staged.

I should explain properly, but I wanted to ignore it.

This was something born from emotions even I couldn’t understand.

“Can’t you just follow what I say?”

“I am your servant anyway. You just need to give the orders.”

His firm words of obedience pierced my heart sharply.

“I’m just curious why the rush. You could do it slowly without criticism.”

“Does it upset you if I’m criticized?”

“Of course! And besides, I’m not even really your lover.”

Enric gritted his teeth. Pretending to be a fake lover seemed exhausting.

Indeed. A superior man like Enric being treated as a disabled woman’s night attendant would be frustrating.

Other women wouldn’t approach him either, now that he was rumored to be the Empress’s man. Perhaps that’s why he was uncomfortable.

I closed my eyes tightly, thinking of women glancing at him with flushed cheeks.

For some reason, my tongue felt bitter.

“I’ll make it up to you.”

“You already gave me a title and lands, what else could there be?”

“You speak as if you don’t need it.”

“I just need meat for today. Titles are a bother.”

Enric stubbornly replied, like a teenage boy.

I smiled bitterly and offered a conciliatory gesture.

“Tell me if you want anything else. I’ll grant it.”

“Do you mean that?”

Enric grinned, dangerous as ever.

“What exactly are you going to demand?”