3.
“…What?”
Tristan, the arrogant Prime Minister, blinked in surprise.
The Empress-in-name, who usually cowered before the Emperor’s orders, was now speaking words he couldn’t believe.
“I haven’t even had breakfast yet. I’m in no condition to meet His Majesty.”
“But, but…”
Lucy, who had been quietly listening, chimed in.
“That’s right, Your Highness didn’t even eat dinner last night. You should really eat something first.”
With the head maid speaking up like that, Tristan just mumbled and didn’t argue further.
“Let’s go, Lucy.”
Yvonne smiled brightly as if nothing had happened, gesturing for Lucy to follow her. She moved forward with light steps.
Her fourth life had begun with a fresh start.
In the back alley leading from the Empress’s palace to the Emperor’s, the official flower of Sildron, the rose, was planted in abundance.
With the warm climate that lasted all year, the garden was full of blooming flowers even in March.
“Today’s breakfast has been specially prepared in the greenhouse. I thought you might like to enjoy the spring flowers,” Lucy said, looking unusually pleased after Yvonne had gotten the better of the haughty Prime Minister.
“I’m already looking forward to it,” Yvonne said with a faint smile.
As they walked, Yvonne noticed strange movement in the bushes on the left.
It looked like something was rustling, almost like an animal hiding there.
‘This never happened before, did it…?’
Since she had refused the Emperor’s command earlier, time seemed to be flowing differently now.
Anything could happen, and everything seemed out of the ordinary.
Trying to remain calm, Yvonne kept her expression neutral, but her eyes widened when she saw what appeared to be black hair peeking out from the bushes.
That dark, cave-like hair… Could it be?
“…I need to fix my hem for a second, just wait.”
Yvonne moved to block the view of the rustling bushes and signaled Lucy to stop.
“Of course, Your Highness,” Lucy said, quickly checking the hem of Yvonne’s dress. Contrary to what Yvonne had said, the hem was perfectly fine.
“Is something wrong, Your Highness?”
Lucy looked at her with wide eyes, but Yvonne quickly pressed her finger to her lips and gave her a serious look.
“Whatever you see here today, it stays between us. Understand?”
Lucy nodded, though she still looked confused.
“I’ve always been loyal to you, Your Highness, so I won’t say anything. But… why are you acting like this? It’s kind of scary.”
Yvonne waited for the guards patrolling the area to turn the corner before she carefully parted the bushes with her hands.
“Ah!”
Lucy gasped in surprise, covering her mouth with her hands.
A man was lying in the thick plants, surrounded by greenery.
“Hah…”
But Yvonne’s expression was cold. She didn’t seem surprised at all.
After going through three lifetimes and now the fourth, Yvonne’s mind quickly began to analyze the situation.
She recognized the man lying there with black hair, his face scrunched in pain.
‘Ricardo Aldric…’
Ricardo Ignacio Aldric, the Duke of Naha, the Wolf of the North.
He was the infamous man from the north who was said to bring misfortune due to the red star that had appeared in the night sky when he was born.
Why was he here?
Though the question crossed her mind, Yvonne quickly calculated what she should do.
She had to save him.
“Lucy, we need to help him.”
“Huh? Shouldn’t we call the captain of the guards?” Lucy exclaimed, surprised, but Yvonne remained calm.
“Hurry, we need to move him to the greenhouse.”
Yvonne quickly lifted the limp man onto her shoulder. Thankfully, she could still hear faint breathing.
With Lucy’s help, they made their way to a small greenhouse on the back path, and Yvonne’s eyes sparkled with intent.
‘He’s the one who brought destruction to Sildron.’
Whether the red star was truly a bad omen, Yvonne didn’t know, but she remembered it from her past life.
Ricardo Aldric, known as a cursed being, had grown his power in Naha and attacked Sildron while Yvonne was planning her rebellion.
‘Maybe saving him and using him as a tool is another way to get revenge.’
Yvonne had met Ricardo once before, during a banquet, when he was about to take action. They hadn’t spoken but had exchanged formal greetings.
“Your Highness, do you know him? If he’s an assassin or spy, this could be dangerous,” Lucy asked, sweat trickling down her forehead as she helped drag Ricardo into the greenhouse.
Yvonne straightened her dress and, after a moment, nodded silently.
“…I know him.”
“Really? Someone like him is in the palace? It looks like he’s been stabbed…”
“He was probably being chased. It’s hard to believe this happened inside the palace.”
Yvonne’s expression hardened as she looked at the deep gash on Ricardo’s side.
“Ricardo Aldric.”
“The Duke of Naha?”
Lucy’s eyes widened as she stared at the man, who was barely breathing and bleeding from the wound in his side.
“You mean the cursed Duke from the North? How did the Emperor…?”
“That’s not important, Lucy.”
Yvonne spoke calmly, her voice steady.
“The important thing is that we can’t call in a doctor or request the personal physician. It looks like it’s just up to you and me to take care of him.”
“You want us to take care of him? But he has nothing to do with us, and he was found stabbed in the middle of the palace. Isn’t that dangerous?”
Just as Lucy was raising objections, a low, tired voice came from behind them.
“…Are you awake now?”
Yvonne immediately turned around, startled.
“…You’re awake?”
Ricardo, who had been on the verge of passing out, was now muttering, barely opening one eye.
His red eyes.
Yvonne instinctively recoiled.
His eyes were the color of blood, like the red star that had appeared when he was born, marking him as a cursed figure.
His gaze felt like that of a wolf, waiting for its prey.
Even in this state, he was a dangerous predator.
“Your Highness! Quickly, hide behind me!”
Lucy, trembling, stepped in front of Yvonne, trying to protect her.
Yvonne, however, gently pushed Lucy aside and stepped closer to Ricardo, who was half lying on the ground.
“Sounds like you still have some strength left in you.”
Yvonne remained expressionless as she observed the long gash on Ricardo’s side. Blood was still oozing out.
If they didn’t stop the bleeding soon, even a healthy man wouldn’t last long.
“Where am I?”
“The palace, behind the Empress’s quarters. You’re in the greenhouse. You’re safe for now.”
Ricardo, exhausted from blood loss, squeezed his eyes shut.
“The Empress’s quarters…”
Even in such a critical state, Ricardo chuckled bitterly.
“You’re talking about the half-hearted Empress-in-name. That woman, too scared to even ask for what’s hers, staying just a shadow of what she could be.”
“Watch your mouth! What kind of place do you think this is?!”
Lucy stepped forward angrily when Ricardo insulted Yvonne.
“Lucy, I’m fine.”
But Yvonne, still calm, shook her head.
“He’s not wrong.”
Lucy’s eyes went wide in disbelief.
She knew Yvonne as a calm, gentle woman, the type who would simply lower her head and sigh when mocked.
But now, seeing her calmly accept what Ricardo had said, Lucy didn’t know how to react.
“We need to treat him, so you go to my room and get the emergency medical supplies. I’ll stop the bleeding until then.”
With Yvonne giving such an order, Lucy had no choice but to follow.
“Show me the wound.”
Now, with only the two of them left in the greenhouse, Ricardo’s low voice responded.
“…Why should I?”
His tone was arrogant and rude.
Because she is future wife!!