Starting with Bonifax's answer, the ministers bowed their heads one by one. Some of them stood up straight, but with that number of people, they couldn't disobey Carson's order.
Could it be that they had accepted the fact that they had established a bank under the name of the Count of Swenden? They were overwhelmed by Ines's power, which had grown too strong to do anything about. Could it be that they had granted Ines the immunity that was only given to the Count himself?
If she had not taken control of the finances, she would not have been able to escape even if it was the immunity that was given only to those who had contributed to the national interest to the point of receiving a medal of honor.
"I will move the future Empress's residence to the Empress's palace right now."
Since the wedding had not yet taken place, it was right for the ministers to prevent her from going to the Empress's palace. He did not want to keep Ines in the maid's room, but he was willing to make concessions if the ministers opposed him.
“I will obey.”
But no one dared to oppose the Emperor’s order. Carson continued his order, gaining momentum.
“Prepare for the wedding within the next month.”
The first to oppose the hasty order was none other than his closest aides, Noah Timothy and Ines.
“Your Majesty.”
Noah stopped him with a voice that was trembling and cracking.
“That is too urgent... Would you mind reconsidering the schedule?”
Ines also held his arm tightly. When he faced her, she shook her head slightly.
“Oh, I understand. If you do, two months.”
Noah repeated the word two months in his mouth. Thinking that to prepare for the Emperor’s wedding within two months, he would have to give up either eating or sleeping.
The next morning, Ines sat by the window in her room and looked out at the garden.
It was a particularly blue morning compared to other days.
If it had been an ordinary day, she would have heard the quiet scenery, the slightly cold wind, and the chirping of birds. And the sight of the court ladies walking quietly but quickly would have decorated the garden.
But this morning, the palace was as noisy as if there was a fire. Since the meeting last night, the palace has been busier than ever. The court ladies had no choice but to be busy because they had to welcome a new master to the Empress’s Palace.
Carson had set a deadline of only three days for Ines to enter the Empress’s Palace. She watched the people coming and going in the garden with a feeling of disbelief.
Then, without a trace, Carson approached Ines. He gently hugged her from behind and covered her with a white sheet.
Suddenly as if she was completely enveloped in warm snow, the surroundings became as quiet as a vacuum. Ines leaned against his body as if it were natural.
His body, which was always a little hotter than others, conveyed its body heat to Ines.
It was crazy good.
This man, this man’s embrace, the warm breath he exhaled.
Carson gently bit Ines’ ear and mumbled.
“Why don’t you sleep a little longer?”
Ines shrugged her shoulders and pushed him away slightly. She thought that even the devil’s whispers would not be sweeter than this.
“You have a lot to do. How can you sleep after keeping people so busy?”
Even after spitting out the harsh words, her heart did not flinch. It seemed that there was nothing she could not say to him anymore.
“Isn’t that something that someone who didn’t let me sleep should say?”
Ines’ face flushed at the playful words. However, instead of getting angry, Ines turned around and burrowed into his arms.
As Carson had said, she couldn’t stop him from stopping last night.
She didn’t feel like stopping him as he ran toward her.
Thinking back to the day she first went to his room, it was hard to even imagine.
It wasn’t something her body had experienced, but it was vivid in her memory. The traces of the countless violations she had experienced. She hesitated and pondered countless times, wondering if it was a sin to seek Carson with all those scars, if it was greed.
She was tormented by the memories that would not be forgotten even though she closed his eyes and struggled, telling herself that it was absolutely not true. That was the courage she had gained. That was the embrace that had found her.
“That’s right, I have nothing to say.”
But now she no longer had such thoughts.
The dirty memories were erased one by one as the sensations that were awakened inside her as if she were being reborn anew. Like a believer purified by God, the thought that he was dirty also disappeared cleanly.
All the anger she had experienced before meeting Carson melted into something hotter and formless.
“If this is how it is now, the state of affairs is ruined today?”
“So what?”
Carson flinched at the unexpected reaction. Then he immediately lifted Ines up.
“Whoa.”
Ines screamed softly at the sudden action of a small provocation and wrapped her legs around his waist. It didn’t take much effort for Carson to stride to the bed.
The two collapsed onto the bed as if they were originally one body.
“Every time you say you want me even a little bit...”
Carson buried his lips in Ines’s body again and choked out his words.
“Every time you look at me with a look that says you want me even a little bit...”
Even though everyone knew that the Emperor visited the maid’s room every night, Ines had been busy sending him out every morning. But somehow, she didn’t want to do that today.
The weight of Carson slightly pressuring Ines, and the words and breaths that clashed hotly against her, felt as if today was the only day.
“I’m just going crazy.”
The sound of a giant man’s footsteps left a thumping mark on her chest where they met.
Ines accepted all the passion he gave her and thought. Maybe she was the one going crazy with his words and his gaze.
All the world surrounding them was just a wall, and at this moment, it felt like it would be okay to go crazy under a blanket.
“Ines.”
The hard yet soft touch, Carson’s strong body scent, and the name he heard from her.
“My lover.”
Unrealistic events filled her head. It felt like all the darkness was being pushed away by the great light.
“My wife.”
A stone that had been thrown away spread out like a deep ripple in her chest. The river of unknown depth swayed gently and embraced the light more beautifully.
Ines eventually couldn’t bear it anymore and pulled her body tight like a bow. Maybe she was already crazy.
After that, the rising sun entered the room longer without permission, and the night for the two continued until Noah came to visit and begged him earnestly.
The three days that Carson had mentioned had passed, and on a day when the humid wind of early summer blew, Ines entered the empress’s palace.
The garden she entered was overflowing with spring flowers that had not yet withered.
The branches that had grown strong throughout the spring had green leaves, and yellow flowers were in full bloom along the path she walked.
The fountain in front of the Empress’s Palace gushed out water as if welcoming the new owner. The nameless flower tree swayed gently in the wind.
The clumsy pink petals glistened with moisture, and wildflowers bloomed in every corner of the garden.
She heard that many things had changed to leave no trace of the former Empress, but flowers could not bloom overnight. Fortunately, Ines liked the former Empress’s garden.
She stopped for a moment and looked around.
Ines felt a heavy weight on her chest as she suddenly thought that she had come this far while following her God.
When Ines reached the main gate of the main building, she saw the Empress’s court ladies lined up on both sides.
The maidservants and servants did not come out, but only the servants and handmaids, and yet, by all accounts, they must have been over forty years old.
Could it be that they had accepted the fact that they had established a bank under the name of the Count of Swenden? They were overwhelmed by Ines's power, which had grown too strong to do anything about. Could it be that they had granted Ines the immunity that was only given to the Count himself?
If she had not taken control of the finances, she would not have been able to escape even if it was the immunity that was given only to those who had contributed to the national interest to the point of receiving a medal of honor.
"I will move the future Empress's residence to the Empress's palace right now."
Since the wedding had not yet taken place, it was right for the ministers to prevent her from going to the Empress's palace. He did not want to keep Ines in the maid's room, but he was willing to make concessions if the ministers opposed him.
“I will obey.”
But no one dared to oppose the Emperor’s order. Carson continued his order, gaining momentum.
“Prepare for the wedding within the next month.”
The first to oppose the hasty order was none other than his closest aides, Noah Timothy and Ines.
“Your Majesty.”
Noah stopped him with a voice that was trembling and cracking.
“That is too urgent... Would you mind reconsidering the schedule?”
Ines also held his arm tightly. When he faced her, she shook her head slightly.
“Oh, I understand. If you do, two months.”
Noah repeated the word two months in his mouth. Thinking that to prepare for the Emperor’s wedding within two months, he would have to give up either eating or sleeping.
***
The next morning, Ines sat by the window in her room and looked out at the garden.
It was a particularly blue morning compared to other days.
If it had been an ordinary day, she would have heard the quiet scenery, the slightly cold wind, and the chirping of birds. And the sight of the court ladies walking quietly but quickly would have decorated the garden.
But this morning, the palace was as noisy as if there was a fire. Since the meeting last night, the palace has been busier than ever. The court ladies had no choice but to be busy because they had to welcome a new master to the Empress’s Palace.
Carson had set a deadline of only three days for Ines to enter the Empress’s Palace. She watched the people coming and going in the garden with a feeling of disbelief.
Then, without a trace, Carson approached Ines. He gently hugged her from behind and covered her with a white sheet.
Suddenly as if she was completely enveloped in warm snow, the surroundings became as quiet as a vacuum. Ines leaned against his body as if it were natural.
His body, which was always a little hotter than others, conveyed its body heat to Ines.
It was crazy good.
This man, this man’s embrace, the warm breath he exhaled.
Carson gently bit Ines’ ear and mumbled.
“Why don’t you sleep a little longer?”
Ines shrugged her shoulders and pushed him away slightly. She thought that even the devil’s whispers would not be sweeter than this.
“You have a lot to do. How can you sleep after keeping people so busy?”
Even after spitting out the harsh words, her heart did not flinch. It seemed that there was nothing she could not say to him anymore.
“Isn’t that something that someone who didn’t let me sleep should say?”
Ines’ face flushed at the playful words. However, instead of getting angry, Ines turned around and burrowed into his arms.
As Carson had said, she couldn’t stop him from stopping last night.
She didn’t feel like stopping him as he ran toward her.
Thinking back to the day she first went to his room, it was hard to even imagine.
It wasn’t something her body had experienced, but it was vivid in her memory. The traces of the countless violations she had experienced. She hesitated and pondered countless times, wondering if it was a sin to seek Carson with all those scars, if it was greed.
She was tormented by the memories that would not be forgotten even though she closed his eyes and struggled, telling herself that it was absolutely not true. That was the courage she had gained. That was the embrace that had found her.
“That’s right, I have nothing to say.”
But now she no longer had such thoughts.
The dirty memories were erased one by one as the sensations that were awakened inside her as if she were being reborn anew. Like a believer purified by God, the thought that he was dirty also disappeared cleanly.
All the anger she had experienced before meeting Carson melted into something hotter and formless.
“If this is how it is now, the state of affairs is ruined today?”
“So what?”
Carson flinched at the unexpected reaction. Then he immediately lifted Ines up.
“Whoa.”
Ines screamed softly at the sudden action of a small provocation and wrapped her legs around his waist. It didn’t take much effort for Carson to stride to the bed.
The two collapsed onto the bed as if they were originally one body.
“Every time you say you want me even a little bit...”
Carson buried his lips in Ines’s body again and choked out his words.
“Every time you look at me with a look that says you want me even a little bit...”
Even though everyone knew that the Emperor visited the maid’s room every night, Ines had been busy sending him out every morning. But somehow, she didn’t want to do that today.
The weight of Carson slightly pressuring Ines, and the words and breaths that clashed hotly against her, felt as if today was the only day.
“I’m just going crazy.”
The sound of a giant man’s footsteps left a thumping mark on her chest where they met.
Ines accepted all the passion he gave her and thought. Maybe she was the one going crazy with his words and his gaze.
All the world surrounding them was just a wall, and at this moment, it felt like it would be okay to go crazy under a blanket.
“Ines.”
The hard yet soft touch, Carson’s strong body scent, and the name he heard from her.
“My lover.”
Unrealistic events filled her head. It felt like all the darkness was being pushed away by the great light.
“My wife.”
A stone that had been thrown away spread out like a deep ripple in her chest. The river of unknown depth swayed gently and embraced the light more beautifully.
Ines eventually couldn’t bear it anymore and pulled her body tight like a bow. Maybe she was already crazy.
After that, the rising sun entered the room longer without permission, and the night for the two continued until Noah came to visit and begged him earnestly.
***
The three days that Carson had mentioned had passed, and on a day when the humid wind of early summer blew, Ines entered the empress’s palace.
The garden she entered was overflowing with spring flowers that had not yet withered.
The branches that had grown strong throughout the spring had green leaves, and yellow flowers were in full bloom along the path she walked.
The fountain in front of the Empress’s Palace gushed out water as if welcoming the new owner. The nameless flower tree swayed gently in the wind.
The clumsy pink petals glistened with moisture, and wildflowers bloomed in every corner of the garden.
She heard that many things had changed to leave no trace of the former Empress, but flowers could not bloom overnight. Fortunately, Ines liked the former Empress’s garden.
She stopped for a moment and looked around.
Ines felt a heavy weight on her chest as she suddenly thought that she had come this far while following her God.
When Ines reached the main gate of the main building, she saw the Empress’s court ladies lined up on both sides.
The maidservants and servants did not come out, but only the servants and handmaids, and yet, by all accounts, they must have been over forty years old.
It was said that none of the former Empress’s attendants were left, so the court ladies standing here now must not have been familiar with the Empress’s palace yet.
“Are you here, Empress?”
And the first person to greet her was none other than the master of this palace. Ines snickered at the seemingly flirtatious tone, but for the sake of her dignity, she could not laugh carelessly.
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Although she was still called Empress, Ines let him do whatever he wanted.
Noah, who was standing next to him, took a step toward Ines and opened a small box. Inside it were the relics of his mother that Ines had left in Carson’s room.
“The things that you dropped in my room.”
Carson whispered softly in Ines’ ear.
Ines’ face flushed as she looked at the items, memories of the first night naturally came to mind. The way the Emperor moistened his dry throat while looking at them was also a sensation that only she could feel.
It was a red jewel that she had forgotten when she tried to find it again but Carson said he would touch it up a little and return it.
“This is a gift from His Majesty to celebrate your entry into the Empress’s Palace.”
“Ah...”
“This is the heirloom of His Majesty’s own mother.”
Noah, who could not have known what had happened between the two, continued talking. Ines pretended not to know and just nodded her head slightly with a blush. Noah continued his explanation at length. From the reason the previous Emperor had given him this hair ornament as a gift, to the history of the jewel, to the fact that it had all its original value after only touching up the seams.
With his voice in the background, Ines simply looked at Carson’s golden eyes. As soon as Noah finished speaking, Carson looked around for no reason and said.
“My mother never came here.”
There was an endless longing in his calm voice.
He personally swept up one side of Ines’s hair. He then placed the ornament on her head. For some reason, his touch felt distant.
“Pretty.”
Ines blushed even more at Carson’s words. Why was there no immunity to his words and face?
She couldn’t answer right away because the words “thank you” felt too light.
He simply grabbed her poor lower lip and bit it, and Carson took a step closer and pushed her chin away. As soon as his lips left her mouth, Carson immediately closed his lips around hers.
She looked around in confusion and saw the palace maids standing by her, staring straight ahead like wax dolls. They might have been able to remain indifferent to this situation as a member of the royal family, but Ines was not.
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