“I know that too.”
“You don’t plan on just letting it go, do you?”
He turned his head away from Sepia and looked at the garden.
The flower garden, where all kinds of autumn flowers were in full bloom, was only visible in the moonlight.
Roxanne’s gaze was directed to darkness.
He was looking beyond the garden, beyond the distant past.
“I had one too. A precious lover.”
Sepia realized that he was reminiscing.
She knew that feeling of going back to the past.
Reaching out for a longing that could not be reached.
Sepia followed his gaze.
Before she knew it, Roxanne’s eyes were back on her.
“I still love her.”
“But why...?”
Was he not looking for a lover?
Or maybe something went wrong with his lover while he was on the battlefield...
A series of speculations swirled through her head.
Fortunately, it wasn’t for the reason Sepia had guessed.
“We broke up under unavoidable circumstances. It seems like too much time has passed to go back to her.”
“...I see.”
Sepia let out a sigh of relief at his words.
If the lover had already passed away, it would have been rude to even bring up this topic.
But on the other hand, doesn’t that mean that they could meet again someday?
‘I understand his feelings.’
If the lover had forgotten him and was living, he might have thought it would be difficult.
But if it were the other way around...
“Your lover will be waiting for Roxanne too.”
If he hadn’t forgotten her even after all this time, then the other person would be waiting for him too.
Perhaps, too earnestly.
His eyes widened slightly at Sepia’s sincere words.
“Are you trying to comfort me?”
“Yes. That’s right.”
Sepia nodded.
She knew very well how painful it was to wait without a promise.
However, because of that pain, she was able to endure a long time and live and breathe.
Although her wait did not end with love.
‘I hope his love comes true.’
“You don’t plan on just letting it go, do you?”
“If I act right, the rumor will die down.”
She could say that because she had already proven her qualifications as Empress and put the rumor to rest once.
However, Roxanne’s thoughts seemed different.
“Well. Rumors tend to gain weight the more people talk about them.”
This meant that it wouldn’t die down easily this time.
Unlike when she had been questioned about her qualifications as Empress, Sepia had nothing to prove this time.
In fact, Sepia already knew.
However, she couldn’t think of any other way than to endure it.
There was no one to help her.
‘There must be a reason why rumors spread so easily.’
The biggest reason was that the relationship between the Emperor and Sepia had become estranged.
And there was no way Demios wouldn’t know about the rumors that had spread about the Empress.
It was when Sepia was sinking into depression.
“The wisest way to respond to rumors is with rumors.”
“Huh?”
The moment she answered, Roxanne was pulling her hand.
“Use me.”
Roxanne?
Before she knew it, they had become closer and Sepia was in Roxanne’s arms.
He lowered his head and put his lips on Sepia’s ear. Sepia’s eyes widened. A soft voice rang out through the breath that touched her ear.
So that only she could hear.
“I will really become the Empress’s mistress.”
“What is that...?”
Her ears were hot. Even her cheeks were flushed.
The dizzying sensation made her dizzy. She tried to pretend not to be flustered, but she thought that the reason she was suddenly hot was because of the ridiculous suggestion.
He added with a mischievous smile as if he had scanned Sepia’s mind.
“To be exact, let’s make it look like that.”
To create a fake government? Even using Roxanne?
He took advantage of Sepia’s confusion to explain his reason.
“Anyway, this is just a rumor. If I stay by your side, at least the situation like before won’t happen.”
An empire based on the law of the jungle.
The only Duke who inherited the blood of a divine beast other than the Emperor.
In the world of beasts, if Roxanne were to be her government, it was clear that other males wouldn’t be able to come near her.
‘But.’
Was this okay ?
Roxanne was the one who suggested using her, but she hesitated nonetheless.
Sepia’s gaze, hesitating to answer, turned to Roxanne’s side.
Demios and Titi could be seen far away next to him.
They had been watching her before Sepia.
‘You were watching everything.’
It was a moment when she realized even more that the Emperor had not helped her.
Sepia felt Demios’ gaze as a sneer.
It seemed as if he was saying that the rumors had spread because she had not behaved properly as an Empress.
A burning sensation rose to the tip of her throat.
‘I did nothing.’
She simply did her best for the empire.
She never did anything worthy of being pointed at.
The moment Sepia turned away from the Emperor, the emotions that had risen above her tongue became words.
“Good.”
The straight, shining golden eyes turned to Roxanne.
Anything was fine if they could stop rumors with rumors.
Especially if they weren’t real anyway.
Roxanne took a step back at Sepia’s consent.
“Then I’ll have to make it seem real.”
He held out his hand to Sepia again.
“Shall we go? Sepia.”
The pleasant sound contained her name.
Sepia, surprised, was speechless for a moment. How long had it been since she heard her own name?
It was so long ago that she felt like she had gone back in time.
“Sepia.”
The last time she had been called by her name so affectionately was when Demios called her when she was young.
Sepia put her hand on him.
Roxanne escorted Sepia across the hall.
The nobles nearby must have heard it too. The Duke had called the Empress by her name.
It was his wish to silence the rumors with bigger rumors.
But now, even that thought did not occur to her.
“Where are you going?”
He was about to dance to the center, but he was already leaving the banquet hall.
Roxanne answered with a playful smile and guided her through.
The place they arrived was the garden next to the banquet hall.
Unlike the banquet hall with its flashy lights and music, the garden bathed in moonlight was immersed in a calm blue light.
“The garden at night is a secret meeting place for secret lovers.”
He smiled with his back to the moon. Just like when they first met.
Sepia held his hand and walked through the garden together.
‘Is this okay?’
She could say that because she had already proven her qualifications as Empress and put the rumor to rest once.
However, Roxanne’s thoughts seemed different.
“Well. Rumors tend to gain weight the more people talk about them.”
This meant that it wouldn’t die down easily this time.
Unlike when she had been questioned about her qualifications as Empress, Sepia had nothing to prove this time.
In fact, Sepia already knew.
However, she couldn’t think of any other way than to endure it.
There was no one to help her.
‘There must be a reason why rumors spread so easily.’
The biggest reason was that the relationship between the Emperor and Sepia had become estranged.
And there was no way Demios wouldn’t know about the rumors that had spread about the Empress.
It was when Sepia was sinking into depression.
“The wisest way to respond to rumors is with rumors.”
“Huh?”
The moment she answered, Roxanne was pulling her hand.
“Use me.”
Roxanne?
Before she knew it, they had become closer and Sepia was in Roxanne’s arms.
He lowered his head and put his lips on Sepia’s ear. Sepia’s eyes widened. A soft voice rang out through the breath that touched her ear.
So that only she could hear.
“I will really become the Empress’s mistress.”
“What is that...?”
Her ears were hot. Even her cheeks were flushed.
The dizzying sensation made her dizzy. She tried to pretend not to be flustered, but she thought that the reason she was suddenly hot was because of the ridiculous suggestion.
He added with a mischievous smile as if he had scanned Sepia’s mind.
“To be exact, let’s make it look like that.”
To create a fake government? Even using Roxanne?
He took advantage of Sepia’s confusion to explain his reason.
“Anyway, this is just a rumor. If I stay by your side, at least the situation like before won’t happen.”
An empire based on the law of the jungle.
The only Duke who inherited the blood of a divine beast other than the Emperor.
In the world of beasts, if Roxanne were to be her government, it was clear that other males wouldn’t be able to come near her.
‘But.’
Was this okay ?
Roxanne was the one who suggested using her, but she hesitated nonetheless.
Sepia’s gaze, hesitating to answer, turned to Roxanne’s side.
Demios and Titi could be seen far away next to him.
They had been watching her before Sepia.
‘You were watching everything.’
It was a moment when she realized even more that the Emperor had not helped her.
Sepia felt Demios’ gaze as a sneer.
It seemed as if he was saying that the rumors had spread because she had not behaved properly as an Empress.
A burning sensation rose to the tip of her throat.
‘I did nothing.’
She simply did her best for the empire.
She never did anything worthy of being pointed at.
The moment Sepia turned away from the Emperor, the emotions that had risen above her tongue became words.
“Good.”
The straight, shining golden eyes turned to Roxanne.
Anything was fine if they could stop rumors with rumors.
Especially if they weren’t real anyway.
Roxanne took a step back at Sepia’s consent.
“Then I’ll have to make it seem real.”
He held out his hand to Sepia again.
“Shall we go? Sepia.”
The pleasant sound contained her name.
Sepia, surprised, was speechless for a moment. How long had it been since she heard her own name?
It was so long ago that she felt like she had gone back in time.
“Sepia.”
The last time she had been called by her name so affectionately was when Demios called her when she was young.
Sepia put her hand on him.
Roxanne escorted Sepia across the hall.
The nobles nearby must have heard it too. The Duke had called the Empress by her name.
It was his wish to silence the rumors with bigger rumors.
But now, even that thought did not occur to her.
“Where are you going?”
He was about to dance to the center, but he was already leaving the banquet hall.
Roxanne answered with a playful smile and guided her through.
The place they arrived was the garden next to the banquet hall.
Unlike the banquet hall with its flashy lights and music, the garden bathed in moonlight was immersed in a calm blue light.
“The garden at night is a secret meeting place for secret lovers.”
He smiled with his back to the moon. Just like when they first met.
Sepia held his hand and walked through the garden together.
‘Is this okay?’
She had already decided.
However, she still wasn’t sure if this was the best plan.
After all, it was something that required using others.
However, many nobles had already seen Roxanne and Sepia leaving the hall.
It was too late to turn back.
Sepia quietly looked up at his profile.
‘Does Roxanne have no lover?’
Even in the banquet hall, many young ladies coveted him.
Even if it wasn’t a victory ceremony, Roxanne was a top-class husband.
She didn’t see it on purpose, but she had witnessed the ladies approaching Roxanne more than ten times.
However, Roxanne rejected them all with the same attitude.
With an indifferent face that was neither cold nor warm.
Sepia guessed that there must be another reason why Roxanne rejected the woman as she watched him.
Maybe he already had someone in mind.
‘It’s common for people to promise to get married in advance and then leave for the battlefield.’
She hadn’t heard that the Duke had a fiancee.
However, only he knew what was on his mind.
However, she still wasn’t sure if this was the best plan.
After all, it was something that required using others.
However, many nobles had already seen Roxanne and Sepia leaving the hall.
It was too late to turn back.
Sepia quietly looked up at his profile.
‘Does Roxanne have no lover?’
Even in the banquet hall, many young ladies coveted him.
Even if it wasn’t a victory ceremony, Roxanne was a top-class husband.
She didn’t see it on purpose, but she had witnessed the ladies approaching Roxanne more than ten times.
However, Roxanne rejected them all with the same attitude.
With an indifferent face that was neither cold nor warm.
Sepia guessed that there must be another reason why Roxanne rejected the woman as she watched him.
Maybe he already had someone in mind.
‘It’s common for people to promise to get married in advance and then leave for the battlefield.’
She hadn’t heard that the Duke had a fiancee.
However, only he knew what was on his mind.
“What are you thinking?”
Roxanne asked as if he sensed her gaze.
His face, with the moonlight behind him, had delicate corners like a sculpture.
Sepia couldn’t hold it in any longer and asked.
“I wonder if Roxanne has a lover. If so, the help I’m receiving now would be very rude to her.”
Roxanne looked surprised at the unexpected question.
“No, it’s not rude. However...”
Roxanne asked as if he sensed her gaze.
His face, with the moonlight behind him, had delicate corners like a sculpture.
Sepia couldn’t hold it in any longer and asked.
“I wonder if Roxanne has a lover. If so, the help I’m receiving now would be very rude to her.”
Roxanne looked surprised at the unexpected question.
“No, it’s not rude. However...”
He turned his head away from Sepia and looked at the garden.
The flower garden, where all kinds of autumn flowers were in full bloom, was only visible in the moonlight.
Roxanne’s gaze was directed to darkness.
He was looking beyond the garden, beyond the distant past.
“I had one too. A precious lover.”
Sepia realized that he was reminiscing.
She knew that feeling of going back to the past.
Reaching out for a longing that could not be reached.
Sepia followed his gaze.
Before she knew it, Roxanne’s eyes were back on her.
“I still love her.”
“But why...?”
Was he not looking for a lover?
Or maybe something went wrong with his lover while he was on the battlefield...
A series of speculations swirled through her head.
Fortunately, it wasn’t for the reason Sepia had guessed.
“We broke up under unavoidable circumstances. It seems like too much time has passed to go back to her.”
“...I see.”
Sepia let out a sigh of relief at his words.
If the lover had already passed away, it would have been rude to even bring up this topic.
But on the other hand, doesn’t that mean that they could meet again someday?
‘I understand his feelings.’
If the lover had forgotten him and was living, he might have thought it would be difficult.
But if it were the other way around...
“Your lover will be waiting for Roxanne too.”
If he hadn’t forgotten her even after all this time, then the other person would be waiting for him too.
Perhaps, too earnestly.
His eyes widened slightly at Sepia’s sincere words.
“Are you trying to comfort me?”
“Yes. That’s right.”
Sepia nodded.
She knew very well how painful it was to wait without a promise.
However, because of that pain, she was able to endure a long time and live and breathe.
Although her wait did not end with love.
‘I hope his love comes true.’
She sincerely hoped that Roxanne and his lover would meet again. No matter what the outcome, only the parties involved could put an end to it.
“So before it’s too late... Wait a minute. If a scandal spreads between you and me...”
Sepia, who was about to tell Roxanne to hurry and find her lover, trailed off.
If her lover had heard of the scandal before he could find his lover, that would have been a disaster.
Roxanne, who was watching her panic, burst into laughter.
“It’s okay. She doesn’t know about my identity. If we meet again, I’ll have to tell her everything.”
A lover he had to hide his identity from.
Roxanne’s lover might have been a commoner.
“That’s fortunate. If I ever meet her, I’ll have to explain it to him.”
“I guess you should.”
His response was indifferent as if he had already made up his mind.
Reminiscing about the past and feeling detached even when surrounded by a large crowd.
Looking at Roxanne like that, Sepia thought that she and him had many unexpected similarities.
If she wanted to know a little more about his past, would that be greedy?
“So before it’s too late... Wait a minute. If a scandal spreads between you and me...”
Sepia, who was about to tell Roxanne to hurry and find her lover, trailed off.
If her lover had heard of the scandal before he could find his lover, that would have been a disaster.
Roxanne, who was watching her panic, burst into laughter.
“It’s okay. She doesn’t know about my identity. If we meet again, I’ll have to tell her everything.”
A lover he had to hide his identity from.
Roxanne’s lover might have been a commoner.
“That’s fortunate. If I ever meet her, I’ll have to explain it to him.”
“I guess you should.”
His response was indifferent as if he had already made up his mind.
Reminiscing about the past and feeling detached even when surrounded by a large crowd.
Looking at Roxanne like that, Sepia thought that she and him had many unexpected similarities.
If she wanted to know a little more about his past, would that be greedy?
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