Chapter 03. The Moment Her Eyes Trembled

After returning from Richard’s chambers, Mercedes couldn’t even make it to the bed. She collapsed to the floor.

Her legs gave out, and a throbbing headache surged in. She could maintain a blank face by numbing her emotions, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t feel anything.

Just because one is used to abuse doesn’t mean it stops being frightening. Richard’s cruelty may have become familiar, but it was no less humiliating. She lived every day in fear and anxiety.

Mercedes swallowed a sigh and tried to stand.

“Your Highness! Are you alright? What happened?”

Just then, her nanny, Gertrude, entered the room with perfect timing. She had been by Mercedes’s side ever since she first arrived at the count’s estate as a child.

More than once, she had shielded her from beatings.

She was the only one Mercedes truly trusted.

“Nanny, just for a moment, like this…”

“You look seriously unwell. I’ll call the palace physician.”

“No, it’s fine. I just feel weak.”

“But still… Alright. Then let’s just stay like this for a while. Moving suddenly won’t be good for your body.”

“Alright.”

Mercedes leaned against her nanny’s arm for a brief rest. After a while, her strength returned, and she was able to stand.

After preparing for bed and lying down, she found herself thinking of the words Richard had repeated.

Like a corpse. Rigid.

Mercedes let out a bitter laugh. Perhaps it was true. She was treated like she was invisible, hated by everyone.

If no one in life wanted her, wasn’t that the same as being dead? No, worse than dead. When she finally died, not a single person would mourn or miss her.

‘Why am I still alive?’

It was a question she asked herself every dawn. Mercedes swallowed it down as usual and burrowed deep into the bed. Still, sleep didn’t come.

***

The rumors about Mercedes temporarily died down.

The entire kingdom was in a frenzy over the news that the Emperor of the Lum Empire would be visiting.

“Hurry, hurry!”

“The decorations are still lacking here!”

The palace was in chaos as they prepared a welcoming ceremony in response to the message sent by the Emperor.

Unlike the small island kingdom of Shame, the Lum Empire was a powerful nation that ruled the entire continent across the sea.

Moreover, the current Emperor had been a war-hardened man even in his days as a crown prince, so it was said he easily absorbed the small nations that previous emperors had failed to conquer.

After sweeping up the remaining minor states on the continent, he was now making diplomatic rounds to nearby island nations, forming treaties. Though called agreements, in truth, they were more like. 

“We won’t invade if you pay tribute.”

These were the achievements he had accomplished in not even two full years of reign.

Given such a situation, the Kingdom of Shame, located not far from the Empire, needed to stay on good terms with them.

So all this commotion wasn’t surprising.

“Tch, so noisy.”

Naturally, Richard was displeased by all the commotion.

There were many rumors surrounding the Emperor of the Empire. A genius swordsman, a war maniac, yet said to be a wise ruler beloved by his people.

And supposedly, the most handsome man in the world.

Richard scoffed at the rumors.

It was only natural for extravagant stories to spread when someone insignificant rose to a high position.

Especially when the praise focused so much on appearance, it was clear that the Emperor of Lum was a short, unimpressive man.

For such a fool to become ruler of the continent just because of good blood, he pitied the citizens of the Empire.

Honestly, Richard believed that he was far more suited for such a throne.

“If he’s so aggressive, then absorbing small countries was probably just his way of overcompensating, trying desperately to leave behind some kind of achievement.”

With the military power of the Empire, even an idiot sitting on the throne could conquer a few countries. Expanding the Empire’s borders didn’t even seem like a noteworthy feat.

And so Richard, without ever meeting him, internally belittled the Emperor of the Lum Empire again and again.

It was a habit born from growing up constantly compared to his deceased brother. A twisted sense of self-worth, paired with an unnecessarily inflated confidence.

Then came the day of the welcoming ceremony.

“His Majesty Carlos Rivera, Emperor of the Lum Empire, is entering!”

With the announcement, the doors opened, and the Emperor made his entrance.

Dressed in a pitch-black military uniform from head to toe, a crimson cloak lined with thick fur draped over his shoulders, the Emperor strode forward with overwhelming presence.

Black hair, black eyes. Bronze skin and a tall, imposing frame gave him the aura of a wild beast. His great height, broad shoulders, and composed, weighty steps exuded nobility. He was someone who naturally drew all eyes.

And above all.

“…He’s beautiful.”

It was a beauty that felt otherworldly.

As Richard looked at the Emperor, he was reminded of his late brother, Elmond. Elmond, too, had possessed a rare and commanding presence. But this Emperor… surpassed even that.

Richard clenched his fists tightly. Just having the Emperor stand before him was enough to drive him mad with irritation.

The banquet hall buzzed with small murmurs and excitement.

The Emperor walked forward and stood before the King.

“It is a pleasure. May the Kingdom of Shame be blessed.”

A low, resonant voice carried a charisma that made it seem impossible to defy.

The king, noticeably shorter than the emperor, looked visibly flustered under the weight of his presence but managed to speak with as much composure as he could muster.

“Welcome. Glory to the Lum Empire.”

The two men shook hands, and the emperor glanced around the banquet hall.

“The banquet is modest yet beautiful. It seems great effort went into the preparations, I offer my thanks.”

“It’s nothing, truly. I hope the conqueror of the continent finds enjoyment in our humble gathering.”

Modest?

Richard clenched his teeth. In all his years growing up in the kingdom, he had never seen such a lavish banquet. And yet that man was belittling them.

Whether the emperor noticed Richard’s expression or not, his gaze slowly swept the hall until it came to a stop.

His eyes landed on Richard and Mercedes. And then, openly.

“…A pleasure. Crown Prince. Crown Princess.”

His gaze settled on Mercedes.

Mercedes’s green eyes wavered noticeably as they met the emperor’s.

It was true that his presence drew her attention. He was a kind of man she had never seen before.

But that alone shouldn’t have mattered. He was someone completely unrelated to her. So, as usual, she watched the exchange between the emperor and the king with a blank expression.

Even when the emperor greeted them, there was no reason to be surprised.

And yet, her eyes trembled, for just a moment, because his face felt oddly familiar.

There was no way she could have seen him before. In her childhood, she had lived with her mother in the capital of the Lum Empire, but it had been a life on the streets. She never had the chance to meet someone of high status. And afterward, she had been confined to Count Cromwell’s estate.

There was no reason she would have ever met someone like the emperor. That was why she was confused.

‘Why… does he feel so familiar?’

And that brief moment when Mercedes’s eyes shook, Richard did not miss it.

It was only the faintest trace of emotion on her face. A split second… truly a fleeting moment.

Richard’s gaze sharpened.

The emperor looked at the Crown Princess. The Crown Princess bowed with her usual impassive expression. The Crown Prince looked at her as if she were incomprehensible.

The mismatched gazes lasted only a second before the emperor turned toward the Crown Prince. Sensing his gaze, Richard quickly smiled.

“You must be weary from your long journey, Your Majesty. I hope you enjoy your time in the Kingdom of Shame.”

He may have been arrogant inwardly, but a royal was still a royal.

With his training, Richard naturally donned a polite mask and behaved with formal courtesy.

“I’m pleased to be welcomed by the Crown Prince. Thank you.”

The emperor’s deep voice seemed void of any emotion.

That was all.

The welcoming ceremony proceeded at a moderate pace, not too long, not too short. After the grand event concluded, the emperor headed to the main conference room for a meeting with the king.

“The schedule is finished.”

Seeing the emperor off, Mercedes spoke in her usual flat, emotionless tone. Richard let out a hollow laugh as he looked at his wife, who had returned to her usual self.

He wanted to lash out at her immediately, but too many eyes were watching.

“…Yes. The schedule is finished, so let’s go.”

Forcing a smile, Richard offered polite farewells to those nearby and left the hall. As soon as they entered a section of the palace restricted to the royal family, he grabbed Mercedes by the arm and shoved her against the hallway wall.

“Ugh…!”

Mercedes let out a small gasp from the sudden pain, but her expression remained completely blank.

“I thought my dear wife was excessively virtuous, but it turns out you’re quite the flirt, aren’t you?”

“……”

“I assumed you had no desire for anyone.”

“…If there’s a problem, please reprimand me. I’ll correct it.”

Her calm response made Richard grit his teeth.

“Fine. Let’s see each other tonight, then. I wonder if you’ll be just as composed when it’s time to consummate the marriage.”

Mercedes was slightly surprised.

At night… There had been plenty of times Richard barged in and hurled insults or drunken rants at her. But this was the first time in two years that he had uttered the word ‘consummate.’

“…Understood.”

The reason Richard had avoided consummating their marriage was simple.

He didn’t want to grant Mercedes the honor of bearing his child.

Two years had passed like that, and each time Mercedes was scolded over matters of succession, he took satisfaction in it.

Though Mercedes didn’t know all the reasons behind it.

But suddenly, consummation?

Mercedes quietly looked at Richard, then lowered her gaze.

“…Understood.”

She was shaken, but duty was duty.

As always, she bowed her head with resigned acceptance.

“Ah, I’m thinking of doing something special tonight. I want to see if you can keep that corpse-like expression even when humiliated in front of others.”

“Others…?”

“How about we consummate our marriage in the audience chamber? Hmm?”

Richard sneered. Only then did Mercedes’s eyes tremble violently.

“…Yes?”