The study was thick with a heavy, stifling tension. The woman seated at the head of the table glared at the nobles before her, her face set in icy anger.
“Are you saying that the Grand Duke—that my imperial consort—is plotting a treasonous rebellion?”
At the woman's razor-sharp voice, the white-haired old nobleman seated closest to her let out a deep sigh.
“Did you summon this council meeting just so you could dare say such a thing in front of me?”
The longer she spoke, the less she was able to hide her anger, and her voice rose.
“Your Majesty…”
“Do you even realize what you're daring to say?!”
The woman—Archel Orse, Empress of the Orsenian Empire—slammed her fist onto the table with a Bang! and shot to her feet. She was so furious that her cheeks trembled, and her red eyes burned an even deeper crimson.
“Your Majesty. I wish to believe it isn't true as well.”
“Yes, Your Majesty. But we can't simply overlook this when the troops belonging to House Minoz and House Edelhardt have already exceeded the permitted number…!”
“Quiet!!”
When the old nobleman spoke up, the other nobles piled on as well, their words bursting forth like a breached dam. But Archel cut them off with a furious shout.
“I won't listen to another word. This is pointless.”
“Your Majesty!!”
Clenching her teeth and forcing her expression back under control, she left the room. She could hear them calling after her, but Archel didn't stop. The attendants and knights hurried after her.
The attendants exchanged uneasy glances, tense under the razor-thin-ice atmosphere surrounding Archel.
Archel was a capable and exceptional empress. But when it came to her imperial consort, Grand Duke Kael Edelhardt, her reason always deserted her. He was her one weakness, her one flaw—the only person who could make her lose her composure. That person was Grand Duke Kael.
When Archel reached the door to her room, she couldn't wait for the attendants to open it. She shoved the door hard and strode inside.
Bang! The door slammed against the wall. The attendants scattered outside, and only one knight followed her in.
Archel entered at a brisk pace, then braced herself against her desk and caught her breath. The way her chest heaved was enough to show how furious she was.
The navy-haired knight who had entered with her quietly closed the door and stood waiting for her anger to subside.
Still trembling with rage, Archel called to the standing knight.
“Ren.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Archel's right-hand man and Commander of the Imperial Knights, Ren Cassius, bowed his head as he answered.
Archel squeezed her eyes shut for a long moment, then opened them and asked without even looking at him,
“Even you think that Kael…”
She bit down hard on her lip before she could finish. The corners of her mouth trembled.
“Does he look like he's preparing a rebellion?”
Ren gazed steadily at Archel before lowering his eyes.
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
At his affirmative answer, Archel swept the objects on her desk to the floor with one violent motion. The ink bottle and glass statuette shattered with a sharp crash. The attendants outside were startled and rushed in, but Archel didn't spare them a glance as she ordered,
“Get out.”
The attendants quickly checked that Archel hadn't been hurt, then hurried out in a noisy cluster. Archel added,
“Ren Cassius. You get out too.”
At her command, Ren gave her a slight bow and turned away. He grasped the doorknob, then stopped.
“…Your Majesty. I don't trust Grand Duke Your Highness, nor House Edelhardt. Not once have I ever trusted him. I only pray that Your Majesty makes the right decision.”
Click! Archel was left alone. She remained frozen in that position for a long time, lost in thought. Finally, she dragged her heavy feet to a chair and sank into it with a thud, leaning back in exhaustion as she closed her eyes.
“Haa…”
Archel was aware of the suspicious circumstances, at least rationally. The only reason she refused to acknowledge them was her own stubbornness. If she admitted the truth, she would have to accept that Kael didn't love her—that he was trying to kill her.
It couldn't be. He loved her. Therefore, none of these circumstances could possibly be true.
Knock knock.
Then came a knock that made her heart drop. She didn't want to see anyone right now. And if it was… you, even more so.
“Chel—I’m coming in.”
At the voice that followed, Archel's eyes wavered helplessly.
Click—
The door opened, and the man who entered was Kael Edelhardt, her imperial consort. His ice-blue hair, long as though carved from melting ice, was neatly tied back.
“Chel.”
The man's pale blue eyes curved softly as he smiled, filled with their usual warmth. Archel smiled back gently out of habit.
“Kael.”
When she smiled, Kael gave her an equally warm smile and approached. On the tray he carried sat a teapot and teacups.
“Your room is a mess. Come have some tea. I brought hibiscus tea—it’s supposed to be good for fatigue.”
Kael set the tray on the table, then approached Archel and gently wrapped an arm around her shoulders. Stroking them soothingly, he helped her to her feet and led her to the table.
After seating her, Kael lifted the teapot and poured into a cup. Red tea steamed faintly as it filled the cup.
“…I heard today’s council meeting was about me.”
When the tea, red as blood, filled the cup to the brim, Kael set down the teapot and pushed the cup toward her.
“…Who told you that?”
Pretending not to care, Archel took the cup he had poured for her.
The meeting was supposed to have been held without his knowledge. Where had the information leaked from?
As she watched the red tea ripple like blood, nausea rose in her throat.
His fixed gaze made her uncomfortable, so she brought the cup to her lips and avoided his eyes.
“You’ve been struggling like this for weeks. How could I just sit back and do nothing? I threatened to lie down in front of the grand hall if they didn’t tell me.”
Kael's voice was so sweet as he tried to lighten the mood with a joke that she still wanted to believe all of this was a lie.
“Kael.”
“Yes, Chel.”
Archel set down her cup and met his gaze. She pressed her lips together and seemed about to lower her eyes, but then she gulped down the slightly cooled tea and looked at him again.
“The troops House Edelhardt is amassing are tightening a noose around your neck.”
At her words, Kael met her gaze with a solemn expression.
“Chel. Do you think so too?”
At his serious expression, Archel fell silent for a moment. She wanted to trust him. She wanted to believe that they loved each other.
“…I… trust you, Kael.”
At her answer, a soft smile slowly bloomed across Kael's face.
“All I need is for you to trust me, Chel.”
At his honey-sweet voice, Archel quietly closed her eyes.