The day had finally come—Sebastian was officially declared as Duke. Despite the fierce objections from the family of the former Duke, they were left powerless to change the decision.

I had made up my mind to visit my family, so Sarah and I were busy preparing for our departure. As we stepped out of my chamber, I was startled, gasping softly in surprise. There, by the door, stood the Emperor, his arms crossed over his broad chest, watching me intently.

"Your Majesty," I greeted him respectfully, offering a slight bow of my head. His gaze locked onto mine, and for a moment, the world seemed to stand still.

"I've heard you are visiting the vassal kingdom," he said, his voice calm and steady.

"Yes, Your Majesty," I replied, ensuring my tone was soft and sweet, even though I could feel the intensity of his presence surrounding me.

He paused for a moment, composing himself. "Very well. I shall escort my wife to her carriage," he declared, his voice leaving no room for disagreement. I smiled, playing the part expected of me, "I would be honored, Your Majesty," I answered with a gracious smile, feeling the weight of his words. He extended his arm, and I took it demurely, my fingers barely touching his as we linked arms.

We walked together in silence, making our way outside the palace gates. The crisp air hit me as we emerged into the open, and my gaze shifted to the unexpected sight before me—Sebastian, mounted on his horse, along with fifteen knights, each sitting proudly on their own steeds.

"The Duke will accompany you on your journey," the Emperor informed me, his tone firm and decisive. I looked at him, considering my response, but instead of resisting, I merely nodded and smiled, deciding it was best not to argue.

"We shall depart now, Your Majesty," I said politely, giving him another small bow. He nodded in acknowledgment, and I was just about to turn away when I felt a gentle tug on my arm. It was as if a current ran through me, and before I could react, the Emperor pulled me closer. I closed my eyes, startled, and then I felt the warmth of his lips softly press against my forehead.

"Have a safe journey, wife. I will follow you soon," he whispered, his voice low and full of warmth. I bit my lip, my heart suddenly pounding in my chest, each beat echoing in my ears.

I quickly turned away, not wanting the Emperor to see the flush that had overtaken my cheeks. The heat rising in my face betrayed the calm exterior I struggled to maintain. I could feel the color rushing to my skin, and I knew I must have been glowing red.

Without a second glance, I hurried into the carriage and sat down, placing my hand over my chest as if to steady the wild beating of my heart. Damn, this isn’t good. Sarah settled beside me, and the carriage began to move almost immediately.

I swallowed hard, unable to resist the urge to glance out the window. There, standing tall and unwavering, was the Emperor, his gaze following us as the carriage pulled away. He remained rooted in place, watching as we slowly disappeared into the distance, his figure becoming smaller, yet never fading from my mind.

Nagulat ako nang nakarating si Sebastian sa gilid mula sa likod. Ngumisi siya sa akin kaya agad akong napaismid. "Do you like him already?" he asked, his voice dripping with teasing playfulness.

I didn't bother answering. Instead, I closed the curtain in his face. I heard him laugh softly from the other side. I rested my chin on my hand, sighing. Do I like him? Already? I closed my eyes tightly, trying to shake off the thought. I hope not.

Our journey to the vassal kingdom took two days, and as soon as we arrived, my family was there to greet me warmly.

"Oh, my daughter!" My mother nearly burst into tears as she rushed toward me. She pulled me into a tight embrace, and I felt my heart skip a beat at her touch. I hesitated, forcing a smile. I still wasn’t quite used to their presence, their affection.

"I've heard he is the new Duke," she remarked, glancing behind us. I turned to follow her gaze, offering a small smile before nodding.

"He’s handsome. Do you like him, sweetheart?" she whispered mischievously, her voice teasing me. I couldn’t help but laugh softly.

"I am already married, Mother," I reminded her, my voice calm and gentle. She pouted playfully, though her eyes sparkled with curiosity.

"Even so, I was thinking... if you ever got divorced, perhaps you could consider him," she concluded, her tone half-serious. I froze for a moment, noticing her expression change, becoming more solemn.

"I can see you're not happy with your husband. What happened?" she asked, her voice filled with concern as we started walking towards the palace. My attendants followed closely behind.

Her words lingered in my mind. Am I truly unhappy? I wondered. But lately, I’ve been overwhelmed by these strange feelings that wash over me whenever I’m near His Majesty.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw my mother’s eyes widen. "Sweetheart! Did you just blush?!" she exclaimed, amusement dancing in her voice. I immediately covered my face, my cheeks burning with embarrassment. Damn it, did I really?

My mother giggled, clearly delighted. "It seems I have less to worry about than I thought," she said, her tone teasing, yet full of affection.

"My dear!" A voice interrupted us, and we both turned to see a man standing proudly.

"Father," I called, as he approached with his arms wide open. I smiled, stepping forward to meet him, and we embraced warmly.

"My daughter grows more beautiful every day," he commented with pride, causing me to laugh softly.

"Whoa! My sister is here!" I looked ahead to see my brother grinning mischievously as he strode toward me. He quickly pulled me away from our father, wrapping me in a tight hug.

"I'm glad you came to visit," he said, his voice laced with affection, though it shifted into annoyance as he added, "I was planning to take you away and never return you to that heartless husband of yours."

I pushed him away gently. "Don't say that," I replied firmly, my voice serious. Yes, he may seem heartless at times, but I understand now—he has his reasons. He explained them to me. He is just lost and lonely.

Third Person

Three days had passed before the Emperor finally decided to follow the Empress. He entrusted the palace to Henry, leaving it in his capable hands. The two concubines, however, were furious. It was clear the Emperor had shown no interest in them at all, and their anger toward the Empress only grew, especially when they learned that the Emperor was planning to follow her to the vassal kingdom.

They couldn’t afford to fail in winning back the Emperor’s favor.

"The Emperor seems to be in love with the Empress," Consort Lilieth remarked bitterly, her fists clenching so tightly that her nails dug painfully into her palms.

Consort Anastasia’s expression darkened as well. "No. That cannot be. We need to do something to stop the Emperor from going to the vassal kingdom," she said, her voice cold. Just the thought of the Emperor and Empress growing closer while away from the palace filled her with a burning rage. The mere idea was unbearable to her.

They quickly devised a plan to prevent the Emperor from reaching the Empress, determined to ensure their scheme would succeed.

The Emperor set out late in the afternoon, as dusk approached. He was accompanied by ten knights, each riding their own horse. All of them wore cloaks to conceal their identities, their faces hidden in the shadows.

As they traveled deeper into the wilderness, they found themselves in an area with no signs of habitation. The dense forest loomed around them, an isolated stretch of road leading toward their destination. But something felt off.

Suddenly, they halted, sensing an unsettling presence in the air. The atmosphere had changed, growing tense and heavy, as if something was lurking just out of sight. The forest was one of the few routes leading to the vassal kingdom, yet it seemed as though they were not alone.

The Emperor's gaze swept the area, his instincts sharpening. He signaled to his knights, and they tightened their formation, their hands instinctively reaching for their weapons. The air was still, too still, and the trees around them seemed to close in, casting long, ominous shadows.

A trap was brewing, and the Emperor could feel it.

"Prepare yourselves," the Emperor commanded, his voice cold and authoritative. His reflexes were razor-sharp as he caught the arrow aimed directly at him, gripping it tightly in his hand. His eyes darted to a tree where several figures cloaked in shadow began emerging from behind the trunks.

Without hesitation, the attackers charged. The Emperor's knights dismounted swiftly, their swords drawn, ready to meet the enemy head-on. They fought with determination, clashing with the cloaked figures who swarmed from all directions.

The forest filled with the sounds of groaning men and clashing steel. The Emperor dismounted calmly, his expression unreadable, before drawing his sword with a fierce precision. Whoever these attackers were, he would make sure none survived.

Each opponent that charged at him fell before they even had a chance to strike. The Emperor moved with lethal efficiency, cutting them down one by one, showing no mercy. His movements were fluid and deadly, each slash calculated, his face betraying no emotion as his enemies fell at his feet.

In the midst of the battle, the Emperor suddenly paused. An arrow had buried itself deep into his arm. His jaw clenched in response to the pain, but his eyes only grew colder. Without hesitation, he yanked the arrow out, tossing it aside, and resumed fighting as though the wound meant nothing to him.

One attacker fell at his feet, and the Emperor wasted no time. He stomped on the man’s head before plunging his sword into the enemy’s chest, ending him with a brutal finality.

Realizing they were being outmatched, the remaining enemies quickly retreated, disappearing into the trees. The Emperor stood still, watching their retreating figures with narrowed eyes. He had a strong suspicion about who was behind the ambush.

"Your Majesty, your shoulder is bleeding. I suggest we return to the palace," one of the knights said, his voice filled with concern. The Emperor glanced down at his arm, seeing the blood that was now flowing from the deep wound, but his resolve remained unshaken.

"No. We must continue," he ordered, his voice firm and unwavering. The knights dared not argue and, as per the Emperor’s command, they continued.

With their horses moving swiftly, they would reach the vassal kingdom in just over a day and a half—far quicker than the journey by carriage.

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    C E L E S T I A
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I was watering the plants when the sound of the bell from the tower gate reached my ears. I frowned. Who could be visiting? Were we expecting any guests?

Curiosity overtook me, and I decided to head toward the gate. The knights opened the large gates promptly, bowing deeply as soon as they saw me approach.

"Your Majesty," they greeted in unison. I kept my expression composed, though a sense of unease was creeping in.

"Was the palace expecting any visitors?" I asked calmly, though inwardly, I was becoming more curious by the moment. Just then, I was distracted by the hurried footsteps behind me. I turned slightly, only to see my mother rushing toward me, her face filled with curiosity and excitement.

"Who could it be, Celestia?" she asked, her voice slightly breathless from her hurried steps.

Before I could respond, one of the knights stepped forward, his expression serious. "Your Majesty, the Emperor is approaching," he announced.

For a moment, I froze. The Emperor? My heart skipped a beat, and I felt my breath hitch. My mother gasped in surprise.

"Goodness!" she exclaimed, her tone suddenly filled with urgency, "Elena, inform the King and prepare everything immediately!" she ordered her lady-in-waiting, her voice betraying her nervous excitement.

I clenched my fists as my heart began to race uncontrollably. My knees felt weak as I saw the Emperor in the distance, riding his horse with commanding grace, several knights trailing behind him.

They had already reached the bridge, crossing it slowly, their figures growing larger with each passing second as they drew closer to the gate where we stood waiting. The nearer they came, the faster my heart seemed to beat. Damn, what is happening to me? I silently questioned, trying to calm the sudden storm of emotions.

Just moments later, they arrived before us, their horses coming to a halt in perfect unison. The Emperor's expression was calm and deliberate as he dismounted from his horse with practiced ease, his every move measured and poised. His presence felt overwhelming, and I found myself struggling to maintain my composure.

The knights around him remained still, their gazes lowered in respect as the Emperor turned his eyes toward me. His demeanor was both gentle and controlled, a stark contrast to the powerful aura that surrounded him. I swallowed, trying to calm my racing heart as he approached.

Ngunit agad kumunot ang noo ko nang napansin kong maputla ang kanyang mga labi, nang nakalapit siya sa amin kinuha niya ang kamay ng aking Ina at hinalikan iyun. Sinuklian naman siya ng aking Ina nang matamis na ngiti.

Napalunok ako nang bumaling ang atensiyon ng Emperor sa akin. I was caught off guard when he suddenly pulled me close and embraced me tightly. My heart nearly exploded in shock, and I felt a rush of warmth flood my entire face. I struggled to keep my knees from buckling under the weight of the surprise and the intensity of the moment.

"At last, I'm home," I heard him say, his voice raspy and deep, sending a shiver down my spine. Before I could respond, I felt his body grow heavier against mine, his weight sagging unexpectedly.

"Y-Your Majesty," I stammered, trying to support him as best I could. I tilted my head to get a better look at his face, and my eyes widened in alarm when I noticed his eyes were closed. Panic set in as I gently cupped his face, and I felt the burning heat radiating from his skin.

"Quickly, the Emperor has lost consciousness!" I shouted, my voice laced with urgency. Immediately, the knights around us rushed to help lift the Emperor from my arms. My mother hurried ahead, frantically calling for the physician.

We brought the Emperor to my chamber, where the physician swiftly began tending to him. As I stood there, watching over him, a deep sense of worry settled in my chest. His wound was serious, and it had become infected. The sight of him lying there, vulnerable, stirred something inside me that I couldn't quite place.

"What happened?" I demanded, turning to one of the knights who stood behind me, his face grim. He had been one of the Emperor's companions on the journey.

"We were ambushed by bandits during our journey, Your Majesty," he revealed, his voice laced with bitterness. My fists clenched tightly at the news. It was impossible that this was a random attack. Someone was behind this, and whoever they were, they would pay dearly. The audacity to target the Emperor like this—whoever orchestrated this would surely meet their end.

The Emperor must have some idea of who was behind this. I was certain he wouldn't let this pass without consequence. Perhaps he even had a plan already in motion. This didn't seem like an attack by ordinary bandits; it was more likely the work of an organized group, one that would require careful attention and action. This was no mere coincidence.