As soon as we arrived, we were greeted by startling news, "Your Majesty!" Sarah came rushing toward us, her steps hurried and unsteady. She bowed her head deeply in front of us, her breath ragged from running, before extending a small envelope toward His Majesty. Her face was pale, panic written all over her features, and I could sense the gravity of the situation just from the urgency in her actions.

My brows furrowed in confusion, and I glanced at His Majesty, who had already opened the envelope. I could see his expression change almost immediately—his usual calm now replaced by a cold fury that made the air around us feel heavy. "What is it, Your Majesty?" I asked, unable to contain my curiosity any longer.

"The Imperial Palace is facing a serious matter, and my presence is required immediately. I must return without delay," he declared, his voice now firm and laced with an urgency that left no room for doubt. The seriousness of his tone made it clear—this was no minor issue. My heart quickened with worry, and my thoughts began to whirl. If it was that serious, then I must return as well.

"Then allow me to accompany you, Your Majesty," I offered without hesitation, my voice carrying a note of finality. It was not a question, but a statement of fact. He turned his gaze toward me, his eyes unreadable, as though contemplating my request. After a brief moment, he gave me a curt nod, his expression unchanging, before leading us inside the castle to make the necessary preparations for our departure.

We bid farewell to my parents, and though our stay had been brief, it had been somewhat memorable. Their faces showed a hint of disappointment at our sudden departure, but they understood the nature of our duties. Two days later, we arrived at the Imperial Palace, weary from the journey but determined to address whatever crisis awaited us.

As expected, the palace staff greeted us with warmth and respect, as was their duty. But I could feel the sharp stares of the two concubines lingering on me, their eyes cold and full of disdain, as if I had committed some unforgivable transgression against them. It amused me, really—such hostility over imagined slights. How pitiful they were, to waste their energy on meaningless glares.

"Your Majesty, you must be exhausted from your journey. We have prepared a meal and a cold bath for your comfort," Anastasia said as she stepped forward with her usual saccharine smile, attempting to endear herself to the Emperor. Her tone was soft, almost seductive, and she reached out as if to take his arm, but before she could make contact, he brushed past her with a firm stride.

"That would be appreciated, Lady Anastasia, but I prefer to sleep," he responded, his voice flat and devoid of warmth. The finality in his words left no room for further discussion, and his cool dismissal was evident.

Anastasia stood frozen in place, clearly taken aback by his rejection. I watched as her fingers tightened around the fabric of her gown, her knuckles turning white with the effort to suppress her anger and humiliation. She had likely hoped for some small sign of affection or recognition, but it was clear that none would be given. A small, amused smile played at the corner of my lips. How pitiful she must feel—still blind to the fact that His Majesty had no interest in her, no matter how hard she tried to win his favor.

I continued past her without a second glance, but I caught sight of Lilieth glaring at me, her expression filled with open malice. How bold of them both, to finally reveal their true colors so plainly. Their bitterness and jealousy were laid bare for all to see—how shameful. It was almost laughable.

I made my way to my chambers, fatigue setting in from the long journey. Night had already fallen by the time we arrived, and the exhaustion weighed heavily on my body. I collapsed onto the bed, grateful for the softness of the sheets. My thoughts wandered back to what His Majesty had mentioned. What could the problem be? Was it something severe? Should I ask Henry? Surely, he would know more about the situation.

I sighed deeply, my eyes growing heavier by the second. But before anything else, I needed to sleep. The journey had drained me completely, and I knew I would be of no use if I didn’t rest.

"Your Majesty, maaari ka ng maligo," Sarah's voice cut through the silence, reminding me of the bath that had been prepared. Right, I should freshen up first. Slowly, I pushed myself up from the bed and began removing my dress. "You may take your rest now, Sarah," I said, my voice soft but firm. She bowed her head respectfully, her movements slow and deliberate.

"Masusunod, Your Majesty," she replied, before quietly exiting my chambers, leaving me alone.

I finally slipped off my dress, feeling too lazy to take another step. But before I could continue, the creak of the door opening stopped me in my tracks, "Sarah, I told you to rest," I said, my voice firm, expecting no further interruption. Seconds passed, but no one responded. I turned my gaze toward the door—and my eyes widened in shock.

"Your Majesty!" I exclaimed, panic surging through me as I instinctively covered my body with my bare hands. My mind went blank, and I couldn’t think properly. The Emperor was standing there, leaning against the doorframe, watching me with an amused expression, as if he had stumbled upon something interesting.

I glanced down at myself—damn! My hands were utterly useless in this situation, failing to cover anything. My senses returned, and I immediately bolted to the side of the bed, crouching down and hiding behind it. I clutched my chest, feeling my heart race uncontrollably.

For a moment, I listened to the silence around me, trying to calm my breathing. When I felt composed enough, I took a deep breath and cautiously peeked over the edge of the bed.

Slowly, I raised my head, my eyes fixated on the door. But before I could fully scan the room, my attention was drawn to a pair of feet casually propped up on my  bed. My gaze followed the legs upward, and there he was—the Emperor, reclining casually against the headboard, as if this was his room.

Damn him!

A smirk tugged at the corner of his lips. "I've seen your naked body multiple times, so what's the fuss?" he teased, his voice dripping with amusement, clearly enjoying my discomfort.

I clenched my teeth, but instead of letting my irritation get the better of me, I spoke calmly, "Why are you here, Your Majesty?" I asked, my voice steady and firm. I grabbed the blanket from the bed and quickly wrapped it around myself. I gathered my composure, standing tall as I faced him.

My expression remained calm, almost indifferent, "It’s already late," I said, pausing briefly to gauge his reaction. His face remained unreadable, "You should be getting some rest, Your Majesty," I added, my tone gentle but insistent.

His gaze became languid, as if sleep was already calling him. He stared at me for a moment longer before speaking again, "That’s exactly what I’m doing. I’m going to sleep… here," he said nonchalantly.

My mouth fell open, completely taken aback by his statement. I blinked, trying to process his words. "Your Majesty, I prefer sleeping alone," I said, my tone firm with certainty.

His expression shifted, growing heavier, as though he was wrestling with some unseen burden, "But I feel more relaxed when I sleep beside you, wife," he murmured, his voice softening as he crawled toward me, sitting on the edge of the bed, closer than before. His eyes met mine, a quiet plea lingering there. "Can you consider it now?" he asked, his voice low and gentle, almost vulnerable.

I swallowed hard, caught off guard by his sudden tenderness. Damn! Why does he look like a helpless puppy begging for shelter?

Goodness! Does he really have this side to him? What else could he be hiding? Could there be more to him?

I pressed my lips together, uncertain. Could I really refuse him? But he seemed so stressed, the weight of state affairs clearly bearing down on him. My conscience tugged at me, and with a sigh, I gave in. "Alright, if that’s what you wish, Your Majesty," I said, my voice tinged with defeat, surrendering to my own conscience.

He visibly relaxed, his face brightening, and the tension seemed to melt away. "Then I shall wait for you here," he said with finality. I nodded before turning away, preparing to finish what I had started.

I moved cautiously, completing my tasks quickly. I even hurried through my bath, anxious to get this over with.

Afterward, I stood in front of the mirror, drying my hair when I suddenly felt the towel slip from my hands. I glanced up at the reflection and saw the Emperor behind me, his expression serious as he gently took over the task. His movements were slow and careful, each stroke of the towel deliberate and tender. I felt my heart race at the closeness, my cheeks flushing with warmth.

When he finished drying my hair, he took the comb and began to brush it for me. His touch was gentle, and for a moment, it felt as though he was stroking not just my hair but my heart.

Damn, I might be losing control here. I could feel something inside me shifting, becoming clearer. My feelings for him—were they becoming undeniable? Was my heart truly at risk?

We finally lay down to sleep, side by side. For the first time, I felt comfortable beside him, enveloped in the warmth of his embrace. I slept peacefully, the steady rhythm of his breathing lulling me into a sense of safety I hadn’t felt before.

IN THE MORNING, I gathered enough courage to ask him about the problem we were facing. Surely, I had the right to know.

"What problem is the palace dealing with?" I asked, keeping my voice steady and composed. I stood in front of the balcony, while he sat casually on the bed, seemingly lost in thought.

He rose from the bed with a heavy sigh, and I made my way to the balcony as well. The warm rays of the morning sun greeted me, and I closed my eyes, savoring the fresh breeze. I could hear his footsteps approaching behind me.

“One of the palace’s largest farms has been burned down,” he revealed in a low, serious voice. I turned to him abruptly, shock written all over my face. His expression had grown cold, and his jaw was clenched tightly as if he was holding back his frustration.

I furrowed my brow and looked away in thought. The farm? Could it have been an accident? But accidents like that were rare, especially with how well-guarded palace properties were. There was a strong possibility that it was no accident, that someone deliberately orchestrated it.

If that's the case, the Imperial Palace might be heading for a serious crisis, especially considering the workers who relied on the farm for their livelihood. The ripple effects could be catastrophic, not just economically but politically as well.

I sighed, considering the worst-case scenarios. The losses would be substantial, and while the empire could eventually recover, the immediate impact would be significant, and it could weaken the palace’s influence over the regions dependent on its resources.

As I pondered over the consequences, my eyes drifted downward to the garden below. I couldn’t help but smirk when I spotted Anastasia glaring up at us with intense bitterness and envy. It was almost amusing how obvious her emotions were.

I allowed myself a small, sweet smile as I turned my attention back to His Majesty, inching a little closer to him. He noticed, of course, and turned to face me with that sharp gaze of his.

I gasped slightly when he suddenly grabbed my waist, pulling me firmly against him.

“Let’s have breakfast together, wife,” he suggested softly, his hand gently caressing my cheek. His intense gaze never left mine, and I could feel my heart race under his scrutiny. I met his gaze steadily, refusing to be flustered by his sudden closeness, and nodded with a soft smile.

He led me back inside, but before we fully entered the room, I glanced one last time at Anastasia. I could see her fuming from below, clearly unable to contain her frustration. It took all my willpower not to burst out laughing.

Now, enjoy that burning envy, bitch.