《The Forest Where the Wolf Sleeps》 Chapter 1 Chapter 1 She tried her best to be firm, but Chesney couldn¡¯t stay still for one single moment. And the strength in her hands and legs kept loosening due to the tension because the stories circulating about Belcansus all contained words like barbaric and ferocious. ¡°Empress of the Belcansus Empire¡­ If I had to argue, isn¡¯t that the wife of the chief of the barbarians?¡± ¡°He is an eligible bachelor for Chesney.¡± Unlike Chesney, her sister Uriel, the real princess of the Atelian family, and her friend Princess Celida ridiculed her. This was a foul hobby of theirs: Coming to Chesney¡¯s study¨Cwhich had a living room and its own bedroom¨Cand speaking ill of others. ¡°It¡¯s fortunate the emperor of Belcansus accepts a less-than-experienced illegitimate child. If I had to go to the cold and barbaric city of Belcansus, I would cut off my own tongue and die. It is unbelievable that people live in such a place.¡± ¡°Hush, Uriel. Chesney might hear you.¡± Their giggling, as cheerful as a bird¡¯s chirping, was something natural for girls their age. They were at the age where even fallen leaves made their bellies ache with laughter. Chesney, who spent her days expressionless with nothing to smile about, was different. Thankfully, their mockeries never did her any damages since their repeated attacks had made her numb to anything. She had gotten used to them long ago. In the life of a noble illegitimate child whom Duke Atelian had received thanks to his grateful harvest. Sadly, they were Chesney¡¯s only family. Her father, who kept his illegitimate child close but paid no attention to her; her father¡¯s brother who considered her nothing but a leech; and Uriel¨Cone year younger than Chesney¨Cwho grew up loved. If those people often treated others like trees, then Chesney was more like a mistletoe; curled up in a circle in a big tree that could not grow roots anywhere on the ground and lived like that. It¡¯s alright because I¡¯ll be going to Belcansus soon. Chesney comforted herself so that she wouldn¡¯t be hurt by the words of Uriel and the other aristocratic children. When the wedding first came out, Chesney had been thankful for being the first to help the duke¡¯s family. Finally, she had become someone useful, and this had made her glad. Though she had known that it wasn¡¯t a normal marriage. It was okay even if she was just a consumable item for the sake of adding variety. As long as they accepted her, an illegitimate child, she needed to send proper courtesy to Sepion and the emperor of Belcansus that she had become the first princess of the historic Atelian family However, the fact that Princess Chesney Atelian, who had married the emperor of Belcansus, was an illegitimate child born by a maid was the reality of that courtesy. * * * The day before the wedding, a parade from Belcansus continued to the front yard of the Atelian¡¯s mansion. Different from the Sepion Empire, the carriages of Belcansus were rugged and huge. Rejecting all fancy decorations, all they were were black squared rooms with large wheels attached to them. Even the horses proved Belcansus¡¯s coldness as their hairs were long and thick, appearing rather unique compared to the horses of the surrounding kingdoms. Their legs were especially thick. There was no need to point out how big they were. There was a knock, knock at Chesney¡¯s door. Her bedroom was so small that it was filled with the sound of knocking. The duchess, famous for her strong self-confidence, would never give Chesney any expensive furniture, not even a child born from her own belly. The only furniture in her tiny bedroom was a rock-hard bed like that of the maidservants and a desk, made from an acacia tree, that was all worn out and unpolished. This treatment was no less than Chesney Atelian not being recognized as a princess. Her biological mother, a maid, had passed away while giving birth. Her few colleagues had raised Chesney, who was not cared for at all, but were not able to overcome the fierce glare of Duchess Atelian and had either left the duke¡¯s mansion or turned away from her. So that¡¯s why every once in a while, until the duke instructed her to, Chesney never wore such a pretty dress and raised her hair. ¡°His Majesty emperor of Belcansus has arrived.¡± ¡°Yes, Father.¡± Chesney projected a trembling voice at the door. Then she checked her hair with a heavy hand mirror. A maidservant was fixing her frizzy hair with busy hands. ¡°Aren¡¯t you uncomfortable?¡± When speaking to Chesney, they didn¡¯t add any titles like princess and young lady. Of course, Chesney didn¡¯t even hope for such luxuries. Because it was awkward and uncomfortable enough just to be served by maidservants who treated her like she wasn¡¯t even there¨Cjust like others normally treated her. ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± How dare she be fine at a time like this? Chesney cracked a bitter smile on her face. In her younger days, there had been a time when she wanted to be someone who could be angry, like Uriel, and say things like ¡®I don¡¯t like it!¡¯ or ¡®Do it again right now!¡¯ However, things have changed. It¡¯s been a long time since she had been expected to be treated like royalty in this place. Chapter 2 Chapter 2 ¡°I shall finish here.¡± The maidservant finished up tidying Chesney¡¯s beautiful hair because she knew that the princess would be hurt if the emperor of Belcansus sent her back. ¡°Yes, thank you.¡± From early this morning until past noon, Chesney had been able to transform herself into a more colorful look than ever. She had become a glamorous lady who would turn heads if she walked down the street. When she opened the door to come out, the corners of the duke¡¯s mouth curled up. But Chesney took that smile as an illusion. Duke Atelian didn¡¯t take care of her to the point where he didn¡¯t even know that she starved herself often because of the harassment of the duchess, Euclis, and Uriel at the dining table. ¡°You look just like your mother.¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± This was the only time she had heard him speak of her dead mother. Only when she put on an expensive dress and bright lipstick did she ever resemble her mother. Since Chesney has never once seen a picture of her, she had no choice but to believe his words. From then, the duke didn¡¯t start any other conversation. Duke Atelian needed to know how disturbed her heart must be that she was about to go a long way. But he wasn¡¯t delicate enough toward her to think such a thing. No matter how long it was connected by land, Sepion belonged to the continent of Euron. However, Belcansus belonged to the continent of Finn. Chesney, who had to leave the place where she¡¯d been raised for a cold, dry, barbaric country, was obviously distraught. So, she only hoped that she¡¯d become relevant enough there so that she could live comfortably. Duke Atelian opened the large door wide to greet the guests of Belcansus. Maidservants busily moved their feet to meet and greet the dozen or so people. The parade passed the garden, halting in front of a beautiful fountain decorated with several statues. Then, the bustling maidservants, after finding their positions, bowed at the waist. A little while later, the door on the huge carriage that¡¯d just arrived slowly opened, and a man dressed in white blinding attire stepped out. He was such a big man that his size let everyone know what the enormous carriage was for. ¡°I welcome His Majesty emperor of Belcansus.¡± The duke bowed as if trying to break his hip and extended a hand for a handshake. But he didn¡¯t know the man¡¯s gaze would be fixated on only Chesney. Thanks to this, she felt a sense of nakedness. His muscular body looked stronger than a marble sculpture. Despite the cool autumn weather, he was wearing a thin shirt with very little trim. The collar opened wide enough to reveal his entire neckline, protruding collarbones, and muscles wriggling under his skin. Chesney, embarrassed, didn¡¯t know what to do with her eyes. ¡°Your Majesty. This is my daughter, Chesney Atelian.¡± At the duke¡¯s words, it felt like a pile of stones was placed on her chest. Did he just acknowledge me as a member of the Atelian family, she wondered. Chesney had always regarded her mother¡¯s name, Tricia, as her last name. She had heard dozens of times through the mouths of the duchess, Euclis, and Uriel that she didn¡¯t deserve the name Atelian. However, to her ridiculousness, the moment she was to leave the Atelian mansion, she was acknowledged as a family member. There was no contradiction. Chesney, who is not recognized by the members of her family for being an illegitimate child, marries the emperor of Belcansus as a princess to the Atelian family. How comical. ¡°Tomorrow you will become Chesney Belcansus,¡± he said in a tone of indifference. But it was enough to make her heart flutter because there was hope that maybe he didn¡¯t think much of her being an illegitimate child. As the duchess had ordered in advance, Chesney greeted him as a lady, lifting the hems of the luxurious dress she¡¯d borrowed from Uriel. Then, she reached out to him a hand in a white glove that came up to her wrist. But instead of placing his lips on the back of her hand, the man grabbed her thin wrist. The fingertips of his other hand caressed her arm, digging into the thin fabric of the glove. After it was removed and Chesney¡¯s bare hand was revealed, he pulled a high-quality silk pouch from his breast pocket. ¡°Your Majesty ¡­?¡± The bewildered Chesney was unable to snatch her hand away from him. This was her first time having physical contact with a man. Indeed, she was very disconcerted. From inside the silk pouch, he pulled out a thick platinum bracelet with a large white jewel, and with a rough touch, he fastened the bracelet to Chesney¡¯s wrist. ¡°Fits perfectly,¡± he said in a firm voice, still not smiling. His gray eyes felt colder than blue ones. Perhaps because of his attitude and way of speaking, the bracelet he snapped onto her wrist felt like a shackle that bound criminals. Chapter 3 Chapter 3 With an extravagant dinner and lots of food, Chesney only had a few small bites of salad before she stopped eating. She thought she was going to puke thanks to the Emperor of Belcansus, who sat across from her, and Duke Atelian, who poured out words to him that only fell on unresponsive ears. ¡°And Mrs. Winsol.¡± ¡°It¡¯s Lord Winsol, sir.¡± Cerulian corrected Duke Atelian¡¯s words. Bobbi then poked Cerulian in the ribs with an elbow and smiled. ¡°Unlike Sepion, in Belcansus, women can lead families, too. I am leading the Winsol family.¡± Said Bobbi who was also a woman. Chesney glimpsed at Bobbi, who swept back her soft, long light brown hair, and felt envious. At first glance, Bobbi was elegant and, on top of that, talented. While spending time together in the living room before eating, Chesney had gotten to know how talented she was. Six people gathered in the mansion¡¯s most luxurious living room: Among the duke, the duchess, Chesney, and the processions from Belcansus¨CWhite, Bobbi, and Cerulian¨C there were six people. From a very uncomfortable position, Chesney studied the three Belcansus people with timid eyes. White Primera Belcansus, who would soon become her husband, didn¡¯t speak a word to his future wife, as if treating the marriage as political matrimony rather than one out of love. To break the silence, Bobbi approached Chesney gently and greeted her, announcing that she was one of the leaders of Belcansus, alongside White and Cerulian. It was a very polite greeting that made Chesney¡¯s tiny frame shudder even more, because if she had to choose a new appearance, she would choose to look exactly like Bobbi Winsol. In front of the spacious table, Chesney crouched down in a big chair, nibbling on some salad. If White could count a little, he could calculate that Bobbi, who could lead a good family, was more suitable as the empress than the less privileged illegitimate child of a duke. Why did the royal family of Belcansus accept this marriage? The kale in Chesney¡¯s mouth felt like stiff paper. And she could also feel that the high heels which she¡¯d been forced to wear were too tight around her ankles. As soon as the dreadful dinner ended, the three people from Becansus left the dining room. Duke Atelian too, after wiping sauce from his mustache with a napkin, returned to the bedroom. ¡°She said women can lead a family too?¡± Prince Euclis, with disbelief painted all over his face, stuck his tongue out. But Chesney, Duchess Atelian, and even Princess Uriel all knew why: Euclis didn¡¯t like Bobbi because he had been coldly rejected earlier while flirting with her in the living room. ¡°She calls herself Lord Winsol in a wild empire that doesn¡¯t have a system of ranking. Pitiful. A perfect place for molded cheese to rot. Cold, brutal, barbaric Belcansus.¡± The fancy double doors opened and closed within seconds. When Euclis left, Uriel began to whine, clinging to the arm of Duchess Atelian who was standing up. ¡°Why is that hag marrying such a handsome emperor? Nullify this marriage. I want to go instead. I will marry him, a real princess, instead of that fake princess. How about it, eh? Mama.¡± Uriel, who had refused to become a barbarian bride at first, had changed her mind the moment she saw Emperor White¡¯s flawless face. She was always like that. That girl, she was the last person Chesney would ever want to become. ¡°You don¡¯t even like the cold, Uriel.¡± The duchess, who listened to whatever Uriel asked, could not overturn such a grave marriage. That was certain. Because it was a marriage to establish diplomatic relations for Belcansus, the biggest empire in Finn, and Sepion, the biggest empire in Euron. ¡°Even the islands between Sepion and Belcansus are all possessions of Belcansus. I can live there!¡± Uriel nagged. ¡°Baby girl, you can¡¯t stop a wedding that¡¯s already in progress.¡± ¡°Where does it say that a real princess cannot replace a fake one!?¡± ¡°Hush. Lower your voice, dear.¡± Chesney, who eavesdropped on their conversation, had a bad premonition about this. She only hoped that the premonition was wrong. ¡°In Belcansus, no one knows that Chesney is an illegitimate child.¡± ¡°What? Mama, then what¡¯s going to happen if the truth gets out?¡± ¡°Nothing good will come out of that. At least it won¡¯t end even if she is chased out of there.¡± Their voices heard through the opened door were faint, but Chesney could clearly hear the bad premonition hit the mark. * * * The duke¡¯s mansion¡¯s backyard was famous for its natural beauty. It was full of bright roses, and the gardeners who managed the space well were noble and dignified. This beautiful space was the venue for the wedding of Emperor White and Princess Chesney today. Each of the neat, elegant wooden chairs was seated by important figures from the continent of Euron. Not only the pope, but also the emperor, empress, and crown prince of the Sepion Empire were seated. The guests had something in common besides being public figures with enormous wealth: They were all wandering around the venue with their necks poked out, admiring the decorations and foliage, unable to suppress their curiosities. But they were even more curious on how the wedding between a princess and a barbarian king would proceed. Everyone was looking forward to the union. Chapter 4 Chapter 4 The continent of Finn was located north of the Sepion Empire and the Ibelian Kingdom. Unlike Euron, Belcansus was a barbaric place that commanded and governed other mysterious tribes and the wildlands of beasts. Over the years, Chesney, Duke Atelian¡¯s illegitimate child, had been thoroughly hidden. However, no matter how much he tried to hide her, there were no secrets where people walked. So many tailors, servants, and other shop staff members who had already visited the duke¡¯s mansion knew the beautiful appearance of the veiled Chesney. Even though the Atelians were rich and powerful nobles, they could not keep the common people from talking. It was Sepion¡¯s public secret that the duke¡¯s illegitimate child named Chesney Atelian was fascinating enough to remind them of the word ¡®elf¡¯ that was used as a pronoun for beauty. The wedding ceremony started after a while, and a piano accompanied by a harp began playing music. When Chesney appeared in the garden wearing a white wedding dress, people¡¯s heads turned as if they¡¯d seen an angel. Hundreds of pairs of eyes gazed at her. Among those gathered here, the only one who wasn¡¯t convinced of this wedding was Uriel. The downside of Chesney being a fake princess was that her beauty had been lightly tossed aside and left alone. Uriel glared at her with venomous eyes. She hadn¡¯t been able to sleep all night because it was unfair that Chesney took this fortune only because she had made a fuss about marrying a barbarian. ¡°Congratulations on your wedding.¡± Duke Atelian extended his white-gloved hand to Chesney. His words felt more like something a duke would say rather than what a father would say. ¡°Yes, thank you. Sir.¡± She took one step at a time carefully, to prevent herself from wobbling in the high heels, and before long she arrived in front of White. While the Archbishop of Sepion, who officiated, read the marriage pledge, Chesney carefully glanced at White¡¯s shoes. Afraid she¡¯ll meet his sharp gaze while glancing at his handsome figure, she didn¡¯t dare to admire him properly. ¡°Chesney Atelian, do you swear to love and cherish White Primera Belcansus for the rest of your life, so death do you part?¡± ¡°Yes¡­¡± What¡¯s the meaning of swearing to love in a loveless marriage? Chesney turned to face White after answering. Taking the ring from the small box the archbishop was holding, White got down on one knee and extended a hand, figuratively asking Chesney for her hand. It was a precious ring that would tie the couple¡¯s future. She held out a shaky hand and watched him take the ring, when, clank, clack, the ring fell onto the white-painted wooden floor the moment their hands touched. Chesney was suddenly frightened because it was obvious that it¡¯d happen due to her trembling hand knocking the ring out of White¡¯s hand. ¡°Oh¡­¡± White shut his eyes for a moment before opening them again and picking up the fallen ring with an ugly look on his face. Then, after quickly putting the ring on Chesney¡¯s finger, he stood up without looking into her eyes. As soon as the guests whispered behind their backs, the archbishop, who felt the mood changing, omitted all the procedures of making the couple seal their oaths with a kiss and march hand in hand. At the end of the wedding ceremony, which seemed to be on thin ice, White glanced at Chesney and quietly whispered, ¡°Damn you.¡± His voice was low, but Chesney, who was right next to him, clearly heard the low-pitched cursing. It was abominable that the pathetic bride was the butt of the guests¡¯ ridicule for having such a sloppy wedding. She closed her eyes tightly to keep from crying. The phrase ¡®useless Chesney¡¯, which she has heard countless times as a fake princess of the House of Atelian, had become a reality. Perhaps there was no place in this world for her. Eventually, tears started pouring out of her bitter eyes. What the most beautiful bride in the world shed at her wedding was not tears of joy but tears of sorrow. *** ¡°Mr. Primera is waiting in the bedroom.¡± Finishing her bath, Chesney came out of the bathroom and was immediately taken aback by those words. Because she was terrified of having to spend the night with her new husband, White Primera Belcansus, the Emperor of Belcansus whom many called ¡®barbaric¡¯. ¡°All right¡­¡± Now that it was about to happen, she became dizzy as if she were looking down from a cliff. She had no clue what exactly would happen on their first night. However, she had heard through a few conversations with her friends and Uriel. ¡®According to Mrs. Ontragen, men and women sometimes see blood when they first have a physical relationship.¡¯ On top of that, a few days ago Uriel had even straight up mentioned something as if she¡¯d wanted Chesney to hear it. ¡®The men in Belcansus have a strong barbaric temperament, so no matter how much that clump of cheese begs him to stop, he won¡¯t.¡¯ From what they had said, it was clear that something very frightening happened on a newlywed¡¯s first night. ¡°Should I open the door for you, ma¡¯am?¡± When Chesney stood hesitantly in front of the door, one of Primera¡¯s servants, whether he knew how she felt or not, sent her an unnecessary consideration. ¡°No, I will open it myself.¡± Taking a few deep breaths to calm her racing heart, she made up her mind. Whatever happens in there, I will not tamper with his feelings. She felt tears coming on when she recalled again the furious look on his face she¡¯d seen at the ceremony. ¡°I am going in.¡± As soon as she grabbed the door handle of the room decorated in silver, she turned it and entered. All of a sudden the man¡¯s solid and bare chest fell into her vision. ¡°Ahhh¡­!¡± Chapter 5 Chapter 5 ¡°Ahhh¡­!¡± It was the first time in her life to encounter a naked man. Anyway, thankfully, at least, he had around his waist a thin cloth; well, technically he was holding it up. With her face burning up at the sight of his naked body, Chesney took a few steps back. ¡°We can¡¯t take our marriage back once we spend the night together.¡± His low-toned voice sounded good in her ears. But she couldn¡¯t lift her head yet. ¡°Right.¡± He stopped talking for a moment and reached out to touch her cheek. Then he put his thick fingers between her light golden hairs and squeezed her scalp lightly. ¡°Assuming that neither of us makes a reason for destroying this marriage over the next year.¡± Was that a threat? Chesney kept her eyes on him as he bowed and kissed her hand. As he did that, with his head still bowed he raised his eyes to face her. Chesney nodded. No doubt that was a threat. She was certain that whatever happened in this bedroom, their marriage would be destroyed if she rejected him. ¡°Yes, I know¡­ It can nullify our marriage¡­¡± That was her habit. In the House of Atelian, Chesney was the most useless baggage. That¡¯s why she had to prove to Duchess Atelian every time that she understood at least what she said. Otherwise, she would receive a fierce lashing. Primera erased the hazy smile from his face and lifted Chesney¡¯s. Then, he carried her over to the bed and laid her down. ¡°You¡¯ve become very skinny,¡± he told her before even removing her gown. Afraid that he¡¯d be unsatisfied with her physique, Chesney carefully placed her hand over the man¡¯s hand trying to take off her gown. She wanted a chance to give an excuse. And her body wasn¡¯t much to look at, since she hadn¡¯t been eating properly these days. Chesney wanted to persuade him that if he didn¡¯t give up and took her to the palace of Belcansus, she would definitely make her body fit his liking. ¡°Don¡¯t you want to spend this first night together?¡± At his words, Chesney shook her head. The marriage couldn¡¯t be canceled. And she did not want to go back to the home she¡¯d been raised. This marriage is the only way for Chesney to find a way to live. ¡°It¡¯s not that¡­¡± ¡°If not, then what?¡± A bright smile appeared on the man¡¯s handsome face for the first time, revealing the fangs through the soft curve in his open lips. Barbarian. Chesney suddenly recalled that one word. Soon after, there was a beast in front of her loosening her gown; rushing in like a mad animal to covet her breasts. ¡°Grrr¡­¡± This embarrassment was indescribable. Having had her gown removed, the cold air felt like ice on her bare skin. But the cold sensation didn¡¯t last long. Chesney¡¯s breast, which had never been touched by anyone, disappeared into the man¡¯s mouth; his hot breath pouring over her nipples as he licked and sucked. After teasing her two round nipples with his lips to his heart¡¯s content, he changed his destination and headed down her belly, which didn¡¯t have an ounce of fat on it. With his breath softly touching her flesh, it felt like a huge cauldron of boiling water was placed next to the bed to heat the room. Thanks to this, Chesney¡¯s beautiful eyes, which seemed to hold dark brown jewels, began to tear up with even more embarrassment. The physical relationship between men and women was not an act that could only be expressed through the words ¡®making love¡¯. All the books she had read in the meantime didn¡¯t help one bit in subduing the feeling of shame. ¡°Why are you crying?¡± The man who coveted her breasts like he was going to eat her up asked in a stumped voice after belatedly discovering the tears in her eyes. Without saying a word, Chesney only shook her head. ¡°I¡¯m putting it in.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Chesney couldn¡¯t figure out what he was about to ¡®put in¡¯ but knew exactly where he was planning to put it. She felt a thin, sticky liquid in her secret spot. He twisted the oval button and threw off the cloth covering his lower body. Then, his large, red member, which was firmly erect, shook gracefully and entered the place where Chesney¡¯s eyes were looking. ¡°Uh, uhhh¡­¡± Is this thing really inside me? Chesney could not believe it. This tiny gap where a finger could barely fit in was far too narrow to take in his forearm-sized thing. She hurriedly lowered her hand to cover the sight of it. But he lightly tapped the timid and rebellious act with one swipe of his hand, continuing his business. ¡°Your M-Majesty¡­¡± The tip of White¡¯s member touched the very depths of her insides. For the heavy phallus to enter the small gap, the hymen had been forced to open. Chesney closed her eyes tightly and trembled at this first-time pain, ¡°Uhhh¡­¡± As soon as White heard the groan, he stopped his waist movements for a moment and held her in his arms. When he did that, the sound of his heart, beating like it¡¯d burst in any second, penetrated Chesney¡¯s ears. No doubt the barbaric man was horny. Chesney clenched her jaw, enduring the urge to moan. If she only gets through the first night, gives him physical pleasure, and proves to him that she is worth something, he just may need her after all. She could withstand any pain, at least to avoid having to nullify their marriage. ¡°Does it hurt?¡± he asked attentively. If she told him that it hurt, would he indeed stop here? Chesney hesitated for a second before nodding. She didn¡¯t see him as someone who would stop when he heard that she was hurt ¡°I¡¯m fine. K-keep¡­¡± As soon as she said she was fine, he buried his rock-hard member back inside her. Her narrow, hot inner walls welcomed him. ¡°Ah¡­¡± On the contrary to Chesney who was in pain, White¡¯s sculpture-like face had a satisfactory smile. She felt relieved. White lifted her feet and put them up to the back of his neck as she winced in indescribable pain, but that was enough as long as he needed her. ¡°Whew.¡± White, whose eyes were blurred by the sexual excitement, closed his eyes and tilted his head back for a while, then lowered it back. After grabbing Chesney¡¯s hand that was pushing on his chest, he bit it softly with his sharp teeth, then buried his face in her thin arms to inhale her body scent. At the same time, his rod that was squeezing its way through her insides grew more erect as it went in deeper. The protruding veins leading to Chesney¡¯s glistening folds remained as evidence. White, who had started to gyrate his waist through the desire and instinct, suddenly distorted his handsome face and put Chesney¡¯s arm to the side. Then he took his out from inside of her. ¡°Shit.¡± He uttered a curse. His wonderful low-pitched voice fit perfectly with the swearing. Maybe that¡¯s why he looked even scarier. Chesney stared at her new husband with fearful eyes. However, White, on the other hand, grabbed his gown from the back of the chair and stormed out of the room without even looking at her once. Slam. The sound of the slamming door, with no consideration for the person who was left behind, made her ears ring and her heart cry. Chapter 6 Chapter 6 ¡°Did he say why he went to slaughter the elks? Loch, that crazy bastard.¡± ¡°Well, something happened on the first night or¡­¡± As the morning came, the voices of Cerulian and Bobbi were heard from outside the newlyweds¡¯ bedroom door. ¡°I told you she is a complete waste of resources.¡± As soon as the maid, who had prepared face-washing water, opened the bedroom door and left, Bobbi and Chesney¡¯s eyes met. Bobbi hurriedly lowered her voice and swept back her hair that gently covered her face like a fine cloth. ¡°Loch will kill me if I go in the bedroom. You go, Bobbi.¡± Urged Cerulian. ¡°All right.¡± Knock, knock. Bobbi, after knocking on the opened door, entered the room, gently closing it behind her. ¡°Did you sleep well last night, Your Majesty?¡± She asked as soon as she saw Chesney. ¡°Yes¡­¡± Chesney wanted to hide the fact that she hadn¡¯t slept one bit. Especially in front of the cool and graceful Bobbi. And she had heard through their conversations over the past two days. That Bobbi and Cerulian were so close with her husband that they called him ¡®Loch¡¯. Among the two, Bobbi, of all people, was particularly close with White. Because even Cerulian used to ask Bobbi about his situation. ¡°Mr. Primera has some work to take care of, so he went to Kaupoon first. We will leave after lunch, pass through Seiclen, Topu, and Paicah, and arrive in Kaupoon in four days.¡± ¡°I see.¡± ¡°Should I bring the lunch here?¡± ¡°Yes, please do that.¡± Not long after Bobbi left, the maids brought in a fine, delicious-looking steak. But it didn¡¯t even touch Chesney¡¯s lips. Later in the day, she sat alone in a large carriage on the way to Seiclen, a small town northernmost of Sepion. And she also had to spend the night alone in an expensive inn. * * * Guards in the border area were bound to be rough and crude. Because while other guards fooled around with foreign women, they had to deal with monsters in the border area, where there were very few people. ¡°You must prove the status of all parties and hold each pass issued from Seiclen Immigration Office.¡± Guards in the border area made a mischievous tyranny when Bobbi, a woman, asked for the border passage as an agent of Emperor Belcansus. ¡°Your Majesty, didn¡¯t Duke Atelian write an official letter for you?¡± asked Cerulian, rolling down a window in the carriage. His dark grayish blonde hair brought up an image of a wolf or reindeer fur. And his cloudy blue eyes also gave off a somewhat mysterious atmosphere. ¡°No, that¡­¡± Chesney started to speak, and was cut off immediately, further making her feel useless. ¡°Then there¡¯s nothing we can do about it. Don¡¯t worry. I don¡¯t want to spend all day convincing them. They¡¯ll tell us to just leave, since we don¡¯t have a chance to enter Belcansus.¡± Chesney¡¯s chest fell one level heavier at those words. She blushed with guilt. Had she been a real princess instead of an illegitimate child, none of this would be happening. Once started, the blame was unable to be controlled. ¡°We can¡¯t. Cel, hurry up and go to the immigration office.¡± Bobbi gathered Cerulian¡¯s fine hair together and raised it high, then took a flat, stiff scarf from her husband¡¯s black suit jacket and tied it tightly around his neck. ¡°Such a shame that Loch isn¡¯t here, of all times.¡± ¡°Our schedule is all messed up. It¡¯ll be sundown by the time you get back. Then we¡¯ll be stuck in Sepion for a day.¡± Chesney, who felt it was her fault that they were stuck in the border area like this and that White had left first last night, balled her fists tightly. She had to do something. ¡°I¡¯ll try talking to him.¡± ¡°Excuse me?¡± ¡°Your Majesty, the guards around here are rough. You don¡¯t really have to¡­,¡± said a frowning Bobbi trying to stop her. Seeing her face like that made Chesney feel out of breath. Like she was on the brink of tears. She thought she had become used to the feeling of being hated, but truth be told she hadn¡¯t. ¡°But I¡¯m still going to try.¡± She wanted to prove something; to show Bobbi and everyone else at this very moment that she was worth the title ¡®Empress of Belcansus¡¯. ¡°A rule¡¯s a rule. According to the entry regulations of Sepion,¡± said the guards in an explaining tone, looking down at Chesney as if teaching her. When they said that, she quickly intercepted their orders. ¡°You all are contract mercenaries with the imperial family of the Sepion Empire, right?¡± Duke Atelian used to talk about various things while treating Chesney like a nobody, so the smart, young girl had accumulated some knowledge little by little. ¡°Yes, that is right.¡± ¡°My father, Duke Atelian, pays his taxes with a hefty load of gold every year to the Royal Family. And he supports several businesses in the Sepion Empire. So perhaps¡­¡± When her voice cracked unappealingly, she quickly stopped talking and caught her breath. ¡°So perhaps my father may be able to say a word when the Royal Family is deciding on a mercenary group to protect Seiclen. Because he wants this marriage to be perfect, which is like a diplomatic relationship between Sepion and Belcansus.¡± ¡°But, Your Majesty, the rules state that we m¨C¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sure if you know this, but at our wedding ceremony, there weren¡¯t only aristocrats; the Empress of Sepion also attended. She blessed me with her presence, so she¡¯ll also want us to arrive on time in Sepion.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± The border guards were quite stirred. The illegitimate child from the House of Atelian was more elegant than they had expected. So perhaps, contrary to the rumors, she might have actually been loved by Duke Atelian. If not, how in the hell did she get such a high level of education and that confident voice? ¡°We apologize. We¡¯re mercenaries who are only used for muscle, so we don¡¯t think too much and just insist on abiding by the rules. I would like to apologize for any discomfort or concerns, Your Majesty.¡± A middle-aged man who looked like the guards¡¯ main representative came out and apologized, taking off his cap. When he did that, the other guards also removed their caps and bowed. ¡°To ensure that there is no more delay, we will allow everyone here to enter, as an exception. I hope you can forget our rudeness and enjoy the rest of your travels.¡± The group finally crossed the border of Sepion and entered Belcansus. Chapter 7 Chapter 7 It was already the fourth day that would end the long journey. As they got further away from Sepion and entered Finn, Chesney could see a few of the monsters that she¡¯d only read about in books. ¡°Whoa. Bobbi, is that an imp?¡± ¡°Yep.¡± They¡¯re gathering a lot.¡± Finishing her breakfast, Chesney was reading a book as she eavesdropped on a conversation between Cerulian and Bobbi. ¡°Your Majesty, have you ever seen an imp?¡± He smiled showing his straight, white teeth while Chesney occupied the space next to him. ¡°No. There are hardly any monsters in Hanella. On top of that, even if someone does see one, the guards come in and take care of it.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a blessing. You don¡¯t have to see these ugly things.¡± Thanks to her reading books, Chesney knew that an imp was pink in color, slightly bigger than a mouse, and resembled a mole. ¡°By the way, Your Majesty, by chance did you put on perfume? I sensed it from earlier, but I smell something sweet when I get near you.¡± When he leaned toward her and sniffed, Bobbi rushed in and grabbed him by the collar before throwing him to the floor. It wasn¡¯t until after he was splayed out on the tile floor that he realized his problematic behavior, so he lifted himself and mumbled, ¡°I apologize, Your Majesty.¡± ¡°It¡¯s all r-r-right.¡± Feeling embarrassed, Chesney nodded with her hand on her rushing chest. There was no need to be competitive like this. The further north they went, the colder the air was getting. Though she had a jacket over her autumn dress, she could still feel the cold. They were on a white birch forest path. Thin trees that stretched high into the sky filled the forest. As the road narrowed as they entered the forest, the carriage rattled slightly. Chesney, who was uncomfortable with Bobbi sitting opposite the carriage, closed her eyes and went to sleep. A little while later, Cerulian, who joined them, sat next to his wife and loosened the dagger he was wearing on his waist. ¡°I checked thirty yards out, but it¡¯s clean. I thought the monsters would have a field day if a human appeared, but I¡¯m unscathed.¡± ¡°Cel.¡± ¡°We¡¯re fine. Though they¡¯re loud, no doubt they won¡¯t come near us when we¡¯re sleeping.¡± ¡°Anyway, are going to stop playing around with us, Chesney?¡± asked Cerulian. ¡°You should.¡± Thanks to this, Chesney became unable to close her eyes. Bobbi¡¯s voice was shaky. Chesney suddenly felt embarrassed and guilt that they knew that she was an illegitimate child. ¡°Hmmm, I don¡¯t like being tricked, you know.¡± Did Cerulian also hate her? Chesney felt the urge to run out of this carriage right now. ¡°Rather, nullifying the marriage¨C¡° Bobbi¡¯s words were cut off by a disturbance outside. ¡°It¡¯s a lelang.¡± Lelangs, the monsters¡¯ number one protector. It was a monster rarely seen even if the entire continent of Finn and Euron were unified. Apart from being protectors, lelangs were classified as harmful. It was not known in detail in Euron, but the reason was the powder buried in a lelang¡¯s wings. Lelang¡¯s powder has an ingredient that induces sleep, and surprisingly, this ingredient elicits contradictory reactions depending on the species. In the case of a human, if someone inhales it they¡¯ll have terrible nightmares when they sleep. However, all living species on Finn fall into happy dreams, not nightmares. When you fall victim to the addiction, you¡¯ll waste away your life and eventually become unable to live such a shabby life. And if you exceed the lethal dose, it¡¯s eternal sleep, that is, death. In other words, it is a scary monster that makes you descend into death. And it is an expensive monster traded illegally. ¡°Oh yes! Wanna get some pocket money?¡± ¡°Cerulian Winsol!?¡± ¡°It was a joke.¡± As Bobbi gritted her teeth and stared with a brutal look, Cerulian made a hasty excuse and swung the dagger that had not been taken out. ¡°I¡¯ll only chase them out.¡± When he opened the door and went out, a lelang a little larger than an average man¡¯s hand flew in like a butterfly through the gap. ¡°Damn. There¡¯s one in here!¡± ¡°What? Wait, I¡¯ll get it.¡± ¡°No, I¡¯ll get it out. You just close the door!¡± As the chaos grew, Chesney kept her eyes on the lelang flying around the carriage, staring at it as if trying to beam a hole through it. Why was such a beautiful monster designated as a harmful creature? She couldn¡¯t take her eyes off the ecstatic figure. ¡°Your Majesty, don¡¯t breathe.¡± At Bobbi¡¯s command, Chesney urgently held her breath. She pulled her head back and widened the distance from the lelang as much as possible. ¡°If anyone breathes the powder¡­¡± But it was already too late. Chesney¡¯s eyelids fell heavily, and Bobbi¡¯s voice faded further and further away. Chapter 8 Chapter 8 A shabby shed on the Atelians¡¯ farmland. Some years ago, deep in the winter, Euclis and Uriel had taken Chesney there. ¡®If you escape from here, we won¡¯t torment you for one whole month, Chesney.¡¯ Euclis giggled, slamming the shed door and securing the lock. ¡®Euclis, Uriel. Please don¡¯t be like this! I¡¯ll do anything you tell me to do from now on, huh?¡¯ Chesney scrambled to the locked door and banged on it. However, the hard shed door only left red marks on the young girl¡¯s fists. ¡®You¡¯ll do anything? Then you can escape from here. That¡¯s an order, Chesney. Try to get out of here.¡¯ Euclis and Uriel retreated from the shed, giggling. Chesney called out from behind them until her voice went out. That year it was a particularly cold winter. In winter, when the ground froze, tenant farmers naturally tended to come around less. On top of that, there weren¡¯t any passersby around this shed in the middle of remote farmland. ¡®Is anybody there? Help me, please¡­¡¯ She used all her strength to get out, but the sole door¡¯s doorknob was so high that she couldn¡¯t even get her hand on it. As time passed, her body temperature dropped, and her throat became extremely dry. This was an awful nightmare. Nothing came close to the pain she¡¯d already suffered from. She shed tears because of the nightmare about lelangs. But the dream, as if it were her past, didn¡¯t end there. However, just like in the fairytales, a few hours later, someone arrived to save her. A wad of white fur falling from a high window woke her up while she rolled around on the dirt floor of the shed. ¡®Are you alright? Drink this.¡¯ A beast the size of Chesney¡¯s body dropped a bucket down to her. Then her body curled up to feel the warmth. ¡®I guess I was dreaming. A talking dog and¡ª¡¯ ¡®I said drink this.¡¯ ¡®M¡¯kay.¡¯ Opening the bucket with shaky hands, Chesney took a gulp of water, to quench her thirst Slowly warming up her chilled body. ¡®You¡¯ll die if you fall asleep. Open your eyes.¡¯ ¡®M¡¯kay.¡¯ ¡®Hey stupid, don¡¯t just answer me.¡¯ The trash-talking white wad of fur became one of Chesney¡¯s only friends. It was so precious for her that the time they spent together remained her happiest memory. * * * Chesney woke up in a fancy bedroom decorated with subtle blue and white. The soft bed and warm blanket were wrapped around her as if hugging her. ¡°Your Majesty, have you come around to yourself?¡± Bobbi¡¯s detailed face appeared as soon as Chesney¡¯s eyes opened. Nodding slowly, she held on to the clues about the dream she just had and tried to recall it. A wad of white fur that¡¯d come to rescue her when she was trapped in a shed. It wasn¡¯t a prince riding a white horse, but she at least remembered that it was white. From then, the white wad of fur had become friends with her, spending time with her in the clammy shed. But not too long afterward it disappeared. That had happened almost ten years ago. Chesney guessed that it had probably exhausted its life and died somewhere. But why couldn¡¯t she remember that dog¡¯s name? Even though it had clearly been a good friend to her, its name never popped up in her head. ¡°A nightmare¡¯s a nightmare. Don¡¯t be so strung up on the mischievous nightmare that those lelangs brought out.¡± Bobbi stroked her thin blond hair. ¡°It wasn¡¯t that bad of a dream. Since it left me with a fond memory.¡± Chesney said. Bobbi raised her eyebrows as if feeling strange about her words. ¡°Even though you were attacked by a herd of lelangs, you arrived safely in Kaupoon. Just rest, Your Majesty. You can call a servant if there is anything you need.¡± Standing up, Bobbi arranged the chairs next to the table at the corner of the bedroom. ¡°And when will my husband¡­¡± From the looks of herself lying in the middle of the bed, Chesney knew she hadn¡¯t spent the night with White. ¡°Please rest.¡± Bobbi left without answering. Chesney, feeling blue, looked down and fiddled with her wedding band. * * * Relaxed and care-free Belcansus. In line with the nickname ¡®barbarian¡¯, the military personnel in the royal palace did not do much either. They spent their days either sunbathing in the garden or terrace or swimming in the lake. Totally different from the hustle and bustle of the city in Sepion, the people here were like beings melted into nature. Maybe that was why Chesney enjoyed this place; this beautiful green forest felt like her hometown. ¡°Your Majesty, shall I get dessert ready?¡± ¡°That¡¯s okay.¡± She felt sorry for the chef who would have worked hard to make it, but the food in Belcansus was terrible except for the meat. But then again, sadly, Chesney didn¡¯t enjoy eating meat that much, because she favored fruits, vegetables, and cheese-oriented dishes. After coming over to Belcansus, she had only filled her stomach with small amounts of food just enough to satisfy her hunger. ¡°If there is anything else you need, please summon me whenever.¡± ¡°Yes, I sure will.¡± Returning to her room from the dining room, Chesney looked around at the few pieces of luggage she¡¯d put on the table. Even spending time here was like work. Time went by so slowly, almost like it¡¯d paused. On top of that, White hadn¡¯t yet returned since the first night at Hanella¡¯s mansion, owned by the royal family of Belcansus. That was why she needed to spend her time busily, to prevent her heart from rotting black. Holding a book she was leisurely reading, she decided to spend time sitting near the forest seen through her bedroom window. Chapter 9 Chapter 9 ¡°It¡¯s cold out there, Your Majesty.¡± As soon as she came downstairs, a servant followed close behind her, handing her a robe. ¡°Thanks.¡± It was a warm gesture, but why did she feel so left out? All of the servants in Belcansus were overprotective of Chesney. Take her attire, for example. She walked around wearing only a thin shirt, but as soon as she wanted to go out for a walk, they followed her like this and packed her coat. And if she stumbled, they¡¯d run out from somewhere and catch her, and if she fell, they would make a fuss and call Bobbi or Cerulian. Thanks to them, Chesney had to repeatedly say ¡®I¡¯m fine¡¯ hundreds of times. But aside from then, she never faced anyone. In particular, there were times when she couldn¡¯t even see Cerulian once in a day. Though there may be lots of people in this vast palace, for the most part, she didn¡¯t bump into anyone. Were they all avoiding her? From the conversation she had heard in the carriage, Chesney assumed that Bobbi and Cerulian didn¡¯t want to become close with her. Of course, the reason being she had hidden the fact that she was the illegitimate child of Duke Atelian, and it was also clear that they had hated her when they already noticed that Chesney was deceiving them. It was all her fault. It was because of this sense of guilt and loneliness that Chesney¡¯s insides were charred. ¡°I¡¯m going to read a book around here. Since no one¡¯s here, please don¡¯t watch from afar or anything today.¡± Unable to shake off the feeling of being watched, she eventually called in the servants and firmly removed them. ¡°Understood, Your Majesty.¡± Having become so free, she went deeper in the woods, to rest in Tiger Forest situated behind the royal palace. ¡°Ah-ha¡­¡± Now she could finally breathe. Thanks to the fresh air, Chesney could break out of the feeling of wanting to cry. What did they say, people are animals of adaptation? Chesney, who shivered even in Topu and Paicah, located far south of the capital Kaupoon, where the royal palace was located, had adapted to the cold here in just a few days. Of course, she wasn¡¯t ready yet to enjoy lakeside activities in such cold weather like the people of Belcansus. Whenever her body temperature dropped to a certain degree, she shivered frantically. It¡¯s okay, I haven¡¯t even been here for a week yet. There is still plenty of time to get used to it, as long as I don¡¯t get a divorce, she thought. Chesney felt like doom as she was reminded of her husband, White. The fresh scent of the forest she¡¯d felt a while ago now made her feel empty inside. What¡¯s going to happen if her husband never comes back? She opened her book, forcing herself to shake off the endless concerns. What would happen to her? Amidst the quiet of the forest, her peace was shattered by a sound. Crunch. Then, there was the sound of someone¡¯s footstep. Chesney, who was about to start reading, stood up from the tree stump where she¡¯d been sitting and turned her head quickly toward the sound. Her heart rammed against her chest, ominous fear creeping in as she laid her eyes on a man dressed in a clean black suit. ¡°White¡­?¡± She sprang up as the man with snow-like white hair approached. It appeared she was mistaken, however. No, it¡¯s not my husband. While she felt embarrassed, the man quickly narrowed his distance and looked at her. Chesney, who looked up at him with her head tilted back, could see that his eyes were blue, not the same gray as her husband¡¯s. But why was he¡­ The only thing about the man standing in front of her that resembled White was his white hair. Aside from the color of his eyes, his attitude, mood, clothing, and voice were all different. Despite that, she couldn¡¯t help but overlap her husband¡¯s face over his. ¡°It was exactly like that!¡± His blue eyes were so dark and deep that it looked like it was painted with a very thick painting. ¡°It was exactly like that¡­?¡± Through the rumors in the House of Atelian, it was said that there had been a rebellion in Belcansus a few years ago and the emperor¡¯s power had been replaced. Chesney tried to guess who this man was. And hurriedly crouching, she backed up. If her assumption was correct, she would never have friendly conversations with Emperor White as his wife. She heard a soft laughter, followed by the words, ¡°You¡¯re cute.¡± The stranger had smirked, and drew nearer Chesney, whose back touched the tree and could no longer step back. Reaching out and placing his hand on the tree, he wrapped her in his other arm. ¡°I don¡¯t know about Belcansus¡¯s past. But if you¡¯re the former emperor¡­¡± ¡°What if I were the former emperor?¡± ¡°Threatening me like this¡­¡± Chesney shut her eyes as his face fell closer. She tried to sound threatening, but her attempt was futile for the man. Was there anyone around to help her? Tiger Forest was so quiet as she had sent all the servants away. At the same time, his large hand caressed her cheek; his lips touched her forehead. ¡°Can¡¯t I come to meet my mate?¡± The unfamiliar man¡¯s voice pierced her ears. Chapter 10 Chapter 10 ¡°What do you¡­¡± Chesney looked up at him with troubled eyes. At that time, she could sense a figure in the corner of her eye. Blanched in fear, she didn¡¯t dare to look anywhere else. ¡°Cobalt. What do you think you¡¯re doing here?¡± Cerulian untied the string that secured his dagger at his side before pulling it out and waving it like a whip. With an intimidating look on his face, he charged at the two people in front of him. ¡°Oh, it¡¯s you, Cerulian the family traitor.¡± The man said with mirth laced in his voice. ¡°You¡¯ve been expelled from Keskus. Leave this instant!¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t know that you could attack without Bobbi Winsol by your side.¡± The sarcastic remark contained something brutal. Chesney¡¯s instincts told her that this man named Cobalt was much stronger than Cerulian, who was still waving his sword around. ¡°I am willing to go at you, for the safety of Primera¡¯s mate. And Bobbi is also nearby.¡± ¡°Were you happy to banish all the members of your family out of Nest and remain here alone?¡± ¡°I¡­ I¡­¡± Cobalt cracked a mocking smile before leaving the forest. *** As soon Cobalt left them, Cerulian plopped down onto the ground and quietly wept. ¡°Are you alright?¡± When his shoulders steadied from shaking, Chesney pulled out a towel with elves and wolves printed on it and handed it to him. ¡°Yes, I¡¯m fine. I am a bit ashamed to be crying here, of all places.¡± Receiving the towel, he wiped the tears from his face, then pulled himself back up. When his body became fully erect, a white cloth pouch fell from his breast pocket onto the ground. ¡°Hey, you dropped something.¡± Chesney, who had reached out to pick it up, retracted her hand upon discovering the pieces of a lelang wing that had fallen out of the pouch. And she held her breath ¡°Ah, darn it.¡± After hurriedly sweeping up the pieces of the wing with his hands, placing them back into the pouch, and tying it up, Cerulian stared blankly at Chesney. ¡°Are you alright? You didn¡¯t inhale the powder, right?¡± ¡°No, I didn¡¯t, but why do you¡­¡± ¡°About this. Somehow one of them died while I was chasing it out. And it¡¯d be a waste to throw it away.¡± Chesney¡¯s eyebrows narrowed at his excuse. It wasn¡¯t something to interfere with because she didn¡¯t know as much about lelangs as the people of Belcansus, but it seemed certain that Cerulian would be terribly scolded by Bobbi if she were to find out. ¡°Can you keep this a secret from Bobbi?¡± ¡°Okay.¡± ¡°Whew, you saved me. Thank you, Your Majesty.¡± Picking up the book she¡¯d dropped, Chesney turned to head back to the palace. And Cerulian, who walked ahead of her, sneakily looked back. An act of attracting someone¡¯s attention by making eye contact with a smile. She could tell just by looking at him that he wanted something from her. Thanks to this, Cerulian was embarrassed as he started sweating bullets. ¡°In return, Cerulian, can you also keep this a secret? Me being here in this place.¡± ¡°¡­all right. I will.¡± A secret. The accidental encounter with an unfamiliar man was never so problematic as to keep it a secret. Because it was dangerous enough that Chesney had been threatened by a man dressed in a clean suit, and it was a shame that he had left, because she was curious about what the word mate meant. If White were to find out that his wife, who couldn¡¯t satisfy him sexually, had been with another man, he might throw her out immediately, so, feeling like she had to, she decided to keep her run-in with Cobalt a secret. *** Chesney asked the same question every time a servant walked in and out of the bedroom. ¡°Do you know what exactly the word mate means?¡± ¡°Uh, that¡­¡± If there was a long silence like that, it didn¡¯t mean that they were clueless, but that they were unsure if it was okay to say it. ¡°Or if it has another meaning¡­ Can¡¯t you let me know if it has a special meaning or something? Anything?¡± ¡°My apologies, Your Majesty,¡± replied every servant as they scurried away from Chesney. Actually, this had happened more than once since her return to Belcansus Palace. Wouldn¡¯t it be normal for servants to know the circumstances of where they worked? Still, aside from knowing basic things like where the bathroom and dining room were and how much water to put in the pot, they avoided everything else, claiming they didn¡¯t know. ¡°I see. That¡¯s fine.¡± But she wasn¡¯t fine at all. Her mood subsided heavily as it occurred to her that she was being bullied the same way she¡¯d been treated in the House of Atelian. She felt like a puppet; a puppet named Empress, trapped in a display case labeled Belcansus Imperial Palace. On top of that, her husband still hadn¡¯t returned. Even though Chesney, who had spent her time during dinner nibbling at the food, had come to bed early, she couldn¡¯t fall asleep as the night deepened. ¡®Can¡¯t I come to meet my mate?¡¯ The words of the man named Cobalt circled in her head all night. A former emperor who had been kicked off the throne. Why did he say ¡°my mate¡±? Chesney couldn¡¯t suppress her curiosity. She had to meet him again, because if no one taught her the word mate, there was only one way to hear it: Directly from the person who had brought it up. Chapter 11 Chapter 11 Early the next morning she woke up and with a determined heart, she found herself heading to the woods¡­ to the Tiger Forest. It was before daybreak, so the scene outside was dim, but she was able to find the place from yesterday without having to wander around too long. ¡°Hey¡­ Cobalt?¡± Despite calling out in a small voice, her voice echoed through the dense forest thanks to the stillness all around. She could still feel Belcansus¡¯s chilly morning weather even though she had on a thick coat. ¡°I am curious about something, Cobalt.¡± A white fog-like condensation rose from her fine lips, and the sharp branches on the ground made a crunching sound with every step she took. ¡°Are you still here?¡± There was a clear limit to the scope of the single small lantern she carried. Chesney hovered around the trees as she shined her way. However, she saw not a single life, except for the occasional small animals that had scampered away. She was about to leave when suddenly, a voice stopped her in her tracks. ¡°What on earth kind of question do you have to ask this early in the morning?¡± A presence she hadn¡¯t felt instantly approached her from behind and pulled her back. Tilting his head down, Cobalt put his lips in Chesney¡¯s blond hair. She was startled that she almost dropped her lantern. ¡°Don¡¯t be like this. Let me go!¡± As soon as she was embraced by the arms of the man who was not her husband, she quickly turned around and shoved his face with one hand. Then, she bolted away, not giving him another chance to touch her. When she gained her distance, she managed to say, ¡°What did you mean when you said that I am your mate?¡± She thought that it might have had something to do with White¡¯s still not coming back after the first night. No, she was hoping that it did, because she couldn¡¯t accept that he had left her since she hadn¡¯t been able to satisfy him during that night. ¡°Don¡¯t you know that you have two mates?¡± ¡°Huh? What do you mean¡­?¡± ¡°Well, he couldn¡¯t have told you that. Because then he would¡¯ve had to give you a choice.¡± There was nothing difficult to understand about Cobalt¡¯s statement. Chesney, however, couldn¡¯t understand a word he just said. This word mate, it was weird and suspicious. Was it because on the continent of Finn they used mateinstead of bride? Chesney knew that sometimes in mountainous areas, married couples were referred to as mates, but it was mainly used by non-human races, including elves. ¡°I didn¡¯t marry you; on top of that we met for the first time ye¡ª¡± Cobalt, who gently squeezed Chesney¡¯s jaw in his hand, gave her no chance to escape as he planted his lips onto hers. *** She stood frozen in fear as soon as he pressed his soft lips and pushed his tongue into her mouth. The unusual act of swapping tongues was just as shameful as what had happened on her first night with White after their wedding. ¡°S-stop¡­¡± Her demanding voice was drowned out by Cobalt¡¯s lips and tongue. He pulled her head in harder as they both slowly kneeled to the ground. ¡°Please stop¡­¡± When their lips released for a second, she turned her head as she blocked her mouth with both hands. The rising morning sun shined blissfully on her red face. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me this is your first kiss,¡± said Cobalt. ¡°.¡­¡± Chesney closed her eyes for a moment to hide the tears forming in her big eyes, then she tried to hold her breath, but it seeped out. Her husband, who had touched her body without kissing once, was resentful and cruel. ¡°Does he not do this or anything?¡± Pulling himself up first, Cobalt extended a hand to her. Chesney disregarded the helping hand and stood up herself. Then, he laughed at her as his hand retracted back to his side. ¡°I¡¯m going to love you forever,¡± he said, tapping her shoulder and passing by her. Chesney, who could still taste the warmth of his lips, tried her hardest to suppress the urge to look back at him. ¡°Come by anytime.¡± The man¡¯s voice echoed in her ears. *** The day had brightened up, but on the bed, there was only a small stranger lying down. Chesney stood up like a string puppet, then she went to the bathroom to splash her face again and again with the flower-scented water that¡¯d been prepared by some royal servants. It wasn¡¯t that she couldn¡¯t wake up. She just felt like her feet standing on the floor and her head were sinking somewhere. ¡°Good morning, Your Majesty. Breakfast is¡ª¡± ¡°Where is Emperor White?¡± ¡°I think he went out early this morning.¡± It was a lie. Chesney had been awake until right before daybreak, so if White hadn¡¯t come in by then, when in the hell did he come back and leave again? ¡°You don¡¯t have to make breakfast.¡± Verbally pushing the servants away, she shuffled her way toward the closet filled with her husband¡¯s clothes. Just like the empty side of the bed, there was no sign of him being here. Chesney changed into an old dress from her previous home that she¡¯d never worn and wandered around the palace aimlessly. An unfamiliar life abroad, the imperial family who didn¡¯t give anything to the Empress, evasive servants who couldn¡¯t answer anything unless it was something essential, an unusual man who claimed to be her mate, and the strange kiss with that man. And last, the husband who hadn¡¯t returned after the first night. Chesney¡¯s head throbbed so bad it felt numb. ¡°Your Majesty, is everything okay?¡± When she stumbled, a servant came running to her for help. ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± Chapter 12 Chapter 12 What would the servant do if she wasn¡¯t fine? She has no place to go back to, no other way. Chesney ironically recalled what Duchess Atelian had said to her before she left the House of Atelian. ¡®Keep in mind that you have no business coming back here. So make sure you don¡¯t go against your husband¡¯s will. He is not a gentle or obedient person, but you have good looks like your mother, so you can bring joy to him.¡¯ It was funny how Chesney had felt a sense of hope during that time because Duchess Atelian, who knew more about men than she did, had said that she would be able to bring joy to her husband. But unlike her assumption, Chesney¡¯s husband had left her the first night. No one here even needed her or came looking for her. When Chesney was still in Sepion, Uriel, who had become friends with so many other young women her age had incessantly walked all over her. It was common for Uriel to run out of visit cards decorated with elegant pearl-colored mermaids less than a week before having to request more cards to visit the latest trendy places. ¡®My request cards are all gone. This is annoying as hell.¡¯ When Uriel complained to her friends while secretly showing off, Chesney would squat outside the window and imagine becoming her half-sibling. In reality, she had become unnoticeable and shabbier because she had no money to buy such luxurious cards or friends to visit her. ¡®You know how funny that worthless clump of molded cheese is? When we were young, she insisted that she had an animal friend, and later on, she swore that some ugly commoner man named Victor or something said he was her friend.¡¯ Chesney could still hear the sounds of Uriel giggling vividly. ¡®So stupid. That guy was desperate to f*k a blonde lady who inherited the blood of an aristocrat, so I¡¯m sure he talked to her a few times.¡¯ On that day, Chesney had rushed to Uriel and said Peter¨Cnot Victor¨Cwas not like that; she couldn¡¯t forget the beating she¡¯d received from Duchess Atelian, which had made her calves turn deep purple. ¡®Who in their right mind would become friends with Chesney?¡¯ Nothing about what Uriel had said was false. Chesney crouched down, hugging herself with no one around to comfort her. I¡¯ve lived in this world for twenty years, but if I don¡¯t have a friend to open up to, this life would be a failure, she thought to herself. Terrible self-deprecation began. This was the only thing she could do after obtaining a position¨CEmpress of an empire¨Ceven though others wanted it badly? If she hadn¡¯t been able to shine like Uriel because she¡¯d never gotten the opportunity, why couldn¡¯t she shine now that she does have the opportunity? Why was there still no one by her side? The self-torment that pierced her chest persisted with no end in sight. ¡®Chesney, no one will ever want you because you are worthless.¡¯ Chesney straightened her back when she arrived at the conclusion that she did not want to acknowledge; clenching her teeth that she would never lose against her weak spirit. Something had to be done. Having already grown sick of reading the books she had brought with her, she decided to wander around the palace to clear her mind. *** Belcansus¡¯s crude and huge palace held many places to sympathize with at the scale of its size. Tiger Forest was spread along the sides and the back, and out front was a huge lake, rivaling the palace¡¯s size. The palace was magnificent. The thickness of the large pillars of the white marble building reminiscent of an ancient temple was triple the length of Chesney¡¯s arm span. In addition to the temple-like exterior, the difference from Sepion was the architectural method. Belcansus¡¯s territory was nearly twice that of the Sepion Empire, except for the Kuunt region, which had been distributed to monsters and other tribes. On the other hand, the population wasn¡¯t half that of Sepion; a small population on a vast land. As there was no reason to build sky-high or save architectural materials, Belcansus Palace, though as vast as the land it was built on, only had two floors. Also, unlike Sepion, which had dug into the ground and built pillars and solidified various civil engineering materials of lime to lay the foundation, Belcansus Palace had been piled up using as much marble as it needed. Its richness would not be compared to any other country on the continent of Euron, not even Sepion. Despite it being a well-known fact that metals and jewels were buried under the Belcansus Empire, it was stained with the barbaric image obscuring the empire¡¯s wealth. Chesney spent all afternoon roaming the palace halls, opening every door one at a time to peek inside. Aside from the living room and bedrooms, most of the furniture was filled with traces of the many past years, so it was quite fun to look around. ¡°Your Majesty, when shall I bring your dinner?¡± ¡°Is it already time?¡± Chesney, as soon as the servant alerted her of dinnertime, noticed a tinted window. ¡°I am not that hungry at the moment. And by the way, is there a study or library or something like that here?¡± ¡°Yes, Your Majesty. All you have to do is go to the annex to the right of the main building and head to the very end of the second-floor hallway.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡±