Her Majesty Empress Blinite

It was dark everywhere.

That’s strange. Isn’t it morning yet? What time is it?

Just as Riela stirred and tried to sit up, a strong arm wrapped around her waist and pulled her back.

Before she could even properly open her sleepy eyes—

Herhan, still half asleep, burrowed into her arms and began showering her with kisses.

“Mmm… Your Majesty.”

The ticklish feeling made her squirm as she turned her head away, but the more she resisted, the tighter Herhan held her.

She tried calling his name with a suppressed laugh. She even used her fingertips to tickle his bare side.

“What time is it? Hmm?”

She tried talking to him, but none of it worked.

In the end, Riela stopped resisting and instead cupped his cheeks with the hands that had been pushing him away.

As if saying she would willingly answer his wishes, she gazed at him deeply.

Only then did Herhan calm down and finally meet her eyes.

Even though the room was still dim, the way he looked down at her from above felt deep and intense—like a dark ocean.

Riela pretended she was about to kiss him.

Then, just as he leaned closer, she slipped away slightly to tease him.

“Riela!”

Unlike Riela, who had only just shaken off her sleepiness, Herhan’s voice and gaze were perfectly clear.

Just like yesterday.

And the day before.

“Your Majesty. You didn’t wake me on purpose again, did you? What time is it even…?”

A few days earlier, Herhan had removed every clock from the bedroom.

Riela slightly pulled back the curtains to check the time.

Seeing the sun already high in the sky, she sighed deeply.

“…I’m late again today.”

“Yes. Late again today.”

Since that was no different from yesterday, it meant there was no problem.

Herhan said it with complete ease.

“Your Majesty!”

Riela was about to start scolding him—

but suddenly stopped.

Herhan had thrown off the blanket and stretched comfortably, revealing his body.

His long arms raised overhead.

The muscles and veins along his forearms.

His smooth, firm chest without a trace of excess.

Seeing him so openly displaying it, Riela quickly turned away, unsure where to look.

“Is there still something you feel shy about with me?”

“That’s not it. I’m just not looking because your intentions are too obvious.”

At that, Herhan came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her back.

“I wish you’d at least pretend not to notice those obvious intentions.”

Herhan was persistent.

Even after their struggle in bed, he didn’t seem tired at all.

Riela’s face flushed red as the hand wandering over her stomach slowly moved upward.

She almost melted under his touch and got swept along again.

But she quickly forced herself to focus and grabbed the hand that had reached her chest.

“Not today.”

Herhan groaned softly in disappointment.

Still, Riela stood firm with a determined expression.

“You have meetings scheduled today.”

“They’re not that important.”

“Sir Jes seemed to think they were important when he was preparing everything late last night. And what about meeting the painter this afternoon?”

“Ah. That…”

Herhan fell silent.

He tried to think of an excuse but clearly had none left.

Riela smiled and gently patted the back of his hand, which still lingered reluctantly.

“Enjoying peace is nice, but work still has to be done.”

* * *

 

Several days had already passed since Greta’s public execution.

 

For several days after the day when Bahaborden’s central plaza had roared with cries, the rain continued to fall.

 

It was the autumn rainy season.

 

Perhaps it was the dark sky.

 

Or the suddenly colder air.

 

For some reason, Riela had trouble sleeping for a while after that.

 

That was when Herhan began reducing his work and staying beside her.

 

“If someone saw this, they’d think I’m the one whining and clinging to Your Majesty every morning so you can’t even go to work. Why do you wake up and still not wake me? You even close the blackout curtains so tightly that sunlight can’t get in.”

 

“Everyone would understand. Newlyweds are like this.”

 

He joked lightly again, but it was obvious that Herhan simply wanted to stay quietly by her side.

 

Riela pretended not to notice and willingly accepted his care.

 

Curled up in Herhan’s broad arms, she passed those damp days soaked with humidity.

 

Like a squirrel in hibernation.

 

A few days later, the rainy season ended and the sky opened clearer than ever.

 

Late autumn in Elschweik was dazzlingly bright and clear.

 

As everything ripened and finally found its true colors, Riela too began to bloom brightly again and walked forward with confidence.

 

“Lady Riela.”

 

“Lady Blinite.”

 

Or even the disorderly titles like *incarnation of Antu*—

 

all of them were now unified into one.

 

**“Her Majesty the Empress.”**

 

Guests who once rushed impatiently to see her—sometimes even rudely pressing her for attention—now waited properly for their audience in orderly turns.

 

More attention than ever was directed toward Riela.

 

But no one dared to block her path or treat her carelessly anymore.

 

After everything that had happened, the world had clearly seen how noble and untouchable Riela truly was.

 

“Count Delcour. Has there been any contact from the Feodorovna family?”

 

“Yes, Your Majesty the Empress. I clearly delivered Your Majesty’s order for them to retrieve the criminal’s remains… however, since there has been no reply, it seems they will ultimately refuse.”

 

“So even in death, she is only ignored.”

 

Riela looked out the bright window with a bitter expression.

 

At that moment, a maid approached and quietly spoke.

 

“Your Majesty the Empress. The painter has arrived. It would be good to begin preparing now.”

 

At that, Count Delcour raised his eyebrows.

 

“Ah. Is it already that time?”

 

“The day when the portraits of Their Majesties will hang in the central hall of the imperial palace is not far away.”

 

For once, Count Delcour seemed slightly emotional—unlike his usual calm composure.

 

“Then please prepare, Your Majesty the Empress. Your formal attire has been arranged here. I will wait outside with the painter.”

 

As if trying to hide his expression, Count Delcour bowed his head and quickly stepped out.

 

Riela quietly asked Lu beside her,

 

“Didn’t Count Delcour look a little emotional just now?”

 

“Huh? Your Majesty? What did you say? Hic—!”

 

There was no need to ask further.

 

Lu’s nose was already red as she frantically wiped her face with a handkerchief.

 

“No, Lu, why are you—”

 

“I’m sorry! Hic! Just thinking about Your Majesty’s portrait being proudly hung in the palace makes me so moved that I’m about to cry. Seeing Your Majesty standing beside His Majesty the Emperor—how beautiful and radiant it will be! Waaa—!”

 

Riela burst into a small laugh, both embarrassed and touched.

 

—

 

At the same time, in the Emperor’s office.

 

“I understand, Your Majesty. Then these documents should be organized like this.”

 

As he watched the reviewed and signed papers being neatly stacked, Herhan smiled faintly.

 

“Presenting the budget documents the moment you arrive. Just like a duke.”

 

“My apologies. I’m simply the type who feels at ease after finishing work first.”

 

“That’s nothing to apologize for. In fact, that is precisely why I entrusted the Kingdom of Riota to you.”

 

At Herhan’s praise, Duke Brenike smiled kindly.

 

The duke had arrived at the imperial palace the previous evening.

 

It had been quite early, but hearing that the Emperor had already retired to bed, the duke postponed the audience.

 

Yet now the Emperor had arrived late even this morning—and still looked completely confident.

 

“You’re so busy enjoying newlywed life, yet you summoned me all the way here?”

 

“I summoned you because newlywed life is so busy.”

 

“Have you not given me enough work already with Riota? Now you wish to entrust imperial affairs to me as well?”

 

The duke said it jokingly, but Herhan’s eyes suddenly turned serious.

 

“It is something even more important.”

 

Duke Brenike immediately nodded calmly.

 

“Please give your command, Your Majesty.”

 

“There is someone I want you to find.”

 

“You mean the Parlante count family… whom you previously ordered an investigation on?”

 

The duke had already suspected something.

 

The imperial wedding had been postponed.

 

Foreign envoys who had already arrived were returning home or temporarily relocating.

 

So he had assumed there must be another reason the Emperor had summoned him to the Empire.

 

“Kyle Parlante. He is the hidden supporter of the Alliance who has not yet been captured—and the one who stole the belongings left behind by Riela’s parents.”

 

“…What?”

 

This, however, he had not expected at all.

 

Duke Brenike looked stunned for a moment before asking carefully,

 

“Do you wish to find Her Majesty the Empress’s family?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“So that is why you postponed the wedding.”

 

Herhan answered with silence.

 

Riela herself believed the wedding had been delayed because of the temple incident, Greta’s trial, and the preparations for their portrait.

 

“If the Empress still has living relatives, I want them to attend the wedding.”

 

Duke Brenike’s eyes widened before he smiled warmly.

 

The faint wrinkles around her mouth deepened with gentle kindness.

 

“I doubt there is anyone in this world more loved than Her Majesty Empress Blinite.”

 

* * *

 

‘Why is His Majesty taking so long to come?’

 

Riela tightened her posture.

 

Following the painter’s instructions, she maintained an elegant pose and expression as best as she could.

But in her head, all kinds of bored thoughts were swirling.

 

‘How much longer do I have to stay like this? They said the portrait would take weeks… Don’t tell me I have to sit like this every day until it’s finished!? This is boring. I thought it would be fun.’

 

Just then, the painter spoke again.

 

He must have noticed instantly that Riela’s attention had drifted.

 

“Your Majesty Empress Blinite. Could you lift your chin a little more?”

 

“Ah. Like this?”

 

“Yes. That’s perfect. You look truly beautiful.”

 

As the painter said that, the maids lined up nearby repeated the words like parrots.

 

“You are beautiful.”

 

“Dazzling.”

 

“So full of grace.”

 

In the past, such praise would have made Riela twist in embarrassment.

 

But now she was used to it.

 

More precisely—

 

she was used to it to the point of indifference.

 

Mostly because ‘Herhan wasn’t beside her’.

 

‘He said he would stay with me too… Latecomer.’

 

Riela grumbled inwardly but tried not to pout.

 

If she did, the painter might scold her again.

 

Maybe the schedule got delayed because we woke up late this morning? Who was he meeting today? Should I send a maid to ask when he’s coming?*

 

Just then—

 

the door opened.

 

The Emperor stepped inside.

 

The painter immediately put down his brush and tried to bow, but Herhan raised a hand slightly to stop him.

 

Partly it meant ‘don’t worry about me, continue your work.’

 

But more than that—

 

his eyes had already been captured by the dazzling Riela sitting under the bright lights.

 

‘Why are you only coming now?’

 

Without breaking her elegant pose, Riela shot him a slightly sulky glance.

 

Herhan answered with his lips.

 

‘You’re beautiful.’

 

She frowned slightly and glared at him again.

 

‘You’re late, you idiot. Why are you only coming now?’

 

‘You’re really beautiful.’

 

‘Sigh… I shouldn’t even try talking to you.’

 

Riela clicked her tongue slightly, but in truth her mood had already softened the moment he arrived.

 

Just then, Herhan—still not taking his eyes off Riela—slightly lowered his head and asked the painter,

 

“Painter. Do you think the beauty of my Empress can truly be captured on that canvas?”

 

“Ah, Your Majesty… Th-that…”

 

If he said it was impossible, it would mean doubting his own skill as a painter.

 

But if he said it was possible, it would sound like he was diminishing the Empress’s beauty.

 

Caught in the middle of this tricky question, the painter broke into a cold sweat.

 

* * *