Episode 17

Several days have passed since my arrival at the palace. I won't lie; they were hot, pleasurable, and quite entertaining. Initially, I harbored some doubts about the plan, but in the end, I found myself enjoying it. Not to mention Icarus as dessert every evening. The icing on the cake.

"Do you know about the rumors swirling around the palace?" one of the castle's maids chattered to another. "The Emperor is under the empress's spell, so obsessed that he hasn't left the palace since their marriage because she won’t allow it. He's canceled all his appointments. She moved into the emperor's room; she no longer uses her own. They're nearly inseparable. Do you think she might be a witch?"

"I've heard she’s so beautiful any man would fall to his knees, captivated by her allure. What kind of man would desire to be away from a woman like that for even a minute?" one of the staff remarked, nodding in agreement with the emperor’s behavior.

"A witch? Could it be? The emperor always executed the candidates before they could even marry. And now, to be at the mercy of a woman? It's definitely peculiar," the gossip continued to spread throughout the palace.

"I'm curious to see what she’s actually like. Only a few maids have been assigned to her. None but those selected by the empress have been allowed to meet her. I haven’t even seen her wandering the palace grounds. Maybe she doesn’t like it here?" The employee disliked the thought of someone looking down on their kingdom. "Either way, today we’ll get a glimpse of her arrogant face. At last, she will make her first public appearance as the empress of this realm."

Does no one here know how to gossip properly? Talking so loudly about one’s own masters in such a manner. That must be why Icarus slashes so many heads. Nonetheless, she was right; in a few hours, I would be attending a ball hosted by the Emperor to introduce me to the aristocracy. I’ve been preparing since the early morning.

They finished preparing me a few hours before the ball began. I wasn't able to meet with the Emperor all day. He said he would be busy with urgent matters. But the time for the ball arrived. I had to fight my own battles. Entering the venue, looking at the stairs I needed to descend with grace and impact to make a strong impression, I could only envision myself tripping and tumbling down.

"Attention! Attention! Her Majesty, Empress Alicia, is entering," someone announced. The room, once abuzz, fell silent, all attention turning to me. This did nothing to ease my fear of the staircase.

As I took a deep breath to face the descent, I felt an arm loop through mine—it was the emperor. I smiled and exhaled in relief. Now there was no risk of a chaotic entrance. We descended the staircase effortlessly and with poise, an art the emperor seemed to breathe. Everyone kneeled upon our entrance, their gazes a blend of envy and admiration—quite different from when I had first arrived.

"I present to you all, Alicia, my empress. I trust that you will be as loyal to her as you are to me if you wish to keep your heads on your shoulders," the Emperor declared in a strong, commanding tone, the threat part of his allure. I had become accustomed to it more quickly than I had imagined. "Now, without further ado, let us toast to the new empress."

"You may stand," I commanded before turning toward Icarus, placing my hand on his face, bringing our mouths tantalizingly close. It was clear on the faces of all in attendance their shock at my action. The uproar grew even greater when they saw the emperor caress my waist, drawing our bodies close together. Everyone was agape at the scene, partly due to my brazen behavior, but what truly astonished them was the emperor’s response to my advance. "Icarus, when will you give me what you promised? I do not like to wait. You know this, correct?"