“Long live His Imperial Majesty! Long live Emperor Lloyd!”

At last, the coronation ceremony was held.

It was more splendid than any imperial coronation in history.

Looking at the long imperial procession through the window, I felt overwhelmed.

We finally did it.

It was a long time and a difficult path, but Lloyd and I finally achieved our long-cherished wish.

Everyone welcomed Lloyd’s accession and rushed to congratulate him.

Even if there was an unavoidable fear in the corner of their expressions, what mattered was that the fear was directed at us.

So much has happened to get here.

As I gazed at my lover shining brightly even from afar, I reminisced about the path we had walked.

The Emperor, who was always a stumbling block, and my husband Leoprick, who had been the Crown Prince.

Besides them, all those who opposed him becoming Emperor died, were injured, or were driven to the borders.

The central political circle became the domain of those who had sworn unwavering loyalty to him.

They increased their power by dividing up the wealth of those who were now dead.

Lloyd had become an Emperor with unprecedented military might and enormous wealth.

No one would be able to easily defy him.

And behind all of this was me.

Me, who believed Lloyd was the only love of my life, and devoted everything I had to fulfill only what he wanted.

Countless people, including those from my family, died at my feet – so many I can’t even remember.

All to make him Emperor.

And finally today, our long-cherished wish has been fulfilled.

I gripped the windowsill, feeling the elation spreading throughout my body.

Now there was only one thing left.

To officially stand by his side.

After quietly watching Lloyd in the procession, I turned to look at the head maid of the imperial palace.

“When did Lloyd say he would come?”

“His Majesty said he would attend the banquet after today’s coronation ceremony before coming.”

“Is that so? Then have you received any instructions about when my investiture ceremony will be?”

“…I have not heard anything related to that yet.”

“Really?”

A smile formed on my lips as I could almost see Lloyd smiling brightly even from far away.

Recently, he had been whining in my arms every day, saying he had a lot of work.

It was time to fill the vacant positions of the nobles who were driven out in this recent rebellion and to reward those who had rendered great service.

After making plans to drive out those who were still opposing Lloyd from central politics, some suitable people also had to be called back.

But his face, though saying it was hard, was shining more than ever before.

I couldn’t bear how lovable he was.

I had loved him long before my marriage to the Crown Prince was decided by my father’s coercion.

Him, with his sun-like smile always directed at me, and resembling the dark night forest I loved most.

That love created everything and made everything possible.

“Let me know as soon as Lloyd returns. I need to prepare to congratulate him tonight.”

“Yes, I will do so.”

“And tell the kitchen to send up some light refreshments and good wine for the evening. The 30-year-old wine I got from Botia recently. That would be good.”

“I will inform the kitchen.”

I closed my eyes slightly and recalled the dream I had every night.

Him wearing the Emperor’s crown majestically, and me smiling happily by his side.

There was nothing standing between us anymore.

No one would think it strange or look down on us being together.

That was the real final scene I was picturing and it had to come true.

I sacrificed myself for him, turning my back on everyone.

Now it’s time to be compensated for everything.

I drew my gaze from the window and closed the curtains.

Just a little more from now on.

Now there’s really only one more step to go.

* * *

It was nearly midnight when Lloyd returned.

When the candles lit for him were almost burnt out and the room was gradually sinking into darkness.

I rushed into the arms of him, who looked a bit tired but still wearing the glittering imperial clothes.

“Lloyd, how long I’ve waited. Have all the people gone home?”

“I told the palace servants to send everyone home well. Were you not bored?”

“No, it’s okay. Today is the day when what we’ve been longing for has come true, isn’t it?”

Never before had waiting for him all day been as willing as today.

Lloyd always made me wait, and that waiting was always arduous, but today, just today, it wasn’t.

I leaned into his arms and breathed in with a happy face.

“We’ve arrived. We’ve really arrived. We’re just one step away from the moment we’ve been longing for.”

“Yes. That’s right, Amelia. We’re just one step away from the moment we’ve been longing for.”

Lloyd answered with a smiling voice as he gently stroked my hair.

I lifted my head, believing without a doubt that the same happiness would be deeply etched on his expression as well.

“Then when is my investiture ceremony…?”

But in the dark green eyes I met, for some reason, there was a different kind of joy than mine.

The kind that somehow sent chills down my spine.

I blinked slowly and stopped speaking, looking at him.

Then Lloyd, who had been gently stroking my head, lowered his head and kissed my forehead.

“The investiture ceremony will be held soon. As the Emperor, I can’t leave the seat beside me empty for too long.”

As he whispered softly and met my gaze again, Lloyd’s eyes were,

“So wait just a little longer, Amelia.”

filled only with affection towards me, as if it had never been otherwise.

With just that look, I was reassured and nestled back into his arms.

Like a fool.

“You have to tell me when. So I can contact the boutique to have the appropriate dress from the ones I made before fitted. I need to choose jewelry too. I want to look as pretty and glamorous as possible on the first day I officially stand by your side.”

Even as I chattered excitedly, Lloyd gave no answer.

He just stared at me blankly.

Although I felt a little uneasy at his expression that somehow seemed unreadable…

What does that matter?

Today is a joyous day.

It’s not a day when I’m striving to stand by his side while being next to the Crown Prince.

“I chose decorations and food for the grand banquet hall that day and sent them to the head maid, did you get a chance to look at them?”

I just hugged Lloyd tightly and talked about the investiture ceremony.

Not knowing that cruelty was seeping into his gaze as he looked down at me quietly.

“Actually, I wanted to talk to you about that, Mel.”

“Really? Was there something you didn’t like?”

“Well, first I have something to show you.”

Lloyd said with a charming smile as he took my hand.

I smiled back and followed his lead.

The place he took me was the terrace beyond the window.

When was it?

I suddenly recalled his voice telling me this was the room with the clearest view of the capital in the palace.

Standing on the terrace, my heart fluttered at the thought that we would rule this place together from now on.

I held his hand tightly and smiled all over my face.

“What did you want to show me, Lloyd?”

“Just. I wanted to show you the empire I’ll be ruling from now on.”

He answered with a loving smile at my question.

Still holding my hand, he approached the terrace closer and had me stand in front of the railing.

Then he went behind me as if to embrace me.

“When I entered the palace. Do you know why I had you stay here, Mel?”

“Um, because this has the best view in the palace?”

“Well, that’s not entirely untrue, but.”

Lloyd’s laughter faintly drifted by my ear.

While thinking his embrace was comfortable, I listened to his words while trying to suppress the uneasiness that wouldn’t go away on the other hand.

The place where I was staying was the room at the very top of the main palace.

The view was nice, but the room was difficult to find and there wasn’t a single other room on the way here.

It wouldn’t be strange if someone were confined here.

Although I wasn’t unaware of this fact, I believed in Lloyd and trusted his words.

‘You’ve worked hard dealing with Leoprick, Mel. But he was my older brother and your husband, so people will think it’s strange. For now, just focus on the investiture ceremony here.’

It was also true that it wouldn’t look very good for me, who had been the wife of the deceased Crown Prince, to come to the forefront.

I laughed awkwardly and once again suppressed the doubts I had heard occasionally until now.

“What is it you want to say, Lloyd?”

“Well, just.”

That you won’t be in the empire I’ll rule.

It was at that moment.

When my back was pushed by an unexpectedly strong force.

Before I could turn around, I lost my balance and collapsed against the railing.

And.

“…Lloyd!”

As if someone had deliberately cut it, the railing broke off with a snap.

It was an instant that the body leaning against it lost balance and tilted.

At the moment when I was about to fall straight down, I desperately grabbed the broken railing.

“…Huk!”

The metal railing creaked and squeaked, shaking precariously.

The wind was blowing fiercely as it was high up.

I looked at Lloyd, trembling.

Still foolishly not abandoning my faith in him.

But Lloyd just laughed at me like that.

So chillingly and eerily that it gave me goosebumps all over my body.

“I’ve wanted to do this all along, Mel. It’s finally happening like this.”

“What are you saying, Lloyd. What do you mean by that!”

Lloyd slowly bent his knees to sit down and looked at me.

At the moment I thought I would be devoured by that chilling gaze.

“What do I mean, Amelia. I mean you’re going to die here today.”

With a still gentle, but now unreadable expression to me, he said so.

“You’re too troublesome.”

“…!”

“I’m grateful that you got me this far, but if I keep you with me, I feel like my dead brother’s ghost will haunt me until I die.”

“What, what are you saying…”

“You didn’t really think it was love, did you? I thought you were a bit smarter than that.”

Well, so you and your family will all be ruined, but.

He laughed.

With the same face I had loved, he laughed with an expression I didn’t know.

Ah, no. Is that his real face?

“How can you… kill me so easily like this!”

“Originally, all deaths are this empty and easy.”

It’s over now, Amelia.

A calm, settled voice.

Gently calling my name as if to soothe me.

A gaze that settled like a butterfly.

A dejected laugh escaped.

Always the same lies.

Always the same smile.

Although there was nothing I hadn’t loved, I became a person who had never loved anything.

“I don’t want to do this either. But you know too. As long as you’re around, the Reinhart imperial family can’t be forgotten by the people.”

I saw Lloyd drooping his eyes with a detestable face.

The strength in my arms holding onto the railing gradually drained away.

“Someday the blood on your hands… will come looking for you.”

“Is that a threat now? Quite romantic, Mel.”

With Lloyd’s drawn-like smile as the last thing I saw, I fell straight down.

After that, everything seemed to flow slowly.

Things like Lloyd looking down at me falling and the windows of the main palace quickly passing by.

The thought was momentary.

Soon after, pain like my whole body was being torn apart poured in.

The head protruding outside the terrace still seemed to be looking down at me.

It was enough with just the blurry afterimage caught in my gradually blurring vision.

I curse you even in death, Lloyd.

The strength in my quivering lips gradually faded.

My gradually blurring vision became darker and darker.

‘Are you confident you won’t regret it?’

In the last moment when I felt my breath fading away.

Ironically, my husband’s last words came to mind.

Whatever was at the end of the path I was taking, if I was confident I wouldn’t regret it.

At that time, I didn’t give any answer and just looked at him.

Not only because I couldn’t understand the true meaning of the question he asked, but also because I couldn’t understand the concern uttered by a dying person.

But now I thought I could answer.

Over the labored breath I had left, Leoprick’s phantom was drawn.

As I exhaled my last fading breath, I answered.

“If there is a God…”

That I wish I could turn back time.

And that was the last moment I remember.