"Your Majesty, please, spend the night with me," I said, using all the courage I could muster.
He was about to leave when he turned back to me, astonished by what I had just said.
A long time ago, I promised myself that no matter where I found myself, I would give 100% effort. So yes—even in this situation—I'll do just that.
"It's your duty. I am your wife."
I don't care if he feels guilty that I was dragged into this because of my sister. I don't even care to know what their relationship was, or what happened that made her choose the nunnery over this marriage. This is where I've found myself: in another empire, as the empress. And I'll carry out all my duties.
While this situation isn't ideal, out of all the possible outcomes, this is the best and most fortunate position I could have landed in.
I sat in the middle of the emperor's bedchamber, dressed for seduction in a see-through silk robe. Our eyes locked in uncomfortable silence.
"You want to share a bed with me—even after this position was forced on you?" he asked, finally breaking the silence.
"None of that matters now," I replied firmly. "I'm the empress, and I intend to carry out all my duties."
I said it with confidence, but inside, I felt trapped—shaken. Nothing in this life has ever happened with my consent.
"I'm already here against my will because of you and my sister. Are you going to make me spend the night alone and reduce me to a mockery as well?"
His reaction—a small flinch. If the moonlight hadn't shone so brightly through the curtains, I probably wouldn't have noticed.
"...I do not believe I did anything to warrant your sister's actions," he answered briefly.
"Whether you had anything to do with it or not seldom matters now. Fulfill your duties to me," I demanded.
"Are you sure you won't regret it? You still can leave—before twenty-four hours, the marriage only becomes official then."
I stared at him in disbelief. I couldn't help but scoff.
"Leave? And go where? What nation would take back a rejected empress?"
I spoke to the emperor in a tone that shocked even me. I couldn't believe the words coming out of my mouth—talking to the man who rules the most powerful empire as if he were a servant.
I tend to say whatever comes to mind when I'm annoyed. Father had always warned me about this, long before he knew I'd become the empress.
He can still declare this marriage null and void before the day is over—send me away like an unwanted pest.
I tried to calm myself, digging into my skin with my nails, my hair falling around my face as I tried to mask the panic.
"Um, I—" I couldn't even bring myself to muster an apology. The silence was deafening. I could feel his eyes on me. Seconds turned into minutes.
Nothing.
Shaken, I struggled to organize my thoughts. Footsteps approached. By the time I looked up, he was towering over me.
I froze—surprised.
He reached out and held my face in place as he leaned forward, planting a kiss on my lips.
"Then so be it," he murmured, his lips barely brushing mine. "Let's make this marriage real."