Lucretius and I teased each other for a while longer until he fell asleep.

He claimed he would heal in a week or two, but I knew his injury was extensive. I was working when I suddenly noticed how quiet he was. When I looked up from my paper, he was in deep sleep.

He looked like an angel. When he was asleep, he looked much younger.

When he was healthy, he went to bed very late and woke up before me. However, during these last few days, I had noticed he slept deeply and longer than usual. His body was probably trying to heal itself.

I felt a little jealous that he was taking a break while I had to slave away.

Oh well.

I kissed his forehead lightly and whispered, “Sleep tight.”

He looked so peaceful and I was glad.

He deserved it.

***

A few days later, Agnes asked for a vacation.

“You want some time off?”

Agnes nodded with determination.

“Yes, your highness. My mother… I want to go to her and explain what had happened recently.”

“Oh…”

I knew what she was trying to say. I was told that Agnes was there at the execution. She was freed when Lucretius’ men arrived, and she was allowed to be present at the hall for the dowager empress’ death.

She made sure to watch every bit of the dowager empress’ gruesome death. When her head was spiked in public, she went there every day to throw stones at the head and spit on it.

Now that she had accomplished her revenge, she probably wanted to tell her stepmother. The birth mother of Empress Beatrice.

She lost her mind after her daughter’s death, so I wasn’t sure if she would understand any of this. However, I supposed it didn’t matter. To Agnes and Lucretius, just telling her about the event meant everything.

There was no reason for me to say no.

I nodded easily. “Sure. Go spend some time with her.”

Agnes kneeled and bowed deeply. “Thank you, your highness.”

I knew when she thanked me, it wasn’t just for letting her go. It was for helping in defeating the dowager empress.

About ten days later, I got a message from Agnes that Empress Beatrice’s mother Aria passed away at Lonez. I was told it was a very peaceful death.

***

We received an official message from Genoa much earlier than expected. It was three weeks after Ksania’s death, which meant the Genoan king made a decision as soon as he received Lucretius’ letter.

Lucretius was still resting in my bed, so I was the one who greeted the Genoan diplomat team. It was frowned upon for the wife of an emperor to meet alone with another man in private, so the chancellor stayed by my side. However, I was still the one in charge.

I was sincerely surprised at how beautiful the head of Genoan group was. This was the first time I met a man who could compare to Lucretius in terms of looks.

He smiled at me gently. Lucretius was a cold beauty, while this man had a warmth to him.

“So you are the infamous lady. Greetings to your highness. I am Izid, the firstborn prince of Genoa.”

I nodded lightly. “Nice to meet you. I am the first wife of his highness, Sa Bina. The emperor is feeling unwell today, so please excuse his absence.”

In truth, Lucretius had recovered significantly. When I said to him that he should greet the diplomats even just briefly, he shook his head.

“I don’t wanna.”

It was the dumbest excuse, but I knew why he was not attending this meeting. As he lazed around in my bed like a fat cat, I let him be.

Lucretius was showing Genoa who was the boss. Refusing to spare some time with a poor excuse was on purpose. He was also trying to establish my presence in this world.

Representing Lucretius to a foreign diplomat was a big deal. Although I had been working on his behalf for a while now, it was being done unofficially. However, today, meeting the first prince of Genoa was an official event, and, therefore, by having me represent him, Lucretius was announcing indirectly that I was his empress.

After our formal greetings, Izid chatted with the chancellor briefly. I knew this was not a good situation for Izid since he was here due to the tension between the two nations. On top of that, the emperor didn’t even welcome him in person.

I smiled smoothly in hopes to appease him. He might have looked warm and easygoing, but who knew what he was like in the inside?

“His highness planned on greeting you in person, but he is feeling very poorly today. In a day or two, when he feels better, he will call for you for a private audience.”

Izid replied respectfully, “Thank you, your highness. My king has sent a gift for his highness, but I guess I should show it to your highness first. I hope you convey our sincere message to the emperor.”

Gift?

When I looked curious, one of the prince’s servants brought and placed a large box on the table. It reeked of unpleasant myrrh.

The box looked so ominous I didn’t want to touch it.

Izid saw this and said to me kindly, “I heard your highness is with child, so I wouldn’t want you to feel a shock and, therefore, possibly harm the baby. Why don’t you leave it closed then and just give it to his highness?”

I lied that I was pregnant when I tried to escape from the dowager empress during the rebellion, and I had no idea how this news got out. It seemed like this was confirmed as a fact.

Should I announce officially that I am not pregnant?

Perhaps later, but I got the feeling I shouldn’t say anything to Izid. Carrying the emperor’s child only gave me more influence in front of Izid.

Then what was in the box that could be so shocking?

I looked up at him, who looked back at me with a blank face.

I knew one thing for sure. He was studying me. Not exactly a test, but I realized that depending on how I reacted right now, he would form his opinion on me. This meant I couldn’t show any weakness.

I put my hand on the box casually and asked, “Will it be alright if I check what is inside before giving it to his highness?”

Izid smiled and answered, “Of course. I just don’t want to harm you or your baby.”

I smiled confidently and opened the box.

In truth, I could guess what was inside, so I was ready to see the gruesome content.

The strong smell of myrrh and other herbs spread quickly.

“…”

In the large black box was the head of a man.

It was someone I knew.

‘Prince Coronel.’

It was embalmed with preservatives. That was where the smell was coming from.

When I confirmed my suspicion, I closed it and smiled.

“I am impressed with Genoa’s show of sincerity. I am sure his highness will be impressed as well. I will let him know tonight, and you will be invited to see him by tomorrow.”

“I am grateful.”

Izid smiled brightly.