It was very late when Lucretius arrived at Bina’s bedroom. Work has been busy lately. His kingdom was huge, and as the emperor, having absolute power meant having an absolutely crazy amount of work.

However, Lucretius didn’t mind as much now because he had a dream. He would stabilize the kingdom into a perfect and peaceful country, then inherit it to Beatrice. Afterward, he would travel the continent with his wife.

That was his ultimate goal and dream for his future.

To be able to travel, he had to have good stamina. He couldn’t do this when he was too old, and this meant that he had to retire when he was still young. To achieve this, he had to quickly create an easy-to-rule government as soon as possible.

Lucretius had already planned out the details of his dream. He would travel by the time he’s a middle-aged man, and then he would return to the kingdom when he was old so he could spend his aged years with his wife, children, and grandchildren in peace at home.

This was why he was working so hard. If he could establish a steady nation, he should be able to inherit it to his daughter even when she was still young.

The emperor and the empress had separate bedrooms, but it had been a very long time since Lucretius spent the night in his own room. After their wedding, Lucretius slept in his wife’s room almost every night.

When he entered Bina’s bedchamber, he was shocked. “… What’s this?”

He saw this bedroom every day, but it looked unfamiliar tonight.

Firstly, the lighting was different. The entire room looked rose-red. On the bed were red rose petals and the white lace curtain that covered the bed was now changed to red as well.

On the bedside table were a bottle of wine and two crystal glasses. The empress’ bedroom no longer looked prim and proper.

On the bed was Bina, who rose slowly from the bed. Lucretius was slightly disappointed as Bina was wearing her regular simple sleep gown.

Truthfully, Lucretius expected Bina to be wearing something different. If she would go through the trouble of changing her room this much…

However, he quickly smiled and approached her.

“Now, what is my empress up to?”

Just then, Lucretius stopped in his track as Bina took off her gown. Underneath her prudish gown was…

Lucretius swallowed hard. What he saw in front of him was too shockingly erotic.

Bina was wearing a sheer one-piece slip. On the inside, she was wearing a sexy red underwear. Lucretius couldn’t stop staring at them.

He had a sip of water before he left his office, but in just a snap, his throat dried up like the deserts of Genoa. He swallowed again loudly and called her.

“B, Bina?”

Bina was always confident, including in the bedroom, but she had never been this provocatively seductive. Suddenly, Lucretius was unsure. He even felt slightly afraid.

‘What’s happening?’

Bina smiled assuredly. She felt confident. She would succeed in this mission!

She walked slowly towards him and hugged his neck. Her sweet fragrance enveloped him.

“Um… Bina?”

“Hmm?”

“Did I do something wrong?”

“…”

Lucretius was serious.

Bina wanted to smack his head for being so slow, but she patiently replied, “No.”

Lucretius started to pant.

“Is this because you are angry at me for something… And you are trying to punish me by getting me aroused like this and… then not let me even touch you?”

“… N, no, of course not.”

Bina suddenly felt sorry. Had she been teasing him so badly that he thought she would be that cruel?

Bina explained hurriedly, “It’s just… We have been married for over five years now, right? So I thought… It would be nice to try something different.”

Lucretius now was becoming breathless. He was panting like a starving animal. He roughly grabbed Bina and started to kiss her passionately.

“…!”

Bina felt overwhelmed by her husband’s desire. She couldn’t think anymore as her body raged to fulfill her worldly desires. She didn’t even have the sense anymore to enjoy the success of her plan anymore. She forgot why she did this. All she could think of was her man.

Lucretius was even sexier than usual tonight. For a second, Bina felt disappointed that she couldn’t brag this side of him to others, but she quickly decided that it was better this way. She should be the only one who knew the passionate side of the emperor.

‘He is only for me.’

Hers and hers only. No other woman would ever know who Lucretius really was, just as Lucretius would be the only man who ever knew her in this way.

Lucretius asked hesitantly. “Um, Bina…”

“Hmm?”

He seemed worried about something. Bina suddenly thought nervously.

‘Did he figure out my plan?’

She felt like her ego was hurt. She was confident that she could turn him into a senseless maniac for the night.

However, what he asked was completely unexpected.

He touched her sheer and fragile slip with his finger lightly and whispered, “Can… I tear this?”

Bina was so surprised that she laughed out loud.

She hung onto her loving husband and whispered back, “As much as you want.”

The man’s eyes sparkled with fire.

***

They had such a passionate night that Bina felt tired for the next two days.

She decided that she should try things like this from time to time, not for the purpose of getting pregnant, but for Lucretius. Often, the emperor did his best to create romantic moods and give her extravagant gifts. Bina had always been very responsive to his efforts, but of all the things they had tried, her idea worked the best. It was a very satisfying night.

Now, Bina waited for the result with a hopeful heart.

***

In three weeks, her body told her the result. When she woke up one morning, she noted a red stain on her bed sheet.

‘Fail…’

When she looked at it disappointedly, Lucretius said to her, “Oh, it came early this month.”

He knew Bina’s menstrual schedule very well. It was usually monitored by the royal doctor and the maids, but because Lucretius spent the night with her every night, he was very sensitive to the condition of her body.

While Bina was becoming upset, Lucretius rang the bell to call the maids.

“Did you call for us, your highness?”

This morning, Agnes was in charge. Agnes, two newer maids, and ten servants entered the empress’ bedroom. They were here to serve both the emperor and the empress.

“Your highness…”

Agnes was about to carry out the usual morning routine when she noticed Lucretius’ subtle look. It was then when she noticed the red stain.

Agnes nodded and sent half of the servants out. She had served Bina for many years now, and she knew exactly what to do.

Bina suffered from severe cramps during her period. She usually had to spend the first one to two days in bed and keep herself warm. She also didn’t like being surrounded by too many people, so during her period, only a minimal number of maids and servants served the empress.

The servants quickly changed the sheet and called for Regia, the empress’ personal doctor. Regia examined Bina.

“Other than your period coming earlier, everything else is good. Your highness is very healthy, but it seems that your highness’ menstrual pain is worse than usual. So please spend two days in bed and keep yourself warm.”

Regia created a herbal painkiller for her, while the maids made a hot compress cloth bag filled with soothing herbs and warm stones.

Lucretius took it from the maid.

“Oh, your highness…”

“I will do it for her myself.”

He took the bag from Agnes and walked to Bina, who was in bed.

“Now, here it is, Bina…”

Bina moaned painfully.

Lucretius lifted the blanket gently. It wasn’t a cold day, yet Bina shuddered when the cool air reached her body. Lucretius quickly placed the hot compress on her belly and wiped her sweating forehead gently.

“Is it really bad?”

“… A little.”

The amount of discomfort was actually about the same as any other month. She was upset more because of her disappointment. She was so hopeful and expectant, yet her period came early. She felt frustrated and annoyed at the same time.

She also felt embarrassed.

‘I can never tell him the truth… It’s too mortifying!’