Even if we were Destined to Divorce, I was Happy to be Chosen as Your Wife [R-18]

Title: Even if we were Destined to Divorce, I was Happy to be Chosen as Your Wife

Original: Tatoe rien suru unmei demo, anata no tsuma ni eraba rete shiawasedeshita

Author: Yamahana 山花

Link: https://novel18.syosetu.com/n2569ho/

Summary: At the age of nineteen, Aliyah Elevant, the daughter of a local lord, became the fiancée and subsequently wife of the king’s younger brother. 

At first, she was confused by the marriage arrangement that was inappropriate for her status, but one day, she came to know the reason.

The king’s brother and her husband, Xeon Theaureole, had been harboring feelings for his brother’s wife, Cereza. However, since his older brother, the king, was frail, he had no heir to his name. Therefore, once the king had passed away, Xeon would succeed the throne.

Thus, in order to welcome Cereza as his wife after he ascended the throne, Xeon chose Aliyah as his wife as she’d be easy to divorce.

---

After enveloping the neatly folded letter in paper, she dripped it with wax. As a finishing touch, she stamped it to make sure that the letter was fully sealed. Quietly, her eyes fluttered close as she took a slow, deep breathing, letting go of all tension.

Once I release this, I’ll be able to cut ties with him…

A letter that had been rewritten and re-read over and over again. In the end, the contents remained the same—

‘—Please divorce me.’

Of course, the letter didn’t stop there. She also included short and polite words of her heartfelt gratitude and apology. 

That should be enough.

Her husband wasn’t the type to indulge his wife in a conversation.

---

Aeon was a small territory within the Kingdom of Kyprios. 

Aliyah was born as the eldest daughter of the Viscount Elevant family, who ruled the land. At the age of nineteen, she married Xeon Theaureole, the younger brother of the king, Wales Theaureole. 

As a member of the royal family, Xeon was both powerful and pleasing to the eye. He was so proficient in swordsmanship and military affairs, he was promoted to the rank of general in the army of the Kingdom of Kyprios.

Aliyah and Xeon met at a ball sponsored by the royal family. However, the encounter wasn’t special by any means. They just so happened to be in the same room when she was about to extend her greetings to the royal family like other aristocrats. The greeting itself shouldn’t have taken more than five minutes.

Upon entering the venue following the guidance of a chamberlain, Aliyah bowed her head with the utmost courtesy behind her parents.

Aliyah stared at the ground and listened to her father’s formal greeting, just waiting for time to pass. When she was about to leave the room, she happened to meet Xeon’s eyes. Even then, Aliyah quickly averted her gaze. After all, it would be disrespectful to exchange glances with the royal family without permission. Lowering her gaze, she apologized for her uncouthness through her gesture.

That was the only time Aliyah ever came into contact with the royal family or Xeon. 

—Then how did a lady like Aliyah, the daughter of the Elevant family with no particular achievements, chosen as a candidate for the wife of the king’s brother?

…How did she get chosen in the end!?

Everyone, including herself and her family, were racking their brains.

However, the reason eventually became clear.

First, King Wales and Queen Cereza didn’t have any offspring, while the king’s younger brother, Xeon, was unmarried. In other words, the royal family had no successor. As a result, Xeon, who was 23 years old at the time, had to get married as soon as possible. In exchange, Xeon had the liberty of setting the criteria for his potential bride candidates. The situation was so desperate, the vassals turned a blind eye to such an unusual situation.

Aliyah was one of the few young ladies who met that standard. 

There was another issue. King Wales was born with a frail body, and ever since he’d turned 30, his physical strength had been declining over the years. Up until that point, Xeon had been assisting him in politics and the military. If no successor was born between the king and his wife, it was decided that Xeon would ascend the throne after Wales passed away.

In other words, the king’s younger brother’s wife was the future queen. Hence why, rather than relying on family history, Xeon issued his own conditions.

In such a hectic situation, Aliyah was among the candidates for the king’s younger brother’s fiancée. Furthermore, after Xeon gave his conditions, those who fulfilled the criteria were narrowed down from among the ladies.

The final conditions that Xeon issued was as follows:

The daughter of an unremarkable family who could be wed without a hitch. A scandal-less lady, or if there was, nothing too damning. And last but not least, a woman with weak backing that could immediately be dealt with a single piece of divorce paper and a suitable consolation prize.

The third condition was especially important for Xeon, who was secretly in love with Cereza Theaureole. The wife of his older brother, the king. 

After the passing of the king, when the time was right, Xeon would divorce his wife and welcome Cereza as his new one. For that purpose, he needed a lady who’d meet these three conditions, which happened to be Aliyah. 

Aliyah found out about that right after she was chosen as the king’s brother’s wife. Although it was uncertain whether or not that was true, the story was well-known to the point that even her own servants gossiped behind her back. 

And there’s no smoke without fire.

Even if his feelings for his sister-in-law were platonic, Aliyah felt that he only married her because she met those conditions. Otherwise, there was no way a woman like Aliyah would be chosen as his wife, considering how disproportionate her status, appearance, and everything else were.

After the grand wedding ceremony, during their first night, Xeon held Aliyah in his arms as he calmly went about his work.

Only once did he say her name, and even then, it was in such a dispassionate tone, as if he’d just learned it. Afterwards, he didn’t speak any further, merely placing his lips on her. He played with her slender and innocent body, inserting his well-trained, robust body between her legs. 

Aliyah was unsure of what to do, so she just let him have his way with her. Xeon’s thick fingers traced her tight slit, carefully loosening it up using her overflowing love juices. As he did so, she grew breathless. Many times, she almost cried out, but then she recalled that according to her sex education class, it’d be a shameful thing to do. Thus, she bit her lips and desperately held back her voice.

At last—

“—Ugh, aah…”

“Kuh…”

As she endured the shame, the loneliness, and the pain of having lost her innocence, these were the only words they exchanged.

---

Aliyah’s marital life with Xeon was the complete opposite of that of her parents, which she’d grown up seeing.

First of all, when she woke up in the morning and looked next to her, Xeon was already gone. 

From the dawn of the first night, such had been the case. 

Not a sliver of his warmth remained, and only the aching in her body served as proof that he was once there. Despite the indescribable loneliness, she knew what she signed up for.

The next day, and the day after that, they didn’t have sex. Perhaps, he was being considerate of her. Nevertheless, when she woke up the next morning, there were only traces of Xeon sleeping next to her. He’d left before she could wake up.

Is he avoiding me…?

Around 10 days after their first night, Aliyah began to feel uncomfortable about the distance between the two of them. They had several meals together, but Xeon was silent the entire time. The atmosphere was so suffocating, she could barely swallow the food.

He didn’t ask or say anything.

As for Aliyah, even though he was her husband, the fact that he was also a member of the royal family intimidated her. Still, one day at dinner, she mustered up the courage to say, “Isn’t it delicious?” But to her devastation, he merely ignored her.

Shouldn’t I have done that?

After that, the number of meals they shared together decreased. Xeon and Aliyah hardly ever saw each other except in the bedroom. When Aliyah wasn’t having her period, they’d have sex almost every day. Soon, Aliyah felt the limit of her physical strength and it showed on her face. Thus, there was now a gap of once every three days.

Furthermore, he’d leave at dawn. Eventually, Aliyah became worried that he wasn’t getting enough sleep, so Aliyah wrote several letters and had them delivered to Xeon’s office.

All she said was, ‘Aren’t you tired? Please take care of yourself.’ Of course, he never replied.

Whether eating, taking a stroll, or having tea time, Aliyah was always by herself. Although she had fun talking with her servants, there was a wall between master and servant. As the wife of the king’s brother, she sometimes participated in the tea party, but she couldn’t enjoy it at all. Although the smiles of the participants were elegant, they couldn’t be said to be earnest or free of ridicule. 

As expected, a lady who was born and raised in the countryside couldn’t be expected to stand above the high-ranking noble ladies.

Aliyah wasn’t accustomed to acting like a member of the royal family.

Amidst all that, the queen, Cereza, would never fail to encourage and greet Aliyah whenever they came across each other.

---

Eight months after she married Xeon, one afternoon, during Aliyah’s tea time, she suddenly felt weird and put down her cup. She couldn’t bring herself to enjoy the tea. Not only that, she also couldn’t eat as much as usual due to stomach discomfort, had difficulty sleeping at night, and became sensitive to smells.

Come to think of it, I haven’t had my period for some time now…

“Congratulations, you are pregnant.”

The royal physician congratulated her with a smile. Aliyah and her maids, who were listening to that, were all united in their joy. Aliyah thanked the physician and made her way to the hall. She heard that Xeon was currently in the hall with his brother and his sister-in-law.

Now I can report to His Majesty the King and Queen.

Aliyah stood in front of the door of the hall with her maid. Her maid knocked on the door, waited for a reply, then quietly opened it and let Aliyah pass inside. 

In the hall, three people were sitting around the table, having a serious discussion. When Wales spotted Aliyah, his expression changed dramatically as he called out to her.

“Oh, Aliyah? Are you feeling alright now?”

“Indeed, Your Majesty. I apologize for causing you concern.”

“It’s fine. Xeon, what are you doing? Hurry up and escort your wife.”

“That’s right. You can’t leave her standing there forever.”

“All right…”

Xeon let out a small sigh and slowly approached Aliyah. The look he gave Aliyah was one of reluctance. Still, Aliyah smiled gratefully because he came to pick her up. After taking Xeon’s hand, she went to the king and queen. Then, she sat down on the sofa next to Xeon.

“Although you said that you’ve recovered, your complexion doesn’t look very good.”

“That’s right. Are you sure you are okay?”

“Yes, uhm… Actually, I have something to announce to everyone.”

Aliyah’s words prompted Xeon to glance at her. However, he didn’t say anything. The king and queen stared at each other before giving a small nod towards Aliyah.

“I’m pregnant.”

“Oh my!”

“Well!”

“Well done! Xeon, Aliyah! The royal family is now safe!”

“Congratulations, Aliyah! I see, so that’s why you were feeling unwell…”

“Indeed. I didn’t realize it at all…”

What a relief, Aliyah rubbed her chest. 

Until she stepped into the hall, she was worried about announcing her pregnancy to the royal couple who were not blessed with a child. Not only that, she wondered if she was actually pregnant. On the other hand, if she kept quiet about it, it might lead to a strange rift. 

However, upon seeing the big smiles on the faces of the king and his wife, she discovered that her fears were unfounded.

“You’re going to be busy from now on. Aliyah, you must prioritize yourself and maintain your physical strength. Don’t think about anything unnecessary, just think about the baby. Do you understand?”

“Yes, thank you.”

“I see, so Xeon is going to be a father… Your child is just as good as mine. From now on, you have to be even more careful—hey, Xeon!”

Aliyah glanced at Xeon, hoping to see how he’d react to the news. However, instead of returning her gaze, Xeon was just staring at a single point with a painful expression on his face.

Ahead of his gaze was Cereza’s resplendent smiling profile.

---

After Aliyah became pregnant, Xeon started sleeping in a separate room. Everyone began to think that the relationship between the couple had soured.

Aliyah’s depression was very severe. Not only did she keep throwing up in the morning, night, and late at night, she could only hold water in her stomach. As such, her maids had to take turns staying by her side.

If something were to happen to the long-awaited baby, they shouldn’t even hope of staying alive. Knowing that, everyone took care of Aliyah like their lives depended on it.

Ever since he started sleeping in a separate room, they barely saw each other at all. At most, they’d pass each other in the hallway several times. Even then, Xeon would keep on walking, glancing at Aliyah while giving her a small nod of acknowledgement. 

Xeon’s cold attitude towards his wife, who had just conceived their first child, tormented Aliyah. What hurt her even more was the sympathetic and awkward atmosphere from those around her. Every time she had to force a smile and pretend as if everything was fine, she felt a pang in her chest.

After that, the days went on without any support or sympathy from Xeon. He did come to check on Aliyah once. This surprised Aliyah and her maids, and made her happy. They didn’t exchange any conversation, and after glancing at her, he immediately left. 

Later, she received a message from the king, who came to check on Aliyah.

‘It seems that the two of you are getting along well.’

It dawned on her that Xeon simply came to check on her to hide his feelings for Cereza from his brother

Why did I even marry him in the first place?

I didn’t marry him because I love him.

In the first place, marrying for love was a foreign concept in the marriage of aristocrats, especially those of the royal family.

I thought that if we consummated our marriage, even the slightest feeling would develop…

I thought that if the two of us had a child, we might be able to get closer to each other.

But it didn’t happen.

All of this was just a duty and responsibility to preserve the royal bloodline…

Then one day, after not seeing Xeon again, Aliyah went out to the garden for a change of pace, partly because her nausea had eased. Not so long ago, she couldn’t even bear the scent of flowers in the wind, but now she could breathe them in full. 

While she was doing that, she could forget the loneliness of raising her unborn child by herself. Thus, Aliyah went out into the garden with her maid every day, strolling to different places and enjoying the scent of the colorful flowers.

Until the day came when such a small, peaceful space was shattered in an instant.

Aliyah went out into her garden accompanied by her maid as usual. Her destination was the green corridor to the West, which was one of her favorite spots.

She enjoyed her leisurely stroll, basking in the vivid light that was filtered by the trees. Afterwards, she sat on a chair on the terrace of the rest area, chatting with her maid while enjoying the scenery.

But then, a certain sight greeted her when she was heading towards the terrace.

She saw a man and a woman chatting happily in the spot where Aliyah usually sat.

Xeon and Cereza.

“Hehehe… No way, that is just strange.”

“No, it’s true, then—…”

Gentle voice. A carefree smile. The warm look in his gaze as he listened to the story.

There, ahead of her gaze, was a man in love.

“Uhm, Lady Aliyah…”

Her maid tried to say something, but immediately shut her mouth. The sight was just that incomprehensible.

The two were truly engrossed in their conversation.

“I don’t want to disturb them, so let’s go home.”

That was all she could say. Her breathing was uneven, her knees were trembling, and her lips were quivering. Her hands and feet were cold, and she didn’t even know how to return to her room.

Unbeknownst to even Aliyah herself, the stress must’ve been building up in her mind and body, little by little…

Aliyah had a miscarriage soon after.

I’m sorry… I’m sorry for being a weak mother…

No matter how painful it was, she wanted to protect her child.

Even if she was unloved, at the very least her child would be loved. 

No, even if her child was unloved, she was determined to love and raise him with all her heart.

“Ugh… Uuuuuuuuh—…”

Overcame with grief, she could barely form a word as tears of sorrow rolled down her cheeks.

Still, even on such a day, Xeon didn’t come to see Aliyah.

On the contrary, the unbelievable words that tumbled out of the maid’s mouth delivered the final blow to Aliyah.

“…Huh?”

“Uhm, His Highness… Won’t be able to come here today.”

“Why…?”

“Her Majesty the Queen… She slipped and fell down the stairs, and she seems to have been hurt…”

When Aliyah lost their child, Xeon was by Cereza’s side.

“I see… Please tell Her Majesty the Queen… To get well soon.”

Something snapped inside Aliyah.

---

A month later, Aliyah was in her hometown of Aeon. King Wales, worried about his sister-in-law, who was unable to cope with her deep sorrow, wrote a letter to Aliyah’s parents.

‘I want Aliyah to have a peaceful life until her feelings settle down. The period is left to Aliyah’s heart.’

The king himself made all the arrangements for transportation and safely delivered Aliyah to Aeon.

Aliyah was now out on the town with her maid, Karrie, disguised as a commoner. Karrie was three years older than Aliyah, and was akin to an older sister to Aliyah ever since they were children. Whenever they played house, she always played the role of older sister.

The two passed through the main street, climbed small stairs, and passed through a complicated path. Although the passage was narrow, it was a crowded place with high traffic. …Naturally, since the area was lined with several high-end brothels and bars, and was a place where people were constantly coming and going day and night.

“Milady, that’s the store over there.”

“Yes, let’s go.”

“Understood.”

Despite knowing the risks, there was a reason why the king’s brother’s wife went out to the city in disguise. Karrie led the way and quietly opened the door of the building, which was impressive for a drugstore. As she went inside to escort Aliyah, a well-dressed middle-aged man called out to her from the counter.

“Welcome.”

Aliyah stepped forward.

“Hello, I would like to buy some medicine.”

“What kind of medicine are you looking for?”

“I want an effective contraception that also doesn’t put a strain on the body.”

The store was a drug store famous for supplying special drugs to high-end brothels. Everyone who frequented the store knew that it was a drug given to popular prostitutes. Usually, depending on how well-known the prostitute was, she’d even receive a special treatment to promote it even further.

“Hmm… There are some, but they’re very expensive, so we rarely sell them in stores. I’m sorry, but I can’t sell them to our customers…”

“I can pay for it.”

Aliyah glanced at Karrie. Karrie came forward and fished out a gold coin from her pocket, placing it on the counter. A gold coin of such good quality, the sheen was visible from afar. The shopkeeper’s attitude changed instantly when he saw it.

“This is…”

“I researched about it. With this, I can buy at least 10 packets, right?”

“Yes, of course. I’ll go get it for you right away.”

The shopkeeper rushed into the back of the store. In the next moment, he’d already returned with a box, which he proceeded to hand over to Aliyah.

When she opened the lid, the box was filled with items carefully wrapped in beautiful paper.

“There are 100 packages here.”

“I’ll take ten.”

“So many…! Oh, please wait a minute! There’s another good one!”

The shopkeeper disappeared into the back of the store once again. When he came back, he was visibly out of breath. A small vial was in his hand. 

Aliyah asked him, “What is that?”

“This is something I bought from a peddler in a foreign country the other day. There is a scented oil inside, and if you put a few drops of this on a special dish and heat it over a fire from below, it’ll give off a very nice fragrance.”

“How does it affect your body?”

“It won’t. However, please do not use this when the opposite sex is present. Please be sure to use it when you are alone.”

“Hmm… Sounds fascinating, but that’s fine. I don’t need it.”

It’s probably some sort of relaxing balm that contains an aphrodisiac.

The royal palace was littered with such a thing that she could probably sweep them into one and throw them away.

After hearing Aliyah’s words, Karrie lined up 10 gold coins on the counter.

“By the way, how do I take the medicine?”

“Regardless of the number of times you have intercourse, please drink one packet immediately after you have finished. You can drink it with water or alcohol just fine. Up to twice a day. Be sure to wait six hours.”

“I understand.”

“In rare cases, you may experience physical fatigue or fever. If these symptoms persist, please refrain from using it.”

“Thank you.”

Aliyah didn’t respond to the shopkeeper’s words, just thanked him, and left the store.

Even after giving birth to a child, this is a body that was never cared for, so who cares if there’s any long-lasting impact?

…Anyway, this made me feel slightly better.

By drinking this, even if she were held by Xeon, she’d never become pregnant. Now that the king and the queen were unable to have a child, Xeon would be subject to strong expectations from those around him. Therefore, as soon as he found out that she couldn’t conceive a child, he’d immediately start looking for a new wife. Until then, she should just stay quiet and keep a low profile, and when the time comes, divorce.

Divorce, huh…

Soon, it will be a year since they got married.

She couldn’t help but smile bitterly at herself, wishing she could’ve spent at least two years there.

---

Even after Aliyah returned to the royal palace, she didn’t sleep with her husband for a while. She had gotten accustomed to sleeping alone on the large bed in the couple’s bedroom, so she wasn’t particularly lonely. As soon as she closed her eyes, morning would arrive, along with her maids.

But one day, late at night, Xeon suddenly came into the bedroom. Without any warning, he laid down next to Aliyah. Fortunately, his back was turned so she could pretend to be asleep. Nevertheless, by that point, the warmth emanated from someone else had become something foreign to her that even the heat coming from his back was making her uncomfortable.

“Are you okay now?”

Xeon stared at the ceiling and muttered in a low, cold voice.

For a moment, anger welled up inside her.

What!?

What is ‘okay’? What is he even asking about?

Her chest pain? Her heartache? The scars on her body?

—Or is he simply asking if they can have sex again?

What is the point of asking that now!?

Was it the right move to pretend to be asleep, or was it a mistake?

Aliyah’s breath quivered as she wept silently with her back turned.

Leave me alone…

Even that earnest wish didn’t reach Heaven, and after that night, Xeon began sleeping in the same bedroom. 

Of course, he held her. 

As their skins overlapped, he was as silent as ever, and he barely kissed her. After softly touching her lips a few times at first, he played with Aliyah’s body, deliberately attacking her breasts and private part, careful not to touch her belly.

After confirming that her honeypot was sufficiently wet, he buried his thick meat rod inside her—

—as if to let her know no matter how hurt she was, she still belonged to him.

However, just once, during their lovemaking, Xeon whispered into Aliyah’s ear.

“…Are you not pleased?”

“No, it’s very nice.”

“I see…”

Only once.

Then again, all of that was probably just an act to prove that their relationship was still amicable.

Silently, Xeon pounded her until he climaxed inside Aliyah. After changing angle and position, he came many times. As for Aliyah, she said, ‘I’m going to clean my body.’ And went to the next room to take her medicine.

Every time they had an intercourse, she continued to take the medicine she had bought so that she would never conceive a child again. When she ran out, she’d go back to her hometown to replenish it.

Aliyah was originally in a position where, as the wife of the king’s brother, she must work together with the queen to manage the castle. As a result, she could seldom visit her hometown. However, no one condemned Aliyah for what she did, knowing she was ailing due to the bizarre nature of the relationship between her husband and her sister-in-law.

After two years of living like that, a disturbing atmosphere began to permeate the royal palace. That was because since the birth of their first child, the king’s younger brother and his wife never had a child anymore. Aliyah silently said to those around her, “It’s my fault that we can’t have a child.” And began to prepare for the inevitable day.

Before she knew it, five days had passed since they got married, and the day finally arrived.

King Wales Theaureole passed away.

In his final moments, he was cared for by his beloved wife in his chamber, before ending his short life at the young age of 38.

Afterwards, Xeon became the king and Aliyah became the queen. However, a queen who couldn’t conceive an heir was nothing more than a useless decoration, and the subjects looked at her in disdain.

Now that it had come to this, those around her started to move to welcome a concubine. Behind the scenes, her subjects were fighting over which family’s daughter they’d bring in.

But then, rumors began to circulate within the royal palace, so much so that the selection of a concubine was temporarily suspended. Everyone who heard that looked at the person who happened to be nearby, and let out a heavy sigh of understanding.

According to the rumors, Xeon had been going to Cereza’s chamber even before the mourning period had ended. It didn’t happen once or twice. There were also witnesses. Furthermore, whenever he had the time, he’d visit Cereza. They’d openly show off their intimacy while out for a stroll. Unlike before, when they met secretly in the green corridor, the two of them were walking under the bright sun.

There’s no need for them to hide it anymore. There’s no one to hide it from. Besides, he’s the current king.

Aliyah suddenly felt sympathy for her late king and brother-in-law, Wales. For Wales, his wife Cereza and his younger brother Xeon were both precious family members. If he’d found out that the two of them were in love with each other behind their outward smiles, the shock and despair would’ve been incomparable to even that of Aliyah.

I’m glad he remained oblivious.

From Aliyah’s perspective, more than pity, she felt envious of Wales, who was able to end his life without knowing anything.

Aliyah started seeing the two more often when she went out into the garden. Be it the tender look on his face, his gentle smile, his kind words, and even his loving embraces—those were the things that he’d never shown to Aliyah in the past five years.

All of those were now being poured to Cereza.

Before long, the number of maids and attendants who treated Cereza like a queen rather than Aliyah began to increase. Slowly but surely, Aliyah was losing her position in court.

Enough already…

Yes, that was enough. She couldn’t stand it anymore.

After all, no matter how much she loved her, no matter how much she longed for him, Xeon only ever had eyes for Cereza, and only Cereza.

No matter how much she wished to be loved, for even a fraction of his love for Cereza, it’d be to no avail.

When she thought about how she was treated like a substitute for Cereza for the past five years, that was when Aliyah let go of all her feelings towards Xeon.

“As always, do you mind if I go back to my hometown for a while?”

As she started a conversation, Aliyah smiled at Xeon and Cereza, who were relaxing in the living room.

“How long?”

It’s only at times like this that you listen to me with interest.

“About three months.”

Although she’d already become a household name, it was an outrageous act for the queen to be away from the royal palace for three months without any particular reasons. However, Aliyah was confident that Xeon would agree. After all, he’d be able to deepen his relationship with Cereza during her absence.

“I understand. Please let me know in advance when you will be returning.”

“Thank you.”

Can’t you just tell me to have a safe trip?

Although she was disappointed, she was strangely grateful that he was indifferent to her until the end.

Ten days later, Aliyah left for Aeon, where she was born and raised.

*

After receiving reports from his subjects in the audience hall in the morning, Xeon silently calculated the documents piled up on the desk in his office. As usual, by clearing away his thoughts, emptying his head, and immersing himself in work, he could stave off the fatigue that was brought about by his insomnia. 

Only a month left.

Two months had passed since Aliyah departed from the royal palace. Until then, she’d have returned to the royal palace within two months at most, so he was somehow able to withstand it. However, the thought of this stress persisting for another month made him unable to sit still. A heavy sigh fell out.

I want to see you soon. I wonder what you are up to these days.

When Xeon heard from Aliyah about her return home, he felt strangely excited for some reason. At that time, Aliyah was smiling as usual, but her eyes weren’t.

That was uncharacteristic of her. 

However, there was no way Xeon could pursue that right there, so he pretended not to notice and complied with Aliyah’s request.

I can’t stop thinking about it, I hope nothing happens…

Xeon took a deep breath, thinking about calling his chamberlain to prepare tea. The chamberlain came to the office at the right time and handed Xeon something on a tray. 

“A letter has arrived from the queen.”

“A letter? From Aliyah?”

Xeon raised an eyebrow, received the letter, and looked at the sender. Certainly, Aliyah’s name was written on it.

As always, her handwriting is beautiful and refreshing.

Just looking at that letter made him feel at ease. He suddenly recalled the time when she wrote him a bunch of letters at the start of their marriage. One of them was a small piece of paper with a short sentence, saying that Xeon should take care of his body. Although he couldn’t write a reply, he kept the box containing the letters from that time in his desk. He’d read them over and over again, thrilled by his wife’s coquettish behavior.

When the letters stopped coming, he told himself that it was something that couldn’t be helped.

This is the first time she sent me a letter while she was returning home. Did something happen?

Xeon dismissed his chamberlain, and when he was alone, he opened the seal. Inside was a neatly folded piece of paper. As soon as he opened it, he was rendered speechless, in disbelief over what he saw.

‘Please divorce me.’

The word ‘divorce’ was written in the middle of the paper so that it couldn’t be mistaken or overlooked. Xeon felt the strength leaving his hands, and he instantly tightened his grasp on the letter.

“No—…”

No way, he was about to say, but he shut his mouth. He knew this day would happen. After everything he’d done in the five years since the day they got married, why wouldn’t it?

Deep down, he had already braced himself for it. However, when it actually happened, the despair he experienced was far greater than he’d expected. A shattering sound, akin to the sound of a falling, breaking porcelain rang in his heart. Just like that, his mind went completely blank.

—Dammit!!

He banged on his desk over and over again, unleashing his frustration and impatience. Even that wasn’t enough, and he bumped his forehead again and again. At that moment, the emotion that he’d been desperately suppressing by gritting his teeth resurged.

He knew about the rumors that had been circulating in the royal palace recently. About how Xeon intended to welcome Cereza as his queen. 

How could he not when he was the one behind those rumors?

Of course, he also knew that Aliyah was aware of them, and was merely keeping her silence.

In public, Xeon made sure not to treat Cereza like a queen to keep those rumors contained. To bring his plan to fruition, he needed to keep a close eye on the movements of those around him. Hence why he allowed Aliyah to return home for such a long time. He thought she needed that peace of mind.

—And yet…

Please, just wait a little longer… I beg of you! Just a little more and we can get rid of that venomous woman!

The former queen, Cereza Theaureole had burrowed her roots deep inside the royal palace, spreading toxic nests everywhere.

She was the daughter of Marquis Henriette, an aristocratic family that ranked third in the royal family roster. Lurking underneath that charming and graceful façade was a barbed and poisonous sting. Cereza wouldn’t hesitate to do anything to maintain her extravagant lifestyle, including monopolizing power and favor. 

The woman was poisonous to the core.

Her tentacles extended not only to the royal faction, but also to some of the aristocratic factions. She’d use her one-in-a-kind beauty and body as weapons to pursue her own interests.

Eighteen years ago, when his brother, Wales, was still the crown prince, Cereza became one of his marriage candidates due to her family background. Cereza was only 17 years old at the time, yet a lot of bad rumors already circulated about her.

She’d frequently attend underground night masquerades and have relationships with multiple men at the same time.

Furthermore, she’d kidnap low-ranking ladies, humiliate them in front of everyone, before having men assault them as part of their entertainment.

Alcohol, cigarettes, drugs.

When the royal vassals learned that such a woman was a candidate for the role of crown princess, they all watched the situation with their eyebrows furrowed and their breath held tight.

As a crown princess candidate, Cereza had the lowest chance of winning. However, she wasn’t the kind of woman to let that opportunity pass her by. As expected, the other candidates dropped like flies—either because they got assassinated or for other reasons. Ultimately, only Cereza remained, and thus, she won.

Of course, there was no evidence that Cereza was involved in any of the incidents. Everyone who was involved was eliminated. It was apparent that it wasn’t the work of a single young lady, but of a much larger force that worked behind the scenes.

Cereza also knew that Wales was physically weak and might not be able to conceive a child. So, she set her sights on Xeon, who’d become the next king, from an early age. She’d lavish attention on Xeon, who was only ten years old at the time, aiming to be his future wife.

Three years after Wales and Cereza got engaged, the two held a grand wedding ceremony that was attended by the entire country. It remained a mystery as to how she proved that she was a virgin until the wedding ceremony. Most likely, the person who was in charge of conducting the physical examination on Cereza received a huge bribe. Then, as predicted, Cereza got rid of that person after the wedding ceremony.

Things were quiet for a while after the grand wedding, but after the death of the king, followed by his wife, the mask eventually fell off. 

On the outside, Cereza was a magnanimous and virtuous Mother of the Nation, but behind the scenes, she was spreading her influence and gathering supporters. Sometimes, she’d invite a young and promising man to the palace and indulge in debauchery. Some other times, she’d bestow a beautiful lady to another man.

After Xeon turned 20, Cereza turned her full attention to him. She’d attempt to seduce the young general with not only her beauty and body, but also by providing information on both domestic and international affairs. Information that she wasn’t supposed to know. However, those were a child’s play for Cereza, who had dark connections here and there since she was young.

At the same time, Cereza would also try to hinder Wales’ plan in advancing Zeon’s marriage. After all, if Xeon got married, she wouldn’t be able to lay a finger on him anymore. However, if she tried to eliminate all of his marriage candidates, she’d just come under suspicion.

Xeon was aware of all of this. That was because from the time Cereza was still a crown princess, she was abnormally obsessed with him, and it only got worse after she became the queen. Xeon took it upon himself to plant intel all over the royal palace, constantly receiving reports from them.

A horrifying true nature lurked underneath such resplendent façade. 

Despite his worries, he just couldn’t bring himself to reveal the truth to his ailing brother, the king. He was repulsed by the cheating woman to no end, but until he knew how far and wide Cereza’s influence had spread, he decided to pretend to be in love with her. 

Someday, he’d bring the vicious woman who betrayed his brother, the king, and dragged the name of the royal family through the mire due to her endless atrocities. 

During those days, he lived solely to achieve that goal.

Xeon had no intention of marrying anyone. He wanted to see the day where Cereza was dethroned and made to pay for everything she’d done. Besides, Cereza would most likely go after his spouse. Getting married would only add to his troubles—

—or so he thought, until the day he met Aliyah.

It was the day of a ball hosted by the royal family. After talking to high-ranking aristocrats one after another, Xeon was starting to get tired. Soon, it’d be the turn of the lower-ranking aristocrats to greet him.

“Next is Viscount of the Elevant family, which governs the Aeon territory.”

Viscount Elevant came in through the door opened by the chamberlain. Aliyah was at the very back, following after her younger brother and sister. However, the pair of younger siblings may as well not exist, because at that moment, Xeon could only see Aliyah.

What a beautiful woman she is… I can’t take my eyes off her.

He was transfixed by the sight of Aliyah. Her gaze was downcast, while her honey-colored hair was swept to one side. Then, she bowed, holding the hem of her navy-blue dress that brought out the brightness of her skin.  

When it came to greeting Aliyah, the formal exchange that used to feel tediously long now seemed to pass in an instant. 

After that, the family bowed their heads for the last time before leaving.

At that moment, their eyes met briefly.

Up until then, she’d been lowering her gaze. At last, he could finally see the color of her eyes, which was vibrant green. When she stared straight at him, Xeon found himself gasping. In shame, he averted his gaze. But for some reason, his heart refused to calm down.

After the time for greetings was over, Xeon immediately searched the venue, looking for someone.

Where is Aliyah?

He soon found her. The sight of several men already accosting her angered him, but he couldn’t intervene. 

Cereza was staring at Xeon from the throne. Even the small ripple in Xeon’s heart didn’t go unnoticed by her.

“It seems that the daughter of Viscount Elevant caught your eyes. Is that the kind of woman you prefer?”

The day after the ball, Cereza summoned Xeon to the green corridor, and that was the first thing she said. Xeon inwardly clicked his tongue at how keen she was. Regardless, he wasn’t foolish enough to be shaken by that level. Xeon took Cereza’s hand and murmured regretfully.

“That’s not true. I’ve told you many times that my heart belongs to you.”

“Are you saying that I was mistaken?”

“You misunderstand. In this entire world, there is only one woman I want to marry…”

Xeon kissed Cereza’s fingertips and stared at her passionately.

“I’m sure you are aware that they’re planning to advance your marriage, right?”

“I know. I’ve been turning down all the offers, but they are persistent.”

“Yes, but it’d be strange if you stay unmarried forever. Say, if it’s a lowly aristocrat like that woman, the divorce will be quick, right?”

“I see…”

Despite his non-committal answer, in his mind, he’d begun to connect the dots.

This is it!

By pretending to be in love with Cereza and leading her to believe that they’d get married someday, he could take a low-ranking noble lady as a wife. If Cereza thought that Xeon would dispose of the woman in the near future, she shouldn’t feel the need to deal with her herself.

It’s still dangerous, I know.

Still, he couldn’t give up. Based on what he saw at the ball, Aliyah wouldn’t have trouble finding a marriage partner. He couldn’t stand the idea of Aliyah being another man’s property.

Xeon had seen so many gorgeously dressed noble ladies, including Cereza, and they only served to irritate him. 

For the first time, someone had caught his eye.

Thus, Aliyah Elevant was chosen as his fiancée, as she met the three conditions that Xeon had finally put forth for his fiancée candidate.

---

Shortly after the engagement was decided, a grand wedding ceremony was held between the king’s younger brother, Xeon, and Aliyah Elevant. Wearing a pure white dress adorned with plenty of gold thread embroidery, she slowly walked towards the altar where Xeon was waiting.

As the priest bestowed his blessings upon them, the two faced each other. When he lifted the thin veil and met Aliyah’s eyes, Xeon was so fascinated by her beauty that he forgot to breathe.

“Now then, the kiss of vows.”

Xeon kissed Aliyah, pledging his eternal love to God while also swearing to protect her from Cereza.

Their first night became the most unforgettable night for Xeon. When he entered their bedroom, he found Aliyah, wearing only thin clothes, sitting on the bed. She was waiting for him, and that alone almost drove him crazy, but there was something that Xeon had been reminding himself ever since the marriage was decided.

Aliyah must never think that she was loved by her husband.

If Aliyah gave the slightest hint of being loved by him, Cereza would be more than eager to get rid of her.

Although Xeon would like to think that Cereza wouldn’t dare to attempt anything against the king’s brother’s wife publicly, deep down, he knew that the woman named Cereza wasn’t above that.

He laid Aliyah down the bed, before leaning over her. In response, Aliyah closed her eyes, waiting with bated breath. Upon seeing that, his resolve faltered. Before he realized it, he had leaned closer, about to kiss her.

No… I mustn’t do it!

He couldn’t kiss her on the lips. 

For as long as they had known each other, Xeon and Cereza didn’t have any physical intimacy, but they did share a kiss. Cereza would ask for it. When the need arose, Xeon would also kiss her to maintain the charade. He never thought a day would come where he’d regret doing all of those.

He was filthy. If he kissed Aliyah with that mouth, he’d just sully her.

“Aliyah…”

Yet, forlornly, in a hoarse voice, he called his name. 

He wanted to kiss her so badly, and finally, he caved. Lightly, he brushed his lips against hers. Her small, soft lips deprived him of his rationality, and Xeon buried his face between her bosoms.

He helped her out of the thin clothes, exposing her tantalizing breasts. Xeon explored them with his tongue, and teased them with his fingers, addicted to their softness.

Her erect nipples were cherry pink, tempting his tongue, akin to an insect drawn to a flower.

In truth, he wanted to slide his tongue into her mouth, intertwine it with her, before taking his sweet time licking each and every single one of her tongue. Instead, he unleashed all those pent-up desires on Aliyah’s body, running his tongue inside of her, sipping her love juices. 

“Mm…”

Seeing that Aliyah was trying to suppress her moan only excited him even further. He assailed her little bud relentlessly, turning her into a mess. She twisted her hips, trying to escape from the pleasure, panting all the while. Her overflowing nectar was sweet and sensual, filling both his tongue and fingers with her scent.

...I guess it’s about time.

Xeon propped himself up and looked down at Aliyah, who was lying underneath him. Then, he took his throbbing, hard cock and placed it firmly against Aliyah’s drenched entrance.

“Uh… Ah.”

“Ugh…”

Her hole, which welcomed a man for the first time, was narrow and tight. When he entered her, the tightness of her insides seemed to push him back, and it only incited him even more. Gritting his teeth, Xeon slowly thrusted forward.

…There, it went all the way in.

Suddenly, he looked at Aliyah. Her breathing was slow and painful. Tears streamed down from her closed eyes. Seeing that, Xeon began to pound his hips against her. 

After falling in love with her at first sight, he made her his wife. Because of his love for her, he dragged her into this.

As if to reflect on those crimes, and to regret the situation that awaited Aliyah from now on, he simply carved himself into her.

—Aliyah! Aliyah, I love you! I love you!

Xeon bucked his hips one last time and poured his seeds into Aliyah.

---

Even after marrying Aliyah, Xeon continued to see Cereza. He did it to convince Cereza that he was married in name only. Every time they met, Cereza would ask for a kiss, and he’d oblige. The act of kissing, which he didn’t really care about until he got married, now repulsed him to no end. 

At night, he’d embrace Aliyah as if his life depended on it—

—as if begging for her to purify his tarnished self.

Yet, he still couldn’t bring himself to kiss her.

He tried to avoid meeting Aliyah as much as possible, and they barely spoke a word to each other. He was afraid that if he spoke to her, he’d just ruin her. And since Xeon had planted spies in the palace, Cereza might have done the same—only in his house. He had to completely ignore Aliyah, especially while Cereza was still keeping a close eye on their marriage.

“Isn’t it delicious?”

One day during dinner, Aliyah nervously initiated a conversation with him. She must’ve mustered all her courage and paid attention to the meal, which they’d never talked about before. He had to prevent a smile from appearing on his face at her remark. In the end, he decided against saying anything, which seemed to sadden her. When he saw how depressed he made her, he grew frustrated and felt the urge to hug her right away.

—Damn it! I can’t even do something as simple as this!

Thus, he stopped eating with Aliyah. Let that night be the last time. Subsequently after that, he increased the number of subordinates that he stationed around Aliyah, and had them report in detail how Aliyah was spending her time. He ordered them to never take their eyes off Aliyah, especially on the days when Cereza was nearby.

That day, he was in the hall, discussing the arrangements for welcoming envoys from other countries with his brother and Cereza. Unexpectedly, Aliyah showed up, and his expression darkened. It should be apparent to Aliyah, as well, but she smiled back at him. 

As soon as Aliyah took a seat, she hesitantly spoke.

“I’m pregnant.”

—Wait, what are you…?

Why would you say that here?

Why didn’t you tell me first?

…In truth, I know why. I’ve been avoiding you for a long time.

It was a blessing in disguise that his brother was there. Cereza would never reveal her true nature to Wales. Still, Xeon didn’t fail to notice it. Cereza was clenching her fan tightly.

Damn it!

Starting today, he had to tighten the security around Aliyah. He also had to bring in more poison testers. Xeon unconsciously glowered at Cereza. 

From that day on, Cereza started calling Xeon for no reason, delaying his work. To make matters worse, some of those calls would occur late at night, or early in the morning.

“Hey, Xeon.”

“What is it?”

“Do you love me?”

“Of course. Are you by any chance worried about that?”

“I am. I know it can’t be helped, but I get frustrated when I think that we haven’t made love yet!”

Xeon coldly stared at Cereza, who had a twisted smile on her face.

“…Even if I have a child, it won’t be a problem. Once I get a divorce and we get married, we can just name our child the successor.”

“No, that’s not what I’m referring to. Xeon, you truly don’t understand a woman’s heart!”

That’s rich coming from you!

Ever since that day, he had to do his damnedest to keep Cereza in a good mood every day. Then one evening, Cereza unusually summoned him to her bedroom. Usually, she wouldn’t do something so thoughtless, even if it was just a whim. 

Thus, Xeon went for her bedroom, feeling restless the entire time. He breathed a sigh of relief when he confirmed that a maid was by her side. Despite calling for him in broad daylight, Cereza was still aware that they shouldn’t be alone with each other.

“What’s the matter?”

“Come here, I want to talk to you about something.”

“Excuse me.”

Xeon slowly approached Cereza, who was sitting on the sofa, and sat next to her.

“What is it?”

“Oh, don’t rush. Let’s talk slowly over a drink?”

As she basked in the sight of Xeon, Cereza had her maid prepare some liquor

Xeon loathed that venomous gaze of her. She flicked her tongue, like a snake eyeing her prey.

When he was about to drink the liquor, there was a loud bang on the door. The door to the queen’s bedroom. Unless there was some kind of an extreme situation, such rudeness wouldn’t go unpunished. Cereza’s maid opened the door, and there stood Aliyah’s maid, her expression sorrowful.

“What’s going on!?”

“I’ve been looking for Your Highness! We’re in trouble!”

“Me?”

Suddenly, his heart turned cold as he turned to look at Cereza. Her gaze shone coldly, as her mouth curved into a crescent-like grin. Xeon desperately steeled himself and urged Aliyah’s maid to continue.

“I-it’s Lady Aliyah…! She, she—!”

“Calm down, what happened!?”

“The baby, the baby is gone…!! Ugh, uwaaaAAAaah…!!”

“What!?”

As soon as the maid finished speaking, she collapsed on the spot and looked up at Xeon, tears streaming down her face.

“Please return home immediately and stay by Lady Aliyah’s side!”

“Xeon.”

The poisonous woman’s cold voice pierced eon’s back. Xeon stood there and slowly turned around.

“…Yes?”

“I just tripped on the stairs and got hurt. You’ll take care of me, right?”

“…”

“Y-Your Highness…?”

“It is as you heard. Tell Aliyah that I can’t go back today.”

“T-that’s…! That’s just too much! Please, even if it’s just a moment—”

“Shut up! Do you realize who you are speaking to!? Should I cut your tongue!?”

The maid’s eyes flickered with loathing at his words.

Xeon clenched his fist as hard as he could and gritted his teeth until he could taste iron.

---

Xeon leaned back in his chair, resting his chin on the back of his hands, overlooking the woman who stared at him with piercing coldness.

Representatives from each of the families were summoned. They gathered around him, presiding over the outcome of the trial. The situation, which was very unusual, confused them. 

After all, Xeon and Cereza were facing each other as the judge and the convicted.

“—Former Queen, Cereza Theaureole, you’re under certain suspicion.”

“What suspicion?”

“You’re suspected of murdering a member of the royal family.”

That one statement from Xeon sent the whole place into an uproar. However, as she looked straight at Xeon, Cereza was visibly unfazed.

“Are you saying that I was the one who murdered His Majesty the Previous King?”

“No, that’s not it. You’re suspected for having murdered my child.”

“…And here I was wondering what you were going to say. Why would I do such a thing? I don’t have a child, so I have no reason to kill the long-awaited heir to the royal family.”

“Are you feigning ignorance?”

“Indeed. It’s kind of insulting to hear such accusations being directed my way.”

Xeon glanced at the chamberlain, and then looked at Marquis Henriette. Upon hearing the charges leveled against his daughter, his face boiled red with anger. The marquis stared at Xeon, but Xeon simply glanced at him like he would his daughter.

“Your Majesty, I’ve arrived.”

“Come.”

The person the chamberlain brought was a shabby-looking middle-aged man. Overwhelmed by the atmosphere, the man was visibly shaking. While everyone stared at each other in confusion, Cereza widened her eyes and gasped.

“Name yourself.”

“My name is Gayan Toyzer.”

“Gayan, you worked at the royal palace before. What were you doing?”

“Yes, even before Her Majesty Aliyah became the queen, I was in charge of Her Majesty Cereza’s meals.”

“Tell me what happened before and after that day.”

“A-alright…”

Gayan stared at the ground as if to avoid meeting Cereza’s eyes. Then, he began speaking hesitantly.

“I-it was the day before that day. Her Majesty Aliyah was with a child at the time. I was working in the kitchen as usual. Then, Lady Cereza appeared.”

“Why was she there?”

“She called for me, and handed me a small pouch. She told me to slip that medicine inside tomorrow’s lunch.”

“—That’s a lie!”

“Keep silent. Continue.”

“Understood. Of course, I refused. I didn’t dare to mix in something so suspicious… But then, she said that the fate of my entire family was in her hands…”

“So, you mixed that medicine in the end?”

“Indeed. Then, in the evening of that day, the queen lost her child… After that, I was told that whenever the queen became pregnant again, I should lace the meal with this medicine, and that if I dared to speak a word of it to anyone else, I’d be killed.”

Gayan trembled and sank to his knees with a thud. After confessing to the secrets he’d been burying for so long, he finally realized the horridness of his actions. He turned at Xeon, bracing for death, and spoke in a clear voice.

“I’m sorry! I’m willing to accept any punishment! So please, please save my family! Please have mercy! This has gone far enough!”

Gayan prostrated himself, rubbing his forehead on the ground as he begged profusely. Cereza looked down at him coldly, before snorting and giggling at Xeon.

“What a bunch of nonsense. There’s no proof that I ordered it.”

“Are you still pretending to be oblivious? This man was suddenly fired from the kitchen a few days ago. I had my men follow him, but one day, he was attacked by someone in a deserted place.”

“…”

“When we captured the assassins alive and tortured them, they confessed that it was on your orders, Cereza. Here are some official documents written at that time. You can no longer escape.”

“They are just lying!”

“Are they? Think about it, isn’t it strange? Why would a cook who had just been fired be attacked by an assassin? There can only be one reason—to keep him silent.”

“You fool!”

“You are the fool, Cereza. Your biggest mistake was not getting rid of this man right away. Every time Aliyah became pregnant, she’d lose her child, then her cook would subsequently be fired and assassinated. Everyone should be able to see right away that this is no coincidence. You were always so careful, but this time, it backfired on you.”

Xeon lifted his face and glared at Cereza with all the hatred he’d endured up until that point.

I’ve been waiting for this moment. 

He’d always been waiting for the time to bring down the hammer of justice to that incorrigible woman in public, with his own hands.

He stood up, and bellowed with every ounce of anger that was blazing within him.

“—Murdering the royal family is the gravest sin and treason! Cereza Theaureole!”

“Ugh…”

“You’ll be executed in public tomorrow morning! Marquis Henriette will be stripped of all his titles! All property and territories owned by his family will be confiscated, and his entire family beheaded! Toyzer will be sentenced to capital punishment after being tortured!”

“P-please wait!”

There was a thud, and when Xeon glanced over, in front of him, Cereza’s father, Marquis Henriette, was trembling, his face as pale as a ghost. Xeon raised an eyebrow and addressed him without a care.

“What?”

“It’s true that what my daughter did was against the royal family and the nation! However, it’s also true that she has worked hard for the development of the kingdom as the Mother of the Nation! Please! Please have mercy!”

“Mercy? Did your daughter show mercy to my unborn child?”

“T-that’s…”

“She laid a hand on the successor to the throne—the national treasure. She deserves no mercy.”

“…”

“Henriette. You’ll be detained and confined within this royal palace, and all contact with the outside world will be prohibited until all matters have been dealt with. Take them away!!”

“Understood!!”

Following Xeon’s orders, Cereza was restrained by a guard who stood by her side, and Marquis Henriette was restrained by a guard standing by the door and led away. Xeon looked down at them expressionlessly and called for his attendant, whispering in his ear.

“How many male prisoners are there in the dungeon now?”

“Twenty-four people.”

“Gather those people in one prison and throw Cereza there until tomorrow morning.”

“That’s…”

“My Sister-in-Law is a big fan of men, I’m sure she’ll be satisfied with them.”

“Understood.”

The next morning, the former queen, Cereza Theaureole, was executed in the public hall for everyone to see.

---

Two and a half months had passed since Aliyah arrived in Aeon. When she left the palace, she said that she’d be back in three months, so she had to prepare to return soon. Her life in Aeon was peaceful and made her forget the hardships she endured in the royal palace, but she couldn’t run away forever. Her parents probably had heard of the rumors about Xeon and Cereza, but they didn’t mention anything and welcomed her warmly.

That is enough.

Aliyah took a deep breath and stared at the canopy of her bed.

Soon, it will be over.

Looking back, it was a strange marriage from the beginning. It was unprecedented for a daughter from a lowly aristocrat family to marry into the royal family. At best, she’d become the king’s consort. Thinking about it that way, she felt proud that she was able to be the wife of a king like Xeon, even if only briefly.

I should be proud…

Suddenly, the corners of her eyes became hot, and tears began to overflow. She truly wanted to remain by his side forever. No matter how painful it was, she wanted to remain as his wife.

Even if she was unloved, even if she was merely a stand-in for the woman she loved, even if she didn’t want to have a child with him, even if she was a temporary wife who could be discarded easily…

But that’s why I was entrusted with the role of your wife.

“How terrible I am…”

Let this be the last time I cried.

Aliyah quietly closed her eyes, proud of herself for still being able to smile even now.

---

The next morning, Aliyah felt as if she heard some kind of loud noise from afar, so she woke up and slowly sat up. Even amidst the drowsiness, she could still register the loudness. She yawned, wondering if something happened, there was a knock on the door. At the same time, the panicked voice of her maid, Karrie, reached her ears.

“Milady! Milady!”

“Karrie?”

“Please wake up, I’m coming in!”

Karrie shouted from outside of the room, slamming open the door, which was uncharacteristic of her.

“Milady, are you awake!?”

“What? What is going on?”

“Something has happened! Please come outside!”

“Outside?”

“His Majesty… His Majesty the King is here!”

“Huh!?”

Aliyah snapped her eyes open and quickly put on her coat, shoes, and rushed into the hallway, where she could see the gate.

W-what is happening!?

Xeon was definitely there. For some reason, there was also a gorgeous groom procession. The procession went on all the way down to the road, with Xeon standing right in front of the gate of the mansion.

Viscount Elevant, stunned by the king’s personal visit, immediately went to the gate to meet him and bowed deeply.

“We’re honored to receive the Sun of the Kingdom—His Majesty the King.”

Xeon dismounted from his horse, standing on an equal footing as his father-in-law.

“You don’t need to hold a formal meeting. I’m here today as your son-in-law.”

“Huh?”

“Viscount Elevant, I came to pick up my wife today. Where’s Aliyah?”

“Aliyah—no, Her Majesty the Queen is still in her bedroom…”

“I see, that’s fine. Lead me there.”

“Understood.”

Xeon was passing through the gate, led by his father. Aliyah stared at the scene in shock, before it dawned on her.

No way…

Her father was showing him the way. Xeon looked up at the direction where her father was pointing.

Ah!

Their eyes met. Aliyah immediately hid behind the wall and hurried back to her room.

Why is he here? What did he come for? Even though I already communicated my intention to divorce…

Divorce…

That’s right. Maybe he came to complete divorce procedures! I’m sure of it!

In that case, I shouldn’t be dressed like this. 

Aliyah rang the bell and called for Karrie.

Huh? Why didn’t she come?

She tried to ring the bell again, but Karrie didn’t show up. But no matter how long she waited, Karrie never came. Just as she was starting to worry about what was going on, she finally heard a knock on the door.

“Please enter. What’s wrong? You didn’t come right away—”

“—Aliyah.”

“Lord Xeon…”

“Aliyah!”

Xeon burst through the door and ran towards Aliyah. Then, he hugged Aliyah with all his might, burying his nose in her chest and getting drunk on her scent. Then, he kneeled and took Aliyah’s hand.

“Lord Xeon!? What are you doing?”

“Aliyah, please forgive me! I’ve been hiding something from you for a long time.”

“What have you been hiding?”

“Look at this.”

Xeon took out a paper from his pocket and handed it to Aliyah. It was like a newspaper. Aliyah unfolded it and her eyes widened as she read the prominent article featured on the first page.

“Lady Cereza is executed…!?”

“That’s right. Even before I met you, I’ve been living my life thinking only about getting rid of that vile woman. For that reason, I killed my heart, lied to you, and perpetuated the lie.”

“…”

“That woman had spread her influence inside and outside the royal palace. She secured a high position for her family and helped them evade taxes in exchange for bribes. There are many other things… Anyway, those people are currently being interrogated in order.”

“I never thought she’d do such a thing…”

“…Because of that woman, we lost our child.”

“No way! She looked so happy when I announced it!”

I couldn’t believe it.

Cereza seemed so happy when Aliyah broke the news to her. Even after that, Cereza often came to check on Aliyah and encouraged her, who was suffering from pregnancy. However, Xeon furrowed his brow and twisted his mouth in disgust. 

“Happy? No, that woman has been aiming to be my wife for a long time. Predicting that my brother’s life would be short, she set her sights on me, the one who would inherit the throne, since I was a child. Truly, no matter how many times I think about it, her smile was horrifying.”

“Then… Lord Xeon isn’t in love with Lady Cereza?”

Xeon took the newspaper from Aliyah’s hand and threw it on the floor. Then, he took her hand and looked straight up at her, as if begging for forgiveness.

“I’ve never loved Cereza.”

“Then why… Why were you so cold to me?”

“I did it to protect you from that woman! I love you, and I don’t know what else I can do to keep you safe… I’m sorry. I’m the one who made you suffer. I’m willing to receive any kind of punishment. We can live separately if you wish. But please, please, please don’t divorce me! I love you!”

As he grasped her hands, Aliyah could feel how much he was trembling. He even rubbed his forehead against her hands. Aliyah looked down at him in disbelief, utterly speechless. 

The man who had once been so dignified was now kneeling on the floor, lowering himself before her. 

Xeon wasn’t just any ordinary man. He was the king of the country. Aliyah suddenly regained her senses and hurriedly knelt down on the floor, placing her hands on Xeon’s shoulders.

“Lord Xeon, please stop. You must not beg me or anyone else.”

“You’re the only one in this world to whom I kneel and beg for forgiveness. Aliyah, I can finally say it, I love you. My heart has belonged to you ever since the first time I laid eyes on you at the ball.”

“Lord Xeon…”

“I’ve purged the royal palace of all the unscrupulous officials, chamberlains, maids, and servants so that you can return to the royal palace at any time. I’ve also replaced all the cooks.”

“Could it be, the reason you were on good terms with Lady Cereza was to weed out these people?”

“That’s right. Apart from you, who is the queen, those who still treat Cereza like a queen are the spitting image of that woman. As a result, I had my work cut out for me.”

Xeon stood up and gently hugged the stunned Aliyah.

“Please forgive me, Aliyah…”

“Lord Xeon, I’ve already forgiven you. You did all of this for my sake—Kyaah…!”

Suddenly, her feet were no longer on the floor. Xeon lifted Aliyah up and gently laid her on the bed. As she stared in shock, wondering what was going on, Xeon removed his clothes one after another. Completely bare, he towered over Aliyah.

 “Huh? Uhm, Lord Xeon?”

“I thought I’d hold off until you forgive and accept me, so I can take you back to the royal palace, but…”

“Huh? Ah, mm, nnh—”

Xeon sealed Aliyah’s lips, slid his tongue, roaming all over the crevice of her mouth. His tongue coiled around Aliyah’s, sucking on it. Aliyah gasped for air, and he hungrily devoured her lips.

“…When I saw you in your nightgown, I couldn’t bear it anymore.”

“B-but my parents are here…”

“I already told everyone that this floor is off-limit, so I can be a bit more aggressive.”

“Huh!?” 

“I’ve been holding back for so long. I’m going to tell you how much I love you with everything I have.”

Xeon smiled while caressing her hair. His gaze grew serious as their lips overlapped. As their tongues intertwined, he removed her nightgown, and her breasts spilled out. He gently fondled them while pinching the tips, eliciting a longing sigh from between her lips.

“There’s no need to hold back. Let me hear your voice.”

“Mm, ah, but, it’s inappropriate to be so loud…”

“Who told you that? It means that you feel good. I want to hear it. I want to know how much you enjoy it.”

“Ah, ah, mm…”

Xeon’s lips trailed down her neck to her collarbone, towards her breast. He took her taut nipple into his mouth, rolling it under the tip of his tongue.

“Ah, aah…”

“How sweet. You’re so beautiful…”

He sucked on her nipple, hard, without forgetting the other one. Aliyah was restless, rubbing her thighs together. Xeon narrowed his eyes, before slipping his fingers into her lower half. 

The hole under her already damp bush was overflowing with her juices, dripping all the way to her ass.

Xeon scooped it with his fingers, smearing it all over her entrance, and even on the small, quivering bud.

“Ah, aah, aah…”

“You’re already so wet. I haven’t done anything yet.”

“Ah, ahn—!”

“Look, my fingers slide in so easily…”

Xeon’s thick fingers were moving inside her. With her nipples, clit, and vagina attacked at the same time, Aliyah was brought to climax in no time.

“Ah, aah—!”

“Did you cum? Then…”

He lifted her legs and brought his face closer to her soaked cunt. Without any time to bask in the afterglow of pleasure, he lapped up her dripping love juice. Soon, Xeon’s hard cock penetrated deep inside.

“Aaah!”

“Ah, it feels so good. You’re so tight, you are tightening around me…”

After entering all the way to the base, Xeon rocked his hips, pleasuring Aliyah’s innermost part. Even though she’d just climaxed, he plunged his cock into her, doubling the pleasure.

“Aah… aaaah!”

“Not yet. It’s only the start.”

Xeon withdrew his cock as if he was about to pull out, before ramming into her. He pounded her hard, her love juice gushed out, making a mess of the sheets. She bucked her hips, taking his cock deeper and deeper. Her already dripping wet cunt squelched every time. As Xeon thrusted into her, she unconsciously played with her own clit. 

“Aah, ahn, aah, aah…”

“Ah! That’s right, louder, be lewder, hah, more, come on!”

“Aah! Ah! Agh! Over there, harder, yes! Ah! Yes!”

“Damn, is it here? Is this the spot you like?”

He thrusted her violently, and Aliyah climaxed. Xeon spurted his semen inside. However, instead of pulling out, Xeon made Aliyah crawl on all four and pounded her hard from behind. 

“There, yes, there! Ah, aah!”

“Ah, Aliyah! Aliyah!”

“Aaah! No, I’m going crazy!”

“This adorable butt—it’s mine. This butt, these breasts, this face, these arms, these legs, this back, this belly—they are all mine!”

He placed his hands on her buttocks, staring at the parts where they were connected to each other. Aliyah’s red and swollen vagina was trembling as it clenched around his dick. Once again, he pulled his hip back, before driving in as hard as he could. 

“Kyaaaa! Ah! Ah!”

“Aah, I’m cumming! I’m cumming again!”

“Me too, but I’m not letting you go, yet…”

“Ah! No, ah, aaaaah—!”

“Ugh—!”

Xeon’s cock throbbed inside her aching cunt

---

How many times did they have sex? They had sex in the morning, but before they knew it, the sky had turned dark, marking the end of the day.

“Are you awake?”

“Lord Xeon…”

“Are you hungry? I prepared some food and drinks for you while you slept. Also, a hot bath.”

“Thank you. Uhm, what about the people of the house?”

“They are staying at a nearby inn. There’s no need to worry about those who can’t make it to the inn. We’ve set up a camp. I’ll be returning tomorrow, so they’ll probably be back before that.”

“Is that so…?”

She wondered if it’d ever happen again, and it made her uneasy. Aliyah sat up, covering herself with the blanket, before turning to Xeon, who sat next to her.

“What’s wrong?”

“I also have something to tell you, Lord Xeon.”

“…Is it the medicine?”

Aliyah was startled, and could only let Xeon pull her to his lap.

“Did you know all along…?”

“I know. Since then, I’d been worried that I wouldn’t be able to have a child with you. Moreover, you always went somewhere else after we did the deed, so I thought something was up.”

“Is that so…?”

“I looked into the medicine you bought every time you came back here, and met with the store owner. I also had experts investigate whether it was truly harmless.”

“You even went that far…”

“I truly didn’t want you to drink that. Still, I was the one who made you do it. I’ve always regretted it.”

Xeon placed his hand on Aliyah’s lower belly and gently stroked it—lovingly, apologetically.

“That day… I deeply regretted not being able to be by your side. I felt the same when I heard that you were pregnant. How I wished to hold your hand, rejoice, pray for our child to be born healthy. How I wished to shed tears with you, and pray for our child’s soul to find peace—yet I couldn’t. Even if I managed to get rid of that woman, in the end, I was the one who made you suffer.”

“Ugh…”

“Forgive me, Aliyah. Everything is my fault. If you don’t want to have a child, that’s fine. I don’t care as long as we are together.”

“Lord Xeon…”

“Yes?”

“Lord Xeon, do you wish to have a child with me…?”

“Of course! I love you with all my heart! There’s no way I wouldn’t want a child with you!”

“Ugh, uh…”

“I’m sorry. I know that no matter how much I apologize, it’d never be enough…”

Aliyah’s shoulders trembled as she wept, and tears streamed down her cheeks. Xeon embraced Aliyah tightly and kissed away her tears.

“I love you. You gave me another chance, and I swear to you that I’ll never make you sad again. I’ll make you happy. You, our children that will be born in the future, and their children—I promise to make them happy!”

“Lord Xeon, I love you, too. Being your wife is my happiness. So please, don’t apologize anymore. I’m so happy right now, uuh…”

“Aliyah…!”

Xeon laid Aliyah on the bed and embraced her gently. The next morning, the two woke up together for the first time.

---

Five years later, a royal ball was held in the Great Hall of the Royal Palace. The first dance was a waltz performed by the king and his queen.

“You look beautiful today, too.”

“Hehe, it’s because we are dancing.”

“I’ve always wanted to say it, so I’m going to say it whenever I feel like it from now on.”

“Well, if that’s the case, Lord Xeon is always gorgeous, be it during the day, or night.”

“Then I have to live up to your expectations tonight.”

They looked at each other and laughed out loud.

Xeon kissed Aliyah as soon as the song ended, and the couple returned to the seats where their children were waiting, hand-in-hand.