Chapter 46

The Emperor took a few hours that he had not taken before, and he spoke drunkenly about strong women like me whom he had encountered in wars. Then the Emperor asked the Crown Prince, who was sitting in his chair quietly, if he had ever met someone like me, his gaze directly piercing me like a knife. Then he replied arrogantly and disrespectfully, "I have never seen anyone," keeping his eyes on my side. It was a conceited and unrespectful answer, but the Emperor seemed unfazed and continued his conversation.

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At night, Achil seemed more possessive than ever before, to the point that he asked me to keep wearing the attire of my kingdom at all times and kept talking nonsense he had never said before. "I felt happiness, as if I had found my other half," Achil said while lying down, and I ran my fingers through his hair. In curiosity, I asked him, "And what completes you?" He joyfully replied upon discovering it, "I am wisdom, and you are strength!" Then he fell silent for a moment and smiled mockingly. "But it's realistic to say that you possess both wisdom and strength without needing me."

I approached the saddened Achil and kissed his forehead. "No, I am not strong. In this grand palace, there is no one to protect me except you." Achil smiled confidently, but I continued to affirm what was in my heart. "Promise me, Achil, promise me that you will never leave me." Achil drew closer to me and embraced me, saying, "I will never leave you." 

After Achill fell asleep, a maid stood at the door and informed me that Lavern was summoning me. Both of her brothers were in her palace, so Nero insisted on inviting me as well. Laverna explained to Nero that Achil was mostly with me, but Nero continued to curse Achil and not care about his presence.

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I entered Laverna Palace, and we talked extensively, reminiscing about our childhood. I had a strong desire to ask about Rhea and Leo, but I suppressed my curiosity for the night. Nero spoke at length about what had happened that day, cursing my foolish father for putting Carmena in the hands of the weak Rahul. However, I defended Rahul, stating that he wasn't the problem but rather my father's obsession with being a king, more than a father to his son.

The chirping birds announced the passage of the night. Thus, the first night passed peacefully, as did the following days. Nothing had changed except for Achil's growing desire to discuss matters of the kingdom. We had already discarded formal titles between us, but now he treats me as the future queen, his empress, and the ruler of his kingdom. The Emperor also continued to smile at me from time to time, and I sensed that the empress had stopped her hate towards me. Although I was afraid that the empror would do it again, it did not happen, even though Achil returned empty-handed every time.

On the other hand, I gained a certain popularity among the court ladies and the wives of the princes. Some of them admired me, following the Emperor's admiration, while other princesses and women despised me. I was a mixture of unacceptable things—a crown princess, a woman who had slept with her fiancé, and a woman who wielded arrows. I was forbidden to the women of Hyann; I was the rejection that echoed in their ears every night.