PPCTD 4

“You’re not going to say you don’t know about the ‘Goddess’s Miracle,’ are you?”

“How could I not? It’s the thing I’ve heard most since coming to the palace.”

“Then there’s no need for me to explain. Read it.”

Leto pointed at the documents. I opened them.

They truly contained records about the so-called Goddess’s Miracle—

Statues of the Goddess shedding tears, hearing her voice, her figure appearing in midair.

Such “miracles” had been occurring frequently over the past few years.

But the imperial family already knew the core truth:

These miracles only happened in families that made large donations to the temple.

In other words, most of the “Goddess’s Miracles” were scams by the Grand Temple.

The problem was that the imperial family couldn’t easily condemn them. These documents were only circumstantial evidence—not enough to shake a religion built on the people’s unwavering faith.

Of course, I already knew how this conflict would end.

A few years later, the imperial family would go to war with the temple—called the Goddess War.

That was where the female protagonist, Meryl, truly shined.

With powerful magic, she destroyed the Grand Temple and its followers.

Sadly, Louis and Shawn were among them. After turning their backs on the imperial family, they had sided with the temple.

In the end, the imperial family won.

And Leto banned the entire Goddess religion.

What kind of tyrant does that? The High Priest was the one at fault, yet he abolished a religion the people believed in.

Still… the Set Empire did become more peaceful afterward.

I closed the document.

“Why are you showing me such confidential material?”

Leto leaned his chin on his hand lazily.

“You don’t think I showed it because you’re important, do you?”

No. Not at all.

“Quite the opposite, I assume.”

I pushed the documents back toward him.

“You showed them because you’re confident you can eliminate me at any time.”

A faint smile appeared on Leto’s lips—hard to read.

“You understand well. Then you must also know why I showed this.”

I had a guess.

In this situation, there was only one possible motive—

Persuasion.

He wanted to show that the imperial family was already tracking the High Priest’s wrongdoing. If I were connected to the High Priest, I would feel threatened.

And if persuasion didn’t work?

Simple.

He could just kill me.

In the end, it comes down to one thing: he still hasn’t ruled out the possibility that I belong to the High Priest.

Leto stood up and slowly approached me.

Leaning against the window, he picked up a wine bottle.

My glass filled with a crisp sound.

“You seem like a clever woman. It would be a waste to kill you.”

He pushed the wine glass toward me. The red liquid rippled inside.

“I’ll give you a chance to confess. It might be your last chance to keep your life.”

“……”

“Don’t be afraid of the High Priest. I won’t even ask how you became his pawn. If you confess properly, I’ll send you safely wherever you want—your homeland, or another country.”

As expected. It’s persuasion.

I picked up the glass. His eyes widened slightly.

The glass felt cold and solid.

I could lie. Confess to something false. I could escape all of this.

But… would Leto really let me go?

After I admitted to being the High Priest’s pawn?

No. I don’t trust Leto. Just as he doesn’t trust me.

I pushed the glass back toward him.

“That’s unfortunate. If I were the High Priest’s person, you could’ve used this resurrection incident to pressure the temple.”

“……”

“But unfortunately, I have nothing to confess.”

Leto remained leaning against the window, fingers resting against his smooth forehead.

“Interesting.”

He muttered to himself.

The ease in his expression faded, replaced with a trace of impatience.

“Fine. If that’s your choice.”

He straightened up and walked past me, placing a hand on my shoulder.

Even that light touch carried overwhelming pressure.

“Then I’ll see you at the Founding Festival.”

“I’ll be there.”

His heavy footsteps faded away. The dining hall door opened and closed.

I squeezed my eyes shut.

He’s terrifying. So terrifying.

I didn’t want to be near someone like that even for a moment.

It felt like he could devour me at any second.

I’d been too focused on the festival to think about it—

But I needed to find out how divorce worked first.

Meryl suddenly seemed incredible.

How on earth did she tame a man like that?

In the end, I returned to the annex palace without touching the food.

Lady Mare greeted me.

“You’re back? I heard you had lunch with His Majesty. But… you don’t look well.”

“Ah… my stomach feels a bit off.”

“Oh dear. Did you get indigestion?”

She held my hand warmly.

For some reason, that made me feel like crying.

“Lady.”

“Yes?”

“There is a procedure for divorce in imperial etiquette, isn’t there?”

“…Yes. There is. Though there’s no real need for you to learn it.”

She hesitated, but eventually explained.

“The process itself isn’t complicated. It only requires the consent of both husband and wife.”

“Is that all?”

“There is one condition. Two years must pass after the marriage.”

“Why two years?”

“Most couples have children within that time. It prevents hasty divorces. Though… divorce in the imperial family is extremely rare.”

Two years.

Livia had been married for one year.

That meant one year remained.

Running away now wasn’t an option. If I were caught, I wouldn’t survive.

I just need to endure for one year.

Then I’d file for divorce.

And escape this palace—and Leto.

The next afternoon, they barged into my office.

“Livia.”

“Livia! Your brother’s here!”

Louis and Shawn.

I welcomed them warmly.

“So how long is that emperor planning to keep you stuck in this cramped annex?”

Shawn flopped onto the sofa.

“This place is more than spacious enough for me.”

They both looked upset.

“Livia, you don’t have to live like some frugal empress.”

“Exactly! You don’t need to be more modest than when you were a marquis’s daughter!”

A maid brought tea and sweets.

They were excellent.

Ever since the bath incident, the maids’ attitude had changed.

Not toward me—but toward the Goddess.

“So why did you come all this way?”

“We brought you something.”

“You’re going to faint from surprise.”

Shawn suddenly stood and clapped twice.

Clap! Clap!

The door opened immediately.

Servants entered carrying piles of boxes.

“What… is all this?”

“What else? Gifts. All yours. Don’t even think about refusing.”

Boxes filled the room.

Necklaces, rings, tiaras, silk handkerchiefs, shoes, hats, pendants…

And dozens of luxurious dresses.

“All of this… for me?”

“Livia.”

Louis gently held my shoulders.

“After you got married, Shawn and I sent you many gifts.”

“Yes… you did.”

“But at some point, you started sending them back. Saying they were too extravagant.”

So that’s what Livia did.

“After losing you once, we decided—life is unpredictable. So we’ll give our only sister the very best.”

“Exactly! That’s why we brought them in person this time—you can’t refuse.”

Good grief.

These brothers had become even more overprotective.

Refusing didn’t seem like an option.

“I understand your feelings. I’ll gladly accept.”

“Thank you, Livia!”

Shawn suddenly hugged me and kissed my forehead repeatedly.

“Ah, that feels so satisfying! Right, brother?”

“Indeed. Every time we saw you at banquets, it was painful—your dresses were too plain, and you spoke less and less.”

Shawn leaned in.

“The emperor crushed your spirit, didn’t he?”

Well… that’s the most plausible explanation.

But I couldn’t complain like a child.

“No. I just wasn’t used to the palace.”

“Anyway, tomorrow at the Founding Festival, show your dignity as Empress. There’s no woman in the nobility more beautiful than you.”

“Thank you… even if it’s just flattery.”

“It’s the truth!”

“Alright, Shawn. Let’s go. Livia must be busy. See you tomorrow.”

After they left, I looked over the mountain of gifts.

She returned all these before? Did the maids interfere somehow?

That evening, I summoned one of the maids who had served Livia.

“Do you remember what I said whenever gifts arrived from the Matrion family?”

“Yes… Your Majesty.”

“What did I say?”

“You said they were too extravagant… embarrassing… or didn’t suit you.”

She was trembling, but didn’t seem to be lying.

Strange.

Livia was born a noble lady and deeply loved by her brothers.

Then why act in a way that made others look down on her? Almost as if she wanted to be seen that way…

I tilted my head.

But soon dismissed the thought.

No point overthinking. Survival comes first.

The morning of the Founding Festival arrived.

The annex palace was bustling, preparing me from early morning.

The most important part—

The dress.

This was the first official appearance of the resurrected empress.

Everyone’s eyes would be on me.

After long deliberation with Lady Mare, we chose an elegant and splendid style befitting an empress.

A white silk dress flowing in soft curves.

Gloves, necklace, tiara—

All luxurious gifts from Louis and Shawn.

When everything was ready, I looked in the mirror.

…I really am beautiful.

A grace and elegance I had never possessed in my life flowed naturally now.

Most surprising was my skin.

Despite barely sleeping for ten days, it was as pure and clear as fresh snow.

I looked at my reflection.

“…Let’s do this.”

In the end, I could only rely on myself.

Knock, knock.

Lady Mare entered.

“Your Majesty. His Majesty the Emperor has arrived.”