PPCTD 10

chapter 10

Dante Hamilson.

The High Priest’s disciple—and his successor.

In “The Second Empress,” he had only been a supporting character. Just a mysterious blond figure who stayed by the High Priest’s side.

When the conflict between the Grand Temple and the imperial family escalated, Dante suddenly disappeared—narrowly avoiding Leto’s blade because of it.

In the original story, Dante had no connection with Empress Livia at all.

And yet, of all times, he caught me looking through a botanical encyclopedia.

He showed interest in the book.

“Seems you’re reading something interesting.”

“I’m preparing for an upcoming tea party. I was thinking of planting some new flowers in the garden.”

“Plants for a tea party… how delicate.”

He smiled faintly. It was a smile you couldn’t quite read—one that left an uneasy feeling.

“Yes. So if you’ll excuse me, I’ll continue reading.”

I pretended nothing was wrong and flipped the pages again.

Dante lingered around me.

“……”

“……”

“…Do you have any other business here?”

“I’ve only heard rumors about Your Majesty, so seeing you in person is quite moving. After all, I am a priest—and you were revived by the goddess’s blessing.”

Though he praised me, there was something subtly rude in his tone. Was it because he trusted the High Priest?

He wasn’t someone worth entertaining for long. Better to be direct.

“Whatever your reason, you’re making me uncomfortable. Please leave. Otherwise, I will.”

I closed the book.

Only then did Dante seem slightly flustered and back down.

“Of course. I should be the one to step aside. I apologize for my rudeness.”

“……”

“In truth, I came to deliver this.”

He pulled something from inside his robe—a white envelope with gold trim.

“Forgive me for delaying the main matter. This is a letter from my master, the High Priest.”

A letter from the High Priest?

“For me?”

“To be precise, it is addressed only to Your Majesty.”

So—he wanted it kept secret from Leto.

I accepted the letter and tucked it away. I was curious about its contents, but it was better not to read it in front of him.

“Then, until we meet again, Your Majesty.”

Dante bowed politely with a smile. I simply nodded.

He disappeared behind the shelves.

Only a few seconds later, Pharham came around the same corner.

“I’ve brought paper and a pen. The ink had run out, so it took a while.”

“Sir Pharham, did you see anyone on your way here?”

“…No, I didn’t. Was someone here?”

“…No. Let’s continue.”

I reopened the book.

Finding indigo came first.

After a while, I closed it again—with disappointment.

There was no indigo anywhere in the encyclopedia.

“Your Majesty… did you not find what you were looking for?”

Pharham asked carefully.

Seeing the rash on his face made my chest tighten.

But it was too early to give up.

“Sir Pharham, you said this encyclopedia isn’t complete, right? Is there any way to check plants that aren’t listed here?”

“…I’ll look into it.”

He smiled reassuringly.

I placed a hand lightly on his shoulder.

“Alright. Let’s leave it here for today.”

By the time I returned to the office, the sun had already set.

I sat down and opened the High Priest’s letter first.

The handwriting was elegant.

To Her Majesty the Empress.

As the head of the Grand Temple, I request a private audience with you. I ask that this be kept secret from His Majesty the Emperor. I will be waiting at the temple.

A date was written at the end.

Polite on the surface—but unmistakably arrogant.

“A private meeting…”

It was inevitable.

There was no way the Grand Temple would leave a “resurrected empress” alone. They would want to use me somehow.

Knock knock.

At the sound, I quickly hid the letter in a drawer.

Lady Mare entered.

“Your Majesty, dinner is ready.”

“Ah… what should I do? I still have a lot of work left today.”

I gestured to the pile of documents.

“Even so, you must eat,” she scolded gently.

“I’ll eat after I finish.”

“You must eat on time. You’ll ruin your health at this rate.”

In truth, I had been skipping dinner for days.

“Come now, Your Majesty.”

“Just for today, please?”

“This is no laughing matter. Come with me.”

She coaxed me like a mother would a child.

Just then—

“Why is it so noisy?”

Leto appeared at the half-open door.

“What’s going on, Lady Mare?”

“…Her Majesty keeps skipping meals.”

She was practically tattling.

I didn’t expect Leto to care.

But—

“I see.”

He glanced at the documents, then said,

“If she’s busy, bring the meal here.”

“…Here?”

Lady Mare looked surprised, but nodded.

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

After she left, Leto approached my desk and flipped through the papers.

“Looks like you haven’t done much today.”

“I was about to start. I had other matters earlier.”

“I see.”

He set the documents down.

“Yuten!”

Yuten quickly entered.

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Move all of these to my office.”

“Yes.”

As Yuten gathered the documents, I protested,

“I can handle them. It’ll just take some time.”

“I didn’t tell you to starve yourself doing it.”

He cut me off.

“But—”

If I don’t do it, you’ll have to.

“But?”

“…Never mind.”

I gave in.

Things moved quickly.

The documents were cleared, a large table brought in, and soon it was filled with food.

“Sit there.”

Leto gestured to the opposite seat.

But there was only one set of utensils.

“Aren’t you eating?”

“I’m not foolish enough to starve until this hour.”

…Right.

I forced a smile.

“Thank you, but I can eat on my own.”

“Are you dismissing me? In my own palace?”

So he wasn’t leaving.

Reluctantly, I began eating.

Despite thinking I had no appetite, the food went down easily. I must have been hungrier than I thought.

After a while, Leto spoke.

“Pharham visited you today.”

So he was still monitoring me.

“Yes. We looked through a botanical encyclopedia for ingredients.”

“And? Did you find it?”

“No.”

“I see.”

His serious reaction caught me off guard.

“I may need to find another method. If necessary, I might even go into the forest myself.”

Leto rested his chin on his hand, watching me curiously.

“Why are you in such a hurry?”

“…Pardon?”

“You look like your life depends on it.”

Because it does.

If I lose my usefulness, who knows what you’ll do.

Leto smirked.

“You still think I might kill you.”

“I can’t say that’s not possible.”

“I don’t usually bother changing people’s minds… but I might make an exception.”

At least he didn’t intend to kill me right now.

That alone was reassuring.

“…By the way, the High Priest sent me a letter.”

“The High Priest?”

He frowned openly.

“He wants to meet me in secret.”

“How audacious.”

“But refusing might raise suspicion. A ‘resurrected empress’ avoiding the temple would be strange.”

“Go, if you want.”

That was unexpected.

“On one condition—you’re confident you won’t be used.”

“If not?”

“I’ll block all contact.”

He could protect me now—but not forever.

“I’ll go. I won’t be used easily.”

“Good. Take a knight. And leave immediately if anything feels wrong.”

“Thank you.”

“Still, strange. You were going to accept anyway—why tell me?”

“That’s because we are—”

“We are?”

Husband and wife.

The words nearly came out.

But I remembered how he had called me his wife before—how close it had felt.

So instead, I said,

“Allies. And partners.”

For a moment, his expression stiffened.

“…Right. Partners.”

The meal ended soon after.

“You eat better than I expected.”

“I wasn’t in a position to be picky.”

“You don’t dislike anything?”

“Even if I did, I had to eat it.”

I grew up in an orphanage. Complaining about food was never an option.

Suddenly, it went quiet.

I glanced at him.

His eyes had turned cold.

“…What is it?”

“Is that how he treated you?”

“…Who?”

“The man you chose.”

“…What?”

“I didn’t think your taste in men was that bad. I’m disappointed.”

What is he talking about now?

This time, I wasn’t letting it slide.

“I’ll judge my own taste. But who exactly are you talking about?”

“You called his name in your sleep. Several times.”

“…Who?”

“Statin. Strange name.”

Statin?

That’s… a cholesterol-lowering drug.

Wait—

I did dream about working in a lab…

So that means—

“Ah… hahaha!”

I burst out laughing.

Wow.

This is one serious misunderstanding.