Chapter 4: A Sultry Night

I wonder when the emperor will arrive.

After the wedding ceremony concluded, Cecile found herself surrounded by imperial attendants who escorted her to her current room. Once they arrived, the attendants hurriedly attended to her, assisting with changing her clothes, washing up, and preparing her for the night. By the time Cecile regained her composure, she found herself alone in the vast room.

The room surpassed any grandeur she had witnessed in the royal palace of Navitan. Every aspect of the room exuded opulence, from the sprawling bed, large enough to roll ten times without falling, to the meticulously crafted table, chairs, and dressing table, each item spoke of luxury.

On one side of the room, an abundance of fruits, food, and alcohol adorned the table, presenting an impressive display. The arrangement was visually pleasing, but the quantity was overwhelming, as if this were a banquet hall.

Curiosity piqued, Cecile approached the plate of fruits, glancing around despite knowing she was alone, and cautiously took a bite of a neatly sliced orange. The refreshing juice burst forth, enveloping her dry mouth with its sweet goodness.

"Delicious."

During her time at the royal villa, fruits were a rarity, only enjoyed on special occasions. Navitan, being a kingdom with an unfavorable climate, heavily relied on imports for its fruit market. This scarcity saddened Cecile, who had always cherished the taste of fruits. In an attempt to cultivate a fruit tree in the villa's garden, she had enlisted the help of her maidservants, but the results were disappointing. However, that didn't stop her from sneaking into the palace's greenhouse numerous times to savor its treasures.

Lost in her indulgence of one fruit after another, Cecile's hand paused abruptly.

Surely, he wouldn't mind if I indulge in a little bit, would he?

The emperor's face flashed through her mind, along with a question she had pushed aside amidst the excitement of her feast.

Why did he spare my life?

As she was being escorted away by the attendants after the wedding, she could hear the emperor's officials clamoring for blood in the distance.

"Let us eradicate the kingdom of Navitan!"

"I am prepared to wage war this very moment! I will wipe them off the face of the earth!"

"How audacious to send such a deranged woman!"

To their cries, Cecile silently echoed, Yes, I feel the same! Crush them thoroughly, secretly cheering them on with fervor.

For a while, Cecile pondered over why the emperor hadn't executed her on the spot, but eventually, she gave up and flopped herself onto the bed. The pleasantly springy mattress and soft bedding against her face brought a sense of bliss.

Perhaps I could find enjoyment as an empress.

She couldn't help but feel a surge of joy lying on a clean, comfortable bed after a satisfying meal of delectable fruits. Prior to the wedding, she had contemplated death, but now those thoughts were dissipating, making her seem somewhat shallow. Yet, moments later, a shadow passed over Cecile's face.

But what's the use of entertaining such thoughts now?

The deed had been done. She didn't know why the emperor had spared her, at least for the time being, but her fate had been sealed. Cecile's gaze returned to the table, her eyes fixating on the assortment of drinks displayed alongside the mountain of food. She approached and uncorked one of the bottles, a deep, rich fragrance filling the air.

I may not know much about wine, but this must be an exquisite selection!

The bottle rested in an elegant silver wine bucket, indicating its exceptional nature. Cecile retrieved a silver cup from the bucket and filled it to the brim with wine, taking a sip.

"Ah!" she exclaimed.

The drink turned out to be remarkably potent. The moment Cecile swallowed, a scorching sensation ignited in her throat.

"Wow, this drink is no joke," Cecile murmured, her eyes blinking slowly.

She felt the world begin to spin almost instantly. The fiery heat from the alcohol rapidly spread throughout her body, even before she brought the cup to her lips once more.

"Hmm?" Cecile rubbed her eyes, her surroundings starting to blur.

What kind of drink was this? Wasn't there a substance that induced immediate intoxication like this?

Usually, they call that drugs, not alcohol. Wait a minute. Drugs?

Cecile contemplated the changes occurring in her body once more. Her mind growing hazy. Her body ablaze with heat. Her breath turning into panting. Vague recollections of reading books with her maidservants flashed through Cecile's mind.

'A Passionate Night,' 'Forbidden Desires: Sweet Temptations,' 'Whispering Seduction,' and so on. These were the Books That Must Not Be Named. They contained clichéd plotlines that propelled romantic lovers straight to the bedroom, devoid of any tedious narrative...

Startled, Cecile flung the cup from her hand. "Is this an aphrodisiac?"

Aphrodisiac. What kind of substance was it? A drug that instantaneously consumed reason with insatiable desires—of a sexual nature, of course, directed towards the opposite sex.

"Those degenerates! Why on earth would they place something like this here?" Her tongue involuntarily cursed.

She inserted a finger into her mouth, attempting to induce vomiting, but it was too late. Cecile felt her strength swiftly draining away.

No. Not like this...

She staggered in place and collapsed onto the bed. As her consciousness waned, Cecile wondered why such a thing had been present, her thoughts fading.

"Damned emperor... Were you planning to use this tonight?"

That was the only answer she could find. Curiously, amid her anger, she felt a flicker of pity. So what if he was handsome? He couldn't even perform without resorting to drugs. With these musings, Cecile's eyes gently closed, and when she regained her senses, she felt as if the world was trembling.

What on earth?

Why was her body in this state? Where was she again? Why was she in this situation? Fortunately, amidst her dizziness, she managed to recall what had occurred before her collapse.

And in that moment, she erupted in curses. "Bloody damn emperor!"

"They do say that about me quite often, but it has been a while since someone said it to my face. How refreshing."

"Eh?" Cecile's eyes widened as she heard a sudden voice.

The handsome face of a certain someone she had encountered earlier in the day gazed at her. His raven-black hair resembled the night sky, and his black eyes held an unfathomable darkness, radiating an aura of mystery. While she found him exceptionally attractive during the daytime, she hadn't expected him to appear even more striking in the dimness of the enclosed room. Unfair, she thought.

Cecile continued to stare blankly, but as her gaze shifted slightly downwards, she exclaimed in confusion, "What in the world? Why are you completely nude?"

"Not completely. I still have my bottoms on," Estian replied calmly.

Upon realizing the emperor's nudity, Cecile understood the cause of the recent disturbance that made the world shake while her eyes were closed. Before she knew it, the emperor had climbed onto the bed and started removing his clothes. Scattered garments lay beside him, confirming her suspicions. Meanwhile, he picked up a fallen piece of clothing and casually tossed it away, but instead of fluttering nearby, it flew far and collided with the wall. The emperor then ran his hand through his well-groomed hair, a feat that required considerable strength. Cecile observed it all through her hazy mind.

"He possesses both good looks and a well-built physique," she murmured to herself, captivated by the remarkable sight before her.

If only she could, she would have taken him to show the maidservants at the royal villa.

Cecile gazed blankly at the emperor for a moment longer before an important question struck her. "Hold on a second. Why are you on top of me?"

While she appreciated his nudity, she couldn't comprehend why he was positioned like that on top of her.

He pondered her question briefly before replying, "Do you prefer me on the bottom? Is that your preference?"

"No, that's not the issue," Cecile clarified.

"Then what is it?" the emperor inquired.

Unable to hold back her thoughts, Cecile blurted out, "First of all, feeding someone an aphrodisiac should be considered a crime."

The emperor's face stiffened at her words. "An aphrodisiac?"

"Yes, an aphrodisiac. It's despicable to use such methods due to one's lack of confidence. Such individuals deserve condemnation." Perhaps fate wished for her to face death tonight, having survived the day. Despite the precariousness of the situation, Cecile continued speaking, amazed at her audacity. "I've heard of such drugs existing, but I never imagined an emperor would resort to them."

"Wait a moment. I think there's a misunderstanding here."

"You don't have to make excuses. Only I know about it anyway. Oh, and the attendants who prepared it might be aware as well. How unfortunate... But let me remind you, engaging in non-consensual activities is a crime, including the use of aphrodisiacs." Cecile unleashed a torrent of thoughts.

The emperor lifted himself off her body, his expression changing with each of her words. He walked over to the table and glanced at the bottle she had opened.

Turning to Cecile, he said, "So you drank this and believe it's an aphrodisiac?"

"I do know it's not alcohol. What kind of drink weakens the body and induces unconsciousness?"

"You're right; it's not alcohol."

Just as Cecile was about to unleash another wave of curses internally...

"This is a 'truth serum'," the emperor declared.

"...Excuse me?"

"It's a truth serum, precisely. A very refined one at that. Why did you drink it? I had it prepared in case things got troublesome."

Cecile was dumbfounded by the revelation. Why would he place such a thing here of all places?

"A truth serum... Were you planning to use it on..."

"That wasn't my intention." The emperor narrowed his eyes, his gaze momentarily shifting to the room's wall. He then strode back to the bed, pouncing on top of Cecile as if pinning her down.

"What... What are you doing?"

"What needs to be done tonight," the emperor replied apathetically.

He turned Cecile onto her stomach and firmly gripped her shoulders.

Cecile cried out as she felt a sudden pain in her shoulder muscles. The days leading up to the wedding had been hectic, and her body had been tense throughout the journey to the imperial palace. Furthermore, her unconsciousness from the serum earlier had caused her to sleep in an uncomfortable position, resulting in aching muscles. The emperor's fingers pressed against those knots, causing Cecile to release a scream. The emperor's hands continued their movements.

"Ah! There... Ahh! Just a little more...!" Cecile moaned as she writhed in a mix of pain and ecstasy.

However, a certain thought suddenly flashed in her mind. In a dark room, on their wedding night, their bodies concealed beneath the bedcovers, the sound of her moans filling the air.

Wait a second. Isn't this the perfect situation to give someone the wrong impression?

And in that very moment...