Chapter 30: A Queen’s Reluctance

“I just don’t understand how you endure such conditions, Your Majesty, when you’re not even a soldier.”

To the lady-in-waiting, however, Evening’s situation appeared utterly pitiful.

In the culture of Witherne, even common farmers slept on beds crafted from hay. It was said that only the destitute, or those in particular professions such as soldiers or peddlers, rested on mats laid directly on the floor.

“It’s actually quite comfortable once you try it,” Evening explained. “And I get to use the room more freely.”

As a Korean, sleeping on the floor was a traditional method of slumber for Evening.

She wasn’t simply covering herself with a rough straw mat; rather, she indulged in the luxury of plush duvets woven from fine silk and filled with duck feathers. Evening harbored no complaints whatsoever.

“Besides, I’m not even married yet, and sleeping in the same bed with him feels rather awkward.”

Part of her also wished to clearly delineate the boundaries between herself and Erich.

While once or twice might have been acceptable, the prospect of waking up beside him in the same bed every single day felt far too intimate, like a pair of lovers. To truly become ‘lovers’ with him was a burden she wasn’t prepared to bear.

“It’s burdensome?”

“Yes, a little,” Evening admitted. “I’m not trying to be self-deprecating, but he’s simply not the type to typically associate with a woman like me.”

“What—! What nonsense are you spouting, Your Majesty? If you aren’t qualified, then His Majesty would be destined to remain a bachelor for all his days!”

The lady-in-waiting, who had nearly burst out, quickly lowered her voice, mindful of Erich’s potential frown.

She clung to Evening, casting furtive glances at the sleeping Erich, lest he awaken.

“Among all the women worthy of marrying His Majesty, none possess a nobler lineage or more formidable magic than you, Lady Evening.”

“Oh, come now,” Evening demurred. “I’m still so inexperienced and lacking. It pains me to admit it, but ever since my severe injury, my memory has faded, and my magical prowess has significantly waned.”

This wasn’t mere humility; she was, in truth, an entirely different person from the genuine Evening Flam. Her relationship with her family was strained, and her magical abilities barely amounted to a quarter of what the original body’s owner once wielded. Hadn’t the true Evening been capable of conjuring vast, intricate ice castles with her freezing magic, or was that simply a rumor?

Could she summon talking snowmen and colossal golems, or had she merely imagined it? Regardless, her current abilities—where nervousness merely transformed the floor into a spiky ice rink or allowed her to conjure a tiny wall—were reportedly a mere shadow of her former self.

“Even so, Lady Evening, you are still the very best.”

“Oh, stop it now,” Evening chuckled. “You’ll make me sound like I’m seeking sympathy. Though, I must admit, hearing you say such things does make me feel rather good.”

Further self-deprecation would garner no sympathy anyway, and the unfounded declaration, ‘Lady Evening is the finest in Witherne,’ still brought a surprising warmth to her chest. Evening playfully pointed at the lady-in-waiting and offered a quick wink.

“At any rate, Erich and I have differing sleeping patterns and wake-up times. It’s simply better for us to sleep apart.”

Evening, accompanied by the lady-in-waiting, moved stealthily toward the dressing room. There, three more ladies-in-waiting awaited her, holding the dress and accessories she was to wear.

The ladies-in-waiting, who clustered around Evening to assist her with the cumbersome gown, gently caressed her as they dressed her.

“Did you sleep on the floor again today, Your Majesty? That’s truly too much. You’ll ruin your health.”

“Precisely,” another agreed. “They could simply bring in another bed.”

“They keep deferring it, claiming there’s no more budget for this quarter… but that’s just an excuse. They could easily reduce their hunting expenditures.”

‘Surely, the budget designated for the hunting grounds couldn’t be diverted to palace consumables,’ Evening mused. Yet, upon reflection, it did indeed sound like an excuse. In a country so lacking in proper systems, how significant could specific budget categories truly be?

Even if the funds were genuinely non-transferable, it hardly mattered. What truly mattered was that the ladies-in-waiting were siding with her, despite the fact that she herself had refused Erich’s offer of an additional bed on her very first day.

“It’s because I told them it was fine,” Evening clarified. “It feels rather burdensome, and I don’t wish to impose on him.”

The ladies-in-waiting sided with Evening, while Evening, in turn, sided with Erich. Her heart tingled, as if she were experiencing a perfect scene from a palace drama about concubine rivalries.

“Lady Evening, your temperament is far too gentle!”

“Exactly,” another chimed in. “Your abilities are no less formidable than His Majesty’s, are they? His Majesty truly ought to look after you better.”

Evening gazed at the young women, who so genuinely championed her cause ‘like true ladies-in-waiting,’ with a deeply moved expression. In her former world, to uncritically flatter and adore someone was often dismissively labeled as ‘acting like a lady-in-waiting.’

Yet, that was precisely the essence of a lady-in-waiting’s duty: to attend to their master’s needs and anticipate their moods. These women were truly professional ladies-in-waiting, utterly devoted to their assigned roles.

“You are all truly professional ladies-in-waiting,” Evening declared, her voice filled with genuine appreciation. “Erich has chosen wisely.”

As she praised them with heartfelt emotion, the ladies-in-waiting exchanged looks that were simultaneously honored and perplexed.

These women had originally been selected by Erich himself, deliberately chosen only from families known for their unwavering loyalty to him. His intention had been to surround Evening with his own people, even among her personal attendants, to exert pressure on her.

Yet, despite his intentions, they were, at the end of the day, merely young women in their late teens to early twenties, none of whom knew Erich personally.

Any shallow loyalty they might have harbored toward the demanding Erich quickly crumbled under Evening’s simple yet effective social graces. Thus, in a mere fortnight since her arrival at the imperial palace, all five ladies-in-waiting had decisively shifted to Evening’s side.

Having fully dressed Evening, the ladies-in-waiting took a step back and deftly changed the subject.

“You look perfect to go out today, Your Majesty. Don’t worry, Erich will surely give his heart to you very soon.”

“Oh, do you think so?”

“But you’re sharing the same room, aren’t you? Men are quite simple creatures, you see. They are foolishly weak to women they frequently share a bed with and will offer them anything.”

The ladies-in-waiting scoffed, sharing a collective disdain for the ways of men.

“Men are also weak to women who possess powerful magic, so he’ll surely succumb to your charms in no time.”

Evening, however, found herself utterly bewildered. This was the first time she’d ever heard such sweeping generalizations about ‘men.’

“Men simply judge others by their magic and appearance, making life decisions far too easily,” one explained. “Since Erich is also a man, he’ll likely be similar.”

“Is that so?” Evening murmured, feigning thoughtfulness.

At least when her appearance was mentioned, she could manage a semblance of agreement. When powerful magic had been brought up first, her prospects had felt utterly bleak.

‘I don’t particularly aspire to be loved,’ she thought.

It wouldn’t be entirely impossible to desperately charm him and secure the position of a lover. If it were merely a matter of temporary seduction, she might have been able to manage with a glib tongue and her beautiful appearance.

Still, the idea held no appeal for her.

Fully adorned with all the necessary accessories, Evening lightly spun once before the full-length mirror.

“Thank you for your thoughts,” Evening said with a smile. “You’re right. If I put in the effort, he’ll surely come to cherish me soon enough.”

Though she spoke the words, she harbored no intention of actively altering their relationship.

While she appreciated the sincere efforts of her ladies-in-waiting, who pitied her plight and looked out for her, Evening found herself perfectly content with their current, firmly established hierarchical dynamic.

Fundamentally, Evening harbored a liking for Erich. If forced to choose between ‘like’ or ‘dislike,’ she would unhesitatingly choose the former, and if asked to select one man from a multitude, she would likely choose him.

Between a simple village woodcutter and Erich, she would choose Erich. Even comparing a classically handsome man with splendid platinum-blond hair to Erich, her choice remained Erich. Even when weighing Greg, who was already taken, against Erich, the captivating second male lead, she would still pick Erich.

While her comparison subjects were undeniably entangled by various reasons preventing their selection, she simply didn’t dislike Erich. He was a dashingly handsome man, a veritable playboy who would casually utter phrases like ‘I like you’ or ‘I love you.’

His penchant for uttering light, sweet words without true feeling was, ironically, what made him so comfortable. For a temporary liaison, there was no better partner. Linking arms felt natural, kissing was enjoyable, and even sharing a bed was pleasant.

Though she felt a blush creep up her neck, Erich was undeniably handsome, vigorous, and exceptionally proactive. There was truly no other man quite like him. When she was in his arms, her mind would become a blissful haze.

‘But marriage? That’s a different story entirely.’

While he might be suitable for a fleeting encounter, the question of whether he was a partner for the significant journey of marriage was a resounding no. If asked if she would never marry him, she wouldn’t go that far, but at the very least, she hadn’t made up her mind yet.

‘He’s not a husband,’ she firmly decided. ‘I need to draw a clear line.’

Strictly speaking, he would become her husband, at least in a formal sense.

Her destiny of becoming Empress was now irreversible; attempting to change it would only exacerbate her problems, potentially leading to annulment or even death. However, this was a political marriage, typical of a medieval romance-fantasy world.

Nobles, unlike commoners, did not stoop to marrying for love. For them, marriage was purely a matter of strategy; no matter how prettily it was packaged, it remained a business arrangement. Hadn’t her desperate attempts to avoid the wedding night been mercilessly trampled?

‘Therefore… he’s not a *real* husband,’ she concluded.

Thus, deep in her heart, Evening resolved not to acknowledge him as her husband.

It was fine to imagine him playing the role of her husband, much like in a game’s role-play, but she simply couldn’t conceive of them as a true couple. What one expects from a boss is clearly distinct from what one desires in a husband or boyfriend.

No matter how much she pondered it, she lacked the confidence to manage a husband as overbearing and arrogant as Erich.

An overbearing and arrogant boss like Erich?

That, she could absolutely manage. Compared to the high-maintenance bosses she had served in her past, he was a gem—a superior she would happily serve for life.

Why? Because merely looking at his face would soothe her anger, and his salary would undoubtedly be insane.

But a husband like that?

That presented far too many considerations.

For Evening, a lover was an equal, and family members were people who unconditionally stood by her side. Many things she could endure if the instigator was a boss, she knew, would become unbearable if it were her husband.

Erich hadn’t changed, only her perception of him. Yet, that was simply how the human heart worked.

Between ‘a boss who occasionally wants to sleep with me’ and ‘a husband who treats me like a subordinate,’ the former was far preferable.

There was a slim chance he might evolve into ‘a husband who falls in love, treats me well, and respects me,’ but the probability was incredibly low. It was far more comfortable to maintain a business-like principal-subordinate relationship than to pursue such an uncertain and difficult goal, akin to winning the lottery.

“I’m perfectly content with my current situation. Today, even my mom and dad appeared in my dreams, so I feel refreshed.”

Having settled her thoughts, Evening interlocked her fingers and stretched, easing the stiffness from her body. Focusing on reality, she was living in a magnificent palace, in a lavish room, alongside a dashingly handsome man.

It was a truly splendid morning.

“Hmph, I miss my mom.”

“Lady Evening…”

Objectively, however, Evening was a woman who woke up on the floor, gently but forlornly dissuaded her ladies-in-waiting who took her side, and stretched while yearning for her mother. A tiny tear, born of a yawn, still clung precariously to the corner of her eye.

How utterly pathetic was a woman forced into an agonizing engagement with a terrifyingly silent man, swallowing her tears as she struggled?

“Hmph!”

The lady-in-waiting, overwhelmed by emotion as she empathized with the indignities Evening endured, turned away to wipe her tears.