A Night of Misplaced Vitality

Ipa handed me a luxurious chest.

"What is this?"

"The Empress Dowager commanded me to deliver this to you, Your Majesty."

Mother?

"Is that so?"

Click.

I opened the chest, and...

"What... is this?"

Inside lay a long, sheer black lingerie set, accompanied by incredibly thin straps and a tiny scrap of black fabric. I picked up the small piece of translucent cloth. I wasn't a child, but I honestly had no idea what this was supposed to be. It was made of luxurious black silk, adorned with exquisite gold embroidery.

"Could this be...?"

What was it? It resembled a brassiere but was subtly different. It felt far too extravagant to be mere underwear.

"The Empress Dowager instructed that you wear this tonight to welcome the Grand Duke, Your Majesty."

Gulp.

A heavy silence fell, broken only by the sound of my own swallowing. Struggling to process her words, I pointed a finger at the scrap of fabric, then at myself. When Ipa nodded, the reality of what I had just heard finally sank in. And then...

"Kyaaaah! Mother, really! How am I supposed to wear something like this?!"

Overwhelmed by embarrassment and shock, my grip failed, and the chest slipped from my hands, spilling the lingerie onto the floor. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Ipa picked it up, gently brushing off the dust.

"As expected of the Empress Dowager... I believe this is Jane Hubin."

Hearing Ipa speak of this scandalous lingerie as if she recognized it, I asked in a trembling voice, "Is it famous?"

Ipa nodded. "Prince Antoni bought me a set as a gift once."

"Ah..."

Though it was kept secret from the public, our entire family knew that my brother Antoni and Ipa had been dating. Under the immense pressure of a prince pursuing a relationship with a commoner, Antoni had taken our father's challenge to heart. Father had promised to permit their marriage if Antoni could stand on his own feet and secure a seat in the Roman regional assembly. To achieve this, Antoni had been building his career from the bottom up at the city hall. It was a story from only a few months ago... but now, it was a past we could never return to.

Ipa, her red bob framing a resigned face, spoke softly. "Your Majesty... I am fine, so please do not look at me with such a sad face."

"But still..."

We had grown up together like real sisters. That was why Mother, Joy, and I had been so thrilled when we first heard that Antoni and Ipa were together.

"Ipa..."

My heart grew heavy as I recalled the truth I had temporarily forgotten. I had been so consumed by my own hectic schedule. Sensing my melancholy, Ipa, who must have suffered so much in silence, forced a mischievous smile.

"Your Majesty, considering the Grand Duke has taken the Unicorn's Horn tonight, shouldn't you be worrying about yourself rather than me?"

"Ugh... that..."

The Unicorn's Horn. Legend had it that when the first Emperor, who had numerous wives, grew despondent over his inability to satisfy them all, the first Empress, Shamhat, brought this substance from a dragon's lair and gave it to him. After consuming it all, the first Emperor reportedly impregnated all thirty-two of his wives on the exact same day.

"When I was a child, Grandfather told me that a unicorn once targeted Mother... I guess it was true."

At my words, Ipa glanced around the room before leaning in to whisper in my ear.

"I heard the late Emperor used to take it occasionally... and according to the senior maids who went in to change the bedsheets the next morning..."

Not wanting to hear any scandalous details about my parents, I hastily cried out, "No! I don't want to hear it!"

I had absolutely zero desire to know about my parents' intimate life.

"I used to wonder where Prince Antoni managed to find it back then... It seems he secretly took some behind the Empress Dowager's back."

Ipa's words piqued my curiosity. "S-So... was it good?"

Ipa's face flushed slightly. "It was... completely insane. I was literally held captive until the sun came up... It was amazing, yes, but the next ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠day my legs and back were so weak I could barely work."

Gulp.

Well, even if they weren't legally married, I knew they had been deeply intimate... So they had done it too. Of course, they loved each other, so it was only natural. In contrast, thinking about my relationship with Deviang only brought a sigh to my lips.

"Haaah..."

"Why the sigh? Are you worried about your first night?"

I shook my head. "No... it's just... we love each other. The fact that we have to rely on something like that is what's troubling me."

The thought of a wild, beast-like night instead of a romantic first night was rather off-putting. To be completely honest, I felt that I loved Deviang. No, I did love him. But even so, I didn't want our first intimate encounter to be treated like some animalistic ritual.

"I understand. Why don't you just ask the Grand Duke to hold you instead?"

Her suggestion triggered a vivid fantasy in my mind. There was Deviang, lying on the sofa as usual, reviewing documents, while I sipped wine. I gazed softly at him as his eyes dryly scanned the papers, then stood up and approached him.

Please hold me...

At my words, his tired eyes locked onto mine, burning with an intensity that felt as if it could set the entire world ablaze. Then, he spoke.

Do you have any idea how long I've been waiting for you to say those words?

His voice, thick with raw emotion, echoed as he suddenly swept me into his arms.

I'm going to make you pay back every single moment I've had to endure, with interest. Prepare yourself.

As he lifted me up, a startled cry escaped my lips.

I-It's my first time, so please... be gentle.

But whether he heard me or not, Deviang carried me straight toward the bed.

"Ugh..."

Actually, that didn't sound too bad. In fact, it sounded wonderful. Realizing where my thoughts were heading, I vigorously shook my head to dispel the delusion.

"B-But he already took the Unicorn's Horn, didn't he?"

Ipa pondered this for a moment. "In my experience, even if physical stamina surges, one's reason remains intact. Why don't you try talking to him gently?"

Should I?

"Hmm... but what about the lingerie?"

Ipa nodded encouragingly. "I think it would look lovely on you, Your Majesty. Why not give it a try?"

Unlike the simple slip-dresses I usually wore to bed, this was a full, provocative set of underwear.

"Do you think Deviang will like it?"

Ipa offered a warm, knowing smile. "Of course. What man wouldn't be thrilled to see his beloved wife dressed up like this to welcome him?"

My face burned hot at her words. Was it because I had never worn anything like this in my life, let alone tried to seduce my husband? It all felt so incredibly foreign.

"Ahem... I'll think about it."

Ipa nodded. "Yes, I'm sure it will be a wonderful night."

I filled the bathtub to the brim and sank into the warm water.

"Is this really the right thing to do?"

Splash.

I drifted deep into thought. I shouldn't have said anything to Mother. While I had occasionally thought about sleeping with him, Mother's aggressive intervention felt incredibly overbearing. I wasn't a child... Honestly, Mother... I could have handled this on my own.

"Sigh... what should I do?"

Now that the moment was actually upon us, my mind was in a state of turmoil.

"Is it really going to happen tonight?"

In the past, the very thought of sleeping with him had repulsed me. But now... it was a mixture of embarrassment and... anticipation?

"Hehe... Come to think of it, life is truly unpredictable."

I used to detest him. It wasn't even that long ago—only a few months had passed. Back then, I would have rather died than marry him. But lately, why did he seem so incredibly endearing? His upright character, his burning passion for the people of the Empire. His intellect was so profound that he seemed to possess boundless knowledge across countless fields. Whenever I watched him pressure the cunning, greedy politicians of the Empire, or tease them into a frenzy to get exactly what he wanted, his seasoned negotiation skills made it hard to believe he was actually my peer. And, well... he was also exceptionally handsome and reliable.

*Chuckle.*

A smile slipped onto my face without my realizing it.

"But he's just so cute."

When I saw him shed tears last time, my heart had ached. It felt as though someone had reached inside ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠and squeezed it tight. His purity. Unlike other rulers, his innocence had completely stolen my heart. Every other powerful figure I had ever known treated war so lightly. My late father was no exception. When war was deemed necessary, both Deviang and my father would wage it ruthlessly. But... Deviang blamed himself for it. He carried the heavy guilt of sending countless people to their deaths on the battlefield. His kind heart, his pure ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠soul...

"I never would have pegged him for that kind of person."

Was this what they called an unexpected charm? Discovering this hidden side of him made him seem so endearing.

"He's just too cute."

Recalling that moment brought another smile to my lips.

How long had I been soaking? I finally finished up and dried myself off. Then... I opened the chest Mother had sent, pulled out the scandalous lingerie, put it on, and stood before the mirror.

"Isn't this... way too revealing?"

My face burned at the thought of wearing something so provocative on our first night. The sheer black fabric, the intricate gold embroidery tracing the edges...

"Ugh..."

I sat down to wait for him, staring at the wine and candles I had prepared on the tea table. After what felt like an eternity, I checked the clock. It was only 1:00 AM. A notorious workaholic, Deviang usually returned to our bridal chamber between 2:00 AM and 4:00 AM.

"Haaah... Is he really going to work all night even on a day like this?"

My heart was beating so fast it felt like it would burst... but you don't seem to feel the same way, do you, Deviang? As the hours dragged on, I decided to wait for him by reading the book Mother had given me. The pages were filled with explicit illustrations, accompanied by detailed, helpful explanations on what to do. I completely lost track of time reading them.

I watched the candles burn down to half their height and checked the clock again. It was already nearing 5:00 AM.

"Haaah... He's much later than usual..."

Now that the war was over, he must have a mountain of work to get through. I decided to be a little more patient and keep waiting. But when the clock struck 6:00 AM, anxiety began to creep in. Surely... Deviang wouldn't just fall asleep in his office, would he? No, of course not. He couldn't possibly be that foolish.

"Haha... No way... Right?"

Denying reality, I forced myself to wait a little longer.

Finally, as the clock ticked past 7:30 AM and the morning sun began to peek over the horizon...

Snap!

The last thread of my patience snapped. I threw off the lingerie, changed into my regular clothes, and stormed toward his office.

And on that day... it was said that Deviang, overflowing with boundless energy after consuming a potent stamina enhancer, had spent the entire night doing overtime.

You jerk... You absolute jerk!

"Hmph! I hope you drown in your paperwork and die!"