By Zephyria 
Side Story 1
A year had passed since Alexis ascended to the throne. The Berka Empire, having entered a new era, had finally reached a period of stability.
Whenever a new ruler emerges, power struggles among the nobility typically intensify. Many scrambled to catch the Emperor’s eye, but Emperor Alexis was not an easy man to deal with. Those who managed to secure an audience with the Emperor all said the same thing.
‘It seems the Emperor has already drawn up the blueprint for his cabinet.’
‘Bribes don’t work on him at all.’
‘Just facing him almost made me wet my pants!’
If the previous Emperor had been impulsive, Alexis was a man who always maintained cool judgment. In any situation, he analyzed things rationally rather than being swayed by emotion, and he sharply cut off any flattering words whispered in his ear.
Emperor Alexis’s blue eyes seemed to possess the power to pierce through a person’s hidden intentions. A strictness that tolerated not even a small lie kept the nobles in a constant state of tension.
After his accession, the cabinet underwent several reforms. From high-ranking officials to lower-level administrators, regardless of position or experience, those deemed unnecessary were pruned away. It was a so-called “house cleaning.”
Since the imperial power had shifted, personnel changes were a natural course of action. However, the problem was that being appointed to a new position was as difficult as plucking a star from the sky.
The House of Count Dyke was one of the noble families struggling.
“What on earth should I do?”
Count Dyke groaned, clutching his wrinkled forehead. He had been retired for a long time, and he was deeply worried that his eldest son was already in his mid-twenties yet had not even set foot in the Imperial Palace.
At the sound of a sigh deep enough to sink the ground, the eldest son, Ryan Dyke, leaned forward and asked.
“Father, have you met with His Imperial Majesty?”
“He is so busy that it is not easy to get an audience. My turn is still far off. Perhaps it will be possible in a month.”
“A whole month? Our family has quite a reputation… how is it that we can’t even jump the line?”
“If he were the kind of person that would work, I would have done it already! Do you know how meticulous the Emperor is? If you try to use a trick, it will only backfire!”
The Count slammed the table. His family members flinched at the sudden outburst of anger.
“Sigh, what is the point of raising children if they cannot even catch the Emperor’s eye?”
“…Um, Father. Did His Imperial Majesty happen to say he doesn’t need any concubines?”
Carolyn spoke up cautiously. She was twenty, the young daughter of the Count who had just made her debut.
“What? A concubine?”
“His Imperial Majesty is young. I thought it might be helpful for the family if I entered as a concubine….”
Carolyn’s cheeks flushed red. She had seen Emperor Alexis for the first time recently at the debutante ball.
She still hadn’t recovered from the shock of that moment. Although it was from a distance, how handsome the Emperor was had been etched deep into her retinas.
Because the young and handsome Emperor had raised the standard of beauty by several levels, the young ladies of the nobility had become incredibly picky. Whenever they gathered, the conversation was nothing but about Alexis.
Count Dyke snorted.
“Forget it. You can never become a concubine.”
“Why!”
“Carolyn, you are a daughter I wouldn’t mind putting in my own eye, but… to be honest, it would be difficult for you to even compete with the Empress.”
The Count shook his head.
It was embarrassing to even explain how deep the Emperor’s love was. Among the nobles, rumors circulated that if the Empress were capable of bearing children, she would have been pregnant constantly without a single moment’s break.
Considering the Emperor’s cold nature, it was something unimaginable. To mention becoming a concubine to such a man? It would be nothing more than striving to be cast out of his favor.
“Then, how about trying to get on the Empress’s good side? If the Emperor treasures her so much, she might listen to our requests.”
“It’s not that I haven’t thought of that….”
The Count fumbled with his mouth. As he thought of the Empress, Cecile Adrian, his eyes trembled.
Cecile Adrian was both the Empress and the Emperor’s strategist. He was the only existence who was always by the Emperor’s side, day and night.
“The Empress is no pushover either. He is exceptionally intelligent. Not only does he think strictly from the Emperor’s perspective, but his way of speaking is so caustic… He is absolutely not someone we can manipulate to our liking.”
The family grew gloomy. As sighs flowed one after another, the tea time became depressing.
“…….”
Amidst this, the Count’s second son, Tristan Dyke, did not add a single word to the conversation. This was because he knew that the title of Count would be inherited by his older brother, Ryan, and that no crumbs would fall to him.
Whether it was intelligence or social maneuvering, he was far superior to Ryan, but his father did not recognize this. It was unfair, but it couldn’t be helped.
Tristan also sighed and drank the cold tea. He planned to visit a social club once the sun set to vent his frustrations.
“Please do not worry too much. If we wait, an opportunity will soon come to me as well.”
“Yes, I suppose so.”
It was while the family continued their tea time, chatting quietly, that a servant suddenly rushed in and announced loudly.
“M-Master! You must come out for a moment!”
“What is the matter that you’re making such a fuss?”
“From the Imperial Palace! A-a guest!”
At the mention of the ‘Imperial Palace,’ the Count pushed back his chair and rushed out. Upon stepping outside, Count Dyke nearly collapsed as the strength left his knees.
A glittering four-wheeled carriage stood before the mansion. A red flag emblazoned with the Imperial crest fluttered in the wind, and dozens of Imperial Guards stood watch around it.
Above all, were Alexis and Cecile not standing right outside the door!
“Your Majesty! How did you come all this way! I mean, I greet the Sun of the Empire!”
“It has been a long time, Count Dyke.”
Alexis greeted him in his characteristic solemn voice. Though it was forced, the smile spreading across his lips looked quite refreshing.
“I happened to see the Count’s estate while passing by. I stopped by for a moment as I have something to say. There is someone among your sons that I have kept an eye on. I wish to entrust him with a position; might we discuss this?”
“Of course, Your Majesty.”
The Count beamed with joy. Just then, his family members had all rushed out to greet the Emperor. At the moment he was about to quickly grab his eldest son, Ryan, to present him to the Emperor—
“No, not that one. That fellow.”
Alexis raised his index finger.
“I wish to speak with your second son. His name is Tristan, correct?”
The members of the House of Dyke were greatly shocked that he even knew the name. The most surprised of all was Tristan Dyke, who had been singled out by the Emperor.
A strange silence filled the drawing room. The three people sitting around the round table said nothing. Only the sound of birds chirping from the terrace brought a small measure of peace.
Tristan poured the tea. The hand holding the teapot trembled. Even the stream of tea pouring down seemed precarious.
The milky-white porcelain on the table was extremely luxurious. This was a tea set that the Countess had cherished for decades. She had never brought it out, and it had been a running joke that such cups would only be used if the Emperor visited—and now, that was actually happening.
He politely served the tea to the guests. Tristan’s eyes darted busily. Looking toward the Emperor felt like his heart would burst, so he turned his gaze toward the Empress, who seemed like the better option.
He had seen Cecile Adrian only once, at the wedding. That day, which everyone praised as the greatest wedding in history.
Of course, there had been countless crowds, and Tristan’s seat had been far away, so this was effectively the first time he had seen the face properly.
According to rumors floating around the social clubs, he was a legendary beauty who had bewitched the Emperor with his looks. Still, he was a man; Tristan wondered if he could truly be as beautiful as a woman.
Seeing him in person, Cecile Adrian had a small face and a prim, cat-like impression. He was beautiful to the point where gender didn’t matter, and his flawless, clear skin and slender lines naturally drew the eye. Moreover, he exuded a noble atmosphere without even trying. It was the unique aura felt from royalty.
In his expressionless face, a needle-like sharpness was glimpsed. He had heard the Emperor was the cold one, but in reality, Cecile seemed colder.
Tristan forced himself to swallow hard and barely managed to speak.
“I heard that Your Imperial Majesty the Empress enjoys desserts. My house chef’s cake-baking skills are top-notch. Of course, they may not be at the level of the Imperial Palace’s pâtissiers… but if you would try some….”
At those words, Cecile’s long, downturned eyelashes slowly lifted. Emerald eyes gazed at Tristan. They were certainly a warm green, yet they felt strangely colder, leaving Tristan with no choice but to swallow hard once again.
Then, Alexis let out a low chuckle.
“You must understand. Cecile dislikes the title of Empress.”
“Pardon? Why….”
“Well, he says it’s embarrassing. He claims that whenever someone calls him the Empress, he feels like he’s breaking out in hives.”