In This Life, I Will Be The Lord

What is he saying now?

I doubted my ears and asked back.

"You're moving?"

"Yes."

Unlike me, who was bewildered, Perez just smiled as usual.

I don't think he's joking now.

"You are the emperor, Perez, does it make sense that the emperor stays somewhere other than the imperial palace?"

"I'm going to go to and from work. It is said that government affairs are seen in the imperial palace, but they come back here at night."

"It's impossible to split your time like that while being so busy, Perez."

"Tia did."

I was speechless.

"You came to the imperial palace, attended meetings, and then came back to work on Lombardi's business."

That's true.

"Even so."

When I tried to ask back, Perez's finger gently rubbed the back of my hand.

"Just for a year. Yes?"

"One year...?"

"Yes. After that, I will do whatever Tia wants."

Perez said, tilting his head slightly.

It was morning, so his bangs that fell comfortably were gentle accordingly.

And ruby-like eyes, which seemed harmless in the world, were waiting for my answer.

"If it's only one year..."

I murmured blankly without realizing it.

No, calm down.

I can't fall for the beauty world.

However, my mind, which had returned slightly, was shaken again by the following words.

"It's because I'm worried about Tia."

"Are you worried about me?"

"Yes. In the future, your body will become heavier and more uncomfortable. I should be by your side."

That's true.

Now that I am in the early stages of my pregnancy, there is no problem, but in the future, going back and forth between imperial palace and Lombardi will become increasingly burdensome.

"Why don't you do as Your Majesty said?"

My father strengthened Perez's words.

"Originally, it would be right for you to live in the empress' palace, but it's a special situation in many ways. It is also the nobility's' tradition to stay at their wife's house after the wedding and move to their homes whenever they want."

There was nothing wrong with what my father said.

Nobles all move in that way.

"Hmm."

My father and Perez looked at me with gentle smiles, as if they were united.

I took turns looking at the two for a while and eventually nodded.

"Do whatever you want, Perez."

"Thank you."

Perez kissed the back of my hand that he was holding.

In the end, it was decided that Perez would live in Lombardi and go to and from the imperial palace.

But I had a strangely uncomfortable feeling.

I looked around with slightly squinted eyes, but all the family members were only eating with a peaceful face.

I think I've been tricked.

***

A few days after Perez's moving declaration.

A new daily life has begun.

"No, I thought so."

In fact, it was surprisingly normal.

After getting married, I thought a new chapter in my life was about to start.

My life was still the same as before.

Except that once a day, I had time to handle tasks related to the imperial family.

Knock, knock.

A man in a court uniform entered the office, which had only been visited by people from Lombardi all day.

It's been a few days since I've seen it, but it was amazing.

"Empress, how have you been?"

It was the only time I was called 'Empress'.

"Looking at yesterday. Did you have a good day, too?"

"Ah, yes. Thank you, I had a good time."

The face of the royal assistant answering was trembling.

He also served as an assistant to Lavini Angenas.

It seemed like he couldn't get used to my comfortable attitude.

I smiled for a moment at such an assistant and asked.

"What did you bring today?"

"It's about the renovation of Poilac Palace."

"I see."

I looked through the documents handed over by the assistant one by one.

Originally, it was my plan to go back and forth between Lombardi and the imperial palace.

However, as Perez's residence was moved to the Lombardi mansion, an environment where I could see the work of empress here naturally was created.

In other words, the efficiency of work has increased.

"Isn't it possible to postpone the extension to summer? Instead, repair the greenhouse before the rainy season comes..."

While I was voicing my opinions here and there, the assistant was busy writing down my words.

"Then let's do it like that in the south of Poilac Palace, and the real problem is the west."

"Well, Empress."

As soon as my words were finished, the assistant opened his mouth.

"What?"

"The renovation of Poilac Palace is not an urgent matter. So, you can take your time and think about it slowly..."

"Oh, yes. So what's the urgent matter?"

After a moment's hesitation, the assistant answered my question.

"There is not."

I tilted my head, not understanding.

"There is not any?"

"Empress has already taken care of all urgent matters."

"Already?"

I remembered the documents that went back and forth on my desk over the past few days.

It hasn't been that long.

How he had accepted my silence, the assistant carefully added.

"Because of my low ability, I dare to try to figure out if you are not happy with the work inside the palace."

Something was going wrong with the story.

"In the future, I will do my best to serve you with all my heart, so please do not overdo it..."

It seemed that there was a serious misunderstanding.

I raised a hand and said.

"No. I've never been overworked, Sir Stein."

The eyes of the middle-aged, slightly wrinkled, widened, as if he never thought I would remember his name.

"There has never been a time when I was dissatisfied with the job skills of the royal assistant. Rather, I am surprised every time, so don't worry."

"Empress..."

"I apologize for the unintentional rush. The palace has its own method. I overlooked that and pushed it my way."

"P-Please don't apologize."

Sir Stein shook his hand in surprise.

"Not at all. I was just worried that Empress' health, who had to take care of the Lombardi family, would be damaged."

"I know what you said that for me. And I'm not overdoing it at all. Rather, it's just fun to learn new things."

It has been a long time since I get used to the job as the head of Lombardi, which was difficult at first.

For me, new things as an empress gave me good ventilation.

"So please continue to take good care of me, Sir Stein. Oh, but if I get ahead like this, tell me again anytime."

"Empress..."

There was even light water in the eyes of Sir Stein who looked at me.

It was a familiar situation.

When did I see that expression again?

"I look forward to your kind cooperation."

Sir Stein bowed deeply.

"Yes, yes."

I changed the subject as if to appease Sir Stein.

"You said it wasn't urgent, but should we discuss more about Poilac Palace?"

"Yes, Empress."

It seemed like we will be a good team in the future.

***

Come to think of it, there was one more thing that changed in my daily life.

"You worked hard today too, Tia."

When I returned to the bedroom after work, Perez, who was reading a book, leaning on the bed, greeted me.

It was a very strange feeling.

When I come home from the end of the day, Perez, of course, is waiting for me.

As I stood still, Perez covered the book and approached me.

"What happened?"

A familiar touch swept my hair over.

"From now on."

"Yes, Tia."

"Are you going to keep doing this?"

This is what marriage is.

A little late realization flooded in.

When we open our eyes, the first thing we see is each other's faces, and before we go to sleep, we warm our bodies with each other's warmth.

Perez smiled happily, as if he had read all of my heart that could not be expressed in words.

"Yes, I will. For a very long time."

"...Marriage was greater than I thought."

"Well. It's something that I've been wanting for a long time."

"Long time ago? How long ago?"

"Hmm. Since the day Tia gave me candy?"

"Lies."

At that time, Perez was only a ten-year-old kid.

But has he been thinking about it since then?

"It's true."

Perez smiled softly.

"I thought about it every day. One day I could stay by Tia's side. It's not like that long time, but the imagination of you coming to me even if I wait just a few hours."

"Hey, how can you say that?"

I look like a bad person.

When I pushed his chest out without pain, Perez even grabbed my hand and kissed it.

"So now it feels like a dream. Every moment is precious, both in the carriage coming to Lombardi and waiting for you in the bedroom first."

"Perez, you..."

My voice was a little shaky inevitably.

"You really like me."

"I've always told you, Tia. You are more precious than anything else in the world."

At the end of his words, his warm lips touched lightly.

The scent of Perez permeated gently.

Is it okay to just receive this kind of affection?

His brushing made the tip of my nose wrinkled.

I lifted my heel slightly and kissed Perez's straight forehead, as he does to me as habitually.

"Me too. I'll do better too."

Perez, who blinked a little surprised by my kiss, hugged me tighter and said.

"You don't have to. Because Tia is already good enough. It's just."

"Just?"

"You just have to let me say this every day."

Perez came close and whispered.

"Great job." (*// You've worked hard.)

I closed my eyes involuntarily at the breath that I felt with sensitive flesh.

"I'm home, madam." (*// I've arrived home.// I'm back.)

"...You're like a fool."

As I listened to Perez's laughter flowing in my ear, I hugged him even tighter.

As hard as I could that my arm stiff.

And I made a resolution.

Let's be a bigger and stronger person so that we don't miss a single drop of this affection that is pouring on me.