(Orlax's POV)
"Okay? So why did you call me? Is there a problem?"
"Yes, actually, I'm currently in a dilemma and I really don't know how to act."
"Hmm, then explain it to me. Maybe I can help you."
"In short, there is someone I promised that I would grant any request they made, but they asked me to make them the Empress, and I don't know what to do."
Silence fell, and I heard nothing on the phone, so I checked if the call had been cut.
"Alice? Are you there?"
"Ah! Yes, I was a little shocked by what you said. So, are you calling now to break off our engagement or what?"
"Don't joke about this, Alice. It's impossible for me to leave you."
"I know. So, you don't know what to do now, right?"
"Yes."
"Just do what you want. You're the Emperor, after all. No one can stop you from doing what you want—not even me."
I pondered Alice's words for a moment and realized what she meant.
"I hadn't thought of it that way. Thank you, Alice. I now know what I'm going to do."
"You're welcome. Call me anytime you need me."
I hung up the phone, lay on my bed, and stared at the ceiling while finally finding a solution to the problem.
I closed my eyes and went to sleep, but half an hour later, I woke up completely terrified.
"That dream again? Why is it appearing again?"
I tried to sleep again, but once more, I dreamed that I was standing among corpses, and everyone began blaming me for not protecting them.
I remained in this state, trying to sleep, but to no avail.
Every time I closed my eyes, the scene appeared repeatedly until I finally gave up on sleeping and just sat on my bed.
"I... I can't sleep."
I finally concluded that this was a punishment for not keeping my promise.
"From now on, I must never make promises, because if I break another one, the punishment may be worse than this."
I got up from the bed, sat on the couch, took out my phone, and downloaded some games, continuing this way until morning.
I asked one of the servants to bring me clothes, then went to take a shower and changed into something simple.
I left the palace and climbed onto a relatively high building, observing.
Everyone woke up early and started cleaning the city, getting rid of the debris accumulated due to monster attacks.
I even saw Riana working with everyone, giving instructions to speed up the task.
'She's adapting well. She must now be responsible for the city and its people. That must be a huge pressure on her.'
I didn't just sit idle. I activated control magic and helped a few times by lifting heavy objects they couldn't lift.
Then, everyone saw me sitting on top of one of the houses and started greeting me.
I simply responded to their greetings and continued observing until the sun began to set.
Everyone went home, exhausted from the work, and I saw Riana heading to her house, so I got down from the rooftop and landed beside her.
"Kyaa!"
I looked at Riana in surprise because of the feminine scream I heard from her for the first time.
"It's you! Don't scare me like that! My heart almost stopped."
She placed her right hand over her heart, trying to calm her quickened breaths due to the shock.
"Have you reached the graduate level?"
I asked the question on my mind because I sensed a different energy coming from her.
"Yes, did you just notice?"
Riana puffed out her chest proudly, happy to have reached this level after being stuck at the same rank for six years.
"Congratulations."
"Thank you. Now, what is your answer to my request?"
Riana continued walking slowly, throwing a sideways glance at me while waiting for my reply.
"Alright, I will make you the Empress."
"Yes!"
Riana raised her hand excitedly upon hearing my answer.
"But—"
She stopped walking, and I looked directly into her eyes, speaking clearly so she could hear me well.
"You won't be the only Empress—Alice will also be Empress."
Yes, this is the decision I arrived at. Instead of breaking my promise to Riana or breaking off my engagement with Alice, I decided to make them both Empresses, and all problems would be resolved.
'What a genius I am.'
"..."
"..."
We both fell silent while Riana looked at me with a strange expression.
"Since when can there be two Empresses?"
"Since I decided so."
"..."
"..."
"You little—"
"What? I didn't hear you well."
Riana cut herself off before finishing her sentence to prevent me from hearing any complaints, then stepped forward.
"Sigh... The important thing is that I will become the Empress, and that's enough for me. Now, wear formal clothes and meet me in the backyard of my house in an hour."
"Alright."
After Riana entered her room, I headed to my room and took out the formal clothes I had prepared for the Baron's birthday party from the bag I had carried with me since I arrived here.
After sitting in my room for an hour, I went to the backyard.
I didn't find anyone, so I waited for a while until I heard footsteps behind me.
I turned to see her but froze at the sight.
Riana stood there, her red hair neatly combed back, revealing her entire face.
There were no traces of the scar on her face, making me think she had used makeup to cover it.
She wore a beautifully designed white tiara.
But what truly shocked me was that she was wearing a white wedding dress.
The dress was adorned with elegant engravings and hugged her body to highlight her beauty and balance.
"Beautiful."
These words escaped my lips automatically as I gazed at her, mesmerized by her breathtaking beauty.
"Thank you. Wearing these clothes makes me feel strange and a little shy."
"They suit you. You look very beautiful. But what are we doing here? And why are you dressed like this?"
"Didn't you agree to make me Empress? Then we will hold our wedding."
I looked left and right, scanning around, then returned my gaze to her.
"Here? Now? A wedding? Just the two of us?"
"Yes."
When I saw her face, which looked slightly shy because of her words, I was momentarily charmed by her beauty before quickly returning to reality.
"Why are we doing this now? I mean, we could have a big and beautiful wedding."
"I want to do it now."
Her words faltered as if she was hiding something, making me stare at her silently before finally sighing.
"If that's what you want, I have no problem with it."
After seeing my agreement, she finally relaxed.
"Alright, follow me."
I followed Riana silently until we arrived at a large hall.
There stood an elderly man with white hair holding a book, standing in an upright posture.
"Your Majesty, Lady Riana, welcome."
"Hello, Judge. What do we do now?"
After greeting the judge simply, Riana spoke with him, asking about the next step.
'She prepared everything. What exactly does she want to do to the point of marrying the person she hates? This really confuses me.'
"Please step forward."
We stood before the judge and waited for him to begin.
"Alright, I won't prolong the speech. I ask you now to make your vows to each other."
I looked at Riana, who was standing next to me, and started speaking first.
"I, Orlax Tirshtain, vow to you, Riana Elin, to stay with you in good times and bad, to protect you with my life, and to fulfill all my duties towards you."
"I, Riana Elin, vow to you, Orlax Tirshtain, to stay with you in good times and bad, to protect you with my life, and to fulfill all my duties towards you."
'How ironic—just a few hours ago, I swore never to make another promise again, and now I am making a lifelong vow.'
I laughed at myself and turned to the judge.
"Now that you have made your vows, I ask you, Orlax Tirshtain, do you accept Riana Elin as your wife?"
"Yes."
I answered immediately because I wanted to end this farce quickly and leave.
"Excellent. Riana Elin, I ask you, do you accept Orlax Tirshtain as your husband?"
"Yes."
Unlike me, Riana took a moment before answering.
"Excellent. By the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife. Your Majesty, you may now kiss the bride."
'A kiss?! Are you kidding me? I forgot about this part—damn it.'
While chaos erupted inside my mind, I stood facing Riana and slowly approached her.
Riana seemed so nervous that she closed her eyes, patiently waiting for me to finish quickly.
I placed my hand behind her neck, pulled her closer, and quickly kissed her.
It wasn't a deep kiss or anything—it was just a peck on the lips—but it allowed me to feel the softness of her lips and the warmth radiating from her.
I looked at Riana's face, which was flushed red from embarrassment.
'She looks adorable.'
I snapped out of my thoughts quickly when she opened her eyes and tried hard to suppress her embarrassment.
We moved towards the judge, signed the marriage certificate, and after finishing everything, we left the hall.
"Can you come with me for a few minutes?"