WTSP - 6

Since when had he been here?

As if it were his own room, Serdelius sat at the table sipping tea. Startled, I froze in place.

He pushed the now-empty teapot aside and rose slowly from his seat.

Caught in an awkward half-sitting, half-lying position, I forced a strained smile.

Had Lena covered for me well? What excuse could I use to fool him completely? My mind was tangled like a ball of yarn, overwhelmed with worries and thoughts.

One step, two steps—he approached me, his signature arrogant expression etched on his face as he looked down at me.

“Exactly two hours and forty minutes. I drank four cups of hot tea. How many people in this empire dare keep the emperor waiting for so long?”

“Uh, I must’ve dozed off while bathing… I tend to sleep a lot.”

“You fell asleep with the deputy commander of the Imperial Knights?”

Even as I hastily fabricated the excuse, its lack of plausibility was glaringly obvious. Just as I scrambled to add more details, Serdelius leaned closer, tilting his head slightly.

By now, our faces were so close that our noses nearly touched. Despite my flustered state, I couldn’t help but notice how breathtakingly handsome he was.

What on earth did this man eat to look like this? Even though I, as the author, had designed his appearance, it felt almost unfair—like cheating.

Absolute power as emperor, godlike beauty, and a physique that rivaled any knight. No matter how much of a male lead he was supposed to be, his character design was undeniably excessive.

‘Ah, right. At least his nasty personality balances things out.’

Gulp. The sound of me swallowing echoed in my ears. It’s only natural for your heart to race when you see someone this attractive…

His mesmerizing green eyes reflected my face entirely. Feeling too close for comfort, I shifted back slightly. Still, no matter what, this proximity was far too intimate.

Serdelius clearly wasn’t pleased.

How could I possibly escape this situation gracefully? Before the silence stretched too long, I managed to blurt out a clumsy excuse.

“I haven’t been feeling well lately, so I took a short walk around the palace in comfortable clothes.”

“And yet you wore such atrocious shoes.”

His gaze flickered briefly to my feet before returning to my face.

“Oh, I’ll definitely wear those shoes you gave me starting tomorrow. I promise.”

Mentioning that I’d worn them to visit the empress earlier would only sound like another weak excuse.

Serdelius still wore an inscrutable expression.

Shouldn’t authors get some kind of bonus, like telepathy with their characters? Not being able to read his mind felt frustratingly unfair.

Staring at me with cold, calculating eyes, Serdelius lowered his gaze slightly.

His expression twisted oddly as he gazed at my unblemished neck. It was impossible to tell whether he was angry or lost in thought.

“The necklace I bestowed upon you seems to have been discarded. Did you not hear that all empresses are required to wear their gifts from the emperor?”

“The necklace…”

Instinctively, I fiddled with the base of my neck where the accessory should have been. Was he upset because I hadn’t worn the gift he’d given me?

But his expression was ambiguous—not quite filled with rage.

‘I don’t know how honest I can afford to be here.’

It feels like shackles, Your Majesty. How could I possibly say that to this merciless emperor?

After a brief pause to gather my thoughts, I shrugged nonchalantly, attempting to change the subject.

“…I didn’t want to feel bound. That’s all.”

“Bound, you say. Even your choice of words is peculiar.”

“Anyway, what brings you here today?”

“…In three days, there will be a grand imperial party celebrating the 420th anniversary of the founding of the empire. It will be your official debut as a member of the royal family.”

Had my response irritated him? Serdelius ran his fingers through his hair as he relayed the information.

The palace hosted parties five or six times a year—not just for the emperor, empress, or crown prince’s birthdays but also for national celebrations, inviting nobles from across the empire.

The Founding Anniversary Party was no different. Reflecting on Serdelius’ words, I raised my head to meet his gaze.

“Did you come all the way here just to tell me that? You could’ve sent word through the maids.”

“You’re a strange one, Empress.”

With eyes locked onto mine, Serdelius delivered an abrupt non sequitur.

I tried to decipher his emotions, but his expression was a tangled web—nostalgic, intrigued, bewildered—all woven together into something indecipherable.

An awkward silence lingered. Narrowing his eyes, he took a step back.

“Then let us meet again in three days.”

With that, he vanished through the door before I could even respond.

Staring blankly at the empty space where Serdelius had stood, I snapped out of my daze when I heard a choked sob.

When had she entered? Lena stood there, her tear-filled eyes fixed on me. Her face looked gaunt, evidence of the emotional turmoil she must’ve endured during my absence.

“Your Majesty…”

“Oh dear. I’m so sorry, Lena. You must’ve suffered so much while I was gone. Don’t cry, okay?”

“I’m sorry… I should’ve come up with a better excuse…”

Her beloved mistress had disappeared, only for the absolute authority of the empire to appear moments later. Even without seeing it, I could easily imagine the scene.

To console Lena, who sniffled adorably, I handed her a piece of chocolate from the untouched desserts Serdelius had left behind.

“Eating something sweet will make you feel better. I’m really sorry.”

Watching Lena nibble on the chocolate with both hands, her cuteness melted away my guilt.

After handing her various other desserts, I sank into a chair by the now-empty table, lost in thought.

The 420th anniversary of the empire’s founding…

This event had certainly appeared in A Common Girl Becomes Empress.

…So that meant we were around Chapter 20 of the novel.

I remembered this as the point where Brilline, the protagonist, solidified her position in the palace under Serdelius’ affection.

But conflict-free novels are boring, after all.

This was also the chapter where the main antagonist—the first empress—began to play a pivotal role.

‘The war between the first empress and Brilline will unfold. If I don’t want to get caught in the crossfire, I need to tread carefully.’

Having pieced together the plot progression in my mind, I collapsed onto the bed and stared at the ceiling.

Gradually, I was growing accustomed to Ophelia’s life—from protecting Rovair to tangling with Serdelius. Was my desire to return to the real world fading?

No, the truth was, I still had no idea how to return. For now, dying seemed like the most plausible option. If Ophelia’s life ended, perhaps I could become Seo Yeon-hee again.

My head spun with confusion. Until I figured out a concrete plan, I resolved to focus on living as Ophelia.

Gently patting my cheeks, I eventually drifted into a deep sleep.

---

“Your Majesty, you look absolutely stunning! Like the goddess of winter herself.”

“How about these earrings? They match your eye color perfectly, Empress.”

It was chaos.

Three days after the emperor’s visit, I faced the greatest challenge of my 24-year-old life.

Surrounded by seven enthusiastic maids, I endured endless grooming sessions.

There was no moment of peace for my ears. I tried on over ten dresses, swapping them repeatedly, and tested countless earrings until my earlobes ached. I doubted I’d ever get used to this.

How many hours had passed already? The preparations had started at dawn, yet noon approached with no end in sight.

“Um, Evelin… This dress looks fine, doesn’t it?”

“But there are so many dresses to choose from, Your Majesty! What about this purple one?”

Evelin was undoubtedly the most passionate maid. Having served in the palace for less than two years, she threw herself wholeheartedly into dressing me up.

Honestly, even I had to admit Ophelia looked divine.

Her porcelain skin, snowflake-like hair, and peach-tinted cheeks made her resemble a living doll.

If I’d owned such a beautiful doll as a child, I might’ve spent entire days playing dress-up with her. So, I understood the maids’ enthusiasm, even if it was overwhelming.

Still, this was too much.

“All right, everyone, listen up. I’m wearing the earrings Empress Brilline gave me. As for shoes, I’ll wear the ones gifted by the emperor. And I’ve decided on this dress—it’s perfect. We’re done.”

Finally, I raised my hands in surrender, spilling out my decision in rapid-fire fashion. If I let them continue, I feared I might collapse.

Disappointed but resigned, Lena suddenly clapped her hand over her mouth as if remembering something.

“Oh, Your Majesty! You must wear the necklace you received during the coronation. It’s tradition for empresses!”

“The necklace?”

A silver chain sparkled on the box, adorned with a black gemstone pendant. It was the gift Serdelius had mentioned three days ago.

Staring at the necklace for a moment, I quickly averted my gaze and shook my head.

He hadn’t explicitly ordered me to wear it—or to take it off.

Despite Evelin’s protests, stomping her feet and insisting it was too beautiful not to wear, I remained firm.

“It doesn’t suit today’s style. Let’s skip it.”

“But the other empresses will surely wear theirs! Oh, Your Majesty…”

“The emperor will be so pleased if you wear it! Please?”

Even as Lena and Evelin pleaded with adorable expressions, I held my ground.

‘…I never liked that piece of jewelry from the start.’

Defeated, the maids reluctantly turned their attention to makeup.

Watching them passionately debate colors, I felt a pang of fondness. Honestly, it hadn’t been that long since I met them.

The grooming ordeal finally ended past one o’clock in the afternoon.

Though the party had already begun, it was customary for the emperor and royal family to make their entrance last. The order was the empresses first, followed by the crown prince, the empress, and finally the emperor.

Taking a deep breath to calm my nerves, I headed toward the banquet hall.

This would be the gathering where I’d meet the main and supporting characters of A Common Girl Becomes Empress.

I hoped desperately that nothing unusual would happen this time, though whether the story would follow my wishes remained uncertain.

Creak—the heavy doors of the banquet hall opened with the groan of old hinges.

Well then, let’s get through today too. Ophelia Meredith.