I Became the Master of the Empress - Chapter 284



Episode 288

Hearing Theodora’s voice, I chose not to respond and focused on the book in my hands.

If I met her gaze now, she would just start nagging again.

As I ignored her for a moment,

– Knock, knock!

The sound of knocking echoed again.

Should I just ignore it?

As that thought crossed my mind, the knocking rang out once more.

– Knock, knock!

“Ugh, who is it?”

“I am the Emperor of this Empire.”

Seriously, is she trying to assert her authority over me now?

I ignored her ridiculous behavior and concentrated on my book.

To be honest, I was a bit annoyed by her attitude.

I couldn’t tolerate her treating me like a child.

Besides, the book I was reading was quite interesting.

As I tried to immerse myself in the story again,

– Knock.

The knocking resounded once more.

“Who is it?”

“Your wife.”

Has she finally figured out what I wanted?

With a joyful heart, I opened the door.

—

There stood Theodora, her expression fraught with anxiety.

She was fidgeting, so I pulled her wrist and embraced her.

“Ah?”

“Because you’re my wife, I won’t overstep, right?”

She nodded slightly.

“Ha… but…”

Theodora seemed to have something more to say.

I brought my finger to her lips.

“Shh, no political talk in the Gold Area from now on.”

Seeing her expression, as if she had something to say, I kissed her…

“W-what? Here?”

“Why? Don’t you like it?”

“B-but, it’s close to Joy’s mother’s room?”

At her words, I gave a wicked smile.

“Then you can hold it in, right? A moan?”

With her face flushed, she shook her head vigorously.

“No way! Absolutely not!”

But would I really heed her words?

As we spent that heated night in the study.

– Knock, knock,

A familiar voice rang out.

– Sister, brother-in-law. It’s great that you’re making a baby, but it’s too loud for me to sleep.

“Eek?!”

“I… I’m sorry, sister-in-law.”

– No need to apologize, it’s only natural for a couple. But it would be nice if you could keep it to the bedroom.

As Joy’s cold voice faded, I heard the sound of small footsteps.

Has she left now?

“See? I told you not to!”

Theodora, nearly in tears, raised her nails and pinched her chest.

“I told you not to do that, but you forced it… Huh…”

—

“I’m sorry, Theodora.”

Soon, tears welled up in her red eyes, and I did my best to soothe her.

***

A few days later, on a certain day.

“What are you staring at, Theodora?”

She spoke with a look that suggested she was displeased.

“Why do you call me by my name?”

“Hmm?”

I felt puzzled by her sudden question.

“Well, it’s because…”

It’s familiar, right?

Originally, when we were getting married, our relationship was at its worst.

Until we dealt with the locusts, we were silent, unaware of each other’s feelings, just like now.

“From now on, call me by a nickname.”

“A nickname?”

“Terra.”

Ah… that feels a bit unfamiliar.

“Is it really necessary to use a nickname?”

To be honest, I had never called her by a nickname in the more than three years we had spent together.

Even in the palace, the only one who called her by a nickname was my mother-in-law.

“It’s necessary. Isn’t it uncomfortable to be called by your name all the time?”

“Is that so?”

At my words, Theodora nodded her head.

“Theodora is pretty, but… Terra is even prettier, don’t you think?”

Usually, family members use nicknames for each other.

Theodora Augustus is her full name.

If Theodora is the name used among acquaintances, then Terra is the nickname used within the family.

“Um… and I want to call you by your nickname too.”

My nickname is Devi, though?

It’s somewhat feminine, but it was a name given to me by my mother and sister Octavia because I looked delicate when I was young.

“Do whatever you want.”

I don’t really care whether she calls me by a nickname or not.

“De… Devi?”

But she spoke with a slightly trembling voice, as if it held great significance.

Is she really that shy about using a nickname when she does much worse at night?

“Why? Terra?”

I suddenly feel a bit embarrassed when I call her by her nickname too.

“Ugh…”

It’s just me using a nickname, yet Theodora—no, I should call her Terra now—bows her head deeply.

“Ugh… I can’t stand it!”

With that, she lunged at me, and I barely managed to satisfy her before falling asleep.

***

That weekend.

The day before the only day off in this six-day workweek.

Terra brought me a small glass of liquor.

“Darling, let’s have a drink.”

“What is this?”

A reddish liquid topped with an ivory powder.

There’s no way I could not recognize this.

Isn’t it made from unicorn horn and dragon heart?

I remember working energetically with this drink in the past.

“Ahem… I prepared this because my mother and Joy seem very interested in our child.”

Her words, burning up to her throat, leave me a bit dumbfounded.

“Did we not satisfy you after what we did yesterday?”

The very thing she begged for mercy about. If I drink this, I won’t be able to handle it any better.

Terra gives me a bright, playful smile, but is it just my imagination that the atmosphere feels somewhat ominous?

“Can’t we just drink it?”

Seeing her determination to make me drink it, even if it means forcing me with the Golden Knights, I complied and took a sip.

“By the way, you did it outside yesterday too, didn’t you?”

“Huh? But why?”

—

But suddenly, I felt a weakness in my body.

– Thud!

Suddenly, my legs gave out, and I collapsed.

“Wh-what’s wrong with my body?”

“Looks like the effects are working well? Indeed, alchemy has advanced quite a bit. Is there anyone outside?”

– Creak.

“Did you call for me?”

“The Duke doesn’t seem well; hurry and take him to bed.”

“W-wait a moment, Theodora? What is this?”

As the golden knights helped me gently onto the bed and left, I was met with her lifeless gaze.

“I asked you to do that inside yesterday… and you did it again? Debi, be prepared today.”

And so, I was truly drained throughout the night.

I thought I had really become a dairy cow that day.

The incredible potency of the unicorn’s horn combined with Theodora’s fierce obsession was so overwhelming that it was hard to bear.

Ah… I had thoroughly prepared for paralysis or poison, fearing I might be assassinated by Valoran back then…

But because of the high potency of the dragon heart, I couldn’t properly check the paralysis potion.

“Hmm…”

Theodora lay on top of me, breathing softly.

She looks cute like this, but I wonder if she really is that tyrant from last night.

An emperor who uses a paralysis potion to assault…

“Seriously, do you really want to have a child that badly?”

Now that I think about it, Mary and Sister Octavia do have children.

These days, my mother-in-law has been urging Joy to have a child.

So she can get married.

“Sigh… I don’t even know what’s what anymore.”

***

And so, several weeks passed, one morning.

When we gathered for a meal with the family.

“Ugh…!”

Tera doesn’t look well.

—

“Are you okay? You?”

I said hurriedly, patting her back.

“Call the palace doctor right now!”

Her pale face and the way she was gagging were anything but ordinary.

“Tera? No… could it be?”

But my mother-in-law’s face brightened.

No? How could my mother-in-law look happy when her daughter is sick? No… could it be?

“Dear, actually, I was going to tell you later…”

“Sister?! Are you pregnant?!”

At Joy’s words, Theodora nodded slightly.

“Yes, I’m pregnant.”

– Thud…

Pregnant? Pregnant, you say?

I was sure we hadn’t wanted a child yet, only having relations on safe days.

No, on unsafe days, we practiced withdrawal.

Pregnant… could it be… the day we used the paralysis drug?

“Ugh… how touching.”

My mother-in-law suddenly started to cry.

And Theodora’s eyes were slightly red.

Joy was beaming with a bright smile.

Watching them, I thought to myself that I alone must keep the secret of this child’s birth.

When the child grows up and learns that their mother was drugged by their father and got pregnant… it would be quite a shock, wouldn’t it?

After that, Theodora’s belly gradually grew, and under my mother-in-law’s strict orders for the child’s health, Theodora’s official duties were minimized.

And…

“Ugh… I’m dying.”

As my responsibilities increased, so did my workload.

The existing political system was divided between me and the chancellor, Alexander, with Theodora overseeing everything, but now I felt like I was going to die as I was appointed as the emperor’s regent, managing the entire realm.

“Dear, I want pudding.”

Seeing Tera lying on the grand study sofa, telling me she wanted pudding, I sighed.

“Ha, haven’t you gone yet? Staying up late isn’t good for your health, you know? Hurry and go to bed.”

It’s now past 11 PM.

Theodora, with nothing to do, comes to me every day, pestering me for this and that.

“I want that pudding, you know?”

She asks for the pudding with a slight frown.

“If you want it, just go get it yourself…”

Seeing her expression grow increasingly sour, I get up from my seat and scoop a spoonful of pudding from the table.

“Here, ah~”

“Ah~ Mmm… Hehe.”

After I fed her pudding once before, she keeps asking for more.

If I don’t give it to her, she sulks all day, and I worry her baby-like temperament will worsen, so I end up giving in every time.

This isn’t the kind of married life I envisioned.

I had imagined a life where I was in control, but at some point, I find myself almost completely at her mercy.

Perhaps… it’s because of the pregnancy?

Lately, I think I understand a bit why marriage is often called the grave of life.

“Ah?!”

I asked Theodora, who suddenly wore a startled expression.

“What’s wrong?”

“The baby… kicked me.”

“What?”

I looked at Theodora’s belly as she said that.

The bulging maternity dress.

A slightly larger belly hidden beneath it.

As I gazed at her belly slowly.

It moved.

“Is it really?”

To think my child is in there…

I gently stroke her belly, feeling a deep sense of emotion.