The Empress's Harem and Other Unwanted Side Hustles

The grand hall gradually emptied as nobles and delegates took their leave. The heavy doors swung open and shut, the soft shuffle of expensive shoes against the polished floor filling the air.

Liliana, ever the devoted queen, clung to Cassian's arm like a lifeline.

Diana tilted her head slightly, watching with vague amusement.

Cassian, of course, let her.

He didn't shake her off. Didn't even seem irritated.

It was just… the expected thing to do.

The perfect emperor with his perfect queen, following the perfect etiquette.

Diana sighed softly and swirled the red liquid in her glass.

Then took a sip.

Silence stretched for a moment—then a whisper ran through the remaining delegates.

Wait… is the Empress drinking wine?

Diana smirked against the rim of her glass.

Yes. Yes, she was.

From the very beginning of this meeting, Diana had only been drinking wine, while the rest sipped their tea or water with proper restraint.

A few nobles exchanged glances, but none dared to comment.

They had all seen the way Diana had slaughtered the discussion earlier—her sharp tongue slicing through the Holy Empire's demands with brutal precision.

Who would be foolish enough to scold her for drinking wine?

Not like they could make her drunk anyway.

A 6th-circle swordmaster had long surpassed mortal limitations. Alcohol was nothing but bitter water to her, its effects negligible.

Still.

She swirled the wine again, letting the deep red color catch the candlelight.

Bitter.

Just like everything else in this world.

She tilted her head back and finished the glass.

A shadow moved beside her.

Lucius.

Diana didn't turn to look at him, but she could feel his presence—still, quiet, dangerous.

The servants near the edges of the hall hesitated, unsure if they should continue cleaning or leave immediately.

Lucius was someone who made people uncomfortable without saying a word.

Then, finally, he spoke.

"The Holy Empire has been swallowed by a witch."

Diana placed her empty glass on the table.

Her golden eyes flickered with amusement.

"I did it."

Lucius glanced down at her, his dark crimson eyes unreadable.

Of course, he didn't question it.

Didn't demand an explanation.

It was Diana.

If she said she did it, then she did.

His gaze, however, flicked to the note in her hand.

A slip of parchment, written in elegant handwriting.

A secret invitation.

Cardinal Celline wanted to meet her.

Tonight.

At 11:00 PM.

Diana exhaled slowly.

So, she knows something.

Or, at the very least—

She suspects.

The chimera. The Holy Empire's hidden biological weapon.

The room was empty now, save for the two of them.

The grand hall, filled with murmurs and tension just moments ago, now stood eerily silent.

Diana's fingers curled around the note as she leaned back against the chair.

"Decrease the number of patrols in the Empress's palace tonight," she murmured.

Lucius gave her a long look.

Then, with a sharp nod, he disappeared.

The meeting was over.

But the night had just begun.

Far Away, in a Land Lost to Time…

The night sky stretched endlessly above an ancient land.

But in this place, the stars did not shine.

There was only the soft glow of a small lake, its waters reflecting the lonely figure standing at its edge.

A man knelt there, his long violet hair swaying with the wind.

His crimson-red eyes gazed into the water's surface, his expression calm—too calm.

As if he had long since abandoned the need to feel anything at all.

Chains bound his arms and legs.

They glowed faintly, etched with ancient runes, the weight of them eternal.

Beside him, a woman with flowing green hair and sorrowful peach-colored eyes watched in silence.

Yggdrasil, the guardian of the world tree.

And the only other being who could understand his existence.

"…She has returned," Raphael murmured, his voice barely a whisper.

Yggdrasil lowered her gaze.

"…Yes."

Raphael laughed.

A quiet, solemn sound.

Filled with bitterness.

Filled with longing.

He looked back down at his reflection.

His reptilian pupils narrowed slightly, glowing faintly in the dim light.

"Does she remember?" he asked.

Silence.

Yggdrasil didn't answer.

And that was enough.

Raphael closed his eyes, exhaling slowly.

Of course.

Of course, she didn't.

Diana had made a contract with him.

A contract that should have lasted forever.

And yet.

She had forgotten.

Her promise.

Their oath.

Their life before.

"…Fate is cruel," he murmured.

Yggdrasil's hands clenched at her sides.

Raphael had always been waiting.

Always.

Through war.

Through centuries.

Through endless time.

He had never left.

He had never stopped believing.

But now—

Now, he could do nothing.

Not yet.

So, he would continue to wait.

Wait until Diana remembered.

Until she returned.

And if she never did?

Raphael's crimson eyes gleamed as he gazed at the reflection of the solitary tree beside the lake.

A tree that had stood since the beginning of time.

"…Then I will remind her."

As the only remaining guardian of the world.

As an ancient dragon who had waited through lifetimes.

He would remind her.

No matter how long it took.

*****

The candlelight flickered gently, casting soft shadows over the quiet bedroom.

Diana stood by the bedside, gazing at the small figure curled up beneath the blankets.

Lucien.

His black hair spilled over the pillow, strands falling messily across his forehead. His tiny hands clutched the edge of the blanket, his breaths soft and steady.

He was only five.

Five, and yet Diana hesitated to let him sleep in his own room.

Her fingers twitched as she reached forward—then stopped just short of brushing his hair away.

"…Haa."

She exhaled slowly before carefully adjusting the blanket, tucking him in properly.

Lucien didn't stir.

Diana turned her head slightly.

Ellise stood near the door, her back straight, her expression neutral but her eyes filled with silent understanding.

Diana gave her a brief nod.

Ellise lowered her head deeply in response before stepping back and quietly closing the door behind her.

Outside, Evan stood frozen in place.

His fingers twitched at his sides.

His entire posture screamed hesitation.

As if stepping into the room beyond that door was harder than anything else he had ever faced.

Diana's golden eyes swept over him, her gaze unreadable.

Evan was proof.

Proof that the Holy Empire's experiments had been real.

That their sins existed.

That he existed.

But now—

Thanks to Lucien's unwavering persistence.

Thanks to the quiet warmth that only a child could give—

Evan had started to change.

Little by little.

One step at a time.

Still.

Diana could see the wariness in his shoulders.

The lingering chains wrapped around his soul.

She didn't speak.

She didn't push.

Instead, she turned and walked forward.

Lucius was sprawled across the couch like a man who had long since abandoned the idea of proper manners.

He stretched out lazily, yawning as if the upcoming meeting meant absolutely nothing to him.

Across from him, Celline sat stiffly, her hands folded neatly over her lap.

Her expression was calm.

But Diana could see it.

The tension in her shoulders.

The way her fingers gripped the fabric of her robes just a little too tightly.

She was waiting.

Waiting for Diana.

Waiting for answers.

Lucius yawned again, tossing an arm over his eyes.

"Finally," he muttered. "Took you long enough."

Diana ignored him.

Instead, she walked to the chair and sat down, crossing her legs with effortless ease.

Immediately, Evan moved closer—half-hiding behind her chair, his gaze sharp as he stared at Celline.

Diana's golden eyes flickered slightly.

Dark magic instincts.

They were conditioned to flinch in the presence of divinity.

To obey it.

Even now, Diana could sense the faint tremor in Evan's body.

The way his breathing hitched ever so slightly.

But he didn't back down.

Didn't run.

His fingers clenched into the fabric of Diana's sleeve.

"…It's fine," Diana said softly, her voice steady.

Evan didn't respond.

But his grip eased—just a little.

Diana finally turned her attention back to Celline.

Calmly, she began to speak.

She explained everything.

Well.

Not everything.

She omitted the truth about her rebirth, of course.

The future was a dangerous thing to reveal.

But she gave her the facts.

The reality of what was happening.

And most importantly—

The truth about the Holy Empire's sins.

The room fell into silence.

Celline's breathing had turned shallow.

Her hands trembled as she pressed them against her lap.

Diana could see it—

The weight of realization.

The overwhelming guilt crashing down on her all at once.

And then—

She fell to her knees.

A choked sob tore from her lips.

Tears spilled freely down her cheeks as she lowered her head, her shoulders trembling violently.

"Oh, for the great sin we have committed…"

Her voice broke.

Evan stiffened, his eyes narrowing as he glared at her.

When Celline instinctively moved forward, he reacted instantly—

His fingers clawed into Diana's sleeve.

His entire body tensed, his breath quick and uneven.

Diana didn't stop him.

Didn't push him away.

Instead, she simply glanced at Celline.

The woman's expression crumbled further when she noticed Evan's reaction.

Her lips trembled.

"…I am sorry," she whispered.

She bowed deeply, pressing her forehead against the floor.

"I am sorry…"

The words fell from her lips over and over again.

Tears soaked into the fabric of her robes as she continued to apologize.

Evan's breathing remained uneven.

His fingers twitched against Diana's sleeve.

But he didn't speak.

Didn't yell.

Didn't cry.

He only watched.

Diana sighed softly.

"…Crying will not undo what has already been done," she murmured.

Her voice wasn't harsh.

Nor was it gentle.

It was simply the truth.

Celline flinched.

But she nodded.

"…Yes."

She swallowed thickly.

"I know."

She lifted her head slowly, her face streaked with tears.

"But at the very least—"

Her gaze turned to Evan.

"I want to ask for forgiveness."

Evan stared at her.

His golden eyes burned with something deep—

Something dark.

Something shattered.

Forgiveness?

Forgiveness for what?

For everything they had taken from him?

For the pain they had inflicted?

For turning him into something that wasn't even human anymore?

"…Tch."

He turned his head away.

The rejection was silent, but it was clear.

Celline's hands curled into fists, but she accepted it.

Diana watched quietly.

She did not interfere.

This was something Evan had to decide for himself.

A long silence stretched between them.

Then—

Lucius let out an exaggerated groan from the couch.

"Alright, enough of this depressing nonsense," he drawled, sitting up lazily.

Diana gave him a blank look.

Lucius smirked.

"What? I'm just saying, we all have a lot of sins to deal with, but we don't have all night to cry about them."

Evan scowled.

Celline let out a shaky breath, wiping her eyes.

Diana leaned back in her chair.

"…It's getting late."

Celline sniffled and nodded, gathering herself.

"Yes."

She reached into her robes, pulling out a small pendant.

She hesitated for a moment—then placed it on the table.

"I will look into the chimera project," she said quietly.

"And if… if I find anything—"

Her gaze locked with Diana's.

"I will tell you."

Diana stared at her for a long moment.

Then, finally, she nodded.

The air in the room felt lighter somehow.

Not fixed.

Not healed.

But acknowledged.

As Celline stood, Evan stepped back further, his expression guarded.

But his hands were no longer shaking.

Diana exhaled.

There was still much to do.