Chapter 103: She in the Empire

Inside the Imperial Palace, even at night, the lights remained bright and unyielding.

Outside the window, a fine drizzle tapped against the glass, rousing the silver-haired girl, Gerard, from her slumber.

With a displeased expression, she climbed out of the spacious bed and stretched her delicate body, leaning against the soft headboard.

The faint moonlight filtering through the curtain’s gap spilled onto her fair skin, smooth and radiant.

At this, she couldn’t help but furrow her brows; perhaps it was the reflection of herself in those pale blue eyes that displeased her so.

She liked Emilia, but that didn’t mean she wanted to become her.

What kind of nonsense was that, she muttered softly, her rosy lips moving just a little.

Her slender jade hand covered her troubled face, and after letting out a long sigh, she stumbled off the bed, as if trying to adjust to her body—awkward and uncoordinated.

Her pale feet touched the cold floor with a slight click of the tongue, but she quickly adapted.

She walked slowly, like a lion patrolling its territory.

Dressed in an oversized male nightgown, she looked like a child wearing adult clothes—the pants dragging on the floor as she moved, loose and baggy.

Yet it did nothing to diminish her beauty; truly, being pretty gave one the privilege to do as they pleased.

Right now, she was still very much a girl’s figure, naturally unable to fit into male clothing from before.

This situation wasn’t surprising; it was only reasonable that, at present, the only well-fitting clothes in the palace were women’s.

But it was simply impossible to consider that—after all, she was a man and had to act like one.

As she thought about this, her mind spiraled into countless thoughts.

Emilia… my dear Emilia.

Drool unconsciously dripped from her mouth, and as a result, she missed her footing.

Her right foot tripped over her left, and she fell hard onto the floor, smashing her elbow against the ground.

Her elbow reddened instantly, and she cried out in pain, writhing on the floor.

Her commotion drew an unexpected visitor outside the door.

“What’s going on?”

Duke O’Rae entered without hesitation, his steps resolute, as if marching into a party.

In his plans, Gerard transformed into a woman was indispensable.

He furrowed his brow slightly as he looked at the familiar face before him, momentarily flustered.

He quickly regained composure, his eyes revealing boredom and indifference.

After all, looking alike didn’t mean being the same person.

Beautiful appearances were all alike, but souls were one in a million.

Emilia held such a special place in his heart precisely because she was extraordinary.

Unlike the powdered faces of other Imperial nobles… she was so captivating that every time he recalled their first meeting, his heart fluttered.

Returning to reality, he found himself even more disgusted with Gerard.

Politeness and respect still lingered on his lips, even if unnecessary—it was the ingrained nature of a smiling fox.

“Emperor Gerard, are you alright? You must take care of yourself; you are important now, not only to the Empire but to me as well—an indispensable part.”

He paused, feeling that sounded somewhat inappropriate.

So he added a straightforward sentence.

“You wouldn’t want to never be with Emilia again after your resurrection, would you?

Nor would you want to remain a man forever.”

It was clear they had spoken at length in private, reluctantly reaching some kind of agreement—a temporary truce.

One might ask, after baring their hearts, how could they form an alliance without discomfort?

There’s simply no such thing as forever friends or enemies—only forever interests.

Moreover, Gerard had no choice but to cooperate; the options were cooperation or getting kicked out.

Resist? She was nothing but a frail girl now, too weak to even hold a chicken.

Her face looked like one punch would make her cry for a whole day.

Clearly, she chose cooperation—more promising and hopeful than being tossed aside.

Anyone would make that choice, especially a man who once was.

“Alright, alright, you’re really annoying, treating me like a tool.

If there’s nothing else, get out and don’t bother me again. Go, go, go.

Just seeing you irritates me.”

Gerard’s tone was unmistakably harsh, bordering on outright dislike.

This man was duplicitous, always throwing out heartfelt words at the slightest provocation.

She then staggered to her feet, leaning against the wall, rubbing her stomach as if calming a hunger.

After a while, she raised her hand to shoo him away.

Unexpectedly, Duke O’Rae endured it all.

He was a master of patience, after all.

There was no rush—revenge would come eventually, no need to act hastily or speak impulsively.

“Of course, Emperor Gerard, I will leave soon enough.

But before I go, I hope you’ll listen to what I have to say.

It might be unpleasant, but please don’t take it personally.

Even if you do, I’ll finish speaking and then leave.”

Perhaps feeling confident from holding the upper hand, his tone was humble yet arrogant.

“From now on, I will arrange everything for you.

You just need to obey and not overthink or ask too many questions.

Even if you do ask, it won’t matter—you’ll still have to comply.

For example, tomorrow I will arrange for you to go to the church to study the holy training Emilia once underwent.

Don’t worry, it’s difficult, and it’s also to keep the plan from being exposed—we have to act the part fully.”

“What? That’s not what you told me before, O’Rae!

You’re lying again, thinking I’m easy to fool? Remember that.”

Gerard was momentarily stunned, her expression blank.

She had never heard of having to do this.

Holy training?

Was that really something a man like her should do?

Before, he said she’d just be a mascot—now she’d been tricked.

Originally, she planned to ask more.

But her mouth quickly shut, realizing further words were futile.

She had learned her lesson, becoming wiser though not by much.

Grinding her teeth, her face grim, she protested with her expression, knowing refusal was pointless.

Reality was harsh and merciless, but still within what she could bear.

As long as she could live to see Emilia again, to be forgiven by her, it was all worth it.

Unexpectedly, Duke O’Rae continued his verbal assault, each word like a blade piercing her final defenses.

“Also, starting tomorrow, you will be forced to wear women’s clothing.

That means no more wearing men’s clothes.

Emilia would never wear anything that would ruin her image.

A holy maiden should look like a holy maiden.

A woman should look like a woman. That’s all there is to it.”

“No, no, I’m a man… how can I—”

Gerard’s protest was fierce, but her objections were ignored.

With a heavy slam of the door cutting off the conversation, Duke O’Rae left without leaving any room for discussion or negotiation.

The young girl was left alone to endure her suffering.

Once the door shut, she could no longer hold back and erupted into a tirade, venting her frustration.

She lay sprawled on the floor, thrashing and screaming, her slender hands clutching her head as her mind trembled violently.

“Ahhhhh, bastard! What kind of heavenly law have I broken?

If only I’d killed you at the start, none of this humiliation would have happened!

For Emilia, just to live to see Emilia again, I…”

It was clear she was trying to convince herself, but her instincts fought back fiercely, the left brain attacking the right.

Being resurrected was hard enough, and now she’d landed with this bastard, forced to do the unreasonable…