The Dangerous Honeymoon Diary of the Fake Empress

Thank you for saying I love you……? Uh…… this wasn’t part of my plan.

It wasn’t a word of gratitude I was expecting. I only said those words to make myself appear as a cunning spy to him… But hearing an unexpected expression of gratitude left me a bit stunned.

“Bride?” Jeremy looked at me with concern as I stood still.

Oh, I was so lost in thought. I was spacing out too much. I belatedly regained my composure and stuttered out my words. Honestly, I was so flustered that I didn’t even know what I was saying.

“Uh….. I mean, um. Next time if those guys start trouble again….. I’ll kick them until their buttocks are sore.”

Perhaps my words were amusing because Jeremy let out a small chuckle. As I happily watched his reaction, I heard a fake cough coming from the side.

“Ahem!”

When I turned my head, Retin was giving me an extremely disapproving look.

“What’s the matter with you, Sir Retin? If you have a sore throat, why don’t you get yourself a glass of warm water?”

“…….”

Retin pouted at my words.

“…..It’s not a sore throat. It was just a fake cough. It happens in uncomfortable and unpleasant situations.”

Retin seemed determined to direct his hostility at me. Well, it wasn’t that I didn’t understand.

‘In Retin’s eyes, I must only appear as a cunning spy, after all.’

I didn’t feel like engaging in a conversation with Retin would accomplish anything, so I turned my body completely towards Jeremy.

“By the way, the banquet isn’t over yet, right? I’m fine now, so I want to get up.”

“No, you can’t. You have a bruise on the back of your neck. You need to rest.”

Jeremy stopped me firmly as I tried to push myself out of bed. With a gentle push on my shoulder, I was forced to lie back down.

“I’m fine, really.”

“Are you saying it’s fine when there’s a bruise on your neck, Milady?” Retin raised a skeptical eyebrow as he asked. There was suspicion in his blue eyes.

“Yes, I’m fine. It’s nothing.”

As a knight, I was accustomed to dealing with injuries. Even if I weren’t a knight, I wouldn’t have considered this level of injury to be significant.

Having lived a life different from ordinary young ladies, who only experience minor cuts when they prick their fingers, I had a different perspective.

“I’ve been thinking you’re strange since earlier. What kind of life have you lived, Milady?” 

Retin seemed to find my behavior peculiar.

“You jumped off the second-floor terrace without hesitation and said you were fine, even with a bruise.”

‘You caused that bruise, didn’t you?’ 

I sighed, suppressing my sense of injustice, and looked directly at Retin before speaking.

“I lived my life as an aspiring knight until I became an imperial princess.”

Though discrimination existed, even among noble ladies, there were occasionally those who pursued the profession of a knight.

It wasn’t an unusual setting, so I answered without hiding anything.

“This kind of bruise doesn’t bother me much. I sometimes got injured during sword training.”

“Sword training? A lady in a dress with a sword.”

I had even sneaked into the prince’s palace to watch and participate in the swordplay. Retin’s tone clearly seemed condescending, which annoyed me a bit.

With a playful smile, I asked Retin, “What’s wrong with wearing a dress?” and he raised the corner of his mouth slightly.

“Of course, Milady. If you want, I can spar with you even without a sword, using just my bare hands.”

“What’s the fun in sparring with me barehanded? Give it your all.”

“….?”

Retin looked at me with an expression that seemed to say, “What kind of confidence is this?” 

I narrowed my gaze and smirked, “Even if you come at me with an axe, I’ll spar with you.”

I will still win.

With a playful smile, I countered Retin’s words. 

Puzzled by my unwavering confidence, Retin raised an eyebrow.

“Aren’t you afraid of getting hurt? Seriously hurt.”

“Yeah. But don’t worry too much, I’ll be sure to control my strength so that Sir Retin doesn’t get hurt.”

“You mean ……the lady, not me.”

“I’ve wanted to correct you for a while now, but it’s not ‘noble lady’ anymore; it’s ‘imperial princess,’ you rascal.”

I subtly changed Retin’s title to “rascal” and called him by that name. In response, Retin’s mouth hung open, and he wore a perplexed expression. He seemed to be questioning whether he had misheard, as he pricked up his ears in disbelief.

“Ra……?”

“That’s why I’m asking you to call me by my proper title.”

“Aren’t ‘rascal’ and ‘lady’ completely different forms of address…..?”

“They’re similar. Rascal or noble lady, it doesn’t matter.”

Shrugging my shoulders, I teased him, and he let out a wry laugh.

“Hmm. Well, very well, if you beat me, I’ll call you the Imperial Princess, young lady.”

Retin narrowed his eyes like a fox. I met his eyes and let out a small sigh inwardly.

‘Hmm… I wonder if I’ll have to deal with Retin’s antics even in this life.’

Retin had been unwaveringly loyal to Jeremy in the previous life.

When many of Jeremy’s close aides left after he started acting foolishly at the age of ten, Retin was the only one who remained by his side.

As a twelve-year-old boy at the time, he became a knight and even acted as Jeremy’s escort. Honestly, I felt both joy and gratitude that someone like him was by Jeremy’s side.

However, separate from that, the thought of continuing to clash with Retin in this life made my head dizzy.

* * *

After announcing that I would bathe and relax my tense neck muscles, I entered the bathroom.

“I don’t need a maid to bathe me, I’ll do it myself.”

I couldn’t afford to show my body to the maids, as I had a secret about it that must not be discovered.

After dismissing all the maids, I undressed. As I removed my clothes, a red jewel embedded between my collarbones came into view. It was the secret of my body.

Shadow Knights, after swearing loyalty to their master, have an “Oath Gem” embedded in their bodies. An “Oath Gem” emits a faint electric stimulation in situations when the master calls for it or when it is needed.

In cases where the master’s life is in grave danger, a strong electric shock is felt. I heard that in such situations, the pain is so intense that one would want to tear off the gem with their own hands.

And sometimes it’s even worse. Strong enough to put a Shadow Knight’s life in danger.

‘For disobeying orders.’

It is called “Punishment,” and many Shadow Knights have lost their lives because of it.

‘That’s how I died, too, in my first life…….’

At the memory of how painfully I died in my first life, I felt a rush of horror that made me want to take the jewel off immediately.

‘But it’s not something I can just remove at will.’

The jewel could only be removed by the master. It was designed so that if you tried to force it off, or smashed it, you would lose your life.

‘I wonder if the day will ever come when I can take it off.’

I ran my fingers along the gem and frowned, my body somehow remembering the pain. 

* * *

“You’re not asleep yet?”

I thought he would be sleeping already, but Jeremy was lying in bed, wide awake.

“Mm-mn. Waiting for the bride.”

He patted the seat next to him. I swallowed hard and slowly eased myself down next to him.

‘I’ve been doing this for over two years, and I’m still not used to it.’

Is it because it’s next to the person I love the most? I’ve been sleeping in the same bed for over two years if you count the regression. Yet, I still felt awkward. My toes curling and my cheeks warming – that kind of feeling.

“Come closer. Otherwise, you might fall off the bed.”

The bed was spacious, but I was lying almost at the edge. No, I was practically hanging off. Because of that, there was enough space between Jeremy and me for two more people to lie down.

“Huh?” I stammered.

Jeremy stared at me, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.

I wondered why his lips were so moist today, and how his eyes looked the way they did. They looked like they were full of mauve flowers, fragrant and somehow sexy…….

“Bride, you have a strange expression on your face.”

I froze for a moment at Jeremy’s words. What was I thinking just now?

‘I’m such an impure being. How could I have such dirty, swamp-like thoughts in front of someone like him……’

I looked at Jeremy’s innocent expression and cursed myself.

“Oh, it’s nothing.”

Startled by Jeremy’s observation, I moved closer to his side. However, due to getting too close, our shoulders touched, and I winced away once again, creating a distance of about a hand’s breadth. Jeremy, who had been observing the situation with a smile, opened his mouth.

“I’m telling you. I never thought I’d be lying like this with someone in my life.”

“Why?”

“Because Jeremy thought he would never get married. Jeremy’s an idiot.”

My heart sank at the admission that he was an idiot.

“Don’t say that. I don’t know about anyone else, but not in front of me.”

‘I’m telling you, you’re not an idiot. You’re the smartest person in the world. I know that pretending to be an idiot is necessary for your safety, but it still saddens me at times like these.’

Like this afternoon. I’d been getting so frustrated with all the people making fun of him for being an idiot. I beat the crap out of them today, but some day he’d be on his own without me or Retin.

‘That’s absolutely not acceptable. It’s unacceptable.’

I couldn’t bear to see that. So, even though it might be a bit excessive, I decided to inform him of a few things.

“Prince. There’s something I forgot to tell you earlier.”

“Mmh?”

“If anyone ever calls you an idiot,…… beat them up with your fist.”

“Huh?” Jeremy blinked, as if my words had taken him by surprise. “Jeremy’s never swung a fist before.”

“Don’t worry about that. I’ll teach you.”

Filled with determination, I firmly grasped Jeremy’s hand. Then I wrapped his hand into a fist.

“You’re going to hit them with this protruding bone – your knuckles – here.”

“Hit them…?”

“Yes, like this.”

I swung my fist towards the empty air. Jeremy, who had a peculiar expression at my mention of knuckles, watched my hand extending into the air.

“Like this?”

Soon after, he extended his fist following my lead.

“You did well,” I chuckled.

Jeremy, who followed the demonstration so easily, looked adorable, and without realizing it, I reached out my hand to touch his hair.

As the soft sensation spread between my fingers, I finally started to regain my senses.

Oh no, this reckless hand of mine has caused trouble in the end. However, it seemed strange to withdraw my hand afterwards.

‘Since it has come to this, I should make it look intentional, as if I’m trying to captivate the prince.’

“Are you following along well? Hehe.”

With a playful smile, I smoothly slid the hand that was brushing through his hair down towards his smooth cheek. Hoping that my actions would appear seductive, like trying to enchant my target.

“…….”

But soon, I reached my limit. Jeremy didn’t show any particular reaction, and I felt extremely embarrassed about the hand touching his cheek.

Yeah, what does a femme fatale have to do with me……. I tried to hide my embarrassment and lowered my hand.

Jeremy, who seemed only slightly surprised, quietly closed his eyes.

“You can keep caressing. Go ahead.”

He lowered his lush eyelashes and closed his eyes tightly. His porcelain-like skin and a sharp nose. Plump, rosy lips were right within reach.

My heart began to race like a madman at the defenseless look on his face.

Unconsciously, I barely managed to retract my hand that was about to reach out. Femme fatale or whatever, I have to live my own life.

“I’m afraid I can’t.”

“Hmm?”

Leaving the surprised Jeremy behind, I picked up a pillow and an extra blanket. Then I walked to the nearby sofa and placed the pillow there.

“I’m going to sleep on the couch.”

“Why?” he questioned.

“Suddenly… I feel like sleeping on the sofa.”

“Did Jeremy…… make a mistake?”

Jeremy raised his eyebrows slightly, his expression tense. A hint of uneasiness flickered in his violet eyes.

“No! That’s not possible. I’m just afraid I might make a mistake,” I reassured him.

“What kind of mistake?” Jeremy tilted his head, his innocent expression making my heart flutter.

‘This is what I call a fool.’

I silently admired him as I stared. When I look at Jeremy… Well. It’s like looking at a snowfield where no one has ever trodden.

‘I must protect him from anyone who might trample on him. Starting with me…’

Yes, I’m the most dangerous one. I decided that I needed to regain my composure, so I pulled the blanket over my head, covering myself completely.

“Bride.”

“Snooze. Snore.”

Ignoring Jeremy’s persistent urging, I pretended to be asleep. After a while, the soft sound of Jeremy’s laughter tickled my ears.