Obey Me Now

“Let’s see who stands by your side when you’re crowned emperor.”
With his final words, Edjoff turned away. To some, they would sound like mere provocation; to others, they would resonate as a fiery confession.

‘Iclite, I’ll take everything you want. So you’ll die in despair. You never should have been born.’

Though Amelia said she wasn’t sincere with him, Edjoff knew that was a lie. The look in her eyes had always been filled with love for him. It was blatantly, stupidly obvious. He was special to her. Even if it began with the Count’s fortune, now he was the Duke of Fioré.
‘I’ll get her back. I won’t let go of what I want. I’ll have her, no matter what form it takes.’

As Edjoff walked away, Amelia finally managed to breathe properly.
‘Is this what it truly means to understand?’

Iclite clung to Amelia, kissing her deeply while coldly glaring at Edjoff. At that moment, Edjoff’s heart twisted with dark, uncomfortable emotions. He could see the rage and deep feelings in Iclite’s eyes. For the first time, he felt something from him. Even when exiled from the palace, even when abandoned in the north, Iclite had shown no emotion. He had acted like a tool, emotionless, even during that incident. Yet now, this monster was showing feelings.

‘He acts like this in front of her? Showing hostility at the slightest provocation? Is he afraid that incident will be revealed?’

Is it only in front of Amelia that Iclite’s emotions are exposed? This is how he chooses to live? Suddenly, Edjoff’s breath froze.

‘You can’t live like this. You must remain a monster, for His Majesty. You must stay a monster until the end.’

As Iclite’s desperate movements, nearly suffocating Amelia, finally stopped, he lifted his head. The overwhelming heat vanished, replaced by cold air. Amelia, her face flushed bright red, couldn’t bring herself to look up. Of course, she had kissed him first to ease Edjoff’s suspicions.
‘But I didn’t mean for it to be this intense!’

She had never kissed Edjoff like this before.

‘No, calm down. Don’t lose control now. We’re not just lovers. When you love someone madly, anything is possible!’
Since things had already escalated, she had to see it through. Amelia regained her composure and looked Edjoff in the eyes.
“This is how we love each other. So stop with the nonsense and don’t try to shake me.”
Edjoff’s eyes narrowed. He didn’t hear her words; his focus was entirely on Iclite. Iclite, too, stared directly at Edjoff, tightening his grip on Amelia’s hand. Edjoff found that unsettling. He tried to mask his discomfort with a neutral expression, but Amelia’s neck was flushed red. Until just moments ago, his thoughts had been consumed with himself, but now Iclite had tainted them. That fact made him uneasy.
‘Right. You shouldn’t be alive. Just being in the northern region makes it too late.’
To eliminate that bastard in the most brutal way, Amelia was now necessary.
‘I’ll take her back. I’ll get her, no matter the cost. I never let go of what I want.’
Edjoff spoke in a calm tone, though his words carried a deeper meaning.

“Alright, Amelia. I now know your words aren’t lies. If that’s the case, fine. Go ahead, chase me down, make me fall. I’ll be waiting.”

Edjoff glanced at Iclite as he spoke to Amelia.

“I will definitely become the emperor. So hate me with all your might, despise me, and follow me. Never lose focus.”

As Edjoff continued speaking, Iclite’s emotions grew increasingly unstable. Watching the shift in Iclite, Edjoff smiled knowingly.

“Let’s see who stands by your side when you’re crowned emperor.”

With his final words, Edjoff turned away. To some, his words would sound like mere provocation; to others, they would be heard as a fiery confession.
‘Iclite, I’ll take everything you want. So you’ll die in despair. You never should have been born.’
Though Amelia said she wasn’t sincere with him, Edjoff knew that was a lie. The look in her eyes had always been filled with love for him. It was obvious—stupidly so. He was special to her. Even if it began with the Count’s fortune, now he was the Duke of Fioré.

‘I’ll get her back. I won’t let go of what I want. I’ll have her, no matter what form it takes.’

As Edjoff walked away, Amelia finally managed to breathe properly.
‘Is this what it really means to understand?’

The truth hidden behind the word “monster” had never scared him before. He didn’t particularly care. Even if that truth led to his death, it wouldn’t matter. But for the first time, he was afraid. Afraid that she might discover the truth. Afraid that she would distance herself from him. That she, too, would see him as a monster. That was the most terrifying thing in the world.
‘I can’t let that happen.’

‘You are a monster. So, show her. Show her. You’re a monster!’
“Ugh!”
Someone’s voice pierced his mind like shards of glass. The ringing in his ears became a persistent hum.
“Ha, ha…”
Iclite gripped his shoulders tightly with bloodshot eyes. But he couldn’t hold back anymore. He tore off his shirt and let out a labored breath. The scars on his back burned, as if freshly inflicted, sending waves of pain through him. They were clearly the marks of a whip, haphazardly left across his skin.

Iclite struggled to catch his breath, reaching into his robe to retrieve something. A tiny, round container. He carefully pulled out a letter from it, holding it close to his chest.
“Ha…”
As soon as he saw it, his breath calmed, and the painful, burning sensation began to fade. Iclite whispered bitterly through his twisted lips.
“This used to be enough. But now, I want more.” He didn’t realize that his first taste of desire would be so terrifying. He couldn’t control it, but he had to. He had to remain the way she wanted him to be. Besides, the thing that had worried him the most had disappeared.
‘Now, she won’t die. She’ll stay by my side, and I’ll protect her.’
The kiss had been a world-shifting shock for him, but for her, it had been nothing more than a means to an end. Whether she remembered it or not didn’t matter. The only thing that mattered was…
“At that moment, I was the only one in your mind.”
Whether it was anger, hatred, or anything else, I wanted to be the one who stayed with you a little longer, not Edjoff. As the pain began to subside, Iclite stood and changed his clothes. He carefully placed the letter back in its container and left the room. He was almost there. His gift for her was nearly complete.
‘I hope she smiles brightly and finds happiness. Right now, that’s all I want. That’s my greatest desire.’

That was all there was to it.

Early in the morning, as Mami helped Amelia get ready, she spoke up.
“Duke, your father, has gone to the imperial palace in a hurry.”
“He’s been doing that a lot lately.”

It was only now that the news about the five ducal families gathering for a conference at the palace started to catch Amelia’s attention. Back then, it hadn’t seemed important.

‘Could it be related somehow?’

“After hearing the results, the Duke really wanted to see you. He was so happy!”

Mami moved closer to Amelia and smiled broadly at her.
“Now you’re healthy, right? You’re all better now, aren’t you? How well you hid it!”
Seeing Mami’s genuine joy warmed Amelia’s heart. Of course, she couldn’t reveal everything, but…

“I think the miracle of the violets was given to me as well.”
She couldn’t talk about the miracle that lasted only a year. No one would believe her anyway, and she didn’t want anyone to be sad. When her final moments came, she wanted to be sent off with happiness, with everything accomplished. She hoped people would remember her only in good light.
‘When I die, how will you remember me?’

For a brief moment, Iclite came to mind, but she quickly dismissed the thought.
“When the Duke returns, we’ll need to arrange the wedding and the title conferral ceremony.”

“There’s something to settle before that.”
“Where are you going?”

Amelia was dressed to go out. It wasn’t the usual simple and neat dress she wore; today she wore an elegant, flowing red silk gown, luxurious and striking in its beauty.

“To the Chezaret Count’s house.”
“The Count’s house?”
“I was asked to handle things, and I’ve handled them. Now I need to go back and finish what was left undone. I have someone to properly warn.”
“A warning?”
Amelia, as she put on a bonnet decorated with flowers, raised the corner of her mouth in a seductive smile.

“The incident in the mountains can’t just be brushed aside. Now, I’m the head of a family. I have to tell them not to overstep, not to cross any more lines with my life.”