* * *
After ascending to the throne, Aristine and Tarkan were incredibly busy.
After all, this wasn’t just a small country being annexed but the merging of two powerful nations with entirely different cultures and environments.
Naturally, a mountain of work piled up overnight.
While the people were joyful and willing to become one nation, complaints were bound to arise once that became a reality.
“Only Your Majesties can put these complaints to rest.”
The good thing was that the people’s support for the two emperors was firm.
This wasn’t just because their reign was stable.
The two emperors were the proof of a myth that had been passed down for generations.
Living legends.
Proof that the two countries were originally one.
“True, just seeing us together will remind people that Silvanus and Irugo were originally from the same nation.”
Aristine continued plainly.
“It might not feel right immediately but eventually, people will be more patient if they believe things are moving in the right direction.”
People are more willing to tolerate things when they believe they are on the right path.
In that sense, it was a good tactic to have the Imperial couple appear frequently to remind people of the myth.
“No, I mean, that’s good too but…”
The official looked at Aristine hesitantly. How come she was even considering other deep implications?
“It’s just, you two are very popular?”
“What…?”
Aristine was caught off guard and stared at the official.
“Honestly, the people find you nice to look at, enviable, they’re proud of you, and they’re curious about you. Plus, they’ve started to grow fond of you.”
“…I thought we were talking about our reign?”
“It’s easy to sit at your desk and analyze the cause of a trend or write a lengthy read about societal discourse but in reality, affection is the scariest thing.”
“And if you add to that the popularity of Prince Actsion?”
“Every time the three of you show up together as an affectionate family in public, the marriage rate between Irugoians and Silvanians increases.”
“Ehem, actually, I had a serious meeting with an Irugo warrior not long ago… as you’d expect, their heart is truly bountiful…”
“That’s ridiculous.”
Aristine dismissed the official’s words.
At her cold voice, the official pursed their lips. It wasn’t ridiculous; they were telling the truth.
“No one can beat my Khan’s bountifulness.” (T/N: the word for heart and chest are the same in Korean. In other words, Aristine heard ‘their chest is truly bountiful’.)
“…Pardon?”
“All others are fake. The true bountifulness is my Tarkan’s chest alone.”
“…”
“…”
Ah, so that’s what she meant by ridiculous.
The officials gave Aristine a slightly numb look that you certainly shouldn’t direct at an emperor.
“And your answer?”
“…Ywes.”
Honestly, they had no choice but to agree.
The officials sneakily glanced at Tarkan.
The husband, who was suddenly sexually harassed by his wife in the middle of work was…
“…Ahem, ahem.”
…blushing and clearing his throat while flipping through the document in his hand. Then he subtly puffed out his chest towards Aristine to make sure she noticed.
“…”
The eyes of the officials turned cold and dead, and they stared at the two emperors then they slammed their documents down.
“Please, review all these documents before the end of the day.”
“Right, these are urgent matters. They cannot be delayed.”
It was definitely not because their eyes were burning.
And definitely not because they were single.
It was just, just…!
‘Damn it, I’m definitely getting married this year!’
The single officials clenched their fists.
‘…But last night, I tried to do that thing His Highness Tarkan does, and my wife asked if I ate something wrong or if I’m dying.’[1]
To think they had to go to work every day and get salt rubbed into their wound.
The married officials glanced towards their homes, tears pooling in their eyes.
* * *
That night.
Tarkan finished washing up and looked at himself in the mirror.
He had applied a generous amount of the scented oil that Aristine liked to his chest and even flexed it a bit.
Not satisfied, Tarkan even did some late-night push-ups.
‘…Looking good.’
Now, the preparations were over. He just had to lock in the seduction.
‘When Rineh’s working, all she does is work.’
It was no different when she was running her business. She didn’t pay attention to anything outside of work.
On one hand, he felt ‘Ah, my wife is so heartless’ but on the other hand, that was why he liked her even more.
‘Because that’s just like Rineh.’
The only problem was that it was hard for him.
Seeing Aristine seated regally at her desk, working, looking so majestic, beautiful, cute, lovely, sexy…
Tarkan’s mind kept drifting away from work.
‘But still, considering she mentioned my chest while working today, she must be wanting me too.’
To mention it so casually while working meant it had been heavily on her mind.
Tarkan wasn’t going to miss this opportunity.
“Khan.”
Hearing a soft voice calling his name, Tarkan turned around.
Aristine walked into the bedroom, rubbing the back of her neck and grumbling.
“I am so exhausted. I can’t believe they held me up till this hour.”
“Is it too much?”
Tarkan quickly walked up to her and began to gently massage Aristine’s neck and shoulders.
He had already mastered the art of massage a long time ago.
As his hands skillfully pressed her muscles, Aristine let out a groan of satisfaction.
Then Tarkan slowly slid his hand down her straight back.
“…?”
Sensing a strange agenda, Aristine lifted her eyes to look at Tarkan.
Tarkan grinned and guided Aristine’s hand to his firm, bulky pecs.
“Where did you learn to be so devious?”
Aristine looked at Tarkan with a smile. Her fair hand traveled up his chest before weaving around his neck.
Just as their lips were about to touch…
*Knock knock.*
“Your Majesty…!”
Almost as soon as the knock sounded, the door to the bedroom burst open.
A court lady rushed in with urgency on her face, then she gasped in shock when she saw the imperial couple together.
“Gasp! I’m sorry. Her Majesty Aristine just entered so I didn’t think you were already….”
“What is it?”
Tarkan asked sharply.
He looked like he would never forgive this intrusion unless it was something huge.
The court lady hurriedly bowed her head.
“Grand Duke Launelian sent an urgent message.”
Translator’s Corner:
[1] A common superstition is that when people change drastically, they are about to die. In this case, the official changed so much that his wife grew suspicious lol.
Early Access available on Patreon.
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Thank you for the translation!! Miss Ruby rocks!
Thanks for the translation!
The chest part never fails in making me roll from laughter LMAO
Launelian never leaves them alone, come on man even your messages come in exact time to disturb the mood 😒