The Alpha's Replacement Bride

Harriet Is Going To The Capital

"Harriet..."

Liam blinked as the sun rose into the sky. He saw Daniel, who was stunned to see him awake.

"Y-Young Lord…"

Liam ignored him and looked in all directions. Harriet wasn't there. He also couldn't feel her presence around the castle. Had it been a long time since Harriet left?

"How many days has it been since Harriet left for the Capital?" Liam asked.

Daniel blinked and raised his eyebrows high.

"Madam left this morning when the sun had not yet come up," Daniel replied.

Liam was surprised. He didn't think he'd be able to wake up so soon. But he also began to feel that his body was constantly tired and couldn't move freely, as when he woke up on a full moon.

He wanted to see Harriet. Was it too late to chase after her now? Why couldn't he wake up sooner? Unknowingly, the emptiness in Liam's chest felt clearer, much more precise than usual. Suddenly, an excruciating pain radiated from his chest. "Ugh!" Liam vomited blood on the floor, much to Daniel's surprise.

"Young Lord!"

Hurt. So badly. 

Liam cursed his body and felt his vision blur once again. As Daniel approached to check on him, Liam grabbed Daniel's arm and glared at him.

"Don't tell Harriet anything about my condition," Liam said. The pain hit him again, and he vomited even more blood.

"Young Lord, I will summon a physician!" Daniel was about to run away, but Liam still held him back.

"When Harriet comes home…" Liam tried his best to say it before he lost consciousness again. "...don't let her... be sad..."

And darkness enveloped him.

*** 

As time went on, Almandine Castle looked smaller and smaller. Sitting on the red horse, I Could see the tip of the tallest tower, which was now just a black line in the blue sky.

Sir Russell, the assistant to the Old Duke who had followed Harriet's departure, rode toward her.

"Madam, we are already out of town. We can speed up our horses now," said Sir Russell.

Harriet smiled and nodded. They spurred their horses away.

It took five days on horseback to reach the capital from north to south with sufficient rest. Thanks to the smooth and safe trade routes, riding on the vast Euclase Imperial Continent let them travel two to three times faster than on other continents.

This was thanks to the hard work of the continent's entire population, who are determined to advance together. And at the top of it all was the Euclase Family. The Imperial Family had ruled for nearly 150 years now.

There was a reason why Harriet was wholly submissive and respectful to the Emperor. It was because the Emperor was a sage man.

He was also cunning, calculating, and scheming, but it was all done in a clean and just manner for the sake of the empire. He also didn't like cheating, even though he could cheat everyone with his brain. 

His principles of justice, his mental strength of steel, and his firm iron fist managed to maintain the continent's unity after receiving the throne from his predecessor.

Emperor Soleil III, also known as Emperor Axias Euclase.

After running their horses for five days, Harriet prepared herself by renting a hotel room for each entourage member. She showered, bought a new dress that matched the capital's current high fashion, and headed straight for the palace.

Fortunately, she reached the palace before tea time. Usually, at this hour, the Emperor had begun to relax from his work, assisted by a line of human geniuses who were fully devoted to the empire.

She knew precisely this because Harriet had been one of them.

Passing the Emperor's study, which s, Harriet just waved her hand. And the guards immediately bowed and greeted her.

Harriet opened the double doors, and as she walked in, the men and women there immediately turned to look at her and were surprised to greet her.

"Madam!"

"Marchioness!"

"Madam Goldlane!"

"How is everyone?" Harriet smiled gently but kept walking towards the next room.

"Madam, wait a moment!"

"His Majesty the Emperor is–"

Harriet opened the double doors again.

SNORE

SNORE

Harriet approached the sofa. A middle-aged man with dark blue hair was sleeping on his back on the couch. One man's legs went up the back of the sofa, and one of his hands dangled to the floor. The man's loud snoring would have left the room if this room had not been specially built soundproof so that no one could overhear essential conversations from the inside.

Someone from the outside, one of the Emperor's secretaries came inside and approached Harriet. 

"Madam, would you like some tea?" asked the young man.

Harriet nodded.

She noticed the Emperor's face was wrinkled, and his hair was turning grey. The middle-aged man slept like he didn't care about anything there was in the world. But it was clear that his eyebags looked more severe than usual.

"How many days has His Majesty not slept?" asked Harriet.

The secretary smiled helplessly. He replied, "It's been about three days, but in the previous days, he also had trouble sleeping.".

Harriet nodded again, and the young man left. As Harriet's tea was served, she drank it quietly while waiting for the Emperor to wake up.

However, even until the sun went down in the west, the Emperor was still fast asleep in his place. And Harriet was still faithfully sitting in the same place.

The secretaries and maids had already lit candles and oil lamps, and the commotion made the Emperor slowly wake up.

When the man opened his eyes, revealing dark black irises as dark as night and a piercing gaze still a little blank and confused, Harriet let out a faint smile.

"Your Majesty, how was your sleep?" she asked in a deep, calm voice.

The middle-aged man wiped the trace of saliva on his cheek and narrowed his eyes at Harriet. "Strange. Am I awake or still in a dream? How come Harri has come here when I just sent her a letter last month?"

The Emperor seemed to have known Harriet would not respond quickly to his summons. Harriet smiled faintly. She put her cup back on the saucer and stood, glancing at the reports on the Emperor's table.

"Did you forget you are almost 53 years old? You are different from before. Don't over-exert your old body."

The Emperor blinked, getting a better look at Harriet looking out the window. "Only Harri can mock the Emperor by calling him old… so you came, huh? When? Why didn't you wake me up?"

"I arrived this afternoon," said Harriet. She continued, "I think I've been waiting 3 hours for you to wake up."

The middle-aged man on the sofa yawned and stretched his body.

"Let's have dinner first," said the man.

Harriet narrowed her eyes in annoyance.

"Don't be like that; I've had a lot of least let me have a nice dinner. Accompany me; this is the Emperor's order," he said.

Harriet sighed. The two of them went to the dining room side by side.

"How are you?" asked the Emperor.

"I'm in good health," said Harriet.

"Your brother?" The Emperor asked again.

And Harriet furrowed her brows. "Thanks to you, he's fine now," she replied sarcastically.

"And what about your new husband?"

Harriet was silent.

Of course, the Emperor would discuss this.

"How did you get married without my permission, Harriet Goldlane?"

Harriet squinted at those dark, hideous eyes. Axias Euclase, the Third Emperor of the Continent of the Euclase Empire, or the nicknamed Blue Dragon Knight who rules the Dawning Sky. He was the best emperor, loved by his subjects, and the man who made Harriet his right-hand man.

"Especially into that Monster Family, Almandine?" the man asked sharply. "Have you lost your mind?"