Please Divorce Me, My Emperor

CHAPTER 18

Three months later, the high walls and heavy stone corridors of the Sun Palace felt a million miles away.

The Southern Villa sat nestled on a cliff side overlooking the azure waters of the Southern Sea. Warm sea breezes rustled through palm fronds, and the scent of wild jasmine and salt air drifted through the open archways of their private estate.

Aurelia sat in a wooden lounge chair on the marble patio, dressed in a light, flowing white dress. She watched as Kaelen walked up from the sandy beach below, his shirt discarded, his tanned skin glistening from the surf, and his dark hair damp.

"You look entirely un-regal, Your Majesty," she laughed, setting her book down as he approached.

"Good," Kaelen grinned, stepping onto the patio and shaking out his hair like a wild wolf, spraying cool seawater over her dress.

"Kaelen!" Aurelia shrieked, laughing as she tried to block the water with her book.

Before she could escape, Kaelen scooped her up out of her chair, holding her high in his arms despite her soft protests.

"That is treason, Empress," he teased, walking toward the warm seawater pools built into the patio cliff side. "And the penalty for treason is a dip in the pool."

"Don't you dare—" Aurelia gasped, but Kaelen stepped right into the waist-deep, crystal-clear water, carrying her with him.

The cool water wrapped around them, her white dress floating gracefully around her legs. Aurelia wiped the water from her eyes, laughing as she wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling herself flush against his warm chest.

"You are completely incorrigible," she murmured, resting her forehead against his.

"And you love me for it," Kaelen replied softly, his hands cradling her waist beneath the water. "Look around us, Aurelia. No war room, no poisonous wine, no traitorous lords. Just you and me."

Aurelia looked out at the endless blue horizon where the sea met the sun, feeling an overwhelming wave of peace settle into her soul. "It's perfect, Kaelen. It's everything I ever dreamed of."

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Even in paradise, the past occasionally required a final accounting.

During their second month at the villa, a confidential report arrived from General Vance via imperial carrier falcon. Duke Valerius had passed away quietly from old age in the far southern exile camp, while Lady Seraphina had joined a secluded monastery in the western mountains, foreswearing her family's political ambitions forever.

Aurelia stood by the stone fireplace in the villa's library, holding the parchment in her hand.

Kaelen stepped up behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist and resting his chin on her shoulder. "Does it bring you peace?" he asked quietly.

Aurelia watched the corner of the parchment catch fire from the hearth, turning to ash and fluttering into the embers.

"It brings closure," she answered softly. "I used to think my life was defined by the grievances done to my house and the battles I had to fight to survive. But standing here with you, I realize those grievances no longer hold any power over me."

Kaelen kissed her cheek softly. "The past is gone, Aurelia. The future belongs to us."

She turned around in his embrace, taking his hand and pressing it against her abdomen, her blue eyes shining with a secret, radiant warmth that surpassed the noon sun.

Kaelen paused, feeling her breath hitch. His eyes widened as the realization struck him, his hand trembling slightly against her stomach.

"Aurelia..." Kaelen breathed, his voice catching in his throat. "Is it...?"

Aurelia smiled, tears of pure joy brimming in her eyes as she nodded. "The sun line continues, Kaelen. Not out of political duty, and not to appease the High Council... but because of love."

Kaelen dropped to his knees right there in front of her, pressing his forehead against her stomach, wrapping his arms tightly around her waist as tears fell from his eyes—tears of sheer, unadulterated happiness.