Early Life and Setup

Navier Ellie Trovi, from the prestigious House of Trovi, is selected as a child by Emperor Osis III to marry his son, Crown Prince Sovieshu Vict, due to her intelligence, kindness, compassion, and noble lineage (her family has a history of daughters marrying into the imperial family). As children, Navier and Sovieshu share a close bond - they are distant cousins and childhood friends, engaging in playful adventures like sneaking out (Sovieshu nicknamed "Sir Leedy"), planting a harmony tree in the imperial garden, and sharing innocent moments like pillow fights and a first kiss. Navier, initially mischievous, undergoes rigorous training to become the "perfect empress," earning the moniker "Ice Queen" for her composed, strategic demeanor. She excels in governance, advancing infrastructure, trade, diplomacy, security, and social welfare, though she holds societal biases like accepting slavery while opposing concubinage.

Sovieshu, initially affectionate and devoted, grows distant in adulthood. Their arranged marriage is a political partnership lacking deep passion, but functional. Unbeknownst to Navier, a childhood misunderstanding (involving a potion or incident) leads Sovieshu to believe Navier is infertile (it's actually him due to a curse or condition). Desperate for an heir to secure his dynasty, Sovieshu devises a flawed plan: divorce Navier temporarily, elevate his concubine to produce a child, then demote the concubine and remarry Navier. This plan stems from his selfishness, manipulation, and underestimation of consequences.

Supporting characters are introduced early: Navier's overprotective brother Kosair Trovi, her loyal ladies-in-waiting (Laura, Eliza, Rose Quevel, Mastas Violet), sponsored mage Evalie, and guard Sir Artina. Sovieshu's advisors like Marquis Karl warn against his impulsiveness. The world-building includes the Eastern Empire (technologically advanced but magic-poor), the Western Kingdom (magic-rich, with shapeshifters), and elements like magic stones that awaken powers.

Main Plot: 

The story opens with a flash-forward to the divorce court, where Sovieshu demands a divorce from Navier to marry his concubine, Rashta Ishka. Rashta, a beautiful, seemingly innocent runaway slave "rescued" by Sovieshu from a hunting trap, is actually manipulative and ambitious, seeking to escape her traumatic past. She is already pregnant, not with Sovieshu's child, but from her affair with Alan Rimwell (son of her former slave owner, Viscount Roteschu Rimwell). Rashta's backstory: born a slave, she endured abuse, faked her death to escape, and bore a secret son, Ian, hidden with Roteschu who blackmails her.

Sovieshu falls obsessively for Rashta, neglecting Navier, publicly humiliating her (e.g., favoring Rashta at events, sabotaging Navier's projects out of jealousy), and emotionally abusing her. Navier maintains dignity, advising Sovieshu against rashly elevating Rashta or involving her in politics. Rashta schemes for power: fakes sympathetic scenes (e.g., causing chaos at diplomatic dinners), spreads rumors (e.g., ruining Countess Nian Tuania's marriage), borrows money from the scheming Duke Ergi Claude (signing away a strategic port, leading to scandals), and faces blackmail over Ian. Her actions damage the empire's reputation, but Sovieshu ignores warnings.

During New Year's festivities, Navier meets Prince Heinrey Lazlo of the Western Kingdom. Heinrey, rumored as a playboy but truly loyal and infatuated with Navier since first sight, courts her secretly. He shapeshifts into a golden bird named "Queen" to deliver anonymous love letters, vowing happiness. Their bond deepens; Heinrey reveals his cunning side by exposing Rashta's lies to escalate conflicts, initially planning to weaken the Eastern Empire for conquest but shifting to genuine love for Navier.

Key events:

• Grand Duke Kaufman gifts Navier a love potion, accidentally doses himself, becomes obsessed, but redeems by saving her and aiding her magic training.
• Rashta fakes being Ian's adoptive mother; paternity tests (bribed priest) falsely confirm Sovieshu as father, but truth emerges later.
• Ergi, motivated by revenge (Sovieshu exiled his mother Alicia, who schemes against the empire), aids Rashta's rise to ensure her downfall.
• Navier awakens as an ice mage via magic stones; Heinrey reverses mage power-draining experiments (affecting Evalie).
• Sovieshu's infertility is revealed; he hallucinates from guilt, shares telepathic dreams with Navier during her coma from an attack.

The climax: At the divorce hearing (officiated by disapproving High Priest Vimirey), Navier accepts but shocks all by requesting immediate remarriage to Heinrey, who arrives dramatically. Flashbacks reveal Navier, heartbroken in Wilwol (magic city), proposing a convenience marriage to Heinrey - co-rulership, no interference in affairs (including concubines). Heinrey accepts passionately, as he's deeply in love.

Post-Divorce:

Navier divorces Sovieshu and moves to the Western Kingdom (upgraded to Empire). Her marriage to Heinrey evolves from political to true love and monogamy. She opens emotionally, supports him through vulnerabilities (e.g., his brother's death - he accidentally killed him in a shapeshifting mishap). Navier excels as empress: secures trade (e.g., with Luipt, cut by jealous Sovieshu), averts wars, integrates bandits as citizens, and masters her ice magic.

They have twins: Lari (mischievous girl, heir-like, shapeshifter) and Kai (boy, also shapeshifter). Navier balances motherhood and duties, protecting the family.

Sovieshu's empire collapses: He imprisons Navier and Heinrey briefly, accuses Heinrey of seduction, regrets his plan as Rashta's crimes accumulate (treason, embezzlement). Rashta becomes empress but spirals into paranoia; her daughter Glorym (Alan's, not Sovieshu's) is proven via unbribed test (bribed priest suicides from guilt). Imprisoned, Rashta commits suicide in agony. Priests perform a Garinuela ritual for her soul's peace, marking Sovieshu's disgrace.

Sovieshu discovers his infertility, falls into coma, loses memories (thinks he's crown prince, secretly woos Navier), becomes unstable. He fosters ties with the West out of remorse but remains alone - no third wife, dynasty ends. Eastern Empire passes to Trovi family; Duke Trovi rules as regent, Lari named heir.

Side Stories

Post-chapter 262, side stories expand the universe:

• Evalie and Sisters Arc: Evalie's parents (Iskua couple) faked being Rashta's parents, tried killing a mage girl; their daughter kidnapped by Springwater bandits. Lebetti investigates, saves Mastas from ambush, uncovers Ishta inheritance (atonement funds). Navier integrates bandits, resolves stigma.
• Ergi's Past: Reveals ties to Alicia; his schemes stem from banishment trauma.
• The Kids Arc: Time skip to teens - Lari (engaged to Yongyong, McKenna's dragon son) inherits Eastern throne, rules both empires initially but cedes West to Kai. Glorym (kind knight, calls Sovieshu "dad" post-reveal) supports; unresolved arcs for Cici (Glorym's friend), Charles (Sovieshu's nephew).

Spin-Off:

• Sovieshu's Regression (Spin-Off "Sovieshu's Regression"): Elderly Sovieshu uses magic pocket watch to regress to divorce scene, cancels it, confesses love, grovels. Navier softens, forgives, they remarry happily (share quarters later). However, in main timelines, he cheats again, highlighting flaws. This is illusionary/hallucinatory, ending tensely without full resolution.