“Your Majesty, you shouldn’t let your thoughts be swayed in one direction.”

“Are you my subject, or his?”

Duke Verus looked up at her, who had addressed her father directly as him.

“I have always been Your Majesty’s subject. However, I am also that person’s backer.”

“Backer?”

“When he came as an ordinary commoner, I was captivated by his powerful force. The same goes for Your Majesty.”

“If I didn’t have power?”

“Then, I wouldn’t have served Your Majesty.”

She closed her eyes to Duke Verus’ firm words.

It was her innate powerful magic that he desired. Isilis Larchen, one of the Emperors born with powerful magic in the Larchen Empire… that was what the imperial people wanted.

‘What did he want?’

She felt a sense of disappointment. Despite thinking that their relationship was closer than that of a subject and a monarch, it turned out not to be the case.

“You speak as if a traitor would.”

“Your Majesty…”

“So be it. If you’re worried that harm will come to him, I’ll cover this up.”

Duke Verus let out a sigh of relief at her words.

“However, if my mother, the previous Empress, wants to punish him, I will abide by that.”

Even though she could forgive being mocked, she could not forgive the way he treated her mother. Even if she wasn’t of the imperial bloodline, she was the companion of her father. His attitude was not fitting for how one should treat a companion.

“The Empress has already forgiven him.”

“That may be unknown.”

Answering Duke Verus’s words, she waved her hand. She watched the Duke’s retreating figure after he bowed accordingly.

Isilis couldn’t help feeling envious of her father. It was too enviable to have a loyal subject following him. She was consumed by jealousy, not knowing what to do. Why didn’t she have someone like that? What was different about her?

As she searched for a way, there was Berthas. He was always there, waiting for her. No matter what happened, he was there to protect her. He asked for nothing but to be by her side.

So, she rose from her seat and went to find him.

She heard him and Faylos talking and interrupted their conversation. Even if it was Faylos who spoke hurtful words to him, she couldn’t forgive him.

“He is a member of the Larchen imperial family. I have decided so.”

“Congratulations, Berthas!”

There was no sign of regret on Faylos’s face as he smiled brightly while offering his congratulations.

“You… purposely…”

Looking at his face, which was blocking her words with a squinted eye, Berthas couldn’t help but feel defeated. It was clear that he intentionally said that when he knew she was coming.

“Ilis, you are very subtle. If I hadn’t done this, you would still be indecisive, right?”

“No.”

“What?”

“No. She opened her heart to me.”

Berthas answered to the words directed at her. He felt a pleasant sensation seeing Faylos’s widened eyes.

“I’ve already heard from her that she loves me.”

The Emperor has no shame. While silently repeating it to herself, Isilis tried her best to maintain an expressionless face. It was challenging not to show any emotion.

As Faylos looked at her with a blank face, Berthas spoke.

“You said you loved me, right?”

She couldn’t hide her ears turning red. Overwhelmed by the rising feeling, Isilis couldn’t bring herself to speak. Seeing her embarrassed expression, Faylos tried to open his mouth playfully, but Berthas stopped him.

“That’s enough. Stop it.”

“Why? It’s fun!”

“I hope you don’t cross the line. This is between us.”

“Us?”

“Yes, us.”

With a bewildered expression, Faylos looked at Berthas and Isilis alternately. Holding the document in his hand, he turned around and shouted.

“No! I’m won’t!”

“What’s going on?”

“You asked me to do life-threatening tasks, and you two went dating?”

“You were the one who pushed!”

“No!”

“Yes.”

Berthas raised his chin and said to Faylos, who was denying.

“Of course, even if it weren’t you, we would have met somehow, destined as we are. Still, thanks to you, it went smoothly.”

“Do you know what to be thankful for?”

“Why wouldn’t I?”

Unable to intervene in their conversation, the ladies-in-waiting and attendants who had been listening from afar quickly turned their heads and bowed.

When the awkward Isilis tried to leave, Berthas suddenly grabbed her hand.

“Thanks to you, she’ll live well.”

“What nonsense… Of course, the Larchen Imperial Family lives well!”

“You’re her cousin, so I’m seeking your permission. Give me your cousin.”

“Give?! It’s an issue for Isillis to handle herself!”

That was right. What would he give? Giving the Empress? Nonsense. He kicked Berthas’ shin, who was still having the mindset of Hillenton that Berthas couldn’t get rid of. She then gazed at him, who was still holding onto her hand despite wincing in pain.

“Give yourself to me, Berthas. I will cherish you.”

“What?”

“I, the Empress of Larchen, am proposing to you. Give yourself to me.”

Her words caused him to pause for a moment. It felt like time stood still. A warm breeze enveloped them both.

Berthas, with lips that wouldn’t part, whispered.

“You’re proposing… to me?”

“That’s right.”

Her face, beaming with a bright smile as she spoke, was beautiful beyond compare. He couldn’t take his eyes off her.

Isilis waited for him, not saying anything. He had waited for her for even longer.

“To me?”

“Yes, to you.”

“The Empress of Larchen proposing me?”

“That’s right.”

“Isilis Larchen to me?”

“Yes.

If Berthas asked again, she had planned to cast a lightning magic to snap him out of it, but he caught her before she could do so. He hastily pressed his lips against hers. What started as a hasty kiss slowly and carefully ignited her passion.

Without anyone needing to initiate it, they both took a deep breath after parting from the kiss, and they smiled.

Faylos, who had been watching the two of them, also smiled.

Seeing Berthas’ happy face, Isilis suddenly thought that she might have been too indifferent to him all this time. When she thought about it, it was true.

* * *

“Do you think the regent of a small country is worthy of our Majesty?”

“That’s right.”

“It’s fortunate that the Crown Princess manifested magical powers, but it doesn’t mean we have to accept him as the consort. The Crown Prince of the Khalifa Empire also likes our Majesty.”

“I think that’s a valid point, but it’s a bit risky to say such things…”

“Why, am I wrong?”

“No, not that. Um… it’s more like what happens between the two of them is not something we should discuss. You know what can happen if we speak lightly about those above us.”

A voice reached Isilis’s ears as she rested in one corner of the garden.

“That’s true, but it’s a shame. Prince Usman of the Khalifa Empire seems better than the Regent of Hillenton.”

“He has done a lot, Her Majesty did not know.”

“That’s true…”

‘I don’t know?’

The whispers went on for a while until the maids disappeared somewhere. The short break Isilis enjoyed in the garden came to an end.

“He has done a lot, but I don’t know…”

__