‘Next time a talented treasurer like Raven appears, I’ll definitely catch him!’

I shouted towards Jaerim in my mind, and turned the subject of conversation.

“Did you tell your family you’ll be visiting? Eliana doesn’t seem to know that you’ll be away for a while.”

“It’s not like I go home properly when I work anyway. If I don’t go for a few weeks, they’ll think I’m working.”

Jaerim’s words marked the departure of the carriage.

After closing the carriage’s window and sitting down, Levanfell, who hadn’t slept well like Jaerim, appeared tired. He was in a state with his eyes closed.

Levanfell massaged his stiff neck and squinted from the sunlight.

‘His handsome eyes are wrinkled.’

Reaching out to softly block the sunlight pouring from the window, Levanfell spoke with his eyes still closed.

“Why don’t you worry about me?”

“What?”

“I worked with Jaerim too.”

He looked like a sevenyearold child, leaning against the seat with his arms folded, and pouting his swollen lips.

“His Majesty is also worried.”

“I didn’t hear the question if I was okay.”

Must you say it? Must you act like a child in such trivial matters? But it’s cute.

‘This cute, why do people keep saying he’s scary?’

I tilted my head and patted Levanfell’s knee, still sulking and eyes closed.

“If His Majesty wasn’t worried, would I be blocking the window with my hand like this?”

Levanfell finally opened his eyes. And he stared intently at my hand, still blocking the sunlight.

His stiff lips slowly curved upward.

“Your hand must hurt.”

“But it’s better if Your Majesty sleeps comfortably.”

“Because you’re worried about me?”

“Yes.”

“Because I might not fall asleep?”

“I’m worried you might never wake up.”

Levanfell threw the same question with different words, wanting confirmation several times.

When I sincerely answered to the end, Levanfell covered his chuckling lips with his big palm and turned his head.

I saw you smiling already.

“I guess it’s best to find a way for the Empress’s arm not to hurt and for me to sleep well.”

Levanfell stood up in the moving carriage and moved to my side. Then, as naturally and calmly as breathing, he rested his head on my shoulder.

“……Your Majesty?”

“You can put your arm down now.”

Levanfell reached out and gently took my hand, still blocking the window. Then he naturally laid it on his thigh, intertwining his fingers.

“YoYour Majesty?”

“I’m tired.”

Levanfell ignored my call with light disregard. I was left stiff, unable to move, turning my gaze out of the carriage window.

Outside the carriage, quickly leaving the capital, a beautiful plain stretched out.

But all my focus was not on the beautiful scenery outside the carriage, but only on this man leaning on my shoulder.

His long fingers intertwined with mine, the solid thigh beneath my hand, the heavy weight I felt from his shoulder, and even his soft, even breathing.
Swallowing was careful, and once conscious, even inhaling and exhaling were difficult.

‘How did I inhale and exhale?’

Even natural breathing like flowing water had become so difficult. It was strange.

Fluttering hair kept tickling my cheeks. I tried hard to focus on the scenery outside the window, ignoring the nameless emotion.

“You can breathe comfortably.”

“Now, huh. It’s comfortable, you know? Huh.”

“Really?”

Levanfell closed his eyes and held a fluttering smile. He seemed pleased with my unnatural appearance.

“Being uncomfortable is much better than being comfortable, Teriella. I’d like you to be conscious of me and uncomfortable like this every moment. I don’t want to be a comfortable man who is not conscious of the Empress.”

“Joking again……!”

“I’m a person who doesn’t know such jokes. Didn’t you know? Grab anyone working in the palace and ask. If anyone has seen me joke. I guarantee there will be none.”

“You often exchanged jokes with Jaerim, didn’t you?”

“……Jaerim is a stumbling block.”

Levanfell jokingly muttered, ‘Should I get rid of Jaerim?’

“……Your Majesty.”

“Yes.”

“……If Your Majesty personally intervenes and Lord Tenen does not respond to the call, then what will you do?”

“Kill him.”

The humorless answer was heard without hesitation. Although there were no further words, the voice was serious enough to fully realize the sincerity.

“He was your master, wasn’t he?”

“He was. But now I have a dear wife.”

“Don’t sever an old connection, Your Majesty.”

“I have already given him several chances.”

“…….”

“It’s Lord Tenen who didn’t take the hand.”

Levanfell’s voice grew softer. It was not an easy choice for him either. Whenever Lord Tenen was mentioned, Levanfell was always depressed.

I replied lightly to change the atmosphere.

“But in the Empire, if Lord Tenen is the strongest, who can kill him if he says he won’t die?”

“……Too much. Lord Tenen is strong, but I am the strongest.”

“You also lost to Lord Tenen, didn’t you?”

“That was when I was young.”

“Then, did you always win against Lord Tenen when you grew up?”

“……At that time it was war, and after that, Lord Tenen put down the sword and went down. ……I didn’t win every time, but I also had my victories.”

“Then both you and Lord Tenen have tremendous swordsmanship. If Lord Tenen neither guards me nor says he won’t die, what will you do?”

Levanfell slowly lifted his head from my shoulder. Then, turning his head the other way, he muttered faintly.

“……Then we must spare him and return to the palace alone.”

“Pfft.”

Who could be afraid of Levanfell, who always adjusts to me like this, serious at one moment and not the next? I couldn’t help but laugh out loud.

Levanfell turned his head toward me again. His face, smiling after me, was like a flower in full bloom on a spring day.

“If Lord Tenen says he’ll kill me, the Empress has to save me.”

“What can I do? I can’t even use a sword.”

“I’ll only trust the Empress.”

Levanfell pretended to be weak and leaned his head on my shoulder again. The sight of his large figure leaning on my small shoulder was quite funny, and laughter kept escaping.