As I sent them off, Revenpel and Raven quickly went outside to confirm the facts.

Next, Clint said he would immediately select people for my security and asked me to wait for a moment before heading out.

‘Why did an envoy suddenly come from the Lupion Kingdom?’

What happened?

I looked at the bandages on my arms and legs and pursed my lips. It seemed like I wrapped my arms and legs in bandages for no reason.

At that moment, Rejim approached me.

“…Your Majesty. It might be strange to ask in this situation, but I’m not sure when we’ll have a chance to talk like this again.”

Bringing a chair, Rejim sat in front of me.

“…Your Majesty, it was a proposal to use you as bait to hunt down Gennerva. To me, it sounded like catching Gennerva would end all this.”

Rejim was sharp.

“Why did you think that?”

“Catching Gennerva wouldn’t make the sap of the World Tree he was researching disappear, right? Fundamentally, it’s not Gennerva but the rotten sap of the World Tree. In fact, if we get rid of that, there’s no reason for the Ferdia Group to exist.”

He felt like more than just the Chief Advisor.

“But Your Majesty said that catching Gennerva alone would end it. …Do you happen to have other plans in mind? I won’t mention it to Her Majesty, so please don’t execute it alone. Please tell me so that I can think of the next strategy. This is for the Emperor and for the empire that Revenpel will rule.”

Rejim is Revenpel’s man. For Revenpel, and for the empire that he will rule, he can do anything.

“…Rejim.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“The proposal I made earlier. What do you think about it?”

“…….”

“I hope you didn’t agree just because you thought I was in danger?”

At the question, Rejim took a deep breath and, as if he had committed a crime, lowered his head in front of me. With little strength, he murmured softly, shaking his head downward.

“… I thought it wasn’t a bad idea.”

“…….”

“Even if we add surveillance to Marquis, it will probably be difficult to find evidence. Marquis will also know that Gennerva revealed himself in front of the Empress. He will be more cautious than usual and will act more discreetly.”

“I also think the same way.”

“Considering that Gennerva and Marquis are walking the same path, they don’t seem to have a superior-subordinate relationship. You mentioned that this time Gennerva acted impulsively, right? …Then it will be even more difficult to catch the moment when the two of them make contact.”

“…….”

“So, I apologize to the Empress… I still think it’s best for the Empress to take the lead.”

If it’s Rejim.

If Rejim, who values Revenpel more than I do, is okay with it.

“Rejim.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“The conversation we’re about to have is our secret, just between you and me.”

“…Not even to Her Majesty?”

“Yes. Also to Revenpel. To Raven, Clint, and Elifu. No one should know. …Can you do that for the sake of Revenpel?”

For Revenpel. Rejim’s gaze changed at those words. The wavering eyes found their target, shining clearly.

“I promise. For Your Majesty.”

“The power of the rotten World Tree inside Revenpel’s body is going out of control.”

“…What?”

“I’ve been calming the raging power by blowing divine power into him every night, but… there’s a limit.”

Rejim’s face, which was stiffened, turned into confusion.

“As he increasingly desires more power, he swallows the power inside me. If he swallows all my power, I’ll probably die.”

“…Wait, Your Majesty.”

With a strained face, Rejim touched his forehead. He tried to understand what I said. But finding it difficult, he sighed heavily, shaking his head left and right.

“So… Huh. I don’t quite understand now, Your Majesty.”

“Don’t try to understand. I can’t understand it myself.”

Hamster is actually the divine Semura or something. Or my mother is a reincarnator from another world, or someone who tried to destroy this world for my sake.

The story was hard to understand without explaining the details.

“Just accept it.”

“Just accept it… Wait. Then just one. I’ll just ask one thing.”

Rejim urgently asked a question. I had a rough idea of what he was going to ask.

“Is it my death, or is it Revenpel’s? That’s what you’re curious about?”

Without nodding his head, Rejim stared at me, biting his lower lip tightly. What he worried about was not ‘my death’ but ‘Revenpel’s death,’ because that’s what he would care about.
“……If my divine power runs out first, I’ll die. If I don’t use my divine power, the rampaging force will devour Revenpel.”

“……Ha.”

Rejim sighed with a mix of lament and swept away his complicated thoughts.

“……Is what you just told me related to the reason for wanting to catch Gennerva?”

“Yes. By capturing Gennerva and consolidating the power of the rotten World Tree he possesses, both Revenpel and I can survive.”

“What?”

At my light response, Rejim’s eyes widened in surprise. I chuckled lightly, teasingly.

“What’s wrong? Why are you so surprised? Are you hoping for one of us to die?”

“Oh, no! No! No!”

Rejim urgently waved his hands.

“T-Then, what exactly is that method?”

“Capture Gennerva before dying and eliminate all the power of the rotten World Tree.”

“What?”

Once again, Rejim asked as if he couldn’t understand. However, he soon nodded and muttered.

“I probably won’t be able to understand this either. …I’ll just accept the sentence as it is.”

“That’s a good attitude.”

A shadow fell over Rejim’s complexion.

Capturing Gennerva won’t be easy. He’s a criminal we haven’t caught even after chasing him across the continent. Trying to catch him won’t make it happen overnight.

If there are many people advocating for him, it will be even more difficult.

And if we can’t catch him, either I or Revenpel, one of us, will die.

“Empress… If you know that you could die… every night…”

Rejim was about to say something. The hurried sound of footsteps approached.

“Hush.”

I placed my index finger on my lips, indicating that it was a secret. Rejim nodded heavily, closing his mouth.

As if he would keep the secret.

Just as Rejim was about to say something, the urgent sound of footsteps approached. The medical room door opened, and Raven rushed in.

“Emp… Empress.”

Raven was sweating coldly, and his face had turned pale.

“Prince of Lupeon… Karayan Lupeon’s… life is currently in jeopardy.”