“Huh?”

“If you don’t have an appointment tonight, stay with me.”

Levanfell’s eyes shook more violently than before. He even went so far as to cover his mouth with his big palm in shock.

‘What’s with him? Why is he acting like that?’

Levanfell covered his ears with his palms and then took them off to ask again.

“Empress, did I mishear something?”

“What did you hear?”

“Did you say to stay together tonight?”

“You heard right.”

Levanfell took a step back, startled.

“Is this a dream?”

“Shall I hit you?”

“Then just one hit, please.”

To my playful question, Levanfell seriously offered his cheek. It was a genuine request for a slap.

Why is he acting like this when I haven’t even finished explaining?

I took hold of Levanfell’s cheeks with both hands. Then he closed his eyes, as if resigned to it.

“It must have been a dream.”

“A dream?”

“If it’s a dream then…….”

I don’t know what he was trying to say, but I slapped Levanfell hard on both cheeks, jolting him out of his confusion between dream and reality.

Slap!

“……It hurts.”

“You asked for it, right? I slapped both at once, so it’s just one hit.”

“It doesn’t seem like a dream. What’s going on?”

Levanfell rubbed the cheeks where he’d been hit and stood up straight.

“I need to refrain from using my sacred power for a week.”

“Why? Is there something wrong with your body?”

As soon as my concern came out, Levanfell’s eyes changed. His playful attitude vanished, replaced by a serious look.

“No, it’s not that my body has a problem, but I’ve been using my power continuously lately, and I need some time to recharge.”

I beat around the bush, making excuses. It wouldn’t do any good to let him know that something was wrong with my body.

“So I’d like you to be with me every night for a week.”

“……Why?”

“That’s because we can’t be caught apart like when we were caught by Reilim last time. What if something urgent happens and I need to find Your Majesty quickly? It’s better to be together.”

“But that’s too much for me…….”

“Yes, I understand. You’re surprised, right? I was taken aback at first too. But there’s a reason for all this, so don’t think too strangely.”

“……. ”

“I told you at the beginning, didn’t I? Your life is now tied to mine. There’s no help for it now.”

Levanfell slowly turned his head to look at the bed.

His thick throat moved significantly. In the quiet bedroom, I could hear Levanfell swallowing his dry saliva.

“……So we’ll spend the night together in the same bed for a week?”

“Yes.”

“Just the Empress and me?”

“Yes. We are husband and wife after all. No one will think it’s strange.”

“Ha.”

Levanfell seemed dizzy, washing his face roughly with his large hands.

“As soon as I say I’ll give up waiting in ambush…… the moment when I have to endure comes.”

“What? What are you saying?”

“Never mind.”
Levanfell wore a transcendent expression and gently smiled.

“Struggling between blaming the gods or thanking them.”

“It’ll be tough, but let’s endure together for a week.”

I comforted Levanfell’s shoulder and pointed to the bed with my finger.

“Is it more comfortable to sleep on the left? Or the right?”

Levanfell’s suppressed sigh could be heard.

.

.

.

Sitting side by side on the bed, I continually tried to use my divine power to create a shield around my body, and Levanfell was checking the documents that Jaerim had brought earlier.

“Are you working?”

“Yes. A carriage that had left the capital was found fallen off a cliff, and the coachman is missing. Checking that report and the reply to the letter I sent to Tenen Kyung.”

“Tenen Kyung, the Emperor’s swordsmanship master? What did he reply?”

“He won’t come.”

Bitterness passed over Levanfell’s face. He seemed to be trying to hide it, but it did not easily disappear.

“I have to handle the visit to Eteria Empire first, then call him again. … What’s the Empress doing? She’s been fussing around. Is she practicing swimming?”

“…No.”

“Ah. Practicing dance. Is it a dance for the welcome party?”

“That’s not it either.”

“Ah. She was practicing martial arts. I thought so.”

“That’s not it either.”

“I was joking to lighten the mood. Stretching before bed is good for insomnia.”

“I was practicing creating a shield with divine power.”

I had worked hard, but did it look like such a ridiculous floundering?

Levanfell was surprised, but soon put down the documents and nodded.

“Using power properly is a good thing. Especially if it’s a shield to protect the Empress.”

“But it’s not going well.”

“If there’s anything I can help with, tell me. I’ll help with anything.”

I slowly nodded, then clapped my hands at a sudden thought.

“That’s it!”

The first time I used divine power was on Levanfell. I was able to use it even though I didn’t know how.

Could it happen again this time?

“Your Majesty. Do you remember when we first met?”

“The first time?”

“When I first used divine power on Your Majesty.”

Levanfell’s shoulders twitched, and his body stiffened. Wondering why, I grinned as Levanfell straightened his upper body.

“Your Majesty?”

He licked his dry lips and grabbed my wrist. Levanfell’s heartbeat rang clearly through the palm of his hand, as if he were nervous.

“…When?”

He asked with a trembling voice. The tense and desperate expression made the viewer’s heart beat in response.

“The day we first met. When the Empress first used divine power on me. … Exactly when are you talking about?”