I nodded firmly at Reim, who had been watching the situation from afar. Reim looked at me as if asking what I was talking about, however.

.

.

.

The party was in full swing. Time had flown by with only receiving nobles’ greetings.

The prepared drinks and light desserts were served, and the taste felt unique in this atmosphere.

I wondered if that’s why people say that delicious food should be shared with many.

“Your Majesty.”

I checked the time and subtly signaled Levanfell. Midnight was approaching soon.

Levanfell, noticing my gesture, nodded and stood up. It looked very suspicious to suddenly put a hand on his heart in front of so many people.

So we had agreed that when I gave the signal, we would pretend to go out to the terrace for fresh air.

“I’ll go get some air.”

Levanfell acted as we had promised earlier. I pretended to be a little drunk on the light wine, leaning on Levanfell’s shoulder, and nodded.

Perfect acting.

We went out to the terrace together, closed the door, and shut the velvet curtain so that no small sound could escape.

“Are you okay? Drunk on alcohol?”

A cool breeze brushed my hair. Levanfell looked at me leaning on his shoulder and smiled dryly.

Look, my acting was perfect!

Seeing Levanfell fooled, I triumphantly shrugged my shoulders.

“I was pretending to be drunk.”

“Oh my.”

Levanfell exclaimed as if he couldn’t have imagined it, and clapped his hands.

“I was fooled by a perfect act.”

“Let’s wait a bit since it’s not time to change yet.”

I stretched lazily, comforting him. Then I walked out to the front of the terrace to feel the wind. Leaning on the railing, the wind felt more vivid.

I felt as if I had become a bird flying in the sky.

I looked down below the railing. From this high place, the grand view was captured in one glance. Then I saw the back of a familiar person.

‘That person is…….’

It was the Emperor of Eteria.

I wondered what he was doing since I hadn’t seen him since greeting me at the beginning, but he was outside.

‘What’s he doing?’

The Emperor of Eteria was crouched down, working on something diligently. He was so focused that he didn’t even look up as people laughed and passed by.

I leaned almost over the railing and looked at the Emperor of Eteria. Two small kittens were sitting in front of him, crouched down. They were very young, probably newly born.

And the Emperor of Eteria was…….

‘Is he really giving milk to the kittens and petting them?’

He poured milk from the party into a bowl and set it down in front of the two kittens with a terrifying face. And that wasn’t all? He wiped the kittens’ faces with his sleeve as they drank the milk, wearing a satisfied expression.

Even though his clothes were dirty with dirt, he didn’t care, focusing intently.

That scary man and cats. It was an unlikely combination.

‘What a strange person.’

It was completely different from when he was smiling and giggling at me earlier. Was he actually a split personality or someone else who just looked similar?

‘It’s none of my business anyway.’
I exhaled lightly and turned my gaze away from Emperor Etheria. Suddenly, I felt a gentle hand wrapping around my waist.

“Teriella, you’ll fall.”

Levanfell, who had somehow approached next to me, sat me on the railing and embraced my waist. Once perched on the railing, I was a little higher than Levanfell.

Looking down at Levanfell’s face was a different feeling. I had always looked down or faced him directly, but looking down from above felt like this.

The night wind blew hard. His hair fluttered, covering his eyes that sparkled like stars embedded in the night sky.

As if entranced, I reached out and brushed aside Levanfell’s hair, which had covered his eyes. The wind blowing in from behind seemed mixed with the sweet scent of alcohol.

It sparkled as if the moonlight was shining on us. Neither the surrounding noise nor any movement could be felt.

At this moment, it seemed like Levanfell and I were the only ones left in the world.

My finger that was brushing Levanfell’s hair dropped and lightly touched his lips. Although it only brushed past for a moment, my finger felt hot as if it had touched flames.

“Do you always wear your mouth like this?”

“…Why?”

“Because the Empress seems to like it, and it feels good.”

Levanfell smiled happily, his lips curling upwards. This man really would give in to anything for me.

The wind blew hard. Levanfell’s hair fluttered wildly and then slowly began to turn white.

It was a beautiful sight, as if after metamorphosis, the pupa was born into a butterfly. A sight that only I could see in this world.

Following the wind’s direction, his hair began to turn white and soon changed completely. Hungry gleam beneath the white hair flashed, and everything was captivated.

“I should be holding the Empress’s waist to keep her from falling over the railing.”

Levanfell, who had tightened his grip on my waist, whispered softly.

“Unbutton my shirt.”

Who could resist such a seductive command? Without even thinking of refusing, I reached out and unbuttoned Levanfell’s shirt one by one.

Snap. Snap.

Levanfell just quietly watched me unbuttoning his shirt. The obsessive gaze I felt up close made my mouth dry.

After unbuttoning all of Levanfell’s shirt, I naturally laid my hand on his chest. It was a familiar series of actions.

A hot touch settled on the skin cooled by the wind.

And at that moment.

“…Ugh.”

I felt a great force swirling inside me.