Demil passed by those who were already quite drunk and sat next to Shuher.

“I told them to show some restraint, but they’re drinking like that.”

“Leave them be. Every time they go on a subjugation, it’s like preparing for death.”

So Shuher didn’t particularly interfere at this moment. Soon his gaze turned to Demil.

“After today, those mouths will surely be shut about the decisions I’ve made.”

He was already looking forward to seeing the nobles’ smug expressions crumple at the unexpected situation. Judging by the atmosphere, even Renel would likely acknowledge it.

“Seeing it in person was incredible. Just one more person added, and yet.”

What Demil felt, everyone here would probably think the same. Ibnel had demonstrated her abilities to the point where no one could dare deny it.

“How can she throw her body around so recklessly, front and back, Demil.”

Even after seeing it with his own eyes, Shuher found it hard to understand. To be able to step forward without hesitation even in situations where one could die.

Recalling Ibnel whom he had seen up close today, Demil carefully opened his mouth.

“At least, she seems different from the people of Aodin so far.”

“So you’re saying you acknowledge her.”

“Not yet… not completely.”

Seeing him try to deny it to the end, Shuher smiled and downed his glass of alcohol in one go. If he could elicit this much of an answer from Demil, it was as good as successful.

“It seems we were the ones mistaken after all.”

“Mistaken?”

At his words, Demil recalled what Ibnel had said before.

“Come to think of it, Lady Ibnel definitely said this. That I was mistaken.”

“I see.”

“About what exactly?”

“The misconception that that woman would want to change something and seek recognition from others.”

Conversely, Shuher had to acknowledge. That there wasn’t an ounce of falsehood in Ibnel’s words. She had directly proven her intentions as she had boldly declared.

When he said that, Demil was bothered by the image of her distancing herself, saying she didn’t want to ruin the mood.

“Why doesn’t she use what she has? She doesn’t seem like someone who doesn’t know that if she used her abilities, it would be more than enough to blend in here.”

That was still an unresolved question for Shuher as well. She was smarter than expected, quick-witted, and not someone to be intimidated while being mindful of others.

Moreover, if she truly meant to survive and protect as she said, it would make sense to use those abilities more actively in this situation.

“Just now… she could have just come in and no one would have said anything now, but she specifically said she wouldn’t come in.”

“What do you mean?”

“I happened to meet her at the door, but she said she wouldn’t come in because she might ruin the mood.”

At those words, Shuher frowned slightly and asked.

“So she went back to her room?”

“No. She said she would go out for some fresh air.”

Maintaining silence without showing any particular reaction, he rose from his seat.

“Your Majesty?”

“Tell them to drink moderately and go to bed, as there’s a schedule tomorrow.”

Shuher left that busy place immediately after saying only those words.

“It’s really dark.”

In Seoul, even at this hour it was as bright as day and the cityscape was clearly visible, but the view from this mansion situated at the highest point was darkness itself.

In contrast, the night sky was embroidered with countless stars. So much so that it was hard to take one’s eyes off.

‘Is this what they mean by a world of stars?’

Though my body still ached, just looking at it made me feel healed on its own. Even the fierce battle from a few hours ago seemed to be forgotten naturally.

‘I wonder if Aran has become one of those stars. Is she watching over me from there?’

“I wish she could tell me I’m doing well.”

My eyes quickly reddened at the thought of my sister, recalled after such a long time. As I was wiping away the tears that flowed foolishly, I suddenly made eye contact with Shuher, who had been out there for who knows how long.

Why do I always encounter him at such awkward moments?

Hoping desperately that Shuher hadn’t seen, Ibnel quickly turned her head and wiped away the remaining tears. Soon, seeing him approach, she spoke first as if nothing had happened.

“Why are you out so early?”

What came from Shuher’s mouth, now close enough to reach out and touch, was not an answer to that question.

“Why were you crying?”

“Me? I wasn’t crying.”

“Wipe your tears properly before lying.”

“…So you saw everything.”

Ibnel scratched her cheek, feeling the embarrassment wash over her.

After hearing from Demil about his encounter with her, Shuher had stepped outside and walked aimlessly to places where Ibnel might go. At the end of that, he discovered Ibnel, unable to take her eyes off the night sky.

Perhaps because it held so many stars, her right eye seemed to sparkle particularly brightly.

‘She looks like someone seeing stars for the first time.’

Whether it was because of the pure smile she wore like a child, he couldn’t turn his gaze away from her. And just as he was about to approach, a single tear falling silently made him stop in his tracks.

Moreover, that look in her eyes seemed so sad that he couldn’t carelessly approach.

She had never shown tears in any situation until now. So he became curious about the meaning behind those tears.

“So why were you crying?”

“Even though I’m trying so hard to pretend I don’t know, can’t you just let it go?”

If it were someone else, they might have passed over it out of consideration for the other person, but not Shuher. There was nothing that couldn’t be asked of him, the emperor.

“Just because you saw it doesn’t mean it becomes unseen.”

Under his gaze urging an answer, Ibnel quickly searched for something to say. It didn’t seem like he would back down even if she kept avoiding it.

“Just…”

At that moment, what caught her eye as she rolled her eyes around were the stars still filling the night sky.

“It’s because of the stars.”

“Stars?”

“Yes, because the stars are so beautiful.”

At her words, Shuher also looked up at the sky, but it was no different from usual. It was as familiar as the air he breathed every day, so he had never once thought that way.

“I guess I teared up without realizing it because they’re so beautiful.”

In fact, it wasn’t very convincing to him. Because contrary to her words about beauty, those eyes had looked too sad. But this time, he didn’t press further.

“But have everyone already gone back to their rooms? They were happily drinking just a moment ago.”

“I heard from Demil. It would have been fine for you to come in. You clearly showed them during the subjugation.”

“That’s a completely separate issue. In any case, they would still feel uncomfortable seeing me.”

Ibnel thought it would be nice to become close as comrades, but knowing the atrocities Aodin had committed, she wasn’t shameless enough to hope for that.

Listening to her words, Shuher felt his anger rising. Why does she keep acting so foolishly?

“You should make demands confidently instead. They clearly realized the value of your abilities through this opportunity.”

“I can’t deny that.”

“Why did you go so far as to get injured to save the knights, the Hibre young lord today? They’re not even directly related to you, let alone on good terms. Don’t try to brush it off with incomprehensible words like it was to save them, to protect them.”

Shuher wanted to hear her true feelings. That selfish heart that everyone harbors.

So that he could understand as well.

Ibnel showed signs of contemplation at his question, but instead of answering right away, she posed a question of her own.

“Haven’t you ever wondered, Your Majesty? Why this ability that had completely disappeared in the past suddenly appeared in me?”

Shuher hadn’t thought that far. For him, the fact that this ability needed to be used somehow was more important than that.

But if he had to explain the reason.

“Isn’t it just chance?”

“I thought so at first too. But what if it’s not?”

Ibnel recalled the moment when this ability first manifested. At that time, she had only one wish.

“At that time, I only thought about wanting to save Lia. Could it be that the desperate wish to save someone other than oneself brought forth this ability?”

“Why? What does that have to do with the ability?”

“Because that’s the essence of the power you possess and the ability I have. The desire to protect and save someone.”

Shuher was left speechless, as if struck unexpectedly. Even he, who possessed power, had never once thought of it in such a way.

But he couldn’t hastily deny it either. For reasons he himself didn’t understand.

“If you think about it that way, it also explains why Aodin lost their abilities, doesn’t it?”

Aodin had forgotten the heart they had when they first received their abilities long ago, using them only for their own selfish interests. As a result, many people died.

“So I felt that if I walked the same path as the past Aodin, I would end up losing this ability. Of course, all of this is just my speculation.”

Shuher simply listened to what she was saying. It wasn’t a completely implausible story. But if you think about it the other way around.

“Does that mean Caries, who is turning a blind eye to the current situation of Aodin, could also lose this power?”

“I’m not sure either. But if there really is such a thing as a god, I don’t think they would do that.”

“Why?”

He wanted to know the reason for her confidence.

“Because they would have seen the path Caries has walked until now. How much blood has been spilled. So even if vengeance is taken, wouldn’t they understand? If they don’t allow even that much, it would be too cruel, even for a god.”

Shuher couldn’t take his eyes off Ibnel. Whether it was because of her two eyes shining with her own beliefs, or because of that voice that seemed soft yet strong-willed.

“You asked earlier why I go to such lengths, Your Majesty. Honestly, I don’t know either. Whether it’s because of my promise to you, to show my worth, out of a sense of debt to the Caries Empire, because I don’t want to become cowardly like Aodin, or simply because of the desire to save someone.”

Though she had given various answers so far, Ibnel herself didn’t know which was the correct one. But one thing she could be certain of:

“There wasn’t a single lie among them. All of those are my answer, my heart.”

Mulling over her answer, Shuher finally threw up his hands. It seemed futile to keep arguing the same point, as it would only hurt his own mouth.

“You really are foolishly stubborn.”

“I can laugh off that level of comment now. But speaking of stubbornness, aren’t the families that received power, like the Count Perti family, the same?”

He looked at Ibnel with eyes that seemed to ask what that meant.

“They’re protecting the Caries Empire not for visible power or money, but out of a sense of duty alone. That’s what makes them even more admirable. Because maintaining the same heart for such a long time is truly difficult.”

That’s why she couldn’t completely resent Renel either. She knew that even his sharp reaction was ultimately for the sake of protecting his homeland.

“So, Your Majesty, please express it in words sometimes. That you’re always grateful for them protecting this empire. That would be far more valuable to them than money or power.”

“You speak as if you know better than I do.”

Shuher’s provocative tone was to hide his bewilderment. He didn’t want to admit that she knew something he had overlooked.

“Anyone can see that if they look a little closer.”

Having said everything she wanted to say, Ibnel walked past him, but turned back as she remembered something she hadn’t said.

“Ah, and…”

She stopped speaking because Shuher had somehow come right up to her face. Surprised by the unexpectedly close distance, she hastily stepped back.

Then, due to the pain from her wound, her legs gave out.

Fortunately, no unsightly fall occurred. Shuher’s strong arm supported her waist.