“May I ask what part of Your Majesty you saw to say he is kind?”

“When we first met, you personally embraced and carried me when I had no shoes.”

Davian answered without a moment’s hesitation. She could not forget the moment Shuher had embraced her.

However, the Shuher that Ibnel had seen so far was, no matter how she thought about it, someone very far from being described as kind.

Even seeing him swing his sword mercilessly against enemies, she wondered if Davian would think that way.

‘Ah, maybe it’s different if it’s Davian.’

The male protagonist is only gentle to the female protagonist, which Aran said she liked so much it made her ears hurt. Davian seemed to see Shuher favorably too.

“Honestly, when I heard various rumors about Your Majesty, I thought you were a very scary and cold person, but now I feel at ease.”

As she continued walking and listening to Davian’s story, Ibnel recalled the other sides Shuher had shown and quietly agreed.

“He does seem to be a good emperor.”

While she couldn’t say Shuher was a good person to her, she couldn’t deny that he was a good person as an emperor. With his many achievements in a short time, and how he led without hesitation in dangerous moments.

At that moment, familiar words of contempt were heard again from the servants passing by the two.

“Look at her clinging to Lady Davian now to try and survive. She’s really shameless.”

“Well, she’s just desperately struggling to live.”

‘Is this what it feels like to be a celebrity receiving hate comments in real-time?’

Ibnel was only amazed at how diverse their repertoire of insults was. Then her eyes met Davian’s, who seemed troubled, perhaps having heard all those words.

“Ah, I’m sorry. You had to hear unnecessary things because of me.”

“Pardon?”

“Perhaps you haven’t heard yet? About me.”

Davian rolled her eyes around and then gently shook her head.

“Actually, I heard customers at the restaurant where I worked talking about Lady Ibnel. The maids at the palace where I’m staying now told me more details.”

Ibnel thought it was good that she didn’t have to directly tell various stories about herself.

“You must feel uncomfortable because I’m from Aodin, right? I think I acted intimately without knowing, since we have the same ability.”

“No, that’s not it. You saved me and treated me kindly.”

Although Davian was surprised later when she learned of her identity, the fact that Ibnel was the person who saved her from danger remained unchanged, so that feeling came across much stronger.

“Oh, by the way, when are you leaving, Lady Ibnel?”

“Pardon?”

Ibnel couldn’t understand the meaning or intention of her words. Why was she suddenly saying that she was leaving? Davian, who had brought it up, was still gazing at her with those pure and clear eyes.

“Leaving? Me?”

“Isn’t that right? That’s what I heard.”

“From whom exactly?”

She was naturally curious about how she had heard such a story.

“From a maid at the palace where I’m staying. She said that since I came, Lady Ibnel would be leaving.”

“Ah…”

Ibnel immediately understood why Davian had such a misunderstanding. Those maids must have spoken about her as if it were natural.

One thing for certain was that the meaning of ‘leaving’ didn’t mean leaving the imperial palace. It seemed they deliberately withheld words for Davian’s sake, even while knowing this.

Unaware of her thoughts, Davian continued in a bright voice.

“You seemed very close with the knights just now too. I think it would be very regrettable to part ways after getting along so well.”

“I suppose… that’s true.”

Ibnel nodded with a thoughtful expression. But she couldn’t give any answer about when she would be leaving. Davian, not noticing the meaning of this silence, showed strong determination.

“I will really work hard in your place, Lady Ibnel. I’m so happy that everyone treats me kindly. So I want to repay them for sure.”

“Everyone will be happy to hear those words.”

Seeing her genuinely happy appearance, Ibnel finally smiled too. She was relieved to see her doing well in the new environment.

‘She’s an extremely bright person.’

Looking at Davian reminded her of a warm sun. One that makes people who see her feel good and naturally smile. To the extent that she thought this might be the power of a female protagonist.

As they walked while conversing, they soon arrived at the palace where she was staying. However, the front of the palace was not only noisy but also crowded with many luggage items.

“What is all this?”

“Gifts have been arriving since this morning. I was very surprised too. They’re from people I don’t even know.”

‘So they’re already making moves.’

It seemed that nobles who recognized Davian’s value had started sending gifts to try and win her over as soon as possible.

Davian showed a somewhat troubled expression.

“I don’t know what to do. They’re all such precious items.”

They were all expensive items she had never seen before in her life. It was already more than enough with just what she received from staying at the imperial palace.

While this would never happen to Ibnel, even if it did, she would have flatly refused. Knowing that the value of those items would be a price to pay later.

That was what worried her most. That Davian, who knew nothing, might take it as just simple goodwill.

“Lady Davian.”

At that moment, a maid who came out of the palace spotted Davian and called her. Then, noticing Ibnel with her, she quickly approached. The maid rudely looked Ibnel up and down, then quickly changed her expression when looking at Davian.

“We were waiting because you didn’t come. Let’s go inside quickly.”

“Bris?”

“Hurry.”

Bris led Davian away without giving her a chance to say goodbye to Ibnel. Ibnel watched this scene and then left the place as if wondering what had happened.

“Wait, I haven’t even said goodbye yet.”

“What goodbye? Don’t associate closely with that person.”

“Why not?”

When Davian asked like that after returning to her room, Bris expressed frustration. And with the determination to protect her master, she said,

“I told you she’s a person from Aodin, didn’t I?”

“Yes.”

“That person lost her place when you appeared. She must be holding a grudge. Or she might be trying to use you under the pretext of having saved you. You should always be wary.”

From Davian’s perspective, Ibnel didn’t seem like that kind of person. Rather, she seemed to pay no attention to what people said about her.

“But she seemed like a good person.”

“Never be deceived by appearances. She must be envious of you inside. Just today, seeing so many gifts come for you, she must have been jealous.”

Bris was busy mocking Ibnel’s situation. How furious she must be inside seeing Davian receive different treatment from herself.

“Just because you have the same ability doesn’t mean she’s the same as you, Lady Davian. You are much more amazing. Lady Davian, you are the light of Caries just by existing.”

“What do you mean, light.”

Davian was at a loss with the unfamiliar praise. It was the first time in her life she had received such favor from someone.

So she really wanted to be recognized by everyone with this ability. She didn’t want to return to that miserable past.

Sitting at the desk, only the gun Shuher had given her was placed in front of Ibnel. Her eyes were full of deep thought as she looked at it.

“What should I do with this.”

She couldn’t use it comfortably now that she had heard about this gun from Demil.

‘Should I return it?’

No matter how much she coveted the gun, it didn’t seem right to pretend not to know. After pondering over and over, Ibnel abruptly stood up, feeling this wouldn’t end like this.

“Right, let’s ask the person directly.”

There was no point in just thinking about it. It only gave her a headache.

Ibnel went to find Emil and first asked if Shuher had returned to the palace.

“No, he hasn’t returned yet. At this hour, he’s probably in his office.”

“Is that so?”

Hearing her words, she immediately headed towards Shuher’s office. Having been there once before, there was no difficulty in finding the destination. But before that, she was stopped by the knights guarding the entrance.

“What brings you here?”

“I came to see His Majesty. I heard he was in his office.”

“If there’s no prior appointment, you can’t enter.”

“Then could you just let His Majesty know I’m here?”

“Not possible. Please leave.”

The knights who curtly cut off Ibnel’s words waved their hands as if annoyed, urging her to go back. Ibnel was about to just wait for him to return to the palace when a familiar voice was heard from behind.

“Lady Ibnel?”

“Sir Demil.”

Demil, who approached Ibnel’s side, immediately understood the situation seeing the knights blocking her way.

“Open the way. And from now on, there should be no more such rude blocking of the path.”

Startled by Demil’s cold gaze, they immediately stepped aside. Without even glancing at that sight, Demil said,

“I’ll guide you.”

“I’d appreciate that.”

Ibnel looked around at the surroundings full of silence as she walked through the dimly lit corridor. Perhaps because it was late, no other people were visible.

“I wonder if His Majesty isn’t busy.”

“He should be fine since he’s working alone. But what brings you to His Majesty?”

Instead of answering, she showed him the gun she had brought.

“I want to ask properly about this. No matter how much I racked my brains, I couldn’t come up with an answer.”

“Are you perhaps going to return it?”

“Well, that could be a possibility.”

Demil didn’t expect her to come looking for Shuher right away after hearing his story. She could have pretended not to know.

Soon arriving in front of Shuher’s office, Demil was about to announce Ibnel’s visit.

“Your Majesty.”

“Come in.”

However, the permission to enter was heard before Demil’s words. At that answer, he opened the door for her.

“Thank you.”

Ibnel, who greeted Demil, entered the office. The office hadn’t changed much since she last came, and Shuher was focused on his work without even raising his head.

She approached the desk where he was sitting, muffling her footsteps in the atmosphere that seemed like she shouldn’t disturb anything. But even with that small sign, Shuher seemed to notice someone approaching.

“What is it, Demil?”

When no answer came even after waiting, he raised his head and inadvertently met eyes with Ibnel who was looking at him. His hand holding the pen twitched slightly in surprise.

Though it didn’t show at all on the outside.

“Why is the young lady here?”

“Of course I came to see Your Majesty. If you’re busy, I can return to the palace and wait.”

Shuher, noticing there must be a special reason since she had never come to see him no matter what happened until now, stood up from his seat and pointed to a sofa on one side.

“Sit over there.”

Ibnel soon looked at him sitting in the main seat and then placed the gun she was holding on the table without saying anything else.