Ibnel glanced at Shuher’s hand on her shoulder, then shifted her gaze to him. Soon, she gave a matter-of-fact answer that belied his slightly raised voice.

“That’s that, and I did misunderstand Your Majesty’s intentions back then. You must have had your own reasons for asking me to come to the banquet.”

Shuher, drained by those words, released his grip on her shoulder and sat down beside Ibnel. Just that response made him feel like he had lost to her.

And he felt pathetic for getting angry at her. What was he trying to do against someone like this?

“Today, being treated as a vile person just because I’m from Aodin, it didn’t feel good.”

Ibnel understood Shuher’s feelings at that time in an instant. While cursing those who misunderstood her, she was behaving just like them.

“There was a good chance that the young lady’s suspicions were true.”

Still, Shuher was curious about the reason behind her confident tone that she had no such intentions.

“Perhaps I would have thought that way before. But not now.”

“Why?”

“Because the Your Majesty I’ve experienced and seen firsthand isn’t someone who would do such petty things. If anything, you might kill without hesitation, with a single stroke.”

After Shuher left that time, upon reflection, she realized he wasn’t the type to use cowardly tricks behind one’s back, even if he might do things openly.

“And if Your Majesty really had such intentions, you wouldn’t have bothered to bandage me.”

The small words and actions he showed moment by moment were far from the cold and stern image she had only heard rumors about. Seeing the bandage he had applied made her feel even more apologetic for maligning him like that.

‘Actually, that wasn’t all.’

Ibnel couldn’t bring herself to say that his eyes had looked hurt at that time.

“So I really wanted to apologize. After all, I misunderstood.”

As she calmly met his gaze, Shuher couldn’t bring himself to look her in the eye and turned his head straight ahead. Hearing her apology didn’t make him happy at all.

Rather, it made him feel even more uneasy.

Ibnel was the enemy of Karies, someone he wouldn’t mind killing, yet she was saying words that seemed to protect him.

So it felt pathetic to have gotten upset over something so trivial. But after a long silence, what came out of his mouth was a curt response contrary to those thoughts.

“Forget it. It’s not something that warrants an apology.”

But seemingly unconcerned by that, Ibnel immediately asked with a bright face.

“Then we’re reconciling, right?”

Asked so directly, Shuher couldn’t bring himself to answer affirmatively. It was also embarrassing to say he had reconciled over such a trivial matter as the emperor.

But Ibnel, determined to get an answer, leaned towards him and asked.

“Right? We’ve reconciled, haven’t we?”

Fearing she would keep asking until she got an answer, he hurriedly nodded. Satisfied with that nod, she smiled and leaned back. It felt like a weight had been lifted from his chest.

“Then this matter ends here. You can’t say anything different later.”

“Couldn’t we just let it go without all this?”

“Of course not. It would be uncomfortable if we kept avoiding each other every time we meet, like today. Though Your Majesty probably doesn’t care much.”

Shuher barely held back from saying that wasn’t true. In fact, Ibnel’s obvious avoidance of him had bothered him quite a bit.

Besides, wasn’t she the one who wouldn’t even make eye contact?

“Your Majesty.”

Shuher turned his head reflexively at Ibnel’s call, and their eyes met as she looked at him with a serious expression.

“Do you want me to attend the banquet?”

“…Yes.”

As if enchanted by her two eyes shining in the moonlight, Shuher gave an affirmative answer. In fact, as soon as he heard about the banquet for Dabian, her face had come to mind.

It wasn’t for the reason he had told Ibnel yesterday. He just thought it would be nice if she was there too.

But there was no way he could say that straightforwardly. That’s why he tried to dress it up with various other reasons.

‘No, it’s just compensation.’

It was true that Ibnel had helped him several times, so he tried to think of it only as compensation for that. Anything beyond that, even he couldn’t define.

“Then I’ll attend.”

Shuher looked at her in surprise at the unexpected answer. Just yesterday she had said no several times, but now she suddenly changed her mind. It was enough to make even her intentions slightly suspicious.

“You’re saying you’ll attend the banquet?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“Your Majesty brought it up yourself, and I thought it might be necessary since I’ve decided to stay here. I seem to be terribly entangled with the Karies nobles already.”

It was still just as bothersome, but it wasn’t something she could avoid forever while staying in the imperial palace. Plus, the absurd rumors about her going around today played a part.

She didn’t want to just sit still like an idiot while people picked fights with her from all sides. Whatever the outcome, she was determined to face it head-on now that it had come to this.

“Dabian also said it would be nice if I came. But I haven’t forgotten the purpose of the banquet. I won’t deliberately pick fights.”

“So in the end, it’s because you want to.”

In other words, she had made that decision judging it would be advantageous to her to attend. Shuher’s voice unknowingly came out sounding displeased at the fact that it wasn’t because of his urging.

But Ibnel’s words didn’t end there. In fact, if she had to pick the biggest reason,

“If Your Majesty hadn’t bandaged me that time, it wouldn’t have happened at all. Because I received help, I at least reconsidered attending the banquet.”

At the implication that she had changed her mind because of him, Shuher felt his twisted feelings ease a little.

“It feels better to say it all like this. I guess I should have just said everything earlier.”

“What exactly?”

She hesitated for a moment, then looked up at the night sky and spoke as if muttering to herself.

“People are saying all sorts of things about me again. It’s not boring since new rumors keep popping up just when I’m getting used to it, but there are unfair parts. I could understand if it’s because I’m from the Aodin Empire.”

Her existence here was still worse than a monster, so it was frustrating at times. At first she hadn’t felt that way, but had she unknowingly developed a desire to be acknowledged?

As the atmosphere suddenly grew heavy, Ibnel spoke in a deliberately cheerful voice.

“Well, that’s what I mean. Just listen to it lightly.”

“Not particularly.”

Contrary to his indifferent tone, Shuher was concerned about the countless words and gazes Ibnel must have endured today. Even what expression she had worn in those situations.

‘That’s an answer fitting for Your Majesty.’

Ibnel preferred that indifferent remark far more than any half-hearted consolation. It was as if he was telling her such things were no big deal.

“Oh, did you go well with Dabian today? It wasn’t awkward or anything?”

Given his personality, it was impossible that he had spoken first or led the conversation. And Demil, who was with them, probably didn’t step in to lighten the mood like Shan would have.

“You didn’t say anything again, right? Or just gave one-word answers.”

At her words, certain it must have been that way without any expectation otherwise, Shuher bristled for a moment.

“I didn’t.”

“You don’t have to lie.”

“I asked how he was doing, and even gave him a handkerchief when he suddenly cried. Isn’t that enough?”

“You did, Your Majesty?”

Seeing her still looking doubtful, Shuher’s competitive spirit seemed to rise as he spoke in an even more agitated voice than before.

“If you don’t believe me, ask Demil.”

When he went that far, Ibnel had no choice but to believe him. He wasn’t the type to lie about something like this.

What filled her mind was bewilderment. She had told him to be kind to Dabian, but she hadn’t really expected Shuher to do so.

“What does that expression mean?”

“It’s very unexpected. You didn’t seem to be listening carefully when I told you before.”

She thought for a moment, then soon understood. Shuher must be gradually becoming drawn to Dabian too. Just like in the novel.

‘Things are going well.’

She felt proud to have contributed to something important. Meanwhile, Shuher couldn’t understand what part of this was making her so pleased.

“You seem to like it more.”

“You don’t need to know that. See, Dabian likes it when you do as I said, right? Please keep treating him that way. I’m sure you’ll thank me later.”

Ibnel said things he couldn’t understand and then stood up. Her heart felt lighter now that the misunderstanding with him had been cleared up. Unlike yesterday, she felt she could sleep soundly.

“Ah, I should go quickly. Lia said she was looking for me.”

Belatedly remembering Lia, Ibnel hurried her steps towards the palace. Shuher also stood up to follow her.

As they returned to the palace together, Shuher’s expression hardened slightly as he noticed something. She was limping slightly on her leg, just like yesterday.

“It’s still not healed?”

“Oh, my leg? No matter how tough I am, a wound doesn’t heal in just one day.”

“Dabian didn’t mention anything about it earlier.”

“I deliberately walked normally in front of Dabian. I didn’t want him to worry if he saw I was injured.”

Ibnel had been careful not to let on that she was hurt when she was with Dabian earlier. So as not to make her uncomfortable.

“You don’t seem to be in a position to worry about others.”

“This much is fine. The pain has subsided a lot too.”

At some point, she seemed to realize something and looked at Shuher beside her. He was walking alongside her when normally he should have been walking far ahead.

Looking closely, she saw he was matching his pace to her limping gait.

His face, looking straight ahead, showed no difference from usual.

‘This is what you call unexpected.’

It was confusing to see him being so considerate like this. She was curious about what this person’s true self really was.

“There’s no need to force yourself.”

“Pardon?”

“I don’t have a hobby of tormenting injured people.”

At his words saying she didn’t have to force herself to come to the banquet, Ibnel stopped in her tracks. Shuher, who had been walking ahead, noticed and stopped, then spoke to her as she stared at him blankly.

“And I don’t want to hear resentful words later.”

At that slightly smiling expression, she couldn’t take her eyes off him for some reason she couldn’t understand. She felt her heart beating just a tiny bit faster.

‘Why suddenly.’

Afraid Shuher might notice this feeling, she deliberately raised her voice even more.

“I’ve already decided to go. I won’t resent you later.”

As if to say ‘suit yourself’, he turned his back and started walking. But realizing Ibnel wasn’t following, he stopped again and looked at her.

“Aren’t you coming?”

As he gestured with his chin towards his side, Ibnel finally moved her feet that had been rooted to the spot. Until they reached the palace, Shuher matched his pace to hers.