Ibnel suddenly felt sorry for those who had carefully prepared for today when she saw her dress that had lost its original beautiful appearance and become a mess.

“I’m sorry to Emil and Lia. They’ve been working for me all day. They’ll be disappointed when they find out people’s reactions today.”

“Disappointed?”

“Everyone looked at me as if I was strange.”

The moment she appeared, she felt like she wanted to hide in a mouse hole due to the looks that seemed to say they had seen something unsightly.

“Honestly, Your Majesty thought so too, right? That’s why you were just watching earlier.”

“That’s.”

The meaning of people’s reactions was definitely not what she thought. No, he could bet everything on the opposite.

Shuher also couldn’t take his eyes off Ibnel from the moment he saw her in the distance. He even felt a sensation like his heart was being squeezed for a moment.

It would not be an exaggeration to say that everything from the dress was made for Ibnel.

“Your Majesty?”

But there was no way he could voice the thoughts that came to him in that brief moment.

“I’m… not sure.”

“I almost fell for Duke Feldin’s words. He said I was beautiful, but even saying that gives me goosebumps.”

His brow furrowed at Feldin’s name from her lips. She was talking with Feldin earlier too, when did they become so close?

“Feldin’s words can’t be trusted.”

In fact, Shuher knew those words were sincere, but outwardly he spoke as if agreeing. Unaware that his face looked as if he was keeping Feldin in check.

“Well, Duke Feldin seems to be kind to everyone. More than that, I’m worried about this dress. It doesn’t seem like an ordinary item.”

“If you add up everything you’re wearing now, it would be worth a mansion.”

“…Pardon?”

She had been listening without much thought, but now she looked at Shuher in surprise. Was what she heard really correct? Then her ears caught Shuher’s confirmation shot.

“Worth a mansion, I said.”

“You’re joking, right?”

“A one-of-a-kind dress made by the emperor’s exclusive designer, accessories made with the highest grade jewels, and even the shoes have jewels embedded in them.”

Ibnel looked anew at what she was wearing. She didn’t know much about banquets, so she had just followed what Emil and Lia told her to do, but she didn’t know it was this precious.

“I guess there won’t be a second banquet in my life. How many monsters would I have to face to repay all this?”

“You’ve already repaid it. More than enough, actually.”

“Pardon?”

What was this about now? He said it was worth a mansion, but now it’s already repaid?

“The cores from monsters and their byproducts are quite valuable.”

So considering the monsters she had defeated so far, this much was nothing.

“Really? That’s a relief.”

At his words that didn’t seem to be a lie, Ibnel could feel some relief. Shuher found her reaction both amusing and somewhat unpleasant, as if she was looking down on him.

“Even if that weren’t the case, that level of expenditure wouldn’t affect the imperial family at all.”

“Still, wouldn’t it be better to use that money for something better? Like rebuilding the area that was destroyed when monsters appeared in the capital last time.”

“The imperial family takes care of all that and provides compensation, even without you saying so.”

“Then that’s good. Isn’t that more valuable than shining for just one day? Although the dress is beautiful and pretty, of course.”

‘I can’t stand this.’

Shuher was struck once again. At the same time, he wondered how she could think this way so naturally. No matter how many times such ideas were brought up in meetings, no one was willing to give up what was theirs.

Generally speaking, people wanted what sparkled and shone right in front of them now, rather than thinking of others.

“Usually people think the opposite of that.”

“But you would think it’s natural that what I say should take priority, Your Majesty.”

Shuher didn’t bother to answer. It seemed she had figured him out anyway.

“Ah, since we’re on that topic, where did that monster from back then appear from? I thought it was unusual for monsters to appear in the capital.”

Ibnel belatedly expressed doubt about the situation that day. The capital was surrounded by high and solid walls, so monster invasions were extremely rare.

“It’s suspected to have escaped.”

“Escaped? From where exactly?”

“Do you remember what I said before? That as the empire’s situation stabilizes, problems with monsters are arising.”

Her expression became serious as she realized the meaning of his words.

“Then the escape means…”

“It seems a monster that was illegally brought into the capital escaped.”

As the high value of byproducts and cores obtained from monsters became prominent, trading began to flourish, and it has now established itself as an industry.

But as their numbers became scarce and prices rose day by day, unexpected problems began to occur.

Despite the prohibition of private monster hunting in areas guarded by empowered families, trespassing incidents occurred not infrequently.

No matter how many times they were warned of the danger, those blinded by money didn’t listen at all.

And as demand far outstripped supply, counterfeits that truly deceived also flourished.

Moreover, while capturing monsters for special purposes was strictly forbidden, as their value increased, cases of buying them as ornamental pets and illegally breeding them noticeably increased.

“Recently, illegal trading of live monsters has been increasing.”

“Well, such bad things develop quickly. What selfish people.”

They were so blinded by profit that they couldn’t think of the aftermath at all. Just this incident alone caused such a commotion with one monster, but if monsters were to escape all at once, it was clear that terrible things would happen.

Especially unlike the monster forests where people don’t live, this was the capital. Because many people lived here, the damage would inevitably be greater.

“Then have you found the owner of that monster or the group trying to trade it?”

“No, they had completely vanished by the time we got there. We’re tracking them for now, but it’s not an easy task.”

“But is it possible to bring live monsters into the capital?”

“There are inspections at the gates entering the capital, but we can’t unpack and examine every piece of luggage. If someone is determined to deceive, there’s nothing we can do.”

Hearing his explanation, Ibnel also wore a troubled expression.

“It’s clearly a headache-inducing issue.”

It was already overwhelming just to keep watch over places where monsters appear, let alone having to worry about such derivative issues.

“That matter has been entrusted to the capital’s security force. If they find the base, the knighthood will go to support later.”

Listening to Shuher’s words, Ibnel cautiously offered her opinion.

“If there are no scheduled subjugations or appointments, could I also investigate this matter?”

“You?”

“Yes.”

Unlike dealing with monsters, there were definitely areas where she could help.

“I can sense monster energy too, right? I might be able to find some clues if I do well. Now that I know about this, I don’t want to just spend time idly in the palace.”

From Shuher’s standpoint, there was no reason to refuse if Ibnel would do that. But he couldn’t readily give permission.

“It won’t be easy because you’ll need help from the security force.”

“Ah, similar to the case with the 1st Knight Order, right?”

“Yes.”

There was no reason for them to show goodwill to Ibnel either. Especially in cases where they needed help. Plus, he was concerned about her going outside the palace alone.

But she didn’t seem to mind much. It was something she had already prepared for to some extent.

“It’s alright. I can’t just watch things get worse because I’m afraid of that. And if the same thing happens again, I can respond faster if I’m there. So please allow me.”

Since she insisted this much, Shuher nodded in permission. He had been wondering what to do as the investigation was already facing difficulties.

“Then I’ll leave it to you. But go after your wounds have fully healed. And I’ll send Demil with you.”

“Sir Demil? But doesn’t Sir Demil have his own work?”

Wasn’t he usually always moving with Shuher?

“That’s also work Demil has to do anyway.”

Shuher didn’t want to send her alone. Not only because something might happen, but also because she was likely to not say anything if something did happen.

So he attached Demil to be her eyes and ears. And if he was there, the security force wouldn’t dare treat her carelessly either.

“Then I’ll do that. I’ll be busy looking into various things starting tomorrow.”

Although she had volunteered for this busyness herself, her face showed strong determination rather than annoyance.

“The wind feels nice. I’m even less inclined to return to the banquet hall now.”

Enjoying the fresh air so much, Ibnel rested her arms on the railing and looked up at the endless night sky. At that moment, the wind blew, naturally scattering her hair and the hem of her dress.

Shuher just quietly watched her. Somehow, he felt at ease when he was with her. Sometimes enough to forget everything about being an emperor.

And it was the same for Ibnel. Perhaps that’s why she inadvertently revealed her inner thoughts.

“I told you before, didn’t I? That I can show weakness in front of Your Majesty.”

Shuher remembered those words clearly too. They were ambiguous words that he could neither like nor dislike.

“So when I fell in front of people earlier, I was glad you came. Because I can show such appearances and these wounds without hesitation.”

She didn’t feel much burden in bringing up such talk to Shuher. Somehow, it felt like he would listen silently even to complaints about disliking the banquet.

“Then do so.”

Ibnel looked at him in surprise at the unexpected answer. He had already completely turned his body towards her.

“Do what exactly.”

“Show weakness only in front of me. Not in front of others.”

The moment she met his black eyes, exactly like the night sky and thus unfathomable in their depth, Ibnel unknowingly tried to step back. As if she would be helplessly drawn into that deep darkness.

But as if not allowing that, Shuher pinned his arms on the railing, trapping her inside.

Unable to do anything, Ibnel lowered her gaze and just tightly gripped his outer garment. Somehow, she didn’t have the confidence to look at his face.

‘Why am I like this.’

Was it just her imagination that Shuher’s words sounded like he would hide her weak side so that people couldn’t see it? No, it had to be.

‘Why is my heart beating so fast?’

The moment Shuher took a step closer and narrowed the distance, it felt like her heart sank. The more she tried to calm down, the faster her heartbeat went out of control. At this moment, his presence was shaking everything about Ibnel.