Jet shook his head with a face that had turned pale with fear.

“I didn’t eavesdrop, I just have sharp hearing.”

“The Ret is not a place for kids to go. Leave.”

“If I stay here, I’ll just become a street thug. I have keen observation skills and sharp ears and eyes. I don’t need much sleep and have a good memory. Please take me in.”

“My lord, what should we do?”

Eden asked Patrick as he released Jet’s arm that he had been holding. The boy clutched the arm that had been gripped by the strong hand, as if it hurt.

“Do you know how to handle a sword?”

“I’ve never held a sword, but I can learn quickly.”

“Then go learn swordsmanship first, then come back.”

“There’s nowhere I can learn swordsmanship. Please take me with you. The boss also said to do so.”

“Do you know how to ride a horse?”

“Ah, no.”

Eden turned away as if he didn’t want to deal with it anymore and called for Kin. Kin emerged from the inn wall.

The boy had thought there were only two people, Patrick and Eden, but when the sword-wielder who had been between buildings during the day suddenly appeared before his eyes, his mouth opened in surprise and admiration.

“Kin, take him as your subordinate.”

“I refuse.”

“Why?”

“He’ll be a hindrance. I prefer to be alone.”

“You heard him?”

At the brief exchange between Kin and Eden, the deflated boy hung his head low.

“Eden, let’s take him with us.”

Patrick said as he stood up from his chair and put on his robe.

“You, go to the back of the inn, wake up the coachman and tell him to prepare for departure. Can you do that?”

“Of course. I’ll also prepare snacks for you to eat in the carriage on the way.”

The boy quickly went out the door.

“Eden. Call for a messenger bird.”

“Yes, my lord.”

Patrick went to the desk placed on one side of the inn and sat in the chair, pondering for a moment. He dipped a quill pen in ink and wrote content on paper.

*

Knock knock, knock knock.

Harchen slowly opened his eyes to the feeling of someone poking his temple.

“…Ha!”

He blushed as soon as he opened his eyes. Patricia was asleep with her head on his arm and her lips on his chest.

He closed his eyes again, then grinned as he raised his upper body slightly. Her hair, so bright it was hard to distinguish from sunlight, was scattered on his arm and the white bed sheets.

If there was such a thing as an angel that fell straight from the sky, this would be it. He was holding an angel. He pulled the blanket out a little.

Sensing that small movement, she snuggled even closer to him.

“Ha, I’m going to die.”

His chest pounded heavily.

Knock knock knock.

Hearing the sound that had woken him up, he lifted his head to look at the ceiling.

Everyone’s interfering, and now even that thing.

He lowered his gaze from above. Thinking he should have curtains installed on the glass ceiling of the bedroom too, he propped up his left elbow to shield the sunlight with his angular shoulder.

Harchen picked up a handful of her hair, trying hard not to let his gaze naturally drift downward.

He was used to black hair, as he and his mother, his raven-haired sisters, and most of the imperial people had black hair. Even when he saw Patrick at the Tane Academy, he just noted, “Oh, a blonde.”

But Patricia’s blonde hair…

He brought her hair right up to his eyes and stared intently. Each fine strand, as thin as sunlight, sparkled individually.

Harchen stretched out the yellow shining hair between his fingers.

In his experience, Patricia was a heavy sleeper in the morning. Of course, it could also be that she was too exhausted from being tormented by him all night to get up.

He, who habitually woke up at dawn, leisurely took her hair in his hand, winding and unwinding it, or took the time to stealthily look her over entirely.

He had tried to wake her up to spend the morning time more productively, but had failed every time.

Knock knock knock, knock knock… Knock knock knock, knock knock.

Harchen jerked his head up to glare at the glass ceiling. A startled eagle with a round beak was pecking at the glass of the circular skylight.

What do you want me to do?

The eagle persistently pecked at the glass skylight, as if jealous of Harchen’s presence.

He brushed her hair behind her ear. He traced a line down her white forehead, eyebrows, and bridge of her nose with his fingertips. Suddenly, the corners of Patricia’s mouth turned up in a broad smile. Her cheeks turned pink.

What on earth is she thinking about while sleeping to look so pretty, or is she dreaming?

“Patricia, wake up.”

He spoke low into her ear.

“You’ll regret it if you don’t open your eyes now.”

His hand, beyond his will, traced a line down her neck.

“I warned you.”

His hand moved more boldly.

“Hmm…!”

Patricia’s eyes flew open. Her deep blue eyes, rippling like the sea in sunlight, widened.

“Hello Patricia, did you sleep well?”

“Wh-what are you doing?”

“I warned you, but you didn’t wake up.”

Knock knock knock.

“Ah, Bri!”

Patricia raised her upper body, but when she saw her own body, she screamed “Eek!” and wrapped herself tightly in the blanket before looking up at the glass ceiling.

“Harchen, where’s the window that opens?”

“There isn’t one, not in the bedroom.”

As Patricia tried to get up from the bed, wrapped in the blanket, Harchen grabbed her arm and pulled.

“Where are you going?”

“Your Majesty, it must be a letter sent by Patrick, I need to check it.”

“Hmm, that eagle is smart, it will understand your emperor’s troubles and wait.”

“Ah, Harchen. Just a moment. And cover your eyes.”

She reached out to Harchen’s face and brushed down over his eyes, then quickly got up. Patricia, who had gone out of the bedroom wrapped in the blanket, came back in screaming “Eek!” again.

Eva, the head maid Anna, and five or six maids were standing at attention outside the reception room.

“…!”

Patricia, who had entered the bedroom, covered her mouth with her hand, unable to make a sound, when she saw Harchen sitting up against the bed’s headboard without even a blanket.

Her face turned bright red at the speed of light.

Harchen, who had been staring at her intently with his chin raised, chuckled and leisurely got up. Before entering the bathroom, he turned back to look at her and smiled once more.

“What, it’s not like it’s the first time you’ve seen it. Come in if you want to bathe together.”

How, how can he be so shameless… But is he human or a statue? Ah, how can he have such decadent eyes?

Patricia fanned her flushed cheeks with her hand as she went into the dressing room to find and put on nightwear and an outer robe.

She took a deep breath, exhaled slowly, then went out to the reception room and opened the door.

“Rising morning sun, I greet Your Majesty the Empress. Did you have a peaceful night?”

“Um, just a moment. I have something to take care of.”

Patricia opened the living room window and looked up at the sky.

Whistle!

The white eagle that had been circling in a short radius right above Aster Palace came down fiercely, folding its wings at the sound of her whistle.

As the eagle approached, her heart pounded and she suddenly felt afraid. The eagle, flying nimbly, hesitated for a moment, slowed down, and then gently landed on her shoulder.

Wow, so this is how it feels.

As Patricia buried her hand into Bri’s wing joint and pressed firmly on its side, Eva approached.

“Empress, shall we go to the reception room?”

Only then did Patricia notice the maids looking at her with surprised eyes.

The maids were indeed surprised. The sight of her, rumored to be the foolish empress, coming out late in the morning with disheveled hair wrapped only in a blanket, then coming out again in hastily donned nightwear, holding a huge eagle.

Patricia entered the reception room. Eva closed the reception room door and held the doorknob while looking at Patricia.

“Eva, please get some turkey for Bri.”

“Your Majesty, I will bring the turkey for now, but…”

“Hmm? But what?”

“It would be better if you washed up and dressed properly first.”

“Oh, okay. I’ll do that. I’ll just read the letter while Harchen is bathing anyway.”

“Yes, then. I’ll wait too.”

Patricia felt that Eva’s voice somehow seemed cold. She took the paper from Bri’s leg. There were two letters. One was for Patricia, the other for Princess Carolina. She first unfolded the paper with her name on it.

“Risha,

I’m about to move from Luken to the capital. More people are helping. Everything is going well according to plan, so don’t worry.

There’s a meeting with noble youngsters in the capital, so I’ll go first. I hope you focus on recovering your health and learning the duties of the Karsik Empress diligently.

After my work is done, I’ll go straight to Riswaan. Please deliver the other letter to Princess Carolina.

I told you this before your memories disappeared, but I’m going to propose to her. I’ll tell you the details later. Until then, stay well.

Your Patrick.”

She read the letter again. Patricia held up the letter that was to be delivered to Carolina.

Unlike Patricia’s letter, it was a long rectangular paper rolled up and sealed with resin at the very end. If opened, traces would inevitably be left.

Patrick, you’re a bit sly.

After a knock, Annie came in and reported that the Emperor had gone into the dressing room and the bath water had been drawn. Eva said she would attend to the bathing and dressing herself, and instructed Annie to get turkey for Bri.

As Patricia entered the bath, Eva combed and washed her hair, calmly pointing out Patricia’s flustered behavior from earlier.

Eva had heard maids who hadn’t even met the Empress yet whispering that she was a foolish empress, barely a day after the Empress’s return. She couldn’t reprimand them as they weren’t under her supervision.

“Your Majesty is the Empress of the Empire. While we must be careful about what the ladies-in-waiting and maids see and hear, Your Majesty, even when you’re alone…”

Eva paused for a moment, seeing Patricia’s expression quickly becoming dejected.

“Yes, Eva. I’ll maintain my composure quietly and calmly, even when I’m alone.”

Patricia put on the deep blue Karsik-style dress that Eva had chosen.

The Emperor, who had arrived at the breakfast room first, was neatly dressed in a white uniform and sitting at the round table, flipping through a file of documents.

Behind him stood his aides Philip and Calip. After exchanging greetings in order, Patricia sat down next to the Emperor.

The Emperor drank sherry before the meal, while Patricia drank lemon water.

Patricia glanced slightly at the Emperor while drinking her lemon water. Unlike when they were alone, he looked cold and aloof. Patricia thought it might be more so because she had lost her memories.

“Patricia, do you have any plans for today?… Ah! You look pretty.”

The Emperor looked up blankly at Patricia, then thought the blue dress suited her refreshingly well.

“If not, let’s have dinner together in my salon.”

“There are no plans for today, Your Majesty. I will prepare to attend the dinner.”

The head maid Anna answered the Emperor.

“Eva, we have the necklace that’s a set with the wedding couple rings, right? That would look good with that dress.”

Eva’s face turned pale blue.