“My favorite is my favorite. Although I like Ash, I’ve never once thought about wanting to date him.

I don’t want to have a lovey-dovey romance with my favorite, I just want to stick close by his side and watch his every move.

If I carelessly develop romantic feelings for Ash, we’ll eventually become awkward and I won’t even be able to stay by his side.

Moreover, Aspeiran Roakin is the monarch of this country. This is a world with a class system.

As Aspeiran’s partner, they should be royalty from another country or at least nobility.

In other words, even putting aside the fact that Aspeiran is my favorite, Aspeiran was someone I couldn’t even think to look up to from the beginning.

‘Despite living in a democratic country, I’m a crazy romance fantasy otaku who’s strict about the class system. That’s me.’

While having these silly thoughts, my face that had heated up had now returned to normal. I stood up and lightly stretched.

“Whew, to be shaken this much by a single act of kindness from my boss.”

It’s all because Ash is so handsome. If I were the Iron Woodcutter, I would have looked at that face and thought, ah, so this is love. I actually had a heart, huh.

But since I was the most rational and wise, I was able to quickly regain the mindset of an excellent subordinate.

Let’s just work hard as a subordinate. Work hard, get our favorite married, and go around doting on cute little Aspeiran the Second.

Although I was in a bit of a pickle for a moment, there was something I learned thanks to this incident.

That was the fact that if Aspeiran gets a lover, he would treat them very well.

Then I just need to introduce good people to Aspeiran. He’ll handle the rest well after that.

Good, good. Everything was going smoothly.

At the time when Shuria was shouting outside that dating her favorite was an absolute no,

Aspeiran was narrowing his eyes and reflecting on Shuria’s reaction from earlier.

‘Did she dislike it?’

At first she had a surprised expression, then her face turned red, then she bit her lip, and suddenly she flung the door open and ran out.

The satisfied feeling that had risen in his heart upon seeing Shuria’s flushed cheeks slowly ebbed away like the tide. What took its place was unease.

They went well together and it was practical so he thought she would definitely like it. What was the problem?

Aspeiran sank into deep thought, rubbing his chin with his fingers. An employee carefully spoke to him.

“It seems your lover was shy.”

“…Lover?”

“Ah, the two of you looked very close… If I misunderstood, I apologize!”

“No, it’s fine.”

After vaguely waving his hand at the constantly bowing clerk, Aspeiran fell into thought once more.

Lover, lover, huh.

Although it was an insignificant word, hearing it made him feel quite a bit better. How strange.

Aspeiran purchased every item in the catalog on the spot. Surely at least one of these would be to her liking.

Coming out while receiving Garnet Velus’s fervent send-off – which wasn’t a big deal to Aspeiran – Shuria was already standing in front of the door with a refreshed face.

“Were you upset?”

Aspeiran asked bluntly. Shuria’s eyes widened.

“What? Of course not!”

“Then why did you leave?”

“That’s…”

Shuria rolled her eyes and laughed sheepishly.

“I was so moved by Your Majesty’s grace that tears were about to fall, so I inadvertently… Thank you for the gift. I’ll wear it every single day! But it’s too hot right now, so I’ll have to take it off for a bit.”

Shuria removed the earmuffs with the utmost care as if handling the most precious thing in the world and carefully put them in her bag.

Aspeiran stared at Shuria. Unlike earlier, she seemed to genuinely like the gift.

So he should feel satisfied, but for some reason, looking at her bright face, he felt an odd sense of irritation.

“Your Majesty? What’s wrong?”

Shuria called out to Aspeiran with wide eyes, as he looked unusual with his furrowed brow. A worried expression.

“…It’s nothing.”

Aspeiran shook his head. He had come out to lift her mood, and he didn’t want to plant any emotion other than joy in Shuria’s heart.

Moreover, he couldn’t keep her standing here just because of an inexplicable irritation.

Let’s put aside this unidentifiable frustration for now.

With that thought, Aspeiran held out his hand to Shuria.

“Follow me. There’s somewhere we need to go.”

The place Aspeiran took me to was the Roakin Royal Bank.

Aspeiran explained that if an account is made under my name at the Royal Bank, my future salary will be deposited there every month. It’s a good thing since I was already anxious about keeping a large sum of money in my room.

And so, when we arrived at the bank and I took out my ID card to create an account, the moment the bank teller checked it, they leaped up from their seat.

“Wh-white jade with blue-green tassel!”

“What?”

“I apologize for not recognizing you. I will immediately escort you to the highest-class VIP room!”

“Huh?!”

I didn’t even have a chance to quietly plead for them to just let me take care of my business and leave. I was instantly ushered into the VIP room and had to exchange greetings with the bank president.

No matter how much I liked getting attention, I didn’t want these burdensome situations with unknown reasons to keep happening!

Thus, as soon as we sat down at the restaurant Ash guided me to after leaving the bank, I began my interrogation in earnest.

“Please tell me now. Why is everyone surprised when they see my ID card?”

“Weren’t you comfortable having people fawn over your every word wherever you went?”

Aspeiran, who was perusing the menu, retorted indifferently. I slapped my knee with my palm.

“I wasn’t comfortable at all. I almost died from the burden!”

“But you didn’t die and quickly took care of the necessary tasks. Now, order everything you want to eat.”

“Wow, really? Then I’ll have this restaurant’s popular menu… No, wait. Hey, don’t change the subject!”

“Then shall we start by ordering the salmon sandwich and fruit salad.”

Ignoring my glaring eyes, Aspeiran called the waiter and ordered food. Only then did he look at me.

I narrowed my eyes and glared at Aspeiran. As if getting a headache, Aspeiran let out a small sigh.

“You’re getting worked up over nothing.”

“It’s not nothing. I’ve had enough of being respected today without knowing why.”

Aspeiran and I narrowed our eyes and had a staring contest for a long time.

In the end, I was the final victor. Aspeiran roughly ran his hand through his hair and began his explanation.

“ID cards usually have the seal of the person vouching for that individual’s identity. For commoners, it’s the seal of the territory they reside in, and for nobles, it’s the seal of the family they belong to.”

A seal is stamped? I took out my ID card and examined it from various angles.

“There’s nothing stamped on my ID card though?”

“That ID card doesn’t need a seal. An ID card made of white jade with a blue-green tassel can only be issued by one person.”

“One person?”

Wait. Could it be that the sole person is…

“The white jade ID card is an ID card that only the monarch can bestow. It means the monarch is personally vouching for that person’s identity.”

“…What?”

An ID card personally granted by the monarch?

“Th-then it’s incredibly valuable.”

“It’s not that big of a deal.”

Of course it’s a big deal.

In others’ eyes, the person holding this white jade ID card would be seen as the monarch’s closest of the closest. Someone under the monarch’s complete protection at that!

Moreover, judging by how shocked people were, I really hope it’s not the case, but.

“Don’t tell me… I’m the only person Your Majesty has bestowed a white jade ID card to so far…?”

Aspeiran chose silence with a displeased expression. It seems I’m right.

I looked down at the ID card with trembling hands. The small and thin ID card, not even the size of a palm, weighed heavily on my chest.

Why did Ash give me such a meaningful item? Something he hasn’t even given to his closest aides.

Maybe if I later become Aspeiran’s true closest confidant it would be understandable, but for me now, the white jade ID card was too much.

Aspeiran is a respected hero king who saved this country. Those who revered him overflowed throughout the nation. But where there is light, there are also shadows.

Although few in number, there were those in Roakin who were dissatisfied with Aspeiran. Vile packs of hyenas crouching and waiting for a chance to tear into Aspeiran.

In fact, in the original , there were even forces who attempted a rebellion, claiming they could not serve an immoral monarch who murdered his uncle. Of course, they ended up getting crushed by Aspeiran’s hand.

In this situation, wouldn’t this white jade ID card and I become an excuse for those bastards to attack Aspeiran? Wouldn’t it attach absurd stigmas to Aspeiran?

If because of me, Aspeiran were to be called a monarch crazed with women or whatever else…

‘No way!’

If I truly faced such a situation, I would want to die of shame.

That’s not all. Perhaps I would even be chased out of Roakin by Aspeiran’s enraged inner circle!

No. This really can’t happen. I’ll return it.

“Your Majesty, I-”

Just as I parted my lips to say I cannot accept this ID card,

“I knew you would react this way. That’s why I didn’t want to say it.”

Aspeiran cut in with a low sigh.

“Pardon…?”

“Shuria, you suddenly fell into this world one day. Without memories or a name, possessing a special power different from others.”

I couldn’t even guess what he was trying to say. I could only nod my head hesitantly.

“The moment you remained in Ellos, I knew countless malice would chase after you. But even so, I held onto you. Because your power was absolutely necessary to me and Roakin.”

“That’s-! I stayed in Roakin because I wanted to! Because I wanted to help Your Majesty…”

“I know.”

Aspeiran reached his hand across the table. He lightly grasped the edge of the white jade ID card that was being held out towards him.

“Because I knew, I was even more determined to become your solid foundation, your sturdy fence.”

“…”

“So that you can charge forward in this unfamiliar land without faltering. So that you can continue your will with pride, unharmed by sharp gazes.”

His tone was firm, but the words flowing out were infinitely gentle.

“This ID card is proof of my determination, and a warning to others that I will always stand behind you.”

Aspeiran lightly applied strength to his fingers. The white jade ID card settled securely in my hand.

“So don’t overthink it and keep it. And always keep in mind. As long as you remain as my person, I will protect you to the end. No one can dare treat you carelessly.”