It was clear that life had gone horribly awry.

Where had it all twisted? Being exploited and toyed with by Emperor Kaleta wasn’t enough; now he was being pushed around by his younger lover.

After finishing his meal, Lu was utterly drained. He had just finished breakfast, yet a wave of fatigue washed over him, making him feel as if he needed to lie down after sorting out his tasks.

And there was another issue.

“Where are you going?”

The problem was that his younger lover, also known as Emperor Perseita, showed no signs of leaving even after finishing his meal.

He was leisurely flipping through a stack of newspapers. Normally, it should be Lu who would find those articles fascinating to read.

“…Reading the newspaper might distract you, so I’ll give you some space.”

Avoiding that face was a priority. As long as he didn’t look at that face, lust and worldly desires would disappear. He needed to focus.

“No way.”

Hayden put down the newspaper with a faint smile.

“Aren’t you busy?”

“Not at all.”

A lie. Just by looking at his outfit, it was evident he would be busy today. Being an Emperor is a hectic job that appears leisurely on the surface.

Having once interacted closely with Carlos Arthur Ingram, Lu knew all too well. He had many secrets, often absent, yet looked down on everything from Catarte. That required a lot of effort and time.

“Why are you here?”

“To progress.”

Progress? The kind of progress discussed in lessons?

“What kind of progress, why…?”

“Well, that’s what I wonder too. We’ve made enough progress that by now, our families should be exchanging engagement gifts and setting a wedding date.”

Ah, ‘that’ progress. Lu closed his mouth, unable to say anything more.

After settling territorial disputes and major duties, Hayden seemed to enjoy coming to Glear Palace every other day to make Lu uncomfortable. He was both leisurely and sharp, leaving no room for Lu to escape.

“Your Majesty, if you’re considering marriage, you should look for a flawless young lady from a reputable family. I’m not qualified.”

This must remain a one-night memory. Or perhaps, it’s a situation better left unremembered.

The harsh glances he received at the funeral were insignificant compared to what he would face. Lu was destined to live under scrutiny for being a traitor from Kaleta. He should just remain a mere subject, living quietly and peacefully with his family.

He didn’t want to push away the hand that was extended so warmly, but he had no choice.

‘Enough with goals or dreams that require effort.’

He was already staying in the palace to avoid potential threats from Kaleta. Any more prominence here could endanger not only her but surely her family too. He had been saying for a long time that his accumulated mental fatigue had reached its limit.

Hayden stared intently at her. As if she had spoken some monumental nonsense.

“…I can’t even get angry about this.”

Hayden quietly mumbled and folded up the newspaper.

“I’ll decide whether there are flaws or not. You should be taking care of yourself.”

He got up and plunked down next to Lu. As she instinctively tried to move away, he held her in place.

“Do I know what others are saying? Haven’t I shown enough of myself?”

That wasn’t a question aimed at Lu; it was a question Hayden was asking himself. He chuckled lightly and moved closer to Lu.

“Then I’ll have to try harder. After you see what I have prepared, you can judge. Stop looking for nonexistent flaws while reflecting on yourself.”
Too close. But only the naive would try to avoid it, so Lou did not back away and left him be.

‘It will end eventually.’

Although Hayden had not led a better life than Lou, she saw that he still had some passion and ambition left in him.

So it will probably end eventually.

It’s not as if Rustica Gennes was the only woman in the world, and there would be plenty of exceptional women in Perseta to steal Hayden’s attention. Lou figured his interest would fade quicker than she anticipated if she just waited.

‘First loves tend to be forgotten as you go through life.’

Especially around the Emperor, where the environment was too harsh and cold for clinging to youthful and innocent emotions like a first love. No matter how much one tried to maintain their nature, people age and grow jaded, as had Lou.

‘It might be a bit regrettable then.’

Regrettable, yes. There’s no disappointment if there’s no expectation. It shouldn’t be regrettable. But she already felt regretful. No, it felt like she might cry if she turned around. Lou suppressed all her feelings. She was skilled at holding back and walking away as if it were nothing.

“Lou.”

He, who called her not by her formal title but by her nickname, caught her attention immediately.

“Just look at me and don’t think of anything else.”

“I wasn’t thinking of anything else.”

“You were.”

Hayden clearly stated as he looked straight into Lou’s eyes.

“To think of anything else while looking at this face, I must have never truly been with my owner before…”

He let out a sigh openly.