I’m going crazy.

Lou, with her perfectly flawless face and figure, and being the highest rank in the country, thought to herself as she observed the person looking down on her with a crooked gaze. This is really driving me crazy.

“How can someone be so irresponsible? Are you even a knight?”

“Your Majesty.”

Lou looked around for a moment. There were Imperialle knights standing in a formal guard position in the distance, but it was not within hearing range.

“So, you deliberately created this situation.”

Hahaha. The assertive Empress, or rather, the assertive guy.

“How many times is this? If you slept, you should take responsibility. How can you flatly say you’re not thinking about marriage?”

“How would you speak so openly in front of Eastern nobles? It’s a place where they come to brag about becoming the Empress and have a confrontation. What if a rumor spreads incorrectly, no, and you said it well.”

Lou placed her hand on her waist.

“Who’s going to eavesdrop? Who’s going to overhear and suddenly drop lightning in the middle of the Imperial Palace on such a fine day?”

“Then it happened again. Should I not show it off?”

Her tone changed so quickly that Hayden’s tone changed immediately.

“Who praises you? It’s about choosing the right time and place! How can you speak in a place where Easterners can hear!”

This is absurd. How does this guy even do the role of an emperor? Lou sighed deeply as she looked at Hayden, who was much older than her.

“There’s no one else who heard it except Lady Alanka. What does it matter if we announce it there? It would be an unofficial meeting without any formal negotiation.”

Ah, in the end, it was about the informal meeting that Lady Alanka, who had tentatively approached from the Alanka dukedom, had caused a problem. That damn informal meeting; I should go home right away and reject it again to my mother.

“I clearly told Cedric Lambert that I have no intention. Is that guy going to back off?”

“Do you think he will?”

The questioning tone was sharp and even hostile. But it wasn’t directed towards her.

“He’s much more commercially savvy than the late Count Elsh. Not to mention aesthetics. He bounces off court judgments well, has a good taste, and a person with high standards like him won’t give up on you. Moreover, Alanka is pushing him.”

Hayden carefully observed Lou while listing these points and suddenly hugged her. Lou was instantly enveloped in his arms.

“With such a beautiful appearance, how could I give up?”

“No, you’re treating me strictly like a political marriage. It’s not like that at all.”

Hayden bowed his head, looking down at Lou who was extending her face towards him. Then, just like she did, he sighed.

“You think too highly of people, Lou, and that’s the problem. Being good is good… No, no. It just is. The problem is not that you’re pretty and charming; the annoying thing is that I have to deal with it.”

“What are you talking about? Don’t talk about getting struck by lightning. Do you know how surprised Lady Alanka was?”

“What does Lady Alanka have to do with anything? I only know Lady Plache, the Viscountess.”
Lou reached out and pinched his cheek. Hayden, who had already covered his face when she approached, went, “Oh, haha,” after a moment and burst into laughter.

“Oh, right. Lower your head a bit.”

“Are you going to pinch me more? Go ahead.”

Hayden laughed as he lowered his body even more. After lightly pinching his smooth cheek, Lou gently kissed him, making a smooching sound.

“This is from Sia.”

Another kiss.

“And this is from Bella. She says she misses you. She’s excited because she heard you’re going to the palace tomorrow.”

“I’ll have to set aside quite a long time for her.”

As much as Lou delivered the kisses, he reciprocated by holding her and giving multiple times the affection she gave. In fact, it was more about pouring his love for her than delivering to Sia and Bella.

“Aren’t you busy?”

There was always a pile of official duties to attend to. With ongoing situations with Kaleta and an unseen confrontation looming, Hayden must be overwhelmed with tasks.

Lou didn’t want to take away his time, but she was still in his strong embrace. He didn’t release the arms wrapped around her waist. He asked if he was busy while looking up at him nestled in his arms. Hayden chuckled. In fact, he had been smiling all along.

“I shouldn’t say I’m busy, should I?”

“If you’re busy… Well, there’s nothing you can do.”

His green eyes lowered and then rose again.

“You came separately on your own time, right?”

Oh, the time when he struggled and fought so hard to capture Rustica Genesis. It was worth it. Hayden wiped away his face, which was constantly smiling, with his large hand.

“To be with me, you need a lot of capabilities. That way, we can be together for a long time.”

“That’s right. Our Genesis is a special person.”

“It’s not that, I’m telling the truth. Otherwise, we wouldn’t have to meet like this secretly.”

Listening to her words, he looked at her with warm, almost dripping with affection, eyes. He tilted his head, still warm.