Hayden was carefully choosing the timing for the announcement of the engagement.

He always did his best in matters related to Lue. And if possible, it would be even better to deal a fatal blow to the Eastern nobles who dreamed of the empress position on their own.

A fatal blow is exactly what it sounds like. An attack that stabs at the vital point, preventing one from getting up again.

He was greatly annoyed by the insects who dared to make noise and step on his meager foot while dreaming of the seat where Lue would sit. They had no intention of staying still.

So, he moved the stage to the North. It was a decent excuse since Shalea had already started to become sultry. It was a vacation. Nobles really liked vacations.

The man who had gathered everyone in the Northeast, showing those hypocrites who talked about monster waves and such, what a monster really was, smiled crookedly.

“Lue.”

“Your Majesty, are you busy?”

The emerald peridot in the hand holding the door sparkled. Although the ring finger was empty, the index finger was swollen. Hayden casually stretched the corners of his mouth.

“As if.”

He extended his hand.

“Come in.”

After confirming whether she could find leisure time between the Emperor’s schedule, Lue closed the door and entered quickly.

Dressed in a flowing green satin dress that spread to the ceiling, she swayed her long hair as she crossed the vast office.

The gray-mixed deep green hem of the dress wrapped around her legs and then spread widely. Hayden embraced her as she extended her arms.

Delicate eyes, slightly wrinkled nose, prominent cheekbones, and below that, a cool smiling mouth, all focused on him. It was a wide smile. But while Lue was in his arms, she quickly spoke about business.

“A curse has extended, and my head hurts.”

Anyway, the Emperor’s time was always precious, and she had to speak first after dividing and using it.

“More than last time?”

“More than last time. It’s short, but now it hurts even when I frown.”

Hayden looked at her for a moment and kissed the part where the curse had newly formed. It was the part that had hurt. Lue lowered her eyes, and her numerous eyelashes spread like a fan. She spoke after puckering her lips for a moment.

“If something goes wrong, could you ask for a favor?”

“Nothing will go wrong, Lue.”

“Just meaning that I entrust it to you, Hayden.”

Calling his name clearly and squeezing his arms tightly around her, Lue’s gray eyes were confident, and when he looked at her, they were always soft like clouds dissolving. He had always listened to her and still did.

“All of it.”

Swallowing his saliva once, the weight contained in the words spoken as a declaration was immeasurably heavy.

Hayden gladly accepted that weight. Holding her tightly, he nodded his head. He swore to bear it for a lifetime.

“I will.”

The promise not to disappoint, to do his best, or the determination to endure until the end was not emphasized.

Because it was natural. With his brief answer, the strength went into Lue’s body, and her body, which had been tense, relaxed. It was okay to lean completely on his firm body. After all, he had already been holding her.

“Thank you.”

“Thank you. Until we get married.”

“I keep thinking, you have a personality that clings as soon as there’s a little gap.”

“Isn’t that because of Lue’s too harsh personality?”

“And also because of my fault.”

Hayden let out a short laugh and lowered his head onto her shoulder.

Ugh, Lue wrinkled her brow. The man who revealed his strong chin on the round shoulder stood firm. The emerald curse immediately rebelled and rose. Whether he spoke or not, Hayden didn’t blink an eye.

“… Since one has been newly tied, shall we untie two more?”

“Yeah.”

Lue, holding him tightly, nodded her head.

“Untie today, and untie tomorrow too.”
“Okay.”

“Don’t give up, don’t get discouraged, and keep dealing with it steadily without yielding to that damn thing.”

“Yes.”

“That’s it.”

“I know.”

“Then…, it’s okay.”

The impatient feeling gradually, and Carlos, who hesitated to touch the anxiety on his shoulder, reached out to the cursed shoulder. Hayden bit and severed the curse hanging on Lue’s arm.

“Ah…!”

The closer to the vital area, the more intense the pain. Lue groaned, clinging to him and gasping for breath. The excruciating pain that entered so deeply into both hands that it felt inexplicable was throbbing.

Hayden pressed his lips against the rough and taut skin, killing the curse that was thrashing about. Since the things hanging on the edge were just things he had finished once and put on, it was easy to remove them.

However, easy doesn’t mean it’s good. It means that Lue’s life is in danger just as easily.

“I’m sorry for hurting you.”

Lue didn’t think that he should apologize. But Hayden was sincerely sorry.

“It’s not because of you.”

It’s okay to let go of the spirit amid the tingling pain. Hayden promised to take everything.