Ophelia smiled softly and looked down at Carlos. Disgust filled her beautiful face.

“Then, since I have contributed quite a bit, can you let him sleep now?”

Melphius, who always sang songs asking him to let her sleep, looked bewildered at Hayden’s gaze that turned to him. What’s with that gaze?

“In my opinion, Dragonlord.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Lord loves working more than wanting to sleep. It’s more like wanting to work than wanting to sleep.”

In a neat and tidy conclusion, Ophelia laughed and turned her head slightly.

“That’s not true.”

“It wouldn’t have been like that. I would have stayed inside and slept well without caring about any sounds outside. I had to drag you out forcibly.”

That was ultimately evidence that Dragonlord was very diligent.

“So let’s continue doing what you love.”

“Yes?”

“Recovering after the war is also a great job. I don’t know how to do it without Dragonlord.”

Hayden bound Carlos, pouring out only the words he wanted to say. A white light bound Carlos tightly.

“Your Majesty, wait a moment, Your Majesty!”

“Fortunately, the war ended much faster than I expected, but merging again with Caleta is still not an easy task. The borders have disappeared too.”

“Yes! That’s right! So, Your Majesty, such things should now be left to the young friends…….”

“I also have experience in managing the gate that was open at the eastern barrier, so it would be great if Dragonlord could take care of the national affairs.”

In other words, ‘it would be great if you do it.’ Dragonlord had already turned dumbfounded, looking at the chaotic South and the Kataat Castle. It was so cozy in Leir, but now…

“Then, shall we try a siege?”

Hayden said leisurely as he climbed onto Icarus. Ophelia looked back. Imperial knights with their eyes turned upside down repeatedly fell under her power.

Most of them were wailing, and there were those who seemed to be trying extreme choices. Perhaps the situation inside Kataat Castle was not much different. Because Carlos was their god.

But anyway, Hayden, as Emperor Perseta, had to conquer the capital of the enemy.

“The battlefield will be taken care of by Matapju.”

“Yes, Your Majesty. I will finish it.”

Ophelia bowed her head.

That day, after witnessing the imperial knights being defeated miserably, Kataat tried to resist fiercely, but it only ended in an attempt. The king of demons, who was like an angel, broke through the castle gate after breaking it and entered straight away.
Then, with a very tired expression, she briefly spoke with a thunderous voice about what would happen when they surrendered and when they did not.

“If you surrender, your life will be guaranteed, but if you don’t surrender, it will be complete annihilation.”

Under the command of Ophelia and the Plache Count’s family, Imperialle was already winning, and there was no one left in Caleta who could face the king of demons who broke the castle gate alone.

Emperor Perseta conquered Kataat that day.

War and rebellion were enormous chaos.

Handling internal rebels, organizing the chaotic borders, and facing the newly revealed truths under the Perseta Empire that had come under control after 430 years, the so-called Caleta Empire, which had long existed separately and been extremely isolated, had to confront it.

There was also concern that the young emperor might not be able to handle all of this.

Would Caleta, which had been separate for so long and extremely isolated, truly assimilate into Perseta? And would the Eastern nobles stay quiet?

They were individuals who called themselves great nobles and had a great sense of pride. It was clear that the three largest families would not cooperate with the emperor just by looking at the rebellion they had caused.

Perhaps there would be those who would come up with other thoughts amidst this huge chaos. But Roo wasn’t worried.

Not worried at all. He would handle it well. Even while looking at the faces of Kataat residents who were in fear, anger, and sadness, and in shock, Roo wasn’t worried at all.

“What do you think, Roo?”

At Hayden’s question, Roo, who had been tormented by Carlos and had a messed-up face from sobbing, raised her face and said.

“They’ll figure it out on their own, Your Majesty.”

“Do you mean they’ll figure it out on their own?”

“Yeah. In the end, the choice is theirs.”

The world was changing, and in the changed world, whether one liked it or not, one had to decide how to live.

“I made my choice anyway, and I heard that Eliza Barkova also made a similar choice.”

“Yes. She provided a lot of information and also played a big role this time.”

Having heard that Eliza had secretly agreed to cooperate with Perseta, Roo looked at Kataat, which accused her as a traitor.

“But because there are many people, choices will differ for each, and so it will be confusing. Of course, that confusion will be significant.”

There would be many people who couldn’t accept the shock and would choose to commit suicide.

“But among them, some will surely see the truth.”

Just as Roo did and as Eliza Barkova did, there would be wise people.

“And accepting that new life, they will live on, and history will continue.”

Even if the people in the South reject Roo, she would do her best as a Southern Sage. Taking care of the South, waiting for a new successor to appear someday. That was all.

“I’m not really worried.”

Saying that, the Southern Sage smiled even with her tearful face. Even melting and absorbing the curse, there was no pain even when looking at the one she loved so much. It was peaceful and free.

“Well, fortunately.”

Roo said that while weaving pearls floating around her. After a big fight, it was perfect for clearing the mind.

“I’m glad it turned out that way.”

Roo, with a tear-stained face, even smiled. There was no pain, even when absorbing the curse, and looking at the one she loved so much. It was peaceful and free.

“Then, Roo.”

“Yeah?”

“Now, don’t you need to rest?”

“What do you mean by resting when there’s so much to do here right now?”

But Hayden, with a smiling face, decisively cut off the space, connecting it to the front of the Central Palace where he stayed within the Shalea Palace.

“What should I do with the fiancée who says she’ll rest after doing that body and then work again?”

“Oh, I see. Just go if you have to…”

“Just because you absorbed all the curses doesn’t mean your body is completely healed. Remember, you worked hard on rehabilitation, right?”

The memory of Roo, who couldn’t control one leg that had become lighter in front of Matap, was vivid.
Roo became very sulky and nodded her head. Hayden, who had reached out his hand to her, stopped laughing.

“Why are you laughing?”

“Because it’s cute.”

“Okay, whatever you say…”

Sighing, Roo took his hand and stood up from her seat. Hayden, who was looking at her with affectionate eyes, thought for a moment and then spoke.

“The traces of the curse are still there, Roo.”

Since it had been bound for a long time, it was natural that the marks of being bound remained.

“I hope you rest deeply until it disappears and recover your body. As you can see, there’s really a lot to do.”

He pointed to the Kataat behind him.

“So please, get well and help me. If you use the power of the sage well and help me when your body is okay, I’ll be really happy.”

However, he absolutely did not want the help of a fiancée whose body had been shattered and attached not long ago. He still touched Roo’s swollen cheek.

“You’ve worked so hard today. Rest well.”

I can help. My head is still buzzing. Unspoken words still lingered in Roo’s mouth.

Hayden came close and kissed her on the cheek and forehead. Strangely, his eyes felt teary. No, it’s not. I can still do it. Pearls rolled off from her hands again.

“Sleep well.”

Oh, I can do it, but am I tired? The body, which still felt strangely heavy, collapsed towards Hayden. It’s okay. He will take care of it. Roo closed her eyes.

Even if she opened her eyes again, she believed that only peace would exist.