Since they had made it possible to enter the Katarth city directly through Vifel from Shalea, they could immediately suppress any rebellion in Katarth. It also meant that the emperor would continue to watch.

“Does it taste good?”

“Um.”

“After finishing eating, let’s take a walk. Just around here. Don’t go too far.”

Roo, who accepted what was given while thinking, shook her head.

“No, I don’t want to go.”

“Why?”

Even though it was much better than doing nothing in the bedroom, why would someone who liked to move around and couldn’t stay still shake her head? Hayden looked at Roo.

“This is the Imperial Palace. Everyone is busy working, and I can’t show myself casually taking a walk alone.”

That was truly an exemplary attitude of a royal adult who, even though Shi Jong, Chamberlain, and the recently departed Lady Shi Yeonjang couldn’t say it out loud, but as imperial adults, they earnestly wished for it.

Hayden, who did only what was necessary and ignored the rest, didn’t bother with such things.

“Everyone already knows that you’re recovering your strength. You don’t have to worry. Considering the fierce battle, there’s no need to nitpick.”

No one didn’t know that Roo had fought with all her might.

Imperial Re saw it clearly, and the citizens of Shalea saw her coming back with her neck turning red and her body drooping in the emperor’s arms.

The morning newspaper had also extensively covered the exploits of the new southern sage and the emperor’s fiancée who had fought brilliantly.

Rustica Gennes was a war hero.

Choosing Perseta to find the true truth, a genius knight who did not hesitate to wield a sword against her former lord. Since Perseta owed her a great debt, there would be no objection to her becoming the empress.

Or, that’s what Hayden was making happen.

“Again, you’re thinking of something else.”

With his tongue making a clicking sound, he cleared the newspaper on the bedside table that Roo had been staring at.

“Can’t I leave annoying and troublesome things to me?”

Rustica Gennes, although she knew that a genius knight, the second-in-line, would never do such a thing, Hayden grumbled with his personal feelings.

The days when Roo couldn’t do anything and relied on him were the happiest days of Hayden’s life.

Even though it wasn’t complete happiness because Roo cried too much, he savored every moment, licking it with relish.

There had never been a time when his head went completely crazy. If only her ankle were just broken, it would be quite fine.

Roo looked at Hayden with gray eyes that had already calmly lost reason.

“I don’t want to live so helplessly again.”

That one statement was too powerful for Hayden. He put down the spoon and hugged Roo. As she entered his arms, he rested his chin on her head.

“There will never be such a thing.”
Having fallen weak to a moist topic, Hayden ridiculed himself inwardly. Even his most significant desire naturally folded in front of Roo. He firmly suppressed it and knelt before her, even going as far as bending his knees.

“You’re still confined to the bed.”

“It’s resting after the war, not confined to the bed.”

“My body feels strange. I keep feeling sleepy and limp, even though it’s light.”

“Suddenly all the strength came back, and you’re overusing it. That’s why.”

The body curled up in his arms was warm.

Hayden held that body and contemplated.

He would leave the ankles alone, and sometimes it might go crazy and go mad until just before a day, but Roo sometimes turned her back on him and let her do what she wanted. Also, they had to get married. Marriage was an absolute must.

Rustica Gennes would be recorded in history as his wife.

What would they do after getting married? Shouldn’t they enjoy their honeymoon for at least a hundred years? Would the empire decay before that? Well, the diligent empress, who fulfills her responsibilities and duties, wouldn’t stay quiet. The warmth of his embrace remained.

If Roo had a child, she would probably embrace this abnormally high body temperature at that time too.

“Just a few days, take a break and restore the balance of your body. Until then, put off the black for later for the future.”

He kissed Roo’s hand.

“Spending a few days as an ordinary viscountess.”

“Thinking about it, it’s not fun.”

“Sometimes you say you want to play and eat as a viscountess.”

“When did I say that?”

Roo turned her head naturally, as if she didn’t know. Hayden laughed in amazement. It was because he found even her absurdity pretty.

“Anyway, even if I want to stay like that, I can’t anymore. You know about the noise from the mausoleum.”

Even Ophelia was buried in a pile of work-like incidents, trying to restore magic to Perseta.

What if magic in Perseta became as common as dust on the streets? Well, that was a problem to think about at that time.

“And, if it’s not fun.”

He touched foreheads with Roo. Dark gray pupils were deeply embedded in clear green eyes.

“I’ll make it fun for you. So, finish this, rest, and wait for later.”

What was he going to do? Roo wondered, but Hayden just made her laugh.