Loo immediately moved back to the outskirts of Eugene, where the harbor could be seen.

The man who couldn’t use one arm and the man who relied on a cane were immediately subjected to a body search by Imperial Knights.

They seemed to regret their strange screams deeply. Loo sat on a rock on the quiet coastline, feeling the sea breeze.

“What are you doing here?”

The Empress could elegantly speak if she wanted, or she could speak with a sarcastic tone as if talking to Imperial Knights of Grade 1 when they were idle.

At the comfortable remark, Delote subtly gestured.

Imperial Knights immediately began searching them. Rebellion is meaningless. Those caught waited for the Empress’s judgment. Answers didn’t come easily.

“Both of you are Grade 1, aren’t you?”

As knights who participated in the last war on the Calleta Empire side and were currently being monitored in Perseta as key figures related to the former Calleta Empire, their travels…

“Quite amusing. What kind of journey can you take with that body?”
“Well, what do we do? Suddenly, I became unemployed overnight, and the wealth I accumulated turned into scraps of toilet paper…!”

Again, Delote gently narrowed his eyes.

Although she didn’t like the behavior of these guys showing off in front of the Empress Mama, the Empress Mama nodded, saying it was fine.

Delote politely presented the identification and documents found in the luggage to Loo. Loo took them and casually examined them.

“Yeah. Right. So you tried to stow away with forged identification. Usually, people don’t think of leaving their familiar homeland, but you’re bold.”

Once nicknamed the vulgar twin for her past behavior, they were both Grade 1 knights belonging to the Imperial Knights, who used to whisper behind her and couldn’t even make a sound in front of her. They were also Loo’s academy peers.

She used to refer to those who knew her past like them as shadows alone.

Meaningless and disappearing when bright light shines on them, they occasionally darken and reveal themselves when darkness approaches, but that’s all. To Loo, they no longer held any meaning.

“…Not everyone is a genius like you.”

A genius. Not the vulgar twin of the wall? Loo smiled slightly.

“Like you, that… It’s not that easy to make decisions.”

In that statement, Loo’s ability to quickly predict the future and turn things in her favor was implied.

Anyone who hears it might think Loo was lucky, cunning, and made easy choices. She handed back the forged identification and documents she had been looking at to Delote.

“That’s right. Everyone hears the twin talk at least once, and even if you live like a dead person for several years, you still have to make a choice like mine.”

Loo stood up from her seat.

“Handle it.”

“Yes, Mama.”

There’s no point in saying more to them; it hurts the mouth. Shadows should be left as shadows. Just leave them, and with time, the shadows will turn into smoke and disappear.

Loo looked at the sea, creating waves and hitting the sandy beach with a thud after sitting down.

Despite loving the south, she sometimes wanted to abandon everything and move away. Above all, there were too many bad memories for her here.

“…I should explore more.”

In Katart, in Eugene, today seems to be a day when she keeps encountering people she used to know.

She needed to look around more and pay attention to public order and the chaotic public opinion, but her mood sank a bit. Should she just leave everything behind and go back?

Suddenly, while buried in recent work, thoughts of her husband, who was working so hard to provide her with the best honeymoon despite being so busy, came to her mind.

‘Should I tell him to stop working? Is that okay? Anyway, he’s busy…’

No, but still, why is he working so hard? Loo is his wife, so she can ask. Just as she was thinking, there was a moment when she jumped off the rock.

The space was cut out.

“Huh?”

“Ah.”

It was a rare sight for Loo to stagger and lose balance.
Instinctively, she tried to avoid the suddenly appearing giant wall in front of her, causing her body to shake slightly. However, the wall that blocked her way embraced her tightly. A few Imperial Knights emerged from the space carved out behind the wall.

“Empress Mama.”

They politely saluted and joined Delote. They would handle the aftermath. Loo looked at the wall, or rather, the solid and giant Hayden, with a bewildered expression.

“How did you find out?”

In a greatly surprised voice, Hayden laughed.

“I couldn’t not know where you are, Loo.”

“No, not that. That’s obvious.”

Hayden, with his wide strides, walked towards her and distanced himself from the rock where she was sitting in an instant. Loo casually placed her arms around his neck. Now that they were away from people, it was okay to be honest.

“I wanted to see you, so I thought of going.”

At her words, Hayden abruptly stopped walking.

“But it’s still daylight.”

“Yeah. I just thought I’d sweep everything in the middle and go back.”

Hayden stood still for a moment, uttering an impressed exclamation.