Recently, a strange rumor had been circulating among the maids of the Renel Imperial Palace.

For some reason, the head maid of the Kan Kingdom had been severely injured, and the one who saved her was neither King Shallen nor Queen Rose, but His Imperial Majesty himself.

Kasallin, who couldn’t take a single step and remained bedridden as a patient, was receiving the Emperor’s devoted protection like a princess.

But what truly amazed them came next.

“The fact that Miss Kasallin is alive hasn’t been reported to the Kan Kingdom?”

“Shh.”

The lower-ranking maids in charge of cooking lowered their voices in front of the boiling pot.

“I overheard what the senior maids were secretly discussing, so I’m not certain.”

“Come on, how could that be? There’s no reason not to inform them.”

“You all really don’t know His Majesty.”

While everyone couldn’t let go of their doubts, one maid said as she finely chopped truffles into the soup that would be taken up to Kasallin.

“His Majesty wants her.”

“What?”

“What else? Miss Kasallin, of course. Perhaps someday her name might be engraved on the Empress’s crown.”

The maid muttered as she tapped off the thick soup from the ladle.

The others shook their heads with scorn, as if it wasn’t even worth serious consideration.

“Hey, don’t say such nonsense. The sun will rise from the west faster than His Majesty would take an Empress.”

As they were finishing their conversation with light laughter, the head maid entered the kitchen and spoke urgently.

“Girls. We’re short-handed. You’ll have to carry the soup bowls up instead.”

“U-us?”

“It’s fine. Just keep your mouths shut and bow your heads. Don’t say anything unnecessary. No matter how handsome His Majesty’s countenance is, absolutely don’t steal glances. If you understand, move quickly!”

When the head maid shouted loudly, the maids hurriedly replaced their aprons with new ones and changed into clean clothes.

Their faces were pale with tension.

Because they spent all day cooped up in the kitchen assisting with cooking, they rarely had opportunities to appear before the Emperor.

The maids gathered the food and went to the room where Kasallin was staying.

Kasallin sat quietly in the luxurious bedroom that was far too spacious for one person to use alone.

“Excuse me, Miss Kasallin Robepon. We’ve brought your meal.”

Kasallin, who had been reading a thick book with her black thread-like hair hanging in curls, looked up and smiled slightly.

“Thank you. You can just leave it there.”

“No. Bring it here.”

The maids who had been looking around the quiet room and sighing with relief trembled at their shoulders and stepped aside at the low voice heard from behind them.

“W-we greet Your Imperial Majesty.”

Parnes didn’t bother to respond and took the bowls the maids were holding with his large hands, then sat down heavily beside the bed.

His eyes as he stirred the soup with a spoon to cool it were serious, as if he were doing something extremely important.

Kasallin put down the book she was reading and stretched both hands toward him.

“Your Majesty. Please give it to me. I can eat by myself.”

“Didn’t you say the same thing yesterday, only to barely manage one spoonful like a sparrow?”

“But you’re busy. The time you spend on me is…”

“Of course there isn’t any. It’s fortunate that I know I’m an Emperor who lacks time in a day and am wasting precious time on such utterly useless trivial matters.”

Kasallin’s expression became sulky like a child having a tantrum.

While she muttered quietly about whether he really had to speak that way, Parnes took a small spoonful of soup, blew on it to cool it, then brought it to her lips.

Steam rose from the soup that had been simmered with soft cream and chewy mushrooms.

Kasallin stared at it blankly with eyes that seemed quite displeased.

“What. Don’t you like mushrooms?”

“Do you think I’m a child? Would I be picky about food?”

“Says someone who picks out only the kidney beans from salad.”

Kasallin’s shoulders jumped with a start.

“That’s not it. As the eldest daughter of the Robepon Marquis family, I cannot accept just sitting and being spoon-fed. Please give it to me.”

When Kasallin reached for the spoon, Parnes firmly pulled his hand back.

“Will you ever have another chance to enjoy such luxury in your life? While I’m being nice, just accept it quietly.”

“I’m sorry, but I don’t think being spoon-fed by Your Majesty is luxury.”

As she said that, the eyes of the maids who had been quietly waiting on the side seemed to bulge out.

Parnes replied with a crooked smile as if amused.

“If receiving help from me, the Emperor, isn’t luxury, then what is?”

“It’s shameless behavior. Your Majesty’s hands should only be used to make the people’s lives peaceful and prosperous.”

“Looking at a mere maid refusing my goodwill and even trying to lecture me, I think it’s not shamelessness but lack of manners.”

Kasallin looked up, slightly flustered by the cold voice.

However, Parnes’s face was filled with a more cheerful mood than ever.

Kasallin couldn’t understand which part of their recent conversation had made him feel so good.

“You there.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“I’ll call if I need anything else, so you may leave now. It seems this woman is shy because there are too many watching eyes.”

“Your Majesty. Shy, you say.”

Kasallin’s face turned red with embarrassment.

Hearing Parnes’s command, the maids exchanged silent glances among themselves, then hurriedly withdrew with expressions as if they had caught something interesting and excited footsteps.

“How is your health? Your complexion looks much brighter.”

As always, Duke Ludwig spoke with a gentle smile softly settled on his face.

Since they only exchanged light greetings when they met, she hadn’t expected him to take time to visit her sickbed at all.

Kasallin nodded as she offered him a chair.

“I’ve improved greatly thanks to you. Please forgive me for not being able to get up and pay proper respects, Your Grace.”

“I’m merely a humble old man. Please don’t mind it. I brought a fruit basket – it’s fresh, so please keep it and enjoy.”

“It looks very delicious. Thank you.”

Duke Ludwig, Parnes’s chief aide, had the strange habit of lowering himself despite his incredibly high status.

But Kasallin had realized only a few days ago that this behavior only appeared in front of her.

She found it quite peculiar to see him treat other knights and servants without exception strictly.

Come to think of it, he was far above Kasallin in rank.

“I came to visit, but I’m worried whether I might be disturbing your rest.”

“Disturbing? Rather, I’m delighted. I’ve wanted to have a quiet conversation with Your Grace someday.”

“I felt the same way. Since I’m always busy and His Imperial Majesty is also by your side, there hasn’t been an opportunity to chat leisurely.”

Trivial small talk continued for some time.

About the unpredictable weather these days, various incidents happening in the capital, and health.

Kasallin drank water to moisten her dry throat, and the conversation paused momentarily.

As she put down her glass, she opened her mouth about something she had long wanted to ask if she ever found herself alone with him without Parnes.

“There are several things I’d like to confirm about the current situation. I trust that Your Grace will answer me honestly.”

Duke Ludwig maintained a meaningful silence for a moment before answering.

“Please say whatever you wish.”

“About this accident, why doesn’t His Majesty ask me anything? Rather, when I try to ask His Majesty about it, he only says we should talk about it later since it might bring back unpleasant memories.”

“His Majesty simply thinks you need absolute rest. It was such a major accident, after all.”

“Then he must have informed the Kan Kingdom about my current condition, but hasn’t there been any contact or correspondence from them?”

“Yes. Not at present.”

Duke Ludwig answered immediately without hesitation.

As if nailing down in advance that ‘there’s nothing for you to find strange.’

“That means the Kan Kingdom might not intend to look for me in the future either.”

Kasallin muttered quietly as if talking to herself.

In fact, she had somewhat expected this.

If Shallen cooperated with the Renel Empire to find her, it would be like announcing his own fault to the world.

A man who valued face so much would never admit ‘she nearly died falling because of me.’

He would probably try to bury the incident as quietly as possible.

“Do you wish to return to the Kan Kingdom, Miss?”

Duke Ludwig asked as if probing something.

Kasallin shook her head without noticing anything strange in his question.

“I’m not sure. What I want to do. But one thing is certain – life here isn’t bad. That’s why I’m afraid. I’m scared that I’ll become accustomed to peaceful daily life like today and later won’t want to leave.”

“You may stay a little longer until your thoughts are sorted out. His Majesty will surely understand.”

Kasallin nodded, breaking the heavy atmosphere with a bright smile.

“He would, wouldn’t he? No matter what anyone says, His Majesty is a kind person.”

“That’s…”

Duke Ludwig stretched out his words with a strange expression, then stood up without continuing his sentence.

“It’s nothing. I should withdraw now. If I’m late for the meeting, the scolding will be tremendous.”

“Please do. Thank you for coming despite being busy.”

Duke Ludwig responded with a smile, then straightened his robust body that didn’t seem his age at all as he turned around.

He stopped at the door.

“Miss. You just said His Majesty is a kind person.”

“Yes. But why?”

“If His Majesty were completely different from what you think, what would you do? Would you leave this place?”

At the strange question, Kasallin tilted her head.

She answered without long deliberation.

“Whether I leave or not isn’t really related to His Majesty’s character or temperament.”

“…”

“The reason I’ve come to like this place is because of the big and small considerations I’ve received from His Majesty and the small memories that remain. Even I don’t know myself well, so how could I know the inner thoughts of His Majesty whom I’ve only known for a short time?”

Duke Ludwig looked extremely surprised.

“But just now…”

“Yes. When I said His Majesty is a kind person, I meant that’s what I think. Regardless of what he thinks of me, the kindness I’ve received from His Majesty is precious to me.”

Kasallin shrugged lightly and picked up her book again.

Ludwig, who quietly left the room lost in thought, saw Parnes just turning the corner and disappearing in the opposite direction.

‘Why were you born in the Kan Kingdom of all places, Miss Kasallin.’

Duke Ludwig let out a light sigh as if it were regrettable.