“Huh?”

“No, what nonsense…,”

“….”

It seemed that the knights were more shocked than Rescal. But that was not the case. Rescal didn’t have the luxury to show his shock.

“…That’s impossible.”

After a long pause, Rescal muttered in a very low voice.

Rasilia had also expected it to be so. Promising to do anything instead of loving another meant he shouldn’t leave her, not the opposite.

“If it becomes clear that I’m not your companion, then please divorce me.”

Even if the mark had disappeared, the Emperor still believed that she was his companion. The mark no longer had any meaning.

The moment his belief was shattered would be the moment she died.

Divorce was a safety measure for that moment.

If the divorce was processed before he killed her, perhaps no one would be hurt and she could safely leave. Perhaps even the death shown by the gods could be avoided.

“If I am indeed your companion, then we don’t need to divorce?”

Rescal asked.

The answer did not matter. He was not her companion anyway.

“If I am your companion, there would be no reason to divorce.”

“Even if you end up not liking me? You still won’t ask for a divorce?”

The answer to that question was the same.

The question was wrong to begin with.

She could not be his companion, but if she was, she would love the Emperor.

“Yes, that’s correct.”

“Good.”

Rescal took a large step forward. His golden eyes surrounded by tired lashes sparkled close up.

“Let’s do that then. Willingly.”

“……Thank you, Your Majesty.”

Rasilia involuntarily hunched her shoulders as she responded.

The sudden change in his gaze was strange. Although he had seemed in pain, now his eyes looked as if they were ready to dance with joy.

The rapid change was disconcerting.

“Now then.”

Rescal extended his arms and embraced Rasilia. The sensation of his hug in shabby clothing was different. As he moved, the rustling sound of fabric, or perhaps not even fabric, made the Emperor’s solid body felt vividly real beneath.

“Your Majesty, this is uncomfortable.”

“Just bear with it for a little while. I’ll show you.”

“Show me? Show me what?”

“The evidence that you are my companion.”

“……?”

The rustling sound of fabric scraping against bare skin tickled her ears. The sound of him sweeping her hair to her nape tingled, and the sound of his lips touching her earlobe tickled.

All these tingles turned into an unfamiliar thrill.

Rasilia held her breath, enduring these strange sensations coursing through her body. She had no clue what he meant to show her.

“Is it done now?”

Rescal asked. Not to Rasilia, but to Ryan.

“Yes, Your Majesty. It’s done.”

Upon hearing this, Rescal released Rasilia. He, who had been encircling her, extended his hand in front of her.

“Do you recognize this?”

“This is……,”

She couldn’t fail to recognize it.

His hand, which had been undergoing changes, had returned to normal. Surprised, Rasilia looked up at Rescal’s face.

His face was the same. The traces of scales had disappeared. The Emperor once again revealed his usual noble features.

“This… is it because of me?”

“Yes.”

“Is it not because time has passed? During a Bluemoon, over time—”

“It wouldn’t have returned this quickly. And I don’t feel pain that would make it hard to control myself.”

“……”

“It’s because of you. Because you are with me.”

Confusion clouded her mind.

‘How can I possibly be the real one? I have no connection to the Empire. I am merely a prophet of Dellartha. Why then….’

So why did she, with no relevance, see a future where she was connected to the Emperor? Why was she reincarnated in the body of an Empress to die by his hand?

As Rasilia stood there with a bewildered face, Rescal pressed his lips to her forehead.

“If you don’t believe it now, keep watching. There will be ample evidence to prove you are my companion.”

“……”

In the end, Rasilia couldn’t say no.

The trial was postponed indefinitely.
Rasilia returned to the palace in her judicial robe. Reskal insisted on carrying her himself because she was barefoot. If not, he said she should wear his shoes.

Dragging the Emperor’s oversized shoes beside her, it could have been a moment for someone to write a memoir called “The Unforgettable Intricacies of the Royal Family” if the Emperor walked barefoot.

Eventually, they reached an agreement where the guards, who had gone ahead while they were in the carriage, brought Rasilia’s shoes.

It was only natural for the security of the imperial harem to be doubled. Magical barriers and tracking circles were perfectly laid throughout the palace, and the Mage Guild could look forward to a generous research budget for next year.

(This is a time separator.)

“Ah, what the hell?”

Malik, who was leaning back on a wide single sofa and sipping wine, was annoyed.

“Damn it.”

Thud!

The tin cup filled with wine fell to the floor, making a mess.

As the high priest looked down at his winesplattered shoes, Malik flicked his wrist.

“Ugh!”

The high priest then stumbled back, clutching his foot. The other priests held their breath.