Keyiuk!

Kyaat!

The number of demons was much greater than before.

And strangely, their size had decreased. It was because the Imperial Guard knights, who didn’t know how to deal with demons, covered and split them.

In reality, even if they knew, it would have been futile. Demons, like dark shadows without a physical form, were impervious to physical attacks.

At least, when faced with fire, their movements could be stopped. However, it seemed impossible to completely burn them.

For these reasons, the Imperial Guard could only prevent the demons from spreading further by wielding torches.

The ones eliminating the demons were Rescal and Ryan.

A fin sprouted from Rescal’s right hand. With that hand, he annihilated the black demons.

When Ryan joined, the speed increased. Ryan’s sword emitted a transparent and clear purple aura.

Everyone thought their eyes were falling out when they first saw it. It didn’t take long for them to realize what a Sword Aura was.

“Why is it purple?”

Swoosh… Thwack!

The annoying thing about demons was that they knew how to escape. They had to be vigilant, as they chased creatures that moved through different paths and spaces than humans. Sensitivity had to be kept sharp.

Even in the midst of this, Rescal guessed something from the color of the aura.

Ryan, the person who could overcome his attachment to that companion, was probably no one.

“As you guessed. Her Majesty the Empress gave it to me.”

“Why?”

Although the reason might not be important now, Rescal asked.

“I wanted it desperately… Honestly, I’m still bewildered.”

“Does Her Majesty like you that much?”

Ryan, busy pouring out the Sword Aura, asked.

“Well… I’m not sure, Your Majesty. There may be some parts she finds likable, but I don’t think she particularly likes me… Your Majesty seems quite fair, don’t you, Empress.”

“That’s true.”

Rescal subtly twisted his lips.

‘I don’t think she likes something, though.’

Ryan turned his back, and he, too, grinned.

‘Why would Her Majesty dislike getting closer to me… No, what could she possibly dislike about it? It’s only natural for people to be around Her Majesty.’

Whether Ryan was grumbling or not, Rescal spoke from behind.

“Previously,”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Swoosh, splat!

Meanwhile, the demons were disappearing one by one.

“The Empress had tea. With the Chief Maid.”

“Ah…? Isn’t that obvious?”

“Just the two of them.”

“Well, the other maids in the Empress’s palace are all conscientious, aren’t they?”

“If she was going to have tea, she could have called me.”

“Uh, that… Maybe Her Majesty was busy… Or something like that?”

“The Empress values the Chief Maid. There hasn’t been any occasion where she invited you to have tea so far, right?”

“Um… Yes. There hasn’t been such an occasion.”
“Um… Yes. There hasn’t been such an occasion.”

It was strange that the Empress called the knight to have tea. The knight’s duties were quite different from those of a maid, and she didn’t particularly enjoy tea.

‘…No, I know why.’

Sweeuuuht.

While swinging her sword, Ryan tilted her head.

‘But something… feels a bit regretful?’

Rescal spoke up.

“I mean, the more people the Empress cherishes, the more time like that increases. Time spent calling someone without any reason to have tea.”

“Is that so? Why?”

“Then, the time the Empress gives me will decrease.”

“Ah…!”

Only then did Ryan realize.

Why she suddenly wanted to have tea for no apparent reason.

It meant that she would sit closer to the Empress and share anything. Be it tea, snacks, or conversation.

‘That… seems really nice, doesn’t it?’

The Empress, who couldn’t hide her feelings, surprisingly became the most comfortable conversation partner.

She looked at him with a calm gaze, unknowingly resolving the confusion in his mind. The purple aura he was controlling now was evidence of that.

Swoosh… Pah!

Rescal, who had destroyed another demon, turned to Ryan and said.

“I’ll admit that you harbor feelings for the Empress. Whether it’s loyalty or something else. But whether the Empress likes you is a separate issue.”

So, for the first time, Ryan felt a slight resistance from Rescal.

‘Wow, isn’t that too ambitious? The Empress isn’t someone for the Emperor alone… Ah, because it’s a companion. But still, isn’t it too much?’

Again, Rescal realized how narrow-minded he was about the Empress.

He had considered him a generous Emperor to his side until now, but that might have been mere indifference.

“Um… It is natural for me to understand Her Majesty’s intentions, but my aura already knows that Her Majesty the Empress is its owner.”

Ryan said, concealing the smirk on her lips.

“I’m sure you already know.”

Rescal couldn’t be unaware.

From the fact that the aura reminded him of Lascellia to the strong bond formed between Ryan and Lascellia, unrelated to that.

So, the words he was throwing now were intended to reaffirm his territorial claims.

“Don’t cross the line. The Empress is my companion.”

“I certainly wouldn’t know that.”