“Have you returned? Have you finished your meal?”

“No, not yet.”

Taken aback by the focus on her eating, her answer was unexpected.

“You must be hungry.”

“….A little.”

Why doesn’t the Emperor take care of his meals?

Even though the Emperor was starving, she was eating far more luxurious food compared to her days as a prophet.

Embarrassed by the fork in her hand, Rasilia sighed lightly and asked,

“Would you like to eat now?”

There was plenty of prepared food, so it implied whether he would eat this.

The Emperor briskly walked past the table and came closer.

“I’ll eat. Give it.”

He quickly swallowed the quail egg that was about to enter her mouth.

“I wasn’t offering you that.”

“I figured.”

Why would he?

She wasn’t even angry, knowing that the Emperor could blatantly lie if he wanted to.

“If you’re going to eat, sit down.”

“I’m fine eating like this.”

“No, you’re not.”

“….”

The Emperor wore a strangely displeased expression. Rasilia turned her gaze, pretending not to notice.

“How about this?”

Reskal picked up another grilled quail egg with Rasilia’s fork.

“If I tell you something, you give me this in return as payment for the story.”

“What story should I pay for?”

“It won’t be a story that causes you loss. Trust me.”

“….”

Rasilia closed her mouth and scrutinized the Emperor’s face.

Over time, she had learned to read his expressions. The Emperor wasn’t lying.

Moreover, the price the Emperor demanded was always absurdly low. Even if the Emperor lied, she had nothing to lose. At worst, she would eat one less quail egg.

“Speak. What is it?”

Before answering, Reskal gently touched Rasilia’s hair.

But what truly disoriented Rasilia was not the pointless touch, but the words that flowed from the Emperor’s mouth.

“Duchess Pashard knows your secret.”

“….What?”

“He took the bait at the temple. He might use that secret as leverage to demand something soon.”

“….”

The touch on her head was gentle, but Rasilia could not even feel where he touched as she tried to digest the words she just heard.

‘How could he do such a foolish thing? He should know well that he won’t be safe either if he exposes that secret.’

Reskal handed the fork back to Rasilia.

“Your face says the story was worth the price.”

“….”

As she stared, Reskal took her forkholding hand.

“I promised to feed you.”

He never did. She had just agreed to give it.

Rasilia pushed Reskal’s hand away.
“Don’t change the subject. My ears are fine.”

Rascal glanced at Rasilia with a smirk, then lowered his head to put the fork Rasilia held into his mouth.

It wasn’t as if she had fed him, but it certainly resembled the act.

Rascal, who had chewed and swallowed his food, spoke.

“I didn’t change the subject. I meant from the beginning that you should feed me.”

“…….”

“Then speak clearly this time. If I solve the issue of the temple bothering you, will you feed me then?”

Though Rasilia knew the Emperor often acted irrationally, she was aware that he was a sharp and clever individual.

He had discovered the existence of the secret. It could not be overlooked.

The involvement of the temple likely indicated a more complex situation than she could currently anticipate.

The knights of Castle Mallick revered the sorcerers who waged war against the demons, and the Harios temple had made them sacred knights.

She dreaded the speculation of what would happen if the temple were to get their hands on the Empress’s secret.

More than anything, she was scared of how the Emperor would react if he found out she was a fraud.

Would he unhesitatingly thrust his sword into the heart of the imposter?

“I doubt that would be the case.”

Rasilia leaned back, putting some distance between them.

“I don’t remember what the secret is, Your Majesty. How could it be possible for the temple to use it against me?”

His golden gaze narrowed.

“……So, you don’t need my help?”

“I’ll ask you when I remember what the secret is. …Ah, the Duchess said she knows, so I’ll just ask the Duchess.”

“The Duchess is currently on her way to the temple. She might have already arrived.”

“Still, I need to know what my secret is. If today is difficult, I will have to ask her tomorrow.”

Rasilia placed her fork down on the table.

She could only hope that the faint clattering sound didn’t sound like hesitation.

“How should I call for the Duchess?”

As Rasilia asked, Rascal’s eyes momentarily shifted.

He wasn’t sure if she genuinely didn’t know how to call for the Duchess or was pretending to have forgotten.

“Normally, one would write a letter through the secretary. If it’s urgent, one sends someone directly. I’ll send the secretary to the house of Duke Pashad.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

Rasilia rose from her seat.

“I’ve finished eating, so I’ll be going.”

Rascal quickly grasped Rasilia’s hand.

“Skip breakfast and have lunch together.”

“……If you wish.”

Even after the Blue Moon, the Emperor seemed largely unchanged, which was strange.

But right now, there were more pressing matters. She had to prevent the Duchess from reaching the temple.

Being stuck in the Empress’s palace, it was only natural that she felt helpless, yet oddly, it felt like there was a way.

“Then, at lunch.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

After leaving the dining room, Rasilia’s steps gradually quickened.