“To punish Count Sigres, Princess Shruden must also be punished. I don’t want that.”

Both were the same in that they tried to remove my clothes with something that was like magic, but not magic.

“That’s not acceptable.”

Leskal furrowed his brow. He held Rasilia’s hand and shook his head.

“Pointing a blade at you is unacceptable.”

“It was not done willingly. Both were under the influence of an unknown power.”

“And if it happens again?”

“Wouldn’t one who has experienced it once be better prepared?”

“…….”

Leskal’s brows tightened further.

Rasilia pulled her hand free from his grasp. Although the Blue Moon had passed, the Emperor still tried to seize any opportunity to hold her hand. He might not have realized it himself, but it wasn’t natural to Rasilia.

It continued to bother her. The Emperor’s hand, his very existence.

“Moreover, neither of them had the intent to harm me. It’s possible that the spelllike power didn’t fully take effect for that reason.”

She couldn’t be sure, but it felt that way.

Both seemed to be working for her own good. Taking proper measurements to make proper clothes, believing that she would be pleased with properly made clothes.

Especially since Ivette no longer required her assistance, she was free from that spelllike thing. Serben dropping his sword was likely for the same reason.

In a state where she trusted that Serben would not harm her, her voice regained its normal tone upon putting strength into it.

“Considering the uncertainty of who might do the same in the future, it’s better to keep those already known close by.”

Leskal looked at the hand Rasilia had let go. The veins on the back of his hand bulged.

“You forgive them so easily?”

“There’s nothing to forgive. Both bore no malice.”

“….I can’t do that.”

Leskal spoke as if spitting out something.

“I can’t forgive. That this happened to you, and that Serben, of all people, caused it. That’s my—”

“It’s fine, Your Majesty.”

Rasilia placed her hand gently on Leskal’s hand, sighing lightly.

She had tried to avoid physical contact with the Emperor, but it wasn’t as easy as said.

His normally expressionless face looked unbearably pained.

‘I never knew I was so weak. I had no idea back in Delarta.’

Leskal lifted his gaze to look at Rasilia.

The expression he wore at that moment was painful. It seemed almost within reach to understand what he was thinking.

“It was okay that it was the two of them who were with me when this happened, and it will be okay in the future. There’s no need for punishment.”

“I……what do you want me to do?”

“Forgive them. I trust that you will handle the rest properly.”

Who had done this needed to be found out. That was something for the Emperor to figure out.

“If it’s difficult to forgive?”

“Forgive for my sake.”

“……Strange.”

Leskal exhaled a silent sigh, resting his forehead on Rasilia’s shoulder.

Somehow, she had felt he would behave this way. When emotions stirred, the Emperor instinctively sought companionship.

“I know you’re right, but acknowledging that is extremely distasteful right now. I don’t know what this emotion is.”

“I don’t know either.”

“Does this count as a request? Having to do something I dislike.”

“……”

Did he realize that the person she was asking him to forgive was the Emperor’s own Shadow Knight?

“……Then do it.”

Nevertheless, Rasilia decided to compromise. Anything less would seem too harsh.

Ryan’s figure, sighing in relief from behind the Emperor, caught her eye.

Leskal, while still resting his forehead on Rasilia’s shoulder, fondled the hand she had first grabbed.

“This isn’t a quid pro quo. You were the one who reached out first. I’ll have another chance to hold your hand.”

“I understand.”

Had he not said this, the Emperor might have seemed more like himself.
Deep down, she knew. Each time he acted so unreasonably, she found herself pulling back a little more.

“So now,”

It was the moment she was about to ask him to let go of her hand.

“Beep!”

Bang!

The closed door opened, and Pippi flew in.

(This is a time separator.)

“Beep! Beep!”

Pippi was a little farther away when news came that something bad had happened to Rasilia.

“Beep! Beep!”

Lately, Pippi had been following Dekan for revenge, which naturally took her away from the palace.

“Beep. Beepbeep.”

With its small head, Pippi kept pecking at Rasilia’s cheek.

“I’m fine. I’m not hurt.”

Rasilia chose her words carefully, making sure not to show that she understood what Pippi was saying.

“Thanks for worrying. How kind of you.”

“Beep!”

Suddenly, Pippi turned its head sharply and flew over to peck at Rescal’s hand.

It meant, what have you been doing even though you were in the palace?

“I should be the one asking.”

Rescal grabbed Pippi by the neck. Pippi flapped its wings as its body was lifted.

“There’s only one thing you should be doing. Protecting my companion. What have you been up to?”

“Beep!”

An excuse came that she couldn’t help it if she was seeking revenge on Dekan.