Nigel’s words startled Noah and Allen.

−Nigel……?

Even Rus was surprised and opened his eyes wide.

The two were silent for a moment before carefully speaking.

“Does that mean you’ll see His Majesty the Emperor?”

Nigel nodded in affirmation.

“I can seek an audience through myself or Princess Yenika, but……”

“What will you do after that? Not only is persuading His Majesty an issue, but the Emperor maintaining neutrality with the temple. You know that best.”

After Princess Abelin passed away, the direction of the Imperial Family, which had strongly checked the temple, became more favorable.

Whether it was simply a change in policy, or because the High Priest had worked diligently in Princess Abelin’s convalescence and funeral process, the reason was unknown.

“You’re right, Allen. This is a reckless plan.”

“So through the Evans family……!”

“But, the only person who can safely remove all my family and hometown people from the temple and return them to their places…… is this one person.”

Nigel’s eyes shone with strong determination.

Whether it’s the temple or the emperor, if Nigel could safely rescue her family, she would grasp it without hesitation even if the other side lowered a rotten rope.

Haah, Allen sighed in resignation.

“Alright, then I’ll help. But persuading His Majesty the Emperor is your job. Sorry, but I can’t create losses for our merchant group either.”

“I don’t mind leaving my family if I can help Nigel.”

Noah, who had been listening quietly, put his hand on his chest and answered brightly.

Noah Beselion trusts Nigel Ars.

Seeing that smile so clear it was almost transparent, Nigel couldn’t help but smile for a moment.

Looking at Noah, everything seemed simple. It was enviable, but also sorry for not being able to give her heart easily while using his trust.

Sometimes she wanted to hide behind Noah’s broad back and rely on him without thinking, and to scold him to show his sweet smile only to her.

“Mmm…… Nigel.”

At that moment, Jack mumbled in his sleep and burrowed into Nigel’s arms. Nigel stroked Jack’s soft hair and put aside the happy imagination she had briefly entertained.

If Noah gave all his heart to her, she would have to give her whole heart to him, but she didn’t have the capacity.

Family, temple, Shining Rose, etc. Nigel had too many burdens to bear.

Noah had given up his stable and universally acceptable engagement with Meriel and ended up engaged to her.

This was enough. She didn’t want to place any more heavy burdens on his shoulders.

Even if Nigel selfishly accepted his heart, people’s hearts change overnight.

Nigel had seen it many times since childhood.

People who loved passionately then fell into another love, treating young children like cumbersome obstacles and abandoning them at orphanages. People who gave love but then drove young boys to orphanages because their eye color resembled that of their enemies.

Handel and Ron cared for all those children with love, but still, Nigel couldn’t fully believe in love.

Nigel lacked the courage to stake everything on just a year and a half of acquaintance.

“……We got engaged because of the Beselion family’s right of non-restraint, so don’t create such situations.”

“Then I shall obey those words.”

Noah knelt on one knee and lightly kissed the back of Nigel’s left hand.

Her fake smile was reflected in those blue eyes that consistently showed trust.

“Tell me anything, Nigel.”

He was such an excessively good person.

“Then help me get an audience with His Majesty the Emperor.”

And I’m a selfish person for using someone like you.

“……Hey, are Allen Evans and Jack in this room too?”

−Rus too! Rus can help Nigel too!!

Rus wedged between Nigel and Noah and bounced its red body as if trying to interfere with the two.

Nigel broke away from Noah and extended her hands to Rus and Allen.

“Will you help?”

“Of course, I’ll take you safely and comfortably to the Imperial Palace.”

−Lady Rus is always on Nigel’s side!

Nigel shook off her heavy thoughts and burst into light laughter.

Two days later, back in the capital Solef.

With Noah and Yenika’s help, Nigel got an audience with the Emperor.

Nigel rummaged through the wardrobe to put on the neatest clothes she had and brushed down her messy hair.

The locket was in her pocket.

Just as she was about to take out the locket, someone knocked on the door twice.

“Nigel, are you ready?”

−Rich human!

It was Allen.

Nigel stuffed the locket she was holding back into her pocket and came out of the room with Rus.

Noah, Allen, and Jack were in front of the door.

“……”

“……Oh.”

As Noah and Allen just blinked blankly, Nigel checked her appearance.

“Why, does it look strange? If it doesn’t fit imperial etiquette, I’ll change right away.”

“No way! It suits you perfectly!”

Jack, dressed neatly in a cream-colored shirt and suspender pants, shouted loudly.

“No, no, it’s just that you look different dressed like this.”

“I thought. You surprised me. We saw each other yesterday and today too, what’s different?”

“Hey, look at Noah. He can’t take his eyes off you, how can you say that?”

Nigel glanced up at Noah.

His blue-silver hair was neatly groomed, revealing his pretty forehead, and his eyes, usually filled with melancholy, were more unfocused than usual. Those eyes softened gently when they met Nigel’s gaze.

Facing his smile in front of Jack made Nigel feel somehow embarrassed, so she turned her head away.

−Haha, you got rejected by Nigel. Serves you right, big human.

Hearing Rus’s teasing, the four people, including Jack, rode in a carriage emblazoned with the Beselion crest towards the Imperial Palace.

As the classic and elegant building began to appear in the distance, tension set in on Nigel’s face.

Even Jack, who had answered bravely that he could tell His Majesty everything that had happened, clutched Nigel’s hand tightly.

The group, after getting off the carriage, followed the servant not to the palace but to the garden.

Seeing the garden where various flowers were harmoniously arranged, Jack’s face brightened and the grip on Nigel’s hand loosened.

In the center of the garden, in a pavilion, silver-blonde hair more eye-catching than any flower sparkled in the summer sunlight.

“Ah, you’ve finally arrived.”

The Emperor, Ruber Arenius, who sensed their presence, turned his head and smiled gently.

He resembled Abelin whom she had seen in the mountain of fragments, but with slightly thicker lines. If not for the silver-blonde hair indicating royalty, one might have blurted out how beautiful he was without thinking.

“……Pretty.”

Jack, lacking patience, blurted out what everyone was thinking.

Nigel’s face instantly turned pale, and she pushed Jack’s head down with her hand while bowing her own head so low it nearly touched the ground.

“I apologize. It’s just the words of a young child, please be generous and forgive this rudeness, Your Majesty.”

“Haha, don’t be like that. I never tire of hearing such praise.”

Jack’s face brightened at the gentle voice and magnanimity as beautiful as his appearance.

“I heard young citizens were coming, so I prepared some refreshments. Won’t you join me?”

At the Emperor’s gentle invitation, everyone sat in the pavilion.

Fortunately, the Emperor’s magnanimity was wider and deeper than the rumors Nigel had heard, and he quietly listened as Jack, with dessert crumbs all over his mouth, told what had happened.

“I see, the young child has been through a lot.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty!”

Jack, having regained his confidence, answered vigorously.

“From what I see, you seem very interested in this garden…… Why don’t you play around while we talk?”

“Yes!”

Jack nodded energetically and began exploring the garden here and there with Rus.

As Jack left the pavilion, sharpness mixed into the Emperor’s kind gaze.

“Nigel Ars, I heard you wanted an audience with me.”

“That’s correct, Your Majesty.”

Nigel answered with her head bowed.

“The child is too perceptive. Raise your head.”

At his voice, Nigel slowly raised her head.

“By the way, this is the first time in my life I’ve had such a sudden audience.”

“……I’m sorry.”

Nigel had no idea what process this audience had gone through to be realized.

“I was expecting to meet you someday, but the Crown Prince and Princess, Meriel and Noah…… all the children I love came and insisted that I grant your audience.”

As the Emperor burst into light laughter, Nigel wanted to crawl into a mouse hole.

“Yes. While the story of the child named Jack was very sad, as the top student of the Academy, you must know my political direction. How do you intend to persuade me?”

It was a gentle but dignified statement.

Nigel silently placed the locket on the table.

“This is my answer.”

If you want something from someone, you must give something of equal value in return.

Even if it’s Nigel’s most cherished card.

Click, as the locket opened, Nigel’s card was flipped.

“Please help my innocent hometown people and family who were captured by the temple over a child’s single word, Your Majesty.”

The Emperor’s gaze, which had been maintaining the upper hand all along, wavered.