Since that day, Nathaniel had acted as if he had changed.

So gentle and affectionate that it was unbelievable.

Nathaniel suddenly thrust a strawberry on a fork in front of me.

“I, I’ll do it.”

“Don’t you want to eat it?”

Nathaniel slumped his shoulders. His disappointed look startled me greatly.

And I turned my gaze to catch a glimpse of the Empress’s reaction.

Yes.

Nathaniel was behaving this way in front of the Empress, as if he wanted to tease me.

‘I’m embarrassed.’

I quickly snatched his fork and put the strawberry in my mouth.

Then I looked at the Empress with a smile. Her gaze, filled with nervousness, sent a shiver down my spine.

“Thank you for inviting me like this today, Your Majesty, the Empress.”

I pulled up the corners of my mouth and smiled. The Empress immediately changed her expression and raised her teacup.

“The harvest festival is soon, so I thought I should see your face.”

“I also thought I should visit you since this is my first time participating in the harvest festival as the crown princess.”

From then on, only light conversation ensued. Things to be careful of at the harvest festival, the order of the meals, and such were all that was discussed.

‘She’s beating around the bush.’

Normally, I would have sent her away after finishing what needed to be said, but today the conversation just kept going on and on.

At this point, it seemed like I was not asking out of pride.

‘Sometimes it’s okay to take the bait first.’

Since it was my plan anyway, I decided to play along with what the Empress wanted.

“By the way, Your Majesty, I learned a small trick. Aren’t you curious?”

For a moment, joy flickered across Empress Milia’s face.

“Ah, that magic trick you performed at the tea party. I’m curious too, but…”

“I’ll show you briefly.”

I smiled and raised my hand. Since failing that day, I had practiced hard.

‘Whew.’

Imagining the image briefly, this time I was able to create a light orb easily.

It was smaller than the one Nathaniel helped me create, but it was still a perfect shape.

“This is the limit, though.”

The Empress’s expression hardened. Surprise and anger flickered in her eyes. I was somehow scared, and stealthily reached out to grab Nathaniel’s hand.

A sense of relief washed over me as he firmly held my hand.

“How did you…”

“I taught her.”

Nathaniel said, slipping a ring on my finger. Heat rose in my cheeks.

“I, I see.”

The Empress’s pupils wavered. Asking would wound her pride. I decided to wait calmly.

With a rigid expression, she cautiously opened her mouth.

“Can Henry make something like that too?”

“Probably.”

Nathaniel answered without hesitation. The Empress’s face paled further.

Pride or her son’s future?

She was surely weighing both.

I decided to drive in the nail.

“We have a promise to keep, so we must leave.”

Saying so, I tugged at Nathaniel’s hand. He obediently stood up but came too close, clinging to me.

It was uncomfortable, but I couldn’t push him away, so I smiled awkwardly and moved on.

“Wa, wait!”

She called out.

I turned around, hiding my excited expression. Milia, slightly trembling, opened her lips with difficulty.

“If you have time, I’d like you to teach Henry too.”

“Magic isn’t something you can learn in a short time. You have to learn from me every day. Is that alright?”

In other words, Henry would have to be sent to this side almost every day.

I was curious what choice the distrustful Empress would make.

“I, I can do that much.”

She was more enthusiastic than I thought, and we quickly agreed on the number and time of lessons.

“Then please send him to the crown prince’s palace every day from twelve to three.”

Nathaniel said that, and left the palace as if without regret.

When we were halfway to the crown prince’s palace, I realized that I was still holding his hand.

“Just a moment, Nathaniel.”

“Why?”

He looked back at me, as if asking what the problem was.

“My, my hand…”

“What about your hand?”
It looked as if it really didn’t matter.

I struggled with how to explain this.

“So, things like this are only done when we’re alone.”

“What?”

“Like holding hands earlier, that kind of thing.”

“Hands?”

“Yes.”

He raised his held hand, swirling it around and then tilted his head.

“I was told to express more and more often to those I love.”

I had no words to say, as it was too true. Besides, we were married, so it wasn’t wrong.

‘But it’s embarrassing!’

Did he notice that I didn’t know what to do?

Nathaniel asked in a lifeless voice.

“Do you dislike me doing this?”

“Ah, no! Not at all. It’s not that I dislike it……. So…….”

“Then?”

Nathaniel, who calmly waited for my words, felt suddenly strange.

If it had been like before, he would have threatened me to answer right away.

Thanks to that, I had time to calmly sort out my thoughts.

“Because it’s embarrassing to show to others, only do this when we’re alone.”

“Hmm.”

Nathaniel, who seemed dissatisfied while touching his chin, slowly nodded his head.

“If you wish.”