“You should contain it in a magic stone. The more, the better.”

I nodded at Nathaniel’s words.

News of the emperor’s actions was already circulating among the nobles.

Moreover, in the high-society circles where gossip about the oppressive behavior of the now haughty Marquis Grovan was common, there was a prevailing atmosphere of condemnation.

“I’ll prepare as quickly as possible. Meanwhile, Nathaniel, practice hard.”
Gently patting Nathaniel’s well-arranged hair, his ears turned red. His embarrassed and unsure demeanor had been adorable since earlier.

“Is it that embarrassing?”

“To say it’s embarrassing, I don’t understand what you mean.”

“Then why are your ears so red and warm like this?”

I reached out and grabbed his ear. Nathaniel flinched and stepped back.

“That’s…”

Unable to refute my statement, Nathaniel’s face turned even redder.

I pulled Nathaniel, who had turned red up to his neck, into a tight hug.

“Do you know how cute you are?”

“Cute…”

Laughing loudly, Nathaniel’s face became more rugged.

He put the mug he was holding on the table and swiftly embraced and lifted me.

“Ugh, why are you doing this? Put me down!”

“Hmph.”

Ignoring my words, Nathaniel, who had thrown me onto the bed, fortunately didn’t hurt me thanks to the soft mattress.

“Why are you doing this…”

Nathaniel unbuttoned his shirt as he climbed onto the bed.

Reading the desire in his eyes, I was momentarily speechless.

“I’ll give you something sweet and delicious.”

“You gave me something earlier!”

“Was that a reward?”

I kept my mouth shut at his low voice.

His gentle breath touched my cheeks and ears.

“I feel like I’m the one being rewarded here.”

Lately, he had been exceptionally good at making embarrassing sounds and acted like a crazy person—or rather, like a crazy dragon.

“This is the last time.”

As I allowed it, his scent surged over me like a wave.
I had to cling urgently to his back in the illusion that he seemed to be floating in the vast endless sea.

Finally, the long-awaited D-day arrived.

As Nathaniel became accustomed to his transformation, we decided to leave in haste.

At least, it was to summon the emperor before the New Year’s ceremony.

I wrapped my entire body tightly with a thick cloak and scarf and took out a basket.

“Come on, get inside.”

“…….”

Nathaniel, who had turned into a dragon without me noticing, stared intently at the basket.

“Come on.”

“Hmm…….”

Nathaniel, who took a long breath, slid into the basket. I covered him with a thick cloth and lifted it.

With the basket on my arm, wearing a hood, I came out.

In front of the door, a plain black carriage was waiting, and in front of it stood a familiar face. I smiled brightly and greeted her.

“Long time no see, Luna.”

“It’s an honor to serve you again, Lady Bee.”

With her help, I boarded the carriage, and the door closed. Since the carriage was too inconspicuous, we exited through the back door instead of the main gate.

“Nathaniel?”

Tapping on the basket, Nathaniel peeked out, throwing off the blanket.

“Have we arrived?”

“Not yet. We’re on our way.”

Outside the carriage window, the sun had set, and now the land was covered in darkness.

I looked at Nathaniel and handed him a necklace with a determined expression.

“This is it.”
When I put the necklace with sacred power around his neck, he trembled and fluttered with small wings.

“It’s cold.”

“Can you fly?”

“It doesn’t matter this much.”

He anxiously looked out the window.

“Oh! And this.”

It was time for the sweater I had prepared.

It was a fluffy-looking sweater made of black yarn, probably because we had to sneak in.

“It will be cold outside.”

Just imagining the way it looked made me excited, too.

When Nathaniel saw me like that, he panicked and stepped back.

“No. I won’t wear it!”

“Why not? It’s almost winter now. It will be cold at night if you go out without anything on.”

I quickly caught him trying to escape.

Holding his wings and trying to put on the sweater was not easy, considering he was not a human but a harling.

“I hate it!”

Taking advantage of the opening, Nathaniel slipped out of my grip and retreated to a corner.

“I absolutely won’t wear it.”

“It’s so cold, what will you do if you don’t wear it?”

“Just use a warming spell!”

“It’s forbidden to use magic inside.”

As if realizing that fact too late, Nathaniel shivered.

With a triumphant smile, I approached him.

“Just stay still, and I’ll take care of everything.”

I looked down at Nathaniel with a meaningful smile.

Nathaniel closed his eyes tightly at my appearance.

Phillips was staring blankly at the ceiling. It seemed like he was thinking about something, but strangely, thoughts kept disappearing from his mind.

“Annoying.”

Everything felt annoying to him. The passionate and love-thirsty past now felt pathetic. Surprisingly, the emperor, after being forced to settle down with a woman, was struggling with mild depression. For him, love was the source of energy. People labeled him as a playboy and pointed fingers, but he sincerely loved all those countless women every moment. Of course, parting ways brought various emotions, but he didn’t see it as his own doing.

“Pathetic.”

Feeling like there was nothing left for him, he became even more depressed. As winter approached, the bare branches shook violently, slamming against the windows of the townhouse.

Tap, tap.

“Hmm?”

Phillips sensed that something was odd. It wasn’t a chaotic sound; it was someone tapping on the glass. Despite having planted the people he wanted in this townhouse, there shouldn’t be anyone else. The emperor got off the bed and cautiously approached the window.
There was a black creature attached to the window, about the size of a small dog. The emperor immediately recognized who it was.

“Nathaniel?”

As if understanding his words, Nathaniel nodded.