The children had just fallen asleep.

In a corner of the blue garden where a shade was cast to block the sunlight, a colorful, beautiful mat was spread. On it, Shasha and Rudel were lying some distance apart.

Using the children as pillows, the rabbits were also sleeping near them.

As I was covering the children with a light blanket, Ron approached cautiously.

“A guest has arrived.”

Worried the children might wake, Ron, who had come quite carefully, whispered to me.

I was slightly surprised at how cautious Ron seemed. However, he only mentioned that a guest had arrived without specifying who it was.

“A guest?”

“Yes.”

Does not mentioning mean that the emperor has come? Either way, the children could wake up, so I carefully rose from my seat.

Why would he come just when the children have fallen asleep?

“May I bring the guest?”

“Yes.”

“Please wait for a moment…”

“Is it the emperor?”

As soon as I moved away from the children, I quickly caught Ron, who was trying to disappear.

“Ah!”

“Why are you not clearly saying who it is?”

“My apologies. The guest is from the tower of mages. He requested to meet you.”

“From the tower?”

“Yes.”

What should I do? He looked at me with that expression. First of all, the fact that he came here means the emperor allowed it. Then, there’s no reason not to meet him.

“Please bring him in. And Ron, it feels like it’s been a while since I’ve seen you.”

“Me?”

“Yes, whenever I think of talking to you recently, you always seem to be absent.”

“Is… that so?”

He awkwardly smiled, tilting his head.

“Yes. So let’s talk later.”

“Yes, understood. Then I’ll bring the guest first.”

“Tell Melodin to prepare tea on your way.”

Ron disappeared quickly with an indifferent expression. There is always something strange about Ron whenever I see him.

Everyone else has basic manners thoroughly ingrained in them. Even Kendo. But Ron seems to lack somewhere.

Like someone hastily recruited, he gives off that vibe.

Whether that’s the concept or not, he feels quite lacking.

‘If that’s the concept, it’s well caught.’

Due to his lack and clumsiness, any mistake he makes seems forgivable. Prejudices have already been made that he’s just like that, he makes many mistakes.

‘I should be more careful with such people.’

Meanwhile, a man approached me. It was around the time I thought Melodin might bring the tea.

“It’s my first time meeting the future empress.”

I, who was sitting at the tea table and resting my chin, quickly turned my head at the sound.

A man with black hair. Long hair with glasses. A character visibly imbued with intellectual elements.

Also, the long staff he was holding indicated he was related to the tower of mages.

Intentionally displaying who he is, the man holding the staff greeted quite politely.

“Ah…, hello.”

Finally, the man came forward and met my eyes.

“I apologize for the late greeting. My name is Sehelus.”

“Ah…! I’m Isabella.”

It felt strange. It was my first time hearing this name, but it felt familiar.

“Yes, future empress.”

“I’m not the empress yet, so just call me Isabella.”

“How could I? You have entered the palace to become the empress, and the announcement is soon to be made.”

His overly formal words led me to nod without argument.

“Ah… yes.”

“Anyway, I came suddenly today to greet the future empress as the new tower master, and to offer an apology.”

“An apology? Let’s sit down first.”
She hadn’t even managed to utter a word of invitation to sit while speaking with him. Only after noticing that Melodia was standing behind with the tea did she gesture toward the chair.

“Thank you.”

“Nothing to be thankful for…”

Only after sitting down could she get a good look at the man’s face. Even while standing, he had seemed handsome.

Given that her gaze had been directed upwards, his face should have appeared unattractive, yet the new tavern owner looked good. But sitting down, he looked truly handsome.

A skin that didn’t seem to have been touched by sunlight, clear and milky white. Being white did not make him look weak; far from it.

Broad shoulders, sharp facial features. Slightly slanted eyes. Even his black hair contributed to his cold yet handsome demeanor.

A person emitting an impression that was hard to approach at first glance. Whether he himself knew this or not, Sehelus gave a smile.

That smile looked a bit awkward, though. As if a person who couldn’t naturally smile was forcing himself to.

“I want to begin by apologizing. I know that due to the previous tavern owner, Teslo, you’ve faced considerable inconvenience. I apologize for that.”

“Ah… Well, that’s in the past. I don’t think the new tavern owner needs to apologize for that.”

“Thank you for saying so. However, I think that if the tavern had figured out the situation sooner, none of this would have happened. I feel regretful about that. Even Shanencia suffered because of it. We only understood the full situation after hearing the children’s testimonies.”

It was the first time she had met someone who genuinely felt sorry.