Sesenia only blinked at the unexpected words.

“That’s……”

“What should I do? Please tell me.”

What more could be said to such words?

Sesenia bit her lip and tried to stop him.

“It’s okay now. You don’t have to do anything.”

“No. I want to do it. I want to do anything. I don’t have to be afraid anymore, right? That you’ll abandon me, that you’ll leave me. I don’t have to think like that anymore. I am…… a member of the imperial family after all.”

“……”

“Please tell me. What are you going to do? What should I do? Anything is fine. I’ll do anything. So please use me.”

She thought it wouldn’t be too late to choose after knowing everything. But he was too determined.

If she didn’t tell the truth, he seemed like he would keep going.

She could feel so clearly how he thought of her, what kind of feelings he had.

So Sesenia, who had kept silent for a while thinking she couldn’t use Teddy, opened her mouth.

“Teddy. How…… do you want to live?”

The Teddy of the past wanted to become emperor. Perhaps that was the wish of his sponsor and savior.

It was no different now. She, his sponsor and savior, wanted him to become emperor.

But in front of that desire, there was another feeling.

A feeling of wanting to give him freedom, even if it meant modifying her plans.

If he didn’t want to become emperor, she intended to let him go.

‘The hypocrisy of the wealthy. Arrogant hypocrisy. That’s what I’m about to do now.’

“I…… want to live by your side, my lady.”

“Huh……?”

“I love you, my lady.”

Sesenia blinked.

“Teddy……”

Sesenia didn’t know love. No, she had never loved. Neither in the past nor in the present.

Love was the most useless of human emotions, and she thought it was the cause of her death.

So Sesenia couldn’t fully accept that love.

“Don’t love me.”

“No. I already love you too much. You know. Because I’m of imperial blood…… even though I’m not a worthless slave…… I can confess to you, my lady. It’s sad and happy.”

“Teddy……”

“I thought someone like me wasn’t allowed. That I shouldn’t be by your side. Actually…… I’m not as capable as Lord Rohan, nor do I have that guy’s strong power…… I thought I shouldn’t even confess. So I just…… planned to watch from behind anywhere, anytime. Even if you met someone you loved and started a family…… I was going to always be there behind you.”

What words should she use to stop him? Should she have cut him off before these words came out? What should she have done?

Sesenia’s hands began to tremble. But Teddy’s hands, confessing his feelings, trembled even more.

“But now I want to step forward. I…… I’m qualified now, right?”

“……No.”

“So I’m still not good enough? I…… even though I’m of imperial blood…… I……”

“It’s because the feelings I have for you aren’t like that.”

Love was such a terribly dreadful thing.

Because of such a half-penny feeling, she had to go through hell.

And Sesenia saved him not for that feeling, but to use him.

“What kind of feelings do you have for me then?”

“Feelings of guilt for deceiving you. And feelings that I have to use you.”

“I can bear both of those. So…… look at me. As…… a man.”

“I saved you to use you.”

“That’s okay. If you saved me to use me like that…… I’m happy. It was me from the start, wasn’t it?”

“Teddy……”

Because he was so pure, because she could feel how much he loved her.

“What shall we do? How will I be used?”

“……”

Her chest ached as if being torn. What was she trying to do to someone who liked her so much?

“I…… I don’t believe in love.”

“I’ll make you believe. I wish you could…… feel these feelings of mine. Through me, and for me. So just don’t push me away.”

“……”

“If you don’t believe in love, this time I’ll save you. So……”

Teddy’s large hands cupped Sesenia’s cheeks.

“I love you, my lady.”

Though he said that, Teddy’s hands trembled endlessly.

“Teddy……”

“I’m not asking for an answer right now.”

Teddy, who immediately noticed Sesenia’s expression, smiled brightly.

“Then let’s do this. Tell me how you were going to use me. I’ll make my judgment after hearing it all. If I still want to stay by your side after hearing it, please don’t push me away.”

“But that’s using your feelings.”

“No. That’s me using you. Using you who needs me. So. Tell me. Why did you save me? What gives you feelings of guilt?”

“……Ha.”

“It’s okay. I want to hear it. The hidden truth. So, please tell me.”

There was no way to stop him now. Teddy’s feelings for her were too great. And it wasn’t something that could be persuaded against. Even if she said she wouldn’t use him, he would clearly try to be used.

“I…… will become empress. No, I must become empress.”

“Empress?”

“Yes. And I intend to make you emperor.”

For a moment, a smile spread across Teddy’s face.

“Alright.”

“No, listen. This isn’t something you can just say ‘alright’ to.”

“What’s the problem with being able to marry the person I love?”

“Huh……?”

“Then I’ll use you too. Love me. Marry me. Then I’ll become emperor. I’ll place a high and lofty crown on your head. Even though I’m insignificant, even though I was a nobody, at this moment I will…… become the noblest imperial family member.”

Teddy’s voice was more resolute than ever. It felt determined.

“Are you okay with being used by me?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“Because you’re my savior.”

“I told you I saved you to use you. Don’t you hate me? Aren’t you resentful of me? I’m really…… uh……”

“I hate you. I resent you.”

Yes, that’s the emotion. Say that emotion honestly. But Teddy, smiling broadly, gently grasped Sesenia’s arms as she sat slumped.

“That resentment that I wish you had told me sooner.”

“Ah……”

“If you don’t like the word savior…… I’ll use a different word. Because I love you. That’s why I want to be used.”

“Haah……”

“Then don’t say anything else now. Rather, I’m worried. That when you really learn about my circumstances, when you learn that truth even I don’t know, you’ll hate me. That’s what I’m afraid of.”

“No. That’s impossible. There’s no way I could hate you in any case. You are my most perfect and precious card.”

There was nothing more she could do when the person himself wanted it so much.

“I’ll use you. For my sake, become emperor.”

“Yes.”

“Thank you.”

“I love you.”

“……No. And…… now that you know you’re of imperial blood too. Why do you keep speaking formally?”

“When I stand beside you and am not lacking at all, then I’ll speak informally. Instead of saying ‘I love you’ formally, I’ll say it informally.”

Sesenia forced a smile.

‘By that time, you have to love someone else. Not me. I can’t love anyone.’

“Don’t think of anything else. Just look at me.”

“Okay.”

“I…… don’t have to feel intimidated anymore, right? My bloodline that drove me to hell…… because it’s that noble imperial blood…… I can be confident now, right?”

“Of course. You can live confidently. No matter what anyone says to you, you can act confident.”

As if he had been waiting for that moment, Teddy smiled so widely his cheeks puffed out.

Knock knock.

It was then. Suddenly there was a knocking sound, and Sesenia hurriedly stepped back.

“Yes, yes!!”

“May I come in?”

“Archmage? P-Please come in!”

As if still unsatisfied, Teddy slightly pouted his lips before naturally grabbing her arm.

To be precise, he only grasped her sleeve like a child throwing a tantrum, but even that seemed to please him as he grinned foolishly.

As soon as he entered the room and saw Teddy like that, the Archmage let out a deep sigh.

“Is it all over?”

“When you ask if it’s all over, it sounds kind of strange…… Haha.”

“I just asked if the conversation was over…… The one thinking strange thoughts is you, Sesenia, isn’t it?”

“It’s not.”

At Sesenia’s resolute appearance, the Archmage chuckled and met Teddy’s eyes.

“Are you alright now?”

“Ah…… Yes. Probably.”

“I see. That’s a relief. I was worried you might devour yourself……”

Like a grandfather worrying about his grandchild, the Archmage looked at Teddy pitifully.

“Devour myself?”

“Yes. Your energy was a bit unstable. When you were talking to that guy. But now you look quite alright. It seems you’ve found some kind of goal in that child. A life with a goal is good. It becomes healthier.”

“Ah……”

“Your energy has changed positively as if something definitely happened.”

Sesenia’s cheeks reddened slightly as she recalled the love confession from earlier. It was the first confession she had ever received.

She had expected it, but it was too sudden and overwhelming. So she tried hard to forget, but the Archmage made her remember what happened earlier.

“That…… Nothing happened!”

“Alright. If you say nothing happened, then nothing happened. So no~thing happened. Hoho.”

“Stop teasing!”

“Why are you getting upset, Sesenia? I only spoke to that child.”

Though anyone could see he was clearly teasing, the Archmage just smiled shamelessly.

“Then shall we do it now?”

“Wh-What are we doing?!”

“Hmm……? I meant releasing the magic contained in your hair again…… Why are you so surprised?”