“I hope the dinner won’t be burdensome. Let’s put aside things like etiquette.”

Carlos greeted her with a smile.

Despite saying he hoped it wouldn’t be burdensome, the food was too much for two people and everything was elegantly plated.

“Ah, yes. Thank you for your consideration.”

The food on the table was excessive. At least it was fortunate that the clothes were comfortable. At least she wouldn’t get indigestion from the corset. Mercedes carefully headed towards the chair opposite the head seat. It was at the opposite end of the long table.

“Ah, not there.”

Carlos stopped her.

“Pardon?”

“It’s true that I want you to be comfortable.”

Carlos approached her and extended his arm.

“But I’d also like you to allow me time to appeal to you.”

“Appeal… to me?”

“I told you. That I’ve fallen for you.”

Mercedes looked back and forth between Carlos’s arm and eyes.

Her reflection was visible in Carlos’s pitch-black eyes.

While his eyes didn’t reveal his inner thoughts, at least his expression as he looked at her was very affectionate.

“Let me say it again.”

Today she definitely felt at ease. She also knew that Carlos’s consideration was exceptional.

But she couldn’t believe someone who said they had fallen for her.

Hadn’t Elmond and Richard also said they’d fallen for her, only to end up tormenting her?

She still didn’t know him well. Having had her heart worn down by so much abuse, Mercedes couldn’t help but be wary of Carlos for now.

“I am not someone worthy of Your Majesty’s affection.”

She lowered her eyes and stepped back slightly. For her, touching someone she was wary of was the most difficult thing.

Carlos had to lower his arm that was trying to escort her once again.

“I dislike it when you lower your self-esteem by speaking like that… But it’s clear that I’m not in a position to do anything about it yet.”

But even this time, he didn’t seem embarrassed at all. Rather, he spoke even more cheerfully.

“Anyway, I’d like for us to have dinner together every day and be able to talk. It would be even better if your heart slowly came to me.”

“…”

“But for that to happen, we need to talk… and you know how difficult it is to converse when sitting so far apart at this long table, don’t you?”

“…Yes. It is hard to hear clearly.”

Mercedes agreed with that statement.

Sometimes when eating with Richard, there were times when she liked the fact that his voice wasn’t clearly audible.

“Right. So. I wanted to ask if you’d like to sit next to me while eating. If you wish, I’d like to offer you the head seat, but I can’t because I’m the emperor.”

Carlos pointed to his seat and the chair that had been placed next to it. Mercedes was a bit surprised.

“Isn’t eating like this against etiquette?”

“I don’t want etiquette from you. No, it would be more accurate to say I don’t want to put things like formalities between us.”

What on earth is this person?

Everyone wanted her to be the ‘perfect crown princess’. The gazes and pressure were endless.

But what on earth were these comfortable clothes he had prepared for her?

Moreover, Carlos himself was wearing comfortable shirt and pants instead of his formal uniform. He looked very relaxed. If this wasn’t the imperial palace, someone might ask if they were travelers, pointing at the two of them.

In Chaim, she had envied Carlos’s freedom before.

But she hadn’t thought about his lifestyle. Because she had never experienced it.

So it felt strange.

Everything Carlos had done for Mercedes today shook her heart. She didn’t even know she wanted things like this. Why did Carlos know?

Mercedes found his consideration, which was unfamiliar yet precise, and seemed to have thought of her again and again.

It was almost scary.

“Anyway. I want to get closer to you, won’t you help me? This isn’t an order or demand, but a request.”

“…”

Carlos naturally moved to pull out her chair for her as he spoke.

“If you dislike it, I’m willing to wait until you allow me dinner time, so don’t feel pressured.”

Mercedes walked over and sat in the chair with a strange feeling.

The way he pushed in the chair at the exact moment she sat down made it seem like he had a lot of experience with this kind of escort.

Was he actually a playboy?

Had there been many women he brought in saying he’d fallen for them, giving them these experiences before casting them aside?

‘If that’s the case, there was no need to talk about revenge and tell me to survive.’

Couldn’t he just take what he wanted? He’s the emperor. Moreover…

‘He’s handsome.’

Since she found men terribly frightening and dislikable, she had no personal feelings. But she knew that the emperor’s face shone brighter than anyone else she had ever seen in her life.

More and more questions arose within Mercedes.

Perhaps because of this, she couldn’t take her eyes off Carlos. It was due to an instinctive thought that she needed to observe this man who seemed to have everything to a suspicious degree.

“Oh. Seeing you give me your attention, it seems you’ve developed some curiosity about me.”

“What? Ah, I- I’m sorry.”

Mercedes was flustered for a moment and turned her head away.

It was a mistake she would never have made normally.

It was her habit to lower her eyes and close her heart, so why had she kept staring at him?

“Sorry? I’m quite pleased about it, Mercedes.”

Carlos said with a pleasant smile. His appearance saying “I” instead of “His Majesty” seemed modest and friendly.

Mercedes looked at him as he sat in his seat carving the meat and answered softly.

“Dinner… how could I refuse when Your Majesty is asking? I’ll join you.”

“It feels like permission granted with some degree of coercion by me. Haha. Well, I’ll accept this much.”

He picked up his utensils, seeming to be in a good mood. Mercedes also picked up her utensils.

There were so many dishes that even Mercedes, who was meticulous about dining etiquette, was momentarily unsure of what to eat and how to start.

In that brief moment, Carlos spoke up.

“If it’s too burdensome, I’ll reduce the number of dishes from now on.”

“Pardon?”

“Today’s meal was prepared a bit excessively. I ordered various dishes because you seemed too thin.”

“How does Your Majesty know?”

Mercedes impulsively asked Carlos, who was naturally continuing the conversation.

Today, he seemed to be reading all her thoughts.

She had always lived suppressing her emotions and maintaining an expressionless face, so no one had been able to discern her intentions.

“Know what?”

“It seems like you’re reading all my thoughts.”

“Hmm. Mercedes. You don’t realize how honest you are. If I follow your gaze, I can see your thoughts.”

“Me…? I’ve lived hearing that I have no emotions…”

“The person who said that must have been very insensitive.”

Richard’s sensitivity, was it.

‘He certainly lacks any sensitivity.’

Mercedes unconsciously sneered at her ex-husband internally and was startled. It felt as if her heart had gained some leeway.

“I hope the meal suits your taste.”

“Thank you for your consideration.”

Surprised for a moment by Carlos’s action of cutting the thick steak and serving it to her himself, Mercedes tasted the food properly for the first time in a very long while.

Perhaps because she wasn’t facing death anymore.

It was soft and savory. The taste of meat melting in her mouth was unfamiliar.

‘So this is what taste is like.’

She began to eat more actively. The food suited her palate perfectly.

It was spicy at times, sweet at others, and bitter yet with a subtle charm. Fresh vegetables and properly grilled vegetables added to the deliciousness. The fruits were refreshing and crisp.

She hadn’t completely forgotten her etiquette.

But perhaps due to the comfortable attire and tasting food after so long.

Mercedes finished her meal much more eagerly than usual while still maintaining etiquette. All the food melted in her mouth, and somehow, it even made her heart feel full.

And just as she felt full, ganache cake, strawberry fondue, and warm tea were placed in front of her. It was the last dessert.

‘…Ah. This is insane. Really.’

Seeing the dessert, she came to her senses a bit. Her stomach was already full. Only then did she realize how much she had acted like a glutton.

Her face turned bright red as if it was about to explode.

“It’s good to see you eat well.”

Meanwhile, Carlos continued to speak to her in a kind voice.

That made her feel even more ashamed. She was embarrassed for eating like someone who hadn’t eaten for days, without even paying attention to the person next to her.

“That… The empire’s food is very delicious, so I… forgot my manners. I apologize.”

Mercedes slowly made an excuse, thinking she could die of embarrassment.

“What are you saying? Your dining etiquette was perfect. Is it a habit?”

Carlos asked in bewilderment. Indeed, even while eating frantically, Mercedes had used each utensil according to its purpose, maintaining an upright posture without spilling a single morsel.

“…That’s true, but eating so quickly, as if devouring, next to Your Majesty-”

“You say you ate mindlessly because it was delicious. The chef will be overjoyed. Of course, I’m happy too.”

It was also a skill to interpret her negative tone so positively.

“Ah. I was worried you might get indigestion, so next time, please converse with me so you can eat slowly.”

“Yes, I apologize.”

“And.”

Carlos smiled, slightly furrowing his brow. He seemed somewhat displeased.

“I’d like it if you could stop apologizing now.”

“Pardon?”

“I’ve heard ‘I’m sorry’ from you the most, you see.”

“Ah, I’m sor-”

“See? It’s a habit, isn’t it?”

“…I suppose so.”

It was indeed a habit, having lived a life of constant apologies.

This man seemed to be observing her constantly. Was this what the emotion of ‘affection’ was like?

“Your Majesty.”

In fact, to take revenge on Count Cromwell, it would be right to comply with all his requests.

She deserved punishment for repeatedly ignoring his escort attempts due to discomfort.

The emperor could behead someone for the slightest provocation.

But it was strange.

He didn’t do that. He could be kind-hearted, but he was also a war hero. Killing one person shouldn’t be much to him.

“Why did you call me, Mercedes?”

The black eyes of the man who responded to her call were excessively transparent. She was reflected in their blackness.

So she found herself wanting to ask without realizing it.

“Yes, Mercedes.”

“I heard that Your Majesty prepared this outfit. Is there a reason?”

Though it was a trivial matter, it required great courage from her to ask. She had never dared to ask questions before.