Mercedes had to close her mouth for a moment.

Should she say she was overwhelmed?

No, it was more than that. How should she put it? It was closer to an unfamiliar chill arising from a strange emotion she was not used to.

“…I understand your words of caution.”

At her response, Carlos put away his dangerous air and returned to his usual leisurely demeanor.

But Mercedes swallowed and said what she had to say.

“But I think if Your Majesty desires me in return, I have no choice but to offer myself.”

Without changing his expression, Carlos asked as nonchalantly as possible.

“I’m curious as to why you’ve come to think that way.”

It felt a bit suffocating.

She was just a woman he would use.

Yet her excessively low self-esteem and attitude of not valuing her own body were gradually starting to grate on him. It was the same now.

He understood. Carlos was the only one protecting her, yet she couldn’t trust herself. She said she would have her revenge by any means necessary, and since that was her life’s goal, she could treat her own body as nothing.

Yes. So… he understood. Her desperation.

But it was a different story that her words left a grating trace on his heart.

“…I was taught that it’s a woman’s duty. That if her husband desires her, she must comply. I don’t have a husband now. But I am extending my life and staying here under Your Majesty’s favor. I think it’s a natural price to pay.”

In fact, Mercedes saying this much was largely influenced by Count Cromwell, who used to tell her to the point of brainwashing that a woman must unconditionally offer her body if her husband wants it.

“Who told you such things?”

“It’s what I’ve learned since I was young. Always.”

Mercedes lowered her eyes. As always, her face showed no emotion.

‘Tsk.’

Carlos clicked his tongue only inwardly.

At first, he thought that woman’s affection would quickly turn to him as he enveloped her in soft things and watched her ambition rise.

But after observing her up close for two months, he reached a different conclusion.

With the memories of abuse and low self-esteem Mercedes possessed, she would never be able to love him.

She would always regard all his favors as something she had to ‘repay’ and strive to do so.

To the point of offering her body regardless of her feelings.

Then, to make her truly know love, he had to heal her wounds.

Whether she would love him after that was still uncertain, but, well, Carlos didn’t think it would be too difficult as he was sick and tired of women who had lived smooth lives confessing their love to him.

‘To gain love, I have to completely heal a person.’

Carlos was someone who couldn’t even properly heal his own life. It was absurd for him to try to heal that woman.

With such low self-esteem, there were many women who would yearn for affection and easily fall in love. But he just had to get entangled with a terribly complicated person.

“It seems they often say nonsensical things in Shaim. I believe a woman has the right to refuse even if her husband desires her. And I don’t want anything forceful from you either. Things like ‘payment’.”

Anyways, Carlos interfered with her thoughts, thinking he should at least try to make an effort for now.

“…But.”

Even after hearing his words, Mercedes made a face as if she wasn’t convinced.

Still, perhaps because the maids attentively cared for her and conversed with her frequently, she expressed her emotions more than before.

If things continued like this, she would improve.

However, the problem was that her attitude kept weighing on his mind, and he had little time.

“I have taken a liking to you, but you have not accepted me. So I am waiting for you. I think it’s only natural for you to refuse me if there is no love. The more I hear from you, the more it seems Shaim is full of fools.”

Suppressing the dizziness that kept washing over his heart, Carlos continued.

Mercedes blinked a few times as she looked at Carlos, who seemed a bit agitated unlike himself, then cautiously asked.

“Then… what should I repay for the favor I asked of you?”

“Mrs. Fisher said you have quick understanding. But when conversing with me, that understanding seems to go elsewhere. Let me be clear. There’s no need to repay. I don’t want that.”

“Why?”

“It’s my wish.”

Carlos was now being rather brazen.

“What? No, Your Majesty-.”

Mercedes tried to dissuade his attitude. But Carlos maintained his playful tone and replied.

“This is my home. So can’t I do as I please? No matter what favor you ask of me, even if it’s something difficult for me to grant, I will grant it. And I don’t want anything in return. If anything, perhaps some praise from you.”

“Pr…aise?”

Mercedes looked truly flustered.

As he spoke, Carlos also thought his own words were ridiculous. If his intention wasn’t to win her over, he wouldn’t have said such things.

But now that he had said it, it was quite satisfying. Didn’t he seem like a man with a passion for purely loving someone?

“Ah, and I instructed to provide you money in the name of dignity maintenance. Even the Queen Mother won’t be able to interfere, so feel free to spend it as you wish. Don’t think of it as borrowing from me. I apologize for the delayed arrangement.”

“What? But isn’t that only possible for Her Majesty the Empress or someone in the position of the Imperial Consort? For me, a mere guest in the palace-.”

“Is there any reason you won’t be able to take that position in the future?”

“Pardon?”

“If your eyes only look at me.”

Carlos grinned and firmly pressed the back of Mercedes’ cold hand with his fingers. His hand was so large that with that single action, it seemed to capture her entire hand.

“I won’t hesitate.”

“Your Majesty, just what…?”

At this point, Mercedes really couldn’t understand Carlos.

Until now, he had maintained a line, saying she wasn’t a woman to fall for, but…

To think of taking a criminal who almost faced execution as the Empress? It would be criticized even if she were a noblewoman.

In fact, she was currently being disregarded in high society!

“Your Majesty. You know my status, right? You must remember. I am a criminal and-.”

“Ah. Again with the outdated words. Mercedes, how about we take a stroll instead? The weather is nice.”

“Your Majesty…”

“Mercedes. Feel free to spend the money designated for you as you please, even if it ruins the palace. Go on, receive favors without any strings attached and be thoroughly uncomfortable. That way, you’ll never say such things again.”

Carlos even looked displeased.

“I’m truly curious. How well will you endure while receiving favors without any strings attached?”

“I’ve already… received too much.”

“Then receive more. You seem to be enduring well so far, so I must see you crumble.”

His tone was mean-spirited, but it definitely contained advice that cherished her.

Mercedes blankly gazed at the beautiful man who turned his eyes away from her and sighed.

No statue she had ever seen was more perfect than him. Features that seemed to be molded one by one by a genius with god-given hands, a masculine jaw, a thick neck, a cleft chest revealed between his shirt.

Chestnut skin that went well with his abyss-like black hair and eyes.

Moreover, he was an emperor who had almost everything in the world.

Why on earth was he, to her…?

Mercedes couldn’t understand it at all, and it felt like an emotion she would never know in her lifetime. His kindness was endless.

He saved her, gave her a purpose to live. He paved the way for her as she moved and led her.

When he saw her clumsy secret letter, he assigned her a tutor and gave her a quiet, comfortable room with kind maids.

Everything was tailored for her.

She knew that. But when she said she would give herself to him if he wanted, he even expressed displeasure and refused, making her feel really strange.

If it were Richard, he would have acted as he pleased and taken her a hundred, a thousand times when she said she would give herself to him.

If it were her father, he would have slapped her, asking how dare she make a request, and if it were the Countess, she would have locked her in the basement and starved her for days.

Favors without any strings attached.

That short sentence stuck in her heart. Carlos, who had been looking elsewhere in discontent, composed his expression and looked at her again.

She was reflected in his black eyes.

“So hurry up and praise me, and take a walk with me. Mercedes.”

Carlos gave his characteristic confident smile and stood up, extending his hand to her. She took his hand and stood up. The distance between the two people facing each other was close.

“Praise…?”

“Yes. Like when I praised your secret letter. Like you did after the Queen Mother’s banquet.”

“So…”

Praise. She had never given it to a man except for a few times out of courtesy in high society.

On the contrary, she had received it, but unlike what Carlos had given her, it was only about her external aspects, such as her appearance or dress.

So Mercedes was at a loss. The praise he wanted would be something different.

What should she say to him?

After much thought, Mercedes reached out to stroke his hair. Just as he had done to her.

But she couldn’t reach his height, and her hand stopped at his cheek.

“You… did well. Like this?”

Her cold, thin hand touched his hot cheek, tickling his skin.

At that sensation, Carlos stopped for a moment. And without realizing it, he quietly looked down at Mercedes.