“Did you really not use the Ora?”

When Skyra questioned him again, Carlos slightly turned his head and said,

“About four months ago, I took five hundred soldiers and fought against three thousand. The remnants were rampaging on the battlefield…”

“Are you crazy? Did you cut down two thousand by yourself again to avoid casualties among the five hundred? Right? You wouldn’t have retreated from the front line set to protect the village, would you?”

“You know me well.”

Carlos chuckled.

It was a long-standing relationship. With this genius magician he met by suddenly visiting the Wizard’s Tower in his childhood. That’s why he felt at ease. Even though his body was stiffening.

“But you found her. The descendant of Ellawe. You’ll be able to fix it.”

“Ah, that murderer lady. Your Majesty is really tough for finding her.”

“Do you… believe that woman is a murderer?”

“If she is a descendant of Ellawe, murder is easy, right? What else would she be if not a murderer? Besides, I’ve killed more than one or two people myself, so I’m not going to criticize. Anyway, did that lady come to love Your Majesty?”

“About that… I don’t know the criteria. Should I hear a confession or something?”

“…Oh my. Your Majesty doesn’t know love, so what should we do? It seems highly likely that even if the other person loves you, the curse may not be broken.”

“Then you observe and let me know.”

“I don’t know, do you think I know love? I’m not even interested.”

Skyra sighed.

“Let’s do the treatment first. I’ll make the magic formula that suppresses the curse more robust and push it in, and increase the regenerative ability of your body. It will be the most painful so far. I’ll be bedridden for days after doing this too.”

“Please take care of it.”

Skyra closed her eyes, muttered something, and placed her fingers on his wrist. She crossed her two fingers and went up Carlos’ left arm.

Whenever her fingers touched his skin, a burning pain was felt and a blue light rose. Sweat beads also formed on Skyra’s forehead.

When her fingers reached near his heart like that,

“…Ugh, huk.”

Carlos, who had never made a sound even when stabbed with a knife, exhaled. Skyra also bit her lip.

The curse was really tenacious, intense, and persistent.

His stiff body began to become flexible very slowly.

About 20 minutes passed.

Skyra let out an ‘eua’ sound and fell backwards.

“I can’t move at all… Sleep here− Kuhuoung, Kuoung.”

Skyra fell asleep as if she fainted without even finishing her words. Normally, the snoring sound would have been funny, but Carlos had to gasp for a while due to the aftermath of the pain.

“…Thank you. Skyra.”

After some more time passed, his body finally felt okay. But he could tell.

It was much better than before the treatment… but clearly the effect was weaker than the previous treatment.

I really don’t know how long I can last with this makeshift method.

Now you really shouldn’t use the Ora.

‘Carlos. When your body starts to stiffen, it will gradually harden even if you don’t use your strength. By then, it will be useless to stop. So… please don’t learn swordsmanship. Mom can stay in the detached palace.’

In the end, it will harden, but if he doesn’t use the Ora, it will be a little slower.

Before that, he had to do something about Mercedes.

He sighed and tried to get up, but collapsed back onto the sofa. The intense treatment had brought severe fatigue to his body.

Dividing the large sofa in half, on the left was a tall and large man. On the right, a tall and thin woman curled up and occupied it, both asleep.

It was too late at night, so no one could disturb their deep sleep.

* * *

The problem was that the only person who knew exactly about Carlos’ physical condition was Skyra, and the fact that he needed treatment was also a secret to everyone.

It was normal for the light in the office to be on all night in the Imperial Palace, and until Carlos, who stayed up all night, asked for a meal, no one entered the office.

Because Carlos was especially sensitive when working through the night.

Moreover, everyone was worried but knew. Carlos was a person who could endure a week without eating or sleeping.

Anyway, as a result, everyone in the Imperial Palace didn’t visit the office until around lunchtime as usual.

Because it was clear that Carlos would hate it.

So, Mercedes, the only person who didn’t know such circumstances, went to see him. She was curious to have a conversation since he said he would announce the coronation of the empress today.

And she saw it.

A man and a woman, each curled up and occupying half of a sofa, sleeping separately.

‘What… What’s going on. What the hell is this.’

To Mercedes, who had a good eye, the gender of Skyra with an androgynous appearance was clearly visible. It was a fact that could be known just by looking at the difference in size with Carlos.

She looked down at the scene, a little perplexed. She had come in after calling Franz, since there was no answer when she asked to be informed in advance.

Franz also had a slightly perplexed look.

The office was enveloped in silence.

Franz, the attendants he brought, Mercedes, and the maids all looked at the two people who had fallen into a deep sleep.

The silence was not long. Because Mercedes’ mouth opened on its own. It was a habit formed by living a life prioritizing what needs to be done over emotions.

“…Hmm. Franz, wouldn’t it be better to call the knights who can move His Majesty and let him sleep comfortably somewhere?”

“Yes, Lady Mercedes. That would be good.”

Franz, who had been frozen while watching Mercedes’ reaction, immediately came to his senses.

“Yes. And that person…”

“Ah, that’s Skyra, the imperial magician. She’s the one His Majesty sent on a business trip and seems to have returned last night. Being a magician, she often comes in through routes unknown to us… so it was difficult to confirm.”

One attendant spoke up as if making an excuse.

There was no need to make excuses to her.

She was still nothing yet. Not even an empress, just Mercedes. However, it was a separate matter that the excuse was strangely unpleasant, the mood was strange, and she felt upset.

Right. They may have fallen asleep while working. There were many women among the emperor’s aides.

But seeing them sleeping so comfortably, curled up on one sofa, they seemed to be very close.

‘The imperial magician.’

Unlike her who was just starting to learn something, this person had a definite position and ability.

Mercedes quietly looked at Skyra. With messy black hair and worn-out clothes, she looked no different from a vagrant on the outside.

But looking closely, a beautiful appearance with a handsome feeling could be seen even in her tired look.

“…Since she is a close aide to His Majesty, it’s natural for her to come and go comfortably. Franz, can you make sure Skyra can rest comfortably as well?”

“Yes, Lady Mercedes. I should have taken the initiative, but I apologize for making you handle it directly.”

“No. Rather, I, who am nothing… ordered it.”

I’m sorry. Mercedes swallowed the rest of the words.

Franz looked at her for a moment and then gently spoke.

“I will prepare lunch for you soon. I will inform you when His Majesty wakes up, so don’t worry too much. It seems he was overworked, so… please don’t misunderstand.”

Franz spoke carefully.

‘Misunderstand?’

What misunderstanding is he talking about? In the first place, Carlos was someone who could do anything, and unlike herself, he had many close people he knew. And even now, they weren’t hugging or sleeping face to face, but sleeping separately on a sofa divided in half, right? It wasn’t a situation to misunderstand.

Mercedes smiled, lifting the corners of her mouth.

“Misunderstanding. I just hope His Majesty can rest comfortably. It’s okay to skip escorting me to the banquet, so tell him to rest well. I didn’t know he was so busy that he would sleep curled up on the office sofa like this. Tell him I’m sorry.”

Mercedes spoke sincerely. Everything was sincere, and she was actually sorry.

So she said it.

Even so, something seemed to be stuck in her chest. The woman she was seeing for the first time. The two people sleeping curled up.

“If His Majesty finds out you said you’re sorry, he will be upset. You were very surprised to meet Skyra for the first time, right? Skyra is just… Carlos’ old close friend. Someone who grew up fighting wars together with him.”

“…What?”

“His Majesty promised research support to Skyra, who is famous as a genius magician, and hired her as the imperial magician. They’re just old friends, and now in the position of employer and employee.”

Franz was perceptive.

So he calmly explained and appealed that ‘the two have no special relationship’.

No matter how you looked at the two sleeping people, they seemed to have no special relationship. However, Franz knew that depending on one’s feelings, someone might be bothered by it.

“…Then I should definitely greet her later. Ah, of course, when she’s not busy. I’m not the empress yet, so it would be awkward to see her again unless it’s an official schedule.”

Mercedes smiled awkwardly. Franz looked at her and replied in a warm voice.

“Lady Mercedes. Go back, sit on a fluffy chair, eat something delicious, and bask in the sunlight.

You don’t have to care too much. I guarantee it. Even though I may not look like it, I am the chief attendant who has been by His Majesty’s side for a lifetime.”

He chuckled kindly.

Mercedes then realized that she had shown something. Emotions that she herself didn’t know.

And she realized that Franz, who noticed her emotions, comforted her.

‘…I must be crazy.’

What kind of unseemly behavior is this?

She thanked Franz for his warm send-off and quickly headed to her room.

‘Why am I…’

She was just embarrassed and embarrassed again.

Even though she knew that expressing emotions wasn’t a bad thing, and even though she realized it might be something she needed.

She felt naked.

At the same time…

‘Franz, how did I look in your eyes?’

She wanted to ask what her emotions were.

Because she knew happiness, joy, to that extent.

She was curious about this strange anxiety and impatience… This anxiety and impatience had a completely different texture from the tension she felt during difficult times.

“Lady Mercedes? Are you okay?”

“Huh? Oh, yeah. Rhonda. I’m fine.”

Mercedes quickly composed herself and faced her.

But maybe, even if it wasn’t Rhonda, anyone who saw Mercedes now could have known.

She was saddened.