The first thought that came to mind was simple.

‘I must be insane.’

Hades Croitner was undoubtedly mad.

Otherwise, he wouldn’t be able to say such embarrassing words so nonchalantly.

I narrowed my eyes and stared at his chest, but no numbers appeared.

Seeing no change in his affection level, there hadn’t been any significant emotional shifts… what could it be?

“Angel.”

Hades approached me.

“The negotiations with the envoy have already concluded. I agreed to give him what he wants, and in return, he agreed to heal you.”

I took a deep breath.

I was just regaining my senses, and now to hear that all the discussions with Iscariel were over was shocking.

“What did you offer?”

Hades looked at me gently.

“You.”

“…I don’t like that.”

I shook my head.

So basically, he’s saying that I’ve agreed to go to the empire with Iscariel?

“I absolutely won’t go.”

“Listen to me.”

The tone of Hades was one of no room for argument.

“I’ve thought about it extensively, and right now, the only person who can save you is him. We can’t wait for another opportunity.”

No.

Hades doesn’t know it, but there’s one more chance left. The problem is, I can’t tell him that.

“I want to find another way.”

“No.”

Hades’s voice was stern, yet the touch of his hand holding mine was soft and caring.

“I can’t risk losing you.”

I swallowed hard. How did Hades become so overprotective of me?

I wanted to delve into his complicated inner thoughts, which could no longer be explained by mere affection levels, but I didn’t have the energy for that.

“But I have no intention of leaving you alone with him.”

I blinked.

Could it be…?

“William will escort you, and my elite knights will accompany you as well.”

That’s to be expected.

I tried not to show my disappointment.

Of course, Hades wouldn’t be able to leave Donovan.

Therefore, it’s only right that I should hide my disappointment and sadness.

“Would you prefer if I went with you?”

“No.”

I shook my head.

“I don’t think you should leave Donovan. It’s not right.”

Hades gave a brief smile.

“Still, it’s not a sin to wish I could go with you.”

“…If it’s not a sin.”

I met his eyes.

“Then it’s okay to wish.”

A silence flowed. Despite receiving the answer he wanted, Hades offered me a puzzled look.

I fumbled with my lips.

Is this not it…?

Fortunately, the awkward silence was broken when Amy, holding an armful of clothes, entered the room.

“Your Holiness! You’re awake! We should let the other knights know this good news.”

“Why?”

I tilted my head.

“Because His Grace can finally leave your side.”

“Amy.”

Hades called out to her with a stern voice, but she didn’t stop.

In fact, even if she had stopped, I would’ve encouraged her to continue once Hades left.

“His Grace has been unable to leave your side, worried about you.”

“…There were compelling reasons.”

“Yes, there were compelling reasons.”

Amy giggled.

“Your Holiness, you’re like a snowflake. Leaving you out of sight for even a moment makes one fear you’ll vanish…”

“Amy.”

When Hades called her name in a clearly aggravated tone, Amy finally shut her mouth.

He glared at her.

“You might want to take her words with a grain of salt, Your Holiness. She seems to have inherited the inability to keep her mouth shut.”

“Your Grace showers Amy with praise.”

As I responded with a smile, Hades shook his head and left the room.

Now it was just Amy and me.

“Is that really true?”

It was obvious what I would ask.

“Yes!”

Amy nodded her head enthusiastically.
“The Holy Lady had just fainted as she usually does, yet Your Majesty threw quite a fit, didn’t he? He even got highly agitated with the chancellor…”

“Agitated?”

I muttered blankly.

By the sound of it, the Chancellor Iscariel got everything he wished for.

Even a hearty laugh wouldn’t have been out of place at this point.

“In my opinion, true affection must have sprouted.”

“True affection?”

I turned to look at Amy.

“What do you mean?”

Amy started to explain with a face as if to say, ‘You don’t know this?’

“During acting, a tender feeling has been developed, as if dealing with a real spouse.”

“That’s going too far.”

I shook my head.

Of course, Hades was no longer hostile to me like before, and his rising favorability seemed to prove that he held some goodwill toward me.

But that didn’t mean he had actually fallen in love with me.

In Leodel, favorability only meant goodwill from one human to another.

It was applicable even among the same sex or family members.

“Want to bet?”

“Bet?”

I blinked my eyes.

“Yes.”

Amy nodded vigorously.

“If I win, grant me the blessing of the Holy Lady.”

I burst into laughter. My blessing was neither here nor there.

“If I win?”

“Then, I will fulfill one of the Holy Lady’s wishes.”

“My wish is…”

I sank into thought. Of course, I had a wish. To go home.

To return to the world where I should rightfully be.

I even thought about joining the demonhunting force for that.

But this was something Amy could never fulfill.

“Alright, I’ll take that bet.”

“This is going to be an easy win for me.”