When Ilarid heard that she had brought in bodyguards, she doubted her ears for a moment.

They even said it was the royal guard. Although it could be brushed off as a measure for personal protection after the last inspection, Lebel was frightened first.

He was always the “shadow” who could not always be by the Empress’s side. It was the same even when they went out for inspections. If only he could have stood proudly next to the Empress, Ilarid would not have been hurt.

The sad paradox of being unable to protect what he had vowed to protect weighed heavily on him.

An inexplicable disappointment crept in at the thought of admitting, “I’m not good enough to stand by your side.”

If so, he would remain by Ilarid’s side even if only to fulfill the original purpose of a “shadow.”

Lebel moved closer to Ilarid. His voice, sounding somewhat sad, continued.

“Have I failed to earn Your Majesty’s trust?”

His gaze remained fixed on Ilarid. While Ilarid blinked in bewilderment, her body was naturally pushed back towards the bed by Lebel.

“Lebel, what are you suddenly saying…?”

Ilarid felt the edge of the bed behind her. Her faltering steps lost their way, stumbling before losing balance and falling backwards.

With a soft thud, silver hair fluttered over the white bed. Soon, Lebel’s arms were placed on either side of Ilarid. She could only look up, trapped by Lebel.

Ilarid saw for the first time that his gray-blue eyes were wavering. Uncontrollable confusion and excitement trembled blue in Lebel’s eyes.

‘Could it be because of what I said about bringing in personal bodyguards?’

The “personal bodyguard” Ilarid intended to bring in did not mean someone to keep by her side like Lebel. Moreover, the person in question was Cecilia. He seemed to have seriously misunderstood something.

It was a big mistake not to have said it earlier. Ilarid, inwardly blaming herself, grabbed Lebel’s arm and said calmly:

“Lebel, first calm down and listen to me…”

“Did you desire nightly activities?”

“What?”

Ilarid doubted her ears for a moment. Soon, Lebel’s low voice penetrated the ear of Ilarid lying down.

“I only refrained because I thought Your Majesty did not desire it. If you wish, even right now…”

He was already unbuttoning his shirt one by one. At his momentum of seemingly about to throw off his clothes right away, Ilarid hurriedly stopped his hand with a shocked expression.

“Wait, hold on! That’s not it. Listen to me until the end, Lebel. This situation is completely different from what you’re thinking.”

Ilarid’s face quickly turned red as she spat out words like a machine gun.

Who would have known he would even unbutton his shirt, even if there was a serious misunderstanding?

“The… person I brought in as a personal bodyguard is the second daughter of the Dukes of Icastel.”

Why didn’t I bring up the most important story on the day I woke up after collapsing? I’ve missed so much under the excuse of being sick.

Ilarid placed her hand on Lebel’s cheek. Although it was hard to see in the dark, a faint warm feeling filled her palm.

“It was a decision I made as a reward for her efforts in exposing the corruption at the Academy last time.”

If you don’t speak, misunderstandings only pile up. If you keep your mouth shut because you’re ashamed of your mistakes and sorry to face them, nothing gets resolved.

“I’m really sorry… for not telling you earlier.”

Lebel’s eyes slowly widened. Why is the word “sorry” so magical? Although filled with misunderstanding and even disappointment, that one word made him forget what feelings had taken residence.

“…Ilarid.”

Blue eyes blinked gently above her body. He carefully turned his face to the side.

Soon, a warm and rough sensation touched the inside of Ilarid’s palm. The now familiar feeling of lips tickled between the lines of her hand.

“It seems I… really like you a lot.”

He soon removed his lips and muttered as if in a monologue.

“Wanting only safe and good people to be by Your Majesty’s side, I ended up… only thinking hastily. I’m sorry.”

An honest heart leaked out. Is it possible for misunderstandings to arise between hearts that have been shown to each other? Saying sorry was only difficult at the start. Would one’s body crumble or one’s existence be denied for admitting mistakes and errors?

However, it was a word that didn’t come from the person she really wanted to hear it from. Did the word “sorry” even exist in his dictionary?

Ilarid swallowed her heated throat with difficulty and said:

“Lebel. Just stay like this.”

A different trembling was felt than before.

“Your existence keeps me going.”

His appearance made Tamiel’s assassination possible, and allowed them to shake Cledius. And it became possible to entrust her back with peace of mind.

Lebel was someone who put her mind at ease just by looking at him, someone who shared her past, and someone who had vowed to live for Ilarid.

Moonlight invaded between the two. It put the dim lamplight to shame.

Looking down, Lebel’s upper body was fully exposed through the open shirt. Although she had seen it a few times, she still wasn’t used to looking at it straight on.

Had they ever faced each other on the bed in this position, with him half-naked? Somehow, it even gave off a suggestive atmosphere as if they really should spend the night together.

“Um… could you fix your shirt?”

“Would you like to do it yourself?”

Lebel took Ilarid’s hand and brought it to the front of his shirt.

“I’ve missed Your Majesty’s touch.”

It was quite a skill to utter such an outrageous statement without changing his expression at all. A smile that was hard to tell if it was a joke or sincere lingered at the corners of his mouth.

“It’s not difficult.”

It was bravado if anything. Ilarid deliberately pretended to be nonchalant, carefully buttoning up his shirt as calmly as possible.

For a very brief moment, a hint of disappointment appeared on Lebel’s face. As Ilarid finished and sat on the edge of the bed, Lebel knelt and looked up at her.

“Anytime… if you wish, please call for me.”

Ilarid, who had somewhat caught on to his meaning, avoided his fervent gaze. Lebel whispered softly like someone trying to convey a secret. His voice, filled with heated energy, made Ilarid’s body tremble.

“I am always prepared.”

“What do you take me for…”

“I’m referring to the task of monitoring and investigating them. Did you perhaps want something else?”

He said jokingly, even tilting his head slightly. Now he’s openly playing around. Or was Lebel originally this kind of person? Maybe I just didn’t notice because of everything that’s happened.

Ilarid cleared her throat, trying hard to hide her embarrassment.

“Then, shall I give my ‘accomplice’ his first official task?”

“Please command me.”

“I’d like you to investigate the ‘Gloria Foundation’ represented by Count Diobe.”

The corners of Lebel’s mouth drew a cool arc. It was a request he had already anticipated.

“On the surface, they claim to be a welfare foundation. Recently, they’ve purchased a few artworks under the foundation’s name. It’s understood that they originally belonged to Viscount Geminia…”

“When did you investigate all that?”

“I overheard Count Diobe talking separately with the Emperor about the foundation.”

It was when he visited the Imperial Palace to leak information about the North.

Since then, he had one of the new members of the Gray Hawks who joined the mercenary group follow Count Diobe. He had also assigned members scattered throughout the capital to investigate the foundation.

“I thought I should gather information in advance about the Empress Consort and those around her, as they are practically enemies to Your Majesty.”

“…Well done.”

Ilarid muttered blankly. She could only marvel. To act one step ahead before receiving orders. Moreover, the direction was perfect.

At that time, Ilarid was still hesitating about recruiting Lebel. But Lebel had laid the groundwork for her without hesitation. As if it were the natural course of action.

Lebel rested his arms straight on Ilarid’s knees and rested his chin on them. Then he brought her empty hand to his cheek. It was as if he were asking to be petted, to be praised.

“It seems they’ve collected quite a lot of donations with the Emperor’s permission. However, they don’t seem to be properly disclosing where and how it’s being used.”

The Gloria Foundation was conducting fundraising activities using the Imperial family’s name. Some of the funds might be flowing into the Imperial Palace.

“If it’s really not going to where it’s needed, but into the pockets of strange people, the current situation of the foundation must be a mess.”

The real purpose of establishing the foundation must be a means for them to line their own pockets. But revealing where and how the funds were being used was the most difficult part.

Isn’t money-related crime the most common among those in high positions?

‘At the same time, it’s also the easiest to hide.’

Ilarid’s waist slowly sank as she exhaled. Naturally, the distance between her and Lebel grew even closer.

People would have willingly given donations, trusting the Imperial family’s name and, above all, Count Diobe’s words that it would be used for good causes.

If goodwill is exploited in this way, it only builds distrust. Do they think that because the heart is like a blank white paper, there’s no problem no matter how they color it?

Noticing her complex feelings, Lebel immediately continued speaking.

“We’re continuing to monitor. If any suspicious movements are detected from the foundation, I’ll inform you immediately.”

“…But how long do you intend to keep rubbing your cheek like that?”

“It’s a request for praise. Please allow me to do so to my heart’s content just for tonight.”

Looking into his clear eyes that appeared quite innocent, laughter inadvertently leaked out. Ilarid raised her thumb to caress his neat brow bone, the drooping eyelashes, and the soft eyelids.

“You’ve worked hard. Thank you so much.”

The gentle voice tickled his eyes. If only he could feel this touch a little longer, for a long time. Lebel closed his eyes slowly, abandoning his face to her hand.

Ilarid’s hands had become much warmer than before.

**

The maids of the Empress’s Palace exchanged troubled glances. When they were called to the Empress Consort’s Palace, they had initially wanted to refuse, thinking ‘Why us?’

‘If we don’t go, we’ll die. Please help us just this once, please?’

The sight of the Empress Consort’s Palace maids clinging to their arms looked quite ominous. They didn’t seem to notice the blood dripping from their own hands.

Surely they wouldn’t harm the maids belonging to the Empress’s Palace too? They followed the Empress Consort’s Palace maids with hurried steps.

Late at night, the Empress Consort they faced in the mostly darkened room even exuded a somewhat sinister atmosphere.

“You called for us, Your Majesty the Empress Consort?”

“Welcome.”

Soon, a heavy object was thrown in front of them with a thud. What is this? As the maids looked down at their feet, maintaining silence, Selina spoke first.

“That should be enough for your families to live without worry for a few months.”

Even in the dim room, the shining objects were clearly gold bars. Selina guessed that the maids were wavering.

“I heard there’s a man coming and going to the Empress’s Palace, who could that be?”

Here it comes. The maids stared at the gold bars on the floor, their hands tightly clasped together. Selina sighed in frustration and threw one more gold bar each.

“Don’t make me answer. I already know that the ‘shadow’ is coming and going.”

Money solves everything. Such lowly beings are weak to money. Even if you insult them, as long as you give them money properly afterwards, isn’t that enough?

If they volunteer to be slaves themselves, there’s no reason not to treat them as such.

“Should I give one more each?”

Now it was getting irritating. These have-nots are disgustingly greedy. At the low grumbling, the maids flinched.

Three gold bars. It was an enormous amount for the maids. If they sold those, their families could live without worrying about money for months. Although the maids’ inner minds were filled with the noise of temptation, the room, on the contrary, was plunged into silence.

“There’s no need to be cautious. It’s just us in this space, and unless I’m a fool, do you think I’d report this to Her Majesty the Empress?”

How much time had passed? One maid who had been hanging her head stepped forward. The gold bars caught on her feet made a clattering sound as they collapsed.

At the maid’s answer that finally flowed out, a twisted smile appeared on Selina’s lips.

“I saw the mercenary captain contracted with the Imperial family coming and going to the Empress’s Palace.”