“I understand Miss Selina’s intentions. I will take it as a refusal.”

It was questionable whether the muddy water would be completely removed even after washing.

Thinking about how the children in charge of laundry would struggle, perhaps it should be used for cleaning the floor of the Empress’s palace as Selina suggested. However, since it was a gift, it couldn’t be carelessly used in such a rough place.

Selina, who didn’t care at all about Ilarid’s frustration, bit her lip and gave a formal greeting before leaving quickly.

‘She’s going to the Emperor’s palace.’

Undoubtedly, Selina would report Lebel’s rudeness as it was, no, even exaggerate it several times over.

How would Cledius react? He might even invoke the sacred authority of the imperial family ruling Astrid to punish the ill-mannered mercenary.

Why on earth did that man provoke the Emperor’s concubine so much? Ilarid began to consider all possibilities to resolve the upcoming situation.

Lebel picked up the cloth Selina had thrown away. Although covered in dirt, the finely woven fabric still maintained its former beauty. The soft cloth left only a discordant sensation as it brushed against his rough hands.

“Do you not like bright colors?”

The approaching headache disappeared as Ilarid received Lebel’s question. It was a sudden inquiry. Ilarid looked at him to understand his intentions, but Lebel was still staring at the cloth in his hand.

“At some point, I came to avoid them.”

More precisely, it was right after her family was massacred. From that day on, Ilarid’s life was filled with mourning and sorrow, leaving only black mourning clothes.

People who watched her expressed sympathy, saying how pitiful the Empress was, but some left unheard criticisms, wondering how long she would remain depressed.

But there was no limit to mourning. Ilarid vowed to remember all the dead until the end of her life.

As the Melpiram family was branded as traitors, they couldn’t even have a proper memorial. The only way to express mourning was to wear dark and gloomy clothes.

Lebel slightly lifted a part of the white cloth that was not yet stained. It was in contrast to how he had thrown it at Selina earlier.

Unable to hold the muddy cloth up to the Empress, he had to imagine Ilarid wearing white clothes from a distance.

It seemed it would suit her quite well. Although the dark green clothes Ilarid was currently wearing harmonized well with her clear eyes, bright colors would also shine dazzlingly with her silver hair.

Lebel’s eyes briefly lit up as he imagined the Empress before him.

“Lebel.”

A sigh was felt at the end of calling his name. Lebel startled and straightened up. His reaction to Ilarid’s single word was like a large black dog that understood its master’s words.

Ilarid still showed no expression. A blank state with no irritation, anger, or even sadness felt. Her white face seemed like it would go down rather than up with a smile.

“From now on, be careful with all your words and actions. That woman is also a noble, and will soon be enthroned as Empress. As she receives the Emperor’s favor, harm could come to you as well.”

“Are you worried about me?”

“It’s not worry, it’s…”

Ilarid looked up at him with a frustrated heart. At that moment, their eyes met. The coldly frozen expression from just moments ago was nowhere to be seen. One might even mistakenly think he was smiling.

“I apologize, Your Majesty. This lowly one dared to show improper behavior in front of noble aristocrats.”

“It’s not because your status is low.”

This was sincere. Ilarid drew a firm line. If Ilarid had considered the difference in status, she would have made Lebel kneel on the spot. Her soft voice flowed gently along Lebel’s ear.

“Even small words and actions can be greatly exaggerated in the palace. Since this is the imperial palace, everyone strictly observes etiquette according to differences in status, so please keep this in mind.”

How could someone brought into the palace… He had not hesitated to disguise himself to avoid Cledius’s eyes and often stayed up all night. He couldn’t throw away the one chance he had gained through such ridiculous circumstances.

Lebel, who had been looking at Ilarid with softened eyes, bowed his head forward.

“I will be mindful.”

“And… thank you.”

Ilarid’s sincerity leaked out very slightly. If things had remained as they were, it would have led to an argument between Lynette and Selina, and Lynette might have faced hardship.

It would have been fortunate if only her salary was cut. Even Ilarid found it difficult to predict what kind of fault Selina might find, saying Lynette had offended the Emperor’s favored ‘shadow’.

Thanks to the mercenary who showed no fear at all, she felt a little relieved from her frustration. Ilarid approached Lebel and grasped the cloth still in his hand.

Looking at the stained cloth, she even felt a bit upset. After deciding to give the gift to Selina, she thought she had no lingering attachment, but it seemed that wasn’t the case.

Though she was used to deceiving her heart and trying to ignore it, over time it remained in a corner, tormenting her to the end.

“It was quite an awkward situation where I couldn’t do this or that…”

Ilarid’s words trailed off. Lebel, who had been listening quietly, finally released his grip on the cloth.

The cloth drifted towards Ilarid, leaving behind an inexplicable attachment. Worried that the Empress’s clothes might get dirty, Lynette, who was by her side, quickly took the cloth and tidied it up.

Should this be considered resolved? The future was the problem.

Given Cledius’s personality as Ilarid knew it, he would never punish Lebel. He would likely overlook it, claiming to show the generosity and mercy possessed by the imperial family.

But Selina was a different story. After being enthroned as Empress, she might seek personal revenge against Lebel.

‘Surely he wouldn’t commit the reckless act of confronting the Empress.’

Though she thought he was no ordinary person, he even had a talent for subtly irritating people. She worried he might react to each of Selina’s unnecessary provocations.

“Well then, I’ll be going.”

“Your Majesty.”

Ilarid’s shadow fell at Lebel’s feet as she turned away. His call seemed even desperate. Why did he call people like that? At his voice, like an irresistible summons, she slowly turned back.

“It belongs to Your Majesty.”

Was he talking about the cloth in Lynette’s hands, which originally belonged to Ilarid? Or perhaps he meant that the position receiving the Emperor’s affection rightfully belonged to the Empress.

A sentence with a missing subject can be interpreted differently depending on how it’s viewed. What was he referring to?

“What do you mean?”

“If I may boldly say… I hope you will cherish what belongs to Your Majesty.”

His gentle smile even conveyed a sense of loneliness. His quiet voice made the brightly shining sunlight seem pale in comparison.

“If you let things flow as they are, a moment of regret will come someday.”

So don’t let go, he seemed to say. Don’t give up, but hold on until the end. He could take even the tiniest hope, make it big, and give it to her. Ilarid pondered the meaningful words Lebel had left as she gave a light nod.

“Thank you, Lebel.”

Every time Ilarid called his name, Lebel’s fingertips trembled slightly.

Just a few steps and he could reach her. Should he tell her everything now? That he came knowing everything, so she could rest easy.

“It’s an honor.”

In the end, he left only a false greeting wrapped in businesslike gratitude as he moved away from Ilarid. It was still too early to reveal everything and hand her the end of his leash.

**

Cledius was reading documents with a bored expression. From his lap, where he was leaning back loosely in his chair, incessant chatter could be heard.

After washing off her mud-covered body, Selina headed gravely to the Emperor’s palace. Though she knew Cledius was in the middle of work, there was no time to consider such things. Selina wanted to quickly inform him of this insulting incident and have the arrogant mercenary punished.

“Your Majesty, are you listening?”

“I’m listening.”

“That mercenary fellow, can you believe he told me to mind my manners right to my face? With his head held high… Even if he’s lowborn, to not even know how to treat nobles properly.”

“What about before that?”

“Pardon?”

Selina’s hand, which had been caressing Cledius’s chest, stopped in place.

As she looked up slightly, Cledius’s red eyes seemed to know everything. She had to roll her tongue in her mouth several times to unstick her blocked words.

“Her Majesty the Empress bestowed a cloth upon me.”

“That’s good. We needed to prepare formal attire, to think the Empress herself took care of it.”

It might have been better to say nothing at all, as Cledius gave quite generous praise to Ilarid.

Was it praise for the Empress’s meticulous handling? Selina suddenly felt disappointed. Complaints leaked out between her protruding lips.

“But that cloth fell to the ground in the wind… And then that mercenary suddenly appeared and threw the mud-covered cloth over my head, saying it would suit me well since it was dirty…”

Selina had never experienced such an insult in her life.

Even when she lived in the outskirts, hadn’t she always been praised for her beauty? Of course, after coming to the capital, she was overshadowed by other outstanding ladies and didn’t shine, but her beauty was certainly not lacking enough to be criticized anywhere.

But Lebel suddenly appeared and threw mud at her while saying she had no manners. He was an arrogant fellow who appeared like lightning in Selina’s world that had only ever been beautiful.

Cledius’s eyebrow twitched as he listened quietly to her words. He turned his gaze back to the documents and slowly repeated the name Lebel.

A mercenary climbing up to the nobility. He was clearly different from the mercenaries Cledius had contracted so far. They were all guys who fawned over the Emperor and nobles to win or extend contracts.

Cledius, who handed over money, naturally came to perceive them as ‘materialistic things only interested in money’. Public perception was no different. They were people who moved solely according to money rather than loyalty.

But he boldly stood up to the nobility. Was it to respond to arrogance with arrogance? There was nothing else to catch on to find another reason.

No other connections with the imperial family were confirmed, and he maintained decent relationships with other contractors.

‘The name was annoying from the start.’

What kind of person in the world would give their child a name meaning rebellion? A smirk escaped from the corner of Cledius’s mouth as he recalled the name Lebel again.

“Your Majesty…?”

Selina looked at him with a puzzled expression. At his completely unexpected reaction, she sat up straight on his lap.

“Why are you smiling? Do you think the insult I suffered is nothing? Even if I’m a ‘shadow’, I can’t tolerate being disrespected like that.”

“Selina.”

Selina’s expression softened slightly at his gentle voice. He put down the documents he was holding and placed his hand on Selina’s cheek. His white, clean hand that would be stained with invisible blood caressed Selina’s cheek.

“I hope you’ll forgive that foolish mercenary.”