So this is how it is.

Ilarid was now faced with the most difficult dilemma and crisis situation. Though she hadn’t lived many days, it was embarrassing and awkward enough to bet her entire life on.

Sitting beside her was Lebel, whom she had appointed as her unofficial “Shadow” consort. Lebel sat on the bed with a neat posture, not showing even the slightest movement.

‘I didn’t expect him to come before I called.’

Was his ability to conceal his presence still effective? Did he encounter any surveillance personnel from the imperial palace on his way here?

It didn’t matter if he was spotted. Rather, it would have been better if he was caught. If she didn’t summon Lebel to the empress’s palace and just kept him tucked away at the mercenary camp, it would arouse suspicion. They might think she was using some silly trick to provoke the emperor.

Drawing just enough attention so that Cledius would be consumed by petty emotions. Narrowing his vision that way until finally, he would see nothing and breathe his last.

As Ilarid sank deep into her thoughts, Lebel looked at the empress sitting beside him. The young lady shining brightly even in a space where darkness outweighed light.

Ilarid always wore light clothing when they met at night. But in the dim light of the bedroom, she appeared different.

Her body line beautifully revealed by the faint light. Shadows cast in every hollow beneath her bones created an alluring atmosphere.

Her silver hair cascaded down her straight shoulder line. Lebel had to struggle to resist the urge to place his hand on Ilarid’s shoulder and caress it.

Like that day when they first synchronized their breathing, could he breathe together with her on the bed as well?

He wanted to close the small gap between him and Ilarid. A space of about two spans. A distance he could reach instantly if he just moved his foot sideways. If he stretched out his hand, he could touch her white, beautiful hair.

As if sensing Lebel’s inner conflict, Ilarid spoke first.

“…It seems I’ve been waiting for Captain Lebel.”

She still couldn’t look towards where Lebel was sitting. It took a bit of courage to meet eyes through the dim light in the bedroom.

It was strange. Since when did looking straight into someone else’s eyes become such a trembling, nervous affair?

“I thought all past connections had been severed.”

Throughout her careful speech, Ilarid’s hands placed on her skirt kept moving incessantly. It was a colorless action not wanting to show the slight trembling.

She’s nervous. Lebel immediately noticed Ilarid’s state and withdrew the hand he was about to raise. In this situation, acting on desire and moving as one pleased could only leave wounds on the other person.

She was already full of wounds in body and mind. If he hurt her any more, Lebel felt he would not be able to forgive himself.

“…What time do you usually go to sleep?”

“Well, I don’t sleep very well.”

Ilarid didn’t fall asleep at any exact time. More accurately, she “couldn’t”.

Even with her eyes closed, it didn’t feel like they were closed, and she could hardly fall into a deep sleep. On such nights, she always dreamed, but the dreams that came were mostly terrible nightmares of past events.

“I take medicine sometimes. But I try to avoid it as much as possible because it feels like I’m becoming dependent if I take it too often.”

Painkillers, sleeping pills, sedatives, and so on. Lebel recalled the precautions about medication that Lynette had informed him about.

‘Her Majesty the Empress takes some medicine. If she says she has a headache, give her the clear medicine bottle, and if she says she can’t sleep or feels anxious, give her the green medicine bottle.’

‘Are there any side effects?’

‘It’s medicine prescribed directly by her attending physician, so you don’t need to worry too much.’

That’s right. Letitia Hammond. The empress’s attending physician. Lebel knew about her.

He had already finished investigating the people around Ilarid through the Ash Hawk.

The attending physician was a woman and had no connections to the imperial family. She probably got in on skill alone. At least she wasn’t on bad terms with the empress, so she wouldn’t prescribe any suspicious drugs.

“If you have trouble sleeping, I’ll give you medicine.”

“It’s fine today. I believe I’ll be alright.”

Finally, Ilarid looked at Lebel. How much had he longed for that green gaze. He barely managed to suppress the smile that was about to form. The more he did so, the more her blue eyes trembled slightly, taking on a pitiful light.

It’s not like I’m a dog sitting still and just staring at its master when told to wait. Ilarid felt she could no longer ignore his sparkling gaze.

Was it a kind of consideration to deliberately keep an awkward distance and not approach? Ilarid tapped the empty space with her palm. It was a signal that he could come closer.

“You may come closer.”

As soon as permission was given, he moved over in one stride. Though it seemed they were far apart, the distance closed instantly. Ilarid’s front was immediately covered by the shadow Lebel cast.

“Your Majesty the Empress.”

“…Yes.”

“May I perform my duty as your ‘Shadow’?”

How could such a low, dark voice be so sweet? Their last fingers resting on the edge of the bed touched. It was the only part of their bodies in complete contact at this most trembling moment.

Unable to look at his face, Ilarid slowly nodded.

As soon as permission was given, Lebel immediately lifted her into his arms. Her feet dangling off the edge of the bed, her body perched there, were suddenly lifted into the air. Startled, Ilarid wrapped her arms around his neck, barely maintaining her balance.

There was no time to hide her surprised eyes. Ilarid quickly squeezed her eyes shut. She already knew what would happen next from experience.

All the events that occurred during her wedding night with Cledius and subsequent consummation periods came to mind. Though she had resolved herself to this by taking Lebel as her “Shadow”, the fear did not disappear.

Not once had it ever been good, and those nights were always filled only with pain. What joy could there be in a union where it was difficult to even meet eyes?

She felt the soft, plush sensation of bedding against her back. Lebel’s breathing above her sounded even louder in the darkness. Ilarid relaxed her arms that were wrapped around his neck and prepared for what was to come next.

But she felt no touch, no weight on her body.

In the silence, there was a heavy metallic sound of something clicking, and the space beside where Ilarid lay sank down with a thud.

“Lebel…?”

When she turned her head in confusion, she saw Lebel lying next to her and his sword.

A single sword clearly dividing the space between them. Was he suggesting they sleep with this between them? Ilarid let out a small laugh and relaxed her tensed body.

“Captain Lebel. Have you drunk a potion of love and death?”

Lebel’s lips turned bitter as he caught the meaning of Ilarid’s words.

It was said that if one drank that potion, they would fall ill if they didn’t meet for a day, and die if they didn’t meet for three days. That potion would be a curse to some, but a blessing to others.

It would be the ultimate happiness if one could be together for a lifetime, using the drunk potion as an excuse.

Silently, Lebel took Ilarid’s hand and placed it on the sword hilt between them.

“If I do anything improper, you may draw it and cut me down.”

“Are you serious?”

“Tonight, I shall entrust my life to Your Majesty the Empress.”

His voice was unwavering and serious. There wasn’t even a hint of jest in his words about being cut down.

Ilarid simply gazed silently at the lamplight flickering in Lebel’s eyes. She couldn’t bring herself to laugh in the face of such firm sincerity.

Lebel guessed what Ilarid was worried about. How painful must the nights spent with someone who was practically an enemy have been? That’s why he didn’t want to force anything.

The sword placed between them was a kind of pledge. A declaration that he would never hurt her, and a vow not to forgive the source of her pain.

But even if the space was divided, their hearts could not be split. The sword that had cut down countless enemies could not separate their gazes.

As their blinking synchronized to a similar rhythm, and their inhales and exhales matched, Ilarid was gradually falling asleep.

Their heartbeats thudded to a similar slow beat. The faint pulse felt at her slender wrist raced towards the night. Lebel gently stroked Ilarid’s hand beneath his.

The meeting of hands was a meeting of accumulated time and history. Rough and soft warmth intertwined, flowing through bones and blood vessels.

If only he could remain by her side like this. Lebel gazed down at the sleeping Ilarid.

Until the dark night filled with blue dawn light. Until the light reached her.

**

Tonight, the moonlight was heavily obscured by clouds, making it suitable for moving around in secrecy. Lynette was hiding behind a tree, waiting for the imperial guard to pass by. The densely grown tree was enough to conceal her body.

‘This is my first time coming this far…’

She had heard from the maids last time about sighting someone resembling the daughter of the Darrent earldom. Given that she was said to have a white cloth wrapped around one hand like a bandage, it was likely to be her.

She must still be somewhere in the palace.

The empress’s usual routes were always similar. The palaces she visited were the same each time, and her walking paths were limited. Naturally, Lynette’s range of action was also adjusted to those routes. It was extremely rare for her to deviate from them.

Lynette was now engaged in one of those rare occasions. She had even borrowed maid’s clothing to avoid suspicion.

The only problem was that this place was new even to Lynette herself.

When she changed direction further inward from the usual walking route, a space like a deep forest appeared, and beyond the gaps between the trees, another wide space opened up.

Despite priding herself on knowing the palace well, to think there were spaces unknown even to the empress.

Is this how they treat an outsider who became empress? At this rate, there were likely to be confidential matters that excluded the empress. Lynette clicked her tongue lightly so as not to be heard.

‘Just how big is this place… It feels like it’s even further in than the emperor’s palace.’

When she peeked out slightly from behind the tree, she saw the imperial guard changing shifts. Given that it was the imperial guard patrolling rather than the usual palace guards, it was certainly an important place.

The dark clouds that had obscured the moon parted slightly. Beneath them, a space made of glass shone brightly, embracing the faint moonlight.

‘A greenhouse?’

The plants and trees growing inside the transparent building emitted a fresh light. It wasn’t small, but it wasn’t grand either.

A size easy enough to hide among the trees. It seemed to have been built inside an artificial garden on purpose to avoid people’s gaze.

The imperial guard stood watch in front of the greenhouse. Any closer and she would surely be spotted. Lynette hid herself in the grass and focused her attention on any signs of movement inside the greenhouse.

But the inside of the greenhouse was only silent. No signs of life or light could be seen.

Was there any reason to build a greenhouse suitable for receiving guests in the innermost part of the imperial palace? Unless it was to hide something or conduct secret business.

‘At least I’ve discovered one new space.’

It wasn’t a completely fruitless effort. Just as Lynette was about to quietly raise herself from near the bushes.

Someone approached silently from behind and covered her mouth.