“The Emperor?”

Valentine nodded, as if displeased, with a firm expression.

As he reached out and ran his fingers through her hair, a refreshing energy swept through her from head to toe, dispelling the sweaty and sticky feeling that had lingered on her body.

Even the fragrance of scented soap wafted from her hair, as if she had just washed it.

“On the first and last day of the hunting festival, the nobles are requested to show themselves. You can take a carriage, and just rest at the Ansar Manor with your face covered.”

“…”

“If it’s tough, let me know. I’ll find a way to get you out of it somehow.”

Adele shook her head.

“I’m fine. My body has improved a lot, and I can manage.”

In fact, despite various attempts, this Victory Festival’s protagonist was Valentine.

Attending major events alone without a partner was a perfect act to invite mockery.

Yet, even if he had the memory of ‘Duke Ansar,’ was it because he fundamentally wasn’t human?

“Come to think of it, it’s even more strange than I thought.”

With thick Moric tents all around and high priests bustling in the palace, it was surprising that Valentine remained unharmed.

Moreover, no one noticed his true identity.

“Maybe the charm still has some effect.”

Although he went on monster subjugation every season, the reason there were no significant casualties was that priests always accompanied him.

Even monsters that didn’t flinch at talismans or fire would be terrified by the priests’ sacred power.

But why didn’t Valentine seem to be affected at all? Was it because they were the same ‘deity’?

“Another useless thought.”

He lightly brushed her slightly open lips.

“You’re going to drool, Adele.”

Leaning down, he whispered affectionately into her ear. Blushing, she wiped her lips with the back of her hand. He chuckled and extended his hand.

“Lying down must be tiresome now, right? I’ll help you, so try on the new clothes.”

“You’ll help me?”

“It might be difficult alone, right?”

Indeed, it was difficult. She had to thread the straps of the dress through the holes and tie them behind her back.

However, rather than showing her bare back to Valentine, it was better to deal with it alone.

“I’m fine. I can do it by myself.”

“I find that hard to believe.”

“If you’re really concerned, you can ask Margaret for help.”

“Adele, please use me for petty matters like this from now on.”

He smoothly smiled and said. Even though he was wearing a fully buttoned shirt, he looked harmful even in the morning sunlight.

Adele muttered, blushing.

“You’re acting particularly strange today, you know?”

“Is that so.”
He smiled with a meaning Adele couldn’t understand. Adele looked extremely embarrassed.

“Are you really going to give me clothes? You’re not really saying this seriously, are you?”

“Does it really look like I’m not?”

With a mischievous tilt of his head, he approached her slowly.

As if truly preparing to give her clothes, Adele hastily grabbed the clothes she had laid on the bed and jumped behind the screen.

Valentine’s low laughter could be heard from behind her.

‘He’s really an unpredictable person.’

Adele wrinkled her nose, checking several times whether the screen was properly set and if she couldn’t be seen from the other side.

Then, with quick hands, she undressed her nightgown and underwear.

Thanks to the magic Valentine had cast, she didn’t need to wash, which was fascinating, but it felt awkward not to even need to wash her face.

‘Let’s hurry before he forces something unnecessary again.’

She rummaged through the clothes she brought in to change into clean underwear.

However, no matter how much she searched, she couldn’t find any underwear that would support her chest. She looked several times, but it was nowhere to be found.

“Uh, um. Valentine…”

She blushed and finally spoke, embarrassed.

“Could you call Margaret?”

“Why?”

She bit her lip. An unusual sense of rebellion grew within her.

Why did he have to ask for a reason? Even though he wasn’t clueless, he always had this knack for making people uncomfortable at least once.

“Is something uncomfortable?”

If she said it was uncomfortable, he would immediately come into the bathroom. In a hurry, Adele honestly stated her concern.

“I, it’s not that… It seems like I don’t have underwear.”

“Underwear?”

“The garment you wear under your clothes. To support the upper body like this…”

“Ah.”

His elegant voice was exceedingly calm. Beyond the screen, the sound of him moving leisurely could be heard.

“Perhaps it’s this. It fell to the floor.”

“That… Could you please tell Margaret to…”

“Do you need it right now?”

His composed footsteps drew closer.

With a shy face, she hurriedly picked up the scattered clothes to cover herself.

If she knew this would happen, she should have checked if there were underwear before undressing.

Something that would be difficult to put on properly alone, and yet she unfastened them all before…

“Here you go.”

Finally, a hand reached over the high screen and handed her the underwear.