Leoprick is a born leader.

He seemed to have the blood of a natural orator and a director who captivates people’s hearts, and also clearly showed the temperament of a skillful politician.

So when he spoke like that, I had no choice but to either grit my teeth and stand my ground or be helplessly dragged along.

Although I knew plenty of behind-the-scenes tactics that might work on him, it was also true that when facing him head-on like this, there was no clever solution.

Because of that, in the swaying carriage with nowhere to run like yesterday, I had to speak up with a slightly trembling voice.

“Honestly, Your Majesty, when I think of how we were before marriage, I never imagined you would expect such marital duties from me.”

“Marital duties, you say?”

“Isn’t that what this is? Trust, affection, interest – these are all words that don’t suit people like us, aren’t they?”

In fact, the very term ‘political marriage’ is far removed from such emotions.

As I cautiously added that, he let out a “Hmm” and sank into his chair.

That gesture seemed to say ‘go on’, so I continued speaking.

“Honestly, even when the marriage was decided, I thought it would be fine if we just had an appropriate level of mutual respect. As you know, I… um…”

“I know that this wasn’t a marriage you wanted.”

When I faltered, unable to bring myself to mention Lloyd’s name, he nodded as if he already knew.

“…So you knew.”

“Didn’t you know that the entire social circle was abuzz with your story?”

“…Yes. I did know. In fact, that’s why I felt uncomfortable when Your Majesty kept expecting something from me.”

“Then perhaps even now…?”

His gaze flashed sharply.

He even looked anxious for a moment.

Am I really the only one who finds this questionable?

Usually, having a separate lover in a political marriage isn’t an awkward thing, and it’s often ignored to some extent by mutual compromise.

But to ask like that, with a face that anyone would think looked jealous.

Feeling yesterday’s sense of déjà vu once again, I firmly shook my head.

“That’s not the case, Your Majesty. I already settled things with him before the marriage.”

“Is that so.”

When I unexpectedly cut off his doubt so sharply, his face became serene again.

Leoprick, looking much more at ease than before, even had a smile on his lips.

“I understand that you’re not yet accustomed to the things I desire.”

“Then…”

“But there’s no need to push me away like that, is there?”

He spoke in a much more relaxed voice.

I felt somewhat dazed by the atmosphere that had changed so drastically from just a moment ago.

I hadn’t expected that saying I didn’t love Lloyd would bring about such a big change.

Thinking that this wasn’t something to change his attitude over so drastically, I slowly opened my mouth.

“That may be so, but I still need time to adjust. In case you’ve forgotten, let me remind you that our relationship started as a contract.”

What more could be needed in a relationship that was just a contract?

I thought he would understand the unspoken words I had swallowed.

Whatever he wanted from me, he and I were just in a 5-year contract relationship for strengthening imperial power.

Although we had to fabricate a marriage ceremony because we needed the temple’s permission, in reality, it was a pure relationship that could be nullified at any time.

If we had to add some emotion to such a relationship, it would probably be loyalty at most.

No matter how differently he had acted from before, from the wedding ceremony until now, it couldn’t be denied that our beginning had been dry and calculating.

If it was like that before the marriage, why should it be any different after?

Although it was said to be for Leoprick’s sake, I still wanted this contract for my own goals.

After that, I wanted to leave him without any lingering attachments.

My future, concluded plainly after countless confusions, was that simple.

“Whether we like it or not, Your Majesty and I are bound by contract for the next 5 years, and I intend to be faithful to that contract during that period.”

“…”

“However, it’s a bit burdensome if Your Majesty expects more than that from me.”

“So you’re saying we should just remain spouses in name only?”

“As specified in the contract, after 5 years, Your Majesty can have any woman you desire as empress or concubine, so I’d like us to just maintain an appropriately reserved relationship as we originally intended.”

A relationship of maintaining proper boundaries.

This probably wouldn’t have been an issue if Leoprick had been the same as before the regression.

If he hadn’t expected any emotions other than appropriate respect, as he did before the regression.

But for some reason, he kept wanting something more and wanted to do more with me.

That affection was burdensome.

Because no matter how much he demanded, I, who had already set an end, could never accept him.

I leaned back in my seat with a much more stable expression than before.

“That’s all I have to say to Your Majesty. I have nothing else to add.”

It was a rather stiff and dry conclusion for a conversation that had started so gently.

But I thought it was something I had to do eventually for the sake of our future relationship.

What if Leoprick, showing a different side for some unknown reason, were to say he loved me?

No, above all, what if he wouldn’t let me go after 5 years?

Because my name, which would come out when Lloyd’s forces were completely wiped out in the future, could tarnish his reputation.

Whether I liked it or not, the past I had returned to was a time when Lloyd had already built a considerable foundation with me, the flower of high society, backing him.

It was even a time when I, having become the Crown Princess, was secretly looking for nobles who would support Lloyd.

Leoprick needed to be able to cast me aside at any time.

So that not even the slightest blemish would remain on his name, which would go down in history for a very long time.

As I finished speaking, he, who had been listening to me in silence all this time, let out a heavy sigh.

Then, moving his lips, he muttered something that seemed to be about the contract.

Regrettably, it’s too late for regrets now.

The contract bearing Leoprick’s and my signatures should now be stored in my office upstairs as a perfectly notarized document.

That thought made my heart feel lighter.

By the time I turned my gaze back to the window, Leoprick spoke in a heavy tone.

“However, I do not think your oath of allegiance was false.”

“…Oath of allegiance?”

At his sudden words, I stopped turning my head and looked at Leoprick.

Then, he nodded with a smiling face.

“Didn’t you say you would live for me until your last breath?”

“Ah…”

“And that you would do everything in your power for my safety and stability?”

“Your Majesty, that…”

“I, too, am sincere, Amelia.”

He, who had seemed lost in thought until just now, suddenly brightened his eyes and looked straight into mine.

A gaze much more powerful and captivating than before, filled with sincerity from the deepest part of him.

“I have no intention of making empty, meaningless promises.”

“…”

“So if you move for my sake by my side as you swore, and I dedicate everything to you as I swore, wouldn’t that be the ideal meaning of a contract?”

He smiled.

Perfectly and radiantly enough that I, with my gaze caught, couldn’t respond.

* * *

Our journey was monotonous.

We would ride in the carriage from early morning, stopping a few times to eat or rest, and spend the night in a nearby village.

The next morning we would set off again, and after repeating this schedule of staying in villages before sunset a few times, the accompanying knights, Betty, and I gradually began to tire.

Just as our deteriorating condition began to affect my mind, we finally arrived in Waynes.

“Oh my, Your Highness! Look over there! The water is truly endless!”

From the entrance, with the strong scent of the sea, Betty couldn’t stop exclaiming as she stuck her head out the window.

She chattered endlessly about how she now knew it was true that water covered more than half the world, and how she wondered how deep it would be if one fell into that water.

Betty, who had been chattering for a while, noticed Leoprick sitting opposite her, looking at her with a curious expression, and closed her mouth with a “Hap.”

“I, I, I’m sorry, Your Majesty…”

“No need. It’s good that at least you seem to be enjoying yourself.”

Leoprick smiled lightly and looked out the window.

And I, too, following him, turned my gaze outside.

The seawater, sparkling in the sunlight, shone in various colors, boasting its beauty.

For a moment, the light reflected off the water was so dazzling that I slightly turned my head, and in my view, I saw Leoprick looking at that scenery with a somewhat lonely face.

After the brief conversation with Leoprick, I tried to ride in separate carriages when possible or boarded with Betty.

A strange relationship where we neither had any meaningful conversations nor felt awkward with each other.

Betty, caught between us, complained every night, begging to be left out.

But unfortunately, I too wanted to avoid the situation if I could.

Moreover, the innkeepers in every village we entered were so quick-witted.

Realizing that only we were a couple among the group, we had to sleep in the same room every night.

Leoprick, noticing my discomfort, said he would sleep with the knights, but how could we let the crown prince of a country sleep in such an uncomfortable place?

Knowing that the best room in the inn would become our room, I silently went to sleep in the same room, the same bed with him at night.

The only fortunate thing was that sleep came easily due to the exhausting carriage journey.

If I couldn’t sleep, how would I have endured that long journey?

As I was thinking about the past events, Leoprick turned his head as if he sensed my gaze.

“…”

“…”

There was no conversation in our meeting gazes, but for some reason, he had the same gentle look in his eyes as when he comforted me on that night.

Because that gaze was awkward, or because I kept remembering his smiling face towards me.

I hurriedly turned my head and sank back into my seat.

I could feel his faintly smiling gaze lingering on my face.