I was the one who was surprised by his polite apology now.

What is this?

Moreover, his face was too serious when he said he wanted to make up for the regret he had felt towards me, making me feel even more uncomfortable.

So much so that I didn’t even realize I was gradually losing my composure in front of him.

“I misunderstood you for no reason. It would have been nice if you had told me from the beginning that it was my fault…”

“I thought it wasn’t my place to judge whether your heart was right or wrong. Because that is solely your responsibility.”

The owner of your heart is you. I just need to control my own heart.

And why do those quietly echoing words resonate so deeply in my heart?

Then, could it be that he kept his distance from me before the regression to respect my feelings and control his own heart?

As I remained unable to answer, only moving my lips, Leoprick met my eyes with a face filled with warm energy.

“I’m not saying this to make you feel sorry, Amelia.”

“But, Your Majesty…”

“I’m just telling you this in hopes of easing your burden even a little, so don’t worry too much about it.”

As I listened to his words, I thought to myself.

Perhaps the reason our relationship was not good in the previous life was due to such misunderstandings.

If that’s why we kept avoiding each other and treating each other with perfect duty…

Then this time, could we get along well, as he said?

It was then, as I was lost in thought.

“And I… also want to score some points with you, even if just a little.”

Leoprick slightly tilted his head and smiled playfully at me, who had been flustered the whole time.

Then, with a careful demeanor, he reached out and gently lifted my head that had been facing downwards.

Softly caressing one cheek, as if being cute.

“Give me a chance to make it up to you, Amelia. I think the two of us can get along quite well.”

“…I think I should be the one asking you that. After all, I’m the one who wronged you first.”

“We shouldn’t call that a wrong, should we?”

“But I’m the one who made you misunderstand first…”

He quietly looked at me and then gently opened his mouth, as if to say it was okay.

“It’s alright. What’s important is now.”

What’s important is now.

So does that mean what’s important is where my heart lies now?

I unknowingly nodded my head.

Not even realizing that I had completely fallen into his pace.

“…I was completely fooled.”

And I realized that after Leoprick had said goodnight and crossed over to the next room.

It was a question I had asked to figure out his intentions, but instead, he apologized sincerely and instantly scattered my attention.

I shouldn’t have gotten swept up so helplessly like that.

I sat on the bed and let out a long sigh.

But anyway, should I say it’s fortunate that I found out the reason he kept his distance from me before the regression?

Or should I be grateful to him for saying that now is what’s important, even though he already knew about Lloyd’s existence?

Whichever it is, I’m really, really not pleased.

I decided to dedicate this life to stopping Lloyd and making Leoprick the emperor with the most powerful imperial authority.

I’m not living this life to realize things I failed to realize in my past life.

I’m not particularly grateful to learn about his true feelings now.

No, it only adds to my regret.

If Leoprick had wanted to get along with me from the beginning, I would understand him worrying about me until the very end of his death.

And the more that’s the case, the more I’m reminded of what I did to him and the more sorry I feel.

I buried my face in my hands and let out another long sigh.

I don’t want to understand Leoprick.

I’m afraid of understanding him, accepting him, and eventually becoming companions or friends.

I had decided to leave in the first place because I had committed sins.

I didn’t want to waver.

The reason I’m by his side now is simply because I want to give him a different life from before.

I don’t need any other motives or emotions besides that.

So…

“From now on, I’ll have to steel my heart more…”

So this is it.

I won’t get swept up by him, won’t waver, won’t be flustered or feel sorry anymore.

Let’s just think about why I’m here.

Let’s just think about my purpose, about what I have to do.

Let’s quickly forget or deeply bury all other feelings towards Leoprick.

Because that’s the only way for both him and me to live more comfortably in the future.

I repeatedly comforted and reaffirmed myself like that countless times.

Until late into the night, until dawn arrived and there was no sound around me anymore.

Until my heart had completely hardened.

* * *

“There doesn’t seem to be any jewelry worthy of your beauty today either.”

The day after I had reaffirmed myself countless times until dawn…

Leoprick wanted to continue the play that was no longer necessary.

Although we had visited the illegal auction house, our identities were not fully revealed,

and we were registered at the inn under the names “Count and Countess Benhur”.

While at it, he seemed to want to fully enjoy this place as Leo Benhur and Mela Benhur.

At least until we leave Wanes, he insisted on continuing this ridiculous play.

Well, it’s good for avoiding attention, but…

No matter what, is there really a need to continue such an exaggerated conversation?

“How about this? It goes well with your eyes.”

Leoprick lifted a pair of earrings with a purple amethyst setting and smiled at me.

I heard some of the boutique employees gasp at that smile.

But I, who had already vowed not to fall for him anymore, brushed it off by slightly averting my gaze.

“This is too much, Leo. I thought we agreed to stop buying jewelry now.”

“But how can I resist wanting to give you something even more beautiful, even if just a little? Mela, just pick one, okay? I heard this is the best shop in Wanes.”

“At this rate, we’ll end up having all the jewels from each region, Leo.”

“That would be nice too. Because you deserve to have the best and most beautiful of everything.”

I could brush off his smile somehow, but I couldn’t break his absurd stubbornness.

No matter how much I nudged his side or gave him looks, Leoprick asked the employees with a nonchalant face if there was anything more beautiful.

Repeating that they should bring out everything beautiful.

“Or Mela, how about taking accessories made with jewels or specialties unique to each region? To commemorate our memories and adorn your radiant beauty.”

“That’s a good idea too, but I think we should stop here for today. We’ve already looked around a lot.”

“I’m sorry, Mela. I didn’t consider that you might be tired. Are you alright? Shall we return to the inn right away?”

Leoprick examined my complexion with a worried face.

Naturally, sighs broke out from those around at his attentive gesture.

Now, to the point where I think he’s even enjoying this reaction, geez.

I shook my head and lightly pushed his shoulder.

“I’m fine. Rather, I think we should stop going around shops now. We came all the way to Wanes, it would be a waste to only look at things and miss the scenic views of Wanes.”

“I didn’t think of that. We came all the way to distant Wanes because I heard the scenery is truly beautiful, oh my…”

“It’s okay. From now on, we can go around and appreciate that beautiful scenery.”

When I responded with a bright smile, he also nodded with a smile in return.

Then he put down the tray containing the earrings and other accessories he had been holding.

Afterwards, he looked at the employees surrounding us and smiled brightly again.

“Are there any recommended tourist spots around here? Anywhere with a good view of the sea would be nice.”

“Ah, yes, yes! There are many places with a view of the sea! As you know, Wanes is a place surrounded by the sea on three sides…!”

“It’s a bit of a distance, but the Bein Cliffs would be quiet and nice. It’s a place created by the sea eroding the mountains, so the cliffs themselves are spectacular, but if you go up there, you can see a really open view of the sea.”

“The hill by the lake next to it is also nice! It’s a place only known to people living in Wanes, and there’s a lot of shade from the trees, so it would be suitable for the lady to visit!”

“There’s also a restaurant with a view of the sea near there!”

“A cafe too!”

And of course, the employees recited all sorts of tourist spots, famous restaurants, and cafe names in Wanes as if they were enchanted.

For over 10 minutes.

“With this much, we won’t have to worry about where to go or what to eat while we’re here.”

After leaving the boutique and getting in the carriage, he looked over the paper the employees had written on.

Leoprick smiled with satisfaction as he flipped through the list that the boutique employees had personally written down after reciting the famous spots.

When he said to write it down because he might not be able to remember everything, the employees eagerly took out their pens.

As if they weren’t all busy with work.

I let out a small sigh as I looked at him, who even seemed a bit pleased.

It’s not a bad thing to have many places to go, but we’ll have to return soon, so I wondered if that mattered.

I was also a bit tired.

“Are you alright, Mela? You’ve seemed to be in a bad mood for a while now.”

Perhaps noticing my mood, Leoprick asked with a worried face.

“No, it’s nothing. I guess I’m just a bit tired.”

“Shall we return to the inn for today? Come to think of it, you didn’t seem to sleep well last night…”

He lowered his body to meet my gaze with a face full of concern.

He did it out of worry for me, but well…

For me, who had decided to keep him at a distance all night, that seemingly intimate behavior had the opposite effect.

I hurriedly straightened my body to put some distance between us.

He blinked his eyes with a surprised look at my action.

“Ah… I’m sorry. I don’t really like it when someone is too close.”

“…No, it’s my fault. I didn’t know. I apologize if I startled you.”

He apologized politely again.

Really, even though he might have been offended by my behavior.

It was my side that felt uncomfortable again with his considerate action.

Even after countless resolutions not to get caught up in his pace anymore.

I briefly said it was fine and turned my head to look out the window.

“Then it would be best for us to return now. Rest well, and if you feel better, shall we go out to eat something delicious in the evening?”

“…Yes, that sounds good.”

But I had no choice but to agree to his following suggestion.

Because somehow, if I refused even this, I felt like his face reflected in the window would become unbearably sad.

Contrary to last night’s resolution, I found myself nodding, thinking it would be okay just this once.