“…… If Your Highness wishes, we can share a room at any time.”

I wondered what he was going to say, and it turned out to be that.

I answered his words without being flustered, and Leoprick looked surprised.

“You’re allowing it?”

“There’s no reason to refuse.”

It seemed like he didn’t expect me to really accept, but I’m not a fool.

It’s not that I haven’t thought about the benefits we would gain from sharing a room and the impact it would have.

“His Majesty the current Emperor and Her Majesty the Empress have a strong bond, and that is a great advantage for them.”

I shrugged while looking at him.

This is so obvious that it doesn’t even need to be considered.

“The nobles may argue about Your Highness and policies, but they don’t argue about Your Highness’s private life. And it doesn’t hinder the policies Your Highness wants to implement.”

The people love His Majesty the current Emperor, and the nobles perceive the Emperor as a good person.

Of course, it’s also because His Highness is competent.

But if someone is competent yet has a complicated private life, there will be as many people who avoid them as those who gather around them.

Having a clean private life means that.

The more I strive, the more people will fully acknowledge me.

The only obstacle in the position of the Emperor is the Emperor’s own incompetence.

Of course, this doesn’t apply to the current Emperor.

And it’s the same for Leoprick.

Until now, he has been evaluated solely on his abilities, but things will be different from now on.

Since he’s married, many people will also observe how devoted he is to his family.

You can tell just by the reactions of the noble ladies at today’s party.

When they go home today, they will tell their husbands or children how caring and affectionate the Crown Prince is as a husband, and how rare such a person is.

And some will talk about the empire run by such a person.

That’s what it means to create an ‘image’.

So, I had no reason to object to us sharing a room.

Unless I ignore my feelings and think only of political reasons, that is.

“There are many political advantages to us sharing a room. I have no reason to oppose that.”

As I finished speaking, he made a bitter expression this time.

As if he was somehow uncomfortable.

It’s not that I don’t know the reason, but there was no need to point it out.

Silently waiting for Leoprick’s answer.

He touched his forehead and let out a hollow laugh.

Just like that night at an inn we stayed at on the way back to the capital.

“So…… do you agree to share a room solely for political reasons?”

When I saw his expression, I suddenly felt a sinking feeling in a corner of my heart.

That expression is dangerous right now.

Like the wariness I felt at that inn that day, I could feel a suffocating tension filling the space.

Late at night, thin clothing, the same space.

I tried not to avert my gaze unnecessarily and slowly nodded.

I hadn’t forgotten his words about wanting to get closer to me, that he had feelings for me.

Since our marriage, he had continuously expressed such feelings to me, and I was also constantly bewildered by him talking like that.

But I also knew that he wouldn’t cross the line unless I allowed it.

The gentleness he had shown me so far included that aspect.

And at the same time, he and I were in a contractual relationship.

I will leave him someday.

So I thought it would be okay to share a room with him for political reasons alone, as long as the line isn’t crossed.

Or even if the line is crossed, as long as I don’t give him my heart, as long as a child isn’t born.

Anyway, sharing a room could give him a good image.

The contract includes making him the Emperor with the strongest imperial power in history, so I could endure this much for that sake.

“If that’s not the case, why did Your Highness suggest sharing a room in the first place?”

But on the other hand, I was also curious.

In my previous life, he and I had never slept together.

No, we had never even properly shared a room.

We always slept in separate rooms and used separate beds.

Occasionally, to avoid people’s eyes, we would fall asleep in the same room on designated days.

On the bed in my room, each covering ourselves with different blankets and lying back to back at opposite ends.

That was our relationship, so I couldn’t help but wonder about this sudden change.

If Leoprick had really traveled through time…… he would be even more aware of our previous relationship.

To my question, he stared at me for a moment and then spoke in a clear voice.

“Is it so strange for us to share a room? To the extent that a reason needs to be attached?”

“What?”

For a moment, I thought I had misheard.

What did I just hear?

“You seem to think of everything politically.”

“…….”

“It may have started as something neither of us wanted, but aren’t we both trying to get along better now?”

He continued in a calm tone.

His low, gentle voice sank into my ears.

I felt all my senses concentrated on his voice.

“At least I don’t want to approach you or act with only political intentions.”

He added that it’s natural to know and understand each other well, even if they are just political partners.

It’s obvious that even people who simply have aligned political interests should do that.

So isn’t it natural for us, as a married couple, to become closer?

“I thought you would oppose sharing a room for a different reason or ask why I had such thoughts, but you always exceed my expectations.”

Leoprick said with a wry smile.

And I was completely taken aback, in a different sense than before.

It was something I had never thought of.

Something I really hadn’t anticipated at all.

If this is true, it means he really cares about my opinions, my thoughts, my reactions.

Leoprick, who wants to get closer to me.

Leoprick, who wants me to see him more without political reasons.

I didn’t know how to answer and could only move my lips.

“Actually, I was worried about what to do if you refused, and I had also considered political reasons.”

He laughed, the situation completely different from before.

It seemed like a relieved laugh, so I had to ponder the meaning of that laugh for a moment again.

“But they were all excuses. I just want to win your heart.”

He smiled, pulling up the corners of his mouth.

“Would it still be okay if I said I want to share a room because I want to be your only one?”

He spoke in a low voice.

“I usually refrain from speaking because I’m afraid it might burden you, but every time I do that, you seem to misinterpret my intentions.”

When he smiled gently and looked straight at me.

I really thought I might be captured like this.

“I won’t rush you for an answer. But I hope you’ll remember that I have that much desire and answer me.”

Softly and lazily.

The moment Leoprick’s gaze settled on me, making me unable to move.

I really thought I might be captured like this.

After that absurd talk about sharing a room, he obediently left.

The problem was, I couldn’t sleep a wink after that.

“You don’t look well, Your Highness.”

Betty, who came to attend to me in the morning, looked at me with a worried face.

Hearing her words, I looked and saw that the face in the mirror was haggard enough for anyone to tell I had lost sleep.

“Yeah, I didn’t sleep well.”

“Did you have a bad dream?”

A bad dream.

“Maybe?”

Maybe it was.

I let out a small sigh and got up from my seat.

“I’ll be in the office all day today. Please bring the meals there.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

When I spoke to Betty, the other maids standing behind also bowed.

It’s not surprising that there are many people serving me as the Crown Princess, but somehow, I feel like I can’t get used to that number today.

I pondered for a moment and then spoke again.

“Betty’s attendance is enough, so I’d like the rest to wait outside the office or not come until called.”

Anyway, today I planned to handle my duties as the Crown Princess and set the direction for how to manage the internal affairs in the future.

I didn’t really need other attendants.

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Everyone bowed and answered at my instruction.

Even though it’s a natural thing, it feels really burdensome today.

“Ah, and could you call the head maid of the villa? Tell her I have something to discuss regarding the villa’s budget.”

“I will, Your Highness.”

With that as the last, all the maids left the room.

Like the tide receding, I made a slightly awkward smile at the feeling of them swiftly leaving.

It suddenly occurred to me that there are many people here for me.

While thinking if there really needs to be this many, I realized that I had never thought about it to this extent before the regression.

Is it because I will leave this position in a few years?

It’s not the first time, and in the past, I never found it awkward.

Quietly rationalizing this situation where everything suddenly feels unfamiliar, I got up from my seat.

“Let’s go, Betty. There’s a lot to do today, from the merchant guild’s work to the villa’s affairs.”

“Don’t overexert yourself today, Your Highness. I’ll take care of it.”

“Me? Or you?”

At my words, Betty nodded a little playfully, and I also added jokingly.

With everyone gone and only Betty remaining, I feel a little more at ease.

Yes, this is how it should be.

Exchanging jokes with her, I headed to the Crown Princess’s office.

Thinking this is better, since I shouldn’t get used to it anyway.