“There isn’t much luggage.”

Benjamin spoke quietly.

“There are hardly any traces of staying in the mansion.”

“… There are no traces. You spent more time outside Windsor than inside. It was just a brief stay.”

The time spent in this mansion was less than a year. Shal grew up in her relatives’ home when she was young, and after her tutelage, she stayed in Windsor, but she left the palace when the palace underwent a revolution.

Although the place was arranged for someone to stay, the traces of someone staying there were erased.

“You always left something behind.”

Windsor always waited behind. Like a sturdy wall, it protected Shal’s back.

The wall was high and firmly established. Some might have criticized it for being rigid. That’s why Windsor existed as Windsor.

“Is it because of the trust foundation?”

“…”

“I believe I’ll continue to stay behind. I thought I wouldn’t get used to it, but I might already be accustomed to it.”

Shalov whispered as she removed her shawl. She had abandoned the imperial formality. She removed the accessories hanging on her neck or ears, and she wore a spacious dress without any special decorations. The dress, without any special adornments, stood out with its deep dark green color.

She had dinner with her family.

She exchanged casual greetings with her family.

Even the relatives from the outer family lowered their formality and chatted comfortably, making her feel a bit more at ease.

“Is the temperature in the room okay? I told them to raise the fire, but it’s been a while since I left the seat, so I don’t know if it’s okay.”

“Do you remember that?”

“Your uncle and I are both prone to cold.”

Aster scolded the shivering Leandro from the side.

“You didn’t have to bring up such a thing?”

Aster seemed to convey the sentiment, “Why does this child keep talking about it?” It seemed like he was worried.

Dinner was over. Afterward, the maids came into the room.

“If the fire is too weak, please pull the bell rope.”

“It’s okay. You can leave now.”

Windsor was strict with etiquette, and the servants were not talkative, but there was a visible sense of joy.

“Your expressions are all too honest.”

“Because there’s no pretense.”

It was an unofficial outing for the imperial family, and their visit was not publicly known, so the party was modest.

“Do you need servants to change into indoor clothes?”

“Just help me loosen the back lacing along my spine.”

Also, it was a simplified attire, not the formal imperial attire.

“Are you only loosening the lacing here?”

Benjamin loosened the lacing along her spine.

His hand moved along her shoulder line. He kneaded her tense shoulders, easing the neck muscles. The fingertips were rough and gave a tingling sensation on her back.

“What are you doing?”

“Didn’t I tell you before? It felt like putting your head in my mouth.”

Benjamin whispered softly.

“It might sound like a nasty story.”

“…
“I want to put you in my mouth like this. When I see you, I get hungry. If I bite you and fill my mouth with you, it feels like my hunger will be satisfied.”

Like a wretched little beast.

“Damn bastard.”

Benjamin mumbled with his mouth on her shoulder.

“I’m doing that.”

As he muttered as if repenting, he bared his teeth. A sharp pain struck. A faint breath escaped. The scattered breath, as if probing the skin, became blurry.

“Is it enough to loosen the lacing this much?”

“… I’ll take care of the rest.”

Shalov patted her shoulder. The sting quickly faded, and the bitten flesh was clean without any marks.

She changed into warm indoor clothes, putting up a screen.

Shalov smiled faintly.

Taran country.

An ancient temple located in the eastern forest.

Thorns blocked the entrance of the temple, and moss grew on the ruins of the temple wall. Vines climbed up the wall, and their leaves covered the structure that used to be a wall.

A long alley extended outside the temple.

Squeak

The grass was trampled, and the neck of a monster was severed. The monster died and burned black. Tatanthe soaked his body in the blood that clung to his back. His servant wielded a sword and flipped the monster fluid in place of him.

“Ugh. I feel nauseous. I’m dizzy because I covered myself with monster fluids.”

“It’s your fault for not avoiding it. Why are you complaining to me?”

“You were the one who got hit instead of me! Did you not see that I got wet with monster fluids while helping you? My clothes were almost completely burned by the poison.”

The servant protested with a resentful expression.

“This is my sincerity!”

The servant gnashed his teeth with an unjust look. What kind of situation is this! Is it easy to support someone who is jumping around like crazy, covered in monster fluids?

The ground was muddy and thick.

“The situation is chaotic. The king is also worried.”

“That’s right. My worries used to come first, but nowadays, worries about the succession are even greater. They say that in times of such confusion, securing the succession is more important for stability.”

“Hehe. I have the same opinion.”