Everyone was amazed that the emperor, who longed for a certain dish, was excited about a simple sweet dessert.

They had assumed their new ruler, who was known for his ruthlessness, would prefer tearing into raw meat.

“Here it is, Your Majesty. I made it with all my heart. Please enjoy it…”

Icarus looked down at the dish on the table and raised his fork.

Gulp.

As the emperor tasted the food, the chefs swallowed dry saliva while each guessed what his first words would be.

The emperor’s opinion after tasting Gugelhupf, which everyone anticipated as a meaty dish, turned out to be unexpected.

“…Sweet.”

Icarus raised an eyebrow.

Although it was quite different from the anticipated food review, there was an undertone of relief and hope among the chefs.

Now, they thought, the decision to appoint the emperor as the head chef might be upheld.

But the emperor, with a gathered brow, finished eating all the Gugelhupf.
After wiping his mouth with a napkin, the emperor stood up from his seat and spoke.

“Starting today, work at the palace.”

“……!”

It was a decision so rapid that it could be considered revolutionary.

Even when hiring maids or servants to work at the palace, it was common to consider and decide from various angles.

Renév was taken aback.

“You decided on the head chef just based on that?”

Icarus, who had finished discussing the past, stared at Renév with an expression that seemed to say, “What’s the problem?”

Even within the palace, there weren’t many opportunities to directly meet the emperor, let alone face him.

As such, the position of the head chef held considerable power, especially considering it involved creating food for the emperor.

However, why did he decide so easily on Gugelhupf?

It was a stark contrast to the meticulous approach of Lucius, who had replaced numerous chefs before his regression.

“Wait, just a moment. Your Majesty… Could you give me a little time to organize my thoughts?”

“As much as you need.”

Icarus nodded and elegantly raised his teacup.

Even the act of drinking tea seemed picturesque to Renév, who forcibly looked away, deep in thought.

‘So that’s how it was…’

After hearing Icarus’s story, Renév had a question that had been lingering since before.

Why was Icarus, who in the original work had been used as a tool for Lucius’s growth and met his demise, still alive before and after the regression?

‘I altered the course of events differently from the original, which allowed Icarus to survive.’

If it were the Renév from the original, even if she encountered a dying boy, she would have just passed by.

Listening to Icarus’s story, she also remembered.

The fact that the handsome older brother who had shown a small kindness to the 9-year-old Renév, who had long been trapped in a book, was none other than Icarus.

‘But why was I forgetting such an important event?’

Upon reflection, the answer came quickly.

In fact, from Icarus’s perspective, it might have been just a few years ago. But for Renév, it had been more than 20 years since that previous incident.

At the confusing time when she realized she had been transmigrated into a book…

At that time, when she acknowledged that she had transmigrated into the role of a villainess in the original work, Renév tried to change her relationship with Lucius.

As a result, she became the empress unlike in the original, giving birth to Cael.

However, as if to accept her fate, Esica appeared as in the original, and Lucius’s feelings changed.

She married Lucius, embodied in the body of a 9-year-old, gave birth to his child, and died.

And then came the regression. So much had happened. So, the events of her early transmigration days naturally faded away in her memory.

“…….”

Even this time, Icarus did not ask anything as Renév continued to sort out her thoughts. He silently stood by her side.
Even with just that, somehow it felt reassuring.

Renév glanced at Icarus’s side profile.

‘Right. Even back then, I thought he was a really handsome boy. If he grows up, he’ll become an incredibly handsome man.’

Now, it seemed like some of that appearance from back then lingered.

“Your Majesty…?”

Icarus casually rolled his eyes and looked at Renév.

“Seems like you remember now?”

Although his expression was as usual, Renév could tell. There was a faint sign of something that seemed to bother him.

“You’re upset, aren’t you…?”

Carefully watching Icarus’s reaction, Renév asked cautiously.

“Upset? Why would I be?”

Icarus, who had been staring intently at Renév’s face, slowly tilted his head, intertwining his fingers with hers through the gaps of her fingers.

“It was something from when we were young; it’s not strange not to remember. I couldn’t have imagined it when I met you again.”

“…?”

“That small, cute kid from back then has grown into such a beautiful woman.”

Renév slightly averted her gaze and asked, rolling her lips.

“But I can say this for sure. My gaze has always been drawn to you. Strangely attracted.”

Unconsciously, Icarus’s red eyes, now gazing at Renév, deepened further. It was as intense as it was embarrassing to meet his gaze directly.

As a result, tension crept in.

It felt like sweat was slightly seeping through the tightly clasped hands. Renév swallowed nervously and tried to pull her hand away with her knuckles.

But as if telling her not to do so, Icarus adjusted his hand to maintain a firm grip.

“…When did Your Majesty know? That I was that kid back then.”

“It was a day or so after we met again.”

“You noticed that quickly?”

“At that time, there was no way to immediately recognize who lived in that mansion. I had to move my residence right away to shake off the pursuers.”

Icarus playfully fiddled with Renév’s hand, his fingers gently teasing.

“But you managed to shake them off well.”

“Indeed. If not, I wouldn’t have been able to see you again.”

Saying so, Icarus leaned toward Renév.

“…I’m sorry. For forgetting.”

Renév calmly apologized.

“I should be the one apologizing.”

“Your Majesty?”

“You’re my savior. If you hadn’t found me that day, I wouldn’t be here now.”

Caressing Renév’s cheek gently with a soft touch, Icarus whispered softly.