Perhaps she’s unaware, but Helene’s soul is horrifyingly missing the head.

She has consumed a significant amount, gaining strength accordingly.

“It seems she received the power of enchantment that manipulates others to move as I desire in exchange for being misled by another person….”

Nevertheless, it doesn’t work on Merem.

“How is Enrique planning to handle Helene?”

I didn’t assume he was unaware.

He probably knows but chose to turn a blind eye.

Or perhaps he’s waiting until Helene completely crosses the line.

It was a pitiful affection.

“It seemed like he was trying to stare at her strangely. Is that the reason?”

Merem raised his eyebrows in an unpleasant tone.

“You said she didn’t respond at all?”

“She didn’t even greet.”

“Good. You did well. Even if you’re not affected, it’s still commendable.”

Imagining Helene trying to mislead Merem, I felt a bit better.

Despite being an inappropriate topic, she was only fixated on what belonged to me, which wasn’t entirely laughable.

“Then, praise me.”

At that moment, Merem smoothed out his frown, extending his cheeks towards me.

“Well done. It was worth ignoring the warmth in my ears for five minutes.”

“But it must have been challenging to ignore a person who confronts you right in front of you.”

“It was easy. I barely saw her anyway.”

Why does he choose such pretty words?

He’s truly different from Miss Whoever. Comparing the two is impossible.

Sitting in the reception room with Merem, I requested orange juice from Lydia to soothe my tired body due to the long meeting.

“If it were Charlotte, she would have prepared it in advance around the time the meeting ended without me asking.”

Her absence, which knew my taste and preferences inside out, felt strangely regretful.

I hadn’t thought a half-month vacation would feel this long.

“You only realize the value of something when it’s gone.”

Sipping the orange juice brought by the maid Lydia, I wished for Charlotte to enjoy herself.

Because when she returns, I might not want to let her go.

“By the way, Leo. Is it okay to just leave those already enchanted individuals alone?”

At that moment, Merem, who was sipping his drink beside me, asked with a worried tone.

“Oh, that. It doesn’t matter. Unless the demon directly uses enchantment, it won’t last long—usually within a few minutes.”

“I see.”

“We may have to dismiss the gatekeepers, but if it seems involuntary, don’t reprimand them too severely. Shopen might have experienced it too.”
As soon as I mentioned the tiger, right at that moment, Shopen appeared in front of the wide-open door.

“I’m back, Your Majesty.”

“Nothing special happened?”

“Well…”

Shopen seemed to have aged a decade in the meantime.

“There were… complicated matters.”

“Oh. Sit down and tell me.”

Luckily, Lydia had some sense. Instead of bringing orange juice in a glass, she brought a bottle full of it.

Pouring juice into the remaining glass, I gave a meaningful look to Shopen.

“First of all, Terion seemed eager to return to the library quickly. He showed no interest in the garden and such. However, while sauntering around, he happened to step on an art installation in the palace garden… of all places.”

“Oh.”

“Hurriedly, I found out it was a piece purchased by the Saint.”

“Really? Then we should praise Terion.”

Of course, compensation for the artwork Terion left his footprints on would be arranged in the palace.

Merem swallowed his laughter seeing my frustrated face.

However, Shopen’s complexion was even worse.

“Sukrel…”

“Sukrel?”

“She’s uncontrollable, Your Majesty!”

Shopen’s legs trembled violently.

Holding both hands tightly, he began cursing Sukrel with a serious face. Each word was so genuine that I couldn’t stop him.

“At first, she seemed overwhelmed by the garden, but then she wandered around, seemingly reassured. However, fate had it that she ran into the Royal Guard Knight.”

“Sukrel would have handled it well on her own.”

“Yes, that’s what I thought… but… the Royal Guard Knight fell while trying to step over her, saying things like, ‘Don’t you smell like a mop?'”

“So?”

“In my own way, I tried to defuse the situation. However, the Royal Guard Knight spat on Sukrel’s head, who then stood up and, with her head, knocked the Royal Guard Knight’s jaw.”

Shopen covered his face with a pained expression.

“That really happened. She hit him hard. So hard that the guy’s jaw was fractured!”

Shopen, who had to stand in that situation, must have felt like dying, but I couldn’t help but hold my stomach and burst into laughter.

It was just unbearable.

“Sukrel has a fiery personality. She only tolerates swearing twice. Once she crosses the line, she’ll push them away for sure.”

“Please, Your Majesty, don’t. That knight is Lord Morgan’s eldest son. Now that the son’s jaw is broken, I wonder how much he’ll protest…”

Worry drained Shopen’s pupils, leaving them empty.
I chuckled and waved my hand towards the troubled Shopen.