Finally, Meruem spoke softly.

I asked him plainly, without any hidden meaning.

“Does it hurt your pride?”

“…No. It’s not that.”

Meruem quickly looked up, as if I had misunderstood. His eyes, somehow reminiscent of a young animal seeking protection, made me instinctively stroke his head.

“Then?”

“I mean…”

“And?”

“It doesn’t really matter to me. Even being a consort.”

His hesitation seemed like a big decision on his part. I couldn’t help but laugh at the absurdity.

“You little rascal. Do you even know what a consort does?”

As I playfully messed up his hair, Meruem, blushing to his neck, exclaimed.

“I know! I know everything I need to know.”

“Really?”

Considering Calik and Cassandra, it seemed unlikely he had just slept quietly on his way here.

“Growing up in the desert, you’ve seen and heard things from a young age that aren’t good for a child’s emotions. I have no intention of treating you as a consort.”

Especially since I plan to return to my original form as soon as possible. If I could just regain my true form, revenge would be easy.

Even starting a war wouldn’t be a problem.

Imagining a grand war with my demonic forces and monsters, staining the throne with Enrique’s blood, and wearing a crown made of his bones made me feel exhilaratingly cold.

“Eldeim says you have an evil look on your face.”

“Oh dear. Trust the Spirit King to be so observant.”

Chuckling, I snuggled comfortably into the couch, half-lying down, feeling the warmth of the fireplace on my cheeks.

“Anyway, find a dream other than being a consort.”

“A dream?”

“An odd word for you? Something you want to be, something you want to do. Even killing your brother… that’s fine too.”

But I had a feeling Meruem wouldn’t go that way.

His soul, loved by the Sun God and the Spirit King, was impeccably pure.

‘Which makes him all the more tempting.’

Once, Enrique was like that too.

Now corrupted, but there was a time when his soul shone brightly.

“I don’t know. Honestly, I don’t know if I want to live or die.”

“Uh-huh.”

“Your nice room, the soft bed, expensive clothes, sweet scents everywhere in this palace… it’s all strange and awkward to me. I’ve never had such things since I was young.”

Dreams are hard to have if you’ve never experienced anything.

Considering his duties to the emperor from a young age, it’s been a tough and long time for a child.

I gently stroked Meruem’s cheek, trying to hide my strength.

“Then I’ll decide for you. How about that?”

“How can you do that?”

“Well, let’s say this. You want to live.”

My gentle tone seemed to strike a chord in him, as he suddenly turned to look at me.

I repeated seriously, without smiling.

“You want to live. That’s all you need to know from now on.”

“Okay.”

“Good. You want to live, so you will keep living. But you won’t be my consort.”

“Why?”

Why indeed.

A child already wanting to be a consort is new to me.

I flicked Meruem’s nose in response.

“I don’t fancy the undergrown. Besides, you should find someone you love. Why be tied to me?”

He was adorably obstinate.

“You’re attached to me only because I saved your life. That attachment could turn into various emotions.”
Finally, Meruem softly murmured.

I asked him simply, without any underlying meaning.

“So, does it affect your pride?”

“…No. It’s not that.”

Seemingly startled by my guess, Meruem abruptly raised his head. His eyes, moistening beautifully, resembled those of a young animal seeking protection, prompting me instinctively to stroke his head.

“Then?”

“I mean…”

“And?”

“It doesn’t really matter to me. Even becoming a consort.”

His hesitation seemed like a significant decision for him. I couldn’t help but laugh at the absurdity.

“This little one. Do you even know what a consort does?”

As I playfully tousled his hair, Meruem, blushing up to his neck, exclaimed.

“I know! I understand everything I need to know.”

“Really?”

Indeed, considering his journey here with Calik and Cassandra, he probably hadn’t just been sleeping quietly.

“In the desert, you’ve been exposed to unsuitable things from a young age. But I have no intention of treating you as a consort.”

I plan to return to my original form as soon as possible. Revenge would be easy then. Even waging a war wouldn’t be a problem.

Imagining a grand war with my demonic forces and monsters, staining the throne with Enrique’s blood, and wearing a crown made of his bones thrilled me.

“Eldeim says you have an evil look on your face.”

“Oh my. Trust the Spirit King to be so observant.”

Chuckling, I snuggled comfortably into the couch, half-lying down, feeling the warmth of the fireplace on my cheeks.

“Anyway, find a dream other than being a consort.”

“A dream?”

“An odd word for you? Something you want to be, something you want to do. Even killing your brother… that’s fine too.”

But I had a feeling Meruem wouldn’t go that way.

His soul, loved by the Sun God and the Spirit King, was impeccably pure.

‘Which makes him all the more tempting.’

Once, Enrique was like that too.

Now corrupted, but there was a time when his soul shone brightly.

“I don’t know. Honestly, I don’t know if I want to live or die.”

“Uh-huh.”

“Your nice room, the soft bed, expensive clothes, sweet scents everywhere in this palace… it’s all strange and awkward to me. I’ve never had such things since I was young.”

Dreams are hard to have if you’ve never experienced anything.

Considering his duties to the emperor from a young age, it’s been a tough and long time for a child.

I gently stroked Meruem’s cheek, trying to hide my strength.

“Then I’ll decide for you. How about that?”

“How can you do that?”

“Well, let’s say this. You want to live.”

My gentle tone seemed to strike a chord in him, as he suddenly turned to look at me.

I repeated seriously, without smiling.

“You want to live. That’s all you need to know from now on.”

“Okay.”

“Good. You want to live, so you will keep living. But you won’t be my consort.”

“Why?”

Why indeed.

A child already wanting to be a consort is new to me.

I flicked Meruem’s nose in response.

“I don’t fancy the undergrown. Besides, you should find someone you love. Why be tied to me?”

He was adorably obstinate.

“You’re attached to me only because I saved your life. That attachment could turn into various emotions.”
He was afraid to carelessly touch someone who easily faints, worrying it might harm her.

“…I’m scared. Scared that you might suddenly die.”

In their first encounter, he realized for the first time that there are people who keep promises. He thought everyone only wanted to kill him, but then he learned that there are also people who would save him. It was shocking.

Their second encounter was at the banquet.

He had never imagined that the Empress of this country, the very person to whom the gods had sent an oracle, would be her.

Upon seeing her with her eyes wide in fury, Meruem felt a mixture of joy and frustration, akin to the flooding of the Nashtep River.

Being an Empress meant she was already married. He recalled his brother Calik suggesting that he would make a good ‘lover’ for the Empress. That was the extent of his role.

The wife of the Nickian Emperor, who inflicted a sense of defeat upon him, was impossible to ignore at the banquet.

‘But that Emperor was protecting a saint, not you.’

The anger Meruem felt then was like a volcano.

Calik had many wives too. When he favored a particular wife, the others would get angry, a scene Meruem often witnessed.

But after all, that was a matter between husband and wives. The saint wasn’t his wife.

Such places, filled with many people, are no places for consorts or lovers. And at such formal occasions, even if one doesn’t like it, it’s mandatory to support one’s legal spouse. The Emperor’s behavior was unacceptable.

‘How could he look at another woman, leaving you behind?’