Chapter 5. New Consort

There’s a saying on the cruise.

“If you want to enjoy, go to the banquet hall; if you want to love, go to the bow.”

The cruise’s banquet hall was known for its echoing sounds. Due to the music and laughter, it was challenging to hear the voice of someone right next to you, making it difficult to develop a relationship even if you liked someone.

So, if someone caught your eye in the banquet hall, you would exchange glances, then move to the nearby bow to engage in deep conversations – that was the socializing on the cruise.

However, occasionally, someone without a partner would wander around the bow.

Enrique was one of those today.

‘That’s…’

Taking advantage of the darkness, he safely infiltrated the ship, momentarily pulling down the hood he had tightly worn. After taking a deep breath to hide his stuffiness, he raised his head.

In his view, someone’s back came into sight.

A woman with flowing black hair, sitting precariously on the railing.

In some ways, she seemed perfectly enchanted at night, and in other ways, she seemed to dominate the darkness, sitting at the highest point of the ship.

Enrique, with slightly squinted eyes, unintentionally whispered a name.

“Astal…to.”

It couldn’t be.

But why did the thought cross his mind for a moment that she had been reincarnated?

Enrique didn’t hesitate and moved immediately.

He needed to see her face.

The distance was too far to see what she was wearing in detail, but he knew the color.

Black.

A color that suited her well more than anything else.

‘If I go around, it’ll be too late.’

For some reason, he felt he had to see it now. Anxious Enrique tried to leap onto the wall.

But just when he was about to move hastily, at that very moment, there was another scene that entered his sight.

“…”

The hot summer breeze ruffled their clothes.

It was as if the author had conjured up this wind.

A young one, barely tearing off the child’s tag on her head, was being embraced by a woman with black hair, gazing straight at him.

“Hah.”

A hollow laughter escaped from Enrique’s mouth, who became dumbfounded.

He could do nothing but leave her alone since the empress had accepted her true nature. If the Hwangjoo of the Quan Empire were to suffer or be harmed, it could become a national issue, so he refrained from intervening.

If the emperor wanted, the situation for that young one would have been much worse than it is now.

But when did she grow up like that?

‘Given the way she’s growling, it seems that woman is the empress.’

It’s absurd. Who would be interested in an empress?

The emperor and empress were symbolic figures. There was no one who called them a couple.

There was no need to act fiercely as if one’s female was being taken away.

‘It’s a futile thought.’

He just wanted to ask the empress.

How she communicated with her, whether she had said anything about him.
In other words, the empress was a means of communication for him. It was neither more nor less.

‘A grandiose delusion.’

Enrique twisted his lips.

Now that he knew where the empress was, it was enough. The conversation could wait until the day dawned.

‘…Sure, let’s do it tomorrow.’

In fact, Enrique had been postponing like this.

Perhaps… because he was scared.

No matter how worn-out his emotions were, hearing the words “I curse you” twice, it would be difficult to endure without jumping into that black sea.

Even though Merem overheard, the next day, I still insisted on wearing maid attire.

There was no more comfortable outfit to move around in.

When morning came, Pabel picked out the ones I had taken pictures of and sent them off the ship. In addition to that, including those who were shocked by seeing corpses yesterday and withdrew, the number of candidates officially became 330.

‘It’s reduced a bit, but it would be better if it decreased more here.’

With only twelve actors, too many candidates crowded around one person.

Thinking about it, I subtly discussed it with Pabel.

“What are you worried about? The facial level is all decent, so just sift them out based on talent or skills!”

Pabel, who shouted confidently, told me to trust only him and quickly disappeared.

With a face that seemed to have thought of something very amusing.

Meanwhile, Merem seemed to want to stay by my side today as well, but that couldn’t happen.

Because he is the chief security officer, not my escort who boarded the ship.

Thus, at noon when the sun was at its highest.

I was walking alone on the promenade.

‘Bellifor sent me leftovers yesterday. There will probably be an assassination today too. Where’s a good way to find the contractor.’

The promenade was quiet because many participants were holed up in their rooms due to hangovers.

So, I could move leisurely.

‘Although I have a grudge, evidence is more important. If it’s Helene’s doing, now is the perfect time to drive her unpleasant face out of the palace.’

Helene’s influence had already decreased significantly.