“Certainly, there used to be an age restriction.”

“Yes. But now it doesn’t matter if someone has children. If the child is over ten years old, the Empress’s Palace will support sending them to a boarding school, and if under ten, they can be brought along and raised. That’s the most important part of this announcement.”

Since they’re recruiting anew, they should hire someone Helene can’t easily reach out to.

Jobs that provide support for children are very rare.

It was a benefit that any mother who decided to work would want, and once received, they would have no choice but to be loyal to me.

I organized my thoughts and asked Bertha for her opinion.

“What do you think, Susan?”

“It’s an excellent support benefit. Voices praising Her Majesty the Empress will rise high.”

“Yes, let’s make sure that happens… There’s one more thing. I need an aide.”

From now on, to properly work as an empress, an aide was absolutely necessary.

Someone skilled, sharp-minded, smooth-talking, and sly would be just right.

‘There used to be someone like that before.’

When I was the lord of the demon realm, I had an aide who handled all the annoying things for me.

‘He was famous for being the most unpleasant in hell… Occasionally he’d act impudent towards me too, so I’d often flick his forehead.’

I’m not sure if there’s a human as good as him, but anyway, I need an aide.

That aide would manage the staff who would fulfill what I want.

“I suppose it’s better to find one through father?”

“Yes, that seems like it would be more trustworthy. The position of aide is very important after all.”

“I’ll have to write a letter.”

I was planning to reply about Ansel anyway, so this worked out well.

After stretching fully, I stared blankly at the bright blue sky and thought I’d like to run a bit.

It’s too much today, but maybe the day after tomorrow would be alright?

I gained a lot from this welcoming banquet.

There were so many benefits it was hard to count them all, but the biggest was definitely lifespan.

‘1 year and 200 days!’

Mereum’s energy had been of tremendous help to me.

‘With this much, I can live about 2 more years.’

And since Mereum will be by my side for several years, my lifespan will keep increasing.

‘In the meantime, I should find someone to love. And then pierce that person’s heart and return.’

It’s not difficult. Didn’t Enrique do it too?

Loving someone less than myself.

“A candidate to love…”

Muttering quietly, I first considered the people around me.

‘Derek… is a no. He’s someone I care about, so I don’t want to treat him like that.’

Then how about the Imperial Knights?

What if I chose one of them?

If I try to love, I might be able to.

“Your Majesty the Empress, what did you say?”

“Huh? Oh, nothing. It’s nothing.”

I had forgotten Charlotte was beside me, lost in thought.

I was now heading to the Valkyrie training ground with Charlotte, Derek, and Mereum.

As a sign that I’ve recovered, I need to show my face and introduce Mereum.

From now on, Mereum will train with the Valkyries.

“At this banquet, the Imperial Knights flattened that annoying saint, right? You should have seen how hard we worked in the kitchen making snacks after hearing that story.”

Charlotte chattered, showing me the basket.

It was filled with the palace chef’s special turkey sandwiches, butter cookies, ginger scones, and strawberry jam.

It’s the perfect nutritious snack for the knights training hard.

I planned to subtly push Mereum into the training ground while giving these out.

Of course, I had already discussed this with Mereum.

I’m not sure what will happen to Mereum in the more distant future, but building up his martial strength was absolutely necessary from his perspective.

Even now he’s strong enough not to lose against adult knights, but what Mereum should aim for is a bit higher.

The realm of transcendence that ordinary humans can never reach.

I wanted to help Mereum get there.

“Your Majesty the Empress, we heard you were ill!”

“Are you alright now? You’re not getting a fever from the cold wind, are you?”

“We were so surprised to hear you collapsed as soon as you returned that day!”

When we arrived at the training ground, the knights in training flocked to me, clamoring.

It was too chaotic to answer each one individually, but fortunately Charlotte stepped in.

“Now, now. Step away from Her Majesty the Empress. Everyone take four steps back.”

“Ahem, hem. In our excitement…”

“Mind your manners. This is Her Majesty the Empress!”

Thanks to Charlotte, the knights calmed down.

I looked around at the benevolent gazes directed at me and smiled gently.

It’s been enough time for rumors that the Empress is moving the Valkyries to have circulated the nobles’ tea tables several times over.

I wonder what the public opinion on the knights has become?

“Um, Your Majesty the Empress. Thank you.”

Just then, Lord Shoppen approached and greeted me.

“Since the welcoming banquet, the talk of disbanding the Imperial Knights has completely died down. It must be because all the nobles saw that we were moving according to Your Majesty the Empress’s orders.”

Lord Shoppen certainly knew how to read the currents among the nobility.

The Imperial Knights opposed the saint on the Empress’s orders.

In other words, touching the Imperial Knights is the same as touching the Empress.

To take it further… it can be summarized like this.

The Valkyries have become the Empress’s sword!

“I’m grateful that you lords followed my orders. And the Valkyries’ continued existence is all thanks to your hard work.”

“Not at all. It’s because you gave us hope. Because you became the lord we should serve, we were able to change.”

How can knights be so rigid?

It’s their own lives they’re living, so I didn’t quite understand why they needed a lord to believe in and follow, but I didn’t dislike it.

Rather, I quite liked it.

“Oh right, Lord Woxon. Let me introduce you. This is Mereum, a member of the Quan royal family. I’d like him to train with the Valkyries from now on.”

Lord Woxon, the captain of the Valkyries, was in his late 30s, the oldest among the Imperial Knights.

Our first meeting was the worst, but now that he’s come to his senses, he’s a decent person. He’s altruistic, likes animals, and has a lively personality, so he’s more likely to accept Mereum rather than reject him.

“I’ve heard the rumors. Ahem, should I call you ‘Your Highness’?”

Actually, I wasn’t sure how to address Mereum, so I stepped back here.

In any case, it’s Mereum who needs to build his skills in this training ground. So it’s better for Mereum to handle it himself.

“Just my name is fine in the training ground. No need for honorifics. Treat me as one of the knights.”

“Oh, this guy is straightforward!”

Yes, that’s exactly the kind of thing that was Woxon’s strong point.

As Woxon exclaimed brightly, Lord Chedef, who had been stuffing a scone in his mouth, came over and patted Mereum’s shoulder.

“Wow. You’re solid! Looks like you’ve trained a bit.”

Following him, Lord Giovanni also came over, munching on a cookie, and kneaded Mereum’s bicep.

“Mm, mmm, these are real battle muscles.”

Even though Mereum said to treat him casually, I didn’t expect them to be this casual.

‘It’s exactly as I expected.’

Within the Valkyries, the captain, Chedef, and Giovanni were the mood makers. If they accept something, most things get accepted.

“Will Your Majesty the Empress be running today?”

“I’m just planning to walk.”

“That’s a good idea. You’re probably not fully recovered yet, so don’t overdo it!”

The knights did some jumping jacks and then dashed forward.

Mereum glanced at me and then looked towards Derek.

“If you feel like you’re going to collapse again, go back inside without delay.”

“Come on. Do I look that weak to you?”

“You look like you’d shatter if you just catch a breeze.”

“It’s… not that bad.”

After spending a few days close to Mereum, I realized he was much more of an old soul than I thought.

Nagging, nagging, nagging!

First of all, his nagging was severe.

Moreover, he tried to overprotect me, to the point where it felt like there were two Dereks.

‘Oh boy.’

Once he rolls around hard among the knights, he’ll probably be too tired to pay much attention to me.

“The cold wind is too strong.”

Just then, Mereum frowned and approached me. Then he started re-tying the scarf I was wearing, making it even tighter.

Actually, I was already bundled up enough that I felt like I could roll forward right now, but with the scarf tightened so much, I worried I might pass out from not being able to breathe.

‘I can strongly feel Derek’s disapproval. What to do.’

Until now, Derek was the one who took care of me most closely.

But since Mereum arrived, well, how should I put it.

Derek’s position has been greatly reduced.

There’s a difference in status, so when Mereum steps in, Derek has to stay quiet.

‘Even if their status were the same, Derek couldn’t say anything to Mereum, who’s still just a boy.’

Above all, Mereum’s care for me wasn’t based on romantic feelings.

It was more like an attachment to the person who saved his life.

Of course, to Derek, who didn’t know this fact, it must have been incomprehensible why this newcomer was acting so friendly with me.

Glancing at Derek, who was pressing his lips tightly, I let out a small sigh and started walking slowly around the training ground.

Right now, I had something more important than their relationship.

‘Putting aside stabbing a heart with a dagger, first a worthy candidate to love again. A worthy candidate to love…’

After glaring at each knight one by one with wide eyes, I had to stop walking, feeling dejected.

‘…There’s no one?’