The Astaroth Knights created a unique sword technique by blending Quan-style combat techniques and the style commonly used in Nix from the moment of their establishment.

The distinctive sword technique, consisting of Forms 1 through 7, looked like dancing with a sword and was called ‘sword dance’, which was the most suitable form for dealing with demons.

“Leo.”

After calmly finishing the 7th form, Mereum handed the sword to the young squire and approached me.

I picked up the towel that the servant had hurriedly brought and wiped the sweat from Mereum’s forehead.

As it was something I had done often, none of the onlookers found it strange.

“Even though I purposely wore high heels, it’s not easy to meet your eyes.”

“I like it.”

Mereum’s voice was low and his tone was gentle.

He never raised his voice.

Because he was always calm no matter what happened, at some point Mereum became the mediator when conflicts arose within the knights.

According to Shofen, Mereum’s judgments, who had no ties to anyone here except me, felt several times fairer than those of others.

“Do you like looking up at me?”

“No. But I like that you try to meet my eyes.”

Mereum was now 6.3 feet tall.

There was no one taller than him in the entire imperial palace, let alone the knights.

I’m not short, but no matter what, I couldn’t be at eye level with Mereum. Even with high heels, I’m only 5.9 feet tall.

My original height is 5.5 feet.

“It’s been a while, Mereum. You’re not hurt anywhere, are you?”

“No.”

The Astaroth Knights received a lot of criticism from the moment of their establishment.

The temple was the most vehement attacker.

They made a fuss, saying it was absurd for the empress to raise a private army.

Not only that, they badmouthed me in all sorts of masses, saying that ‘an empress who doesn’t obey her husband and stay quiet is very immoral as a wife’.

However, since none of the things I started first were free from criticism, I lightly ignored it.

Instead, I ordered the Astaroth Knights to be sent to small villages across the country, neglected lands, and poor territories to deal with demons in the name of the empress.

These were all places untouched by the hands of the noble Crusade.

After a few years passed like that, the Astaroth Knights came to be respected all over the country.

They had to be busy traveling around the country to exterminate demons, but it was an achievement accomplished in just 3 years.

“By the way, has the list for undercover escort duty on the cruise been decided?”

At my question, Mereum nodded and made a gesture. Then seven knights came forward.

But what I originally requested was eight people.

“The last one is me.”

When I looked at him with puzzled eyes, Mereum gently pulled my hand. Taking out the towel held between my fingers, he lightly kissed the white fingertips.

“In case you collapse, someone needs to be there to save you.”

A warm feeling heats up inside me. It’s the same feeling I’ve always accepted without thinking, but these days it makes me flinch.

It’s probably because of those eyes.

Those two eyes that look at me straight put me in summer every time.

In the end, I pulled myself away from him with force.

I felt like I shouldn’t be held any longer.

‘He was clearly a child. Humans grow up so fast.’

Life wasn’t boring while watching this child grow.

Even if I return to my original form, I’m sure I’ll watch over and care for this child until his death.

If he leaves descendants, then those descendants too, and their descendants as well.

Vaguely hoping that someday someone who looks like this child will be born again.

So…

“That look again.”

“What’s wrong with my eyes.”

“You’re looking at me like a child.”

Mereum grumbled quietly.

“You say everyone looks like a child to you.”

“It’s a look that sees me especially as a child.”

That’s probably because he was a boy when we first met.

I often found it difficult to keep up with the speed at which humans grow.

It feels like they were clearly toddling children in my perception, but when I turn around at some point, they’re asking to be treated as adults.

Of course, it’s right to treat them as adults since they’ve grown up… but the first impression lingers, making it difficult.

As I was scratching my cheek, a savior appeared from the other side just in time. It was Fybel.

“My lady! We’ve contacted all the first-round successful candidates for concubine!”

Mereum’s eyes narrowed as soon as he saw Fybel, who appeared shouting cheerfully.

“…Another interruption.”

Discontent was evident in his muttering voice.

Mereum thought that Fybel deliberately appeared to report only when he was with me, and I had nothing to say about it.

Because it was true.

“We’ve also confirmed the identities of all the merchants to be stationed on the deck, and just distributed dresses from the clothing shop to the actors, who all said they were satisfied. Overall, everything is running smoothly without any issues!”

“Of course, who prepared it after all.”

I patted Mereum’s back and tried to approach the chattering Fybel.

However, at that moment, Mereum hugged my waist from behind.

This time, somewhat urgently.

“It hasn’t even been five minutes since we saw each other.”

“I thought it had been over ten minutes.”

“Stay a little longer. Okay?”

Ever since he found out that I was weak to whining, Mereum always acted cute like this.

And I couldn’t win against such Mereum.

“Fybel, prepare a written report and submit it.”

“Yes, I will.”

“Let’s take a walk, Mereum.”

Come to think of it, it’s been a long time since we walked together.

I’ve been trying not to be alone with Mereum lately.

Because I could see Mereum’s gaze becoming increasingly blatant.

He was clear about what he wanted from me. He didn’t hide it either.

His gaze that only looked at me, no matter who he was with, was neither clingy nor sinister, but sometimes it would sink darkly.

At such times, my heart would drop with a thud. As if Mereum might offer his own heart as well.

Because love makes one irrationally devoted to the other person.

‘That’s the problem. I was betrayed after being devoted to Enrique, and I don’t want to stab the heart of Mereum, whom I raised with my own hands.’

The dilemma of having to kill those I love tormented me.

Those I wanted to be with for a long time shouldn’t be loved for that very reason. Since my love meant death, they shouldn’t even be put on the candidate list.

Therefore, I tried desperately to love someone else.

Meeting men tirelessly at parties, again and again. Bringing them to the palace and pretending to like them.

I thought if I showed such behavior, Mereum would give up on me out of disgust.

‘It all failed. There was no man better than Mereum. Not even better than Enrique.’

How could there be so little talent in the country.

Rather than blaming my high standards or tastes, I just condemned the others for being inadequate.

‘How did my sisters find Mereum and send him to me? No, why was it Mereum? Did it mean it had to be Mereum and no one else?’

I saw an elegant beast with jet-black hair.

He who was walking shoulder to shoulder with me stopped abruptly, probably feeling my gaze.

“Leo?”

The sweetly calling voice somehow felt sensual, sending chills down my spine.

‘If I don’t love you, I should be able to kill you properly.’

But I probably won’t be able to kill you. Then this feeling is…

As I was lost in thought, I bit the soft flesh inside my cheek. Instead, I started thinking about something else.

Come to think of it, when did you start calling me by a nickname?

I couldn’t remember, having passed it off as insignificant.

But for Mereum, the act of calling me by a nickname must have great meaning.

‘Ah.’

For a moment, my chest felt tight.

It was because I wondered what I was doing now.

Three years ago, as Fybel said, I’m now holding a concubine selection.

This was the last hope.

If I can’t find someone to love here either, I…

“We should end our walk here.”

“Will you come again?”

“Well. It would be difficult since we have to board the cruise soon, wouldn’t it?”

We both knew this was just an excuse to avoid.

Mereum didn’t hold me back. He just gazed at my retreating figure with eyes as sunken as the new moon absorbed into the sea.

I had to walk faster, unnecessarily, at that gaze which had become too heavy to be dismissed as mere attachment.

‘I’m out of breath.’

This heat gripping my chest must surely be due to the weather.

The summer sunlight that he, now an adult, unfolds was too scorching hot to ignore.

“Extra! Extra! Regardless of status! Regardless of nationality, Empress’s concubine selection! A golden opportunity to receive the love of Her Majesty the Empress!”

“There’s only one condition. Beauty alone! Ah, the era has come where a pretty face is also a talent!”

“The Empress and handsome men! Come, all the details are in the newsletter. Buy the newsletter, buy the newsletter!”

In the southern part of the continent, half covered by the Nix Empire and Quan, there has long been a geographical feature called ‘Heart Bay’.

This area, where waves don’t crash violently and there are no reefs or seaweed, was famous for nobles enjoying boat rides, and it was also well-known among commoners because there was a folk belief that if you propose at Heart Bay at night, you’ll be together forever.

And the was held by floating a luxury cruise ship on the sea of this Heart Bay.