This ship’s deck alone was so spacious that naval training could be conducted on it.

If Paibel were to do something, it would be crowded with countless people swarming out.

The chances of me running into the Grand Duke there are very low.

Unless the god of probability decides to play a prank…

“Lady Arti!”

However, as soon as I reached the deck, I heard a voice calling out to me enthusiastically.

Without even turning around, I knew it was Shailo Silverose.

I thought I should greet him, but just then Mereum called out to me.

“Leo. You promised to give me today.”

“Mm.”

“I don’t like you greeting other men during our date. Okay?”

Mereum stopped, pulled me into an embrace, and nuzzled his nose against my shoulder. It felt so oddly sensual that I shuddered.

“Lady Arti?”

Over there, the lovely Grand Duke was calling me with a puzzled look, while here, a large predator was being affectionate.

I was torn, but in the end, I didn’t turn to look at the Grand Duke.

I decided to pretend I hadn’t heard.

‘It can’t be helped. With so many people around, he won’t blame me for not hearing him.’

Seemingly satisfied, Mereum made a sound like he was scratching his throat.

I looked up at Mereum and smirked.

“Do you like it that much?”

“More than you could ever imagine.”

“I don’t know what’s so great about me. There are many young ladies your age.”

In truth, I had tried to introduce Mereum to young ladies around his age.

Honestly, with how handsome he is, how many girls wouldn’t be interested in Mereum?

But Mereum wouldn’t properly respond to anyone who approached him if they were female.

He wouldn’t even look at young ladies his age, and he treated older noble ladies coldly.

Even when he did answer, it was only ‘yes’ or ‘no’, so conversations never continued.

Because of this, opinions about Mereum among the nobility were divided.

As far as I knew, half thought ‘even that is charming’ while the other half said ‘such an ill-mannered brat should be sent back to his country immediately’.

“You taught me the piano. And other instruments too.”

“That’s because you picked things up so quickly, it was fun to teach you.”

“You also taught me how to draw.”

“Come to think of it, do you still draw these days?”

There was a studio just for me in the Empress’s Palace.

When I taught Mereum there, I realized he could roughly form shapes and apply colors, so I had another studio made just for him.

Of course, I had only had it made and never went in, so I didn’t know if he was drawing anything or not.

“I do. Sketches here and there.”

“That’s good. It’ll help you relax.”

“I tend to draw when I’m tense. Because I only draw you, Leo.”

“What?”

I knew that Mereum’s first completed painting was my portrait. But even after that?

“I only draw you. I’m not interested in anything else.”

“Even so…”

“Didn’t you say artists draw the things or people they’re attracted to?”

“That’s true, but…”

There was nothing wrong with what Mereum said, so I had nothing to say in response.

‘When did he become so articulate?’

I glanced at Mereum’s profile with unfamiliar eyes. He wasn’t looking at me, but instead wrapped his arm around my waist and pulled me close.

The crowd was growing and the surroundings were bustling, but thanks to Mereum, I wasn’t jostled by people.

And just then, a loud voice came from the center of the deck.

“Now, we will begin the charm contest!!!”

Startled by the cheers, I turned to see Paibel standing atop a high stack of boxes, arms spread wide like the leader of a cult religion, enjoying the applause.

“The first game is dart throwing! The winner here can get a big teddy bear! It’s a golden opportunity to give a gift to someone you think might be the Empress! Everyone, participate!”

…Wow, he really seems to be selling it.

I watched Paibel admiringly.

The teddy bears were probably inside the boxes Paibel was standing on… The problem was this.

I don’t like teddy bears though?

“Do you want one?”

“Huh?”

“You’re staring.”

People were already lining up to participate.

I hesitated to answer and watched the scene, noticing something strange. There was no dartboard in sight.

‘Surely they’re not planning to play darts in some devilish way.’

Well, it has been a while since that too….

“Now, the targets appear!”

Paibel raised his voice excitedly. At the same time, soldiers dragged out men with cloths covering their faces.

They were the ones from whom I could smell the strong magical scent I had buried.

“These men are here for the crime of being disrespectful to Her Majesty the Empress! We will now place apples on their heads, and whoever knocks down all the apples will be the winner of this game!”

Paibel’s shout caused a stir.

Well, one wrong move and they might end up sticking sharp dart pins into someone’s head.

“Only those with courage! Only those with skill remain!”

Paibel looked down at the crowd and cackled.

In the end, more than half of the initial line dropped out before the game started, and most of those remaining were boasting muscular builds.

They must be confident they won’t hurt the targets.

“Tell me what disrespect those guys committed.”

As I was watching with interest, Mereum spoke in a low voice.

His voice was so subdued that I felt I had to answer, but if I recounted what those guys had blurted out, it might lead to a fatal accident.

“It’s nothing. Don’t worry about it. They’re being punished like this, aren’t they?”

“It must have been something I shouldn’t hear.”

Twitch.

The corner of Mereum’s mouth lifted crookedly.

But at that moment, the voice of Grand Duke Silverose came from the left.

“Indeed. I’m also very curious what disrespect they showed to Her Majesty the Empress.”

“Grand Duke.”

“Good afternoon, Lady Arti. No, Your Majesty the Empress.”

The last sentence was whispered into my ear so others couldn’t hear.

The ticklish breath made my hair stand on end. As I shivered, Mereum on my right sharpened his gaze and pulled my waist closer.

‘Oh no, he told me not to greet anyone today.’

Still, I couldn’t ignore a greeting from someone who knew I was the Empress.

“I thought so. I thought you were extraordinary… Please forgive my rudeness yesterday.”

“What rudeness? It was enjoyable, so all is well.”

“If I brought you joy, then I’m glad. Please, call me Shailo.”

As soon as the Grand Duke allowed the use of his name, Mereum let out a growling sound.

It was so cute that I bit the soft flesh inside my cheek to hold back my laughter.

‘Ah, I shouldn’t find each of these little things cute.’

These small things are more memorable than impressive appearances.

In that sense, I was certain that today would be deeply etched in my memory when I look back in the future.

“The current winner candidate hit nine out of ten! Is there anyone else who wants to participate?”

At Paibel’s shout, this time Mereum stepped forward.

“I’ll do it.”

“Ohhh, isn’t this the captain of the Astaroth Knights! Here, here are the dart pins!”

The men who became targets were trembling and breathing heavily.

Mereum arranged them not in a row but in a single line vertically. Then he took out only one dart pin from those provided and put the rest back.

“He’s only holding one dart pin, what confidence could this be? This is very exciting!”

While listening to Paibel’s shout, I watched Mereum with my arms folded.

His triceps created by consistent effort and his upright posture. As I fixed my gaze on things like his intense eyes, Shailo quietly spoke to me.

“Did you perhaps think of me yesterday?”

“Well…”

“I wish you had. I thought of you the whole time.”

Kwagwagak!

As if he had heard Shailo’s words, Mereum threw the dart somewhat sharply.

Because of that, the apples burst open with a cracking sound.

“Eeeek!”

“Wh-what was that? It’s superhuman strength!”

The crowd was greatly shocked by the violent noise, as if the heads of the people standing in a straight line had exploded.

Of course, the targets themselves were too.

“Huh, huh, huk…!”

The guy who had carelessly thrown away cigarette butts before was standing at the very end, and the dart pin was stuck in the apple on his head, trembling.

Looking at the pale face of the guy, I was certain that he would never carelessly throw away a cigarette butt anywhere for the rest of his life.

“Wow, that’s incredible strength! Unfortunately, this game is about hitting apples, not bursting them! So despite the great power, disqualified!!!”

At Paibel’s shout, Mereum swept his forehead, showing an irritated expression.

He probably wanted to look cool.

I could clearly see through Mereum’s intentions, so I giggled and welcomed him back.

“That was amazing, Mereum.”

“But I couldn’t win the doll.”

“There’s nothing to regret. Even if you had won, there would have been controversy about fairness.”

As I stroked Mereum’s cheek while praising him, he tilted his head in a gesture of agreement.

“Then is it my turn now?”

It was at that moment.